A few minutes after we arrived in the Blind Eternities there were several reasons we still hadn't left. Not the least of them being my Sister Julie screaming still sitting on a ledge of solidified chaos screaming inhumanly.
Perhaps I should have warned her about it first.
It stretched endlessly into the distance, but its edge was always within reach. The continuous flow of chaos twisted through the non-air making noise felt only in the soul. Worlds flashed by and through us as we stood on the small platform I had willed into existence, even as the aether winds tried to crush it back into the chaos. Luna and myself had power to shield us from it and nullify its effects though I was the only one who exerted any true control over it.
Julie had appeared a little outside my bubble of calm, and circular platform. But I had quickly stretched it to accommodate her before she was swept away.
I had forgotten it could make a mortal insane if exposed for too long.
Richard and Rika were trying their best to comfort her throughout the ordeal. Luna and I had joined them soon after.
Neither of us were masters of mental magics, the only thing that could really save her in the long term. She had looked into the infinity of existence and comprehended the truth of the Multiverse, of life, and of death. It was not something anyone could see without coming back changed. Though she wouldn't remember most of it with such a short exposure.
I wafted over some blue mana and swiftly put her to sleep.
"Luna I need you to keep her dreams peaceful until we can help her alright?" She nodded settled her wings around the unconscious form. "We need to find Jace, he's the best suited to fixing something like this, now that Teferi's lost his spark that is."
Once Luna was done I focused on all I could remember about Ravnica.
Years ago the guilds of the city-world had nearly fallen as Ravnica entered into the Multiverse from its twisted pocket of the chaos flow. But they had risen again to rule the Plane, It was obvious Jace would have joined the Izzet guild if he could, but we would still need to find him. We needed someone who knew the ins and outs of Ravnica. An organization which kept careful track of all those living on the plane… The Orzhov
"You're not going to like this, especially you Luna." I looked down at Julie. "But if we're going to help her we need to visit some things first. The leaders of the single most vile and secretive organization on Ravnica. They represent all underground dealings, Greed, Politicians, and Banks. And If the memories I have are anything to go by… they owe me a favor."
OoOOoOOOoOOoQ
"This new meeting of the Obzedat Council shall now commence." Today's appointed speaker glared around the room, seeing everyone nod in agreement he continued. "There are five items on the agenda for today. Usually there are four but this is a special case we will discuss at the end of the meeting."
A scribe behind the desk sat writing down all the proceedings, trying not to screw up as his predecessor had - It was the fools blood in the inkwell before him.
"Firstly These creatures" A door opened up to one side of the chamber, displaying a multitude of bound prisoners. "Have been accused of interfering with guild dealings through theft, in some cases theft of property in others theft of a life." He looked around the room with a bored expression. "I honestly don't care all that much about individual sentences, so all in favor of turning them into eternal ghost-servants please spit of throw ectoplasm in their general direction respective to your capabilities." Everyone in the room spat or globed a thick hunk of ghostly energy at them.
"Its unanimous. On to the next piece for today." He continued to ramble as the door slammed shut on the stunned and screaming or crying prisoners.
"Second, Nicol Bolas's treasury had gotten increasingly ridiculous in its size, does anyone here dare steal from him since he hasn't been seen for decades?" Not a soul said a word. "I thought as much."
"Third, our dear associate Hejrin has been apprehended by the Boros and given to the Azorius to face his crimes. It is likely he will be executed and not allowed to return as a ghost." He chuckled and looked around the table at the assembled hierarchy. "Does anyone give a damn?"
"No?" He asked glancing around the room again.
"Such a shame. We will all morn his passing. Now all in favor of overriding his will an last testament please say nothing."
A silence engulfed the room for nearly half a minute interrupted only by the scribe writing down each members reactions.
"As none of us appear to be noble enough to stand up for him, his wealth will be evenly distributed among each member attending todays council." Several snickers went around the room as another member - Sgxvus - had been unable to attend the meeting. "As no objections have been heard the decision stands."
"Fourth, Sorin Markov remains a pain in our sides, what exactly, are we going to do about him?"
Instantly 5 beings 'walked into the room. One was a dark Angel of untold power, three were mere mortals, and one was a 'Walker none in the room recognized. Though they did feel a horridly familiar aura emanating from him.
Guards stormed inward from their posts at the meriad entrances to to council chambers. But one of the few dark Angels found amongst the Orzhov growled at them to cease their advance. She bowed low to Luna before retreating back to her own post, as if she knew instinctively of the princess's powers and prestige.
"We seek Jace Beleren, where can he be found?" The Planeswalker spoke aloud. Ignoring Luna's thoughtful gaze directed toward the slowly growing crowd of angels outside the main doors.
He's with Sorin Markov, here's a map." A map appeared and was handed to the 'walker.
"You have my thanks, I will be returning to make a withdrawal from my account here later." He waved his hand and the five disappeared. "Until then."
A few council members yawned. and the meeting resumed. "Well, thats Sorin taken care of then." a few other members nodded in agreement. The angels slowly dispersed, talking softly amongst themselves.
"As for item number five." He looked hungrily down at the paper as he read off the dispatch. "A new plane has opened up to the multiverse, one ready for exploitation by our forces. The only problem is that anyone entering this world is turned into a pony…
OoOOoOOOoOOoQ
Within the confines of Sorin's estate the three old friends and acquaintance sat out in the garden beneath the sunlit skies, and breathed in the fresh air contentedly. Things were peaceful there, no one would disturb them but Sorin's new imp. So for many hours that day they had simply sat and talked, though no matter what topic they chose it would always stray back to the topic of Equestria and Fluttershy's so called friends.
Jace was the least put off but it, having yet to live even one full life span. But the two non-glittering vampires had learned its significance over the centuries, especially when it was often all one had. The idea of one's friends turning on you was not foreign but it was certainly something even these undead viewed as cruel.
Fluttershy was finally starting to feel like her normal self again, though she had always been fragile she bounced back quickly. She was the one most adamant about giving her friends a second chance, though Sorin and Angel repeatedly tried to talk her out of it.
"Lets assume I agree with you about the rest of them." Sorin was asking. "The rainbow one supposedly represents loyalty, but loyalty to what if not her oldest and closest friend?"
Jace cut in before fluttershy could respond. "But thats precisely it Sorin. They had known each other for most of Rainbow's life and Fluttershy never showed any sign of her past, her age, or anything to do with magic. She probably in that moment felt more betrayed than anyone else did." Angel was furiously glaring at Jace. "You have to understand that they, like myself are mortal beings and have no where near the wisdom even I possess."
"Which is why I can forgive them." Fluttershy said. "Though… I-I'm not sure about Celestia."
An aurora of colors blossomed had forth from behind a tree as she said the last word. Marking where a breach had occurred in the wards of Sorin's estate.
"You needn't worry about my sister dear Fluttershy." Luna said as the five of us walked up behind them. Luna's eyes hardened with anger. "I have much that needs to be said to her."
Sorin was shocked at our appearance and his blade quickly raised in an aggressive stance. Jace had reacted far more quickly however. His illusion rising with blue mana sparking in its hands. Even as another appeared behind me with a knife at my throat.
"Who are you?" My own illusion grinned as a crystal blade curved around Jace's throat as well.
"Actually we're friends of Fluttershy's, so no more threats now please." I pulled the knife away as the illusion he clutched began to disipate. "Its a pleasure to meet you Jace Beleren. I apologize for what just happened, but I need your help."
"And of course you couldn't just ask nicely." He sighed, exasperated. "You know this happens every single time right? Garruk comes in swinging his fists yelling about Lilliana, or the Consortium attacks me as part of their damn entrance exam. Next time find some other thrice damned mind-mage." I smiled and nodded, still motioning for him to follow me. We moved off slightly with my family to start work on my sister while Luna remained with the others.
Fluttershy had risen during our own confrontation and was standing between Sorin and Luna, trying to calm them down before something broke out. Eventually Sorin put away his blade and raised his hand in greeting. "It is a pleasure to meet you Princess, especially since you seem to share my opinions of Fluttershy's young friends."
"Most of them anyway." She glanced at me as she said this and Sorin followed her gaze, a frown appearing on his face for an instant as he looked on though ti quickly disappeared. "Gabriel has been very helpful to all of us, and seems to make a good first impression on nearly everyone."
"He did seem really nice that first day." Fluttershy spoke up.
"Yes, well thats all well and good but how did he break through my wards?"
Completely unaware of the conversation I sat beside Julie while Jace poured through her mind, apparently still able to talk during the process.
"What do you mean you just ignored the wards?" he asked.
"Well I simply cut off our connection to magic during the teleportation process. Then it restored when we arrived, causing the wards to realize they should have been activated and sending out the breach lights." Jace paused in his search so he could store that information somewhere important.
"You can cut off the flow of magic?!"
"Only with the permission of the targets."
"That should still be damned impossible. Magic permeates everything, it is the very essence of existence."
"Here maybe, but not for me. My home plane had almost no magic so we're used to not having access to it in nearly any form." It was something I had discovered only recently. Though The theory behind it was one of the many memories I was still processing.
Jace shook his head in amazement as he continued erasing the experience from Julie's mind. We sat like that for a few minutes until…
"Done."
Julie groaned and sat up as I released her from Luna's spell. My father and sister looked at her with relief, before she promptly punched me in the face.
"That's for being a moron Gabriel." Jace chuckled at my expense.
"I may have let her keep her memories of who did this to her." He admonished. Somehow managing not to flinch at my glowering gaze.
"I guess I deserved that." Sighing as I cut off the flow of blood down my nose.
"I'm not so sure about traveling with you anymore." Julie shuddered.
"I'll leave the decision up to you after we visit equestria. I admittedly got there on a bad day, but there couldn't be any place more peaceful in the multiverse." Rika was nodding in agreement and almost bouncing excitedly, reminding me of Pinkie Pie actually… scary. Richard seemed to be in shock, not that I could really blame him but he probably wouldn't recover until after a nice long sleep.
At a wave from Sorin, we headed down a small path towards a small gazebo in the garden. We circled around the edges and waited for someone to speak first. Seeing as no one was looking all that likely to do so I took it upon myself.
"Its good to see you again Fluttershy." I smiled and nodded to Sorin. "I must admit that even after hearing your story I still had trouble believing the two of you were friends." Stepping forward I reached out my hand towards Sorin. "My memories are void of any mention involving a proper greeting, but where i'm from we clasp hands and shake. Its an honor to meet you Sorin Markov."
We shook and in doing so he leaned forward to whisper in my ear. "I'm only giving you a chance because you didn't abandon Fluttershy, even after only knowing her for a few days. Theres an aura seemingly familiar to me surrounding you, but I can't place it. That aside I'm sure," he raised his voice and leaned back. "its a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
We both turned at the sound of sniffling to see Fluttershy with tears in her eyes.
Seeing the looks of concern she laughed slightly. "Its nice se-eing my new and old friends getting al-along." I smiled, though I shared a bit of an awkward look with Sorin.
Over the next few hours we listened to each other's stories. And with all our tales told we had only one thing left to do, so we left for Equestria. Our departure noted with great sadness by the legion of dark angels who had been converging upon our meeting.
OoOOoOOOoOOoQ
A small letter popped into existence, but rather than being swallowed up by the blind eternities, it was willed to remain, and the will was strong.
In the vast shifting chaos of the blind eternities sat a world alone. And upon this world there sat a figure alone pondering the mysteries of eternity. Neither felt lonely, the planet because it had long since died, and the Planeswalker because its emotions were buried deep enough so they might as well not exist.
The appearance of the letter roused whatever thoughts were flitting through the twisted passages of the once great and beloved mind. Years of dust fell from as the planeswalker moved for the first time in decades.
Eyes flashed black as the letter was read. And an unearthly chuckle escaped before a cry of purest rage shook the very foundations of the once great and flourishing world. Only when the tremors had finally ceased did it find voice.
"I'm coming Gabriel Arkanym, and soon you will know the truth. Even as you watch your life torn apart, you will know it to be your fault."
With a great rending of heaven along the leylines of hell, the world stood barren once more. The planeswalker had only two rings of which it thought: Power and Revenge.