THE MOMENT
"Oh wait..," Jubilee stopped walking. She found herself walking down a long narrow hallway. The walls were stone, overgrown with moss and ivy, and an open doorway at the end of the hallway with something undulating in the darkness beyond. She looked back, the opposite way she'd been walking, but not even three feet behind her, the hallway seemed to vanish in shadow; as if nonexistent. "Oh, okay...," she shook her head as she powered through the confusion, and continued walking forward.
She still hadn't quite remembered why she was there, but she trusted herself. Either she had a reason, or someone else had a reason for putting her there. In any case, she knew keeping calm was the only way through it. But, as she neared the door, she finally remembered the tower was enchanted. It was standard Fae magic that almost made her forget her purpose there, and she remembered at just the right time. Without knowing she was there to challenge the tower, she might've panicked a little more upon crossing the threshold.
Jubilee froze again as all eyes in the room turned to her. A pulsing chasm of horror gaped in the wall while dozens of inhumanly sized eyeballs all focused on her. The orbs extended stalks that fused in clusters on both sides of the grotesque canyon.
There was a rusty ladder on the left side of the chasm wall facing Jubilee. She looked up and saw it led to a dilapidated catwalk over the chasm. But, as she dropped her eyes again, she noticed a golden glow deeper. Beyond the eyes, at ground level, a golden ladder led upward. She scanned the rest of the area and noticed a red button on the right wall, directly opposite the rusty ladder.
"Hey, got any ideas?" Jubilee's mind was still mildly hazy and she jumped at Bijou's voice. She'd forgotten she had a partner for this trial.
"Yeah, sorry," Jubilee giggled at being surprised. Bijou's expression didn't change as she waited for Jubilee's suggestion.
"I don't know what the eyeballs do..., but, I think that button turns them off," she pointed at the red button. "Since it's a cooperative challenge, I'm betting one of us has to hold it, giving the other a chance to get to the ladder. Then the one that stayed behind, takes the rickety path," she gestured at the ladder, then up to the catwalk.
"Well, let's see what they do first," Bijou shrugged and walked forward. The moment her foot landed in the valley, each of the nearest dozen eyes began to glow with red light, then fired lasers. She leaped back, extending her bright redwings for an extra push off. She'd been fast enough, but only just.
"Thanks for checking," Jubilee smiled as Bijou's wings disappeared again. "I don't think I could've dodged that."
"Are you sure you want to continue?" Bijou turned with a stern expression. "This is just the entrance. Don't forget we're cooperating separately. You'll be on your own, but if you mess this up I'm on the hook to lose something too," she said.
"Sorry," Jubilee giggled and nodded. "It was just a joke to be humble; I guess I shouldn't worry about that around you. But, it's no sweat," she added. "You're on the hook to lose something, but I lose everything. Trust me, I'm taking this seriously."
"You're right," Bijou nodded. "Sorry, I forgot your stakes too. So, it's your challenge. How do you want to handle it?"
"Helios said you were chosen as my partner because of your 'Fae Expertise'; do you have any suggestions?"
"No," Bijou shook her head, still with a resting stern expression. "My 'expertise' is just that I'm part unicorn. And, Ms. Sharp said you'll do better with someone you already trust. It might be useful along the way, but nothing here," she said.
"Oh. Flip for it?" Jubilee asked.
"No, just pick one," Bijou shook her head. "I really don't care and this decision is already taking more time than it needs to."
"Alright, I'll hold the button for you to get to the ladder at the back, then I'll take the catwalk," Jubilee said.
"Got it," Bijou nodded as both girls walked forward. Jubilee pressed the button and all the eyes went limp. They smacked against the wall with wet, slimy sounds as they collapsed.
"That's kind of gross..," Bijou sighed as she moved forward toward the ladder. when she reached it, she noticed there was a blue button right next to it, resembling the red button that Jubilee was holding down. "HEY THERE'S ANOTHER BUTTON OVER HERE!" she called. "I'M GONNA PUSH IT!"
"LETTING GO OF THIS ONE!" Jubilee yelled, then appeared at the opening again. Bijou pushed and held the blue button. The eye stalks were pulled back into the wall, making the eyes disappear completely. But, a steel gate also rose out of the ground, blocking the path completely. As Jubilee watched, a sound to the side caught her attention.
"IT OPENED ANOTHER DOOR!" she yelled.
[/p I forgot we can Whisper. - Bijou] the reply came as Jubilee felt the text on her wrist, and she immediately felt dumb too.
[/p oh right. It opened a door here. - Jny] she replied. She was using her mother's name for the time being, but Bijou knew her secrets.
[/p I'm gonna go in. - Jny]
[/p 'Kay. Climbing the ladder. - Bijou]
[/p Good luck. - Jny]
[/p You too. - Bijou]