The Three Trials

[can_not_fly]

[OOC: This is kind of a huge post as is, so please keep all the responses to each one of the prompts to one thread so we don't end up dying of confusion] 
[OOC2: I'm not sure if I was clear. You can and SHOULD poke into any thread you like! We are in a group! There is no threadjacking here, that's why I said to keep all responses in a single thread. Feel free to go into anything you like!]>

[Well, today's the day. The team assembled to head back into Pit's world and meet Dyntos will go through the portal today. The portal is created in the hangar, with Viridi holding this side of it.]

Come on, go into it, I don't have all day!

1 - Meetup at Skyworld

Crossing the portal gets you into a beautiful, Greek-styled courtyard surrounded by what look like columns and temples of marble and gold, and with a hundred hard-chinned angels standing at attention all around, on the ground and in the sky above. And on this side of the Portal is a face that you clearly remember - but much like Viridi or Hades, looking far more impressive in person than she ever did in an image, with a winglike halo floating around her. The ground shines as she steps forth - but the smile she has is the same one she always did.]

Welcome to Skyworld, everyone.

 

[She doesn't have time to say anything else before Pit tackle hugs her like a cannonball, though.]
 

Lady Palutena! It's great to really see you again!

And it's great to have you here too. [She looks up to everyone else] And you as well. Thank you for coming here.

2 - Approach, and meeting Dyntos
 

Not long afterwards, you set off for Dyntos's abode. It looks like a large sphere, made of silver, like a small planetoid shining in the sky. The door is large, and the entrance is open... of sorts, because there seem to be guards.]
 

Wait, are those Underworld troops?! [Indeed, there seem to be a bunch of Underworld troops of all types in the door, but...]
 

...and those look like Federation troops.
 

That's weird. Why would they be working together?.
 

Because I made them, you silly angel. All far better than the genuine articles, of course. [A geezer voice pops up]
 

Ah, Lord Dyntos!

Palutena. I was not expecting this many visits today.

[There's the image of a short, wrinkled old man with a beard down to his ankles, and an expression that says he's not sure what to do about you all. You probably want to talk to him about what you're here for as you fight your way in?]

 

3 - The First Trial

[After you fight your way through the corridor, which was far longer than should have fit inside Dyntos's planetoid, you come out to a large "plaza" or sorts, an enormous floating platform apparently floating in the middle of absolute emptiness, no sign of walls anywhere. And reclined on a column at the far end, the small figure of Lord Dyntos]
 

Welcome to your first trial, whippersnappers!

[There doesn't seem to be anything at first, though... and then suddenly the ground opens and a gigantic figure starts rising]

We meet again in strange circumstances, White Chalice. 

[That voice... wait what is that Bian Zoldark?! Wasn't he supposed to be dead?! All around the platform other holes are opening, raising other, still-shadowed shapes for a second... but that's all a bit seondary, because atop Valsion's head, there's a small, greenhaired figure shining like the morning sun itself, wings of light spread, and a malignant grin on her face. She laughs as she lets go a huge beam of searing light at the group, and the laugh bounces around the area with a powerful echo]

...LADY PALUTENA?!?! [Yeah, Pit is kind of boggling too hard in confusion to dodge the first beam. Someone should really push him out of the way. Everyone get ready!]

 

4 - The Second Trial

Uuuurgh... what happened? It's like I fell asleep...

Lady Palutena! Are you okay?!

[After the first trial ended, you are forced to go up a huge set of stairs for a bit, to reach the locale for the second one. The amber stairs seem to go on forever - until suddenly you are in what looks like a stone dungeon room, outside of your machines, which are nowhere to be seen. And if you strain a lot your hearing you could swear you hear the faint echo of a chiptune]

Well, well, little chickies. You're pretty good fighters, aren't you? You might be worthy of having my best creation, after all. But there's more to winning a war than fighting, you know. Let's see how you deal with something a bit more cerebral, yes?

[The cubic room is lit with torches, and there's only one exit, a wooden door in front of the group.

Go north?]


5 - The Great Sacred Treasure

[And after all that, you are finally allowed to go back to your machines, and raised in an elevator that seems to go through the sky and into space (though you can breathe), to reach a constellation of floating silver islands in the vacuum]
 

You've done well, younglings! Here is what you came to ask for - the Great Sacred Treasure! The greatest weapon, forged out of pure orichalcum, riveted with stars, and with the fire of creation at its core!
 

[And out of the blackness pops a shape, a large, beautifully ornate mech shining with barely contained power]
 

Wooooooooooow... it's amazing. ...wait, you're just giving it to me? Without having to do anything horrible? [Wary Pit is wary]
 

Heh heh. Well, sonny, that depends on your definition of "horrible"...

[And then the lights in the mech's cockpit light up like eyes as it powers up and raises its cannon]
 

Survive for five minutes and it's yours!

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! [Pit dodges desperately to the side as a beam that has nothing to envy a Mazinger's breast fire outright vaporizes the entire area where he'd been not two seconds ago. Everyone, get ready to fight again, because the Great Sacred Treasure is coming!]

 

6 - Victory!

[And after the grueling fight, the Great Sacred Treasure finally powers down.]

Very good, younglings!

Wooo! We won! [And Pit jumps into the mech's cabin and starts zooming around at like mach 7] WOOOOOHOOHOHOOOO! This thing is amaaaaaziiiiiing!

That seemed like a little more than three trials, Lord Dyntos. Multi-parters are kind of cheating, don't you think?

Heh heh. I may have tossed in a few freebies, yes. And now for you little kiddos.

[While Pit flies around overjoyed, Dyntos turns a bit to the others, with a mischievous old man smirk. What does he want with you all?]

7 - Heading back

[And so, you head back to Skyworld with your spoils, to go through the portal again, which will be opened on both sides by the goddesses.]

 

So, before you head back, who would be willing to have a bit of a party? [Palutena smiles with a wink] Viridi and I will get to work into getting into the Underworld as soon as you are back. I still have that key, so it's only a matter of managing to find a place where we can open a portal, and then we will be able to take down Hades, once and for all. 

I think this merits some celebration!

[And with that, the troupe of angels enters the temple, all holding all sorts of foodstuffs and drinks. Party up, you've earned it!]

Comments

1

[not_the_deer]

[Tobia waits until the heartfelt reunion is over and attention is brought to himself. Believe it or not, he actually has tact!]

No problem. I'm here to help, after all!

This is a pretty amazing place you live in. Who are all those other guys?

Re: 1

[can_not_fly]

Oh, right. [Pit lets go and looks around, standing very upright. He takes a hand to his forehead and shouts, with a surprisingly commanding voice]

CENTURIOOOOOONS... AT EASE!

[And with that, all the hundred angels return the salute in perfect synchronization and then relax, the reception over. Many of them approach, making a ruckus and many shouts of "It's great to see again, Captain!"]

These are the Centurions, Skyworld's army!

[not_the_deer]

And all of them are under your command?

Maybe they could've helped out in our world. Just saying.

[can_not_fly]

Yeah, there were... reasons.

For one, sending people between worlds is rather hard, mister Arronax. [Palutena smirks] You're not the one who has to do the lifting, but it's really not unlike trying to thread a needle with a bulldozer.

And a few other more reasons we've discussed already, no need to mention them in front of the Centurions again.

Yyyyyeah. Better not.

[not_the_deer]

Ah. I see.

[Hey, Tobia knows how to read between the lines!]

By the way, I read in a book that a centurion is the leader of a regiment of 100 troops. But I guess it's different here.

2

[no_wan_no_life]

Oh, uhm.

[This is not what Lan expected.]

Ahem.

Greetings, oh respectful Dyntos. I hope we meet you in good health and, most importantly, good and not butt-zapping mood.

[goddess_duet]

I would be in a much better mood if there wasn't a group of little whippersnappers inviting themselves into my home, little missy! [Dyntos sounds kind of cranky, and waves his hammer in the air like a cane]

But none of us carry any whips...

And what is this jig about butt shootings-

Oh, nothing, nothing at all, Lord Dyntos. Lan probably misheard something!

[no_wan_no_life]

Yes, please disregard that one comment. A, ha ha.
[Nervous laughter.]

[goddess_duet]

Hmmm. That sounds very suspicious.

A-hem. Anyway, do you know why we're here, Lord Dyntos?

Of course I do. You want to destroy Hades, save your little world, and restore the heavenly balance, right?

[no_wan_no_life]

That is true. Though the world is not technically mine, I wish it saved all the same.

4

[bluehippopotamus]

Pit! Is Miss Palutena okay?

[can_not_fly]

Yeah, I'm okay. Just kind of dizzy

Thank goodness! I was worried sick! I have half a mind to take that Dyntos guy and-!

Calm down, Pit. We still need his help.

...fine.

[bluehippopotamus]

Wow, I never thought I'd ever fight a Goddess. How did he ever made you fight us, Miss Palutena?

----

And now, a dungeon eh? Now this is I'm more comfortable with. Here goes nothing, right?

(With that, Rock opens the door.)

[can_not_fly]

I... don't know. But Lord Dyntos is powerful beyond imagination. Still...

I still think that was just a copy.

That seems the most likely explanation, yes. But still, it's got very unpleasant implications.

----

[In any case pit soon joins behind Rock. When he opens the door, it gives way to a corridor, moldy, built of brown stone and lit with torches. As they advance, the group soon finds a route split.]

So, um... left or right?

Beats me. My omniscience doesn't work in here.

5

[azure_savior]

JESUS!

[Josh has come along with the Forte Gigas, the giant machine's nimbleness put to the test as it dives to avoid the shot.]

You know, if we can survive against this thing, doesn't that sorta mean we don't even need it?!?

[can_not_fly]

Heh heh. Quite the opposite, sonny! If you can survive against it piloted by a basic golem intelligence and some funtions locked, it means you might be good enough to pilot it at full power!

[As if to punctuate the words, the Great Sacred Treasure swings an arm, a huge blade of light coming out of it and slashing at Josh!]

Watch out!

[kamogawa_maru]

Isn't this a bit dangerous Mr.Dyntos!?

[Midori raises it's subspace saber and tries to parry the blade. She was about 50% sure that this would go well.]

[azure_savior]

He's already made us jump through enough hoops as it is!

[Forte Gigas is going to try to go the safer route with this. Two of its swords pop out and are joined like a polearm before they're thrown at the sword like a buzz-saw.]

wait i mean 3, i can read i swear

[2000_skills]

[Giant robot? Time to Kuuga]

That can't be good.

[not_the_deer]

Don't just stand there! Watch out!

[Crossbone is going to tackle Pit out of the way of the giant beam, raising an I-Field for defense! Kuuga too, possibly.]

[can_not_fly]

[And thank Tobia for that, because judging from the crater Palutena doesn't seem to be kidding around!]

Lady Palutena?! That Zoldark guy?! What are you doing here?! [Pit is too struck to attack. He can't raise a hand against his goddess!]

Isn't it obvious, Pit? I'm here to DESTROY YOU! MWAHAHAHAHA! [Geez, Evil Palutena is kind of scary]

...Dyntos explained the situation to me. You are here to see if you are worthy of a weapon that will save Earth. So I accepted this temporary body he offered me. Now show me what you've learned, White Chalice!

[And while Palutena rains supressing arrows of light all around, Bian's Valsion suddenly charges, sword in hand, to meet Tobia's Crossbone in melee!]

[2000_skills]

[I appreciate the tackle, even if I could have lept away]

Better prove we can earn it then.

[Switch to blue and dodging that volley to await a proper opening in the arrows, then RIDER JUMP up towards the head of the Valsion so he can kick dat goddess]

6

[kamogawa_maru]

Oh, you have something for us?

[goddess_duet]

You did help Palutena's little chicken beat the Trials, didn't you? It wouldn't be right if you left empty-handed, now would it, missy?

[kamogawa_maru]

Ah it's fine, Pit's my friend. I'd be a terrible Jersey Club member if I did everything expecting a reward at the end.