Things Are Not What They Seem: CYOA Part 7

>RP Status: 70 means eligible for romance.

>PP: 30

>TS: 45

>PC: 55

>RD: 39

>FS: 37

>R: 32

 

>Anon is with Princess Celestia. Both of you are trying to catch up to the rest of the group. Right now, you're at the edge of the Everfree Forest where the tracks left behind by changelings dragging away AJ's unconscious body enter.

 

You and Celestia both look down at the ground, finding the tracks of a few other ponies next to those left by the changelings. The rest of the group must have already come by here. Your gaze follows the path, leading into a dense forest ahead. An eerie aura resonates from the area, making your hair stand on-end. Whatever lied in there, it definitely wasn't friendly.

 

"You're right to be disquieted, Anon. The Everfree Forest is not to be taken lightly."

 

Your attention shifts to Celestia, who's face and tone has now turned much more grim. The time for laughing is over.

 

"What lives in there, exactly?"

 

"Various beasts of prey, many of which pose a sizable threat to the average pony. However, it is not the beasts I feel we should fear, but rather, the predator. The Queen."

 

"You think she's in there?"

 

Celestia turns to the forest and lifts her snout, almost as if sniffing the air. "I do."

 

(cont.)

 

 

 

 

 

"Then the others could be in trouble. Let's not keep them waiting." You do your best to sound confident, but you're pretty sure your voice cracked there.

 

"Indeed." Celestia starts forward and you stick by her side, eyes on the surroundings more than the trail. The two of you walk for a short while, always keeping alert and focused. There isn't much to be said, and the tension falls on the two of you like a soft blanket. The air becomes more stingy and thick the deeper you get, and to top it off, the sun is setting.

 

It starts to feel like the path would never end, but eventually you and Celestia come upon the rest of the group. Rainbow, watching their backs, is the first to see you and rushes up for a hoof-bump, which you gladly return. Twilight runs up to her teacher and the two embrace briefly, while Fluttershy and Rarity offer greetings and express their relief at seeing both of you okay. You return their sentiments.

 

Twilight brings you and Celestia up to a cave mouth, where the tracks lead into. However, it's covered by a green glow, almost like some some kind of shield. As you and Celestia examine it, Twilight explains that they'd been stuck here, trying to find out what it is.

 

"Objects can pass through it," says Twilight, "but we don't know what happens to them, if anything. It could be a proximity alarm, or a scanner, or anything, really."

 

How to do handle this?

>Open response

 

 

 

 

>Throw a boomerang

 

"Hey, Celestia, you think you could whip up some kinda magical-boomerang-thingy that could tell us more about the barrier?"

 

Celestia and Twilight both turn to you and very slowly raise an eyebrow. You stifle a laugh at thier reaction. "Magical... boomerang... thingy?" asks Twilight.

 

"Yeah, something we could throw through it, takes in data about what happens, then comes back so we can retrieve the results."

 

"I believe I could create something that suits the purpose," says Celestia. Looking around, she finds a branch and levitates it over. She squints at the branch, her horn glowing intensely for a moment before fading to the dull glow used for levitation.

 

"Here, try this." She tosses the branch to you and you hesitantly catch it. Doesn't look like a boomerang at all, but if she thinks it'll work...

 

"Here goes," you say, throwing the branch at the barrier.

 

It flies oddly straight for being such an imbalanced projectile. Upon hitting the barrier, the entire green wall flashes, then returns to normal. The branch seems unaffected. You expected it to simply hit the ground, but whatever spell Celestia had on it snaps it backwards, flinging it towards you like it was attached to your hand by a rope. The barrier flashes again when the branch passes through it, but nothing else happens.

 

You hand the branch to Celestia, who pokes at it with her magic, then gives a verdict. "It seems entirely unaffected, except for a dulling of the spell I placed on it. The composition of the branch is still wood, and the magic signature is still definitely mine, albeit weaker."

 

What next?

>(A) Go through the barrier

>(B) Send a pony through the barrier (specify)

>(C) Go through alone to test it

>(D) Open response

 

 

 

 

>(B) Send a non-magical pony through

 

The only evidence you have thusfar is that it affects magic somehow. The safest bet would be to send a non-unicorn through. One pony comes to mind...

 

"Hey, Rainbow Dash, could you come over here?"

 

Rainbow zips over to you, hovering at eye level, and offers a salute. "Sup?"

 

"I know this may sound sketchy, but we gotta get past that barrier to help Applejack and Pinkie Pie. Could you try walking through it? From what we figure, it should only affect magic, and even then, only a bit."

 

A cocky grin emerges on her face. "Are you kidding? No problem! Like a silly barrier would scare me." She turns around and trots toward it.

 

You wish she was at least a little more cautious. While she may be fearless, you were still getting some bad vibes from that thing. Rainbow hesitates a second at the barrier, but only to throw her mane back before trotting through. The barrier flashes again, and you tense up, but nothing happens to Rainbow as far as you can tell.

 

"Feel fine?" you ask.

 

"Walking through was a little weird, but I'm doin' great!" She lifts off and flies around as much as she can in the confines of the cave. "Flying's a bit tougher, but it's not a big deal."

 

The effects seem mild based on Rainbow's findings and the stick test. And as much as you hate to admit, this cave is your only lead.

 

What next?

>(A) Have everyone go through

>(B) Leave the magical ponies (Rarity/Twilight/Celestia) at the entrance and forge ahead

>(C) Test further (specify)

>(D) Open Response

 

 

 

 

>(B)

 

There's too much risk in bringing a magical pony along. That barrier could react any number of ways to Celestia's and Twilight's magic, given how powerful it is. Besides, you'll need a secure escape route once Pinkie and Applejack are secured.

 

"Twilight, Rarity, Celestia, I think we should go on without you. That barrier is only really showing a reaction to magic, and you've got a lot more than that little stick did. We'll an escape route that isn't crawling with changelings, too. Is that alright?"

 

Rarity nods without protest, but Twilight and Celestia seem much more concerned.

 

"Are you sure you'll be fine without us? There are sure to be a lot of changelings down there," says Twilight

 

"Not to mention the Queen herself may be in your way," Celestia adds. "Even I was unable to defeat her last time we met."

 

Taking a deep breath, you shake your head. "The risk is too great. While you are safe out here, there is still hope. If we are overwhelmed in the hideout, you can always return in force."

 

Celestia's iron gaze cuts through yours, her brow furrowed with grim determination. "I do not like it, but I have found in the past that if I put faith in my subjects, it will be rewarded. I shall let you go. We will remain outside and guard the exit."

 

"Thank you, Celestia. Let's move out, everyone!" You wave Fluttershy over, holding up at the barrier. As she walks up to you, you prepare to offer support and encouragement, but she walks straight through the green wall without hesitation. You're taken aback, about to ask her where the courage came from, when she answers the unspoken question.

 

"My friends need my help."

 

 

 

NEXT CYOA THREAD AT SAT FEB 9 1PM GMT-6. BE THERE!