It's About Time, part 2.5: Journey to Tartarus

[no_vampires_plz]

As the three humans, one Hyrulian, one unicorn, and one demon-dog press forward, the character of the woods around them changes. The undergrowth gets denser, the canopy above lets in less light, and the flora in general is much more... exotic than what one usually sees in the woods by the lake.

"Now, I know that the pathway to Tartarus starts somewhere in this general area," says Twilight. "But I don't know of its exact location. It's not something that ponies really want to advertise."

Comments

[no_vampires_plz]

Twilight is, for the moment, too far ahead of the rest of the group to hear what they're saying.

"Come on come on come on--"

[gorgonfondness]

Mia catches up alongside her on the carpet.

"Twilight, hop on before you get exhausted," she calls to her. "We can keep up better in the air."

[sky_child]

Given that his belt is little more than a string keeping the sash around his waist, he immediately reaches out for Julie's hand.

He's not entirely foreign to the sensation of being carried in flight, for reasons he'd...rather not get in to. But being carried by a human--well. This'll be interesting.

[basic_powers]

He's just going to go slightly limp when 84 lifts him up by the harness, it'll be easier on her if he isn't struggling or moving.

"...dangit...we're going to need to catch up..."

[fiss84]

"Cool," is all 84 says as she pours on the speed. Hope you boys are good at ducking and dodging cause while 84 does her best to watch out for branches, she's not perfect. "You guys see that dog?"

[no_vampires_plz]

Twilight doesn't have to be told twice; she leaps up onto the carpet, only mildly surprised at how readily it supports her weight.

"I think I see him," she calls, squinting into the distance.

[gorgonfondness]

Mia doesn't reply at first, concentrating on the carpet as it adapts to the unfamiliar passenger. The carpet holds firm but they lose a little speed during the adjustment.

"We'll catch up soon," she assures the unicorn when she can. "Keep lookout while I fly."

And the Guildmaster stays quiet, focusing as they soar through the skies.

[sky_child]

It's a lot to keep track of--watching out for branches, looking out for the dog, and keeping an eye on Twilight after she calls out--but he manages to get a good idea of where she's looking, and peers in the same direction.

[basic_powers]

..There's something to be said for having had so much practice at dodging things coming at him at high speeds. Most of the leaves and twigs don't hit him, and he certainly doesn't get caught on the branches.

Granted, Moon Shadow's pulling maneuvers out of the 'muppet in a red devil mixer' school of acrobatics, but it works. It's enough that he tries letting out a howl to get into contact with Cerebus.

"AwrrrooOOOOOooooOOooooo..."

[no_vampires_plz]

There's no response.

That's unlikely to be a good thing.

[ooc: pausing for the night due to thunderstorm.]

[fiss84]

84 is thanking all the flight practice with wiggling bodies Coach Rockslide put her through as Link and Moon Shadow's dodging would be trouble other wise. She's just about to Mia and the Twilight now and calls out, "Try calling again Moon Shadow!"

[no_vampires_plz]

No need. Cerberus is standing a few dozen yards ahead at the edge of a small clearing. Near the center of said clearing is a single plant--a low-lying bush with broad green leaves surrounding a single cluster of little purple flowers. But those flowers are giving off an overpowering, intoxicating scent. Accompanying that scent is a near-irresistible temptation to draw closer and pick the delicate blossoms for yourself. Even Cerberus himself seems profoundly ambivalent, with one of his heads struggling to hold back the other two.

"So good--no, bad, stay away--but so good--"

[gorgonfondness]

It's about here that Mia can multitask enough to really see what's going on.

"What's in that clearing? It's got Cerberus acting strange."

But as soon as she asks, she picks up the scent. It's dulled a bit by her protective trinkets but still draws her lower.

"It's..." she starts, covering her mouth and nose. "Whatever that is will charm you."

Her concentration wavers and the carpet alternates rising and descending as she fights to resist.

[sky_child]

Link isn't so well-protected, nor is he at all knowledgeable about charms. His grip around Julie's hand loosens, his gaze fixated on the flowers. If Julie lets him go, he won't have a hard time diving towards them...

[basic_powers]

There's a startled glance to Mia before Moon Shadow looks up to Julie and shouts. "Hold your breath!"

-click- -shhnnt-

His helmet just sealed shut to the armor with a faint glow. He's not sure if doing either of these will help anyone out, much less him and Julie. It might not have been fast enough though, he caught some of that scent himself.

[fiss84]

And it's a good thing Moon Shadow calls that as she was just beginning to think those flowers were really pretty and she wanted one for her mom. Instead she holds her breath as Mia's words dawn comprehension and she tightens her grip on Link.

Only problem is, now she doesn't know what to do and has no way to ask. Hoping for the best she pull sup so Moon Shadow has a good view of things and is hopefully in range for his powers.

[no_vampires_plz]

Twilight wobbles on her perch on the carpet, visibly fighting the urge to leap down and dash over to the plant.

"I... I've seen that," she murmurs. "In a book... it was..." She can't remember. The scent in the air makes it all but impossible to think straight.

[gorgonfondness]

It'll be good if she doesn't, as Mia has managed to pull up again.

She figures she's got about one spell in addition to flying the carpet. She has items that can dispel the charm but they're in her bag and require searching and distribution. They'll have to do something about the plant itself.

"I'm going to try something," she says.

And the carpet gently descends again, though there doesn't seem to be a struggle to go up again as Mia casts a new spell.

Out of nowhere, a rumbling can be heard. Soon there's a rush of snow blanketing the clearing and, hopefully, muffling the enticing aroma.

[no_vampires_plz]

It works. Cerberus blinks and shakes all three of his heads sharply, looking much more alert than he did a moment ago.

[sky_child]

He'd been too caught up in the charm to pay attention to the warnings. The declining scent gradually pulls him out of his daze, until he is aware of his tenuous grasp on Julie's hand. He tightens his grip.

"...what just happened?"

[basic_powers]

"Enticing scent trap plant."

...yeah, he's just going to be shaking his head, because for a moment there...it just seemed like laying down with that plant would've made his worries go away.

"Twilight, would it be bad if I wanted to set that plant on fire?"

[no_vampires_plz]

"Yes. Very, very bad," says Twilight. "That's not just any plant, it's a--Cerberus! NO!!"

But it's too late. Cerberus is still a dog, and, like all dogs, is eager to play in the new-fallen snow. He bounds excitedly across the snow-covered field, his right hind paw coming down right on the spot where the plant was.

Quick as lightning, thin brown tendrils shoot up out of the ground to wrap around the demon-dog's hind paw, and start pulling downward. He struggles and roars, but within seconds he's completely vanished into what is now a gaping hole in the ground.

[tag to Julie]

[fiss84]

There is no way a puppy, demonic, three headed or otherwise, is being eaten by a plant monster while 84 is around! She swops closer to the ground yelling, "Drop off!" and lets go of Moon Shadow and Link, then dives for the hole with a haymaker backed by all the righteous anger a super powered 10-year old can muster.

[gorgonfondness]

Mia lands the carpet near the boys, her head clear now.

"Are you all right?" she asks, shaking her head one last time.

[sky_child]

"I'm fine," is all he says before drawing his sword and darting after Julie towards the hole.