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Post by Asterian Starfall on May 10, 2014 21:17:15 GMT
Octavia tried to give Asterian a look of supreme indifference, but couldn't hold the expression as a giggle broke out past her lips, making her already-blushing face blush a deeper shade of grey-red. "If it's not too much trouble, sir!" she said quietly when she had regained her composure, then smiled warmly. "Thank you, Asterian. It.... it means more than you know." Asterian casually waved a hoof towards the hallway as he guided his escort to his study. He opened the door for her, letting her enter first. The room's walls were lined with bookcases containing books, scrolls, and loose pages of all sorts. Over on the far side of the room lay a fireplace and mahogany desk of exquisite quality. A fine study room, but none of these object were what he wanted to show Octavia. " Let me see... Octavia, you know the stereo-typical house of this size that has secret passageways?" |
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Post by Bane Emural on May 10, 2014 21:31:45 GMT
Aldorn aims his heat rifle at the opening and charges the gun. The heat rifle glows with a hot bright orange color. He fires the shot straight at the opening, penetrating into the drake. The charged heat shot would have melted anything in its path and explode when in contact with something hard. Aldorn reloads his rifle and ran straight towards Frost, trying to check if she is alright. "Please stay alive. The others are in need of you."
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Post by wanderingmagus on May 11, 2014 4:05:12 GMT
Octavia smirked. "I don't suppose there's a secret door in one of these bookshelves? Or perhaps the fireplace, as in that Daring Doo adventure book about the Holy Grail? I am somewhat familiar with popular culture."
*****
The Ice Drake bellowed and roared as the flaming projectiles entered through its one weak point, causing massive internal damage as it beat a hasty retreat, dragging its massive body away from the scene and into the blinding blizzard, out of sight. They were safe... for now.
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Post by Midnight_Aurora on May 11, 2014 5:12:06 GMT
From under the snow and ice where Frost had fallen, Aldorn could hear the sound of snoring. it wasn't loud but it was peaceful. A clear sign she was only unconscious, not dead. From the sounds of her sleeping she would be fine. It would be a while before she woke, though.
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Post by Asterian Starfall on May 11, 2014 17:41:18 GMT
Asterian snickered at what Octavia had said, even though he knew what he would do next. He pulled on one of the book, when suddenly, a loud clanking rang out. The sound of massive cogs moving, slowly opening the bookcase to reveal a staircase that seemed to never end. "Care to join me?" the young stallion asked.
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Post by wanderingmagus on May 12, 2014 19:05:01 GMT
Octavia grinned as her idea was confirmed. "With pleasure, Asterian."
She stepped up next to him, trusting and anticipating.
*****
Captain Swift Claw pushed his way through the snow to the scene of the battle, shielding his eyes from the icy wind as he approached.
"Ms. Frost! Mr. Aldorn! Are you all right? Is the danger over?
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Post by Asterian Starfall on May 12, 2014 20:35:05 GMT
Asterian began to walk down the stair-case, which ended just as the light went out. Asterian lit his own horn as he began to recall the story of the catacombs. "This passageway was built when I was having my study remodeled. I kept it completely off the construction plans to avoid the city knowing about it. Mind you it was a small fortune spent just to keep this a secret, but in the end, I think it payed off... Forgive the pun," he added hastily, noticing his accidental wording.
When the hallway ended, the two found themselves in a massive vaulted room, almost in the likeness of a Gothic cathedral in architecture. Among the walls, rows of valuable artworks and sculptures lined the room, all of them bearing a similar yet unrecognizable connection to one another. "This is the Vault of House Élire," the young master declared, a proud smile across his face.
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Post by Midnight_Aurora on May 12, 2014 22:46:47 GMT
Captain swift claw could hear, near the site, a faint sound of somepony sleeping in the snow and ice. It will take a while but Frost eventually comes too. She lets out a groan and stretches all of her limbs. She says, "That was the best nap I have had in a while. Did I miss anything, while I was out like a bug in the cold?" Frost stands shaking off much of the snow until only her frost armor remained. She looks to the guard and says, "I am fine now. I think I hit the ground a little to hard though. My shield was barely able to take all the damage before it shattered leaving me exhausted. Aldorn, did we get it or just drive it away?" Frost seams to be back to her old cherry self now.
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Post by Bane Emural on May 13, 2014 2:11:23 GMT
Aldorn stands up and looks in the direction of where the Ice Drake went. "We drove it away, but it may come back and probably with friends." He looks at Frost. "Are you able enough to travel?"
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Post by Midnight_Aurora on May 13, 2014 5:05:18 GMT
Frost nods and says, "I feel like I am worth a million bits. I had exhausted myself earlier trying to open up its weak spot for you. All I needed was a nap. The snow and ice the drake covered me in was also a big help. Lets check on the others. You must be freezing without your heater unit, Aldorn."
Frost offers Aldorn a hoof to help get him inside before he freezes in the cold. Despite her being a being of cold, if one were to accept her hoof she is quite warm to the touch.
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Post by Bane Emural on May 13, 2014 17:18:45 GMT
Aldorn hesitated at first, then takes Frost's hoof. The clothing covering him feels cold, and yet its warm on the inside. "I can last a longer than the average pony or griffon. I have travelled from the borders of Equestria to here and there were times when my heater would run out of heat. But I am grateful for the help you are giving me." He smiles behind the mask covering his face.
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Post by Midnight_Aurora on May 13, 2014 17:31:09 GMT
Frost smiles and says, "As an old famous mare once said, 'I never leave my friends hangin.'" Frost helps him back to the cave with the children. The cold shell of hers does chill him but there also seams to be a shared warmth that keeps him warm as well. It seams that frost is not entirely a cold child after all. If she could learn of this heat within, she might be able to counter her heat weakness for when the world is right and free again.
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Post by wanderingmagus on May 13, 2014 21:22:36 GMT
For all that Octavia had seen before, the look on her face was still one of awe as she took in the Vault, soaking in the sheer scale and beauty of the place.
"It's... marvelous, Asterian. Truly marvelous," she whispered when she caught her breath.
*****
Captain Swift Blade helped the ponies back to the cavern, where the various foals ran up to welcome their "heroes" back.
"YOU FOUGHT A DRAGON!"
"Was it scary?"
"So. AWESOME!"
"Now now, give them some room," chuckled Lieutenant Warm Heart as she made her way through the herd of foals to greet the three. "Welcome back. I've managed to keep the heater and shield going, but we should get going if we want to get back to the Duchy before we run out of power, especially considering the possibility of another delay."
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Post by Asterian Starfall on May 13, 2014 22:56:28 GMT
Asterian smiled again, looking to her. "Then I have a feeling you are going to enjoy this..." He walked over to a rope dangling down in a compartment, which met the floor and seemed to come from nowhere, some many feet up. He attached a device to his belt and the rope itself so as to free his hooves. Starfall motioned for Octavia to grab hold of him, saying as he did, "Come. There is one last thing I want you to see."
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Post by Midnight_Aurora on May 13, 2014 23:35:02 GMT
Frost nods to the guards and says to the foals, "We didn't fight it. We got it to leave by show of force. I think it would be more concerned about its own life then what it would think of as an easy meal. but yes we did face it and for ones of your size it would be scary. I had faced them before but a good show of force making them think I was stronger then I actually was got them to leave before. it is only because we were in a bigger group that we had to maybe injure it a bit to make it understand. This doesn't mean, young ones, you should go and try the same thing. These adults would be worried to death about your safety. please for Celestia's sake don't try to handle such things until you are old enough to defend yourselves properly. we won by chance not by skill this time. Ice Drakes are far more dangerous to the young then us adults. Now please promise me, you won't try to wrangle one yourselves until you are much older and have a good set of friends to help you, ok."
((Yes, she did just lecture the younglings.)) |
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