//------------------------------//
// Crypt 
// Story: Expedition to the Cloudbreak Islands 
// by Starglider 
//------------------------------//

The great pyramid dominated the northern arm of the cross-shaped floating island, rising far above the undulating dunes and strange rock pillars. It had stood for centuries, enigmatic and inviolate, but at last a small group of explorers had penetrated the basement entrance. They'd spent the last half hour slowly and carefully making their way up the main shaft, spiralling around the wide ramp, checking for traps at each landing.

The next landing was different: here a side passage led off into the heart of the pyramid. A cold draft flowed out of the opening and a purple glow was visible in the depths. Peering down the long stone corridor, the explorers saw the shining metal disc of an elemental gate, supported as always by curving pillars to each side. A stylised skull with mismatched eyes seemed to stare back at them from the centre of the portal.

Grenelda wasn't impressed: "Pfff, who's this supposed to be fooling? It's tacky as hell, it's not scar... wait." The griffon's eyes narrowed, and her brow furrowed as she thought back to the symbol puzzle in the sphinxes' sanctuary."...It's an Undead Gate, yeah?" Her eyes went to Cloud Cutter: "Bet you wanna, right?"

"Certainly feels that way." Reef said, cocking his head one way then the other, sensing the energies with his pearl-tipped spines. "Whatever's keeping Slashing Gale and Cloud Gutter going, there's a lot of it in there."

The pegasus didn't share Grenelda's enthusiasm, shying back from the entrance. “Why is there an Undead gate in the Mystics’ pyramid?” she asked, afraid to even look at it. “Weren’t they of the Mystic Element?”

Their rescued sphinx guide was quick to correct her: "The mystics work with all the Elements," Te'summi explained, "though they favour Magic."

“Magic, that’s it, sorry,” Cloud Cutter said. She was uncharacteristically agitated, flicking her wings and fidgeting her hooves. “We can—we can come back to this, maybe. If it’s... necessary.”

Grenelda's beak gaped open in a grin; she sidled over and playfully jostled Cloud Cutter's shoulder. "C'mon! You know you'll be thinking about it the entire time if you don't take a peek right now."

"One supposes it cannot transform you further," Reef said uncertainly, "...or Clashing for that matter, although..." he glanced over at Azure, who'd begun the expedition as a unicorn. "In any case... anygriff else had best be very careful, lest they find themselves similarly imbued." 

Cloud Cutter startled, giving the griffon's claw an unpleasant jolt that left a cold feeling behind. The purple pegasus ran half way up the next ramp before stopping and looking back over her shoulder. “I know it worked out well for Azure, but... even she had to give something up,” she says very testily, “I don’t want to lose anything... more.”

Grenelda winced, shaking her frozen claw and blowing on it. She looked over to Clashing Gale; he was the other spooky pony present, and he was Cloud Cutter's superior, maybe he could rescue this?

The stallion had been staring at the gate, expression unreadable; sensing the hen's eyes on him, he shook his head. "Wouldn't wish... this on any other creature present," he muttered. "It's enough having my whole Storm Piercer team changed - don't want any more of this squad affected. Everyone else back."

His eyes went to Cloud Cutter: "See, here's something all of this has me thinking about." A hollow chuckle. "We were affected before we'd even made landfall. Transformed, like something out of a horror novel. We don't know why, or how long it will last, or if we'll ever turn back or just... die, when it runs out." He looked back to the gate. "I want answers. In particular... why us. It seemed hopeless, but now this place, it feels..." He shook his head, unable to put it into words. "This place has the answers. Or... has something for us, at least. And we may not get another chance."

“You can get answers, fine,” the agitated mare said, sinking to her belly right there on the ramp. “All I want is to never have come here, and to... to live.”

Clashing gave his squad-mate a concerned look, but his resolve didn't waver. "You don't have to go in if you don't want to, Cloud Cutter... but I want answers. Answers for myself, my friend, and my unit. I'm going in." He spread his membranous wings and took flight, traversing the long hallway in just a few powerful flaps. He landed in front of the gate, tossed his mane and then rapped his hoof on the metal, bidding it to begone. With an unsettling sound somewhere between a moan and a howl, the central disc flashed white then faded into nonexistence. The portal stood open, though nothing but mists could be seen within.

Grenelda perked up: after that boring trudge up the shaft, finally some excitement. Her eagle face bobbed left and right, trying to get a better look as she padded down the corridor to join Clashing. "Damn fog, can't see a thing. Looks way cool, though. You still brave enough to check it out, Clashing?" she grinned. Injured wing or not, she looked like she wanted in.

"Grenelda, like I just said... stay out!" Clashing said angrily. "Last thing I'd want is anyone else with this curse. Please." He hesitated on the threshold, looking back down the corridor and still hoping Cloud Cutter might join him.

The pegasus mare rose to her hooves and nervously took a few steps towards the portal: she too felt a longing to go in, and she had to tell herself it was a lie, another cruel trick. “I can’t believe you don’t remember,” she said bitterly, “A water gate, and Reef is—is that thing. An earth gate and Summer’s disintegrated and trapped in a statue. Sure, it feels wonderful and peaceful now, but we’ve never seen these gates and had something not... happen to us. Not even once.”

"Now now Cloud," Reef Skimmer's tone was conciliatory, but the hippogriff couldn't help feeling a little affronted. "That was not the fault of Water! Why, it would have been a perfectly enjoyable and harmless day out had not Summer's meddling unleashed magical waste into the plumbing. Speaking of which... I gather Summer herself would have been perfectly safe, had she not..." He caught himself, trying not to look at Te'summi "...thrown caution to the wind."

"Wonderful? -Peaceful-?! I look like a freak, I feel like a freak and I want answers!" Clashing Gale called back angrily. "There are so many things I've asked myself since I woke up... I've got nothing left to lose, and one way or another, I'm going to find out everything. Even if it ends up... making things worse somehow..." The bat-pony was clearly frustrated, stamping at the ground with his hoof. Thank goodness for the calmness of Water, he thought: Reef's logic seemed to douse the fires raging within the vampire, at least for now. 

Grenelda waved a claw vaguely. "Pssh. I mean sure, looks like you have to sacrifice something that's important to you. Reef's a slime monster, Azure's lost her horn, Summer... all of Summer, hahah. But on the flip side, it gives you some awesome powers. Reef's an absolute tank of a monster now and Azure can blow anything away, quite literally. Really, what have you got to lose?" The hen clicked her beak: with prizes like that she'd jump into any elemental gate that called her name.

Even Azure spoke up. "It's like turning a page. We knew what we were - ponies of Equestria - but then the Elements reached out and said 'No, you're of the Skylands now'." She paused, looking at her feathered wings. "Yeah, it was a trade. I got my dream, real wings, and I'm a true warrior now. You know what? I do still miss my magic. You two? You're already creatures of the Skylands - you were the first among us to get that. Now you just need to find out what that means. So if you want my opinion: go."

Te'summi added her own wisdom: "The element of Unlife seeks entry at the moment between life and death," the young sphinx intoned "and rarely does it force the matter. I have wandered the halls of Undeath without harm, yet... step lightly in such a place. It demands... respect, from the living."

Cloud Cutter didn't even have the spirit to point out that she was no longer living. She fretted for a moment, then ventured cautiously: “Admittedly I’m not as stupid as Summer, and she... probably didn’t release any monstrous Undead worms to attack us. If you all think I should go, then I’ll go I don’t really care; I just want to go home, and that place only feels like home to trick us, but... I guess it’s fine.” Ears low, she gazed fearfully at the gate, but slowly trotted down the hall to join Clashing. There was only a still feeling in her chest: not a single beat of her heart.

Despite the batpony's warning, Grenelda seemed adamant: "Hey, I'm not missing this. I figure, worst case it's fun, best case maybe I get cool ghost griffon powers."

Clashing Gale looked to Grenelda... and just sighed. "You've seen everything Cloud Cutter and I are dealing with - positive and negative, and you're still... willing to risk yourself?" This didn't sit well with him at all, clearly, as he looked back to the gate.

Grenelda just chortled. "Worth a shot!"

Reef Skimmer trotted forward to join her. "One will do ones best to forestall any funny business," he said. In truth he was concerned about Cloud Cutter's mental state; clearly the mare had been hit hard by her condition, and there was no telling how she would react to whatever revelations might be found beyond the gate.

"No sphinx could turn away from the secrets of this place," Te'summi said, padding forward to stand with Clashing Gale.

He smiled at the sphinx as she stood by him. "Thank you... your presence is most appreciated, as... I'm not sure how much sense this will make. Together, we've got a better chance of getting the answers we're looking for. But... please be careful. I'd hate for the curse that's struck me to take you as well."

"Your concern is... pleasant," the young sphinx said awkwardly, "but in truth Ne'kuno - first of the Guardians - would be happy to have a true elemental amongst our ranks, even of Unlife." The winged feline shivered involuntarily.

Clashing nodded softly. "Having an elemental in your tribe... of any element is... yes, I think I get it," he said calmly. "It's like Azure with her Wind powers... being Chosen is quite the thing. I will not stop you."

Melonwater looked increasingly worried as more and more creatures stepped up to the portal. The exhausted earth stallion said weakly: "Do I have to go in there? It feels so, uh..." his voice trailed off. He trotted over to stand by Sprocket, pressing his flank against her as if eager to feel her body heat.

Blaze Trails was in agreement: "Hrmm, dunno if I wanna be involving myself with the supernatural quite as enthusiastically as the rest of y'all. If this is optional I think I'll wait for your return."

Azure Feather nodded: "Much as I'll respect Clashing Gale and Cloud Cutter and admit that this is the closest thing to an elemental gate for them... this is not for me."

“Nopony has to go in there,” Set Sail said with a torn look on her face, “You deserve answers, Clashing, but... I don’t think you should go, Cloud Cutter. You’re right. Every time we’ve run into these gates...” she shuddered, “It changes ponies.”

“I’m already changed,” Cloud Cutter said, staring dully forward, “What’s a little more? I haven’t been a pony since I woke up like this.”

“I was gonna go, but, uh,” Sprocket sat down with Melonwater beside her, “You need somepony keeping an eye on the entrance right? I’ll just stick with Melonwater here.”

“I’m—I need to go,” Set Sail said, looking worriedly at the purple pegasus, “J-just to make sure you’re all okay.”

Clashing Gale and Azure Feather exchanged a meaningful look, before the latter stared down at the floor. Neither of them wanted to risk the Captain, but both realised that it would be futile to try and talk her out of it.

"All set? Let's get on with it!" Grenelda cawed. "Sweet ghost powers, here I come!" The griffoness was shoulder-to-shoulder with the batpony as they advanced through the portal, disappearing into the swirling mist within. Cloud Cutter and Te'sunni followed after, with Reef Skimmer and Set Sail last to enter. Azure, Sprocket, Blaze and Melonwater were left to camp out on the landing, amidst the group's piled supplies.





Six explorers had made it to the far side of the skull-marked portal, moving through the wall of mist into the crypt beneath the great pyramid. Each had their own reasons for braving the realm of Unlife, though none were comfortable with the prospect. Emerging from the fog, they beheld an enormous void - not quite the size of the island's central cavern, but still large enough to hold a typical Equestrian village.

The space was lit by wan, source-less green light and filled with motion, though not of the living. Hundreds of small platforms were suspended in mid-air at various levels, forming numerous counter-rotating rings that slowly orbited a wide central pillar. The ponies stood on a balcony half-way up one wall; as the nearest ring of platforms drifted steadily past, they could see each was equipped with a tombstone, along with decorations of various sorts.

Here was a feline skull, staring endlessly into the gloom, there was an ornate lantern, its tiny flame somehow still burning after centuries without visitors. The silhouettes of much larger monuments were visible on the central column: a small group of monoliths clustered at the heart of the complex. A fit and nimble creature could certainly leap from platform to platform, making their way to the centre in perhaps a dozen leaps, but they'd better be alert and sure-footed, for the floor far below seemed to be an endless forest of stone spikes.  

“Well, this place looks cheery,” Cloud Cutter said, looking about, her voice loud in the silence, despite her attempts to speak quietly. The empty-eyed pegasus was not trusting her instincts here in the slightest. 

Set Sail was still sticking close to the other pegasus, looking over her worriedly. “Seems alright so far,” the blue-haired mare said, also afraid to speak too loudly, “I guess a world of floating islands would also have floating graves.”

“We haven’t seen any burial grounds until now,” Cloud Cutter murmured thoughtfully, “I doubt every creature in these lands has the luxury of being buried in a great pyramid.”

“Don’t land on the platforms,” Set Sail said vaguely as she took in her surroundings, “It might be considered desecration.”

“It might wake them up,” Cloud Cutter added darkly.

Grenelda tilted her head, peering around the gloom: she wasn't sure what to expect, but this sure wasn't it. "Naturally-occurring floating platforms? Weirdest graveyard I've ever seen. Lemme just..." She lurched forward as though about to take off, but winced and collapsed to her knees as a sharp pain flared up in her injured wing. "-Shit, forgot," she muttered, rubbing the muscle with a claw.

Now on the edge of the balcony, she could see look waaaay down to the spikes. She gulped, between the drop and the spooky graves suddenly very conscious of her own mortality. "Hah. Talk about hostile architecture." The hen peering at the closest rank of platforms, gauging their movement and considering her options.

Clashing Gale calmly stepped forward to join her at the edge. He slowly looked around, bat wings flaring a bit as he closed his eyes and 'felt out' the invisible forces swirling around the chamber. "The energies here feel... strong." He glanced at Te'summi, checking their new companion was safe and hadn't had a negative reaction to the place. "As you said - my guess is they aren't harmful on their own, but I can feel it rolling over my body. Like- like it's curious about me." He shook his head. "If we're still intent on seeing what's in the centre, I should scout ahead..."

The sphinx spread her wings and gave them an experimental flap, then hung her head sadly: "I have not the strength for this journey, not by wing or by paw."

Reef Skimmer was the last to trot out of the mist, looking around at the gloom unhappily. All this powerful magic, and the feline-taurs couldn't be bothered to light their basement properly? "One is perhaps... a little under the weather to play roc just now," he admitted - the hippogriff's body was still covered in dark blue burn scars from his pummelling in the spidrow nest. "Could manage a short hop as-is," an uneasy glance at Cloud Cutter, "assuming a quick wash won't enrage a horde of slumbering ghosts." 

“So what’s our plan here?” Set Sail asked.

Grenelda was forced to admit that literally anything could go wrong if she leapt onto the platforms, from disintegrating and dropping her into the abyss to summoning the enraged undead. "My plan is living another day. Someone else go first - someone who can fly." Cursing her limited mobility, she sat back next to Te'summi, resigned to the role of bystander.

Clashing Gale nodded and spread his wings, peering back to Set Sail: "Permission to scout ahead?"

“Be careful," the acting captain said, "but... yeah, you’re the best equipped for this.” As the batpony leapt elegantly into the air, Set Sail headed over to Grenelda and the sphinx. “Sorry you got injured," she said regretfully, "We’ll be able to lick our wounds once we get out of this place. We still have enough flyers to carry everyone out in an emergency... I think.”

Grenelda nodded grumpily, her tail flicking with her annoyance. "Yeah, yeah - it's my own damn fault. First sphinx lasers, then cat-centaur lasers, argh..." She trails off, as her attention turned to Clashing Gale, climbing higher and higher into the gloom.

The stallion flapped silently through the still, musty air, keeping his distance from the drifting platforms as he made a wide circuit of the chamber. There was definitely a presence here, the feeling that they were walking through a dormitory where hundreds of strange creatures were sleeping. Yet... not here, exactly. Clashing didn't have the magical theory to explain it, but the others were both real and unreal at the same time. He winced as he got close to the central pillar, turning to fly back and settle next to the others.

"There's a presence here, much stronger in the centre. It's like... a little ghostly feel from each of the individual platforms, then concentrated a hundred times over. It gives me a bad feeling..."

“It could be what’s powering the pyramid’s firing mechanism,” Cloud Cutter suggested, giving a reluctant look toward the central pillar, “Might just be my imagination, but I can almost feel it from here.”

“Te’summi... I’m afraid we’re new to these lands,” Set Sail said, dipping her head guiltily before the sphinx, “I know nopony’s been in here in forever, but if you've heard any legends about it, then you’re likely know best how we should proceed.”

"No sphinx has graced these halls for two centuries or more," the young sphinx said uncertainly. "But... these must be the graves of the ancient mystics. It is said they would sometimes descend to consult their ancestors, to satisfy their curiosity on some detail of spellwork. Something like our own Oracle, though not so grand or public."

Clashing Gale looked over to Set Sail. He knows that he has so many questions, about what he's become and why, and... He might not get a better opportunity to learn than here. Leaning in close as his gaze swirled with magical charm, he asks, "I'd like to go to the centre, to try to contact them. I don't want to miss this for anything."

Surprised at Clashing’s directness, Set Sail takes a step back saying, “Of course you can go. You’re right, you don’t... don’t want to...” The mare's body relaxed and a grateful smile crept onto her face. She seemed increasingly disoriented as she continued: “... miss this for... anything. You always know what to... I love how you’re so... hot...” Her voice trailed off into silence, hardly knowing or caring about what she said; just glad to be here with him.

Reef Skimmer was possibly the least qualified creature on the expedition when it came to pony social mores, but even he had to suspect funny business here. "Sails?!" he said in alarm. "Are you quite alright?" He looked accusingly at Clashing Gale. "What on Equus has come over her?"

Clashing Gale tilted his head. "Come over her? She's just agreeing with me. Anyway... I have to see this. I'm not leaving until I have." He trotted back to the cliff face, flared his wings and took off.

Rebuffed, the hippogriff began to question his assumptions. Were pony mares really so easily taken with a dashing stallion? Reef had thought the captain might be developing feelings for him, but perhaps the batpony was more her type? Bat wings or no the fellow was a pony, not an eagle-horse. In that case the little project Summer Scribe had suggested was likely his only hope for winning her affections.

“Seriously Captain,” Cloud Cutter was saying, as Clashing took off for the central pillar, “I know he’s a capable pony, but you can’t just let him do whatever he wants, like some kind of lovesick—”

Set Sail didn't even look at the others: eyes fixed on the batpony, she spread her wings and leapt off the platform, gliding happily after Clashing Gale.

“...aaand she’s gone,” Cloud Cutter said flatly. “Captain, come back!” she called out futilely at the diminishing pegasus mare, “What are you thinking? You’re not even Undead! I should be the one who...” her ears went down as the purple pegasus said under her breath in a surprising amount of emotion, “Dammit...”

"Well one certainly isn't going to let them-" Reef clamped his beak shut, unwilling to admit to Cloud Gutter of all mares exactly what he wasn't going to let them do. Looking to the only sensible female here, he asked "Care for a lift Grenelda?" 

The griffon's response was somewhere between a giggle and a snort. "Damn, Clashing's cute, but Set Sail is downright infatuated with him. What's she see in him?" She perked up at Reef's offer: no doubt kinda slimy, but better than sitting around like a pellet. The hen picked herself up and stretched her one good wing: "Alright. I don't wanna miss this!"

The hippogriff nodded and relaxed, letting his legs and tail turn back into bundles of club-tipped blue tentacles. "Now, erm, this may be a little, erm..." He awkwardly clambered over the griffon, holding her against his chest with a few of his tentacles, while the others prepared to blast water downwards. In a whoosh and massive fountain of spray that seemed very loud and intrusive in the still, sombre space, Reef Skimmer blasted into the air, wings spread more out of reflex than aerodynamic benefit.

Grenelda was treated to a whole new and rather disconcerting mode of flight, clutched in the tentacles of a mutant griff, suspended on water jets and pulled from side to side as Reef clumsily tried to manoeuvre around the floating platforms. Many were thoroughly soaked, but forunately he managed to avoid destroying any of the decorations. 

The pegasus and the sphinx were left to watch the unwieldy display from the balcony. “Under the—!” Cloud Cutter shouted from the balcony, “Fly under the graves, you blasted...!” 

"That is a... unique method of flight," Te'summi exclaimed, before looking Cloud Cutter in the eye and saying sadly. "It seems you must continue without me. I hope you will trade for whatever answers you find there."

Face-hooving, Cloud Cutter rubbed her forehead, before turning to look blankly at their remaining charge. “You can stay here if you like,” she told the sphinx, “But I’m going after them. Something’s not right about this. I can assist you in flight, if you did want to go over there too.”

Te'summi considered it for a moment, staring at the water elemental veering drunkenly about with the griffon hen squirming and screeching in his tentacles. "I... would appreciate that... if we could do it the pony way, not the griffon way?"

“That’s more like the... ‘Reef’ way,” Cloud Cutter said in a note of amusement, “I’ll simply fly below you and boost you up if you lose altitude. How about a good toss to get you started?”

The sphinx gulped, then spread her wings and nodded to the pegasus. Cloud Cutter's initial push gained her several metres of altitude, and it took only a couple more to raise her glide and allow Te'summi to land neatly at the central plaza. Reef and Grenelda splashed to a less graceful and much wetter arrival nearby. The former was blushing hard enough to tint his face noticeably blue even through his grey feathers, for some reason. "Ah Grenelda, do apologise, has been quite some time since one had a beautiful hen pressed close- err, quite." He took a few steps away and refused to meet her gaze as he tried to make his tentacles go away.

Grenelda huffed, flushing hard and looking away! "D-don't get any big ideas! I've already got a mate. And your slimy body is like..." She shuddered: maybe not slimy exactly, since her feathers seemed to be dry, but being held in those slippery tentacles wasn't her idea of a good time. She looked nervously back at the floating platforms, wondering if hosing several down with water counted as desecration - but no evil spirits made themselves known. So far, so good.

The group found themselves within a ring of monoliths, sentinels of smooth glossy stone standing three times the height of a pony. On close inspection each was engraved with the likeness of a felitaur, surrounded by runes and arcane diagrams of extreme complexity. At the base of each monolith a long shape was held by sturdy metal brackets - magical staves, each with its own unique and elaborate design, their crystals flickering with the barest hint of magic.

Clashing Gale stared around, feeling the presence - more real here, more awake than around the smaller graves... yet still not quite present. One monolith in particular drew his attention, pulsing with unseen energy as if reacting to their presence. It would take only the slightest touch to make a connection... 

Cloud Cutter touched down nervously behind the sphinx, braced for a titanic explosion or otherworldly howl. Fortunately neither occurred; her hooves clicked on the ground as she hurried over to Set Sail. The blue-and-brown pegasus was facing away from her, still watching Clashing. “Captain!” she hissed quietly, poking the other mare’s shoulder with a hoof, “What are you doing? You didn’t have to come here: it was supposed to be me and Clashing!”

“Me and... Clashing...” Set Sail sighed, with a warm smile on her face as she gazed his way.

“Are you still–!” Cloud Cutter wanted to stomp in frustration, especially since she really wanted to feel lovestruck, or angry, or anything at this point. “Captain this isn’t normal,” she said, “You can’t just follow him like a puppy.”

Set Sail just giggled quietly to herself, glad to be with Clashing right now. If only there was something he wanted her to do.

“Wait, this literally isn’t normal,” Cloud Cutter said flatly. “Captain?”

No answer.

She turned away from the besotted mare, looking around at the ancient obelisks. They filling her with a sense of profound importance, like great beings waiting to speak with her. Like Princess Celestia herself in repose, waiting for her to... but no, Clashing Gale was well ahead of her and about to touch the damn things.

The batpony still looked a little frustrated, the fire rising within: his need to understand how and why his squad were turned into these Undead monstrosities. These obelisks had answers? He was going to get them, whatever happened. As for the others... he'd warned them. This was his curse. Their curse: himself and Cloud Cutter. He could only hope that if this backfired, the punishment would fall solely on his shoulders. Clashing glanced one last time at his companions... then stepped up to the largest obelisk and placing a hoof on its cold surface, trying to project his questions into the rock.

In truth, it was not that dramatic - an upwelling of green light, a distant groan and a gentle rush of air - yet in the stillness of the crypt it drew all eyes. Clashing Gale hastily took a few steps back as motes of green light drew together into a cloud, then coalesced into a centaur-like form. The translucent likeness of an elderly mystic stared back at them, his paws floating ten centimetres off the ground in front of the monolith.

"I wake, I wake after so long..." A hollow voice echoing as if from some hidden well, dry yet full of conviction. The spectre's glowing eyes took stock of the group: "...to find not my brethren, but a pair of gatekeepers... two griffons and a thrall." His gaze settled on Te'summi: "Daughter of Ka'sanna, did you bring these strangers here?"

"No, mystic," the sphinx said submissively. "In truth they saved my from the spidrow - the vermin that gnaw at the heart of Fellis. These griffons and... ponies, found their own way into your pyramid. Like I, they seek not to pillage, but to learn." 

Grenelda wasn't impressed by the spirit's attitude. Should be grateful anyone even still cares enough to wake 'im up! She steadied herself, stretching her free wing, before head-bobing. "Yeah! You're the one who'll grant kickass spooky magical powers, I'm guessing?" Her raptor gaze was keen and eager.

The spectre's brows furrowed in annoyance. He stretched an arm towards Grenelda, palm open, and concentrated for a second. "You seek to align with Unlife?!" The mystic snorted. "Griffon, you know nothing of tranquillity, or eternity, or the Duty of the Gatekeepers. Seek your 'powers' elsewhere - perhaps Fire would relish your destructive instincts, or Dark your naked ambition."

Grenelda rolled her eyes and sighed. Passed over again - whatever, she's used to it by now. "Fine! Maybe I will." Hmm, that taste of fire from earlier did feel nice. And Dark does sound like it suits her. When were they getting off of this stupid island again? 

“Two... griffons, two... gatekeepers, and...” Cloud Cutter murmured, looking from Reef to Grenelda, Clashing and herself. And... “W-what have you done to her?” she cried out, as angrily as she could manage. Very much irritated and just wanting to rest, like always. She stalked up to the ancient spirit, saying, “You can’t just make her your—your thrall! She came here for my sake, so... so enthral me if you must, but let her go! Please!”

Clashing snorted at the griffon's hunger for power - didn't clearly had no idea of the downside. He watched as Cloud Cutter's anger take hold... this was the most passion she'd shown since he'd woken from the coma. The batpony's brow furrowed as she mentioned Set Sail's condition: suddenly he realised exactly what he'd done. The batpony took a step forward, but his objection died in his throat - it was already too late to stop the revelation.

At Cloud Cutter's outburst, the apparition's expression changed to confusion. "The thrall is not mine, but yours, little gatekeeper. Or..." a quick wave of his paw... "ah of course, your brother is the one who feasts on Life." A dry chuckle: "The wings should've have given it away."

“Clashing?” the purple pegasus asked in bewilderment, looking to the bat pony, protesting, “But she’s—she’s totally infatuated with...” and then solidly facing the bat pony stallion, Cloud Cutter declared, “You can enthral ponies?”

"Now that is simply not fair play," came a mutter from Reef Skimmer's direction.

Grenelda just peered over at Clashing with a silent smirk, her guess confirmed correct.

At the mention of 'feasting on life' Clashing Gale's face twisted with fury: how dare this creature call him a vile predator?! Yet rational thought soon overcame the rush of anger, as images of what he'd done back in the mine rushed into his head unbidden. The fire died as quickly as it had come, extinguished by the flood of disgust as he realised the spectre was completely right. Cloud Cutter's words only added to the horror, striking him like a physical blow. Clashing stumbled backwards, reeling away from the purple pegasus.

"That... damn it, Cloud Cutter, you think I actually want anything like this? I..." It was all making sense now, but... damn it, the more he thought about it, maybe... maybe it would have been best if he faded away after that drow attack. Ended it in a noble sacrifice, instead of going around mind-controlling ponies and draining life from innocent creatures.

“Why didn’t you tell us you could do that?” Cloud Cutter hissed at the stallion fussily, “Why did you—how long has she been—she was fine just a few minutes ago!”

The mystic just watched, stroking his chin. "Ponies... winged cousins of the unicorns? I have never seen the like, yet..." a shake of his head "...time fogs even my memory. I am Logoros, last Master of the Great Chamber of Gnosym, and I fear..." he looked to the sphinx "...perhaps the last Archmage of Conclave of Fellis?"

"Not the last, ancient Logoros," Te'summi confirmed, "but the conclave is likely... much diminished, compared to your time."

Cloud Cutter winced at the moon-eyed Set Sail, then turned to the amused-looking spirit, saying: “My apologies. Archmage? We have a lot more to learn than it might seem. If our need wasn’t dire, we wouldn’t be here bothering you, u-until we were more sure of... dammit the pony among us who’s... good at this speaking to people thing is a thrall now. We’re not... I’m not good at—at speaking with..." her ears went down, "S-sorry.”

Set Sail was feeling pretty good right now. Clashing sure was a handsome stallion, especially when he was being all dark and broody.

Clashing Gale shook his head. Logoros' words fell on deaf ears, as his mind churned with the implications of what he'd done. Instead he fired back at Cloud Cutter: "If I even knew I had the ability, Cloud Cutter, or had the slightest idea how to use the blasted thing, then I would have told you!!" The vampire pounded a hoof against the ground in frustration, then shook his head again. "Maybe it's just better if my soul stays here, in the crypt where it belongs... damn it all..." He didn't want any of this; especially if it meant his own allies were going to hate him. Nothing could be worth that.

“Clashing, I feel like... giving up too,” Cloud Cutter said grimly, “I should be dead, and... and I will be soon, I’m sure. But we’re not the only ones here. So could you please stop feeling sorry for yourself for one second, and release Set Sail, so that we’re not embarrassing ourselves here in front of these incredible ancient beings?”

Clashing Gale certainly wanted to stop the enthrallment; he'd never intended to do it in the first place. Set Sail was the Captain, not... his blasted thrall! Damn it all. The answers had come, and Clashing Gale was short on words to respond. All he could do was stare at the brown pegasus and try to will her free of his charms.

Set Sail’s placid smile faltered, as she murmured worriedly, “Clashing, what are you...?” The brown furred mare swayed then, her eyes losing focus as she said in confusion, “But I... I was... Clashing was... what was I doing again?” She stared around at her surroundings, her irises narrowing as she caught sight of Logoros.

“I am so sorry!” she shouted anxiously to the aethereal felitaur, “I was just a bit distracted thinking about Clashing and...” she bowed before the spirit, going down on her front knee, saying, “My apologies, L-Logoros.” She stood straight again, saying, “My name is Set Sail. These are my friends, Clashing Gale, Reef Skimmer, Cloud Cutter, and Grenelda. And a—a sphinx whom we are with. I don’t know her customs regarding n-names.”

Her muzzle scrunched in confusion as Set Sail asked herself, “Why didn’t I introduce...?” but she looked up at the spirit again, blushing and saying, “I don’t know why I’m being such a space case here. Cloud Cutter is right though. We are explorers from a very distant land, and we know very little of your culture and magics. I didn’t think we would find a wise spirit to speak with in here. I’m so glad we came to speak with you then. Did... did you just call me a ‘thrall'?”

"It seemed more polite than 'ambulatory snack'," Logoros said, a smile on his ghostly lips. "But perhaps... it seems your vampire friend is newly turned. Unfamiliar with his abilities?"

Set Sail’s ears went down, and she said faintly, “He... hasn’t snacked on me. We’ve found other methods so far. It’s been two weeks now. Are the magics in him going to destroy his body over time, like the other uhm, Eonites? Sorry, that’s... it’s just some creatures have been saying we’re... some sort of unstable.”

The shade considered her words silently for a while, then stretched out a paw again, seeming to probe the party's nature. "Quite the opposite. They are Gatekeepers now, newly unborn perhaps but sure as any other, and will exist as they are now for a span far beyond that of mortals - assuming fate doesn't intervene."

He nodded to the hippogriff: "Ah... a Champion of Water, come to commune with those drifting in the final abyss. A griffon of the sea! What strange things that fluid Element is trying in this age! You are welcome, as long as you show due respect." Then his gaze went to the sphinx: "Daughter of Ka'sanna, I sense you are not aligned yet you have mastered much for your few years in Skylands..." and finally Set Sail "...and, hmmm, not an elemental perhaps, but one favoured by Air. Quite the group of creatures to come pay their respects to old Logoros." 

"I am Te'summi, and I thank you for your praise, Archmage!" the sphinx said eagerly. "Perhaps you can teach me more? I offer in return... the foul doings of the Eonites! In their desperation to triumph over the Kaosians, they have corrupted the pods of the Goldlings, used them to force alignment using elements and creatures of their choosing. Ne'kuno - First of the Guardians - she says there are more and more every year. She said they... the false elementals are tortured creatures, not long for this world even if they survive the battlefield." 

"I can imagine!" Logoros said, shocked despite his remove from material concerns. "Such a thing is folly." A nod to the brown pegasus: "Now I understand your fear."

“We haven’t seen any pods,” Cloud Cutter stated, “But we did encounter a large influx of... the magic of these islands, which overloaded our device and left me and a number of others...” she looked meaningfully to Clashing, “...as gatekeepers, I suppose.”

“I can’t thank you enough though Logoros,” Set Sail said, sagging in relief, “It’s such a relief to know that my friends are going to live.” Glancing at the two undead ponies, she added squeamishly, “In a manner of speaking.”

Clashing Gale listened quietly, trying to make sense of it all. Gatekeepers... outliving other mortals by a wide margin. The batpony slumped at the prospect. He hadn't asked for any of this: enthralling his own Captain without knowing it would weigh on his mind for a long time. Now to hear he would outlive his friends... just something else he hadn't signed up for. Beautiful, wasn't it?

"They are free of the struggles and chaos of Life now, free to find peace and preserve that which merits preservation," Logoros explained, seemingly unaware of the two ponies' tormented state. "Yet I cannot believe that you braved the defences of my pyramid, solely for such reassurance."

Set Sail pawed the ground in thought, then coming to a reluctant decision, she looked up at the great spirit, asking, “If I might ask, do you know why the land sharks might have an interest in your island? They’ve been pressuring us for information on it, and even took some of my crew hostage at one point. We think—we know that they’re lying to us about their intentions, but we don’t know enough about the situation. "

"That’s why me and the others - except Te’summi of course - came to seek answers in this pyramid. Because there must be something precious it’s protecting, and they’re trying to trick us into giving it to them, with a bunch of empty promises and lies. I'd like to help protect it, if... if I knew what it was.”

"The dirt sharks? They were ever opportunists, traders or scavengers... yet not killers. Not in my time, at least." Logoros shrugged and looked to Te'summi for confirmation. "Tell me, how goes the rebuilding? Does the alliance stand in conflict with one of their colonies? Do they covert our wares, unwilling to pay fair price, or our secrets, so they might replicate them?" 

"Rebuilding?" Te'summi said, wide-eyed. "Archmage... there is little I could call rebuilding, at least in my lifetime. Save for your grand pyramid, we live simply, among the ruins of past wonders. The sharks raid the north, clashing with the Couatan... I- I am not certain of the details," she admitted.

“From what we've seen of Fellis.. I'd agree," Cloud Cutter said. "I don’t know what you were trying to rebuild, but the one city we saw was in ruins, those Abyssinians - or bipedal felines at least - just living in and around it.” Like Griffonstone used to be, she thought, though that would mean nothing to the alien spirit.

“All the rest of the land was abandoned ruins, a primitive village and wilderness," she continued. "The eastern arm of the island looked even worse: shattered and devoid of all life. A disaster clearly occurred here, and... your people still live, but they seem to be having trouble doing much more than that.”

“It’d help if they stopped jabbing a spear at anypony who tried to talk to them,” Set Sail grumbled.

"Truly?" Though beyond such mortal concerns as fatigue, the spirit seemed to slump. "Then... our plan failed. Yet, you say there is still a conclave? Still mystics on Fellis, returned from our Great Work in the Core? Why would they let things just... remain in ruins?" 

"Your people... do what they can." Te'summi said tactfully. "But they are few, fewer even than my kind, and so much has been lost. Perhaps because they could no longer enter this pyramid? The door has four seals, yet the Leonoids will not co-operate. I saw one once, and... they are wild, like unthinking beasts."

"And the mystics of your time could not make fresh defenders? Or even repair the old?" The spirit mimed an angry snort, then a frown. "If the seals remain unbroken, how is it you are here to commune with me?"

“Those uh... weren’t the only seals,” Set Sail said nervously, “We... kind of may have broken a... a seal of sorts, down at a... train station. I-it’s still mostly intact. We didn’t have time to figure out how to get past it without any damage, because those spidrow creatures were right behind us. When they catch you, they drain you of your magic until you... you die. There were so many bones.”

Grenelda adds, "We did turn the statues back on behind us. If they do try to follow us, they'll become fried spiders!" She cackles.

"Mystics reduced to poverty, spidrow in the tunnels, strangers breaching the seals! From bad to worse!" Logoros lamented. "Perhaps it was all for naught. Fellis was one a beacon of civilisation on the Fringe - now you say it is lost, a decaying corpse slowly consumed by parasites and scavengers. The sharks - they must covert what artefacts remain. Or perhaps just scrap metal," he said morosely. The spirit seemed to be getting blurry, even less substantial. 

“I... I suppose it can’t hurt to tell you at this point,” Set Sail said with a sigh, “Those land sharks I was talking about. They’re... they’re dying. It might not seem like a big deal to you, but they’re losing their lives for those pillars. They’re definitely lying to us about what they’re for, but I can’t believe they’d do that if it was just scrap metal. That’s why we came here, as I said, to find out why on earth this pyramid is killing them for harvesting it. I don’t even think they know what they’re there for.”

Logoros seemed to come back into focus, his head jerking around to stare intently at the pegasus. "So... the plan was a success. The bounty of Earth... the sharks seek to steal it?" He stared at something the ponies couldn't see, while his arms moved in a mystic pattern.

"The Eye has opened many times, in this last year alone. Have the sharks such forces that our power was not enough to defend Fellis? The creatures seek to wrest our gifts from their rightful recipients?" Anger slowly stirred in the ancient mystic, his detachment fraying under this affront to his legacy. Then he frowned again, as Set Sail's words sunk in. "Surely the purpose is clear? Given time, the ritual would provide such a bounty of materials, such riches for trade that the rebuilding of Fellis would be made easy?"

Grenelda clicked her beak: the gears were finally turning in her head, and she was nothing short of amused. "Oh, the pillars are meant to be the cats' nest egg? I hate to say it, but they think it's some spiritual ballahooey. They reckon that if the pillars are chopped down it'll sink the island, so all they've been doing is making it as hard as possible." She chortled: even Griffonstone hadn't made that mistake. "Figures! They haven't seen a helping hand in so long they don't even know what it looks like anymore and just bite it off." Her beaky grin radiated palpable amusement.

Clashing Gale had been listening carefully: questions about the curse still swirled in his mind, but this was vital to their mission... was that really what the pillars were for? A ritual... to create tradeable goods to facilitate the rebuilding of the island? It sounded crazy, but considering that the sphinxes bartered knowledge and the cats and fish-folk wanted payment in coin for their help, it did make some sense...

Her mouth dropping open, Set Sail was completely at a loss for words, blinking there at the implications of it. “That is a brilliant idea!” she said in shock, “The pillars are for inhabitants of Felis to harvest. Of course! But no one can get close because of that deadly beam this pyramid fires!”

"The sharks cannot get close! Not unescorted by a feline! But our people, of course the Eye does not open for them!" Logoros said angrily. "Do you think we would be so crude, so careless as to attack our own children?" He abandoned his monolith and began to pace around the plaza, paws still floating noticeably off the floor.

“Oh O-oh right that makes sense,” Set Sail said, in a daze that it was all a great idea all along, “Why... but why on earth...” She was left to her thoughts as her question went unheard with the spirit addressing the sphinx in the room.

Logoros was still ranting at no-one in particular: "The gifts of the Earth stand unharvested? How could they be so foolish!" He stabbed with a paw at Te'summi. "Sphinx! You must rectify this. Tell them to abandon such nonsense and get to work!" 

"I- I will, of course, great Logoros!" Te'summi said. "Ne'kuno and Everdream... he is the most senior mystic... they'll want to speak with you! Though... I am unsure, how much use we can make of these gifts. The mystics still work runestone, but they... I think they have supplies enough, scavenged from the old city? The Couatan, surely they could still mine, but few traders still come to Fellis, and..." The young sphinx bit her lip; surely the elders would know better than her. "I'm sorry, ancestor! It is not my place to question the Archmage." 

The spirit just looked at her sadly. "Do not be afraid to question the wisdom of the elders, young sphinx. If more had done so, perhaps Fellis would not be in this mess."