Partners In Peril: Felix and Loki

[hot_mess_express]

[Whether willing or just, there comes a magical shove to force you and someone else through the door leading down into the earth.]

[The passageway is cold, but at least it's well lit. Albeit with flames of blue fire.]

[It goes down, down, down, until you reach the first part....]

Comments

[malignstar]

Yeah, uh, Solar's not doing so hot. This is her trial.

[bestbrotherever]

She looked so- different. And acted unlike her. But- I can see her influence on these trials, and not simply the ornamentation. One may get through alone with ease and leave the other to rot, or we may work together and both experience hardship but both proceed.

[He waves at the door they came through.]

This room makes it clearer than the previous, but they appear the same. I would suggest we flip both switches and both continue. Though...

[malignstar]

The neutral can't be that bad. I don't see any spikes this time.

[bestbrotherever]

Or one could go through when the portal is green to scout ahead. We are currently unhappy with a red portal, it seems likely that whoever is left in this room will not be harmed.

[malignstar]

That's not a bad idea. Do you want to check it out since I had the easy ride last time?

[bestbrotherever]

I would not object. [Said with a shit-eating grin, so it's clear he means he'd really like to.]

I do find it likely that we will have to both go through and pay whatever price, but perhaps I can... arrange the next room before we are harmed.

[malignstar]

I like your proactive thinking.

[bestbrotherever]

[His grin gets wider. It's very nice having his suggestions appreciated.]

So. One switch. Do you suppose it matters which one we choose?

[malignstar]

Doesn't look like it.

[ For just a second, annoyance flashes over his expression. But it's gone in a blink. It also doesn't seemed directed at Loki in particular. ]

... would it seriously kill you to trust someone? It worked out fine last time.

[bestbrotherever]

[Loki strolls over to a pegasus statue and flips one of the switches. He also seems even more amused by the muttered statement.]

[hot_mess_express]

[The lever goes down, the magic turns green, and there's a faint ticking in the air.]

[malignstar]

[ He's probably just going to ran his fingers across one of these tapestries while Loki is gone. ]

[hot_mess_express]

[They are certainly old. Though perhaps not as old as their state would imply.]

[Some of these tears look like they were caused by something sharp then simply falling apart.]

[And the two ponies do seem similar to Celestia and Luna form Solar's memory.]

[malignstar]

Why don't you want us to work together, Solar?

[hot_mess_express]

[Well, that's the million dollar question, isn't it?]

[malignstar]

[ Going to see if there's anything noteworthy about these crumbling statues other than their switches. ]

... he hasn't even been gong that long. You can save your bitching for the moment.

[hot_mess_express]

[The seem just like Pegasus guards like he saw in that one memory. Broken as they are, with armor as part of the carving.]

[But a closer look does reveal an oddity between the two. One has bat wings, and the other has flame detailing on their wings.]

[malignstar]

[ Which is the one that had its switch altered? ]

[hot_mess_express]

[We'll say the bat one.]

[malignstar]

Guess I should go with the one that looks more like Solar then.

[bestbrotherever]

[Loki will take his time coming back, but he does return, looking somewhat vexed.]

Well. There appears to be another easy path forward for one. I am not sure what setback would befall us should we try to continue together, and I fear I may have used our only chance to backtrack.

[malignstar]

Wait, we don't each get a chance to go back? And what's in the other room?

[bestbrotherever]

[He closes his eyes, mentally forming a precise picture.]

The room is fairly featureless, containing a high wall with the doorway to the next far up and a staircase leading up to it. The floor in front of the stair is a depressable panel that currently is green; the doorway has a similar panel in front of it as well. When I started to ascend the stairs, the panel turned red. I attempted to stand with one foot on the panel and one on the bottom stair, but it did not seem to like that; the panel began to flash and the room hummed. The panel returned to green when I retreated further from the staircase. I had some hope that the switches in this room might affect the colors of the panels in the next, but I assume you did not hear my request for an experiment. I chose to return, as I had already started on the path back.

The inscription on the floor was:

'Often those below look to those on high,
For those on high often have an easier time.
Though those below often find themselves blind,
To what they can see.'

[He opens his eyes finally and sighs.]

I did not test the door at the top of the stairs, but I suspect it would have opened easily and let me through. Another scenario where one has an easy path should they abandon the other. With this being a recurring theme, I think we are best staying together. The true test may well be whether we will give in to the temptation to advance at the expense of the partner.

[bestbrotherever]

[Loki chuckles and steps up to the portal. Right before stepping through, he turns back to address Felix.]

You should know, many would consider you a fool for trusting me.

[And through he goes.]

[hot_mess_express]

[There is a tingling feeling from the magic and away he goes.]