Chapter 6 Wrath of Rakyut pt 5

The cold and dark were gone as if they never were. Grimm returned to his chipper self as he turned to the adventurers and put his hands in his trench coat pockets "Alright, I'mma head on home. Later gator!" And vanished in an instant with no flash of magic or pop of air.

"... guys?"

".. ya?"

"... Have I mentioned how terrified I am of Grimm?"

Some time later...

The heroes made their way back to the healing crystal along with the unconscious Ezekiel and rested up. Ezekiel guided them through the maze to find two more artifacts needed for the sealing, a chalice decorated with clays and a dagger carved from the same crystal as the heart in the north. After being fully healed and looting the dead Outsiders they put the final key into the complex elevator and made their way down to the final chamber of the tomb.

"This is it... That alter down there is where we can perform the ritual. In her final form Rakyut will be nearly invincible but she can still be trapped for eternity. Sometimes Immortality can be a curse." Ezekiel said.

The adventurers walked Into a small room and found a large sarcophagus in front of an alter.

"Place the chalice upon the alter" Ezekiel instructed. "and pull out the dagger"

Ezekiel sat coiled up in front of the altar. "Chalice of the enemy... dagger of the crystal heart... blood of the divine..." he nodded to Onyx who used the dagger to cut the angel serpent. The holy blood dripped into the chalice and a magical barrier surrounding the sarcophagus disappeared. Ezekiel began chanting in an ancient language.

A scurrying could be heard, the adventurers turned to see Rakyut in her final form approach, completely rejuvenated with a swarm of scarabs at her feet.

"Keep her busy! The ritual must not be interrupted!" Ezekiel yelled. The adventurers rushed the immortal mummy.

Onyx swiped his rapier around and thrust but Rakyut just stood there as the attacks bounced off. Myze's axe landed in her shoulder biting slightly into the skin but instead of blood, sand came out only to stop and slowly craw back into the wound as it closed. "oh that's so unfair..." Myze said. Rakyut punched him into a wall.

One of the locks on the sarcophagus unlatched.

Grotimnos hooked her leg and pulled tripping her but as she was about to hit the floor she stopped in mid air and levitated back onto her feet. Spinning she backhanded Grotimnos into a column smashing through it. Onyx put his whole body weight behind a thrust and stabbed a few inches into her side. But again the wound closed as Rakyut turned back to him and breathed fire on his face lighting him up.

Myze tackled her into a wall or tried to but her unnatural strength stopped his charge as he was lifted up and thrown to the ground. She held out her hand and a glow surrounded it before blood hungry locusts flew out swarming Myze.

Another lock unlatched.

A large chunk of rubble cracked into Rakyut's head. She slowly turned to look at Grotimnos "... did you just throw a rock at me?"

Instead of a response from him, she had her feet soaked in oil from an unlit brazier that Onyx tipped over and then dropped a torch into. The mummy was set ablaze and growled, another flick of her hand and a spectral hammer appeared that slammed into Onyx. As she was looking the other way, Grotimnos swung his scythe into her back and kicked at the back of her leg forcing her to one knee. She rose up spinning around with an uppercut that flung him into the ceiling and as he began to fall she was going to follow it up with a knee strike but Myze who had dipped his axe in oil and touched the flame to creating a fiery weapon swung his axe at her first biting into her back and flinging her into another column cracking it. The three adventurers stood again side by side, injured but unyielding.

A quarter of an hour passed as the latches each unlocked and the adventurers were slowly beaten down. Finally the last latch unlocked.

Rakyut threw Grotimnos into a column and kicked him through it as Onyx jumped her from behind latching onto her neck and started stabbing her throat repeatedly with one of the kurambits. She roared as a wave of force shot out form all sides of her knocking him off.

Myze shook his head as he stood back up, the serpent staff began to glow on his back and transformed into a golden spear. Ezekiel's divine power was taken from his body and transferred into the the weapon. He fell to the ground and weakly said "Seal... her..."

Rakyut had one foot on top of Onyx's throat while one paw held Grotimnos up chocking him. Her free hand waved and summoned a spectral kopesh. She held raised it up ready to finish them both.

Myze grabbed the spear and held it like a throwing javelin, with a roar he launched it at Rakyut impaling her through the chest. She dropped Grotimnos and stepped back clutching the pole.

The coffin flew open as spirits of the damned rose in a mass of black, they lunged for Rakyut who screamed and flailed as she was hoisted into the air and dragged into the coffin, she tried using titanic strength to pull herself out, but the spirits of the underworld were stronger, angrier, and more vengeful. spirits of serpent priests, of innocents, of families; the underworld snatched her in a stranglehold and yanked her limbs inward into a bound mummified position. The lid slammed shut, all the locks latched and the magical barrier re-emerged sealing the mummy forever.

The Adventurers-no... Heroes. Had won.

Grotimnos Fell to his knees "Zeeeekkkeeeeeee"

The Angel lifted his head weakly "still.. alive... barely... heh."

The Necromancer let out a breath of great relief, everyone collapsed and panted heavily letting their sore muscles finally rest.

Some time later the adventurers left the tomb and took the remainder of the day to rest up before reaching the small village.

The heroes went over the treasure and divided it up amongst themselves they spend some time the next day announcing their victory, celebrating and selling unneeded loot; afterwards as they watched the partying Onyx spotted an old mare pushing a cart along the desert sand just outside the village. With a gesture to get their attention the Rogue lead the Heroes to the stranger.

The Mare looked up with a decrepit old face and smiled "ah hello there dearies" with a thin raspy voice "tell me, have you ever thought of having a pet? A furry or feathered or scaly friend to accompany you in your quests?"

Grotimnos tilted his head "What's your cutie mark mare?"

Myze jerked up at the Necromancer's question and snapped over to him "Woah! Grotimnos; you can't just ask random ponies to pull down their pants and show you their cutiemarks! It's improper."

Onyx frowned "umm... Myze, I don't know about you but pants aren't really easy to wear."

The old mare chuckled in good spirits "would you care to peruse the pets?" as she said this she held up an orb that flashed opening a portal. "Within here are epowerful creatures that Fluttershy once cared for."

The Rogue took a step back as the portal flashed open "you expect us to just... trust this portal and the things you say?"

The crone shrugged "well it's up to you, but if you don't take the opportunity you'll never see me again" she said cryptically.

Onyx looked around, "Am I the only one who has issues with this? I'll go in but you guys go in first" he motioned to the other Heroes. "I'll go last. To make sure nothing goes... wrong."

Myze hummed "I don't trust this at all. Onyx, watch her; she makes a move you don't like? Well, can't blame you if your blade slips can I?" he unsheathed his battleaxe and approached the portal warily.

The Heroes entered into a pocket dimension filled with unusual creatures. Faintly in the background they could hear singing "otters and seals with massive appeal!" "Otters and seals do not fly" a few animals stood out.

A quaint cat made seemingly of solid shadow with glowing yellow eyes devoid of pupils, a giant spider with a star on its back, a large yellow an red bird with small embers glowing on the edges of its primaries, a very large white wolf with heavily muscled jaws, a swarm of strange looking bats sucking the juices out of apples, a large but not colossal transparent blue bear with star patterns, a six eyed dog with charred flesh that puffed flames on exhale, a pony sized chicken with serpentine qualities surrounded by stone flowers, and a blob of green slime that kept reshaping itself and had 2 ever so slightly curved lines in place of eyes.

Myze perused and asked the crone how much they costed.

"They do not cost anything, these pets need an owner they are social creatures and it was Fluttershy's wish that they find a friend... granted a violent friend as they are... well battle hungry."

Myze approached the Dire Wolf, and began petting it, having made his choice. The Dire Wolf barked and licked Myze's hoof "I dub thee Winter. May you strike fear into the hearts of our foes."

Grotimnos bent to be at "eye level" with the slime and smiled "You must be starving, I'll be sure to find a heap of food for you, some might even say a "pony" heap... how about.. Gulpin? Yes that's a good name."

Onyx stood in place, looking at all the various animals. He looked at the cat with slight curiosity. He looked at the spider and cockatrice and felt a little creeped out. The bear and bats didn't catch his interest, and the hellhound seemed too angry. He walked around for a bit and sighed as he sat down. As he'd been sitting, a small yellow feather landed on his muzzle. He looked up and noticed the phoenix sitting on a branch above his head. "Oh, hello there. You know...she would've liked you." he stand and look at the majestic bird. "How about it... Eternia?"

With their choices made, the Heroes left the area carrying new allies and as they did so they came across the team of scholars who were now free to excavate the tomb and carry with them a massive amount of ancient scrolls. The leader waved to the adventurers and beckoned them over. "Oh you wont believe what we found! These scrolls detail long forgotten skills, secret arts, and even spells of ancient pony times! It speaks of legendary warriors, rogues, even spellcasters!"

"Ho then. Are you willing to allow us to peruse such treasures?

"Of course, you lot made this find possible!"

Myze smiled "Very well then my good sir. We graciously accept your kind and hearty gifts!"

Reading through the ancient scrolls the Heroes gained the forgotten knowledge of ancient pony adventurers. They studied over them learning ancient tactics while patting their pets, The ice wolf Winter, the firebird Eternia and the acid blob Gulpin.

With the village saved, Dodge Junction now begged for new denizens. The Heroes assisted in rebuilding the major structures, assisted the new villagers in bringing in seeds and farming tools; soon the city became a true home. Days passed and turned to weeks until a month had passed, infrastructure was rebuilt and farms were settled. New families set up shop in the newly built stores and the Heroes using the precious literature spread the wealth of knowledge amongst the new citizens. Rumors spread across the remnants of the races about a city in the south brought back from ruin. A place where the remnants of the Equus races could live life as their parents did.

Grotimnos hummed as he sat pondering the meaning of death watching the newly formed Dodge Junction flourishing with life. So distracted was he that he did not notice the Outsider Elite watching him from a tree with a pair of binoculars.

The Outsider in question was known as Brextal. A persistent if incompetent Outsider struggling to prove himself. Unfortunately for him, he was... hmm... less than effective.

"What are you doing?" a Yak cow asked looking up at the very poorly hidden spy.

Brextal waved her off like a buzzing fly. After a few seconds he froze and slowly turned to face the female who merely stood there blinking.

"Um..." his small brain raced for some kind of believable excuse, but what would suffice to explain an Outsider Elite sitting in a tree with over half his body poking out of the leaves holding a huge pair of binoculars?

"um... look! Elephant!" he said pointing behind her.

Amazingly this worked, the Yak turned around in surprise and confusion. Brextal took the opportunity to leap out of the tree and splat on to the ground with a belly flop "GOD... DAMN IT!"

The curious cow walked over to him and squatted, "are you OK?"

"Super secret escape tactic!" he screamed and poked her in the eyes with 2 of his fingers.

"AH!" she shouted in response bringing a hand to her face and Brextal ran for his life.

After hiding behind the school (he's not a creep he swears!) for a half hour to be safe he exhaled in relief and psionically rendered himself invisible. Sneaking along the edges of the city he finally spotted the Heroes who killed the Outsider excavation party sent to that old cat temple. Grotimnos hopped off of a small brick wall he was sitting on and greeted his 2 allies as they neared "Hey Myze, hey Onyx."

The mountain of a pony nodded "Aye, we've just about done with this place. They should be fine without us now. What say we restock our rations and supplies? Check what wares there are now that the city is back up and running then head to..." Myze consulted a freshly drawn map of Equestria gifted to him by one of the new citizens, a skilled cartographer. "Ponyville? That one looks closest."

The Necromancer nodded as did the Rogue, the trio headed for the market district to gather some new equipment, the whole while shadowed by Brextal who was for some reason or other pressing his body against the walls of the buildings and side stepping along to follow even though he could just... walk in the road since he was invisible...

Myze used some coin from the fruit of adventure to purchase a grappling hook, a rain/travel cloak hybrid, and portable smithing tools.

Brextal hid within the hanging weapons in the back of the shop taking notes on the Heroes, its important study your prey, watch them, know them.

Onyx looked around and after some thought purchased a grappling hook and some extra rope, some hiking boots, climbing horshoes and grip horshoes.

Brextal was so invested in his note taking that he didn't notice his invisibility wearing off. A feminine small waifish Gryphon walked in from the back door and started screaming his head off, Brextal whipped his head around in panic "no, no, no! shhh shhh!" he said quietly.

Back in the front of the store the Heroes looked towards the backroom door.

"Um... is everything alright back there?" Onyx asked.

The Dragoness shopkeep shook her head "ya that's just my assistant. He gets bouts of panic attacks sometimes just try to ignore it."

Back in the backroom...

"Please just shut the fuck up!" Brexta whispered harshly.

"AAAAAHHHH!" the Gryphon started ripping random weapons from their hangars and hurling them at the Outsider Elite.

"Woah!" he jumped to the side. "What the hell man?!" he shout-whispered.

Back in front Grotimnos looked over the wares.

"I'll... take a lantern... some grip gloves... aaaand an air tank and wet suit. Never know." the Necromancer hoofed over some bits.

Back in the backroom.

"Aggghh!" Brextal had used up almost all of his psi on regeneration, that panicking smol guy was pretty deadly with his accuracy.

"Calm the fuck down! Those are dangerous! OW!" that one was yelled out.

Up front Onyx perked his ears "I heard another voice back there."

"Ya sometimes he hallucinated and makes up other characters." The Dragoness sighs dragging a hand down her face. A crashing sounded out and the shopkeep glared back at the door "you better not be breaking my shit!"

Concerned, the Heroes stepped into the backroom to see a Gryphon hurling an axe through the building's rear door.

"Alright what's the damage." The shopkeep asked walking in.

The Gryphon blinked a few times and faced the 4 "sorry, I was hallucinating again. It was an Outsider this time. One of the green ones.

The shopkeep sighed.

Meanwhile, far outside the outskirts of town, Brextal teleported into the desert gasping for breath and covered in grievous wounds "What... the... FUCK?!"

Seems Brextal would not be claiming any honor this day...

Back in town the Heroes secured their new wares and looked out to the north with the sun high in the sky.

"We'll set out tomorrow." Onyx said nodding at the distance.

"Sounds good to me." Grotimnos confirmed.

"Aye." Myze agreed.

And so the Adventure of The Wrath of Rakyut comes to a close. The Heroes had taken time to rest from their great endeavors and as one story ends, another is set to begin! Dodge Junction now prospers but to the north something... dark stirs within Ponyville...