They made port by the afternoon. The air smelled sweet with the aroma of different fruits. Silver jumped off the ship with glee looking around at the city they had arrived at. The town square was quite beautiful. Lamp posts lined separate corners. A fountain was sitting at the center far away from the docks.
Gidget joined the pretty lady and danced around the fountain. Caster sighed heavily as he put up the enchantments on the ship. Sunset was busy casting an illusionary disguise on Awkright so people wouldn't panic when they saw him.
Silver looked around smiling, "Tell me Gidget dear, How often have you visited this place?" she asked.
Gidget smiled, "Well before Nightshade was captured I came here quite often. He trained me to wield my scythe, and he taught me how to channel energy in this realm without wielding any magic, or a zodiac mode!" she cheered.
Silver raised an eyebrow, "I've heard Caster talk about that with Sunset Shimmer. What is a zodiac mode?" she asked.
Caster walked over, "A Zodiac Mode is what we call our distinct abilities that we acquired through our bodies and mind. A sure way of telling we've activated our abilities is looking at our eyes. Each Syriac has the capability to activate three different tiers of zodiac style. Level 1 Zodiac Mode, our basic abilities are minor enhanced, Level 2 Zodiac Mode which evolves into a greater and more powerful ability based on our personality, and finally Level 3 Zodiac Style. Level 3 requires immense amount of training, studying and hardship to unlock, or you undergo a great deal of pain. Level 3 was considered forbidden because no one was willing to put any others through that kind of torture. That changed many years ago after a great war between us and Bane Calus," he explained.
Silver nodded, "Can anyone who enters your realm acquire a zodiac mode?" she asked quite intrigued. Caster shook his head, "Not unless you're willing to go and kill someone and transplant their eyes into your own," he said. Silver cringed, "No thanks," she said.
Gidget lead the way as they found The Platinum Dragon Inn. To everyone's surprise the inn was completely empty! Gidget looked around quite confused, "That's odd... It's usually quite busy here... RAVEN!!" she yelled.
A man with black dress pants, a black shirt and violet vest came out of the back, wearing a black fedora with a purple stripe. Over his left eye was an eye-patch. The man had dark black hair and his right eye was violet as well. Silver leaned over to Gidget, "Think he likes purple?" she asked trying not to giggle.
Gidget rolled her eyes. The man came around the bar and smiled, "Welcome everyone welcome! And welcome to the new guests from other realms!" he said smiling.
Sunset and Silver both blinked, "How did he-?!"
Gidget giggled cutting them off, "Raven knows practically everything. No exaggeration either! He's really smart and really strong too! Anywho... Raven we kind of need your help..." she said.
Raven looked to Caster, and then to Awkright, "First things first, Bring the Exion to my basement. I have to examine him specifically. Second, of course you need my help. With what you are planning on taking care of you need my specific abilities to complete the transitions. Third of all, sit and rest because after your visit i guarantee that a hard ending is soon to come," he said.
The adventurers blinked and slowly nodded not questioning the man's statements. AS they sat down Caster guided Awkright to the basement. Sunset, Silver, and Gidget remained behind as Raven served them each a drink.
Gidget smiled as she sipped on her apple juice. Sunset had orange pop. Silver looked at her glass eyeing it suspiciously. Raven smiled, "I promise that I did not drug it my dear. I am not that kind of man. I am a man of business. I get paid well and work for whichever side most interests me. One thing that does quite interest me right now is who you are and what you're capable of, but for now... Relax. I will return once I am finished with Awkright down stairs," he said.
Gidget giggled and watched the strange man disappear behind the counter. Sunset looked at Gidget, "So... How long have you known him? He seems like quite the character. I mean he seems to have an interest in all of us but most importantly he seemed to enjoy talking to you," she said.
Gidget shrugged, "I have no idea. No one can read that man. He's a complete mystery to anyone and everything around him. All I know is that he's a man I never want cross blades with," she said.
Silver smiled, "I wouldn't mind actually. I enjoy a good fight, and he seems rather... Interesting," she said licking her lips slightly.
Sunset looked at Silver, "What does your realm represent Silver?" she asked.
Silver turned to the girl and smiled, "From what I've been told my realm radiates an extraordinary amount of courage. So Lady Star Bright calls it The Realm Of Courage. I can see why it would be called that. Everyday's a different battle in my realm, and even though the battles may seem futile, my family, friends, and myself always stand up to face it head on, no matter the cost," she said.
Gidget blushed eyeing the woman, "Oh... My... Celestia...."
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In the basement Awkright was held in mid air by Raven's magic. The mercenary eyed the Exion quite thoroughly, "You took quite a shock from Roark's death. When you two separate the elements of harmony cut off most of your abilities. Your darkness seems to have been the shard that fueled most of Roark's power, which would explain why the elements hit you the hardest during the separation process..." he said.
Caster watched from the side, "So what are you planning to do then?" he asked.
Raven smiled, "What I usually do my friend. I'm going to fix him. I have just the magic to reverse the effects while keeping his former sanity intact. It's quite tricky but I'm quite sure I can accomplish it. Thought it's going to hurt... A lot... Actually it's going to hurt a lot more than just... a lot," he said tapping on a panel on the floor.
Part of a wall gave way and flipped around revealing an entire shelf of wands. Each a different color with a different symbol on each. Music could be heard up stairs and more people could be heard entering the in. Raven sighed, "Well... At least they'll drown out the screams," he said to himself.
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Above more and more people we're beginning to flood the area. Silver and Gidget had run into the kitchen beginning to cook and plate food. Sunset shimmer had put on a new set of clothing making her look like a cute bar waitress. Men hooted and hollered with glee as she sang and mesmerized them with her melodic voice.
Sentries began to form in the kitchen and take food out to the guests. Silver had gone through Raven's office looking for keys and such and found a set of clothes that matched the outfit he had been wearing when he went down stairs. Quickly Silver threw on the clothes, the fedora, and even the eye-patch for effect.
Stepping out the door to the bar Silver smiled triumphantly as she began serving drinks to some of the guest. Once and awhile they would try to grab at her curvy body and throw some flirts but Silver glared at them and popped them over the head with a leek she pulled out of her back pocket.
Sunset was beginning to feel hot but one sentry came out and handed her a crystal blue potion. Sunset looked at the bottle and the growing crowd and drank the vial quickly. Sunset began to glow with a blue aura and she soon sprouted her pony ears and an electric blue high light soon coated through her hair.
Magic and energy surged through her as she found a new voice and began to sing better than ever.
" ♪ Power
Was all I desired ♪"
(I desired, all I desired)
♪But all that grew inside me
Was the darkness I acquired ♪
♪When I began to fall
And I lost the path ahead
That's when your friendship found me
And it lifted me instead ♪
♪Like a phoenix burning bright
In the sky
I'll show there's another side to me
You can't deny ♪
♪I may not know what the future holds
But hear me when I say ♪
♪That my past does not define me
'Cause my past is not today ♪
Ambition
♪Is what I believed
Would be the only way
To set me free ♪
♪But when it disappeared
And I found myself alone
That's when you came and got me
And it felt like I was home ♪
♪Like a phoenix burning bright
In the sky
I'll show there's another side to me
You can't deny ♪
♪I may not know what the future holds
But hear me when I say
That my past does not define me
'Cause my past is not today!!!! ♪"
The crowd cheered and hollered with glee! Silver couldn't help but shed a tear as she began clapping with the crowd.
Guests came and went soon the night came. To everyone's surprise Twilight walked through the door as closing time came. The pony princess was quite shocked to see Sunset's transformation but then she thought about Raven's vast knowledge and shrugged it off.
Soon the inn was cleaned and put back into order. The girls all sat down exhausted from their long day. Gidget looked around, "Hey... At least we did it!" she said.
Silver nodded and smiled, "Who knew... We'd be able to pull something like this off?" she huffed. Gidget giggled taking Raven's hat from Silver, "I think we have what it takes to run this place instead of Raven!" she cheered. Everyone laughed, and suddenly they all paused hearing the clapping from the other side of the room.
Raven stood with a wand drawn and a smirk across his face, "Oh don't let me spoil your fun ladies. It's merely business," he said cheerfully.