Spike moved with quick precise movements; everything he did had a purpose behind it. He worked vigorously while the group stood and watched his every move. The guardians watch with curious eyes as Discord as Big Mac recalled painful memories.
“What is he doing?” Arch asked.
“Apparently this little dragon knows the ritual to meet with the infamous Mooti Mootu.” Stellar crouched as he stared at the symbols that the dragon was drawing on the floor. “He seems to know what he’s doing.”
“How would he get such knowledge?” Shira asked as she picked up a paper. It was one that Spike had brought with him and it spoke all about the Dream Witch.
“He got it from a friend of ours,” Luna informed the cats. “One who had helped us out in the past.”
“Some friend,” Stellar chuckled. “This information isn’t easy to come by and is super valuable to most.” He stood up and turned to meet Luna’s gaze. “What friend of yours is he.”
“Shredder, he-,” Luna responded.
Stellar interrupted, “And how did you come by such an ally?”
Luna paused for a moment as she thought about how to go about an answer. She tilted her head slightly as she glanced at the cat. “We went to him for help and he took particular interest in Spike.” Luna sat down as she didn’t take her eyes off of Spike’s actions.
Stellar turned and continued to examine the dragon’s display of skill. “Well, he certainly seems to be advancing in this area. I’m curious to know what exactly Shredder saw in him.”
“Ya, me too,” Luna whispered.
Spike stood up and stretched his arms and legs before cracking his back. “Alright,” he yawned. “We’re all set.”
“Oh brother,” Discord moaned. “Then here we go again.”
” You’ll be needing this.” Arched stepped forward and dragged a heavy bag behind him. “Everything the witch could want.”
“Good,” Discord scoffed. “Then let’s just get it done and over with.” The ritual was quick and easy; no complications came as a result and surprisingly everything seemed to go smoothly.
“What now?” Arched asked.
“We wait,” Luna responded.
“You’re pretty used to this aren’t you?”
“Yup.”
“The sight was familiar as Discord opened the same door, and even though he had only open that red door only once, he felt like it was all too connected to him now. He had opened so many doors like it, and so he would only continue to open more.
“Dream Walker?”A soft growl whispered. “Have you come back for more answers about your friend?”
“No,” Discord chuckled. “I’ve come about this.” Discord threw the large sack in front of the Mooti Mootu who looked quite shocked at the resolve.
"The Fallen," It whispered. It's long dripping hair swayed as it moved forward. It opened the bag and stared at the jewel inside. "What intent do you have?"
"My friends need help." Discord stepped forward and dropped a picture of the chest onto the bag. "Care to help us out?"
The creature picked up the picture and then looked up at Discord. "What knowledge do you seek?"
“Do you think he made it?” Shira asked.
“I killed it only a few hours ago,” Arch replied. “I don’t think it would have faded just yet.”
Spike sat with an open book; he skimmed through the pages as he sat in front of Discord’s lifeless body. “He’ll be fine; he’s dealt with worse.”
“I seriously doubt that,” Stellar insisted. “The Fallen aren’t what you think they are.”
“As true as that is,” Spike chuckled. “He’s been through a dream with a serial killer and a demonic bull.”
“Wait what?!” Stellar gasped as he quickly met Spike’s proud smirk.
“Yup,” Big Mac laughed as he too had a proud smirk on his face.
“You say a demonic bull?”
“Yup,” Big Mac reassured.
“Discord said it had a chain, a huge trident thingy, and….” Spike paused as he stared at the sky. His eyes trailed through his memory as he tried to remember the last signature item that Discord had mentioned.
Stellar stepped forward as he awaited Spike’s reply. “And?”
“Oh,” Spike jumped. “A lantern, a lantern,'' he said “illuminated darkness”.
“Stellar’s eyes went open as he turned around. He leaned his head against the wall as he closed his eyes.
“What?” Spike asked as he watched the cat’s reaction.
The cat quickly turned and snapped his claws together. “What was the killer’s name? The one you spoke of.”
“Berry Tarts,” Spike said slowly.
“That’s…”
Discord quickly jumped up as he screamed. The group all jumped back as Discord jumped up and slammed against the ceiling. “Ouch,” he groaned as he rubbed his head.
“Wow that was fast,” Spike gasped.
“Ya well, she got right to the point,” Discord groaned.
“What spoked you?” Luna asked as she sat down next to him.
Discord looked down at the ground as he recalled the last moments before he woke up. “She showed me them.”
“Who?” Luna asked
“Who else?”. Arched scoffed. “Did she show you their cage.?”
Discord turned as he sighed. “Yup,” he nodded. “And we are so screwed if we don’t get this chest open like yesterday.”
“Well, it depends,” Stellar said as he kneeled down to the draconequus. “Did you find out what we’re missing?”
“The flame was made by the literal suffering of others,” Discord informed the group.
“Yes I am aware,” Stellar said. “They were our ancestors who created it.”
“Well, your ancestors really wanted to protect this chest.” Discord Stood up as he stretched his whole body. “They made sure that the only thing that can extinguish the flame is something of equal suffrage.”
Stellar looked at arch who only shrugged back at him. “So what exactly do we need?”
“Just something that was made through pain and misery.”
“Well, where the hell are we going to get that?” Sellar groaned.
“Discord began to laugh as he walked over the spike. “Do you still have it?”
Spike froze for a second as a look of confusion stained his face. After a few moments, the dragon’s eyes went wide. “Oh, you mean this.” Spike ran over to a bag that was stashed in the very back. He pulled out a small blue marble and threw it to Discord.
“What is it?” Arched asked as he stepped towards Discord.
“Ya, what is that?” Luna repeated.
“Let’s just say it’s something of equal value,” Discord chuckled. He turned around with a huge tired smile on his face. Luna’s eyes went wide as she gasped. The cats all stepped forward in amazement as the presence of power and suffering filled the room.
Capper stood up and walked up to the display that everyone seemed to be mesmerized by. “Oh,” he said with curiosity. “It’s a golden bird?”
“Nope,” Big Mac said as he shook his head. “It’s a golden Phoenix.”
“Why did you bring that?” Luna whispered. She stood and watched as Discord carried back to the temple with Stellar and Capper behind him.
“Discord told me to carry it with me just in case we needed it.”
“Spike, why would you think you would even need, that thing?”
Spike chuckled as he thought about the answer to the question. “Well it wasn’t for the fallen, it was because of Silver Blitz; we were looking for her just before we got into all of this and Discord wanted to make sure we had it.”
“How’d you carry it without anyone knowing. I mean that thing attacks spirits like a flame to mouths.”
“Spike looked up at Luna as he laughed. “Stellar’s right, Shredder really is a good ally.”
“Apparently so…”
Discord walked up to the flame and watched it with intent. The blades of the flame stained the blood of those who made it. Only those who know true suffering could even approach the flame, or so the Mooti Mootu foretold. DIscord looked back at the other two in the room; there was a reason Stellar only took Capper and him. Perhaps it was that they knew the pain that was required. Of course, Luna too knew pain, the same that he had come to know, and Stellar knew nothing of his encounters with the dead. So perhaps it was of a different matter that he didn’t yet know.
DIscord turned back to the flame and stepped forward. He held out the phoenix and slowly approached the purple flame. The fire swayed violently as the gold aura of the dead approached it. As soon as the phoenix touch the fire it dissipated without a trace of its existence. Discord jumped back as he pulled the phoenix back. He leaned forward and looked into the bowl. There in the middle sat a large golden chest.
“I think it worked,” Discord said as he turned to the two cats.
Capper walked up to the draconequus and stood next to him. “What now?” Capper asked his gaze locked onto the golden shimmer.
“Try using your sword now.”
Ached gulped as he drew his blade from his back. “Well here goes nothing.”
“You’ll get used to it,” Discord chuckled.
“Ya, I know,” Capper smirked. “I just never imagined that I would ever have to.”
“I’m right there with you brother.”
Capper yelled as he quickly reached for the chest and took it out of its coffin. He fell back as the weight of the golden jewel tossed him to the ground. Discord helped pull the box off of the cat and pushed it aside.
“You alright?”
“Ya,” the cat groaned. “It’s much heavier than I thought.”
“Or you’re just weaker than you thought,” Discord teased.
“You really want me to test that theory out?”
“Hell no,” Discord laughed as he reached out his arm.
“Good…. Me neither.” Capper grabbed Discord’s arm and stood up. The tow turned at stared at the chest.
“Well,” Stellar said as he leaned against the wall. “Open it.”
“Capper?” Discord stepped back and gestured to the chest.
The cat walked forward and without hesitation, he opened the chest. A bright light shot out of the open box and cause the cat the jump back. The light disappeared as quickly as it appeared, leaving only a few items inside. Capper leaned into the chest and pulled out a scroll, a book, an orb, and a golden cylinder.
“What is all this stuff?” Capper asked as he looked over the Stellar.
Stellar walked forward as he grabbed the book from Capper and opened it. “It’s everything we need.”
“It’s a shinny book!” Spike yelled.
“Ew, don’t do that,” Discord cringed. “It reminds me of Twilight.”
“So,” Luna said as she met Discord in the archway. “Did you open the chest?”
“Yes, we did.” Discord proudly admitted.
“And?” Luna eagerly continued.
Stellar pushed past Discord and walked towards the cart. “We must head out immediately.”
“Why?”
“Because,” Discord sighed. “We know what we have to do, but the Fallen now know that we know.”
“Wait what,” Luna gasped. “How?”
“I’ll explain on the way.”
“Wait where are we going?” Asked the princess.
“To the gate, the one that locks their home from ours.”
“You’re going to close it?”
“Nope,” Capper said as he jumped over Luna. “ I am,” He said as he bowed.
“And I most likely won’t survive."