Dinner with Maloker ((group thread))

[slayers_desire]

Some may consider that all the 'Big Guns' that April has called together is overkill … but not really, not when it comes to the fact that many great minds are needed to find a way to prevent The Three (Discord, Disharmony and Cacophony) from their evil plans.

And the Big Guns are needed... when they have no idea where to start looking for The Three.

When other Keys (such as Dawn Summers) are being drained of their existence.

When the clock is still ticking on Lorne... and his battle with his disease.

Invitations were extended to Clark Kent/Superman; Harry Dresden; Sheriff Bigby Wolf; Edward Elric; Cipher Nine; and of course Spike, Angel, Buffy, Willow and Wes.

April is waiting in the planning room, for each person to arrive, going through some books as she does. For many... this will be a familiar encounter, as they had to come to fight together before. But there will be some new faces. And new ideas.

((forgot a posting order. Since multiple characters, Kat/Ael/ me))

Comments

[slayers_desire]

They will still have to work together to capture Maloker in the demontrap. They will need a person to fly them closer. And it would make it easier on the flyer, if the ledge they were standing on was trasmuted away from the wall -- so they all can close the distance from them to Maloker.

They will need the Winds, to keep Maloker from using his shadow magic against them. They will need someone with a bond to Clotho, to summon the first fate. They will need someone with a bond to Lachesis, to summon the second fate. And they will need someone with a bond to Atropos, to summon the third fate. Most of all, they will need to use all their strategy and common sense to get it done quickly. And with a control of the magic they are about to summon.

[fmalchemist160]

That means Ed is needed twice over, along with Clark. He glances back and forth between the back of the ledge and Maloker, then says, "Okay. Here goes. Hope this doesn't result in a sinkhole on the surface." He claps his hands and gets down on one knee to start extruding out the ledge to get them as close to Maloker as he can. He has to use the earth surrounding the cavern to do it—hence why he's worried about opening up a sinkhole on the surface.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"We'll need to work fast," Clark says, before they move into position. "Bigby, start the wind. Harry, shield us if you have to. Cipher, watch for traps. Ed, you and I need to get us all over there, together. I'll draw his fire if I have to."

[slayers_desire]

They move closer to Maloker on the floating ledge. The Old One throws shadow magic at them, trying to cloud their sense of direction.

[fmalchemist160]

There isn't much either Ed or Cipher Nine can do against the shadow magic at the moment. Cipher Nine does as requested, keeping an eye out for any traps, while Ed keeps transmuting the ledge further and further out.

((The ledge isn't floating. That's something Ed can't do. What he's doing is making it longer to get it closer.))

[kalel_ofkrypton]

The Big Bad Wolf huffs and puffs at the shadows, and Harry adds his own brand of magic wind to the mix, throwing out spells to counter Maloker's.

There's only so far that the ledge will go, and Clark takes hold of it, breaking it off and surging forward, counting on Ed to hold it together beneath everyone else's feet.

[slayers_desire]

((Okay, so now the ledge is floating. I am going to have April behind, near the cavern entrance, stuck in the quicksand. Along the tiny ledge that was left behind))

Bigby and Harry are able to prevent the shadows from attacking, allowing the group to get underneath Maloker himself. It is time to use the Demontrap. And those who are bond to the Fates, to call them forth.

[fmalchemist160]

Ed doesn't really have to do anything to keep the ledge together. His transmutations stick until he decides to undo them. He and Cipher Nine step to the forefront of the ledge, being the ones bonded to Atropos and Clotho, respectively.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Harry's pretty sure this is where the wizardy part comes in, and he holds up the demontrap amulet. "All right folks, time to do the thing. Let him have it."

Clark doesn't hesitate. "Lachesis," he says out loud, focusing on the image of her within April's mind, looking so much like his wife.

[slayers_desire]

When Clark speaks the name for the oldest Fate, her spirit appears, floating in mid-air. The Demontrap glows slightly.

[nonvillainouscipher]

Ed closes his eyes and calls for Atropos, focusing on the image of Drusilla. Cipher Nine does the same with Clotho, and the younger version of April he's seen thrice now.

[thepizzalord]

Harry smiles a little bit. "Hey, ladies. Time to kick some ass."

[slayers_desire]

All three spirits appear, and they join hands with each other. Glowing very brightly, channeling that light up into Maloker himself. The Shadows part with the bright light, each one getting separated from the Old One, and becoming their own Oscuridad again. But this seems to be the best thing for them, for Ed's own Oscuridad guardian hums softly in happiness.

With his power again, and caught in the bright light, Maloker is swallowed into the Demontrap. The device becomes very hot, especially once the three Fates follow Maloker into the trap, imprisoning him there.

But soon, the light is gone, and Maloker is trapped. They have won the day.

[nonvillainouscipher]

After a moment to take everything in, Ed laughs and lets out a loud cheer, a little bit adrenaline drunk after all the action.

Cipher Nine has a much more subdued smile on his face. "Let's get April out of confinement," he suggests. "And restore her voices. We can celebrate after that."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Harry flinches a little at the heat coming from the demontrap, bringing up unwelcome memories of his hand burning away to little more than bone and charred flesh. And when it's all said and done, he holds it up between two fingers like a dead rat. "Anyone want a Sealed-Evil-In-A-Can?"

Clark has no time for thoughts or words, quickly flying the chunk of ledge back to solid ground and wishing there were no passengers so he could simply drop it. He sets it down, gently, and speeds to April's side, reaching out to her physically and over the bond, hoping that she's okay. "Ed," he calls, holding onto the last shred of self-control to wait for the earth to be removed.

[slayers_desire]

April is unconscious right now. He gets a brief, but unsteady connection through the bond. The Oak Tree in her mind is in fall mode, with leaves falling off it.

[fmalchemist160]

Ed rushes over as close behind Clark as he can manage, and transmutes the quicksand into loose earth that's much easier to get out of.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark immediately pulls April up into his arms, cradling her, trying to reach her through the bond. He can see the tree, preparing for winter, the leaves turning brown and falling. He wills it to turn green again, to bypass the winter, and begin spring anew. April, I'm here.

Bigby sniffs around for his clothes, gathering them between sharp teeth, and he disappears behind what's left of the rock wall to change and... change.

[slayers_desire]

His supportive thoughts help the tree to strengthen, and the leaves return to the green stage. The budding part of spring, not quite ready to bloom.

April meanwhile opens her eyes. She looks tired. "The last thing I remember is falling to my knees."

[fmalchemist160]

Cipher Nine and Ed go to stand at April's side as well. "Maloker took control of you," Ed tells her quietly. "We had to cut off your voices to take him down."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"You didn't hurt anybody," Clark assures her. It isn't quite true. Except me. She may not have wounded him physically, but it tore him apart to do that to her, to use their bond - a loving, tangible proof of their love - as a weapon against her. To throw her own fears in her face and make her live them until she could do nothing but surrender.

[slayers_desire]

"That is why it is so quiet."

April moves to embrace Clark tightly. His mental thoughts are very audible in her head right now. She can't remember much about the fight. But knows that if Maloker took control of her, then they would have had to take her down.

You did what you had to

"But Maloker is defeated?"

[fmalchemist160]

"Yeah," Ed confirms. "And now we can give your voices back to you." He remembers Lachesis saying they would need the oak tree in April's mindscape to do it, but beyond that, he's not entirely sure how to go about it.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark holds her tightly, glad to have her back with him. The price was a high one this time.

"He's in here," Harry says, tossing the demontrap lightly in the air and catching it again. "I vote we stick it in a big block of concrete and make it sleep with the fishes."

[slayers_desire]

April frowns softly, watching the demontrap go into the air, and back into Harry's hands. "My voices are in there, with him."

"Unfortunately, child, Maloker is always going to be a part of your voices." The words come from Angel (the real Angel), who has shown up now with Buffy.

"We discovered it was Maloker who controlled Angel into creating your mother, the way he did." Buffy has her stake ready, her eyes looking everywhere.