out of the frying pan

The world is ending sooner than expected.

A sense of dread chased Cassius’ heels as he galloped towards the Spectral Marsh. His thoughts focused only on Glasgow, her state, and the soon to be child that would enter this unstable world. He couldn’t shake the thought that he’d done something terribly wrong, having potentially brought a child into the world at the most inappropriate time.

Upon arrival the remnants of smoke and ash, green light spewed from the caverns of several bodies. Wide eyes searched for the familiar gray mare, but the crowd was thick and obscured his view. Panic set in, he yelled for her name – “Glasgow!” Shoving past bodies, maneuvering beyond those who could not move. He yelled again, but this time – he had finally caught her. Out there on the fringes of the crowd. Facing the demon and his army of corrosive smoke; he cursed underneath his breath, attempting to make it by her side.

A step too late, a heart beat away – the ghosts she cast were no match for the sickening substance that erupted around her. “No!” The stallion bellowed, his soul ripped with her, as her flesh peeled and dissolved before his eyes – and he’d inhaled the last of what was left when he finally stopped in her place. There was only the gold goad, tossed carelessly into the ground from where it was released.

All of it was all too familiar for the stallion. The memories surrounding his childhood reunited with the present turmoil, threatening to snuff out his resolve. It was hard to breathe, to simply ‘be’ – as he gingerly picked up the goad with his horn.

“Mah?”

Her voice was merely a whisper on the wind. But it tugged and wrestled him away from the earth that embraced his only love, sweet love – and turned, ushering his feet and limbs to move in the direction of the voice. It was there, and it was undeniable whose voice it was.

A daughter.

The gods cried out, and their bodies began to give. “Stay by my side, Noëlle.” Was all that he could manage. Pushing her with him, all the while afraid and cautious that he might step on her – he was vigilant as he arrived upon the portal. Determined to see her safe and sound.

Cassius felt nauseas in the strange funnel. Unsure of what to make of the white lights and encroaching darkness; at least he had enough sense to brace for the exit. Tip toeing about the foal, and encouraging her frail body forwards. There were others ahead, gathering, mares with children of their own. He settled quietly, just outside of their circle as his daughter pressed into him.

He regarded her small form, the exhaustion playing on her façade as it pressed against his chest. Even if there were strangers ahead, perhaps they might spare her milk – Noëlle did not look like a day old.

Before he could urge the little one on, the amulet around her neck began to shriek. He rushed to snap it off. The smoke burst before he could completely tear it away, and plumed over the foal’s chest – and under Cassius’ face.  The faint, mocking hints of green lingered for far too long – procuring a growl from the stallion.

“Are you okay Noëlle? Are you hurt?” He could feel the light burn. But he was uncertain how it might have affected her – how would he know for sure? Without realizing, his tone remained tense and agitated by the events prior. His voiced booming more so out of concern and worry, perhaps more loudly than expected for the young one.

ooc: hope you don't mind us tagging along :O

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{link to SWP participation} n/a

Magics: n/a

Enchanted items n/a

Rift-god / Kaos items
n/a

Amulets : 0

Companion/s :
n/a

Species change (if applicable) :n/a

Requests: nope

WARNING: IONA HAS LOST HER DAMN MIND

I O N A In my defense, the moon was full... and I was left unsupervised. Iona’s fears about the Rift and it’s nefarious nature was confirmed almost immediately.  No sooner had she spoken aloud had something started to happen.  Iona had thought very little of the amulets she wore around her neck.  They were little more than trinkets to her.  As a creature who thought very little of magic, they weren’t prized treasures to the painted mare.  More baubles than anything.   Until now. The vibrations are subtle at first, but due to their proximity to her windpipe, Iona is instantly aware that something is amiss.  Iver, distracted by the most recent bout of vertigo, is entirely oblivious to his bonded’s distress. The vibration continues until the ringing is nearly unbearable.  The painted mare furiously shakes her head to clear the noise, but nothing stocks the horrible sound.  Then the burning starts.  She grits her teeth, unwilling to cry out as it feels like the amulets burn clear through her skin.  A thin sheen of sweat breaks out on her coat as a sense of impending panic threatens to alight in her gut.  This was an enemy she could not possibly fight, the very reason that she loathed unseen magic such as this bullshit.  The burning was soon replaced by cold, and it was so cold it seemed like it would burn her skin in its own right.  And then it shatters and for a moment, Iona thinks she’s dead. She must be. The painted mare collapses to her knees, pain rolling through her body in waves.  She struggles to catch her breath, dazed and shaken.  Her heart struggles to fall back into a steady rhythm, but it soon falls back to something resembling a normal pattern.  She struggles back to her feet, disoriented.  The world seems to have shifted, somewhat, but she writes it off as a reaction to this...ambush.  She still feels strange, but can’t put her finger on what feels wrong.  The painted mare blinked away the haze from her vision, and was slowly able to make out a familiar shape before her. Alysanne.  A mixture of relief and confusion stirred in her.  ”Aly. You’re okay.  But what the fuck? You’re green?”  And then Naerys was there too, another relief, but her words were confusing too.  Obviously Alysanne was different, but she hadn’t even considered the possibility that she had changed too.  Iona squinted her eyes at Nae, finding that there were differences there too.  Her wings, for one.  And she was obviously pregnant.  ”What the hell? Nae. Your pregnant?” The painted mare’s thoughts were jumbled and unorganized.  Well clearly if Alysanne and Nae had changed in some way, I must have too…” The thought cut off as the painted pegasus turned her head over her shoulder to inspect her own changes.  For the span of two heartbeats, there was nothing but silence.  There was simply...nothing.  Iona could not understand what had happened to her.  It simply...did not compute. Her eyes glazed over. Her mouth popped open, though no sounds emerged. Until finally… “What...the...fuck…?” It emerged as more of a panicked squeak than anything.  There was true panic now, as Iona extended now downy wings.  She looked between Aly and Naerys’ pleadingly, only now realizing that she had to look up at them.  Zoeya offered her healing skills and little Iona hurried over to the her niece.   “Can you fix this?” she asked, trying to control the note of desperation that she knew was obvious. Others appeared from the strange shadows.  Lyanna, whom she recognized and tried not to resent for looking no worse for wear.  A stallion with a child who appears to be about baby-Iona’s age. But she can say nothing to them, she can hardly acknowledge them.  Not that she had the greatest social decorum before this but she’s simply...too overwhelmed by all of this shit. “THIS ISN’T FUCKING FUNNY. YOU ALL GET MAKEOVERS AND I GET THIS? WHAT KIND OF PLACE IS THIS?” Iona protested with a stamp of a tiny hoof, her voice coming out in an angry squeak.

image credit

The chaos of her reunion with her family did wonders to hold Alysanne together - she didn’t have time to break, not right now. Not to mention there were things happening to her - to her family. Soon after she found Iona her amulets fractured with a cracking noise and the blood within them splattered against her side. She grunted and hissed with the pain, her eyes closing against it as she willed herself not to scream. When it faded, it left behind the most terrible itching sensation - but that could be ignored. Especially now that her daughters were coming over. She opened her eyes to see Naerys come over - but there were a few things different about her eldest daughter. For one, she was very pregnant - about to give birth any second kind of pregnant - and for another she was now sporting a pair of the most magnificent green wings Alysanne had ever seen. While Iona chose to focus on the first part, Alysanne’s chaotic mind blurted out an exclamation about the second. “Naerys! You’re green!” But then it registered that they were saying the same thing about her. Green?? “Wait, I’m green?!” She looked (down) at Iona in surprise, questioning softly “Like dad?” before twisting her head and realizing that yes - she was very much green! Zoeya was there a moment later, also showing her surprise at the changes in her family. Her muzzle reached out and nuzzled her youngest daughter when she came over, thrilled that the girl had made it through the portal with them in one piece. She reached down to nuzzle Ajax, as well, when he came to settle by her feet - thankful for the griffin and his watchful eye on her daughter. She grinned brightly at the lightning girl’s request for Iona to stay young so they could play. Iona asked whether Zoeya could fix what had happened to her with her magic and Alysanne nodded her head encouragingly. “Zoeya, love, can you try your magic and see if it helps your aunt?” Another welcome and dear face joined them, joking about how they no longer matched. “Lyanna!! Oh my dear I am so glad to see you, matching or not.” It was very, very hard not to laugh at Iona as she raged in a high, squeaky voice, and Alysanne’s composure nearly broke with the stomp of the tiny hoof. Her mind felt wild, delirious, and she was having a hard time taking her sister seriously at the moment - but through the chuckles that were rising in her throat she managed a frown at the language her sister was casually throwing around in front of the foals present. “Iona! Watch your language, please. We’ll get you back to your full-grown self soon.” She didn’t know how, really, but there had to be a way. This place seemed to enjoy playing tricks on them - perhaps there were gods here that they could appeal to. “Don’t think I won’t put you in a time-out.” Her chiding was light and teasing, but it hid real fear. Despite the fact that Iona clearly had the mind of her older self, Alysanne was now pregnant, with a very pregnant daughter, and two foals to look after in what was proving to be a very dangerous place. The shriek caused by someone else’s amulet breaking brought her attention to the pair nearby and she called out to them, concern in her green eyes as she looked them over. “Are you both alright?” She didn’t recognize stallion or filly, but that hardly mattered. It was so much easier to focus on everyone else around her than to give in to the pain that had fractured her heart. “I'm Alysanne - this is a strange place, you're both welcome to stick with us. I think strength in numbers is going to be important here.” *ALYSANNE lying on the edge of a star

@Naerys but also since there's so many of us, let's say post order is a lie <33

naerys

The shatters were amplified - the sound causing her to jolt her head upwards and backwards, front hooves only slightly leaving the ground for the briefest of moments. But unlike the pain so clearly etched on her mother's face, she is filled with an entirely different sensation - a soothing wave of comfort that she felt herself nearly relax into. She felt fine. No, better than fine and somehow that made her skin crawl. This place had turned her aunt into a foal (except, clearly her mind didn't revert) and caused her mother pain. Petyr didn't feel right either, the connect felt weak, almost fuzzy. Yet the exploding amulets left her feeling soothed, like some sort of angel rubbed a healing balm all over her soul. And she was suddenly surrounded by this soft, delightful floral smell - as though she were standing in a summer meadow filled with pretty flowers.

WHY IS THIS SO PLEASANT?

Oh wait. Here comes the unpleasant part. 'What the hell? Nae. Your pregnant?' Iona's comment causes her to shrink a bit, clamping her wings more tightly against her sides (as if that'll hide it), diverting her eyes to the ground beneath her where the ever familiar and ever persistent passionflowers grow. Flushed with embarrassment, she doesn't know what to say. "I..." but then Aly speaks. Green? She is green too? "Wait... what?!" she blurts out, whipping her head around in an attempt to see what everyone else saw. Sure enough, her wings were now green and shiny. She extends her left wing and reaches towards it with her nose and that's when she discovers the floral smell. "They smell like flowers..." she adds with a light smile. That's when she notices that the feathers extend to and down her chest as well. Brimming with curiosity, the girl shifts to look everywhere else as well - only the discover the same feathers growing down the backs of her fetlocks.

"We match now, Petyr!" she declares softly to the bird nestled upon her back and though she  could feel his delight, it was muted as though he were exhausted or his emotions were coming to her from a long distance and she couldn't hear him the way she could back in Helovia. It was concerning but she could tell he was alive and had hopes that he would be back to his old self soon. Unlike Alysanne, however, Iona's squeaky protests (and cursing) sent Naerys into a bit of a giggle fit. Alysanne's motherly chiding only served to make it all worse. For the moment, her pregnancy was forgotten. For the moment, her shame is gone. And as Alysanne moves to greet the stallion and foal nearby, she was off the hook for providing an explanation (at least for now). Naerys turned her attention to baby Iona, Zoeya, and Lyanna. "Are we all otherwise unscathed? We should stick together and as much as I hate to say it, we should probably move away from the portal and try to find somewhere safe... whatever that might look like here."

Naerys moves closer to Zoeya, or perhaps waddles would be more accurate, and attempts to ruffle her foal-fluffy forelock. She offers a sheepish smile to Iona, uncomfortably hugging her sides but otherwise remaining silent. Her reasons seem stupid now that she clearly isn't dead but what's done is done - she would be a mother soon. She isn't ready but that hardly matters anymore.

musonart!

@Zoeya ;D

More?

But the shadows don’t linger long—there more screams to discover.

the Rift

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[ TRASNFER NOTES : CASSIUS ]

The Rift snaps vindictively at your heels, before the shadows move onto more delectable creatures.

Zoeya

The girl smiled softly as her aunt cursed wildly pointedly ignoring her inquiry. Iona was something different all together, and she loved her for that. Then she turned her attention to her mother bu Zoeya didn't really mind that her mother was green now. There wasn't anything wrong with the color of growth and life. At least she wasn't red; the color of death. Then Alysanne said her elder sister was green as well. Curiously she turned and gazed at her sister, Ajax doing the same. Sure enough her sister's wings were the same green as her companion's feathers. Ajax tilted his head curiously before looking back at Zoeya wondering why she ahd been left unaffected. Did Kaos not think his bonded was good enough to be change? No, surely she was to perfect to be altered in anyway. His eyes sparkled warmly as he gazed at the lightning girl.

Her attention snapped back to Iona as she asked Nae if she was pregnant. Her jaw dropped slightly as she turned back to her sister. Was she even old enough to be a aunt? Her ears quiver thoughtfully as she watches her sister. The bay lady steps closer saying her wings smell like flowers. Carefully she extends her muzzle forward and inhales deeply; they really did smell sweet. A soft giggle escapes her muzzle as she smiles up at her big sister enjoying her playful nuzzle. "I'll be there for you when the time come sister." She smiles meekly up at her thinking of the magic she had discovered in herself. She would never leave her sibling in her greatest time of need.

Then Iona directs a question at her and she looks at the tiny lady nervously. She had just found out about this magic of hers and had no idea if she was capable of doing such a thing. She swallows roughly glancing at her mother nervously. Shakily she turns back to her aunt, "I... I can try..." Worriedly she steps forward and tries to call the magic up again. Warmth starts in her chest slowly moving up her neck to her head before ending at the base of her horn. Lightning shoots from the tip of her horn spreading out to her aunt, but nothing seems to happen.

Her head drops dejectedly as she glances shyly up at her aunt. "I... I'm sorry Auntie, I can't..." She stands there for a second before stepping back to her sister's side head still low. Suddenly another appears and she brightens instantly, "Miss Lyanna!" She yelped bouncing happily to the black and teal lady. She tries to press her nose against her shoulder smiling happily. She was like a second mother to the young filly, and she was very happy to see she had survived. Then two more appeared a very young girl, and what appeared to be her father. She smiled shyly at the girl before stepping towards her glancing up at her father for approval. Ajax trotted over as well cooing softly as he stopped next to his bonded. "Hello, I'm Zoeya, and this is Ajax." Her voice was a soft warm barely more than a whisper as she lowered her head smiling softly at the foal.

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Talk
Words;; 541

image credits
- table by Niki -

so i listen to the    wind for an answer

The Kaos amulet she carries begins to vibrate on arrival, and soon the chain she’d carried it on shatters and the thing comes alive. It begins to crawl up her skin, digging little feet in never had before into her skin as she goes. She tries to shake it off, to catch it between her teeth, something, but she cannot manage to dislodge the little black gem. Instead, it bites her ear and she yelps slightly as the gem becomes an earring. She shakes her head, her ear slightly numb, sure she hears a voice whispering in her ear. It’s indistinct though, the words blurred and lost to the rest of the commotion of the portal.

She shifts her attention to the group around them, noting all the changes, wondering if the rest of them had things biting at them too or if they had all just turned green. What a stunning family now, and she feels even plainer than she did in Helovia. Not that she’s ever really minded feeling plain, though, so this at least doesn’t bother her. Iona is still the worse for the wear here, and it’s hard not to laugh as Alysanne tells her that she will put her in a time out.

She’s thankful as Zoeya comes bouncing over to her, giving her an excuse to look away from Iona and her stamping tiny hoof before she really does start laughing. That, she knows, will not go over very well and she’s not in the business of upsetting baby-Iona’s. One day that baby-Iona will be full grown again, and she knows better than to be on Iona’s bad side, regardless of size. Though still, it was kind of hilarious. ”Zoeya!” she says, grinning warmly as the girl reaches out to press her nose against Lyanna’s shoulder. Lyanna reaches out to the girl to the return the greeting if she can, before adding, “So you have healing magic now? Like mother like daughter, it seems.”

Her attention is diverted quickly though by the shrieking that pulls their own attention away. She’s not sure she’s seen the stallion before, but there’s something familiar about the child. Her teal eyes fall on the necklace around the girl’s neck. She knows that horn. The sorrow comes rushing back in, erasing the momentary distraction provided by green Aly and baby Iona and Zoeya’s precious greeting. Her eyes meet the stallions and she doesn’t even know what to say. Her heart breaks all over again, remembering her friend’s death, feeling awful because there had been nothing for Lyanna to do. She hadn’t even tried, she’d left.

“Are you both okay?” she says softly, her tone different from the normal concern that tinges Aly’s voice. It knows just how much they have lost, but she can’t bring herself to say Glasgow’s name, can’t bring herself to even confirm that her suspicions are true.

lyanna

art by yewrezz

I O N A In my defense, the moon was full... and I was left unsupervised. "Well. Everyone looks fabulous so let’s wrap this up,” Iona said, bitterly, with a theatrical roll of her eyes. The painted mare filly was getting a headache.  All of this was too overwhelming for her to process.  She already didn’t like this place, but it was obvious that there was no going back to Helovia. Not after...everything.  Was this Kaos’ magic? However her attention was diverted by little Zoeya, who had made a valiant attempt at returning Iona to her appropriately-sized body.  Iona hated seeing the disappointment on the girl’s face, and reached out to touch the girl’s shoulder. “It’s alright, young one, don’t apologize. This place is clearly more magical than any of us,” she says, in an attempt at comforting her youngest niece. “Looks like I’m staying like this for the time being if that offer for playdates is still open,” she finished, with a wink, masking her own disappointment. ”Whatever this place is, it’s clearly not safe here.  I agree with Nae, I think we should find somewhere safe away from the portal to regroup…” she suggested, aware of how ridiculous such a request must be coming from a tiny body, but found comfort in the fact that most everyone here knew her before their dramatic transformations. Plus, she didn’t feel at all comfortable sticking around in a clearly dangerous place Nae so obviously pregnant and Zoeya was still so young too… And she didn’t even know that Aly was pregnant too. She just hoped there was somewhere that would offer some degree of sanctuary to the rapidly expanding family in this strange new place.

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Iona out. We'll archive next weekend so y'all can get final posts in. :)