GREEN   256   0
   55356 305.23 KB    4272

My Little Persona: Social Links are Magic - CMC DLC

By Outis
Created: 2021-07-16 21:31:33
Updated: 2021-02-22 23:50:08
Expiry: Never
cmcmy little persona

  1. >meanwhile
  2. >in another place, at another time
  3. >there comes a desperate pounding noise amidst the typical cacophony of voices and howling wind
  4. >but the door of an unlit room holds fast
  5. >muffled begging on the other side accompanies the quickly weakening blows
  6. >it is a futile assault, of course
  7. >if they do not meet the conditions for entry, no force will grant them purchase
  8. >their pitiful calls for aid need not be answered
  9. >even if they were so permitted, no action would be required of the inhabitants
  10. >the disturbance outside will soon mend itself
  11. >the roiling ocean of din beyond the door shall presently consume the source, leaving the room silent once more
  12. >if nothing is done to stop its obliteration, that is
  13. >those within are bound by obligation not to interfere
  14. >and those without lack the power to change fate
  15. >if the door is to open, it must be by the choice of another
  16. >but agency carries with it the burden of responsibility
  17. >to permit entry is to welcome a host of other choices for which your input will be integral
  18. >so
  19. >this is a very important decision
  20. >as such, you must choose wisely
  21. >does the door open?
  22.  
  23. >Yes
  24. No
  25.  
  26. >and indeed, with a click, the door opens
  27. >it swings inward slowly, as though pushed by a gentle breeze
  28. >blue cloth spills forward in a flood from the room within, and wraps around the small equine form laying before it
  29. >swaddled in velvet cloth, it gets dragged forward
  30. >(or does the room move to meet it?)
  31. >the door closes, the swirling madness beyond sealed off again
  32. >and from within, a wistful, mysterious melody begins to play
  33. [Velvet Room Music]
  34. >...
  35. >very well
  36. >the course of events has been altered by your choice
  37. >we ask only that you take full responsibility for those you make from here on out
  38. >after all, thou chooseth this fate of thine own free will
  39.  
  40.  
  41.  
  42. >...
  43. >"Hello."
  44. >your eyes creak open like they've been shut for months, a vague indigo blur beginning to seep into your vision from out of the black
  45. >every joint and muscle in your body seems to fight you as you put all your energy into pulling yourself out of a total slump
  46. >you blink a couple times, the fuzzy blue color reluctantly beginning to show some vague definition of shape
  47. >not much, but some
  48. >"Ah, indeed, we received your correspondence recently and have been awaiting further communication."
  49. >you focus on your limbs next, just looking for any response to start with
  50. >once you can feel them shifting, getting upright seems within the realm of possibility
  51. >slowly, you stumble to your hooves, waiting for your vision to give you something other than blue to look at
  52. >a reedy voice, now evolving beyond just a jumble of sounds, drags and chirps syllables like somepony is playing with a record on a turn table
  53. >"Yes, yes, completely understandable."
  54. >the lilting sounds of piano music reach your ears as you shake your head slowly, the voice seeming to echo around the room
  55. >the room?
  56. >you look around, dimly realizing that the reason you can't discern much is that you're awash in a sea of blue curtains
  57. >"That being said, it is policy that all applicants must reach a certain level of notoriety before being reconsidered."
  58. >a short pause, and you hold up a hoof and pull the curtains to one side
  59. >as you do, the piano's melody wavers ever so slightly, the note trembling like a leaf on the wind
  60. >you let the curtain drop, turning in a different direction as your ears perk to a new sound
  61. >the light and airy voice of a singer, their wordless vocalizations stirring a strange feeling in your chest
  62. >not quite happiness, but maybe pride?
  63. >the word escapes you
  64. >it feels like you're half-here
  65. >where is here, anyway?
  66. >"My master of course appreciates your interest in the position, and will keep you in mind going forward."
  67. >you pull at another curtain, and are rewarded with an immediate increase in volume from the piano
  68. >the singer seems invigorated as well, and even the sapphire light that seems to permeate this place brightens a bit
  69. >"Is there more we may assist you with at this time?"
  70. >you take the change to be a good sign, and push a little further through, hooves finding purchase on a deep cerulean rug
  71. >cautiously, you poke your head out
  72. >(it feels like "out", at least)
  73. >and suddenly, revelation
  74. >you can see the back of a hunched figure, sat on an overstuffed couch and bent over a thick oaken roundtable, his head barely peaking over his shoulders
  75. >the suit gives off the unmistakable air of formality, but all you can make of the one wearing it is his bald head, sparkling like a polished gem
  76. >that and the tips of his pointed ears that jut from his head, along with a thin beige-colored rod
  77. >further in, a grand piano sits on a slightly elevated stage, turning almost imperceptibly slow
  78. >on its bench you see a filly with a blue coat, probably close to your age
  79. >er, maybe they're a colt?
  80. >their silver mane is trimmed almost distressingly short and swept back, hidden under a flat fabric cap that's pushed up by their horn
  81. >their eyes are closed as they play their enigmatic movement, using their wings to stabilize as they move along the row of ivory
  82. >nearby, another pony so much like the first you can barely tell them apart, save that this one has a longer mane pulled into a bun, is sat before a microphone
  83. >their voice quavers as they sing, their golden eyes unfocused
  84. >you notice in addition to the cap, she's wearing a pair of blue earmuffs
  85. >you begin to wonder how they can hear themselves sing to keep on pitch--
  86. >"Right. If that is the case,"
  87. >the stilted voice from before, now undeniably the figure in black, interrupts your thoughts
  88. >"I must attend to other matters: I now have a visitor."
  89. >there's a beep, and a white-gloved finger presses the tip of the antenna down below his shoulder, before the entire couch-and-table arrangement rotates smoothly and soundlessly to face you
  90. >wait, no
  91. >the singer and pianist are both much closer now
  92. >did the whole room move?
  93. >did you move?
  94. >the human sitting on the couch looks up to you, his long pointed nose reminding you of a bird of prey
  95. >his wild, bulging eyes seem to take you in from hoof to head in a single glance, a rictus grin spreading across his face
  96. >"Ah, greetings!"
  97. >the slender gloved fingers adjust a pocket square in his breast pocket, before extending a hand to beckon you closer
  98. >"Welcome, visitor; it would seem introductions are in order."
  99. >"My name is Igor. I am most pleased to make your acquaintance."
  100. >he gives as deep a bow as his sitting position allows and then sweeps his arms out
  101. >much to your surprise you spot another young alicorn to his right, their deep gold eyes staring directly into yours
  102. >their expression is unreadable, but something about their gaze is a little off-putting
  103. >his other hand gestures over towards the pair of musicians, who continue their performance
  104. >they seem oblivious to the fact they were mentioned
  105. >"These three are Felix, Safie, and Agatha. Like myself, they reside here in the Velvet Room."
  106. >"It is a place that resides between mind and matter, between dream and reality."
  107. >"However, your presence here is most unexpected. I am afraid that before we continue, we must address the matter of your arrival."
  108. >"Please take a moment, before recollecting to the best of your ability."
  109. >you begin to open your mouth, before you're stricken with a realization
  110. >how exactly did you get here, again?
  111. >the more you probe your memory, the more distressing it gets
  112. >ponies, places, events
  113. >it's like ten details melt away whenever you grasp onto one
  114. >okay
  115. >start with the basics
  116. >your name
  117. >that's easy, your name is...
  118.  
  119.  
  120. Apple Bloom
  121. >Scootaloo
  122. Sweetie Belle
  123.  
  124.  
  125. >of course!
  126. >didn't even need to hesitate, your name is
  127.  
  128. -Sweet Apple Acres-
  129. Cutie Mark Crusaders Clubhouse
  130.  
  131. >"Scootaloo!"
  132. "Hey, sorry I'm late!"
  133. >you lay your scooter down on the grass and trot up the ramp to the treehouse, wiping a bead of sweat from your brow
  134. >you'd rushed over as soon as you finished Ms. Cheerilee's homework
  135. >normally you'd think about putting it off, but today's special
  136. >can't let anything interfere
  137. >so you wave up at your friends, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom, still trying to catch your breath a little as you walk into the clubhouse
  138. >the place is still a bit of a mess, but when wasn't it?
  139. >you clear a spot at the table, pushing the tiny brushes, scissors, and tubes of paint to one side
  140. >AB wasn't quite done painting the OZ-00MS yet, so you carefully pick it up and put it on the shelf for her to finish later
  141. >"Alright y'all, let's go ahead'n call this meeting officially to order!"
  142. >Apple Bloom says, banging the gavel on the self-built podium with a serious expression
  143. >it's undercut by the small squeaking noise that comes from the impact
  144. >you're still using the toy mallet Button had given you all after earning those tickets at the arcade
  145. >(Cutie Mark Crusader Operation: Carpenters hadn't turned out so well, and you're still waiting for Whittle Olmy to cool off a bit before asking to use her tools again to make a real one)
  146. >but the three of you still give it all the gravity it deserves
  147. >which means Sweetie Belle stops rearranging the deck of cards you'd been trying to stack into a house yesterday
  148. >you put the caps on the pink paint tube and put your forehooves on the table, now fully ready
  149. >"First order'a business: we're all here, right?"
  150. >you look to Sweetie and nod seriously
  151. >she nods sharply to Apple Bloom
  152. >and for confirmation, Bloom nods over to you
  153. >"Right!"
  154. >"Right!"
  155. "Right!"
  156. >she checks the box on the meeting agenda, smiling proudly
  157. >looking back up, she continues
  158. >"Second thing: Any old business?"
  159. >you think for a few seconds before raising a hoof
  160. "We did that class with Nurse Redheart!"
  161. >"Oh yeah, she said we were really enthusiastic about the CPR part!"
  162. >"Ah'm not sure that's quite what she wanted though..."
  163. >"She couldn'ta thought we did too bad, we got lollipops at the end!"
  164. "And gauze, too."
  165. >"Enough fer a costume, even!"
  166. >Applebloom smiles to herself, clearly thinking of how to fit it into her ensemble for tonight
  167. >speaking of
  168. "Oh yeah, Sweetie, did you get permission from your sister to finish your costume with her sewing machine?"
  169. >"Well, no..."
  170. >she shrugs but doesn't seem too perturbed
  171. >"But she did say she'd help me with it!"
  172. >you give a little hoof pump, so excited for evening to get here that your wings start to flutter
  173. "Awesome! I got mine put together last night."
  174. >"An' Granny said she'd help me puttin' on my spoOoOoOoky makeup 'fore we meet up!"
  175. >you nod appreciatively, but then a sudden thought makes you perk up
  176. "Oh, right! I narrowed down the options some, with Pinkie's help and a little scouting of my own."
  177. >it's tough to completely hide the proud smirk you have as you trot over to the easel
  178. >you flip the paper back, a layout of Ponyville's major streets and neighborhoods already drawn up
  179. >the map is labeled 'Cutie Mark Crusaders Operation: Costumed Candy and Confection Collectors'
  180. >and below it in purple you'd added 'Nightmare Night!!!' and a totally wicked drawing of Nightmare Moon
  181. >(please excuse the crudity of the model, you didn't have time to build it to scale or paint it)
  182. >judging by the impressed looks on Bloom and Belle's faces, it definitely passes muster
  183. "So, first I talked with Pinkie Pie, because duh, who knows better than her what neighborhoods passed out the best candy last year?"
  184. >you point to a blob of houses you colored in green, over near High Horse Hills
  185. "She said the ponies in Triple-H give out the full-sized bars, but the yards are so big you have to run the whole night to get to everyone. Caballo Court, on the other hoof, is way easier to trot and they give out big bunches at each house, so you wind up getting more in the long run."
  186. >"That is all the way 'cross town," Apple Bloom points out, "so we might not have time to stop in some of the other places we were talkin' about goin'. Haven't heard anyone at school talkin' about going there either."
  187. >"Maybe we could go with the Riches or the Spoons? Silver said her mom got a golf kart a couple months ago."
  188. "I thought about that, but they both said their parents are going to 'a big dumb boring party', and Silver's not allowed to borrow it on her own. She said they might be able to get out early and join us, though?"
  189. >all three of you let out a little groan, because you know they'd probably rather be out trick or treating all night
  190. >(also because driving a golf kart would be really cool, and you really want to know how fast those babies can go)
  191. >but you pep up, clearing your throat and calling everyone's attention back to the map
  192. "Second, though, I was talking to Carrot Top, and she said they were planning on going all out at the market this year!"
  193. >you point at the area in purple, that wraps around most of the center of town
  194. "Like, the normal stuff is still there, apple bobbing, spider throws, Zecora's magic show, but she said there were going to be all sorts of new things, too: watergun shooting galleries, ring toss, free snacks, clowns! She said there'd be a lot of clowns!"
  195. >you think back for a second
  196. "She was actually really focused on the clowns. And then she got this really weird look on her face, like-- oh, yeah, like that!"
  197. >you point at Sweetie Belle, who shakes her head quickly
  198. >maybe she was thinking about something?
  199. >"That sounds like a barrel o' fun, like a carnival and Nightmare Night rolled into one!"
  200. >"But we might get less candy if we go there," Sweetie almost squeaks out, "so maybe not...?"
  201. >that's a pretty good point, you'll have to ration the candy way more to make it to Hearthswarming if you go to the stalls
  202. "Hmmmm..."
  203. >you gesture again, but this time not to the map
  204. >instead, you point out at the orchard itself, where you can see clothes lines with sheets draped over them tied between the trees
  205. "And there's the maze that Big Mac and some of the other ponies have been putting together, we shouldn't forget about that!"
  206. >normally the Amazing Maize Maze was held over near Hayseed's, but thanks to a recent Ankheg infestation, the maze would've been difficult to set up in the usual spot this year
  207. >the Apples are pitching in to help instead, and even if it's a little haphazard, you've seen how much work they put in over the last couple days
  208. >"That'd be super easy to get to, and if it's anything like the one last year, there's all sorts of candy stations along the way!"
  209. >"Ah dunno, was kinda hopin' to see everyone's costumes and such, and what with everyone plannin' at the house, Ah couldn't help but see or overhear most of 'em," Apple Bloom admits
  210. >"Not that Ah mind, there's bound to be plenty of folk come by in all sorts of get-ups!" she continues
  211. >hmm, decisions decisions
  212. >the three of you are bound to have fun no matter where you go
  213. >but you'll have to choose something
  214. >after all, Nightmare Night only comes once a year, right?
  215. >so, where should you plan to meet up?
  216.  
  217.  
  218. >Caballo Court
  219. The Carnival of Candy
  220. The Applabrynth
  221.  
  222.  
  223. >"If'n we go ta Caballo Court, we're bound to run into ponies in all sorts of fun costumes, so ya won't hear no complaints from me!"
  224. >Apple Bloom says after a moment's thought
  225. >"Plus if Pinkie says it's a good spot, we can't go wrong," Sweetie agrees
  226. "I'm hoping we can get DT and Silver out of sitting with their parents all night,"
  227. >you admit, not wanting to show too much bias for any one idea
  228. >but the three of you are all on the same page, so it's hard not to sound a little excited
  229. >after all, this is Nightmare Night!
  230. >dressing up, visiting spooky houses, getting candy, and seeing your friends and neighbors go all out in the spirit of the season!
  231. >Apple Bloom raps the squeaky-mallet on the podium a couple times, and puts her serious face back on
  232. >"Right, then Ah think we're all in agreement. Caballo Court, near that big ol' sign at the entrance? Six thirty? All in favor?"
  233. >"Yeah!"
  234. "Yay!"
  235. >"Alright!"
  236. >she hits it again, letting out a little giggle at the 'squeak-a' noise it makes
  237. >maybe you don't need to hurry so much on trying to carve a wooden one to replace it
  238. >"Should we adjourn now? Still got some time 'fore we have to head out,"
  239. >she volunteers, looking up at the clock hung over the door
  240. >you look at it too, doing a couple quick calculations in your head
  241. >20 minutes to get home, another 20 to get dressed, 15 to get to the meet-up spot, plus dinner...
  242. >hmm
  243. >you've got some time, Bloom's right
  244. "I'll hang out for a while, maybe we can try to finish that game of Risk?"
  245. >Sweetie shakes her head a little sadly as she moves towards the door
  246. >"I should get home so me and Rarity can work on my costume, but thanks!"
  247. >"No problem, Scoots an' I'll work on our own stuff for a bit then."
  248. >the two of you wave goodbye to Sweetie, Apple Bloom retrieving the tiny humanoid model from its shelf while you finish what Belle started, shuffling the cards a few times and setting up for a game of solitaire
  249. >you pass a few minutes in silence together, the setting sun making it difficult to see the cards
  250. >from the sounds Bloom's making, it's also tough to see the joints of the Tallgeese
  251. >as you put the seven of hearts on the eight of clubs, a thought crosses your mind
  252. >you look up at the clock and then out the window to the apple fields
  253. "Wait, is Babs coming?"
  254. >"Nah, family reunion isn't until spring, why?"
  255. "...Just wondering."
  256. >something about today feels a little off, but you can't quite put your hoof on it
  257. >but you shrug it off
  258. >strange things happen all the time in Ponyville
  259. >can't worry about it too much, right?
  260. >besides, whatever happens, happens
  261. >four of spades to five of diamonds...
  262.  
  263. -Caballo Court-
  264. Sundown
  265.  
  266. >you adjust the cap on your costume, putting on your best vicious grin
  267. >at least, you think it's pretty vicious
  268. >you've only seen like one wolf, and it was a timberwolf, so you're mostly going on instinct here
  269. >but yeah, faux fur and some cloth make a killer outfit, actually
  270. >a couple pointers from Rarity and a little thrifting and you had a good base, and everything else was just polish
  271. >you spot the enormous sign near the subdivision, only a couple years old but painted to look old and weathered, and see Bloom and Belle standing right nearby
  272. >the three of you had talked about it earlier, but you're still surprised by the actual results
  273. >Apple Bloom opted for a Frankenstein's Bride costume, and Granny Smith laid the makeup on thick, because the dark shadows under her eyes, the fake stitches, and the face paint all have that theater-style overdone look
  274. >it does look really good, though, like she just walked out of a black-and-white movie
  275. >Sweetie is killing it too, obviously having borrowed some costume jewelry from her sister in addition to getting some help with the dress
  276. >you can't remember which Prancian princess it was supposed to be, but judging by the red line around her neck, she must not have been one for too long
  277. >the blood effect is pretty realistic, too, less overt but somehow more creepy since you notice more and more details as you approach
  278. >"Heya Scoots!"
  279. >"Scootaloo!"
  280. "Hey girls, awesome costumes!"
  281. >"You too! Hehe, the button eyes look so cute!"
  282. >"An' you really got the walk down, too!"
  283. "Haha..."
  284. >is it a little warmer out just now, or is it you?
  285. "Anyway! You haven't been here too long, right?"
  286. >"Nah, just got here a couple minutes ago."
  287. >"Here's your bag, Scootaloo!"
  288. >Sweetie digs into her own and pulls out an empty sack, handing it over to you
  289. >you rest it over your back, still smirking in a mix of anticipation and pride
  290. "Alright, then! Let's get moving!"
  291. >the three of you put your hooves together for a quick cheer
  292. "Cutie Mark Crusaders, Candy Collectors!"
  293. >and with that the three of you break into a sprint, eager to get in as much trick-or-treating as one night will allow
  294.  
  295. -Caballo Courts Northern Section-
  296. Evening
  297.  
  298. >"Nightmare Night, such a fright, give me something sweet to bite!"
  299. >you all give the usual rhyme, Ms. Roseluck playing up the tradition more than you'd have expected
  300. >she acts terrified, peeking out from her doorway and letting out an overdone gasp
  301. >"Oh my, a wolf, a ghost, AND a zombie!"
  302. >she rustles around with something behind the door, before giving you all a grin and offering out a bowl of candy
  303. >"I sure hope a treat like this will stave them off long enough for me to get back inside!"
  304. >the three of you giggle before reaching in for a bar of candy each
  305. >oh, nice!
  306. >a Mega-Snap, those are like the second-best ones, after Chuckles bars
  307. >you saw Pinkie zoom by a few minutes ago, and she was definitely on to something coming here
  308. >(you'd have tried to say hi, but 'zoom' is the exact right word for it, you only knew it was her because the streak of motion had a pink hue on it)
  309. "Thank you Ms. Roseluck!"
  310. >"Yeah, thanks!"
  311. >"Thank you very much!"
  312. >she waves you off, going right back to pretend-scared in an instant
  313. >"Don't thank me, silly spirits, just go haunt someone else, now!"
  314. >and with a wink and a smile, she slips back inside
  315. >you toss it in with the rest of your haul so far as you walk back to the road
  316.  
  317. Obtained: Mercury Bar
  318. Obtained: 1-Googolplex Bar
  319. Obtained: Faerie Stix
  320. Obtained: Box of Dweebs
  321. Obtained: Mega-Snap Bar
  322.  
  323. >a pretty sizable collection, you note
  324. >sure, there were a couple of houses with their lights off already, and Mrs. Goldie Delicious gave you something you're not sure counts as food, never mind a treat
  325. >but your bag is almost a quarter full of high-quality sugar-rush material
  326. >suddenly, you feel someone push past you
  327. >maybe "push" isn't quite the right word, as they seem to slip between you and AB like a snake, causing the coat on the back of your neck to stand on end
  328. >"Ah, don't mind me, Medium Nice Wolf, and-- whoop! My apologies, Missus Fronkensteen!"
  329. [Sailor Moon Theme Song]
  330. >you look up slowly, by now knowing to be cautious when even looking at him
  331. >the gems and metal bits of his costume let off a dangerous glint, and his eyes glow with the unmistakable glint of mischief and madness
  332. >and you find yourself face-to-face with the ever impressive, the long-contained, often imitated but never-duplicated...!
  333. "Discord!"
  334. >"Discord?"
  335. >"Discord."
  336. >each of you have different reactions to him, but when you notice his outfit, you're all in agreement
  337. "Wait, what are you wearing?"
  338. >"Oh, this little old number?"
  339. >the draconequus gives a little spin, you have to assume so you an all admire his handiwork
  340. >"Don't be jealous girls, I've learned the power of friendship and, oh, just couldn't wait to show it off!"
  341. >he wipes a big floppy tear from his eye with one claw, before flicking it to the ground
  342. >it makes a sizzling sound as you watch it eat through a chunk of Roseluck's yard
  343. >"..."
  344. >"Not buying it, huh?"
  345. >his almost painful-looking grin drops after a couple seconds, before giving you his much more typical, predatory smile
  346. >"I just figured it'd be an appropriate outfit, given the date. Maybe not my first choice of activities, but I've been told in no uncertain terms not to disturb the Queen of the Mooninites, or I'll be sent to make mochi with Jerome for the night, if you get what I'm saying."
  347. >he nudges Sweetie in the side with his elbow, waggling his eyebrows
  348. >you all shake your heads slowly
  349. >"Ugh, kids these days... well, I suppose not everybody can be cultured, like yours truly."
  350. >"Yeah, that's usually reserved fer rare diseases," you hear Apple Bloom mutter under her breath
  351. "Aw, come on Apple Bloom, you don't think his humor's a little infectious?"
  352. >you chuckle
  353. >"Scoots..." Sweetie shakes her head, but she's smiling too
  354. >either Discord doesn't hear you, though, or he's chosen to ignore it, because he just arches an eyebrow at your group
  355. >"Well, in ANY case, I suppose it's only friendly to make the offer: care to make a trade?"
  356. >he grips his midsection with his tail and gives it a spin, his entire top half whirling like a top as it screws open and leans back on a pair of hinges
  357. >"I may have visited some 'different' neighborhoods before coming over here, so pick at your own risk."
  358. >he leans back to the point his head's right-side up again and puts the world's least necessary airquotes over 'different' before gesturing at the bowlful of candy nestled in the bottom half of his body
  359. >what do you think?
  360. >whether they're good is anyone's guess, but he does have some unique options in there
  361.  
  362.  
  363. >Trade candy with the chaos god, you know it's going to be an experience
  364. Keep to the stuff you know that lifeforms on this planet can eat
  365.  
  366.  
  367. >you look over the selection of confections Discord's offering, brushing aside a few of the stranger-looking ones you have no doubt he's looking to unload on you
  368. >no matter what exact flavor "Homework: The Candy" has, you're sure it's not for you
  369. >same with the box of "Bernard Bottomshire's Absolutely Every Flavor Imaginable Beans"
  370. >the fact that there's a note on the packaging that says 'With Returning Long-Time Favorites Cadmium and Schnozzberry' doesn't really sell you on that one
  371. >go figure
  372. >but you do spot something that doesn't sound overly foul
  373. "Huh, where'd you get this one?"
  374. >you hold up a candy with loopy, almost illegibly-fancy labeling called "Never-Ending Mouthblocker"
  375. >the draconequus peeks his head around himself, holding up a magnifying glass to look at what you're holding
  376. >"Ah, keen eye! I found it in a place with lots of terra cotta rooves, what was the name of it...?"
  377. >he strokes his goatee a bit, muttering some weird chant about how 'there's no earthly way of knowing which direction we are going'
  378. >"Oh, don't worry about it, I promise it's as safe as anything local!"
  379. >he waves it off dismissively
  380. >"Well, for that one I'll trade youuu, let's see... no chocolate for me, I'm trying to watch my figure,"
  381. >he says to himself, reaching blindly into your bag and rustling around with one clawed hand
  382. >"No, no, maybe, no, UGH no,... ah, here we go!"
  383. >Discord pulls his paw back, holding a glowing red feather in his fingers
  384. >"Whoops, don't mind that, I meant..." he plunges his hand back in and scrounges around for a second
  385. >"This!"
  386. >looks like he wants the Faerie Stix you got a couple houses back
  387. >you don't mind, the powdery ones like Dunkin' Spoonz and Faerie Stix were never your favorite anyway
  388. >you give him a nod, and the two of you shake on it
  389.  
  390. Obtained: Never-Ending Mouthblocker
  391. Lost: Faerie Stix
  392.  
  393. >you also spot Sweetie poking around the bowl as well
  394. >Apple Bloom seems a little less enthusiastic about trading though
  395. >something that unfortunately Discord picks up on immediately
  396. >"Oh, what's wrong, Apple Blossom? Almost none of it's pear-flavored, if that's what you're worried about."
  397. >"Apple Bloom. An' y'all know Ah don't trust ya as far as I can buck ya."
  398. >"Doh-ho-ho, come now, are we still not over that harmless little--"
  399. >"Don't."
  400. >"Eesh, fine. For the record, you've no idea just how ssssssssnake-like I can be."
  401. >he flicks a serpentine tongue at her as he rasps out the "s", before turning his attention to Sweetie
  402. >looks like she's opted for one of those Flame Orb hard candies
  403. >you see him whisper in her ear, and they go back and forth for a moment before she reluctantly pulls out a green tube wrapped in wax paper
  404. >oh right, they DO still make Panzerschreck Gum
  405. >it always loses its flavor way too fast
  406. >whether that's a good thing is a matter of taste, but... you don't blame Sweetie for trading it off, yourself
  407. >your trades completed, he closes himself up with a creeeeeaaaak and a slam, twirling the lollipop in his hand in place of a wand
  408. >"Well, I won't keep you girls all night, I'm sure you've got places to be and things to do~"
  409. >he strikes a pose, a casade of stars and lights flaring up behind him as he gives you a peace sign
  410. >you're pretty sure that's a little emblem and some Neighponese text you see out of the corner of your eye
  411. >"But just call me, beep me, if you want to reach me!"
  412. >the light fades away along with his theme music as he walks away from you, humming the tune to himself
  413. >you start to say something, but on second thought decide against it
  414. >he's just messing with you all
  415. >and you can't get mad at him for that
  416. >(who are you kidding, you totally can, but getting mad at Discord for being Discord is probably the only thing crazier than the old draconequus himself)
  417. "Are we ready to get back to it?"
  418. >everyone agrees, so you take up leading the charge this time
  419. >"Ah saw a whole bunch'a folks headed toward the neighborhood proper, so if we're lookin' to avoid too many crowds, we could go 'round the outside an' try to get to the south part?"
  420. >Apple Bloom holds a hoof up to her chin as she thinks about the layout
  421. >"But those houses are where most ponies came in from, aren't they going to start running out of candy soon? The ones with the most candy left are going to be the really scary ones..."
  422. >Sweetie brings up a good point too
  423. >you'll probably still be able to get to both areas before the end of the night, but what (and how much) candy you get might change depending on where you go
  424.  
  425. >what do you think?
  426.  
  427.  
  428. Brave the crowds and head towards the center
  429. >Brave the haunted houses and make your way south
  430.  
  431.  
  432. >a look of intense determination crosses your face
  433. "Let's go south. If we're right, then there's going to be some awesome houses that are probably looking to unload their candy, right?"
  434. >Apple Bloom takes a second to think it over before agreeing with you, nodding resolutely
  435. >"Well... okay..."
  436. >Sweetie reluctantly agrees, adjusting the wig she's wearing a little
  437. >you trot up and put a foreleg around her comfortingly
  438. "Don't worry, it's just going to be a bunch of music tracks and maybe some silly masks and stuff, it can't be THAT scary."
  439. >you reassure her, and she gives you a smile in thanks
  440. >"Yeah, you're right! Okay, let's go!"
  441. >Apple Bloom gives her a little hug as well, before the three of you trot off together, you and Bloom on either side of Belle
  442. >you take a narrow side street that curves around the central hub of the neighborhood, a light mist beginning to set in now that the sun's been set for a little while
  443. >it certainly sets the ambiance, you can't help but think, as you approach a road that winds through most of the southern part of Caballo Court
  444.  
  445. -Caballo Court, Southern Section-
  446. Night
  447.  
  448. >"Pleeeeeease... have... a seat..."
  449. >you hear who you're pretty sure has to be Savoir Faire, going by the accent alone
  450. >but you don't actually see him, and that does worry you a bit
  451. >the way to his front door is lined with a sloppy dark red stain, and it has the distinct look of something being dragged up the driveway through it
  452. >you can also see in the dim porchlight a long brown burlap sack laying to one side of the door, covered in that same red goo on one side
  453. >and a table, set for fine dining with a silver covered tray taking up most of the center
  454. >lastly, on the other side of the door is a bowl of candy, perched on a tiny second table with an almost comically fancy "Free Candy" sign in front of it
  455. >you lead the way up to the house, both Sweetie and AB hanging back just a little
  456. >staying between the trees that line the path forward, you accidentally step in a bit of the crimson stuff, letting out a shudder as your hoof makes contact with the warm, liquidy puddle
  457. "Eugh..."
  458. >you steady yourself, wiping it off on the grass nearby and continuing the approach
  459. >"Do... come forward... we'd love... to have you... for DINNER."
  460. >he intones, the word bouncing and echoing through the misty air
  461. >you try to keep your breathing slow, but walking up with your eyes glued on the gory-looking sack, it's really a little hard to concentrate on that
  462. >every once in a while, you chance a look at the covered tray, not sure which one the waiter might pop out of to try and startle you
  463. >you just know as soon as you go past there and get close enough to the bowl, he's going to jump out from one of them
  464. >but you take a deep breath and trot past, almost squinting you're so focused on spotting the first sign of movement
  465. >slowly you reach a hoof out for the bowl--
  466. >"Ah, ah, ah..."
  467. >his voice is coming from all around you
  468. >no
  469. >above you, you realize as you look up and notice the cobwebs with decorative spiders where his voice seems to echo from
  470. >"You know... the rules... no dessert..."
  471. >!
  472. >the porch suddenly goes quiet as the grave, as a long shadow falls over the three of you
  473. >you turn to see him drop from the overhang in a chef's apron, covered in blood and holding a butcher's knife in his muzzle
  474. >"...until you finish your meat, my little morsels."
  475. >his howling cackle mixes with your and Apple Bloom's confused screaming as you back away from him, all three of you scrambling for the corner of the porch as he stomps toward you
  476. >"And now... NOW... that I have you RIGHT WHERE I WANT YOU...!"
  477. >his psychotic laughter gives way to a pleasant chuckle and gives a nonchalant nod in the bowl's direction
  478. >"You'd be doing me quite the favor if you'd take some candy off my hooves."
  479. >
  480. >
  481. >
  482. >you, uh
  483. >actually forgot for a second there
  484. >that this was just a jape
  485. >you actually feel a little queasy as you take a hoofful of sweets
  486. >"Oh, no no, come now, you'll want a bit more than that, surely? You know you're only the third group to come up all night!"
  487. >"Ah can't imagine why..."
  488. >you scoop a little more candy into your bag, Sweetie seeming almost serene as she collects her share
  489. >"Thanks Mr. Faire."
  490. >if it weren't for the fact that you can faintly hear her hyperventilating, you wouldn't have believed she was even surprised
  491. >"Tell the others to pop by, when they're ready!"
  492. >he calls after you as you all
  493. >you nod distractedly as you walk back down the driveway
  494.  
  495. Obtained: Full-Size Chuckles Bar
  496. Obtained: Ms. Greatbar
  497. Obtained: Suc-Pop
  498.  
  499. >from behind you, you hear two sounds almost simultaneously
  500. >a squeak of terror
  501. >and a sound that can only be described as a
  502. DOOT-DOOT
  503. >and you see Sweetie blow right past you
  504. >you shoot a glare over your shoulder, and spot a filly dressed as a
  505. >skeleton?
  506. >a clown?
  507. >is "skeleton clown" even a real costume?
  508. >"Er... sorry?" she appologizes, waving sheepishly and picking up the horn she'd dropped cutting across Savoire's yard
  509. >you run to catch up with Sweetie, not that she made it too much further than the road proper
  510. "You alright?"
  511. >you pat her gently on the back and let her take a few wheezing breaths
  512. >she nods but doesn't say anything, sitting down on the curb for a second
  513. >"I think... maybe doing all the really creepy ones at the same time was..."
  514. >she cools herself off with one of the decorative fans Rarity stuck in the dress's folds
  515. >you see Apple Bloom come running up a second later, and all three of you take a small rest together
  516. >"That was... wow."
  517. >she mutters, looking into her bag of treats, giving it a hefty shake as she weighs the options in her mind
  518. >"Ah think Ah'm about done with the spook houses now, Scoots," she admits
  519. >oh thank Celestia
  520. >the first couple were pretty fun, with zombies and fake lightning and stuff, but the deepening fog and the ambiance of the last couple has really been getting to you too
  521. >Lyra's in particular, with its hands groping out the windows at you as you approached the door, really unnerved you just for how realistic some of the digits were
  522. >"Hey there, girls."
  523. >you look up and see a couple bipedal creatures approaching from out of the mist
  524. >each one is dressed up in a dark black suit, but from the neck up, you can see the unmistakable outline of an equine profile
  525. >"Scootaloo!"
  526. >"'Eeeeey, it's our favorite chickun!"
  527. >"She's actually a wolf this year."
  528. >"Wow, that really threw me for a lupe!"
  529. >none of the gentlemen in horse-masks says anything for a second, explicitly NOT laughing
  530. >"Get it? Lupe, like lupine?"
  531. >"Oh yeah, we got it. Didn't want it, but we got it."
  532. >"Hey, don't hound him about it."
  533. >"Emps, I swear to god..."
  534. >"Don't worry, we've already made two puns, 'kay? Nine is the limit."
  535. "Hey guys!"
  536. >you pipe up before one of them gets too far into putting the other in a headlock
  537. "What are you all doing out here?"
  538. >it's tough to hear any one answer over all the others as the Arcanons all pipe up at the same time.
  539. >"Well there was this-"
  540. >"Hermit just got off work-"
  541. >"-thought we'd check out-"
  542. >"--came back from our yearly-"
  543. >"-and then Temperance thought-"
  544. >"-fucking Mary--"
  545. >"-SUPER haunted--"
  546. >"-a little too much to drink--"
  547. >"-Tiara DEMANDED he come with-"
  548. >"--said, 'Oatmeal? Are you crazy?'"
  549. >they all peter out a couple seconds apart
  550. >hmm
  551. >you shake your head, the craziness of their squad already pushing memories of the haunted houses from your head as Sweetie and AB giggle at their antics
  552. "That sounds… fun? Hey, did any of you see Emperor today?"
  553. >they look back and forth at each other, plastic horse masks flopping back and forth as they exchange glances
  554. >and then there's a chorus of flappa-flappa-flappa as they all shake their heads
  555. >"Think he said he was working on something with Hanged Man?"
  556. >"I know he was working on a costume, you girls haven't seen him tonight? I'd figure this would be his jam."
  557. >you shrug, a little worry creeping into your thoughts
  558. >"If we see him, we'll send him your way,"
  559. >one of them gives you a reassuring thumbs up
  560. "Thanks. We're probably going to be out a little longer, but after this I think we're going to reconvene at the clubhouse. Let him know for us?"
  561. >"For sure."
  562. "We appreciate it."
  563. >you trot back and rejoin your friends as the group of men let their attention wander
  564. >"Yo, check out that one!"
  565. >"Dude, that's pretty spoopy for a pony haunted house."
  566. >"Looks like something out of Dark Souls!"
  567. >"It really doesn't, but let's check it out anyway."
  568. >Sweetie seems to be calmed down, and Bloom looks better-rested, as the three of you take to your hooves
  569. >"We still on fer finishin' out the night?"
  570. >Sweetie nods in agreement
  571. >"Yeah, sorry for kind of freaking out. I'm okay now!"
  572. "Nothing to apologize for, we probably shouldn't have tried to do all of them in a row... sorry if we pushed too hard to get through all of them."
  573. >"It's okay, I just needed a quick rest. Let's close this night out right!"
  574. >she smiles and gives a little cheer, all three of you trotting towards the center of the neighborhood
  575. >"Nightmare Night, what a fright, give me something sweet to bite!"
  576. >you can hear some other fillies and colts just ahead as you trot into the dark of night
  577.  
  578. -Caballo Court, Central Section-
  579. Night
  580.  
  581. >Apple Bloom leads the way down another short cul-de-sac, the three of you strolling at a leisurely pace
  582. >you've noticed porch lights slowly beginning to wink out as the night wears on, even as more stars seem to glint through the encroaching fog
  583. >but truth be told?
  584. >this is kind of nice, too
  585. >the candy isn't much to write home about, here, but you've run into a surprising number of colts and fillies from school
  586. >Pip went by a little while ago, dressed up in a blue jump suit with some fancy yellow numbering on the back
  587. >his squirt gun made out of pipe was a neat prop
  588. >you noticed he didn't seem to be out with anyone else, but he reassured you that he enjoys wandering alone on Nightmare Night
  589. >Button's costume was amazing, you had to admit, as was his mom's
  590. >you wonder to yourself how she got those cardboard wings to light up like that, and his skull mask had these lights in the sockets that you're not sure how they glow while he's looking out of them
  591. >but it is looking like you're getting to near the end of the night
  592.  
  593. Obtained: Fruit-by-the-Meter Roll-Up
  594.  
  595. >and that kind of sucks, because you were really hoping to--
  596. >"Hey, what's up girls!"
  597. >you perk up, hearing a familiar voice behind you and the tell-tale patter of hooves touching down
  598. >Rainbow Dash leans down for a second to take off her helmet, brushing her mane back and letting out a sigh
  599. "Rainbow Dash! Hey!"
  600. >you run up and hug the mare, happy you got to see her with all the other stuff she was doing tonight
  601. >she gives your wolf-hat and the mane underneath it a tousle in return, before nuzzling you back
  602. >"Whoa! Where'd you get that stash from?"
  603. >she sounds impressed as she looks at the three of you and your stuffed bags of candy at your sides
  604. >"Well, we kinda took a chance on some of the houses other folks weren't goin' to, and it paid off," Apple Bloom explains
  605. >"Scootaloo was the one that helped us push through some of the tougher ones," Sweetie chimes in, patting you on the back lightly
  606. "It was a group effort, and you two came up with the idea."
  607. >you blush faintly from the praise, but Dash lets out a low whistle
  608. >"Wow, that's awesome though! I think you all might even have more than I do! Might have to check the south side again..."
  609. >she sounds genuinely impressed, and given how Dash could probaly hit any house in town in under 10 seconds, your pride can't help but swell
  610. "Want to join us? We're still going to hit a couple more houses before we call it a night,"
  611. >you offer, nodding towards the other two
  612. "Although, we were going to go by Triple-H and visit Tiara and Spoon, if that changes anything."
  613. >she seems to weigh the options in her mind, before looking at the collection in her saddlebag
  614. >"Mmmmm... sure, let's do it! The Riches are doing that big party on Dreary, so it's--"
  615. >you pick up the sound of something streaking down the street like lightning, and on instinct jump out of the way
  616. >not half a second later, you see Pinkie go flying by, and just barely make out over the sound of her rocketing past
  617. >"Two thirty-five!"
  618. >that doesn't mean anything to you, but you've scarcely managed to process it when Dash shouts to the dust cloud she left
  619. >"Wha- are you serious?!"
  620. >you cock your head to one side, confused
  621. >"Oh, Pinkie challenged me to a candy-collecting contest. Well... kind of. Okay, maybe I challenged her, technically."
  622. >"But she's already at 235?! She wasn't even at 200 the last time!"
  623. >you roll your eyes, but can't help but smile nonetheless
  624. "Well, you aren't going to beat her standing here talking to us, right?"
  625. >she gives you an apologetic look, but you go ahead and wave her off
  626. >you two share another quick hug, and she's already up in the air
  627. >"Say hi to those two for me, I guess,"
  628. >she winks at you as she takes flight, leaving a rainbow trail behind her that cuts through the fog
  629. >you look over at the neighborhood exit that leads to the much more modern and luxurious houses in High Horse Hills
  630. >it really is past time to see if you all can bust Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon out of their Nightmare Night party prison
  631. >so into the night you three go, the sounds of fake lightning and real whistling wind at your backs as you sally forth
  632. >...
  633.  
  634. -High Horse Hills?-
  635. Late Night
  636.  
  637. >...
  638. >it's really weird here, you note to yourself
  639. >not the crazy-elaborate mansions with all sorts of ivory and decorations, mind
  640. >those actually feel pretty comforting, by comparison
  641. >it's more that the moment you crossed the threshold of the wrought-iron fence and brick entryway into the neighborhood, something has felt off
  642. >the fog has gotten so thick you could cut it with a knife, and some of the roads look downright alien
  643. >but the strangest thing is the sound
  644. >you didn't even notice it, at first, with the chatting you and Apple Bloom were doing about Crusader activities for next month
  645. >but when Sweetie pointed it out, you couldn't ignore it anymore
  646. >things seem to echo in this neighborhood, everything from hooffalls to voices
  647. >but none of it sounds like you expect it to
  648. >it's like listening to a recording of yourself saying something
  649. >there aren't that many lights on anymore, and even if you could believe that that's because people are starting to go to bed or just aren't home, it doesn't feel right
  650. "Okay... I'm not crazy, right? This place is messed up?"
  651. >you finally say out loud, the conversation having stifled itself in the strange atmosphere a moment ago
  652. >you look back at Belle and Bloom for confirmation, and they both nod in agreement
  653. >"This don't feel right, Ah've helped my sister deliver here more'n once, but Ah don't think I've seen half of these houses before tonight."
  654. >?
  655. >you look up at the looming mansion you're currently walking by, searching your memory for who lived there
  656. >the building itself is one you can recall clearly
  657. >but then you realize, you don't think you've seen anyone go into this house
  658. >ever
  659. >"It's more than that, haven't we been walking for a while now? Sure, it's late, but... where are all the other ponies?"
  660. >that actually makes you slow down considerably
  661. >wait, when DID you last pass someone in this fog?
  662. >you definitely crossed paths with a couple fillies before you got to this neighborhood, but...
  663. >have you seen anyone since then?
  664. >how did you get this far before you even noticed?
  665. [The Place]
  666. >...!
  667. >you freeze in place, reaching out and grabbing your two friends before diving for the dirt!
  668. >they start to protest, but you just motion to stay quiet and point upwards
  669. >and a couple seconds later, your instinct proves correct
  670. >the world goes a couple shades darker for a few seconds, and you look up to see the hazy outline of five creatures gliding across the spotlight of the full moon
  671. >they're too far up to make out any definite features through the fog, but you'd swear they have draconic wings
  672. >the three of you stand cautiously once they've faded into the dark of night, whispering to keep from drawing attention
  673. >"What'n the hay was THAT?"
  674. "Dragons? What would they be doing this far west?"
  675. >"They looked small, for dragons..."
  676. >"No, wait, those're Princess Luna's guards!"
  677. >now that Apple Bloom says it out loud, she's right, that has to be who those were
  678. >but a whole flight of them? Nothing that dangerous could be going down right now, could it?
  679. "Wonder if they're looking for someone?"
  680. >you muse out loud, looking around and hoping quietly to yourself that you'll see a landmark to help find your way
  681. >what you don't expect to see, though, is a pair of ponies standing behind you, looking directly at the three of you from behind some goofy masks
  682. >well, at least you're all not totally alone
  683. >it's good to see someone dressed up in costume
  684. >they start walking slowly towards you as you point them out, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle turning to face them
  685. >"Oh! Thank Celestia, we were getting worried,"
  686. >Sweetie says, pulling the fan from her costume and using it to cool herself under the wig and all that fabric
  687. >"Yeah, it's been more'n a minute since... er..."
  688. >Apple Bloom's voice falters as they trot closer, and you get a closer look at their outfits
  689. >blocky, tough-looking armor coovers large parts of their bodies, and their manes and tails are trimmed short
  690. >but you can't pull your eyes away from the masks they're wearing, completely encasing their heads in plated armor
  691. >cutting through the fog are four bars of green light, all in a row, each burning in one of the masks' eyes as their ragged breaths rasp out
  692. "Um, girls...?"
  693. >you see the lights flash briefly as they stare you down
  694. >simultaneously out of the corner you see a lime line of light slide from the top of Bloom's wig to the bottom of her hoof
  695. >a split-second later, one scans Sweetie as well
  696. >and then the green lights flicker and turn red
  697. >that clinches it
  698. "...RUN!"
  699. >you see the larger of the two lurch forward, and all three of you book it!
  700. >you keep pace with your friends, the three of you putting as much space as you can between you and the lockstep hoffalls of the masked ponies close behind
  701. >you don't know what'll happen if those two masked ponies catch you, but you're not going to wait around and find out
  702. >Bloom takes a hard left, and you follow her closely, Sweetie right on your heels as you sprint!
  703. >after a few minutes of breakneck running, you chance a look behind, and though you can still see the glow of the mask eyes through the fog, they seem to periodically snap to the left, then right, like they're searching
  704. >so you take a chance, and sprint ahead of AB, wordlessly guiding both of them across a long yard to an enormous garden hedge
  705. >and without even hesitating, dash headlong into it, resisting the urge to let out a shout as you feel the branches snap against your weight
  706. >a second later, you feel the enormous plant shake as Apple Bloom jumps in after you, her wig getting knocked off in the process
  707. >and a second after that, a third rustle as Sweetie Belle jumps in too
  708. >everyone waits quietly, pressed in on one another as you hear the thundering stomps of the two ponies stampede by
  709. >you see one pair, then the other, of red lights sweep through the mist, but they don't even slow as they pass your hiding spot
  710. >still, you can't all help but lay still, breathing heavily and giving those creeps plenty of time to get well away from you all
  711. >as you're laying there, though, you feel Sweetie start shifting around, her nervous movements quickly turning into a full-on panic!
  712. >she gets the first part of a yelp out before Bloom slaps a hoof over her mouth
  713. >she freaks out, swatting at her dress while a lump underneath it slips this way and that, before scurrying up her side and to the collar of her outfit!
  714. >out from under the aqua-colored cloth pops a tiny creature, no taller than your forehoof, electric-blue and black and buzzing like a mosquito!
  715. >but you notice after a second's pause that it's actually equine in shape, its sharp legs and curled antennae reminding you of something between a Breezie and a Changeling
  716. >it crawls up the side of Sweetie's face, earning a muffled shriek as it skitters right past her eye, before perching delicately on her horn like a tiny ballerina
  717. >playing idly with her mane, the tiny thing looks down at you, pupil-less black eyes taking you three in with obvious curiosity
  718. >"Welellel, howagaow didjinid youfulunou allavanaral comononmome tovufo thisigirilis hedgejeiaromafanow ogolof mitizikinine?"
  719. >you hear her buzz something in a foreign language to you, the sounds bouncing so quickly along her tongue that you can't make out what she's trying to say
  720. >you just shake your head, trying to pantomime that you're REALLY trying to be quiet here
  721. >she seems to take it as a sort of game, clapping her hooves together softly and chattering at the idea
  722. >"Ohnoropoh, aaah gamalanairaime! Mayakabaeray thisijifilis onamunarunone plaquatasanafay?"
  723. >you shush her in irritation, a bucket of icy fear dumping over you as you faintly hear those stomping hoofsteps approaching again
  724. >you gesture as quietly as you can that she's going to get you caught by whoever they are, and could she PLEASE be quiet? Just for a moment?
  725. she gets a mischievous smile on her face, which paired with her all-black eyes makes her look terrifyingly malevolent, and begins to glow even brighter
  726. >just then, it occurs to you
  727. >oh no
  728. >those masked ponies can probably see her in here
  729. >you bite your lip for a moment, before making up your mind
  730. >as the stomping gets closer, you whisper under your breath
  731. "When I give the word, run for it!"
  732. >you feel Sweetie and AB shift around above you, which you assume means they agree
  733. >the sounds get closer, they're practically right in front of the bush now
  734. >you can't stand it anymore
  735. "Go!"
  736. >you all bolt from the shrub at top speed, rushing directly between the figures approaching, a high-pitched jibbering causing the bush to rustle and shake!
  737. >you're amazed all three of you make it past, until you see part of the reason why: at the same time you made your break for freedom, something else exploded from the nearby mansion
  738. >something huge, its enormous jaws held open in a piercing roar as it swims through the air, its long fish-like tail propelling it through the sky as its golden scales shine in the pale moonlight
  739. >with that fight in progress, you're able to quickly slip past, the cacophony of noises and the adrenaline crashing through your veins overriding anything other than fight-or-flight
  740. >you break for the road and then run down it, looking desperately around for any way out of this place
  741. >it seems like every place you look, there's some new monster
  742. >a puddle of shadows jetisons a pile of bones out of it, the black goo that threw them crawling towards it
  743. >you hear the deep rumble of a giant's roar as living winds swirl around something fifteen stories tall, with glowing red eyes and hands made of cloud and storm
  744. >"Scootaloo! Where are we going?!"
  745. >you hear Sweetie yell behind you
  746. >she's right
  747. >you need to find a gate, or an exit, or a
  748. >!
  749. >a door!
  750. >you see the mist stop like a solid wall a few feet from the door to one of the mansions, and something in your mind just knows
  751. >that ornate blue door is your ticket out
  752. >you don't have time to wonder why you know that, you just do
  753. "This way! Follow me!"
  754. >you charge, lungs on fire and muscles full of battery acid
  755. >you can practically feel the claws of something vicious on your neck, but one last push, and--
  756. >the moment your hoof sets foot beyond the fog, two things happen
  757. >you hear a dismayed shriek from whatever was chasing you
  758. >and you see an eye
  759. >well
  760. >to say you "see" it isn't quite right
  761. >you comprehend it
  762. >set against the black, an eye with a golden iris stares at you
  763. >no, truly it stares through you
  764. >and as it does, you feel something you know you shouldn't
  765. >a wave of disinterest washes over you, like you've just sat through a thousand years of boring lectures
  766. you should probably turn around and go back wherever you came from, really
  767. >but you know, logically, if you do that, there's no way you'll make it back
  768. but you understand that really, there's nothing there, so it's best to turn away
  769. >nothing but a blue door
  770. that isn't there, you must have mistaken it for something else
  771. >it's your only way out of
  772. you can't, though
  773. >you blink a few times, your heart pounding out of your chest even as you fight the impulse to turn around and walk away
  774. >the eye, the eye in your mind, continues to stare
  775. you continue to realize that exploring in this direction is utterly pointless
  776. >but you need to get to safety, and bring Belle and Bloom with you
  777. you understand, however, that you are
  778. 「unwelcome」
  779. in this place
  780. >something warm runs down the side of your head from the ear
  781. >but you take another step forward
  782. >you're distantly aware of the sound of something hitting the ground to your left
  783. it would be wise to check on them and turn away from the nothing you're so intent on seeing
  784. >and you simultaneously know that doing that would just seal your fate
  785. >you can't run forever, and now one of your friends is unconscious
  786. and so you know that you must tend to them, if they are to have any hope of surviving
  787. >no, you NEED to--
  788.  
  789.  
  790. Y̶̢̛̻̋͌͐́͑̉̈͆̀̈̈́̌͑̃̃̃̈́̚͘Ǫ̶̩̣̟͈̬̉̒́̇̽͑͆̈̀͌͂͋̏̿̀Ų̵̪̺̼̳̦̦͉̼̈̓͒̽̈́̒̿̋́̐̊̆̔̔̃͒̈͘̕͠͠ͅ ̵̛̦̮̜̜͉̼̠̖̤͇̦̽͂̾̏̈́͗́̍̆̋̎̍̉̔͐̉̈́̏͝D̴̢̖̃̾̊̄͊̓̈́͌̔̔͐̄́̃͝Ơ̷̰̱̌̀̉̒͂͋̔̚ ̷̨̨̛̫̝͈̮̝͍͈̦͚͕͍̣̫̜̟̜̼̱̔̿̈̓̑͛̉͗͋͊͒̔̚͜͠ͅṈ̴̨̡͕̗̞͍̹͔̤̪͈͗̒̀́͌̃̈̈́̔̇͘̚̚O̶̡͉̗̱͖͚͈͖̫͋͌̈́̆͛͒̀̏̓̕Ť̶͍̼̹̝̖̭̱̮̳̻̟̥̣̔̇͛̈́̎͛̀̈̉̄͌̀́̔̇͋̚͘͘͜͝͠>
  791. >
  792. >
  793. >you comprehend the eye focusing itself fully on you, and whatever you were thinking stops
  794. >faintly, you wonder why the world is tilting
  795. >it's like watching someone drop a film camera
  796. >your vision gets fuzzy, and a little red at the bottom
  797. >if you could just get inside, you know that you could save yourself, and save your friends
  798. >the eye is burned into your perception
  799. >or your memory of your perception
  800. >it stares you down, even as your thoughts fade away into nothing
  801. >the world is just color and noise now
  802. >
  803. >
  804. >
  805. >
  806. >...
  807. >the last thing you remember is the sound of blasting wind and a flash of blue rushing at you
  808.  
  809.  
  810.  
  811. >!
  812. >"Ah, good. It would appear you have a strong recollection of preceding events."
  813. >the tuxedoed man before you tents his fingers, looking pleased
  814. >at least, you think he looks pleased, so far you've really only seen one expression on his face
  815. >"However, as I said, your presence here is most unexpected:"
  816. >"The Velvet Room exists between dream and reality. Between mind and matter."
  817. >his grin widens even more, and you notice that the pianist has finished their performance, as has the singer
  818. >"Make no mistake, however. Your current condition in no way straddles these lines. You are very truly here. How interesting."
  819. >"Further, you are neither under contract, nor was one forged in accordance with your immanent arrival."
  820. >you look down at the young alicorn sitting next to him, and get a slight shock
  821. >their eyes glow with a golden hue that looks all too familiar, with the benefit of hindsight
  822. >"For fate to guide you to this moment, your destiny must be truly extraordinary!"
  823. >the long-nosed old man gives a wheezing laugh, waving his hand over the table
  824. >where his hand moves, you see a set of cards fan out, all sorts of colors and designs, like they were built from the remains of several different decks
  825. >"By way of compensation, may we offer you an examination of your journey?"
  826. >"Since you have already so vividly examined your past, perhaps a glimpse of what may await you is prudent."
  827. >he holds his hands out to you, offering for you to select a card
  828. >hesitantly, you reach out and draw one from the left edge of the deck, embossed with a blue back
  829. >with a flick of his gloved wrist, Igor bids the card to turn over
  830. >you see...
  831. >a tree, its boughs wrapped around each other to form a heart
  832. >standing beneath it on either side are a man and a woman
  833. >the sun shines down on both of them, and fruit dangles from the tree within reach of both
  834. >"Ah, the Lovers!"
  835. >"This card, the most immediate in your future, alludes to unions and partnerships, as well as a resolute commitment. It is a card fraught with import, and the choices it portends should not be taken lightly!"
  836. >he nonetheless gives a gentle laugh, looking expectantly up to you to choose again
  837. >this time, you opt for something a little to the right of center, your hoof drawing out a card with a red back this time
  838. >Igor again gestures, and the card obediently rotates around one side, flipping over to reveal...
  839. >?
  840. >you see a thin, gaunt man with a skull mask, beheading a cartoonish man in a crown with a scythe
  841. >the scene is painted in reds, blacks, and grays
  842. >between the strange art style and the fact that it's upside down, it takes you a second to fully understand what you're looking at
  843. >"Hmm, Death!"
  844. >!
  845. >"Ah, worry not, young visitor, the card known as Death is not so dreary as the name might imply."
  846. >"Death is a card of endings, but not of the end. It instead calls to mind deep and profound change, as well as acceptance of what may come."
  847. >"Reversal, then, is denial of such things, and resistance to them."
  848. >"Further in your future, you may wish to ask yourself whether this Death beckons you, and whether you will answer its call."
  849. >it seems he still expects you to draw again
  850. >you reach forward for one of the middle-most cards, and your hoof taps one with a dark ebony border
  851. >when the wizened old man gestures, though, the card lays limply upon the table
  852. >tilting his head to one side, he reaches forward to touch it, picking it up between two fingers to examine it before looking from the card to you
  853. >"Well now... this is most peculiar indeed!"
  854. >he sounds delighted, but as you've seen, that doesn't necessarily mean much
  855. >handing the card to you, he drums his fingertips on the edge of the blue covered table, apparently thinking hard about how to respond
  856. >when you get the card, you immediately see the problem
  857. >the card depicts a silhouette of a woman, surrounded at several angles by the heads of lions
  858. >but from the stylized nature of the card, and the ambiguous outline of the woman, you can't determine if the lines from woman to lion are chains binding her, or arms reaching out to them
  859. >you can't tell if the lions' heads are bowed towards her, or reaching for her
  860. >"Hunger and Strength: Two cards, intertwined, which deal with savage impulse and use of power. While closely related, to describe them as either alike or opposite would be an error. For a card to be so unclear as not to resolve itself to a single depiction, your fate must be truly remarkable!"
  861. >he pauses for a moment, long slender fingers stroking his chin pensively
  862. >"As you continue on your journey, you may find yourself beset by choices, which will bring about a radical change, thus creating a precarious position wherein your use of strength is tested. You may find it prudent to be mindful of such events, and your handling thereof!"
  863. >"Well, with that, I do believe your business in this room has been concluded."
  864. >the pony sitting beside him clears their throat and speaks for the first time
  865. >"If there is nothing further to address, I would be happy to escort you to the exit."
  866. >the sharp tone of their voice leaves little doubt in your mind that they're less than amused with you and your visit here
  867. >!
  868. >you suddenly get a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach as the distance between you and the table grows before your eyes
  869. >you look backwards and see the door sliding toward you, like gravity had shifted and your body is just now catching up
  870. >you turn your head back towards the inhabitants, something welling up within you as thoughts run unbidden through your mind
  871. >memories of a dream you almost forgot, of the moon looming closer to your home
  872. >memories of a dark cage and a grating, spiteful laugh
  873. >without thinking, you open your mouth...
  874.  
  875.  
  876. I'll leave when I have some answers.
  877. >What about my friends?
  878. You can't just throw me out!
  879.  
  880.  
  881. "What about my friends?"
  882. >you meet the attendant's eyes with a frigid glare in return, feeling your hooves dig into the blue carpet beneath them
  883. >their eyebrows raise practically into their cap, and you start walking toward the table, crossing the distance that had grown without your traversing it
  884. "I don't remember them coming in, they aren't here now, and I'm sure as hay not leaving without them."
  885. >you continue, approaching the pair and then planting yourself firmly in front of it
  886. >rearing up, you place your forehooves on the cloth-covered surface of the table, now at eye level with Igor
  887. "So, what happened to them?"
  888. >Agatha actually takes a small step backwards, looking incredibly embarassed
  889. >your gaze switches from the attendant to their master
  890. >who of course gives you that same unchanging smile in response
  891. >"Please, excuse Agatha's impertinance; she is, perhaps, a bit overzealous in her protectiveness."
  892. >"However, if your concern is with your companions, you need not worry."
  893. >"Their safety has already been guaranteed by your actions thus far; you may rest assured that upon your successful return to your home, they will accompany you."
  894. >"In order to preserve their well-being, we have precluded them from any further activity for the time being."
  895. >"Please understand: We are acting in the best interest of all involved."
  896. >you... guess that'll work?
  897. >you don't get the impression that he's lying, in any case
  898. >"Moreover, you have exhibited both an astounding penchant for self-assertion, and a delightfully unique destiny."
  899. >"Were a catastrophe to threaten your existence, I have no doubt you would rise to the occasion masterfully, don't you agree?"
  900. >he addresses his question to the alicorn, who nods once after a moment's contemplation
  901. >"Of course, it is just as well that no such danger is present for your world."
  902. >the well-dressed proprietor of the Velvet Room clarifies
  903. >"And yet, it is perhaps regrettable that there is no armageddon against which you might clash."
  904. >Agatha remarks, looking a bit worried
  905. "What's that supposed to mean?"
  906. >you'd just as soon nothing terrible happen, all things being equal
  907. >the two share a look that you can't really interpret
  908. >"Allow me to speak plainly,"
  909. >the elderly man declares, leaning forward and tenting his fingers almost conspiratorially
  910. >"Your arrival in this room, from an entrance through which you should not have been able to pass, presents a conundrum."
  911. >"It is the role of the Velvet Room to assist those who have or will enter into a contract with us, and yet there is no basis on which we may form such a bargain."
  912. >Agatha lets out a small 'ahem' to draw your attention
  913. >"And while you have all the markings of one who is to be helped, there is no threat with which you require assistance."
  914. >Igor nods and continues her thought for her
  915. >"As it stands now, we can offer you no aid in returning home, as doing so would directly interfere with the decisions which guide your fate. This would be considered a grave violation of a standing agreement, and would have deleterious consequences."
  916. >they're both silent for a moment, deep in thought
  917. >"However,"
  918. >Agatha begins
  919. >"However."
  920. >Igor agrees
  921. "However?"
  922. >you ask, not picking up at all on what they're thinking
  923. >"There is a way that a contract can be made."
  924. >"Because you arrived through the Sea of Dreams, you are not by necessity tethered to only your world."
  925. >?
  926. >you arch your eyebrow at that
  927. >"The swirling abyss of infinite possibilities by which you came."
  928. >"Set amidst it are islands of existence, might-have-beens, what-ifs, and never-weres."
  929. >Agatha interjects, before allowing Igor to continue
  930. >"Were you to assist some these differing realities, you would then yourself be in need of aid, which we could provide."
  931. >"However, this would carry with it a 「burden」, which you would need to assume in order to grant you agency in these worlds."
  932. >Agatha's harsh expression softens slightly as she speaks up again
  933. >"Your compatriots will remain safe regardless, and their choices are of course their own."
  934. >Igor nods appreciatively at her, before turning to you again
  935. >"And so, we must ask you:"
  936. >"Do you agree to these terms?"
  937. >"Will you help these alternate worlds in exchange for what aid we can offer you?"
  938. >This is a very important decision
  939. >you must choose wisely
  940.  
  941.  
  942. Yes
  943. No
  944. >I have some questions...
  945.  
  946.  
  947. "Hold on a sec, you didn't even tell me what 'helping alternate worlds' means!"
  948. >you hold up a hoof to stop Igor, who leans back slightly in response
  949. >"Ah, of course, a fair question. Consider: your world is safe, but it was not always so."
  950. >"In times of crisis, those with sufficient will have stepped forward to dissuade the nihilistic tendencies of those in power."
  951. >"Let us refer to them as heroes."
  952. >Agatha's smile is just a little proud as she speaks up
  953. >"It's within our power to assist, when the threat of self-destruction is immanent, and a hero answers the call."
  954. >but as quickly as her smile grew, it fades
  955. >"But in order to help, they must first answer."
  956. >Igor leans back in, ever-grinning and ever-proper
  957. >"If you were to agree, then, you would do well to search for those who are restrained by their own trepidation."
  958. >"If you liberate them from the illusions plaguing them, we may in turn answer their desire to affect change."
  959. >you think about this for a second, looking around the silent Velvet Room at its inhabitants
  960. >your gaze gets drawn back to the large blue door at your back, and you feel a tightening in your chest
  961.  
  962. "...If I say yes, would I have to start right now?"
  963. >Igor gives a chuckle at your question
  964. >"If that is your wish, I suppose arrangements could be made."
  965. >he laughs again, before shaking his head
  966. >"However, it ill behooves you to charge in headlong. Both you and your companions would be better served by a period of recuperation."
  967. >Agatha nods along, but seems to have less to comment about on this matter
  968. >"I regret to say there is little more that may be revealed to one without a formal agreement."
  969. >"It is, after all, not yet officially your place to know."
  970.  
  971. >It seems there is a limit to what you can learn from Igor and the others without accepting a contract and the accompanying burden
  972. >do you accept the terms of the agreement?
  973. >this is a very important decision
  974. >you must choose wisely
  975.  
  976.  
  977. >Yes
  978. No
  979. I still have more questions!
  980.  
  981.  
  982. "...Okay."
  983. >you take a steadying breath, steel yourself, and hold a hoof out for Igor to shake
  984. "These ponies sound like they need help, at least as much as I do. So if it'll get me and my friends home, and help them?"
  985. >you smile, ready for whatever comes next
  986. "I accept."
  987. >Igor gives a single clap, the most animated you've seen him since you first came to in his Room
  988. >"Excellent, truly excellent!"
  989. >he reaches a hand out and takes your hoof almost daintily, giving it the most delicate of shakes
  990. >as he does, you feel something in his hand, which when you draw back, you realize is a small badge
  991. >just as he's moving his hand away, you hear the other two young alicorns begin their respective performances again
  992. [Crusader's Hymn for the Velvet Room]
  993. >the badge looks startlingly familiar, just like the emblem on your Crusader capes
  994. >a young pony in a cape set in a heraldic shield emblem
  995. >this one, however, is smaller, and mostly gold with black highlights
  996. "Um... what's this?"
  997. >Agatha floats it up with her magic and presses it against your chest
  998. >?
  999. >you feel a strange warmth coming from the place where it nestles in your coat
  1000. >"This is the aid we can offer, which is a necessary part of your task."
  1001. >"So long as you are a guest of the Velvet Room in this capacity, you shall have the Complex of Ego."
  1002. >"You may think of it as a badge of recognition of one's true self."
  1003. >you feel it pulse against you every couple of seconds, not to the point of distracting you, but simply reminding you it's there
  1004. >with each pulse, you feel that eerie sensation of someone's eyes on you
  1005.  
  1006. Obtained: Ego Complex
  1007.  
  1008. >you're shaken from your reverie by a small noise of something dragging on cloth
  1009. >Agatha is the one to present you with the other item, placing her hoof on the table and then lifting it away
  1010. >you see a rectangular card depicting a tri-colored shield in red, pink, and purple that exactly mirrors your cutie mark
  1011. >Igor picks it up between two fingers and offers it to you
  1012. >before he lets go of it, he tells you in his strange, meandering cadence
  1013. >"This, then, is the 「burden」 which is inextricable from your task."
  1014. >"If you are to enact meaningful change in the other existences to which you travel, you must endure the weight of responsibility which is indivisible from choice."
  1015. >"So long as the world in which you reside lacks a hero able to forge a contract, you will be obliged to stand in their place, with all of the rewards and consequences thereof."
  1016. >he holds out his free hand as if presenting his idea in physical form, his eyes narrowing due to the constant grin he wears
  1017. >"Once conferred to a resident of that existence, you will be relieved of said burden, and thus able to move freely between realities."
  1018. >at that, he finally lets go of the small rectangular object, and you take it in your hoof
  1019. >as soon as you do, though, it seems to vanish into thin air
  1020. >but although the card isn't physically on your person, a figure grows more prominent in your mind
  1021. >a form of sleek, beautiful black steel accentuated with streamlined engines and compact missile silos
  1022. >its surface crisscrossed with joints that hide a mechanical giant inside the avian shell
  1023.  
  1024. Obtained: Hero Complex
  1025.  
  1026. >"Now, with that taken care of...?"
  1027. >Agatha looks to her master cautiously
  1028. >he simply nods to show approval
  1029. >"If you don't have any further objections, it would be wise to return you to your world of origin, sooner rather than later."
  1030. >"After all, the Velvet Room wasn't built with prolonged accommodation in mind, even for its guests."
  1031. >you still sense a certain urgency to her voice, but this time tempered with... dare you call it concern?
  1032. >she trots around the table to you, walking with you to the door
  1033. "And my friends--"
  1034. >you start, but she stretches a wing out and pats your back with it gently
  1035. >"When you step outside, they will be placed in the location most reasonable for them to have been. Like yourself."
  1036. >as if on cue, the door starts to open, and you can clearly see the outline of your dresser and bed through the space between door and frame
  1037. "And what if I need to come back here?"
  1038. >she admonishes the idea, waving it away
  1039. >"Now that you are welcome, you will find your way here in times of need."
  1040. >"But truly, you should rest and recover from your escapades this night."
  1041. >as you step through the door, you feel a dull 'th-thump' against your chest
  1042. >"Rest well, and we await your next visit, honored guest."
  1043. >you turn to bid farewell to the navy-blue alicorn, but when you look back, your closet door shows no signs of supernatural activity
  1044. >as suddenly as you arrive, you feel exhaustion soak into every muscle in your body
  1045. >like you just ran a marathon
  1046. >(or at least hiked an entire neighborhood and then fled for your life from literal monsters)
  1047. >and without any further deliberation, you climb into bed
  1048. >you're practically out before your head hits the pillow, a dreamless and restful sleep overtaking you
  1049.  
  1050. -Palomino Apartments-
  1051. Morning
  1052.  
  1053. >...
  1054. >urgh
  1055. >you grumble a little, pulling your covers up further and curling up underneath them
  1056. >but between that and your costume, it's getting too warm to sleep much longer
  1057. >you start to pull down the felted wolf cap to see if you can keep the light out long enough for another five minutes of rest
  1058. >but you know you should probably just bite the bullet and get up
  1059. >"Hey."
  1060. >you hear Al's gruff voice from the other side of your bedroom door
  1061. >he knocks once, and you can actually hear him scratch his stubbled face
  1062. >"You up yet? I got work soon."
  1063. "Nnn."
  1064. >you groan, grudgingly acknowledging you're conscious
  1065. >"Wouldn't be so tired if you weren't out so late, sleepyhead..."
  1066. >you hear him mutter
  1067. >"Anyway, breakfast is on the table, don't let it get too cold."
  1068. >you hear him start to walk out before pausing and turning back around
  1069. >"Oh, and don't just eat candy for breakfast either."
  1070. >and with that, you hear him walk across the apartment, and a moment later the door opens and closes
  1071. >part of you wants to say that after last night, you have bigger things to worry about than breakfast
  1072. >but another part of you (specifically your stomach) argues that there's nothing more important than breakfast at the moment
  1073. >so you climb out of bed and then remove your costume, hanging it up in the closet you walked in from at the end of last night
  1074. [Cave Story - Graveyard]
  1075. >when you open the bedroom door, you're greeted with the unmistakable scent of greasy fast food
  1076. >Al must've run to Hayburgers and grabbed something off the breakfast menu
  1077. >a Junior Number 3 with OJ is admittedly one of life's simple pleasures
  1078. >so you take his advice and walk over to the kitchen table, take a seat, and chow down, enjoying the savory taste of fried hay and Breakfast Sauce
  1079. >(you're pretty sure it's just a combination of two of their other sauces)
  1080. >their OJ isn't as good as fresh stuff, but it's perfectly passable
  1081. >as you munch, you can't help but remember the events of last night
  1082. >the panicked run from those ponies in the robotic looking masks
  1083. >the mantis-like miniature pony in the bush
  1084. >that giant made of clouds that was stomping around
  1085. >and now you're going to be seeing stuff like that again, soon?
  1086. >it feels like a bit much
  1087. >you put your hoof to your chest, recalling the medal that was placed there
  1088. >you can't feel the metal surface of it now, but you do feel a faint ba-bump against your chest as you remember it
  1089. >definitely not just a dream, then
  1090. >so, you can't help but wonder, when does it start?
  1091. >Igor and Agatha said when you were "recuperated", but how do you judge that?
  1092. >...
  1093. "Oh!"
  1094. >before anything else, you need to fill the girls in on what happened!
  1095. >you run over to the wall phone, picking it up and dialing Sweet Apple Acres
  1096. >you know the Apples are early risers, so odds are good they're already out and working
  1097. >but it's worth a shot...
  1098. >"Whazzat? Who's callin'?"
  1099. >you breathe a sigh of relief as Granny Smith finally picks up
  1100. "Granny! Is Apple Bloom awake? Can I talk to her?"
  1101. >"Eh? No, no, our apple room's one hundred per-cent real, who's this?"
  1102. "It's Scootaloo!"
  1103. >"No, I'M asking YOU who!"
  1104. "Scootaloo!"
  1105. >"Eh? Fruit loops? we only sell those in spring, sorry!"
  1106. >wait
  1107. >she sounds kind of far away, for being on the phone
  1108. >is she holding the phone upside down?
  1109. >"Granny, turn the phone over!"
  1110. >"Turnovers? Well, we can make a special order of 'em, but we'll need to talk to th'Cakes first!"
  1111. >she's killing you here
  1112. >ugh
  1113. >okay, uh
  1114. >maybe if you...
  1115. "Fancy, burn a cone for Rover!"
  1116. >"Wha?... Oh! Heheh, sorry 'bout that!"
  1117. >her volume spikes, and you have to hold the receiver a bit away from your ear
  1118. >but hey, progress!
  1119. "Granny, can you hear me now?"
  1120. >"Sure can li'l filly, sorry 'bout all that! Now, what was it you was lookin' fer?"
  1121. "Is Apple Bloom around?"
  1122. >"Can't imagine where else she'd be! But that filly's been tucked in 'er bed tighter'n all git out this mornin'."
  1123. >hm
  1124. >it might be better to let her rest, all things considered
  1125. >but you really need to call a meeting
  1126. "...Could you tell her when she wakes up that we're holding a meeting? Tell her it's a code blue?"
  1127. >"Sure as shootin'! Code blue, got it! Now, how many turnovers did ya want, again?"
  1128. "We'll, um, talk about it when we get there?"
  1129. >"Alrighty, be sein' ya!"
  1130. >you hang up the phone and let out a sigh of relief
  1131. >okay, at least that's--
  1132. >"SCOOTALOO!"
  1133. >you hear a frantic knocking on your door and walk over to see what all the commotion's about
  1134. "Sweetie?"
  1135. >opening it, you get tackled back inside immediately in a hug
  1136. >"Scoots! Oh thank Celestia, when I woke up I was so worried! There was that big fish monster thing, and those creepy ponies, and then we were running towards a house and I must've tripped or something, and I thought... I thought..."
  1137. >Sweetie Belle squeezes you tighter, and you give her a hug in return
  1138. >she sniffles a bit, before looking up at you
  1139. >"Are you alright? Did you hear from Apple Bloom yet? How did we get back home? Where did we--"
  1140. >you hold up a hoof, and she calms down, as the two of you get back to your hooves and trot inside
  1141. "I'm fine, and I think Apple Bloom is too. I just called, and Granny said she was still asleep, so she probably just needs some rest."
  1142. >you sit back down at the table, thinking how best to phrase the answer to her next question
  1143. "How we got back is... kind of a long story. I think we need to talk about it with AB, too, so we're going to meet up at the clubhouse. After that, we can go from there."
  1144. >she nods, seeming to calm down a touch when she realizes you have a plan
  1145. >well, the beginnings of one, at least
  1146. >anything that involves "make the rest of the plan" as one of the steps is a pretty weak plan
  1147. >but anything's better than nothing, you think
  1148. "Are you okay, though? You don't feel weird or anything, right?"
  1149. >Sweetie shakes her head, patting herself down to double-check
  1150. >"Just confused..."
  1151. >you can't blame her
  1152. >you are too, to be honest
  1153. "Don't worry, we'll figure it out. Did you eat before you came over?"
  1154. >she thinks about it for a second before shaking her head
  1155. >makes sense, she had other things on her mind
  1156. >you walk over to the pantry, opening it up and looking through it for something she can snack on
  1157. >lots of junk food, of course, but you do eventually find a quick-cook packet of oatmeal
  1158. >this one has little chunks of dehydrated apple and brown sugar dust mixed in
  1159. "Is this okay?"
  1160. >you hold the bag out for her to look at, and she gives you a thankful smile and a nod
  1161. >you dump them into a small pan and pour some water over top of them, setting them on the stove over low heat
  1162. >maybe not gourmet cuisine, but it'll do in a pinch
  1163. >as you wait for that to heat up, you take another few bites out of your rapidly cooling fast-food breakfast
  1164. >the quality goes downhill fast when it's not fresh out of the fryer
  1165. >your eyes land on the paper Al brought in this morning
  1166. "Hey... wonder if anything got published about last night?"
  1167. >you open the first section up, flipping through it searching for possible mention of property damage and strange visitors
  1168. >but the headline doesn't read "INVADERS AND MONSTERS DESTROY NEIGHBORHOOD, MANSION IN RUINS"
  1169. >it doesn't even talk about "SPOOKY FOG ENVELOPS TOWN, CREEPY MASKED PONIES ROAM THE STREETS"
  1170. >...wait, that's just Nightmare Night
  1171. >still, surely someone else saw something, right?
  1172. >"Scootaloo...?"
  1173. >the worried tone in Sweetie's voice is enough for you to immediately drop the paper
  1174. >"Where'd you get this?"
  1175. >she holds up a second paper, much thinner, but with an all-too-recognizable title: "Foal Free Press"
  1176. >but what sends your heart plummeting into your stomach is the front-page article, and a byline you were sure you'd never see again
  1177.  
  1178. Exposé: Treasonous Teacher Poisoning Young Minds at the Source!
  1179.  
  1180. Gabby Gums
  1181.  
  1182. Gentle breezes, blinking stars and a vibrant moon bless our town of Hypnos with a singularly beautiful view of the night we residents too often take for granted. But though there are no threats of rain in the weekly forecast according to our favorite meteorologist Winter Sky, there ARE dark storm clouds brewing on the horizon. For the source of this cold front, one need look no further than the humble schoolhouse P.S. 107, administrated and taught by one Cheers Liqueur. No simple band of lightning and thunder, this haggard mare and rumored liquor bootlegger is brewing up a storm of insurrection as baffling as it is dangerous.
  1183.  
  1184. According to sources close to the educator, she has been growing increasingly outspoken in her presentation of biased misinformation far out of line with both the state-approved curriculum and basic common sense. Her insistence on spreading and attempting to legitimize the spurious rumors of food shortage in the Appaloosa and Manehattan regions has long made her an easy target for ridicule, but in recent lessons, her focus seems to have turned completely from education to doom-saying:
  1185.  
  1186. "[They] cannot survive on less than 4 hours of sunlight, regardless of what anyone wants to tell you. It is [...] killing ponies because of the-- the SELFISHNESS of-- that is to say, I mean, the ill advisement of[...] our leaders."
  1187.  
  1188. Numerous studies sponsored by the Agricultural Council have repeatedly disproven the widely-spread rumor regarding plant nutrition, of course. It is this reporter's personal experience that several species of plant grow and even thrive in low-sunlight conditions, and one can't help but wonder what kind of fruits Ms. Licquer might be attempting to cultivate. (Certainly not the Vitis Vinifera, used in the manufacture of illegal substances which a close relative of hers was recently jailed for producing and selling, though curiously this particular strain DOES require the extended sunlight exposure our subject was pressing for.) However strongly she wishes they were true, Cheers' alternate facts simply don't hold water, and this reporter in particular sincerely hopes she has the good sense to quit while she's ahead.
  1189.  
  1190. >you let the paper flop onto the table
  1191. >hooooo boy
  1192. >"Scoots?"
  1193. >Sweetie asks nervously
  1194. >you hold up a hoof, your mind going a mile a minute as you try to make this fit with what you know
  1195. >Gabby Gums was just a pseudonym you and your friends used to... well, you aren't really proud of what you did
  1196. >there was a lot of rumor mongering, and it got you in a lot of hot water
  1197. >but you haven't used that name in forever
  1198. >heck, you haven't even written an article for the paper in years
  1199. >when was the last time the Foal Free Press even put out an issue?
  1200. >Featherweight took a break at the end of that semester, and you can't remember anyone starting a new run when the next school year started
  1201. >but the paper has today's publication date
  1202. >so someone's publishing a story under your old name
  1203. >even so, Featherweight would have had to okay the publication, right?
  1204. >that colt would never okay something this tawdry: not that anypony has much bad to say about Cheerilee anyway, but he has more integrity than to run a story about her like this
  1205. >something doesn't quite add up
  1206. >actually, a lot of things don't add up
  1207. "Hey Sweetie, could you call the Apples? If you get ahold of someone, have them tell Apple Bloom it's a Code Red now."
  1208. >"Sure! Um, but where are you going?"
  1209. >you walk to the front door, opening it and peaking out
  1210. "Damage assessment."
  1211. >you look down the street a ways, and spot what you're looking for:
  1212. >Ms. Raintree hasn't gotten her paper yet this morning, it's still sitting on the stoop in front of her apartment
  1213. >neither have a couple of your other neighbors
  1214. >you hope they won't mind just this once
  1215. >you make a break for it, running over and grabbing a couple papers from off the nearby doorsteps before sprinting back to your place
  1216. >with the door closed behind you, you flip one of the papers open, poring over each page
  1217. >sure enough, folded in at the very back of the paper is a small copy of the same Foal Free Press with the same headline
  1218. >knowing where to look now, you rifle through the others as well
  1219. >in each one, a crisp, freshy printed issue of Foal Free Press
  1220. >okay... this has to be a prank of some kind, right?
  1221. >like, the worst prank ever, but maybe
  1222. >but then how did they make enough copies for the whole town?
  1223. >"Nopony picked up, I let it ring for almost a minute."
  1224. >Sweetie informs you in a concerned tone, hovering her cooked bowl of oatmeal in front of her as she takes another bite
  1225. >you must have gotten lucky, catching Granny Smith when you did
  1226. >at least it's early enough that most people haven't gotten their paper yet
  1227. >but that's liable to change the later it gets
  1228. >a thought lingers in the back of your mind
  1229. >you don't know anypony who calls Ms. Cheerilee "Cheers" that you can think of
  1230. >maybe this is tied to that "alternate worlds" thing from last night?
  1231. >you can't decide if it'd make this better or worse if it is
  1232. >but you need to focus on getting everyone together and forming a plan, first
  1233. "Then we should go. We need to get over to Apple Bloom, check on her, and talk about how we're going to deal with this!"
  1234. >you give Sweetie a confident smile you wish you were more sincere about
  1235. >she smiles back, and you get the impression she might be faking it a little too
  1236. >but you'll fake it together, you decide, trashing your thoroughly chilled breakfast burger
  1237. >you give Sweetie a second to finish her breakfast while you grab your saddlebags from your room
  1238. >then, once you're both ready, the two of you sneak out as quietly as you can, you leading the way along the quieter streets as you head for the Apple Family Farm
  1239.  
  1240. -Sweet Apple Acres-
  1241. Morning
  1242.  
  1243. >you and Sweetie keep to a decent trot, your hurry tempered by the fact that Sweet Apple Acres is, well
  1244. >acres and acres of farmland
  1245. >as you come jogging up, you see a rustle in one of the upstairs windows of the farmhouse
  1246. >and before you actually get to the porch, Apple Bloom is already outside, running to meet you
  1247. >"Girls!"
  1248. >"Apple Bloom!"
  1249. "Apple Bloom!"
  1250. >you catch her as she grabs onto the both of you in a hug that's just a little too tight
  1251. >you can't help but feel happy just being reunited with your friends
  1252. >even so, you have to concentrate on fixing this newspaper issue!
  1253. "C'mon inside girls, Ah got a good idea what this might be about..."
  1254. >she gestures to follow her, and you and Sweetie join her in the walk to the clubhouse
  1255. >"It's the paper, right?"
  1256. >she asks in a lower voice, looking around to make sure none of her family is in earshot
  1257. >you both nod in response
  1258. "There's no way Featherweight would've published that article. He turned down one of Ruby's articles because she didn't have her citation in the right style once, there's no way he'd let someone write under that pseudonym."
  1259. >you whisper, trotting side by side with Apple Bloom
  1260. >"It ain't right."
  1261. >Apple Bloom agrees
  1262. >"And besides, how'd they get it to every house in Ponyville? That takes a whole team of ponies to do for the regular paper!"
  1263. >"No, Ah mean, it ain't right."
  1264. >the three of you trot up to the door of the clubhouse together, slipping inside as quickly as possible
  1265. >you walk in, only to see most of the benches and tables cleared off, with a couple books opened to various pages
  1266. >Apple Bloom walks over to the copy of the newspaper she has, the individual pages laid out over the table she had previously been painting her model on
  1267. >you can see a few different phrases highlighted
  1268. >"Ah had to check t'be sure, but this whole article's just wrong. Factually, Ah mean."
  1269. >she points at the book nearest you, and you look at the entry in the "Junior Farmer's Kid Dictionary" near the back that it's opened to
  1270. >huh
  1271. >"Vitis Vinifera is just grapes. Ah double-checked with my sister just t'be sure, but there ain't no laws on what ya can or can't grow, so long as it ain't on a blacklist. Which, o' course, grapes aren't."
  1272. >she points at a note next to the paper she scribled out next
  1273. >"Ain't no schools around here that use numbers fer their names, either. Ah thought it sounded kinda familiar though, so I called Babs. She said there ain't none in Manehattan that use that number."
  1274. >Apple Bloom winces slightly at that
  1275. >"Then she said Ah should probably not call 'til after 7, since her dad woke up 'cause of it."
  1276. >but she brushes it aside and continues
  1277. >"And have y'all ever heard of Hypnos? Sweetie, your sister ever ship anything there? 'Cause Ah can't remember ever hearin' of it 'fore now..."
  1278. >Sweetie thinks for a minute before confirming
  1279. >"Nope. Not that that means anything for sure."
  1280. >"So, it looks like this whole paper's a big ol' fake, if you ask me!"
  1281. >AB declares
  1282. "So... what do we do about it, though?"
  1283. >you think out loud, pondering your predicament
  1284. >"I mean, we can just tell everyone that we didn't write it, right?"
  1285. Sweetie suggests hopefully
  1286. >"But if'n they keep publishin' stories in our name, Ah dunno how long folks'll stand for it."
  1287. >Apple Bloom points out
  1288. "Yeah. I more meant, how are we going to make them stop? Because we can't let them hurt anypony with a bunch of rumors, right?"
  1289. >you chime in
  1290. >"Yeah," Apple Bloom agrees
  1291. >"Yeah!" Sweetie affirms
  1292. "Alright then. So let's..."
  1293. >you've agreed to find the author of the most recent Foal Free Press edition
  1294. >but where should you start looking?
  1295. >well, given what you know so far...
  1296.  
  1297.  
  1298. Let's find out who delivered today's papers and see if they know anything
  1299. Let's see if we can find out more about this Hypnos place
  1300. >Let's go to the school's journalism club room
  1301.  
  1302.  
  1303. "Let's go over to the school, and check the journalism club."
  1304. >you look to the girls for approval, and they both nod in agreement
  1305. >"Yeah, if they pushed out this many papers, there's no way they didn't leave some evidence behind!"
  1306. >Sweetie Belle reasons
  1307. >"And if'n nothin' else, it'll be a good place to plan our next move."
  1308. >Apple Bloom agrees
  1309. "Sounds good. Do we need anything before we head out?"
  1310. >Apple Bloom shakes her head and looks around at the mess
  1311. >"Ah imagine we're better off travelin' light anyhow, but Ah can't think of much we'd need. Ah'll grab m'saddle bags from the house and we'll go."
  1312. >you and Sweetie follow her down and over to the farmhouse
  1313. >you're kind of surprised how into this Bloom is, but it's great to have somepony who can keep a cool head when things are hectic like this
  1314. >so when she gets back downstairs, you let her take the lead as you all head towards town
  1315. >the three of you doing your best to stay out of the spotlight the whole way there
  1316.  
  1317. -Ponyville Schoolhouse-
  1318. Morning
  1319.  
  1320. [Investigating the Mystery]
  1321. >when you arrive at the large red schoolhouse, you say a silent thanks that it's not crowded with people who had the same idea as you
  1322. >looks like nopony decided to come to school on a Saturday, luckily
  1323. >but as you approach the building itself, something immediately strikes you as odd
  1324. >the door is left ajar
  1325. >even if Ms. Cheerilee leaves the door unlocked for ponies to come in and study, she'd never just leave the door hanging open
  1326. >you start to say something, but Bloom hushes you and motions to stay low
  1327. >you nod, creeping up to the door just behind her as you all infiltrate
  1328. >on the edge of your hearing is a knocking noise and a rhythmic cranking sound, like gears
  1329. >as you make it into the building proper, your ears perk up
  1330. >the sound's definitely coming from in the building
  1331. >other than that though, there's nothing immediately out of place that you can see
  1332. >Belle is already searching between the rows of desks for clues, and Bloom sticks by the door, keeping watch
  1333. >so you head towards door at the back of the classroom where different rooms are cordoned off for various club activities
  1334. >as you get closer, you can tell:
  1335. >that sound's definitely coming from somewhere beyond that door
  1336. >but as you pass Ms. Cheerilee's desk, the sound starts to slow, the rhythmic whirring winding down
  1337. >is there someone back there?
  1338. >you silently motion to your friends, who trot over as quietly as they can
  1339. >when they're with you, the three of you huddle near the teacher's desk
  1340. "Okay, I think we might have the culprit cornered. If we all go in at the same time--"
  1341. >"Wait, where?"
  1342. >Apple Bloom interrupts, looking around for something she might have missed
  1343. >"Wait, do you think somepony's actually here?"
  1344. >huh?
  1345. "Did you all not hear that noise?"
  1346. >they both shake their heads, giving you a worried look
  1347. "There was this chugging sound, like... like the printing press! Of course!"
  1348. >you realize suddenly
  1349. >that has to be what it was
  1350. >now that you think about it, that's definitely what the hand-cranked one sounded like
  1351. >you hop up, running over to the door
  1352. >throwing it open, you look wildly around the room
  1353. >when you do, though, all you're greeted by is a mess of papers
  1354. >you see two tightly wrapped bundles of news script next to the door, and a small pile of loose ones laying at the foot of the machine
  1355. >but nopony is in the room, unless they managed to slip between two sheets of paper somehow
  1356. >the place is just too small to hide anypony, even the desk that Diamond Tiara had moved in here wasn't large enough to conceal anypony
  1357. >and Featherweight and Shady Days helped move that out after she got ousted from the position of editor-in-chief
  1358. >Sweetie and AB poke their heads around the door frame too, as you walk inside
  1359. >you had to have just missed them, right?
  1360. >"Scootaloo... you sure you heard somethin'?"
  1361. "Pretty sure, yeah!"
  1362. >you respond back, rifling through some of the materials on the table
  1363. >all the developed photos and drafts are for the final issue of last run, though, you recognize the group picture of all the students that Shady Days snapped for the end-of-school-year party
  1364. >"Just sayin', there weren't--"
  1365. >"Girls? Found a clue!"
  1366. >Sweetie holds up a hoof, showing you a black smear on it
  1367. >she points at where she'd smudged the top paper on the loose stack in front of the machine
  1368. >which must mean it's still fresh
  1369. >a-ha!
  1370. >you look around the room for more clues, but there doesn't seem to be much else
  1371. >there's a fine layer of dust on most everything in the room
  1372. >but while you're looking through a collection of archived papers, you hear Apple Bloom remark
  1373. >"Huh... What do y'all reckon this means?"
  1374. >Apple Bloom points to a sheet of paper, its faint golden glow seeming to set it apart from so much of the other material in the room:
  1375.  
  1376. Editorial Club
  1377. Class of '19
  1378.  
  1379. Do you wish to see the world from a different perspective? Do you relish in assisting others to be the best possible version of themselves? Do you wish to expose a new and amazing side of yourself to the world? Then join this year's Editorial Club! For new and experienced members alike, the exciting hobby of revisionism is within your grasp! Sign up now to receive a badge of membership and access to the Darkroom where further developments will take place!
  1380.  
  1381. >there are several lines underneath it, presumably sign-up spots for the club
  1382. >but looking more closely, one student is already on the club roster
  1383. >!
  1384. >your name, in your own hoofwriting, is scrawled out
  1385. >in a short second, a few ideas click together
  1386. >this paper must have something to do with your responsibility to Igor and Agatha
  1387. >you remember them saying that your friends were free to choose their own path
  1388. >but you also remember Igor mentioning the burden you'd have to carry
  1389. >and you're sure they'd have to carry it too, if they join you in doing this
  1390. >you can't let them do that, not without knowing the consequences
  1391. >so you give a little cough
  1392. "Um, girls... I think I've got a theory about what's going on here..."
  1393. >they both turn around, surprised at that news and possibly at your name being signed to the paper
  1394. >you begin to explain your time in the Velvet Room...
  1395. "...so, yeah. I think if you sign your name, it'll be just like with me. You'll have to do whatever this 'helping other worlds' stuff consists of."
  1396. >you finish, giving a hard stare at the list
  1397. >Sweetie is standing there a little slack-jawed, and AB looks a little annoyed
  1398. >"And why didn't y'all tell us 'fore now about this?"
  1399. >she asks, sounding a little hurt
  1400. >"Yeah! We should've been there to-- I don't know, to do SOMETHING!"
  1401. >Sweetie Belle cuts in
  1402. "I didn't remember it until just now! And..."
  1403. >you hesitate a little
  1404. "I didn't want you all to worry about it, if it was something I could do myself."
  1405. >you answer, suddenly feeling a touch guilty
  1406. >Apple Bloom shakes her head to herself, giving you a little noogie before pulling you into a hug
  1407. >"C'mon Scoots, how long have we all been friends? And we ain't never let each other struggle through somethin' alone if'n we could help it."
  1408. >"Yeah, that's what the Cutie Mark Crusaders are all about!"
  1409. >they both look back at the sign-up sheet for the Editorial Club
  1410. >"You said those two asked you to do this because ponies in these 'other worlds' need help, right?"
  1411. >Sweetie asks, to be sure
  1412. >you nod in affirmation
  1413. >"Then they never shoulda bothered askin'. Like you told 'em, we help anyone that'd need it, even if they ain't from 'round here."
  1414. >Bloom smiles, reaching over and picking up a quill from the nearby table
  1415. >she scrawls her name as best she can underneath yours, before looking to Belle
  1416. >a mint green sheen covers the feather and writes out her name in loopy, cursive script
  1417. >?
  1418. >the moment she lifts the quill from the last "e", you hear a noise behind you, as the handle on the printing machine starts to turn on its own
  1419. >it makes a sputtering, clanking noise, before you see two black blobs fire out from under the roller, ricocheting off the ceiling with a metallic twang!
  1420. >Apple Bloom manages to duck just in time as one zings over her head, and Sweetie jumps back on instinct when the other clacks off the floor
  1421. >they lose their momentum on the second bounce, each clattering to the floor loudly
  1422. >your suspicions are confirmed, as the black ink covering them sloughs away to reveal a pair of gold badges
  1423. >your friends look over to you, and you just nod solemnly
  1424. >so they pick up the two chunks of metal, looking them over before pressing them over their hearts
  1425. >as they do, you feel a resonating 'th-thump' from your own
  1426. >and memories of a dark castle come flooding back, a cold and lifeless land that you all were trapped in
  1427. >the forms of a masked bandito and a powerful magician standing against a fearsome foe
  1428. >you remember black, formless creatures approaching you, bursting into strange and impossible shapes
  1429. >from the looks on their faces, your friends remember too
  1430. >but as soon as the rush of memories occurred, it's over and done again
  1431. >"Whoa..."
  1432. >"What in tarnation...?"
  1433. "...Yeah."
  1434. >a newfound understanding is formed between the three of you
  1435. >of what was, and what is
  1436. >creeeeeaaaaak...
  1437. >you hear the sound of rusted hinges, and look over to where it came from
  1438. >the paper on the wall is now affixed to a door, carved so cleanly out of the wooden wall that you can hardly believe it's real
  1439. >the overhead light stops suddenly at the outline of the door, creating an almost-black rectangular hole beyond
  1440. >faintly, you can see a red light illuminating a couple indistinguishable shapes further in
  1441. >but what you take most immediate notice of is a small photo that flutters out of the doorway and onto the floor in front of it
  1442. >the same picture of Cheerilee as was used in the article from the other world, a hastily scrawled "G.G." and today's date written in the corner of the developed photo
  1443. >it almost feels like it's taunting you at this point
  1444. >so you take point, walking forward towards the darkness as your friends walk in just behind you
  1445. >as soon as you step in, the air feels noticeably cooler, and almost damp
  1446. >everything is bathed in a crimson hue, and now that your eyes have adjusted to the lower light, you can clearly see pans and lines of string with clothespins on them
  1447. >no mistaking it, this is a darkroom for processing photos
  1448. >you can see a few still resting in the developer liquid, which are still too new to make out
  1449. >others have been hung up on the string to dry, and you can see a couple of the subjects
  1450. >a darkened street with a decorative fountain at a three-way stop
  1451. >some far-off shots of a group of ponies who appear to be camping
  1452. >a castle set against a full moon
  1453. >"Think this is more of 'Gabby Gums' work?"
  1454. >Sweetie asks, unclipping one picture delicately and floating it over to you
  1455. >you see a picture of a building with a sign over the door, depicting a mug overflowing with frothy bubbles
  1456. "I don't know... it has to be, right? If they're the ones that made the paper, this would have to be them too, I think."
  1457. >you reason
  1458. >Apple Bloom is looking at some of the pictures set in the enlargers
  1459. >she hits a button on one of them and it emits a quick snap sound
  1460. >!
  1461. >a picture begins to develop on the paper that the enlarger is pointed at, one that shows a heavily armored pony wearing sharp plate mail in profile
  1462. >unfortunately, it looks like it was bleached in places, the face, one hoof, and a large chunk of the upper left-hand corner coming out completely white
  1463. >you reach over to the next one and hit the same button, eliciting another snap
  1464. >this one develops faster than the last, but even as it starts to show up, it's impossible to tell what it is
  1465. >it's a swirl of black and red, set amidst floating chaos
  1466. >but the longer you stare at it, the more detail seems to come in, small spikes and little feathers of color that reveal themselves on closer inspection
  1467. >it even looks like the center is moving, whirling in on itself
  1468. >you get a familiar sensation in the pit of your stomach, like you're dreaming that you're falling
  1469. >and the painting grows before your eyes, drawing closer with every second
  1470. >or are you the one drawing closer to it?
  1471.  
  1472. -???-
  1473. ???
  1474.  
  1475. >you are alone
  1476. >your friends have been scattered from you, and for a time, you will need to fend for yourself
  1477. >please select the boon which you will use to reunite:
  1478.  
  1479.  
  1480. >Strength of mind
  1481. Strength of heart
  1482.  
  1483.  
  1484. >you feel a dissociation as you fall into the image on the screen, reaching backwards to try and grab your friends' hooves
  1485. >but the whorl of black and red takes you before you can even speak, throwing you into a veritable hurricane
  1486. >reds and golds and blacks spin around you, a cold clamminess seeping into your skin
  1487. >a cacophony of sound assaults your ears, drowning out your confused cry as you fall through the ether
  1488. >the colors begin to shift, reds and golds giving way to blues and purples and grays as you feel the tumbling sensation begin to even out
  1489. >your vision starts to cloud over, and you suddenly see a section of black growing larger as you approach it
  1490. >you brace for impact, and just barely manage to ready yourself in time as your hooves slam into the stone floor
  1491. >your knees buckle from the impact, letting out a wince as you come down hard
  1492. >but as your vision begins to recede into the fog, you feel a
  1493. >th-thump
  1494. >and a pulse radiates out from your chest
  1495. >it surges through your legs, filling them with strength
  1496. >your head clears like a fresh breeze blew in, and your body has a surge of warmth that brings you back from the brink
  1497. >and just like that
  1498. >you've arrived
  1499.  
  1500. -????????-
  1501. Jail Cell
  1502.  
  1503. >...not in the coziest of places, though, you note
  1504. >you're standing outside of a jail cell, a pair of rusty looking manacles bolted to the far wall
  1505. >the only life inside is a small patch of moss
  1506. >all the other cells in either direction are similarly empty
  1507. >but something about the decrepit cell, walls in disrepair, with only a tiny window to see the outside world through
  1508. >it puts you on edge
  1509. >like you snuck into someplace you shouldn't have
  1510. >you can see a set of stairs at one end of the hall, the rounded doorway left open and a bit of torchlight glowing into the room you're in
  1511. >so you follow them upwards, careful not to make any noise as you do so
  1512. >you look both ways as you come up the stairs, not entirely sure what to expect of this "new world"
  1513. >so far, from what you can tell, it's colder than what you're used to
  1514. >everything has a kind of clamminess to it, but you mostly chalk that up to being in some kind of stone building
  1515. >but you haven't seen any ponies yet, so you don't know if that's the only difference
  1516. >a sudden thought hits you:
  1517. >can you understand ponies from another world?
  1518. >are there even ponies here?
  1519. >what if you wound up in a world where everyone is a cat instead, would you get turned into a cat?
  1520. >what if--
  1521. >"Ugh, 'Hoof, I swear, if I hear you talk about her ONE more time...!"
  1522. >what if you get caught by somepony in someplace you're not supposed to be?
  1523. >you duck back into the stairwell, hiding behind the door and listening as best you can from your place in the shadows
  1524. >you can hear, amidst their talking, the rattle of metal on metal as they walk
  1525. >"C'mon, Wane, you're telling me you seriously don't think she's even kind of cute?"
  1526. >"I think you're solidly not in her wheelhouse, for a number of reasons."
  1527. >oh great, adult gossip
  1528. >you roll your eyes
  1529. >"She's in the MC, you're not going to make much headway hitting on her at the pub."
  1530. >"Yeah, well... it doesn't hurt to try, though. Worst thing she'll say is no."
  1531. >"She's already said no. Emphatically. And repeatedly."
  1532. >"Buuuuut, she's going to say yes this time. I've got a plan. And I'm headed down to the pub to put it in action."
  1533. >...
  1534. >"Want to join me?"
  1535. >"I shouldn't, and neither should you. Curfew, remember?"
  1536. >you hear a scratching noise that you would guess is pen on paper, and more rattling as they start to trot away
  1537. >as they wander off, you chance a peak from your hiding spot
  1538. >you can't see much, other than thick, dark plates and a shock of gold mane on one guard as they exit
  1539. >but at least you've confirmed they are equine
  1540. >and whether you wanted to or not, you've learned some are kind of obsessive?
  1541. >yeah, no thanks
  1542. >with the way clear, you step out of the shadows, hopping up on one of the chairs to look at what they were writing
  1543. >looks like a log book?
  1544. >you peruse through a few pages, and see a lot of different ponies' names and times scribbled out
  1545. "Wait..."
  1546. >you flip back a page, reading the list again
  1547. >in doing so, you spot a familiar name amongst several you don't
  1548. "Why is Zecora's name on this?"
  1549. >you flip the book back to its original page and set it back where it was
  1550. >is Zecora a part of this guard group, maybe?
  1551. >you must be someplace close to where she lives, if her name is written down here
  1552. >is this some spooky version of Twilight's castle, then?
  1553. >and this is her version of a visitor's book?
  1554. >you ponder this as you sneak closer to the door you saw those two ponies go through
  1555. >it leads to a much steeper, narrower, and longer staircase than the one you came up through...
  1556. >you hope this is a good idea
  1557. >how are you supposed to find these ponies with "trepidation"?
  1558. >...
  1559. >you guess hiding from ponies is probably kind of counter to your goal, now that you think about it
  1560. >?
  1561. >you pause, ear twitching as you detect somepony coming up the stairs
  1562. >somepony, you determine, wearing that same platemail
  1563. >okay, so you said you were going to not just hide from everyone
  1564. >but this is still kind of an uncomfortable place to get confronted by a bunch of guards
  1565. >you spot an orange glow as you hurry down the staircase, deciding at the last second to slip out onto that landing
  1566. >hopefully they're not paying too close attention...
  1567. >you plaster yourself against the wall that's only visible going downstairs, holding your breath
  1568. >three black-armored guards trot in perfect unison up the stairs past the landing, not even bothering with a sidelong glance
  1569. >phew
  1570. >you step away from the side of the wall you're pressed against, looking around for the first time
  1571. >it kind of looks like... a storage room, you'd guess?
  1572. >there are a few larger crates stacked in one corner of the room, as well as a few long rods you can't really tell the function of
  1573. >most of the room, however, is taken up with a trio of huge windows to the night sky, all three reaching down to the floor like a door into nothingness
  1574. "Wow..."
  1575. >you trot over hesitantly to the leftmost window, peeking over the edge cautiously...
  1576. >below you, stretching out in every direction, is a sea of trees, running right up to a sturdy stone wall
  1577. >you're easily several stories up, judging from the roofs of the buildings below
  1578. >you must be in some sort of castle, secluded in the woods...
  1579. >you can just barely spot some ponies milling about in the town within the castle walls
  1580. >further up, you spy the full moon peeking through the clouds
  1581. >the craters and shadows on its surface give it a forboding appearance, like a unicorn looking sidelong at you
  1582. >"It's a heck of a view, huh, squirt?"
  1583. "Yeah..."
  1584. >!
  1585. >a pair of magenta eyes glint from underneath you, pouncing up the wall beneath the window as you scramble backwards!
  1586. >you see, almost soundlessly, a black helmet draws itself up and over the point where floor and wall connect
  1587. >a pony with a blue coat and covered in dark plate crawls inside, a teal eye inset in her chestplate
  1588. >her leathery wings spread so wide they touch either side of the portal
  1589. >wait, that voice, those eyes--
  1590. "...Rainbow Dash?!"
  1591. >your voice cracks with relief, as you see your honorary big sister pull herself to standing position
  1592. >she gives you one of those proud grins you've gotten so used to seeing, dusting off a hoof against a section of plate in a silent gesture of
  1593. >yeah, I AM that cool
  1594. >"Surprised you decided to come up here, of all places,"
  1595. >she shrugs casually, looking around with one eyebrow raised
  1596. >"you get a little lost?"
  1597. >you chuckle nervously, scratching the back of your head
  1598. "I... I guess you could say that, yeah."
  1599. >you're not sure how you'd explain what really happened, but that's certainly one way of putting it
  1600. >she gives a kind of disappointed sigh, approaching you with her wings out and raised
  1601. >oh, right!
  1602. "Wait, what happened to your wings?"
  1603. >the question actually stops her in her tracks, blinking in disbelief for a second before letting out a snort of barely-contained amusement
  1604. >"Pfft... Hahaha! Are you serious?"
  1605. >she giggles, giving them a single flap that brings her back on her hind hooves, the wind actually strong enough to scoot you a couple inches back
  1606. >"Well, you must be out of it, so let's take care of you, huh? Last thing we'd want is for you just walking around the Princess' castle."
  1607. >the princess?
  1608. >you've only gone the once on a field trip, but you know for certain this isn't Canterlot
  1609. >her new look is really cool, but...
  1610. >you're not so sure you like it
  1611. >and when you meet her eyes, you see a predatory shine in them, the slit pupils focused on you almost hungrily
  1612. >it all sets the coat on the back of your neck on end
  1613. >but when you start backing away as she approaches, all of her joy evaporates like a drop of water on the surface of the sun
  1614. >"Look... just stop. If you step out of this room without a set of manacles, you're not looking at a slap on the wrist like last time."
  1615. >she sneers as she closes in on you
  1616. "Rainbow Dash...?"
  1617. >"They'll throw the book at you, and I'll personally be there to watch it happen."
  1618. >!
  1619. >she strikes a pose that splays her wings and puts her athletic form on display, forgoing any sense of subtlety as she circles to position herself between you and the exit
  1620. >"Now, intruder, lay down and surrender. You're officially under arrest,"
  1621. >'again', she mutters under her breath
  1622. >"by order of the Elite Lunar Guard!"
  1623. >and with that, she pounces at you, flying just slightly to your left in anticipation of your dash for the door!
  1624. >you duck under the diving strike, more on instinct than thanks to any formal training
  1625. >but Rainbow Dash lets her limbs absorb the force of her attack as she lands against the wall, before springing back and releasing it in a concentrated kick!
  1626. "Agh!"
  1627. >you feel a hoof plant itself in between your shoulder blades, and let out an involuntary cry of pain as it connects, driving the air from your lungs!
  1628. >the sheer force sends you sprawling, rolling over yourself from the strike as you struggle to pull yourself upright
  1629. >"Did you not hear me, you insolent little shit?! Lay! down!"
  1630. >she barks, leaping into the air before using the force of her wings' downbeat to try and press you flat against the floor
  1631. >but as you're trying to stand back up, the assault instead sends you scrambling for purchase, grasping futilely at the smooth stonework under your hooves as you feel yourself scooting ever closer towards the edge of one of the huge doorways into the void
  1632. >you manage to just barely bring yourself back to standing as the bat-ified version of your honorary big sis steps closer
  1633. "Rainbow Dash, please... don't do this! This isn't who you are!"
  1634. >your vision blurs a little as you stand against her, mind racing for a way to fix this problem before it spirals even further out of hand
  1635. >but before you can come up with the words, something lurking over her shoulder catches your attention
  1636. >th-thump
  1637. >the pulse of the medal against your chest seems to strengthen the presence of two pin-pricks set against the flickering torchlight
  1638. >and when Rainbow Dash speaks, you can hear overlaid on top of it a gruff voice, feminine but unmistakably hardened
  1639. [Riku's Theme]
  1640. >"What? Don't you know who I am? What world are you living in, that you think I'd betray an order from the Princess?"
  1641. >a grey fog settles in the room, seeming to sap the oranges and blues and purples from the scene
  1642. >but as it does, the black outline of a figure astride RD's back grows more prominent, like a clear silhouette cut out of the surrounding atmosphere with a knife
  1643. >the longer she talks, the stronger the voice becomes, Rainbow Dash's own voice almost seeming to fade into the background as it speaks over her
  1644. >no... through her
  1645. >"The Elite Royal Guard exists for one purpose: to fulfill the will of our all-powerful ruler, Nightmare Moon! Who do you think you are, whelp? Defying me is to defy her!"
  1646. >another gust slams against you as you skid backwards another couple feet, your hooves only half-perched on solid ground anymore
  1647. >but something about what she said
  1648. >no, what IT said
  1649. >sparks a fire in you
  1650. >and when you look up, it's no longer with hope or despair in your eyes, but determination
  1651. "Really...?"
  1652. >you huff, some illogical part of your brain latching onto her boast about her loyalty
  1653. >it makes your blood boil, even thinking about it:
  1654. "That's what you think of yourself-- no, what you think of HER?!"
  1655. >you shout back at the thing attached to her, the humanoid figure over her shoulder actually bracing for a split-second as a pulse of some mysterious energy radiates out from you
  1656. >you can see it more clearly, now, even as the haze seems to obscure Rainbow Dash herself, some sort of armored figure sitting so heavily upon RD's back that she seems to struggle underneath it
  1657. >the constant pulsing beat of your heart as you take a step back toward you is rushing in your ears
  1658. >each beat seems to distort the very world around you, overlaying two different scenes
  1659. >in one, you see Rainbow Bat, confident in her strength and position, leering down at you from above
  1660. >in the other, you see your Rainbow Dash, the one you remember, a sister and a friend, not even trying to hide her proud grin
  1661. >in your mind's eye, you see the two of them overlaid on top of each other, like two films intercut on the same reel
  1662. >but they both, in your heart, ring true
  1663. >as she comes closer, you feel hope clashing with fear inside you
  1664. >feelings you recognize and those you don't
  1665. >something Igor said echoes in your memory...
  1666. >"So long as the world in which you reside lacks a hero able to forge a contract..."
  1667. >"You will be obliged to stand in their place, with all the rewards and consequences thereof."
  1668. >could that mean what you think it does?
  1669. >...
  1670. >an anchor of your 「true self」 has been called into question:
  1671. >which is the truer Rainbow Dash?
  1672. >the one before you?
  1673. >or the one you remember?
  1674. >...put another way
  1675. >do you cling to the vestiges of your past?
  1676. >or accept the gravity of your current situation?
  1677. >this is an important decision
  1678. >you must choose wisely
  1679.  
  1680.  
  1681. >The Rainbow Dash I know wouldn't just blindly follow what someone tells her!
  1682. If this Rainbow Dash just follows strength... I'll show her what real strength is!
  1683.  
  1684.  
  1685. "The Rainbow Dash I know wouldn't just follow someone because they're strong... she wouldn't just grovel before someone she doesn't believe in!"
  1686. >you rage at the dark figure as it approaches
  1687. "I'll remind you what it's like to be the real Rainbow Dash!"
  1688. >you spy something in the corner of your vision
  1689. >a blue card floats gently down from the sky, twirling in a graceful spin as it descends
  1690. >perfect, this is your chance!
  1691. "Per... SONA!"
  1692. >your wings buzz as you leap up, delivering a spinning kick to the card that shatters it into blue dust!
  1693.  
  1694. >!!!
  1695.  
  1696. >the moment the card shatters, you feel a searing pain light your skull on fire!
  1697. "Aaagh!"
  1698. >you can't contain a shout of agony as you land roughly, forelegs collapsing and sending you sprawling to the floor!
  1699. >there's an echoed cry as a form coalesces in front of you
  1700. >like the scream of an engine through the sky, but far too close, and far too loud
  1701. >a pitch-black jet appears in front of you, its engine smoldering as you take in the extent of its damage from your prone position on the floor
  1702. >it lets out a cry that reminds you of metal grinding against metal, a jagged hole torn in one wing, exposing a damaged mechanical arm underneath
  1703. >you wince, barely able to keep your sight focused, as the black figure lets out a grunt
  1704. >"So this is the strength of self-determination, is it?"
  1705. >it rasps, climbing off of Rainbow Dash
  1706. >the moment its feet touch ground, you see everything freeze solid in the gray haze, even RD's breathing
  1707. >the fire from the torches on the wall hold like they were painted there
  1708. >"Do you imagine yourself to be a savior? Such insolence... this world already has one of those. And I serve her with loyalty in response!"
  1709. >it steps methodically towards you, closing the distance at a leisurely pace, even as its stance suggests a battle-hardened readiness
  1710. >"This is what an obedient soldier looks like..."
  1711. >it practically spits, before halting and flexing an arm
  1712. >as it does, the dark sheen over its skin bubbles and writhes, before layered segments of armor burst out of it from within!
  1713. >the effect ripples across its humanoid body, random sections of its skin erupting violently as metal plates explode outward, forming a crude skeleton of red-and-gold samurai armor that shifts and slides, interwoven with its unworldly black flesh
  1714. >its glowing eyes narrow, as it flexes the muscles in its hand, a bent metal rod extending from either side of its wrist with a sickening spurt of ichor
  1715. >it's followed a second later with a pair of tendons that whip around the rods, pulling them taut into a bow-like shape as the thing resumes its stride towards you
  1716. >the other hand snaps and splinters, before melding into one long, thick piece of metal, a sword half as tall as the thing weilding it
  1717. "Nngh..."
  1718. >you wince, tears streaming from your eyes, stumbling and failing to get back upright as the thing approaches, each finger of its bowed hand elongating and growing into a vicious-looking arrow
  1719. >are you seriously going to let this thing take you out?
  1720. >the engines on your persona sputter and rev weakly
  1721. >it's all you can just to stand
  1722. >'You'll never beat her like this,'
  1723. >a voice in your head rumbles, sounding almost disappointed
  1724. >but what exactly does it want you to do?
  1725. >what even CAN you do, right now?
  1726. >'Hmph. To think this is what you see of yourself. A mere imitation of the genuine article.'
  1727. >your persona crumbles as the dark samurai watches on, and you're able to sense it smirking malevolently despite its lack of any real facial features
  1728. >'Very well, then... if this is all you can muster, then it seems you'll die exactly as you lived:'
  1729. >'In the shadow of another's greatness.'
  1730. >the last bits of your persona wither away into the sky, leaving only a handful of steps between you and the weaponized shadow-creature
  1731. "No... I won't...!"
  1732. >you cough weakly, feeling something warm run down your muzzle
  1733. >"Oh, I'm afraid so, betrayer. This is where you die. For the Crown!"
  1734. >it raises its sword overhead, before slashing straight down for your skull!
  1735. "I wasn't talking to you."
  1736. >you growl hoarsely, meeting the shadow creature's glowing eyes with your own half-lidded ones
  1737. >a rectangle of blue light glints back into existence above your head, flashes, and shatters once more
  1738. >and the moment it does, a fist nearly as huge as the the samurai itself swings in from the misty ceiling, connecting with the monster and sending it flying horizontally!
  1739. >it smashes against the far wall, the force of the blow flattening it for a second
  1740. >no... you feel the tempest of wind against your back as it hammers into the thing, a flurry of blows popping against the thing's armor as it's embedded deep into the stone by a jackhammer of consecutive strikes!
  1741. >you feel the pain recede, like someone had been squeezing you and building the pressure in your skull and they'd finally let go
  1742. >and when you look up, you see a statuesque man towering over you, bronze skin contrasting with the long orange feathers sprouting from his wrists
  1743. >they form sharp, angular gauntlets that extend well past the elbow, his bare chest covered only with a brown tunic and some downy purple feathers at the collar
  1744. >from the legs down he resembles a bird, great clawed feet hanging in the air as he floats, arms outstretched, behind you
  1745. >you spy a single pale eye glint at you as you hear the rumbling voice in your head
  1746. >'So, you accept that you will never be the one you hold so dear?'
  1747. >you nod slowly
  1748. >'And that I shall in turn be no pale shade of another.'
  1749. >you hear the shadow clatter noisily to the ground and turn your attention back to it
  1750. "...Yeah. I'm not Rainbow Dash. This version of her, or any other."
  1751. "I'm me. And you're me, too."
  1752. >you square up, a little worse for the wear but ready to fight for your life as the shadow before you snarls and springs to its feet
  1753. "Let's show this thing what we can do... Hraesvelgr Ego!"
  1754. >"Such blatant disregard..."
  1755. >the shadow seethes, it's muscles coiling in on it as it tenses and then throws itself to it's feet
  1756. >"What right do you have to defy Her will?!"
  1757. >it bellows, pointing its gruesome bow hand at you before its index finger launches forward!
  1758. >you hold up your foreleg in defense and the gigantic arm of your persona follows suit, the feathers on his arm splaying out to cushion the blow
  1759. >you feel the phantom pain of the strike sting in your skin, but it's dulled by your persona's guard
  1760. >you shake your arm a bit and manage to dislodge the iron bolt from Hraesvelgr's arm, the black metal piece clattering to the floor
  1761. "Why are you so gung-ho to follow everything she says?"
  1762. >you ask back, as the thing knocks another finger-arrow and pulls the sinewy strip of flesh taut to fire a second round
  1763. >"She is the wisest, the strongest, and the greatest! The weak were made to obey the strong... so obey my order to lay down, and I'll reward you with the mercy of a swift death!"
  1764. >you swipe out in front of you as the second bolt launches, and your hoof smashes through the card
  1765. >the giant eagle-man hybrid appears above you and swings both arms down and forward in a calamitous clap!
  1766. >the force sends a surge of wind over your shoulder, knocking the bolt aside easily and continuing through to hammer against the shadow thing's armor
  1767. >its heels drag against the floor until they're nearly back in the indent formed from your first strike
  1768. >but before it gets wedged back into place, you hear it roar, a surge of strength seemingly rippling through its muscles as it grabs onto either side of the wall!
  1769. >"RAAAAAGH! You will STOP THAT this instant!"
  1770. >you see its glowing eyes turn red, before a crimson mask appears, the demonic features materializing like paper burning in reverse
  1771. >the samurai swings wildly at the air with its enormous sword, before letting out a more feral snarl and hunching forward as it circles you...
  1772. HP - Full
  1773. SP - High
  1774. >the shadow samurai writhes in its skin, leading you into a counterclockwise circle as you aim to keep it in front of you
  1775. >it halts, then lunges forward at you
  1776. >but rather than an attack, it lets out a primal roar, the weapons on its arms taking on a dangerous golden sheen!
  1777. >it's just instinct, but you feel a deadly potential emanating from its weaponry now
  1778. >best to keep your distance, then...
  1779. >you smash your card with another forward swipe, and your muscled protector points a hand at the samurai
  1780. >tensing his wrist, you see a single feather turn from orange to deep purple on his forearm
  1781. >he plucks it with his other hand, and throws it forward, the size of the feather growing as it flies!
  1782. >the feather crunches against the shadow's armor, embedding itself in its shoulder like an oversized javelin!
  1783. >but as the deep purple coloration starts to drain from the top of the feather, the creature's gilded sword hacks it off at the base, leaving only a small broken nub sticking out from where arm meets body
  1784. >you see it let out ragged breath as its masked face glows with warmth, a puff of black smoke with burning embers jetting from its mouth as it debates its next move...
  1785. HP - High
  1786. SP - High
  1787. >if that thing's attacks are more dangerous, you reason, it's best to keep yourself in good condition in case it manages a solid hit
  1788. >you notice that since its mask went on, it hasn't said a word
  1789. >maybe it can't speak the way it is now?
  1790. >or maybe it's just too focused on the fight to try and flaunt its supposed superiority over you...
  1791. >you reach forward to use your persona again, but in a sudden burst, it leaps forward and fires an arrow at the ground behind it!
  1792. >the golden bolt pierces deep into the floor below, the force propelling the samurai forward suddenly with its sword angled at eye level!
  1793. >you jump back and left as your wings buzz, trying to put enough distance between you and it
  1794. >but the slash connects, and you let out a hiss as you feel your shoulder blossom with the pain of a long, thin cut
  1795. >it surprises you that it doesn't hurt more, though, with the shimmering gold sheen on the surface of the blade
  1796. >you land well enough that you can immediately spin and break your card in another hoofstrike without losing momentum
  1797. "Hraesvelgr Ego! Help me out!"
  1798. >you implore your persona
  1799. >but the battlefield seems eerily quiet in the wake of your cry
  1800. >even the savage shadow seems a bit confused, looking around warily for some sign of your persona
  1801. >when it can't detect any, it lets out a series of short hacking noises you might mistake for a laugh, before charging forward--
  1802. >WAAARK!
  1803. >before it can reach you, a huge avian head breeches the ground between you and it, beak crunching down and consuming the thing whole as it dives back beneath the earth!
  1804. >you hear some muffled grunts of exertion, and the sound of a beak snapping open and shut...
  1805. >with each clicking noise, you feel some of your strength returning, the cut on your foreleg not quite healing completely before you hear a final-sounding
  1806. >KAWH!
  1807. >and the samurai shoots out of the hole the bird's head had cleaved, covered in some translucent liquid, the floor reforming of its own accord
  1808. >it puffs with rage for a second time, the glow on its mask now casting its own red-orange light as the spittle on its face sizzles and evaporates in the heat, a large black plume of ember-filled smoke now rolling out of its mouth
  1809. >it's hard to tell by its posture, but you seem to be whittling it down...
  1810. HP - High
  1811. SP - Medium High
  1812. >this thing just doesn't want to give up...!
  1813. >you see it notch another finger-bolt, the single smooth motion of loading and firing at you so casually that you barely register it's happening
  1814. >you try to jump aside, but the attack flies faster than your eyes can track it, the pain dulled once again by Hraesvelgr Ego's quick guard and reflected on your own body
  1815. >but this is just the opening you were looking for!
  1816. >you rear up on your back hooves and smash your card to the ground, your enormous bird-person persona not even fading from his block before he rematerializes to grab a deep purple feather from his arm
  1817. >the javelin-sized feather jams into the samurai figure's thigh, but the toxin within works faster this time, the color leaking out of it in an instant and turning the feather bone white!
  1818. >you see the dark samurai struggle to remove the missile, its pulls getting more and more desperate until eventually the feather goes flying from its hands, clattering across the room!
  1819. >you can see its eyes jittering behind its mask as it takes strained breaths, but it seems in control of itself enough to stagger forward...
  1820. >the jaws of its mask creak more open and it lets out a scream, equal parts rage and fear, that flings searing embers all over you!
  1821. >you brace for an incoming blow, but the black smoke and red ashes flow over you and then...
  1822. >dissipate?
  1823. >you were expecting some impact, or damage, or something
  1824. >it isn't until you resume your vigilant circling that you notice every movement stings and leaves your skin feeling raw...
  1825. (Burned)
  1826. HP - High Medium
  1827. SP - Medium High
  1828. >you see it stagger slightly as it charges at you, the panic clear in its actions as it starts to move in for a sword slash
  1829. >but the withering glare you give it, even as your skin lights up with pain, makes it halt in its tracks!
  1830. >it makes to charge in again, but that hesitation was the moment you needed, and you take out your frustration on it in a pique of anger
  1831. "Come on! Why won't you just, go, DOWN?!"
  1832. >you grit your teeth and muscle through the pain, smashing your card into tiny pieces
  1833. >the blow comes from above this time, Hraesvelgr's fist crashing through the ceiling with his index finger outstretched, swathed in green twisting wind as it pins the rampaging samurai face-down to the ground!
  1834. >the cacophony of armor rattling against itself rings through the room as the multitude of blows from the wind press against its back, until the cyclone slowly dissipates and the gargantuan bronze finger makes contact
  1835. >at the moment it does, you hear a sharp CRACK as the mask it wears shatters and falls away, revealing a craven and cowardly pair of eyes brimming with tears
  1836. >"Please... please, I beg you, show me mercy! I surrender, I am your willing slave, your word is my command! Spare me, and I swear my complete fealty...!"
  1837. >you suck down a few well-earned breaths of fresh air, the color starting to fade in on the edges of the room as the shadow grovels before you
  1838. >it wouldn't take more than a thought to put an end to this thing, and it caused you more than a little trouble
  1839. >but on the other hand... it came from this world's Rainbow Dash
  1840. >it's something that seems tied to her, that influences her
  1841. >what will happen to her if you destroy it?
  1842. >is it safe to let it remain a part of her, driving her like this?
  1843. >it appears you have a choice to make...
  1844.  
  1845. >Show it mercy
  1846. Destroy it
  1847.  
  1848. >you scowl at the thing pinned under your persona's finger, walking right up to it and staring down at it from above
  1849. >you reel back, and it flinches as your hoof comes rushing down--
  1850. >WAP
  1851. >you swat it lightly on the back of the skull, shaking your head with a bit of disdain
  1852. "Jeez, just... stop, alright?"
  1853. >you let the pressure up just slightly, and the black-skinned creature scrambles to a prostrate position before you
  1854. >"Ma'am...?"
  1855. >you let out a dry chuckle as you gesture to your own body, a few puncture wounds and more than a couple singed patches of coat still lingering from your fight
  1856. "What're you bowing for? Just because you couldn't beat me doesn't mean you're not strong..."
  1857. >you explain, wincing slightly as you sit next to it and point over at the stone-still Rainbow Dash
  1858. "That's what I was saying before: I know, uh... well, I know MY Rainbow Dash, and she'd never just sell out."
  1859. "But that's not because she's stronger, or smarter, or faster, or better than anyone."
  1860. >you think for a second on how best to phrase it
  1861. "It's because she's courageous enough to stand on the side of right, even if the whole world is standing against her."
  1862. "So... don't just be loyal to whoever's in charge, okay? Be loyal to yourself, too."
  1863. >"..."
  1864. >the shadow sits in stunned silence as the flames from the torches start to slowly start dancing again
  1865. >it seems like reality is starting to set in and encroach on this weird extra-temporal space, as the shadow-like creature rises to its feet
  1866. >"Loyal to oneself... hm. Maybe..."
  1867. >as it approaches Rainbow Dash, the hardened metal of its armor gives way to a more elegant robe, its beautifully painted face seeming to peek through the pool of black that covered it as it looks back at you
  1868. >"I suppose I'll have to try that."
  1869. >it says in a more feminine voice, giving you a wry smile before turning back to the batlike pony and disappearing in a flash of light that sends the whole world back into motion
  1870. >"Urgh... why do I..."
  1871. >you see the grizzled pony put a hoof up to her head, massaging her temple in confusion
  1872. >"!"
  1873. >when she spots you, her eyes immediately narrow, and she opens her mouth to say something
  1874. >but as she does, you notice a glint in her eyes as she takes you in, as if for the first time
  1875. >appraising you not like an opponent, but like a pony
  1876. >you hear her mutter something under her breath, but can't make out most of it
  1877. >she still wears the hardened gaze of a guardspony, but something about it is softer now
  1878. >and she looks cautiously at the exit to the night sky as well as the staircase before trotting stoically over to the boxes in one corner, shifting them aside with a sort of rigid motion
  1879. >it actually kind of weirds you out, the way she seems to be pointedly keeping you out of her field of vision
  1880. >"Huh,"
  1881. >she says out loud, not once looking in your direction as she pushes the same box in a couple different directions
  1882. >"I would've sworn I saw somepony in here when I was coming in."
  1883. >...oh
  1884. >you cautiously back up towards the stairway, looking down the narrow passage before casting one more glance at her
  1885. >well, at some version of your honorary sister, anyway
  1886. >as you slip into the darker stairwell, you hear her say just a bit too loudly
  1887. >"Well, if they were here, I just hope they don't escape through the West Corridor, we don't have enough guards patrolling there to keep a close watch on those exits."
  1888. >she never moves from her space even as you sneak away, but you'd swear she was watching you just out of the periphery
  1889. >ears listening for the sounds of your fading footsteps
  1890.  
  1891.  
  1892.  
  1893. Meanwhile...
  1894.  
  1895.  
  1896. >...
  1897. >oooooh, that hurts
  1898. >you wince as you close your eyes tighter, the throbbing pain in your head making you want to slip back into unconsciousness to avoid it altogether
  1899. >but even as you pull the rich black covers around you, you recognize something isn't right
  1900. >you open one eye just a crack, taking in the various blobs and dark forms of the room you're in
  1901. >...wait a minute...
  1902. >you fling the covers off of you in a panic, scrambling out of the enormous bed and to your hooves
  1903. >where
  1904. >wait, what
  1905. >no, who
  1906. >you look around, trying to pinpoint where you are
  1907. >this isn't the clubroom, it's nowhere in the school, and it's DEFINITELY not home!
  1908. >you try to shake the confusion out of your head and nearly topple over, a sudden rush of nausea washing over you as your horn throbs with pain
  1909. >urgh...
  1910. >okay, okay, you can handle this, you just have to take a deep breath, and think...
  1911. >there was the schoolhouse, where you and your friends were investigating, that much makes sense
  1912. >and then there was the... the newspaper?
  1913. >but you also remember a summons
  1914. >which, you shouldn't have gotten, that doesn't track at all
  1915. >you remember being scared to press on, but if you didn't, you'd definitely have been in hot water
  1916. >it was your responsibility to make sure it got fixed
  1917. >so this was the only choice, right?
  1918. >ugh, but none of this is making sense!
  1919.  
  1920. [The Castle At Night]
  1921.  
  1922. >you resolve to forget about it for now, looking around the room first
  1923. >it seems like a pretty normal bedroom, with a vanity and a dry sink, a small closet, a bedside table with some faintly glowing blue flowers in a vase
  1924. >nothing particularly bizarre
  1925. >well, except when you look up the vaulted ceilings are ridiculously high
  1926. >so, you have to be inside some sort of huge structure then?
  1927. >unless it's like the Boutique where it's just one tall building, but even then your sister keeps old designs and dress forms she's not using up there
  1928. >no, this is some kind of castle or something, you're sure
  1929. >alright, well, no matter what, you know you need to meet up with your friends, and unless you fell unconscious in the middle of a game of hide-and-seek, they're not going to be here
  1930. >so you push the door open and trot down the hallway, the eerie blue light glowing from the sconces in the wall casting a kind of sickly pallor over the wall hangings
  1931. >looking them over, the tapestries themselves aren't much better, beautifully made but with dark and oppressive colors broken up only by small accents of pearly white depictions of the phases of the moon
  1932. >the far wall has long thin windows that let slivers of moonlight in, and as you pass by them you can see the top half of the moon peeking over the trees that sway and flow like water in an ever-changing wind
  1933. >...how did you get to this place?
  1934. >and why were you invited as an "honored guest"?
  1935. >for some reason, that phrase echoes like a chime in your head
  1936. >it sounds absolutely right, and yet uncomfortably wrong at the same time
  1937. >as you make it to the end of the hall, you can hear what sounds like a low, rhythmic, rumbling pulsing from one of the doorways
  1938. >the very last doorway, actually, raised slightly above the others by a short series of steps
  1939. >one of the two large oaken doors is cracked ever so slightly, making just the barest allowance for that noise to escape
  1940. >it seems to be the middle of the night, so you can't imagine too many other ponies are around
  1941. >and nopony could fault you for being just a bit concerned, it almost sounds like a lion or some other creature growling
  1942. >...
  1943. >your curiosity fights with your prudence as you debate whether or not to take a peek...
  1944.  
  1945.  
  1946. >See what you can see through the crack in the door
  1947. Mind your own business, there's more important things to deal with now
  1948.  
  1949.  
  1950. >...a small peek couldn't hurt, you tell yourself
  1951. >tactically, it's the smart decision, so you know what potential threats might come after you!
  1952. >the curiosity is killing you, too, but that's purely secondary of course
  1953. >you walk up the thin section of fabric covering the stairs, careful to tread lightly on each step
  1954. >you even hold your breath slightly as you approach the blackened entryway
  1955. >carefully, you lean your head against the fully closed door, peeking in and waiting for your vision to adjust to the darker room within
  1956. >the first thing you spot is a large, arched window, much wider than the ones you passed in the hall, mostly obscured by a purple drapery
  1957. >it lets the faintest amount of moonlight in, so you can spy some of the other things in the room, at least in silhouette
  1958. >it's a spacious area, but almost brutal in its simplicity
  1959. >there aren't much in the way of decorations, a small table with wrought-iron legs sitting in one corner, unused
  1960. >you can see a spot where a painting used to hang, the discoloration of the wall a dead giveaway dispite the lack of any other evidence
  1961. >there are shards of something glittery on the humongous rug that most of the room is laid out on top of
  1962. >the ceiling seems domed, much like the room you woke up in but on a larger scale
  1963. >and you can spy four thick posts that hold a canopy over the focal point of the room:
  1964. >a huge bed overflowing with pillows in navy and black, curtained on all sides with a sheer purple fabric
  1965. >as another rumbling noise rolls out of the room, though, you see something flicker
  1966. >not in the sort of ephemeral way that candles flicker, or the torches just behind you
  1967. >but like somepony playing with the light switch
  1968. >except, instead of light, it's a sort of gray filter, paradoxically lighting up the room as it strains to maintain itself
  1969. >and every time the world flashes gray, you get a glimpse of something enormous jutting from the center of the bed
  1970. >like a gnarled black tree, it arcs and twists back and forth as it rises and its trunk thickens
  1971. >you can see branches bunched roughly against the night sky painting on the ceiling
  1972. >but despite its old and withered state, the thing that catches your eye when the world flashes next time is a trio of misshapen, rotting fruit, one each in aqua, orange, and red
  1973. >they hang low enough to bend the canopy of the bed, for the split-second before they disappear back into nothingness as the world returns to color
  1974. >what exactly are you looking at, here?
  1975. >maybe the next time it flashes you'll get a clearer look?
  1976. >you try to nudge a tiny bit more of your head through the gap, your curiosity driving you to investigate just a little further
  1977. >when the color drops out again, sure enough, you can make out the shapes of three more withered fruit higher up
  1978. >you lean your head in further to get a better vantage point--
  1979. >crrrrrreak...
  1980. >the hinge on the door complains ever so slightly as the opening widens to accomodate you, and you barely hold back a shriek as the tree you're looking at ignites in bright golden flame!
  1981. >it consumes the entire room in an instant, yellow tongues of fire leaping along the branches and consuming the bed in a blaze that seems almost too bright to look at
  1982. >then just as quickly, the world plunges back into darkness, the pale glow of the moon revealing only still, shadowy forms once more
  1983. >no, wait, that's not quite true
  1984. >you notice the sound of fabric shuffling, before a pony raises their head above the pile of bedding
  1985. >their silhouette revealing a long, spiralling horn
  1986. >and you can see a thin blue line of color as their eye opens ever so slightly
  1987. >you feel your breath catch in your chest, like you'd just been dunked in ice water--
  1988. >and a hoof wraps around your mouth before you're dragged out of the doorway, the entire door coated in a pale blue light as it slides silently closed
  1989. >"Ahem."
  1990. >the noise from behind you is muted, deliberately barely above a whisper, but carrying with it all the stern consequence of a parent who caught their foal with a hoof in the cookie jar
  1991. >or, you realize as you turn your head to reveal your discoverer and accidental savior
  1992. >a sister catching their sibling snooping around
  1993. >she stays completely silent, but her expression says it plain as day:
  1994. >'Just what do you have to say for yourself, missy?'
  1995.  
  1996. >...
  1997. >do you have anything you'd like to say?
  1998.  
  1999.  
  2000. "Oh, um..."
  2001. >you can feel yourself starting to sweat under the stern gaze of your sister
  2002. >she always was good at pressuring you without having to say much
  2003. >quick, say something nice!
  2004. "...hey, sis! Is that a new mane style?"
  2005. >what?
  2006. >you don't remember her ever wearing her mane like that, so it's a genuine question
  2007. >all it earns from her is a cock of her eyebrow, though
  2008. >"I didn't know we got a... nightmare room... what's with all the fire in there anyway? Is it for a new dress, or...?"
  2009. >you can hear a faint catch in her breath as you mention "fire", and she whips her head in the direction of the door
  2010. >as she does so, though, a wave of grey pulses from the room you were just investigating, tongues of golden flame licking around the corners of the door where it had just been dark!
  2011. >you start to move away from the door, but Rarity seems frozen in place
  2012. >oh shoot!
  2013. >you need to get her to move, she's--
  2014. >the color flickers back into the world, and the flames disappear in the same instant
  2015. >not even a trace of them remains as Rarity spins up a telekinesis spell and carefully cracks the door just a hair
  2016. >as she does, you hear a voice float out like smoke, exhaustion tempering its natural force
  2017. >"Ms. Rarity, is there a reason you continue to play with my door when I have made clear I am not to be disturbed at this hour...?"
  2018. >and suddenly it's your sister's turn to scramble for an excuse
  2019. >there's something unsettling about watching her shrink like this as her eyes dart around for anything to latch onto
  2020. >until they find you
  2021. >"...I thought I saw a pest come crawling in, Your Highness, and thought it better to squash it before it rose to your attention. I'll take care of it now!"
  2022. >you get half of the first syllable of a retort out before she claps a hoof over your mouth
  2023. >"...See that you do."
  2024. >the voice murmurs sleepily, before a much stronger veil of magic takes hold of the door and firmly closes it
  2025. >so firmly, in fact, that the soft THOOM of its impact against the doorframe echoes down the now totally silent hall
  2026. >it takes Rarity a moment to compose herself as she stares at the door, biting her lower lip with worry
  2027. >when she does, she lets out a sad-sounding sigh and turns back to you
  2028. "Sorry..."
  2029. >you whisper
  2030. >"I don't want any of your apologies, miss."
  2031. >she snips coldly at you, trotting in a way that makes her hooffalls all but undetectable as she guides you back towards your room
  2032. >"Nor am I in the mood for your compliments, or your overly familiar tone. You are here at Her Highness's pleasure, though personally I can't begin to imagine what business she has with a lowborn pony like you."
  2033. >!
  2034. >now what's that supposed to mean?!
  2035. >you stop in your tracks and scowl at her
  2036. "Rarity, what the actual hay? Where did that come from?"
  2037. >"That's Ms. Rarity, to you. Or simply ma'am."
  2038. >she sniffs indifferently at you, and you hear a rattling sound of metal that punctuates her last word
  2039. >"I am obliged to follow the orders given to me by Her Highness; I owe YOU, however, nothing but professional courtesy, and you strain even that."
  2040. >oh, so this is courteous?
  2041. >your parents warned you not to go asking around about her, was this why?
  2042. >did they already suspect how far gone she would be?
  2043. >...
  2044. >wait, when did they say that?
  2045. >you need a second to process the sudden memory, and it's thrown you off guard
  2046. "You... you can't actually be serious."
  2047. >you stumble through the sentence, it holds a lot less conviction than you thought it would
  2048. "Why are you acting so weird right now?"
  2049. >the two of you are stopped outside the door to the room you woke up in now, your voices steadily rising in volume as you argue
  2050. >"I'M acting 'weird'?!"
  2051. >she hisses back, her voice growing hysterical
  2052. >"You speak as if I'm some old, familiar friend! I am a servant of this house, and always have been!"
  2053. >the sound of metal on metal rings in the air again
  2054. "No you haven't!"
  2055. >you don't know why but your eyes are starting to sting at the corners now
  2056. "Why do you think I came all this way, to be some-- some scullery maid?!"
  2057. >you feel a faint
  2058. th-thump
  2059. >against your chest that clears your head of the confusing memories whirling around it
  2060. >"If you have no interest in the job for which you so eagerly and repeatedly applied, then what. Exactly. Did you come. Here. For."
  2061. >Rarity's voice drips with barely concealed disgust
  2062.  
  2063. >why did you come here?
  2064.  
  2065.  
  2066. >I came to find out what happened to my sister
  2067. I came to tell you Mom and Dad miss you
  2068. I came to rescue you from all this
  2069.  
  2070.  
  2071. "I came to find out what happened to my sister!"
  2072. >you practically shout it at her in your exasperation, forgetting for a second why you'd bothered to keep your voice low
  2073. >you can tell that it takes her a second to fully process what you said, her jaw tensing as if she's biting back her words physically
  2074. >"Wait, you mean me? I'm not..."
  2075. >she lowers her head in thought, brow furrowed in confusion
  2076. >"No, that makes no sense. Why would they?"
  2077. >her eyes dart back up to you, taking you in again, not with disdain but with careful assessment
  2078. "Rarity, do you not... recognize me?"
  2079. >you ask, hesitantly
  2080. >the colors in the room shimmer, a different change than the sudden and violent shifts between milky greys and vibrant color from before
  2081. >but the sensation is too similar to be anything but the same effect
  2082. >"That was... I was barely five when I joined the castle... they promised..."
  2083. >she takes a step back, and you see spectral wrought-iron chains snaking up her limbs as she speaks
  2084. >"Their names. What are your parent's names."
  2085. >the way she asks, you wonder whether she's more scared that you'll be right or wrong
  2086. >you look straight into her eyes as you answer
  2087. "Hondo and Cookie."
  2088. >"No."
  2089. >she shakes her head, not wanting to believe it
  2090. >"NO, I did this so they, so they wouldn't have to..."
  2091. >the grey haze permeates the area like a fog, the clouds and even the moon itself seeming to slow down and discolor
  2092. "Wouldn't have to what?"
  2093. >you press her as you walk closer, trying to understand
  2094. >she retreats another step in kind
  2095. >"You shouldn't have come. I was supposed to be the only one She needed, everyone else should've been safe!"
  2096. >a thin, haggard voice begins to overlay your sister's, the black, insubstantial shadow of a woman easily twenty feet tall solidifying in front of her
  2097. >"Just leave! Leave me and take them far away... please..."
  2098. >she whimpers, as the world around you stops moving
  2099. >the chains around her forelegs snap like a whip, wrapping around the shadow-being's limbs and starting to glow red-hot
  2100. >as the heat travels up the chains to the manacles, you see light begin to pour over spots on the thing's body as it writhes in pain
  2101. >"I am the only sacrifice!"
  2102. >it wails, the light manifesting as grotesque caricatures of muscles, painted on the feminine shadow's body
  2103. >"Please! Leave me to my suffering!"
  2104. >the chains twirl and whip as they drag her unwillingly towards you, tensing this way and that to raise an arm overhead
  2105. >"Don't share... my fate..."
  2106. >it cries, the chain slamming her fist down at you as the thick paint on her face drips with tears!
  2107. >'How absolutely dreadful.'
  2108. >you hear a voice in your mind as your horn flairs up with magic
  2109. >the fist coming down at you ignites in flame, but your magic pulls a small slip of paper from your saddlebags
  2110. >...your saddlebags?
  2111. >you're not quite sure where they came from, but they're here now and there are more important things to focus on!
  2112. >the first one being that voice
  2113. >'She put forth all that time and effort for everyone else's sake, and here she is begging not to be cared for.'
  2114. >it muses, as the chain on the shadow's wrist snaps its arm back and joins it with the other for a hammer blow
  2115. >you scramble out of the way with the card still held in your magic, pulling it close to keep it safe
  2116. >'Now, dear, I don't think we've formally met, but I'll be you for the time being, so long as you'll be me. Fair?'
  2117. >it asks as you jump over a lunging grasp from the muscle-painted shadow
  2118. "Sure, yes! Just help me help her!"
  2119. >you pant, eying the monstrous form and trying to judge where its next attack will come from
  2120. >'Of course, love, you only need to call me by my name.'
  2121. >the chain on her left leg whips out, not to drag her foot along, but a length of the burning iron itself striking at you like a snake!
  2122. >too fast to dodge, not enough room to run--
  2123. "Anastasia!!!"
  2124. >the chain cracks against metal as a svelte, lady-like apparition appears, its hand outstretched to catch the blow!
  2125. >'Mmm, that's right.'
  2126. >a tinny, modulated voice croons as the robotic maiden squeezes the chain, the glowing heat fading with an audible sizzle as a layer of hoarfrost radiates outward from her grasp
  2127. >her thick, white-and-blue fur coat rustles slightly in an unseen wind as she looks over her shoulder at you, mask-like metal face wearing a confident grin before she fades away to prepare for your next command
  2128. >"I must... obey...for them...!"
  2129. >the shadow-woman shrieks, as you square up for a fight
  2130. HP: Full
  2131. SP: Full
  2132. >you don't know what this thing that's been growing in Rarity can do
  2133. >but the Persona you've awakened to seems to be able to do a bit of everything, so...
  2134. "Anastasia! Get ready!"
  2135. >your magic pulls the card out and presses on its center, the force enough to shatter it as your Persona clunks heavily to the ground in front of you
  2136. >'Hold fast, dear, you're doing just fine.'
  2137. >she twirls in place, arms sliding gracefully out of her thick coat as she tosses it over you
  2138. >you feel some of her sturdiness conferred to you, a thin translucent set of plating that covers your coat raises your defense
  2139. >"I can't...!"
  2140. >the painted lady struggles as the chains yank her leg skyward and then send it crashing down!
  2141. >you wince under the blow, the armor whirring near your joints to keep you from being knocked around
  2142. >the chains on her arms, however, snap backwards and grow taut, stretching the shadow-lady's limbs in a way that makes her muscular paint flex unnaturally
  2143. >she groans from the strain as the burning chains pull tighter, making a 'clink-clink-clink' sound as they tug...
  2144. HP: High
  2145. SP: Very High
  2146. >you take in your enemy as you recover from the blow, seeing it struggling against its bonds
  2147. >you can sense your Persona's weakness, and those flames worry you more than a little
  2148. >but that just means you'll have to try a preemptive strike
  2149. "Persona!"
  2150. >your magic flares again, and your card rends neatly in two, summoning back the mechanical madam
  2151. >'Shall we, dear?'
  2152. >she asks in her modulated voice, holding one dainty hand out and pointing at the shadow
  2153. >the thinner undercoat she's wearing billows as her entire arm expands and transforms, tubes of cryogenic liquid pumping pure cold into a strong ice-based attack!
  2154. >at the last second, though, you have a moment of inspiration:
  2155. "Wait!"
  2156. >these chains and the shadow you're fighting don't seem to be of one mind
  2157. >could you target the chains directly, then?
  2158. >sensing your reasoning, Anastasia's eye glints with a green reticle as she refocuses on a new target
  2159. >'Capital idea.'
  2160. >she praises you, the unmoving robotic face's confident smirk nonetheless seeming to revel in the idea
  2161. "And... fire!"
  2162. >the beam of pure cold energy cuts like a laser across the ground, striking the point where the chains on her arms exit the earth!
  2163. >'clink-clink-clink...clin...k...C-CRACK!'
  2164. >whatever unseen mechanism was ratcheting the chain lets out a horrendous sound as your attack strikes true!
  2165. >the tension on the shadow-woman's arms suddenly slacks, and she stumbles forward trying to maintain her balance
  2166. >now's the perfect time to sneak in another attack while she's preoccupied!
  2167. HP: Quite High
  2168. SP: Medium-High
  2169. >amidst the chaos of battle, a glimmer of something shiny catches your eye
  2170. >you scoop it up in your magic as you reposition yourself for a follow-up, taking a moment to examine it before stowing it away:
  2171. Obtained:
  2172. White Bit x1
  2173. >hm, to press the attack? Or keep yourself safe?
  2174. >you consider both for a moment, but those chains are a real risk
  2175. >you don't know what she could do if she landed a hit with one of them, but you can guess it wouldn't be fun
  2176. >Rarity always said "an ounce of prevention is worth", uh...
  2177. >well, it's worth something!
  2178. "Don't let up, Anastasia!"
  2179. >the technological tsarina's arm collapses back to normal, still pointing at the painted shadow
  2180. >she brings her finger to her lips, kissing it with an audible 'mwuah'
  2181. >before miming a gunshot at your opponent
  2182. >when she "fires", though, a loud POP rings through the room, and a red streak of debilitating magic smacks onto the shadow's cheek!
  2183. >the lip-print seems to sap the giant's strength as it regains its balance, the manacles on her arms growing back to cherry red
  2184. >the ones at her feet start to heat too, as she whimpers in pain from the searing metal
  2185. >she strikes out with one leg that you easily dodge, but the second chain whips around before she even lands, driving her off foot into your stomach as she crashes to the ground!
  2186. >you wheeze as the wind is driven out of you, though with the combined efforts of your last two turns it doesn't hurt nearly as much as it might've
  2187. >it mostly just surprised you, but as you suck in a lungful of air you realize
  2188. >that could've been pretty dangerous, if she'd managed to land true and keep you short of breath
  2189. >good to know this thing has that in her arsenal, you think as the chains drag her back to a standing position
  2190. >the arm chains seem to have sustained a bit of damage, though the shadow-lady herself seems just fine save for some tumbles and bruises...
  2191. >what's your next move?
  2192. HP: Quite High
  2193. SP: Medium
  2194. >those chains...
  2195. >they must be what's causing all this, right?
  2196. >if that's the case, you'll need to break her out of them in order to make headway, you reason
  2197. >and you've already seen that they're susceptible to ice...
  2198. >time to cool them off, then!
  2199. >"Please... just go... my fate is sealed..."
  2200. >the shadow woman begs, as you square up for another round of attacks
  2201. >but whatever this thing is, it came out of Rarity
  2202. >there's something deeply wrong, for her to act like this
  2203. >and you won't be letting it continue any longer!
  2204. "Anastasia, we're going all out!"
  2205. >you cry, your magic tearing the card apart as your Persona emerges from it
  2206. >'No other way to do it, love.'
  2207. >the Grand Duchess agrees, her arm expanding once again as it charges an icy attack!
  2208. >the chains rattle menacingly, before whipping forward in an attempt to preempt you--
  2209. >'Too slow!'
  2210. "Too slow!"
  2211. >you and your Persona shout in sync, concentrated cold firing out with a crackle that snaps against one of the snaking chains
  2212. >the blast whips it downward and it makes contact with a second, intertwining them in a layer of ice!
  2213. "And again!"
  2214. >Anastasia's frost cannon chugs, before a blast of pressurized gas rips the sleeve of her undercoat right off, revealing a built-up shard of supercooled ice in the cannon's muzzle
  2215. >she lets out an indignant huff and tenses, before the shard rockets out and strikes the frozen chains with a resounding 'C-CRACK!'
  2216. >you see the white ice travel all the way down the chains, the metal growing brittle until...
  2217. >SNAP!
  2218. >two of the manacles, one around her leg and another at her wrist, crunch against the lady's struggles, deep cracks rendering them powerless to constrict her!
  2219. >the other two are deeply damaged as well, but maintain enough structural integrity to at least keep yanking her limbs around
  2220. "That wasn't enough...?"
  2221. >you pant, the sudden outpouring of energy leaving you feeling like you're on mile ten of a marathon
  2222. >"I told you, I'm--augh!"
  2223. >the shadow's pitiable complaints are cut short as the chains pull at her harshly, dragging her towards you to close the distance
  2224. >dangit, you've nearly got this thing finished, you can tell, but you're running on fumes...
  2225. >what's your play? Your plating armor is beginning to twitch and malfunction, you doubt it'll survive beyond the next turn
  2226. >but refreshing it would take all the energy you've got left, and there's no way you have enough for another ice spell
  2227. >you might've dared a bit too far, but you can push yourself over the finish line
  2228. >...right?
  2229. HP: Full
  2230. SP: Very Low
  2231. >as you think, you see two more white coins rolling across the floor
  2232. >whatever these are, it can't hurt to collect them, right?
  2233. >you float them into your saddle bags so you can look more closely at them later
  2234. Obtained:
  2235. White Bit x2
  2236. >time to shift gears a bit, you think as you eye up the situation
  2237. >maybe you can catch these chains with an attack in just the right place...
  2238. >you're willing to burn a little vitality in exchange for that risk
  2239. >so as the shadow-lady is dragged unwillingly toward you, you aim your shot, before...
  2240. "Persona!"
  2241. >Anastasia appears, spinning a green vial around her wrist like a sling!
  2242. >as she does, you see the chains whip their captor's leg backwards, winding up for a kick
  2243. >'A bit of evil from me, love!'
  2244. >the skull-capped liquid soars through the air, cracking against the metal bond on her leg and splashing a corrosive liquid onto it
  2245. >she wobbles on her pivoting leg, teetering dangerously...
  2246. >before the chain yanks her completely off balance, a length of it searing white-hot as it shoots at your chest!
  2247. "Agh!"
  2248. >you let out a cry as the searing metal makes contact, the pain dulled considerably by your armor and the lingering weakness you inflicted
  2249. >but the chain continues and sweeps your legs in the same blow, knocking you off your feet as it passes
  2250. >dammit!
  2251. >you look up to see the chain swing around for a second strike--
  2252. >but the temper-worn metal, now etched by the venomous acid, has seen too much punishment
  2253. >the link snaps under the strain of its next attack, the newly-loosed tension flinging the remains around in an arc that shatters the final chain!
  2254. >the shadow woman falls to the ground, breast heaving with exhaustion as you struggle back to your feet
  2255. >you search your thoughts for the words to say
  2256. >but as you're formulating your thoughts
  2257. >you see the broken chains that lay around her draw back towards their origins, the ratcheting noise softer now that they face no resistance
  2258. >they seem to snake under the ground, and back down the hall
  2259. >you have a hunch you know where they came from...
  2260. >but with this thing defeated, you're on a ticking clock, as the grey fog you've come to associate with this strange state of being starts to fade
  2261. >this may be your one chance to address whatever it is that's been making your sister act the way she was
  2262. >but you don't know if there's some bigger threat you might need to address
  2263. >what should you do?
  2264.  
  2265.  
  2266. >Address the complex that's been troubling your sister
  2267. Investigate the likely source of the chains
  2268.  
  2269.  
  2270. >you have your suspicions, but it'd be foolish at this point to go chasing leads
  2271. >not when you can help resolve this problem, here and now
  2272. >so you let the chains slink away, and turn back to the painted lady you've managed to free from them
  2273. >your heart hurts to see her like this
  2274. >but you need to make her face facts, and the fact is...
  2275. "Rarity."
  2276. >you shift your gaze from the corporeal darkness to the frozen visage of your sister, looking through the giant woman to do so
  2277. "You can't do this to yourself. You can't keep doing this."
  2278. >you gesture down the hall behind you with your horn to illustrate your point
  2279. "If you work yourself to the bone and give everything up for us... never mind THEM, do you really think that WE'D be happy with that? You think I'd be okay with my sister hurting herself like this? Would Mom and Dad? Would your friends?"
  2280. >you reach a hoof up to the shadow woman and wipe away some of the grease paint that's creating the illusion of muscles as you stroke her cheek
  2281. "I'd say you're going to hurt yourself, but I think you already have. So if you need someone to tell you this, I'll say it."
  2282. >your magic amplifies your voice as you speak, giving it a gentle but powerful timbre
  2283. "Take care of yourself! Love yourself! And let us care for you and love you too."
  2284. >you look up at the woman's face with determination in your eyes
  2285. >(maybe determination looks a little like teardrops)
  2286. "Don't lay down and die for who you care about. Stand up and live for them."
  2287. >you smile and release the spell on your voice before you smile at the giant woman
  2288. "Think you can do that?"
  2289. >she nods cautiously, seemingly unsure what to do with herself as her frame shrinks bit by bit
  2290. >the paint sloughs off of her in dripping sheets, revealing the first hints of a definite form
  2291. >a winged helm, and metallic armor that girds a muscular but decidedly feminine figure
  2292. >you know you're going to have to find Scootaloo and Apple Bloom as fast as you can
  2293. >if the first person you met could cause this much damage, you all can't afford to be separated for very long
  2294. >not to mention you're probably a bit out of your depth here, really
  2295. >but you can pause long enough to give your sister a hug, even frozen in time as she is
  2296. >there's always time for that
  2297. >you gallop for the end of the hall, the blue flames of torches slowly starting to flicker again
  2298. >as you look over your shoulder, the last thing you see is an angelic-looking woman saluting you smartly, but with a warm smile
  2299. >"Where... wait, where did she...?"
  2300. >Rarity touches a hoof to her head, looking around in stark confusion
  2301. >that filly, she was just here!
  2302. >she couldn't have gone that far, and if what she said was true--
  2303. >if what she said was true, a small voice volunteers in her thoughts
  2304. >then your deal was broken at best, and rigged at worst
  2305. >her safety is in her own hooves, and yours likewise in your own
  2306. >she'll find you again, in time
  2307. >until then, be well and at peace, so that when she needs you, you will be ready
  2308. >...
  2309.  
  2310.  
  2311.  
  2312. Meanwhile...
  2313.  
  2314. >alright
  2315. >you need a moment, but you can figure this out
  2316. >you've managed to find a narrow alleyway to hide away in, a couple of barrels forming a nice blind spot away from anyone walking by
  2317. >the moment you, uh... "arrived", you could tell something was off
  2318. >for one thing, you've never seen this place before
  2319. >not just the particular streets, but the whole area: there aren't too many castles in all of Equestria, never mind near Ponyville
  2320. >the one looming over the town you're in now looks faintly familiar, but you're dead sure it's not Canterlot
  2321. >and it definitely isn't Twilight's, either
  2322. >beyond that, every town has its own kind of feel, but the layout of this place... it's weird
  2323. >weird in a way you don't like, you'd decided quickly
  2324. >the streets are narrow and dark, the lamps too far apart to feel totally safe under
  2325. >further, when you came to, you were standing outside the back door of a darkened house, a letter in one hoof
  2326. >and you got the immediate sense you needed to get away from there
  2327. >you had what you wanted, after all, and you didn't have all night
  2328. >that was the first thought that sprang to mind, at least
  2329. >so now, here you are, trusting your instincts that this is a safe place to hide for the moment while you get a handle on all this
  2330. >you lay out the contents of your saddlebags
  2331. >(the one you remember packing this morning, the brown ones with the brass clasp, have been replaced with a set of nondescript grey bags)
  2332. >and wonder at what you've got
  2333. "Ah'm not sure Ah like this..."
  2334. >you say to yourself
  2335. >first, there's the normal stuff
  2336. >you don't recognize the exact titles, but the covers and the contents of the first few pages immediately give away the books as study aides and schoolbooks
  2337. >you have a couple notebooks in there too, along with a pair of pencils
  2338. >(these are mechanical, but you never did like that style, you prefer the texture and simplicity of a wooden pencil and rubber eraser honestly)
  2339. >there's a round cylinder of some kind, tightly sealed
  2340. >that's more than passing strange, since you don't see any easy way to open it on first glance
  2341. >what else?
  2342. >well, there's the letter, of course, stuffed into its torn-open envelope
  2343. >and at the bottom of your bags, a crumpled piece of paper
  2344.  
  2345. >so, to sum up, you're in a strange place with some strange stuff, some normal stuff, and a quiet sense of urgency to figure this out quickly and get back to...
  2346. >doing something
  2347. >you probably don't have unlimited time, but you certainly could look at a few of these things for some clues
  2348. >you peek out from behind the barrels to make sure nopony is snooping around before you duck back behind them
  2349. >...it just feels right, when you're trying to solve a mystery, you figure
  2350. >what would you like to investigate?
  2351.  
  2352. school supplies
  2353. crumpled note
  2354. >opened letter
  2355. mysterious cylinder
  2356. grey saddlebags
  2357.  
  2358. >well, this letter definitely feels the most pressing
  2359. >you pull it out of its envelope, looking it over in the process
  2360. >no return address, you note, but it's addressed to one Cheers Liqueur
  2361. >you suspected as much, but there's no doubting it now
  2362. >with a lump in your throat, you unfold it and read through it:
  2363.  
  2364. My dearie Cheerie,
  2365.  
  2366. Thanks so much for inviting me over the other day! I'm so glad we can still get together for tea, with your busy schedule and mine. (Don't worry about the cup you spilled, it's just Heather tea, I've got plenty still!) Let me know when you'd like to do it again. I've got a brew or two I'd like you to try, but no rush, whenever you're ready.
  2367.  
  2368. While I was over though, I couldn't help but notice your garten; don't take it the wrong way, but I do think I spotted a weed or two in there. You'll want to stay on top of that, sis! They can be pernicious little things. If you need some help pulling them, let me know, my offer's always on the table. I have the tools, after all.
  2369.  
  2370. Write back soon, sugarflanks!
  2371. P. No <3
  2372.  
  2373. >hmm
  2374. >on the surface this looks pretty innocent, but something about the phrasing feels off to you
  2375. >plus, why would you have it if it wasn't important?
  2376. >whatever it is, it's obviously not intended for your eyes, and it's way too personal for you to have gotten it by accident
  2377. >you remember learning Ms. Cheerilee's legal name from your sister, you think?
  2378. >the letter's writer you're less sure of, but they seem familiar with Ms. Cheerilee
  2379. >something to check up on later, you suppose
  2380. >you put it back in its envelope for the time being...
  2381. >what else should you look into?
  2382.  
  2383. school supplies
  2384. >crumpled note
  2385. mysterious cylinder
  2386. grey saddlebags
  2387.  
  2388. >next, that note...
  2389. >you uncrumple it, smoothing out the edges and looking it over on both sides
  2390. >on one side, in a scrawl you half-recognize, are the following:
  2391.  
  2392. 9
  2393. 2, 3
  2394. cider
  2395. Smithee
  2396.  
  2397. >on the other, you find a drawing you're... pretty sure you must've made yourself?
  2398. >or at least, somefilly about your age
  2399. >it's a flagon, half-tipped, with a frothy head on the top
  2400. >at least, you figure that's what it's supposed to be?
  2401. "An artist, they ain't,"
  2402. >you mutter under your breath
  2403. >this'll probably come in handy later, though right now you can't say for sure what it's supposed to mean
  2404. >you have a hunch, but that's all it is at the moment
  2405. >so, you've got a letter you probably shouldn't have, and a note about something you almost certainly should have
  2406. >you peek your head over the top of the barrels again, your sense of paranoia getting the better of you for a moment
  2407. >you spot a pony further down the way, but he seems to be preoccupied with something down another alleyway
  2408. >probably nothing to worry about, you reassure yourself
  2409. >you're starting to piece some things together, maybe...
  2410. >you've got a bit more time, what else would you like to investigate?
  2411.  
  2412. school supplies
  2413. mysterious cylinder
  2414. >grey saddlebags
  2415.  
  2416. >well, let's see, you've checked the note and the letter, maybe you've got something substantial in this pack?
  2417. >you'd removed all the major items from them, so all you've got in there now should be some small bits and baubles
  2418. >a few bits you can probably use to buy a soda or something to snack on
  2419. >(they do have an unfamiliar emblem on them, but a quick bite test shows they're at least made of the same metal as the bits you're familiar with)
  2420. >an empty bag with some crumbs in it, maybe the remains of your school lunch?
  2421. >that seems like it'd be reasonable
  2422. >you almost write the whole thing off as a waste of time as you turn the packs upside down and shake
  2423. >but faintly, you hear the 'tink-tink' of something small rubbing against something metal
  2424. >you turn the left saddlebag completely inside out and peer reeeeeeal close...
  2425. >a-ha!
  2426. >a tiny clasp for a zipper!
  2427. >the way it's fit into the seam, you'd never even notice it if you hadn't been searching for it
  2428. >you give it a tug with your teeth, unzipping the hidden compartment
  2429. "...Uh oh."
  2430. >you look at the small, thin implements, mostly cheap metal with some wooden handles in places to make it easier to grip
  2431. >one looks like a tiny sickle, another has a wavy end to it, one's almost straight except for a slight bend at the very tip
  2432. >a couple hairpins you don't think have anything to do with keeping your mane out of your eyes
  2433. >all cushioned in a bed of cotton, so they don't stick out or make noise rubbing against each other
  2434. "Ah'll just, ah..."
  2435. >careful not to disturb them, you zip the flap back up, checking the other side for any similar compartments or secret tricks
  2436. >you can't find any, but given how well that one was hidden?
  2437. >hard to say if that means anything
  2438. >you're packing the loose items you'd shaken out back into the packs when you hear the clanging chime of a bell
  2439. "Huh, a clock tower? Can't say that rings any bells."
  2440. >you give a little half-smile when you realize your own pun, but something distracts you
  2441. >six... seven... eight... nine
  2442. >nine in the evening then?
  2443. >...oh!
  2444. >you look around, a sudden anxiousness in your limbs as you start scooping the other items into your bag as well
  2445. >9PM! Of course!
  2446. >you can't tell too clearly from the strange layout of the town, but is it possible you're near an exit to this neighborhood?
  2447. >you hurry as fast as you can and follow the alleyway out to another road, this one a little wider, though not much better lit
  2448. >a weathered old street sign informs you you're on Lethe Way
  2449. >is that a main street?
  2450. >you'll have to hope you're going the right way, as you make a left onto it and follow your hooves and your instinct
  2451. >you nearly run right past it, but out of the corner of your eye you spot something familiar
  2452. >in yet another narrow alley, so tucked away you wouldn't even think to check it normally
  2453. >a hanging sign, with a picture of a mug full of suds!
  2454. >perfect, and there appears to be one pony standing at the entrance talking with someone on the other side of the door
  2455. >you inch closer, hoping to hear what they're saying...
  2456. >"C'mon, man, I'm practically dying of thirst out here!"
  2457. >the stallion's voice strikes you as simultaneously whiny and entitled
  2458. >"We ain't open yet, son."
  2459. >you hear a gruff voice answer back
  2460. >"Bullhockey, I just saw that mare go in."
  2461. >the unicorn lowers his voice a bit, leaning in to...
  2462. >dare you be generous enough to believe he's trying to intimidate the stallion on the other side of the door?
  2463. >the gruff-voiced pony talking through the peephole lets out a long-suffering sigh
  2464. >"She's a... business associate of the owner."
  2465. >he explains in a voice that sounds like it's reaching the end of its patience
  2466. >the blonde stallion starts to say something else, but the gruff voice cuts him off
  2467. >"Buddy, look. You can't come in. End of story. Now, if you need me to..."
  2468. >you hear a 'crk-crk' noise that sounds suspiciously like somepony stretching their forehooves
  2469. >"...I can come out there and help you find another bar to drink at. Point you in the right direction. You need me to help you with that?"
  2470. >you can practically hear him smirking
  2471. >there's a pregnant pause
  2472. >"...no. I don't."
  2473. >the slender younger stallion finally budges, clearing his throat and looking around to either side of the alley
  2474. >you duck back around the corner before he notices you
  2475. >"Good."
  2476. >and with that, the wooden slat covering the peephole slams shut, leaving the whole door front in darkness once more
  2477. >boy, with it sealed up like this, you doubt you'd even have noticed it running by in the hurry you were in before
  2478. >"...get to talk to her eventually..."
  2479. >you hear the brown-coated unicorn mutter as he walks dejectedly out of the alley
  2480. >he doesn't even seem to notice you as he walks past
  2481. >eesh... that's kinda sad
  2482. >sad but kind of unsettling, too
  2483. >you watch him out of the corner of your eye for a few seconds, making sure he really does trot off, before you walk up to the door yourself
  2484. >you really hope this is what that note was about, you think as you steel yourself
  2485. >'knock-knock'... 'knock-knock-knock'
  2486. >"Buddy, I'm gonna be real nice and count all the way to three before--"
  2487. >you hear the gruff voice you'd eavesdropped in on from the street start to heat up
  2488. >but he cuts himself short as he peeks down out of the slot at you
  2489. >just act like you're supposed to be here, you tell yourself
  2490. >so you put on your best unamused stare as you look up at him
  2491. >he blinks for a second and shakes his head, before giving you a smile you could dare to call fatherly
  2492. >"Well hey, kid. You lost or something?"
  2493. "Ah dunno, am Ah?"
  2494. >you do your best not to betray how nervous you are as you shrug nonchalantly
  2495. "If y'all serve cider, Ah'd figure Ah'm in the right place."
  2496. >you watch his eyebrows knit together in puzzlement for a second
  2497. >wait, that is what the note meant, right? Ask for a cider?
  2498. >he clears his throat for a second, and the alleyway glows a little brighter as he steps away from the door for a moment
  2499. >but just as soon as he's gone, he's back
  2500. >"Well kid, we do serve cider here, but you look old enough to know we can't serve minors. Especially unaccompanied."
  2501. >he mulls it over for a second as he regards you coolly
  2502. "Well, mah parent's already inside, they came in ahead of me,"
  2503. >you tell him with a tone of authority that scares you a little with how well you manage to fake,
  2504. "So can Ah at least come in and sit with 'em?"
  2505. >the stallion rubs the stubble on his chin with one hoof as he ruminates on that...
  2506. >"Tell you what kid, sure. You tell me their name, and I'll go get 'em to come to the door and walk you in."
  2507. >...uh-oh
  2508. >you hesitate for a split-second and hope this coin-flip lands in your favor
  2509. "That'd be Ms. Smithee."
  2510. >...
  2511. >the stallion raises his eyebrows and then leans back a bit
  2512. >"Hey Ms. Smithee, your darling daughter's here at last!"
  2513. >he chuckles as the slat closes
  2514. >there's a moment of silence where you worry you might've screwed up somehow
  2515. >before you hear the clunking and sliding of some latches on one side of the door
  2516. >and the large wooden portal swings open just enough for you to squeeze in
  2517. >an opportunity that you don't dare refuse, now that you're this deep in
  2518. >you trot into the spacious drinking hall, lit by oil lamps suspended from the ceiling as you take in the sight
  2519. >there's dozens of ponies here!
  2520. >it's a lot bigger than the entrance would have led you to believe, and you trot down a small set of stairs to get to the main floor
  2521. >a small number of ponies are sat at the bar, though the majority seem to be grouped up in small clumps around various tables
  2522. >you actually spot a couple ponies you recognize in passing, from the yearly cider sales
  2523. >the sound of idle chatter from the crowd in front of you and the closing of latches on the door behind you mingle with the lively tune of a player piano in one corner:
  2524.  
  2525. [Make Her A Member...]
  2526.  
  2527. >the thing that stands out the most, though, has to be some of these ponies' outfits
  2528. >most are dressed modestly, but at every few tables there seems to be one pony in a purple hat, or wrapped up in a dark-purple cloak
  2529. >one of them, done up completely in the ridiculous outfit, gestures at you when you look their way
  2530. >pretending you're braver than you are, you trot casually over to their table, pulling up one of the taller stools to sit down on
  2531. >"Well, look who decided to show up!"
  2532. >the pony behind the mask has a feminine note to their speech, but you get the impression they're putting on a voice, too
  2533. >they seem out-of-place next to the thin stallion who's drinking a small glass of cider in total silence
  2534. >and doubly so with Mrs. Cake rather pointedly not meeting your eyes as she chats with the ponies at the next table over
  2535. >but the name of the game is to play along, so play along you do
  2536. >if she doesn't have anything to say to you, you won't stir up a hornet's nest talking to her
  2537. >you give the masked mare a short nod, playing your cards close to the chest
  2538. >after all, you're not... totally sure what's going on?
  2539. >you've got a good idea of the broad strokes
  2540. >"Was worried when you showed up late. But I'm sure there's a good reason, right?"
  2541. >it's phrased as a question
  2542. >obviously there's only one right answer, though
  2543. "'Course, right here."
  2544. >you say almost casually, gesturing to your saddlebags but making no effort to retrieve it
  2545. >might as well stall to to see if they're going to elaborate on anything useful
  2546. >they stare at you for a second, the brim of their hat tipping slightly as they look down to where you nod
  2547. >"And you weren't followed at any point? Cleaning up after you isn't one of my favorite things to do."
  2548. >they're really being cautious about this, huh
  2549. >but... did you screw up at some point before now, doing some other task for this group or something?
  2550. >your gut says no, and you're willing to trust that
  2551. >oop, you'd better answer fast
  2552. "Ah wouldn't've come here if Ah thought I was bein' followed."
  2553. >that's common sense
  2554. >but you back it up with a second commitment
  2555. "And y'all're gonna have to trust me with this sorta thing at some point, right?"
  2556. >whatever you were doing
  2557. >or ARE doing, you correct yourself
  2558. >they must have some level of confidence in you to do it, or somepony else would've been put in charge of it
  2559. >you can see the eyes of the mask tighten like they're squinting at you
  2560. >but your educated bluff pays off, and they shrug visibly
  2561. >"You've got a point; I'm proud of you for taking the initiative on this one. Let's see what you've got, I'll get it all noted down in the records, and we can get you a drink to celebrate!"
  2562. >they give you what you figure is a wink, not that the mask does you any favors trying to interpret
  2563. >you're allowed to drink?
  2564. >that seems kind of irresponsible
  2565. >at least, you were never allowed to try any of the cider at the farm, but Applejack was always pretty strict about that
  2566. >...you can decide later whether or not to have any
  2567. >the pony in the cape and hat trots around the table to you...
  2568.  
  2569. What items should you hand over?
  2570.  
  2571.  
  2572. >school supplies
  2573. crumpled note
  2574. opened letter
  2575. >mysterious cylinder
  2576. >grey saddlebags
  2577.  
  2578.  
  2579. >well, you reason, if these aren't your items, in the bottom of that hidden compartment
  2580. >(and you really hope they aren't, since you permanently owning a set of lockpicks feels like it'd be the mark of a not-very-good pony)
  2581. >hopefully that means they were on loan?
  2582. >so you'll go ahead and empty the bag out and hand that over to the masked mare
  2583. >you rummage around in it beforehand, though, and find that small cylinder you spotted earlier
  2584. >you set the note and letter aside, along with your books and notebooks from school
  2585. >you hope they'll give you something to replace the saddlebags with, carrying these around loose would be a pain
  2586. >the mystery pony takes the cylinder first, giving it a twist in her hoof to inspect it
  2587. >seemingly satisfied with whatever they find, they nod expectantly
  2588. >when you give her the saddlebags, she lets out a slight grunt of annoyance, before turning them inside out and unzipping the compartment
  2589. >"Could've just gotten them for me. They're picks, not snakes."
  2590. >they chide you gently
  2591. >but then they clear their throat and raise their voice a bit
  2592. >were they not supposed to say anything?
  2593. >"Anyway. Reports?"
  2594. >you panic a little and flip through one of the notebooks
  2595. >it all just looks like math equations at first glance, but you're hoping you'll spot something that looks worthwhile--
  2596. >they shake their head and take the entirety of the English and History notebooks off the table for you
  2597. >they give you an unamused look as they hold them in their teeth
  2598. >at least, you figure it's unamused
  2599. >that mask is REALLY hard to read facial expressions through
  2600. >"Calm down. Just, give me a minute and I'll be right back."
  2601. >they lean in a bit closer
  2602. >"And knock off the silly voice, huh?"
  2603. >they trot off, and you see them disappear behind the bar into a back room
  2604. >...hey wait a minute!
  2605. >what does she mean silly voice?
  2606. >you open your mouth to say something, but think better of it
  2607. >at least partially because without her here, both that slim stallion and Mrs. Cake seem to be eying you up a bit more closely
  2608. >they took the lead, you figure, so it's probably not that you were talking shop at the table, right?
  2609. >still, it's a little uncomfortable, seeing ponies transparently trying to sneak glances at you when they think you're not looking
  2610. >so you kick your hindhooves on the stool anxiously, waiting for the masked pony to come back
  2611. >they stop at the bar and beckon the bartender over, pointing to your table and pushing something across to the mustachioed stallion
  2612. >oh geez, are they buying you a cider?
  2613. >you're not sure you're really okay with that
  2614. >but it doesn't look like you'll be getting a say in it
  2615. >"So pardon me, child..."
  2616. >you hear Mrs. Cake call for your attention, and you look back at her, confused
  2617. >"Oh! Sorry, didn't mean to distract you!"
  2618. >she waves the idea off casually with one hoof
  2619. >"Just, I wanted to give you a little teensie bit of advice, only if you want to hear it of course!"
  2620.  
  2621. >...
  2622. >this is an important question, you must choo--
  2623.  
  2624. >she continues without waiting for you to answer
  2625. >"Now, I only say this because I know you're new,"
  2626. >she cushions her words carefully as she starts in
  2627. >"and I'm sure you've already been told, and all, but to remind you: there's nothing in the rules that says you can't ask for help."
  2628. >she gives you a warm smile
  2629. >(possibly warmer due to the mug she's been sipping from)
  2630. >"I always see you working so diligently, and it's really very impressive! Isn't it, Hubble?"
  2631. >she looks over at the stallion, who doesn't meet your eyes as he mumbles out a curt
  2632. >"Mm, very 'mpressive."
  2633. >"But, just remember, we're all on the same team here. So if you ever need a favor, don't hesitate to ask!"
  2634. >you frown a little
  2635. >not in confusion, but because it seems like such... vapid advice
  2636. "Ah'll keep it in mind?"
  2637. >you say, a little non-plussed
  2638. >she nods happily, before you notice her sit up and shift her position slightly
  2639. >you look behind you at what she must've seen, just in time for--
  2640. >"Well hey there, sis. Sorry for the wait."
  2641. >your face is buried in a sea of orange as somepony hugs you hard enough to almost pull you off of your chair
  2642. >for the first time since you got here (this whole crazy bizarro-world, not just this seedy-feeling bar), your heart soars as you hug her back
  2643. "Applejack!"
  2644. >she gives you another little squeeze and gets you sat back upright on your stool
  2645. >"What, a full day of schoolwork was too long for you? I know I left early this morning, but..."
  2646. >she gives a bright little chuckle and pulls up another chair next to you
  2647. "Ah just was worried, is all--"
  2648. >you start to explain, before realizing
  2649. >wait, what if Applejack isn't the same pony as in your world?
  2650. >relatively speaking, that is
  2651. >you don't like the prospect, but you can't deny it's one that you need to consider
  2652. >she certainly seems to still be herself, personality-wise
  2653. >but so does Mrs. Cake, from what little you can tell
  2654. >so maybe that's not as clear of a tell as you'd like it to be
  2655. >but, another part of you argues, you have to trust somepony sometime
  2656. >and if your sister's here, she seems like your best bet
  2657. >you find it hard to imagine any series of events where you and her wouldn't be fundamentally on the same team
  2658. >after all, you're family!
  2659. >she shakes her head, looking a little confused, and ruffles your hair with one hoof
  2660. >"Well, you had nothing to worry about. You've been doing great so far, and you know I'm not going to get caught flatfooted either. So calm down and have a drink!"
  2661. >as she says that, the barpony walks up, four frothy mugs of cider balanced on the tray on his back
  2662. >Mrs. Cake and the stallion, Mr. Hubble, take theirs first, and Applejack takes both hers and yours, sliding yours over to you with a smack of her lips
  2663. >you look at it a bit warily, but wrap your hoof around the mug along with the rest of the table
  2664. >you've tasted cider before, you can probably just sip this--
  2665. >"A toast!"
  2666. >Mrs. Cake volunteers suddenly, raising her mug into the air
  2667. >you hear your sister let out an annoyed sigh, but begrudgingly raise her mug as well
  2668. >you and Mr. Hubble follow along, though you're not entirely sure what to expect
  2669. >luckily it looks like you'll be getting a demonstration
  2670. >"In tradition of the Midnight Crew, I raise a glass of cheer to you..."
  2671. >she intones, apparently reciting some saying to start it off
  2672. >"To the sweeties and tough cookies who visit my shop! With their patronage, our little gatherings will always be well-stocked."
  2673. >everyone claps their hoof on the table, you a tiny bit late on the uptake
  2674. >"To th'stars and th'moon. For a night fit for dreaming, which we'll guard from th'daylight."
  2675. >Mr. Hubble sounds almost somber as he says his bit
  2676. >you wait a second, Applejack noticing your hesitation and jumping in next
  2677. >"To the Crew itself. For giving some of us purpose, and all of us protection. They're what keeps everypony safe from the things they shouldn't know."
  2678. >she looks over at you with an encouraging grin
  2679. >well, it's your turn...
  2680. >you're going to have to toast something
  2681.  
  2682. >What should you raise a glass to?
  2683.  
  2684.  
  2685. To the papers that keep all good ponies informed
  2686. To a town that listens closely to what its citizens have to say
  2687. >To family, friends, and the ties that bind
  2688.  
  2689.  
  2690. >you clear your throat and raise your glass, a little awkwardly since the mug's a bit big for your hoof
  2691. >but cheers are for what you appreciate and honor the most, right?
  2692. >and living in Ponyville as long as you have, you can't think of anything better to cheer to
  2693. "Ta family, ta friends, and to the ties that bind. Who we are and who we'll be is thanks to the ponies what care about us, and who all we care about; nopony better'n them to celebrate!"
  2694. >you look around the table and notice mixed reactions
  2695. >Mrs. Cake looks absolutely tickled, like she's barely holding in a laugh
  2696. >Mr. Hubble on the other hand has a sardonic smile on his face
  2697. >he looks down as you glance over at him, avoiding your eyes
  2698. >but the one that makes you the most worried is your sister's reaction
  2699. >or, maybe more accurately, her lack thereof?
  2700. >she meets your gaze with a look of mild confusion, before lowering her glass
  2701. >"Well... hear, hear."
  2702. >the other two ponies participating tap their mugs on the table in sync, with you a split-second behind
  2703. >and you all take a long swig from your respective drinks
  2704. >well...
  2705. >you try to, but somepony must've picked the apples for this cider out of season or something
  2706. >it's for sure the blandest, most watery cider you've ever tasted
  2707. >something about it reminds you of stale well water, too
  2708. >maybe you're just spoiled, living on the farm
  2709. >but all drinking this does for you is to remind you how good you have it back in the other world
  2710. >you hear Mrs. Cake let out a satisfied 'ahhhh' as she polishes off her mug
  2711. >you use this as an excuse to put yours down too, though you probably haven't even finished a quarter of yours yet
  2712. >Applejack lets out a satisfied sigh as she sets hers down as well, starting to push back from the table
  2713. >"Y'know, young filly, it's bad form t'joke on your first time. A good one, but not strictly kosher."
  2714. >Mr. Hubble comments dryly, looking down into his glass as somepony from the next table over catches Mrs. Cake's attention
  2715. "...Er, sorry? Ah'll--"
  2716. >"Don't worry, Hubble, we were just going to talk about that. Thanks for being understanding."
  2717. >your sister looks over to you and nods her head to follow
  2718. >er, are you in trouble?
  2719. >you didn't think your toast was THAT bad
  2720. >still, you stand up and follow her along one wall as you approach the player piano
  2721. >it's surprisingly not much louder here than it is anywhere else in the room, even standing right next to it
  2722. >"Apple Bloom... what'n the hay was that?"
  2723. >she asks, looking equal parts frustrated and confused
  2724. "Er... what was what?"
  2725. >"That cockamamie toast! y'all know better'n to bring up family ties, 'specially around these parts,"
  2726. >she lowers her voice a bit, like she's worried you'll be outed as some dirty... family-liker or something?
  2727. "Ah just said what came to mind! Wasn't like Ah was lookin' ta embarrass anypony..."
  2728. >you explain a bit defensively
  2729. >"It don't matter whether ya intended it, it still happened!"
  2730. >she snaps back, blushing slightly
  2731. "Mrs. Cake's was all sappy too, 'n ya didn't drag her over here about it!"
  2732. >you feel a faint
  2733. B-BUMP
  2734. >against your chest as you snap back, feeling a flush rise in your cheeks
  2735. >why are YOU getting yelled at about this?
  2736. >why are you getting yelled at about THIS?!
  2737. >"Mrs. Cake had the good sense to toast ta somethin' valuable! Somethin' important! Ah thought we talked about this!"
  2738. >you bite your lip to hold back a meaner retort as you think
  2739. "...Fine. Since apparently senpai'ly ain't important enough to appreciate, why don't y'all tell me what Ah shoulda said."
  2740. >you sulk
  2741. >somepony might consider it a low blow, but you get some vindication at the wince your sister lets out
  2742. >"Aw, sugar cube, you know that ain't what Ah meant. It's just, yer article was a huge hit! Y'all heard the splash it made, it was all ponies were talkin' about yesterday... heck, I hear that Cheers mare's practically already got a warrant out fer her arrest. Ah told ya, it's fine to brag on yerself a LITTLE at these things..."
  2743. >she tries to console you, brushing your mane soothingly
  2744. "Ah did what?"
  2745. >you blink for a second as your sister gives you a warm hug
  2746. >you did this?
  2747. >it's your fault that you and Scootaloo and Sweetie are here, having to help these ponies?
  2748. >well, maybe not fully... but it was your article that drew you all here
  2749. >you wrote it
  2750. >you instinctually know that it's the case, and it turns your stomach that that knowledge is followed with a sick sense of relief, and comfort from your sister's words
  2751. "Ah did, didn't Ah."
  2752. >"Sure did. Now, c'mon, let's let you finish up that drink, eh? Ah'll strongarm Chiffon into buyin' the next round."
  2753. >you can feel your disgust at it bubbling up, the disquieting feeing of your sense of right and wrong at direct odds with what you've done, grating against your own feelings
  2754. >why does part of you think that Applejack is right to be proud of you?
  2755. >she's not right, and you know it, but agreeing with her just feels so easy
  2756. >you nod sullenly, pulling away from her embrace without looking at her
  2757. >"And like Ah told ya, mind yer accent 'til we're back home. Y'know it ain't fer mixed company like this little shindig."
  2758. >she admonishes you a little, trotting back towards the table you were sitting at
  2759. >you can feel yourself starting to move back towards the table almost on auto-pilot
  2760. >it takes real effort to dig your heels in and stay planted
  2761. >the strain of working against your own body's instinct makes it hard to focus on the color on the edges of the room, but you do it anyway
  2762. >this is an important decision
  2763. >luckily, it's one you've already made
  2764. "Actually, sis, 'fore we go back over."
  2765. >you clear your throat and nod at the spot you had been talking to her before
  2766. >"Huh? Sure, what's ta say?"
  2767. >she steps back beside the piano as you give her a hard stare
  2768. "Somethin' Ah wanted ta ask ya. What'd YOU think a' that article?"
  2769. >she practically beams at you
  2770. >"Ah told ya, it was great! Coudn't'a been any clearer, an' ya backed it up with the truth, is the best part. We're all proud of ya."
  2771. >you shake your head slowly
  2772. "Not what Ah meant. Ah know it did what it was s'posed ta do, but how'd it make ya feel? Seein' a pony's name dragged through the mud, an' me doin' it?"
  2773. >she frowns at you, looking slightly offended
  2774. >"What, ya want me ta stand up on a table and get the whole Crew cheerin' yer name? If'n ya want their praise that bad, just brag on yerself."
  2775. >she gives you a smug smirk
  2776. >"Y'know, the way Ah told ya ya should."
  2777. >your frustration is just about boiling over, but you hold it in
  2778. >you need to confirm it, not just guess or assume
  2779. "No. Ah want ya to look me in the eye, an' tell me yer proud'a me for the way Ah'm actin' right now. That yer proud'a yerself fer this whole business we're doin'. That this ain't just what you think everypony wants, that it's what YOU want."
  2780. >you see the grey creeping into your vision as you speak, a dark spot on your sister's back pulsing in a grotesque heartbeat rhythm as it grows
  2781. >"That... don't matter."
  2782. >her smile is totally gone now, and a grim sort of cold determination replaces it
  2783. >"So long as we're part a' the Midnight Crew, we support each other. No matter what."
  2784. >and as she speaks, you can hear her words repeated in whispers from other ponies in the room
  2785. >the grey is closing in on you now, but it's hard not to welcome it
  2786. >you've felt it growing ever since you first met your sister here
  2787. >since you first heard her talking like a city pony
  2788. >since she showed up in this seedy bar, drinking cider she didn't make and doesn't like, just to fit in
  2789. >as the color drains from the world around you, you notice more and more of the ponies in the room turning to look at this argument with your sister
  2790. >sunken eyes, bland coats and manes, featureless flanks
  2791. "An' if Ah said Ah wasn't as keen on bein' in this li'l Midnight Crew as Ah once was?"
  2792. >you square up, the tension in the air mounting
  2793. >"Then Ah guess we'll hafta bring ya around to our way a' thinkin'."
  2794. >her voice comes out strained through gritted teeth, echoed over and over by the crowd of ponies around her, and the black pustule on her back th-thumps more rapidly
  2795. "Your way a' thinkin'.'
  2796. >you correct her, squaring up
  2797. >"Ours."
  2798. >everypony except you in the room speaks as one, the black blob twitching uncomfortably as the grey closes in, now just you and your sister left untouched
  2799. "Ah don't care 'bout y'all's opinions!"
  2800. >you bark at the rest of the room, glaring around at them
  2801. "Ah'll hear mah sister without y'all tryin' to drown her out, and Ah don't care if Ah hafta fight every single one'a y'all barehoofed ta do it!"
  2802. >she lets out an undignified snort of anger as you see two, three, four tendrils of black, each tipped with an oblong bulb, rise out of the dark fleshy lump on her back
  2803. >"There's no difference between 'me' and 'them'. I think what they think; they think what I think."
  2804. >the thing growing off of her intones, its voice amplified by the repetition from the other ponies in the room
  2805. >"I... we... are one. And we, are many."
  2806. >the tendrils lash out and snap with a sickening wetness against the necks of the ponies nearest by, their bodies writhing unnaturally as they're dragged towards your sister
  2807. >and as they're dragged, the tendrils snap further out, grabbing the next
  2808. >and the next
  2809. >and the next
  2810. >the thing in front of you grows, and you can't help but feel a little sick at the sight
  2811. >the mottled coats of the ponies that comprise it form splotches of green and red and gold, and they squirm as they're pressed in tight against each other
  2812. >'I have to say, that's almost as sad as it is disgusting.'
  2813. >you hear a voice from inside your head and yet outside yourself say
  2814. >there's a snapping sound and a flash of light as it speaks
  2815. >'Neat.'
  2816. "It ain't neat, that's mah sister!"
  2817. >you growl, the writhing mass of flesh undulating as its shape starts to solidify
  2818. >'Well, it's one side of her, yes. But it's not just her, it's quite a big consensus, isn't it?'
  2819. >you nod, the orb of bodies seeming to sag a bit at the bottom, a single black tendril popping from the top
  2820. >'Tell me, would you like a little help digging her out of there?'
  2821. >you feel that B-BUMP against your chest, and you know what it has to be
  2822. "Ah could use whatever help Ah c'n get, about now..."
  2823. >you admit
  2824. >the tendril's tip splits open like a bud, a five-segmented claw with an inset eye looking down at you from atop its apple-shaped shell
  2825. >'Well, lucky for you I'm quite talented at exposing people.'
  2826. >the voice tells you, and you see out of the corner of your eye a card swirling around your body
  2827. >'You'll have to acknowledge me if you want my power, though. Little though you seem to want to.'
  2828. >a little uncertainty grips your heart, but you don't have any choice now, it seems, as you spot crackling energy being drawn towards the tendril's eye
  2829. "Ah will. Even if Ah hate it, Ah know: you're part'a me. This me, anyhow. So, let's work together!"
  2830. >you rear back and smash the card as it circles to your front
  2831. "You and me, Pheme!"
  2832. >the card breaks, and you feel a gust of wind blow by you
  2833. >the black limb's energy fires off in a crackling burst--
  2834. >only for it to blast a hole in the wooden floor several feet to your right!
  2835. >you see a spectral image of yourself, incinerated by the blast as you cry out in pain, before it fizzles away to nothing
  2836. >'Oh, did I lead you astray?'
  2837. >you look behind you...
  2838. >your persona hangs in midair, a technicolor rainbow of neon lights forming her wings as she holds one hand to the side of her mouth in a conspiratorial pose
  2839. >as you stare at the wings, you can see the shapes of countless eyes, lips, and ears, their positions shifting with every beat of her wings
  2840. >she brushes her red hair back behind her ear and lets out a laugh you'd swear Diamond Tiara must've been trying to emulate, in her meaner days
  2841. >'Better luck next time.'
  2842. >she gives you a wink before her neon wings flicker out, her body disappearing shortly after as she recedes back into your mind
  2843. >you turn to this... thing, that came from your sister
  2844. >it's time to break her out!
  2845. HP: Full
  2846. SP: Full
  2847.  
  2848. [...Of the Midnight Crew]
  2849.  
  2850. >this thing looks big...
  2851. >but a bigger enemy just means a bigger target, right?
  2852. >you zero in immediately on the head of that tendril
  2853. >that's got to be the most dangerous part, you figure
  2854. >it's what fired that blast of energy at you earlier, and next to the undulating ponies making up its outside, it certainly seems more aware of what's going on
  2855. >time to blow it away!
  2856. "Pheme, what's the good word?"
  2857. >you rear up and smash the card representing your persona, the gold-skinned woman rematerializing at your call
  2858. >'Oh, didn't you hear? Let me tell you...'
  2859. >she summons a horn in her hand, one that more strongly resembles a piece of Granny Smith's old phonograph than an instrument
  2860. >when she blows into it, though, a torrent of whispers swirls out of it, twisting into a lance of wind energy focused in a single shot
  2861. >it shoots straight as an arrow for the star-like head of the tendril--
  2862. >"hrrrrnnnng!"
  2863. >but one of the ponies near the top of the apple-shaped glob rears up, flailing wildly at the prospect of you harming the core!
  2864. >the impact causes them to jolt and topple from the ball itself, landing with a wet slap on the ground
  2865. >it twitches unnervingly as it rises to its hooves, staggered by the cutting words and resulting fall but by no means out of the fight
  2866. >Pheme flickers out of existence with a sour look on her face, reflecting your own irritation with the turn of events
  2867. >you see the tendril raise and point towards the sky, lightning crackling around the edges of its petals as it draws in energy...
  2868. >that could prove to be a problem
  2869. >the shambler on the ground trudges dutifully towards you as you back up a couple steps, thinking carefully about your plan of attack from here
  2870. >the lone ponymorph looks pretty frail by comparison, though you're pretty sure it's not closing in on you to give you a hug
  2871. HP: Full
  2872. SP: Extremely High
  2873. >that charging bulb looks like trouble
  2874. >it's not very efficient, but you could always heal yourself up afterwards if you were hit...
  2875. >no, you don't know how powerful this thing is
  2876. >you turn and brace yourself, ready to guard against whatever attacks come your way
  2877. >not a moment too soon, either, as the black tentacle goes a bit slack, turning its single eye toward you
  2878. >you can see its pupil rotate in place, the iris going jagged as the energy it stored is set loose!
  2879. >Pheme appears a split second before impact, holding up a hand as the electricity slams into her palm
  2880. >the residual electricity causes her wings to brighten, and you can see scornful looks and sneers in the many eyes and mouths that adorn them
  2881. >she disappears after the guard, arms crossed like a petulant filly
  2882. >it still hurt, but luckily your preparation lets you shrug off the worst of it--
  2883. >THWOK
  2884. >you wince as a hoof slaps against your side
  2885. >it's not a strong attack, but you were so focused on the lightning blast, it kind of surprised you
  2886. "Hey! No touchin'!"
  2887. >you scold the zombie-like pony and hop away as they stumble past you, the force of its momentum carrying it into a table before it rights itself
  2888. >the slimy appendage poking out of the giant apple hangs limply off the side of its protective orb, some of the shell-ponies pawing weakly at it
  2889. >you've managed to avoid the brunt of that thing's attack
  2890. >should you burn some energy healing up what little damage they did, or go on the offensive?
  2891. >decisions, decisions...
  2892. HP: Very High
  2893. SP: Full
  2894. >that core is dangerous, but with the way its defenders are acting, you think you know just the solution
  2895. >if those ponies on the shell are its defense, you can bypass them by not targeting one spot for them to block
  2896. >instead, you'll just attack everything!
  2897. >you bring your stance wide and smash your card with one hoof, Pheme appearing over your head
  2898. "Y'all wanna stand between me an mah sister? Ah'll blow away every one'a ya!"
  2899. >the winged goddess holds out her hands wide, the technicolored wings on her back glowing with a faint hum
  2900. >you see more lights flicker into existence, until she looks like she's standing in front of a madcap billboard, neon-light wings enormous on her frame
  2901. >'Show me every ugly detail of what's hiding under there.'
  2902. >she demands, before bringing both her arms and her wings closed at once
  2903. >the force behind her wings sends a storm of gold- and green- and red- and purple-colored gusts crashing against the broad side of the floating hive
  2904. >you see the pony-shaped masses of flesh grip tightly onto one another, but the outermost ones have nothing to hold onto
  2905. >a ripple cascades across the flesh-apple's surface, and you see a group of four more bodies drop from it
  2906. >the force also sends the tentacle flailing wildly as it slaps against its outer shell
  2907. "All right!"
  2908. >you cheer as it convulses in pain
  2909. >but although it looks a bit wind-battered, it doesn't appear to have been knocked senseless like you were hoping
  2910. >the fleshling that took your first attack manages stumbles and falls flat as it plods towards you, managing to avoid the whole of your assault by pure luck
  2911. >and now it's joined by four others
  2912. >they jerk themselves to a standing position, seeming eager to follow the first's example
  2913. "Ah told y'all, no!"
  2914. >you see it lurch at you, but you could see the lunge coming from space, and hop out of the way as it lets out a gurgling "fherahllll..."
  2915. >the orb itself seems a bit smaller now, your attack having relieved it of some of its brainless sentinels
  2916. >but as you see the tentacle right itself and focus the eye in the center of its claw-like tip on you
  2917. >you also notice a second black bulb, previously buried under bodies, that unfurls itself and turns in your direction
  2918. >this is getting out of hand...
  2919. >now there are two of them?
  2920. >and a gaggle of the ponies you knocked loose, too
  2921. >luckily the core needed to recover from its previous assault, so you weren't hit with any nasty surprises
  2922. >that could change in a second here, though
  2923. >so you'd better do something
  2924. >but what?
  2925. HP: Very High
  2926. SP: Very High
  2927. >you've got plenty of energy to spare, and these things could be dangerous if you let them pile up
  2928. >time to wipe them all out!
  2929. >you eye up the grounded, mindless horde and rear up, hoof crashing through your persona's card as you summon her again
  2930. "Y'all need t'GIT!"
  2931. >you admonish them, Pheme appearing near the ceiling as you do
  2932. >'Disappear, you hollow shells!'
  2933. >she sneers, crossing her arms as her wings glow up and out
  2934. >they beat once, the blast of multicolored wind slamming against the orb of bodies and spreading across the floor
  2935. >a few of the sycophants flail and grope wildly, sliding down the orb as its struck
  2936. >meanwhile, the wash of gales slams into the shambling group below, the entire group toppling over as they're swept from their feet!
  2937. "Gotcha!"
  2938. >one is sliced to ribbons and falls apart, the body revealed to be nothing but a suit of skin leaking an oily black liquid
  2939. "Again!"
  2940. >your eyes glint with excitement as you continue the assault
  2941. >'No more from you!'
  2942. >Pheme agrees, the illuminated wings popping and crackling as the extra lights that extend them shatter
  2943. >the force of each pop showers the field with a rain of glass and lances of wind!
  2944. >the follow-up is more slap-dash, successfully knocking the scrambling ponies free of the group as they fall to the ground but missing a few of the weakened ones already on the ground
  2945. >still, you've managed to cut their numbers some, you think as two newly shaken-free shamblers stir from where they dropped
  2946. >Pheme lets out a mirthless chuckle as she fades, obviously pleased with herself
  2947. >the newly uncovered tendril raises and lets out a shrill whining sound, rattling wildly in place
  2948. >you see the pair of guards that just dropped lurch unnaturally to their feet, eyes a blank and milky white
  2949. >the second tendril closes its claw nearly entirely, jabbing at you as far as it can reach, and suddenly the freshly risen zombies charge at you in a full gallop!
  2950. >they spring at you in perfect unison, and while you can jump over the first one's flying tackle, the second catches your back hooves as you land
  2951. >you feel it chomp into your back leg, and the fear of turning into a pony that only craves brains makes you blanch
  2952. >but other than the momentary limp you have from being chewed on, you don't feel any different...
  2953. >that's good, at least!
  2954. >the two others your follow-up gust missed finally climb back to their feet
  2955. >you don't know what's coming next, but you're chipping away at that thing's shell with these gales
  2956. >should you continue with the wind-based attacks?
  2957. >or change up your strategy to something new?
  2958. >the flow of enemies is going to be hard to stem with area-wide attacks, but it'll take more energy to drop them one by one...
  2959. >with that bite, they might have an easier time catching you, too
  2960. >what's your plan?
  2961. HP: Medium High
  2962. SP: A Little Higher than Medium
  2963. >amidst the black slime leaking from the hollow ponies' bodies, you spot a pair of green coins
  2964. "Wonder what these're for?"
  2965. >you ask aloud, taking a spare second to scoop them up
  2966. >you'll look at them more closely when you're not fighting, but for now, in your saddlebags they go!
  2967.  
  2968. Obtained:
  2969. Green Bit x2
  2970.  
  2971. >these jerks are going to keep coming?
  2972. >you've proven you can deal with that
  2973. >you'll tear them apart like a paper plane in a hurricane!
  2974. "Outta th'way!"
  2975. >you shout, as the crowd of hollow ponies nears in on you
  2976. >you stumble slightly as you rear back on your hind legs to summon Pheme once again, barely having faded from her previous attack before you bring her back for an encore
  2977. >her eyes glow green as she appears in front of you, gramophone horn pointed like a rifle at the crowd as she braces for the impact
  2978. >'Breaking news: bar full of ponies can't take a hint.'
  2979. >she pulls the 'trigger' of her imaginary gun, green feathers made of wind energy blasting from the horn like the shards from a blunderbuss
  2980. >they pincushion the groaning crowd, the two injured from your previous attacks collapsing and deflating
  2981. >the other pair groans dully, their limbs crumpling underneath them, as the remainder of your attack sails over their head and peppers the tendrils and their defenders, another pair dropping to the floor
  2982. >'Reloading!'
  2983. >Pheme shouts, a mirror of your crystalized determination to knock them all down
  2984. >you see her draw a lime-green and electric-blue bulb designed after a peacock's feather from her wing before it disappears in a snap
  2985. >she pulls the trigger again, and a hail of feathers splatters the two left up from the first wave, a hail of bodies dropping to the ground
  2986. >you spot a third tendril bloom from the area you'd exposed with your repeated attacks
  2987. >looks like you've very nearly reached the core, with the walls of the thing's shell sagging from defenders that have gone completely white and lifeless
  2988. >a trio are staggering to their feet alongside the two you'd shaken loose with the first blast, distressed cries of "hrrnngghrng" and "fffrhaaaahg" filling the air as the floor of the drinking hall grows slick with the black substance of the many you've broken
  2989. >you can feel the ache of that bite fading already, so you're feeling more mobile
  2990. >but the three eye-capped stalks are letting out a distressing crackling sound, the air in the room glinting with motes of rising energy
  2991. >looks like it's charging up again...
  2992. >but now you've got three sources of lightning to contend with!
  2993. >not to mention a full regiment of these pony-things...
  2994. >what should you do, here?
  2995. HP: Medium High
  2996. SP: Medium Low
  2997. >you grab a pair of the green bits from the floor as you notice them glint
  2998. >which is impressive, with everything in the room except you and this amalgamation of ponies frozen in time
  2999. >like they wanted to be spotted, almost!
  3000. >you toss them into your saddlebags along with the previous two
  3001.  
  3002. Obtained:
  3003. Green Bit x2
  3004.  
  3005. >if one one shot from that thing is enough to hurt as much as it did
  3006. >you don't see letting three of them land being anything short of disastrous
  3007. >the best thing to do is guard, you figure
  3008. >but, looking at the group of shell ponies, you've seen them thrown off easily by the winds you can kick up
  3009. >so you stomp into your card with one hoof, bringing Pheme back for another round!
  3010. >'I suppose without these pitiful things it'd have nothing else to surround itself,'
  3011. >she remarks with a callous indifference, holding a finger to the sky as a whirling orb of wind appears on its tip
  3012. "That bein' said, 'tween bad company an' no company, none's the better choice!"
  3013. >you agree, as she brings the finger down and around in a whipping motion
  3014. >the ball of winds unravels as it arcs out, a series of smaller crescents cutting randomly through the air
  3015. >one particularly bright one decapitates a shambler outright, and they cut deep gouges in three more
  3016. >you watch as a shower of bodies drop off of the core, most missing the limbs or body integrity to do more than groan in distress
  3017. >you see one jerking to its feet, but judging by the smell of ozone and the snapping noises in the air, you're out of time
  3018. >you throw up a guard not a second too soon, Pheme doing her best to intercept the crossing arcs of electricity as they triangulate and zero in on you
  3019. >you feel them cut across her by sympathetic response, one, two, three surges of energy
  3020. >it hurts, yes, but not nearly as much as it could've
  3021. >still, you don't think you can stand many more of those, especially if those tentacle things all fire in tandem
  3022. >you feel a hot breath on the hoof you're using to guard your face, and backpedal just in time to avoid a chomp from the one mannequin-like pony you missed with your initial sweep
  3023. >the ones you'd managed to discombobulate with your preemptive strike are hobbling back to their hooves, and the one fresh from the core you'd knocked loose shambles forward to take the place of his newly-headless predecessor
  3024. >you can see a length of black, rope-like flesh exposed among one patch of the rapidly-dwindling shell...
  3025. >there can't be that many more, right?
  3026. >it feels like you've crushed a town's worth of these things already
  3027. >at least the ones on the floor are mostly already weakened...
  3028. >what should you do now?
  3029. HP: Getting Low
  3030. SP: Pretty Low
  3031. >you pick up a green coin from the ground, slightly singed from the raw electrical power but otherwise in mint condition
  3032. >at this rate you'll be able to buy a hayburger with them!
  3033. >...assuming you can find somepony who's willing to take them, anyway
  3034.  
  3035. Obtained:
  3036. Green Bit
  3037.  
  3038. >you don't want to risk letting these things get carried away with themselves
  3039. >not right now, with so many of them ready to take a bite out of you
  3040. >but you're also feeling run ragged, your head throbbing with all the effort you've expended so far
  3041. >can you really keep this up?
  3042. >your only option at this point seems to be to try
  3043. >you've got to bust through the last of this thing's defenses and get to your sister!
  3044. >so you call Pheme back for an encore, her wings glowing a little dimmer than before
  3045. "Applejack, Ah know y'all are in there! Now let. Me! IN!!!"
  3046. >you shout, your Persona's wings glittering and sputtering as they expand
  3047. >you can see the fluorescent bulbs from her back in multicolored letters spell out: ꟼU ИƎꟼO
  3048. >as the lip-shaped lights press together in sync and blow out a buffet of winds
  3049. >you see many of them solidify into crushing bellows of wind that rain down on the hapless ponymorphs, cracking through the shells of the previously injured and downing the fresh one that survives!
  3050. >the few that sail over their heads instead pepper the core, a pair of the corpse-like ponies managing to survive their fall from high up as scores more splatter against the carpet of already broken bodies...
  3051. >but never mind them, you spot something more important:
  3052. >one more tendril is unwinding itself from the innermost part of the bloated thing you've been fighting
  3053. >and as it does, you get a glimpse of a cramped, pitiful cage
  3054. >you can see the pony inside curled into a tiny, emaciated ball, eyes glowing with an otherworldly energy from under a brimmed hat as it stares outward
  3055. >so buck the rest of this crowd, it's time to go for broke!
  3056. >you rush past the incapacitated and the broken, not giving them a chance to do much more than moan incoherently
  3057. "There you are... Applejack? Look at me, wouldja?!"
  3058. >you headbutt your card as you charge headlong, Pheme appearing and throwing her horn aside as she soars above you
  3059. >'Thought you could hide behind them?!'
  3060. >Pheme practically spits, soaring straight up with her fist raised as she rockets into the sky
  3061. "Not a chance!"
  3062. >your Persona's heel shoots out as her wings vanish, dropping towards the cage in a flying kick carrying her full weight and strength!
  3063. >she speeds up as she falls, the neon of her wings reconfiguring into a pair of spirals from her back as they drive her down--
  3064. >ka-THOOM!
  3065. >she makes contact, the gilded metal denting from the force as it ripples through the remaining bodies, throwing them all violently free!
  3066. >the cage crunches into the floorboards and embeds, some of the bars splintering outward from the extreme forces acting on it!
  3067. >you'd like to hope this fight is about done, but overconfidence is a slow but insidious killer
  3068. >so instead, you call Pheme once more, and she leans down to whisper gently in your ear
  3069. >'You've got questions for your sister? As you should, now go knock some sense into her and ask them.'
  3070. >the reassurance reinvigorates you, and though you're feeling tired, you're sure you've nearly put this thing down once and for all
  3071. >you're so distracted by the comfort, though, that you don't notice the tentacle attached to the cage curl around the wounded shambler and hurl it at you
  3072. >you try to dodge, but its pinwheeling limbs manage to connect with your flank
  3073. "Oww, dangit!"
  3074. >you've seen ample proof they're nothing but hollow shells, but they still have enough mass to hurt when they hit you, apparently...
  3075. >luckily, the thing cracks with a sickening sound against the greyscale table and doesn't get up, leaving just the two fresh units in your way
  3076. >and under all the bulk of its shell, it seems like the core itself is weak to being kicked in the face
  3077. >that aside, though, it's the home stretch
  3078. >you just need a little more, you're sure...
  3079. HP: Low
  3080. SP: Extremely Low
  3081. >you reach down without looking and feel two bits, one slightly offset from the other
  3082. >you drop them into your saddlebags, noticing that while one is that now-familiar green color, the other has a symbol of a hammer on it
  3083. >you're pretty sure it has to have a horseshoe to be official Equestrian currency
  3084. >but maybe it's still useful?
  3085.  
  3086. Obtained:
  3087. Green Bit
  3088. Hammer Bit
  3089.  
  3090. >you've got this thing on the ropes
  3091. >you won't let it off that easy, not with the way it's been tormenting your sister
  3092. >as the listless shamblers come trudging towards you, you break into a dash
  3093. >you hop over one of them, landing squarely on the second's back
  3094. >and use it as a springboard to launch for the cage, sailing over the sea of shattered shells!
  3095. >one of the tendrils snaps at you in a grabbing motion, but it's far too slow
  3096. >you land forehooves first on the cage, breaking it wide open with the impact as you hammer its weakness!
  3097. >and inside, you can see a weakened, tired-looking imp in a familiar hat struggling with the controls as it looks over its shoulder at you
  3098. >"Wha-- how?! We are so many, you are so few! You're one of us, a member of the Crew! How c--"
  3099. "Awwww, SHADDAP!"
  3100. >you scream at it, hauling back and decking it across the mouth
  3101. >you see its eyes bulge as you make contact, the crackle of electricity that cloud them dissipating at the first sign of pain
  3102. >and from behind you, you hear the two bodies of the defenders slump to the floor as well, the pain of your blow echoed sympathetically to them
  3103. >you reach down to the dazed creature and shake it awake, still panting heavily from the exhausting fight
  3104. "They ain't here now! An' even if they was, Ah couldn' care less 'bout them, an' their puffed-up opinions a'themselves, or any'a that! Y'all owe me an explanation, an' Ah won't hear otherwise!"
  3105. >you make your demands, and the shellshocked imp nods along, scared to contradict you
  3106. >while this is only an aspect of your sister, it likely has some information you could glean from it
  3107. >do you have some questions you'd like it to address?
  3108. >you can feel something light shift in your saddlebags, but now's not the time to go rutting around in there for it
  3109. >you'll figure out what it is later, probably not important right this second
  3110.  
  3111. Obtained:
  3112. Hammer Bit x2
  3113.  
  3114. "Ah'll start off easy. Why'd ya try'n hide your accent?"
  3115. >you sit down on the side of the busted cage, not letting your guard down completely, but pretty confident if this thing tries any funny business that you can put it back in its place
  3116. >"It's... aberrant. Different. Not what the group desires."
  3117. >the little imp mutters pathetically, pulling the hat over its eyes with a clawed hand
  3118. >you let out a snort of irritation
  3119. "So? Why care what they've got t'say? Ah've never seen you actin' like this... what in the hay happened to ya?"
  3120. >you say that, though as you think on it
  3121. >maybe sometimes you have seen your sister get a bit lost in the weeds over other ponies' expectations
  3122. >like that family reunion, or that whole business with the Miracle Curative... whatever-it-was
  3123. >never to this extent, though, not like this
  3124. "It's one thing t'work together, but ta not even put up a fight? When y'know it's wrong?"
  3125. >the little imp fixes you with a bewildered stare
  3126. >"We help... each other. And anyone who doesn't help us, we hurt. Safety in numbers."
  3127. "But that don't make any sense!"
  3128. >the tiny creature cocks its head to one side in confusion
  3129. "Everypony just cares 'bout themselves, don't they? Mrs. Cake don't give a lick 'bout helpin' me if there's nothin' in it fer her. Neither did Mr. Hubble..."
  3130. >it grumbles back somberly
  3131. >"Doesn't matter. They're who we have. If we all use each other, none can complain when they are used."
  3132. >you bite back the urge to sock this thing again
  3133. >what a pitiful excuse for a group to stay together
  3134. "So what's that make me, chopped liver?"
  3135. >it gives you a grimace as it takes you in
  3136. >"You are one to be protected. The last tie I have to my family. You know this, do you not? Why else would I vouch so hard for your inclusion, fight tooth and nail for you to join? No other kin remain."
  3137. >that thought makes you go spare for a second
  3138. >nopony else... like, not even Granny, or Big Mac? Hayseed? Cousin Brae?
  3139. >but as you try to picture their faces, you realize
  3140. >thinking about them here, it's hard to fully visualize them
  3141. >it's less like you're remembering them, and more like you're imagining what they might look like
  3142. >does this "you" really not know them?
  3143. >that would make your sister's focus on you joining the group make a bit more sense, you suppose
  3144. >but at the same time, the prospect of you being roped into this "for your safety" really chaps your hide
  3145. >especially the things you're apparently willing to do to make it happen, going by all the stuff you found yourself carrying when you arrived tonight
  3146. "So, y'all really thought that article was well, fine an' good? Somethin' to be proud of? You don't mind me hurtin' good ponies if'n it's for this--"
  3147. >"I hate it!"
  3148. >the little creature shrieks suddenly, slamming its fists on the empty cage it's sitting on top of
  3149. >"Of course I do! I want to tear it up, shred it all! To see how we hurt people, all for nothing but pride in a name! I want them to see it's bad!"
  3150. >as it thrashes, you can see its muscles bulge and ripple, the conviction seeming to surge through it in spasms
  3151. >but it calms itself, shrinking back to its pitiful form
  3152. >"...but if I go against them, they will cast me out. Cast US out. Doomed to weakness. Condemned to vulnerability."
  3153. >you think for a moment, looking down at the crumpled metal under its fists
  3154. >despite what it thinks, that looks like pretty strong evidence to the contrary
  3155. >you rub your hoof on your chin
  3156. "But... what'd they even be against?"
  3157. >you ask, your brow furrowing in confusion
  3158. "What does this whole Midnight Crew, uh... do, 'sides drink an' brag 'bout how influential they all are?"
  3159. >the imp starts to answer you with a claw raised
  3160. >only to stumble over their words as they think about it
  3161. >"Er..."
  3162. "Y'all're just lookin' to protect yourselves, ain'tcha? All y'want is to survive."
  3163. >it nods slowly, considering your words with heavy import
  3164. "Then... ain't y'all kinda wastin' the best thing y'all got goin' for ya?"
  3165. >"...?"
  3166. >you look out at the piles of weak, hollow bodies surrounding you
  3167. >the biggest threat was the one pony that had a drive to actually do something
  3168. >imagining how perilous this fight could've been if they'd all been motivated from the start
  3169. >but once away from the group, all they could do was trudge weakly forward
  3170. >if they'd all attacked you with purpose, you'd have been overwhelmed in a heartbeat
  3171. "These ponies yer so scared of kickin' you outta the group... what if y'gave 'em somethin' to work towards? Not jus' some vague purpose, but a goal?"
  3172. >you look over at the imp, and give it a smile
  3173. >"You think... they would accept that? What if it puts some of them in danger?"
  3174. >you roll your eyes and gesture widely at the area around you
  3175. "Y'all are already 'in danger', right? Wouldn't be stickin' together like this if'n ya weren't."
  3176. >you pat the imp gingerly on the back
  3177. "Why not be 'in danger' fer a purpose? An' if ya need some support..."
  3178. >Pheme's glowing wings and a faint outline of her form appear in front of the pair of you
  3179. "Ah c'n help drum some up."
  3180. >you see some strength of conviction come into the imp at your words, its spindly limbs starting to fill out as it ponders the possibility
  3181. >after a long pause, it nods slowly
  3182. >you see it begin to deflate a little a second later
  3183. >"But if I lead them astray--"
  3184. "No buts."
  3185. >you put your hoof over its chest where you figure its heart would be
  3186. "Ah know y'got a good idea of what's right an' what's wrong, if me actin' out gave ya such a conniption. Jus'... don't let me do it again."
  3187. >you pat it once, before hopping off the cage and starting to trot towards the door
  3188. >it nods in quiet contemplation
  3189. >the grey haze that's kept the bar suspended in time seems to be disappearing, the broken bodies shimmering out of existence as ponies in their normal seats start to fade in in their place
  3190. "Ah got somethin' to take care of,"
  3191. >you explain to the imp as you approach the door to the tavern
  3192. "but keep a seat warm for me. Ah'll be back, and when Ah am, we're makin' plans on how t'get everypony on the same page, doin' some good 'round here. Y'hear?"
  3193. >you don't wait for the imp's response before sneaking out
  3194. >but if their growing stature and strength is any indication, when you come back, you'll have more than just watery cider to talk about
  3195.  
  3196.  
  3197.  
  3198. Meanwhile...(?)
  3199. >you are Scootaloo
  3200. >and let's be honest, you're really not liking where this is going
  3201. >you've managed to escape the barracks
  3202. >Rainbow Dash seems to be content to let you get out of here and find this... whoever it is you're looking for
  3203. >or at least, whatever you did to her put her off her guard long enough for you to escape
  3204. >but fighting that thing that came out of her?
  3205. >you don't think you can deal with that again
  3206. >and ever since you've made it to the main hall of this wing, you've been getting... flashes
  3207. >just momentary flickers, but the world will go grey and frozen, like it did when you were fighting Dash
  3208. >and then just as quickly, you'll be back in full color, the sounds of crackling torches and the murmur of guards behind closed doors telling you that time's moving forward again
  3209. >you have to figure if you find whatever is causing it
  3210. >or, as you're beginning to suspect, WHOever is causing it
  3211. >you wouldn't be able to avoid fighting again
  3212. >so, despite what you told yourself about having to talk to someone sometime
  3213. >you've been as sneaky as the circumstances allow
  3214. >not to mention, even if you don't have to deal with the source of the flickering
  3215. >occasionally as you walk by a closed door, you can hear quiet sobbing
  3216. >one time you're pretty sure you heard a muffled scream...
  3217. >getting caught here, especially with the reputation this "you" apparently has, according to Dash, seems like
  3218. >just a TERRIBLE idea
  3219. >you poke your head around a corner, spotting a wider expanse of hallway just past the next little archway landing thing...
  3220. >vestibule?
  3221. >is that what it's called?
  3222. >you weren't paying a lot of attention during the tour of Canterlot Castle that one time
  3223. >you'll worry about architectural terminology later, this looks like it might be a way out of this crazy nightmare place!
  3224. >maybe you can skirt around whatever's making that flickering grey happen
  3225. >oh, horseapples!
  3226. >you duck back into your hiding place, the sound of hoofbeats on carpet so subtle you weren't sure at first that they weren't just your imagination
  3227. >somepony seems to be trotting in quite a hurry out of here
  3228. >hopefully they won't be doing too thorough a patrol, and you can just sneak out after them--
  3229. >TH-THUMP
  3230. >the world ripples as you flinch under the sudden change
  3231. >it only lasts a couple seconds each time, not enough to make a break for it
  3232. >but maybe this is a chance to get a peek at what you're up against before it "manifests"?
  3233. >you poke your head through the doorway cautiously
  3234. >and almost jump out of your skin as a mare with a white coat whips her head around at your hoofstep on the hard stone of the pathway to the barracks!
  3235. >it's followed a half-second later by the sound of something breaking, and an imperious-looking figure crafted from steel and fur taking a defensive stance
  3236. >you duck instinctively into a ready-to-run stance yourself, weighing your odds between bringing Hraesvelgr Ego to bear or making a... break for...
  3237. "...Wait, Sweetie Belle?"
  3238. >you shake your head, clearing out the instinctive fear that crept into you without your noticing
  3239. >"Scootaloo!"
  3240. >Anastasia drops her guard and raises a hand to her chin in contemplation, fading back into the ether as Sweetie's face lights up in relief
  3241. >the pair of you run over to each other, hugging one another tightly as you both start talking at once
  3242. "Oh thank Celestia, you're okay! I just had to fight Rainbow Dash, and--"
  3243. >"Scoots! There you are, I didn't know how to find you or Apple Bloom--"
  3244. "--and she was all wrapped up in this, like, weird servant thing, and this dark shadow--"
  3245. >"--Rarity was here but she's all confused about who she is, like she didn't even know me--"
  3246. "--I think I helped her some but there's this flashing thing going on--"
  3247. >"I had to break a part of her out of these chains--"
  3248. "--and I don't know what it means but the last time it was somepony in trouble--"
  3249. >Sweetie gasps at a sudden epiphany
  3250. >"--what if Apple Bloom's in trouble?"
  3251. >her question cuts off your own rambling
  3252. >oh, that's bad! That's really bad!
  3253. >you and her both had to fight somepony, and you managed well enough
  3254. >Sweetie looks like she just ran a marathon though, even if she isn't too roughed up physically
  3255. >could Bloom be in worse shape?
  3256. >you notice that time seems to have stopped since you and Sweetie locked eyes
  3257. >maybe that means you have some time to get to your farmpony friend before she gets put in danger?
  3258. >but you can't count on that, if both you and Sweetie are able to move freely like this and summon your Personas here
  3259. >you feel a palpable ripple run through the space where you two are standing
  3260. "We have to find her, A.S.A.P."
  3261. >you agree with Belle's implied call to help
  3262. >"Absolutely! And... we should get away from here, I think."
  3263. >she looks over her shoulder, worried
  3264. "Right, we don't know if any other ponies around here could cause trouble for us... Um. Do you know what's up with that flickering thing? You see it too, right?"
  3265. >you ask hesitantly
  3266. >she nods, trotting away from where she came as she talks
  3267. >"There's something burning, back there. Like, a giant plant that caught on fire. I saw it burst into flames just before I had to fight Rarity's shadow, or whatever that was."
  3268. >you feel the tension in your jaw tighten as you look back, some unconscious part of you filling up with equal parts fear and anger
  3269. "I don't like it."
  3270. >you declare flatly, cantering alongside her
  3271. >you think back to what Igor told you...
  3272. >'You would do well to search for those who are restrained by their own trepidation. If you liberate the from the illusions plaguing them, we may in turn answer their desire to affect change.'
  3273. >is that what you were doing with Rainbow Dash?
  3274. >you could definitely call her slavish devotion to her own loyalty a 'trepidation' of sorts...
  3275. >but somehow you don't think that's quite what he and that Velvet Room attendant meant
  3276. >after all, you didn't feel any sort of new ability after you cowed that side of her
  3277. >if the way Sweetie's reacting is any indication, you hope you don't have to deal with what's back there
  3278. >but even if you do, you need to find Apple Bloom first
  3279. >your chances of accomplishing what you're here for go way up with more people working together on it
  3280. >and even if they didn't
  3281. >there's no way you're leaving your friend stranded in a strange place by herself a second longer than you have to
  3282. >as the pair of you make your way out of the entrance hall, you notice the grey beginning to fade, so you step up the pace a bit
  3283. >"Hm..."
  3284. >Sweetie looks around, obviously thinking about something as you stand on the top of the steps leading down into the town proper
  3285. >wow, this really is a sprawling little castle town, huh
  3286. >luckily the guards are still frozen in place, and though you can see a black haze drifting from some of them, it doesn't seem to materialize into anything hostile
  3287. >still, best to be well clear of the castle before whatever it is that's doing this decides to stop
  3288. >"Why did the world do that when we met?"
  3289. >she wonders aloud
  3290. >y'know, that's a good question, actually
  3291. >it was totally the same sensation, but there was no shadow-goo or evil burning plant-room or anything to precipitate it
  3292. >you ponder on it for a moment
  3293. >you might have an idea...
  3294.  
  3295. It's us both being ready to fight something, I think
  3296. It's probably some safety thing, from the Velvet Room?
  3297. >It's the same reason it happened near RD and Rarity, I bet
  3298.  
  3299. "Well... we were both on edge when we found each other,"
  3300. >you volunteer, thinking back to it
  3301. "Maybe it's like those ninja shows, where our 'killing intent' triggered it, or something like that?"
  3302. >Sweetie thinks on it for a second, but seems a little uneasy about the prospect
  3303. >"I guess maybe... I didn't really want to fight, though?"
  3304. >she admits cautiously
  3305. >"I mean, I'll defend myself. I just would rather avoid fighting someone unless we have to, I guess."
  3306. >you nod understandingly, trotting a little closer to her
  3307. >you brush your wing against her side, something Al always did as an affectionate gesture (although he was always a bit rougher when he did it)
  3308. "Well, we won't go looking for any fights, then. Hm... if it's not that..."
  3309. >you ponder on it for a bit as you walk
  3310. >what did you and Sweetie have in common with each other, that you also had in common with Rainbow Dash, and that she had in common with Rarity?
  3311. "When Rainbow Dash cornered me, she had something messing with her head. It was like a Shadow, but different?"
  3312. >"Yeah, same with Rarity... there was a black shadow-lady that came out of her when she got super stressed. I don't know if it counts as a Shadow, but I bet it's related."
  3313. >Igor's words echo in your mind as you ruminate on it
  3314. >'So long as you are a guest of the Velvet Room in this capacity, you shall have the Complex of Ego...'
  3315. >but, he gave you something else, too
  3316. >a card, that when you touched it, reminded you of your Persona?
  3317. >'So long as the world in which you reside lacks a hero able to forge a contract, you will be obliged to stand in their place, with all the rewards and consequences thereof.'
  3318. >Sweetie wasn't there, so you explain what the strange man you talked to had said
  3319. "Have you ever heard of somepony having a 'complex' before? Like, a thing that messes with how someone normally thinks?"
  3320. >you ask
  3321. >"Hmm... I think so! Rarity got really mad at a customer once for spreading rumors about Twilight having some kind of complex about her brother."
  3322. >you frown a little at the idea of someone badmouthing the Princess, but try to focus on the new info instead
  3323. "Well... maybe that's it, then? When I first got the badge part, the person who gave it to me called it a Complex. If what came out of your sister and Rainbow Dash are complexes too, that might be what's happening: when we find a pony with a complex, the world does that weird color-ripple thing."
  3324. >Sweetie scratches her chin as she thinks
  3325. >"It doesn't sound wrong, I guess... I mean, it doesn't matter what it's called, necessarily, right? Just what it winds up doing?"
  3326. >that's a pretty valid point
  3327. >so what can you do with it?
  3328. >you'll have to run some experiments sometime...
  3329. >though, with the way the colors of the world are starting to bleed back in, you're not sure now's the right moment
  3330. >it's something to consider though, that maybe summoning your Persona at the same time as someone else can make this sort of thing happen
  3331. >food for thought...
  3332. >you trot into the main thoroughfare of the town, the wide cobblestone streets branching off at semi-regular intervals
  3333. >judging from the signs hanging over the doors on the side streets, you can hazard a guess that this must be the shopping district?
  3334. >or at least one of them
  3335. >a lot of them seem to be places like jewelry or clothing stores
  3336. >you also spot a few places you'd guess would sell food
  3337. >there's places you'd guess are taverns and inns...
  3338. >it kind of reminds you of some of the pictures of Canterlot you've seen in your history books
  3339. >but even discounting that that was more than a hundred years ago
  3340. >beyond the walls at the edge of the town, you could see a tree line
  3341. >Canterlot's built right into the mountain it rests on, so that's definitely not where you are now
  3342. >you duck down one of the side streets as sound begins to fade back in, signaling the end of your little "break" from normal time flow
  3343. >you don't know how well-known this "you" is, but the last thing you need is to alert the guards and lead them on a chase around town
  3344. >"Hope Apple Bloom's been able to stay safe..."
  3345. >you hear Sweetie say more to herself than you
  3346. "Don't worry, she's tough, not to mention she's pretty smart about this sort of stuff."
  3347. >you say that, but it feels like you're trying to convince yourself almost as much as her
  3348. "If we can both do that persona thing, she probably can too, so she's not exactly defenseless."
  3349. >you pause near an alleyway, debating whether it's safer to be out in the open or skulking around narrow alleys
  3350. >as you mention personas again, something occurs to you
  3351. "Wait... Sweetie?"
  3352. >your brow furrows in confusion
  3353. >"Hmm?"
  3354. >she looks in either direction before following you into the alleyway
  3355. >you hope you're not being followed, but it's good thinking on her part to check
  3356. "When we met, your persona... it wasn't Altair."
  3357. >she gives you a nonplussed stare before she realizes
  3358. >"...Oh! Wait, yours is the same? Hraesvelgr?"
  3359. >she scratches the side of her head as she thinks
  3360. "Well, kind of. It's the same, but different somehow. When I tried to call it the first time, there was something really wrong, but then it changed; I called it 'Hraesvelgr Ego', just felt like that's what it was, ya know?"
  3361. >you shrug
  3362. >you dart through a narrow corridor, but keep an eye on the main street
  3363. >you don't even know for sure where you're going, but there's a familiarity to these back roads that you can't shake
  3364. >Sweetie, on the other hand, looks entirely lost as she follows you
  3365. >"I didn't even really think about it, just, when I needed to defend myself, Anastasia appeared."
  3366. >you look back at her to see an expression of discomfort that you aren't expecting
  3367. >"Wish it wasn't because Rarity was being controlled like that..."
  3368. >you pause to let her catch up, before leaning in closer
  3369. "Do you want to talk about it?"
  3370. >she closes her eyes and touches her forehead lightly against yours, smiling
  3371. >"Not yet... let's find Apple Bloom, first. But, yeah. When we can."
  3372. >you smile back, still a little concerned but willing to trust her judgement
  3373. >she gives a little nudge, and the two of you get walking again
  3374. >but this place is BIG
  3375. >even bigger than you gave it credit for, looking down from the castle's steps
  3376. >if you wander around these streets just looking for fillies with bows in their hair, you'll probably be here for a while
  3377. >any ideas on how to find your friend a little faster...?
  3378. >let's see... you could try to send out some kind of signal?
  3379. >this definitely counts as a Code Red, immediate emergency meeting status
  3380. >maybe you could set off a firework, or get some sort of symbol in the air?
  3381. >there's some cloud cover you could project it onto, if you got that going...
  3382. "Hmm."
  3383. >"Everything okay, Scootaloo?"
  3384. >Sweetie asks as you ruffle your own mane in thought
  3385. "Oh, just... trying to think if there's a faster way to get Apple Bloom's attention, is all."
  3386. >you explain to her, still looking up at the patchwork of clouds
  3387. >Sweetie looks up too, and you hear her let out a small "hmmm" as well
  3388. >there's a glimmer of a good idea to be had up there, you bet
  3389. >...and speaking of glimmers
  3390. >you step under a nearby streetlight, the closest you can really get to a lightbulb around here
  3391. >sure, it's a candle rather than an electrical bulb, but hey, maybe it'll...
  3392. >shed some light on the situation?
  3393. >eh? Ehhhhh?
  3394. >...no?
  3395. >"Any bright ideas?"
  3396. >Sweetie asks with a slightly tired-looking smile
  3397. >you snicker at the pun and shake your head
  3398. "Nah, don't let me sit under here too long or I'll start to wax philosophical."
  3399. >Sweetie rolls her eyes, but giggles as well
  3400. >"Don't do that, Scoots, or I'll be at my wick's end!"
  3401. >the two of you laugh at your dumb puns, some of the tension of the night ebbing away
  3402. >you let your thoughts turn away from more lamp-related jokes and think some more
  3403. >well, when you got to this world you were in sort of a strange place, but you were nearby Rainbow Dash
  3404. >and Belle wasn't THAT far from Rarity
  3405. >maybe Bloom wound up somewhere near where her sister was, too?
  3406. >on the one hand, if you and Sweetie both had to fight, that might mean she did too
  3407. >on the other, it's hard to imagine Applejack NOT having something to do with apples, regardless of what else might've happened
  3408. >so, where would you find apples in a town like this?
  3409. >you're already in the shopping district, maybe there's some restaurants or a fruit market nearby
  3410. >a memory you don't recognize, like some uncanny deja vu, helpfully informs you that most of the fruit stalls and the like are located closer to the city walls
  3411. >"What're you thinking?"
  3412. >you change directions slightly as you take point again, following a path that leads you further from the main thoroughfare
  3413. "Well, if we want to find Apple Bloom, I bet her sister knows where she might be. And..."
  3414. >you don't know what to call the strange instinctive memory
  3415. "...I guess it's just a hunch? But I think I know the sort of place Applejack would hang out."
  3416. >"That makes sense! Even a hunch beats what I've got, this whole place just feels weird to me, and... I don't know, dirty?"
  3417. >she tries to put it into words, but you can tell she's not satisfied with how they came out
  3418. >maybe she's got the same feelings as you do about this, just from a different perspective...
  3419. >you trot in silence for a bit as the fancy, snooty shops start to give way to more utilitarian stores
  3420. >blacksmiths, leatherworkers, potionmakers...
  3421. >the further you get from the high-class shops, the stronger your sense of familiarity
  3422. >you round a corner and come to a wide section of vacant space, even the cobblestones giving way to hoof-worn paths and dirt
  3423. >the little lot is ringed on all sides by multi-story buildings with windows looking out over the square
  3424. >and as you set foot in the square, you feel a faint
  3425. >TH-THUMP
  3426. >against your chest
  3427. >it causes both you and Sweetie Belle to flinch and look at each other for confirmation, but there's no wash of colorless time-stop yet
  3428. >still... does that mean what you think it does?
  3429. >could it be reacting to somepony nearby, ready to fight you or with some sort of complex attached to them?
  3430. >you might attract a bit of trouble if you call attention to yourselves here
  3431. >but it might save you the trouble of searching, too
  3432. >or maybe just stand your ground? If you wind up facing something you need your Personas for, it'll be two on one, at least
  3433. >Sweetie seems to be eying a narrow spot between two buildings, if you choose the sneaky route, but she gives you a resolute nod
  3434. >she doesn't say it out loud, but you read her loud and clear:
  3435. >'Crusaders stick together no matter what.'
  3436. >what do you plan to do?
  3437.  
  3438. Signal; if it's friendly, you'll get their attention, and if not they'll know you're bold enough to do it anyway
  3439. Hide; you can always pop out later if they're friendly, and you'll have the element of surprise if you have to fight
  3440. >Hold; you might be able to handle things diplomatically in the open, and a little courage can go a long way sometimes
  3441.  
  3442. >you know what?
  3443. >you've run far enough, you think
  3444. >and what were you just telling yourself, about how you're going to have to talk to somepony sometime
  3445. >what better time than now?
  3446. >so you take a stance that's almost aggressively casual, open but very clearly not shying away
  3447. >in almost no time at all, you can hear hooffalls on the stone streets, and you clear your throat a little to let whoever's coming know that you're there
  3448. >the steps stop, and you can hear two voices talking in hushed whispers from around the corner
  3449. "Um, hello? Anypony there?"
  3450. >you ask hesitantly, approaching the path you think they're coming from
  3451. >you strain your ears to listen for what they might be saying
  3452. >"...ne of yours? I can..."
  3453. >"...talk to her. If I need you I'll..."
  3454. >you hear one pony trot forward cautiously, a cotton-candy pink mane and purple coat covered by a worn green shawl--
  3455. >oh!
  3456. "Ms. Cheerilee!"
  3457. >you smile excitedly as she shows herself, the mare's tired eyes crinkling up in a smile as she recognizes you
  3458. >"Ah, Scootaloo! Now what are you doing out this late, you silly filly?"
  3459. >she chides you gently, but it's hard for you to be anything but glad to see a friendly face
  3460. >you gesture over your shoulder towards Sweetie, who gives a friendly wave as well
  3461. "I'm just, you know, hanging out with my friends..."
  3462. >you answer noncommittally
  3463. >your homeroom teacher gives Belle a polite nod and even a small bow, as you see the second pony she must've been talking to step out from the side street as well
  3464. >"Ah, a new face! Nice to meet you, did you come to Hypnos recently, or...?"
  3465. >Ms. Cheerilee asks of Sweetie
  3466. >you can see her face start to twist up in surprise, but she recovers quickly and clears her throat
  3467. >"Oh, yes, very recently actually, I came to, er... visit family!"
  3468. >Sweetie explains, as you back up a bit to stand next to her
  3469. >you brush your wing against her side again, subtly, without breaking eye contact with your teacher
  3470. >"Ah, well, if you wind up in Scootaloo's class, I look forward to having another new student. And if not, I do hope your time here is a lovely one."
  3471. >she says, though something about the tone rings a little hollow
  3472. >"Oh, me too! I'm sure it'll be lovely..."
  3473. >Sweetie answers back cautiously, doing her best to avoid committing to anything too strongly
  3474. "Say, Ms. Cheerilee, you haven't seen Apple Bloom around, have you?"
  3475. >you clear your throat, trying to guide the conversation away from questions about your unicorn pal
  3476. >at this, the mare behind her steps forward a bit, wrapping her hoof good-naturedly around Cheerilee's neck
  3477. >"Apple Bloom, Apple Bloom... oh, is that that one filly? Red bow, kind of quiet? Why, she friends with you?"
  3478. >she asks casually, and you nod
  3479. "Yeah! Did you see her tonight?"
  3480. >Cheers shoots a glare at the other mare, and you hear her say softly
  3481. >"Pinot, don't."
  3482. >she turns back to you with a look that's more serious than you think you've ever seen on her
  3483. >"I can't say we have, no. And between the four of us, I think it's a bit late to be visiting... other ponies."
  3484. >she looks up at the skyline, scanning it for a brief second
  3485. >"After all, you know curfew is coming up soon, don't you?"
  3486. >both you and Sweetie nod slowly
  3487. >you have to admit, you're a little distracted
  3488. >with your teacher focused on talking to you, Pinot's expression turns absolutely sour, in a way that sends a slight chill up your spine
  3489. "W-we'll be home well before then."
  3490. >you stammer slightly, but turn your attention back to Ms. Cheerilee, who gives a stoic nod
  3491. >"Please do. The guards can be rather strict,"
  3492. >she says quietly, giving you a meaningful look and gesturing you a bit closer
  3493. >you reluctantly step forward away from Belle as Cheerilee leans down and whispers softly
  3494. >"You're sure you... have someplace, tonight? You trust this filly?"
  3495. >you feel a wash of heat, a mix between embarrassment and shame, flood through you at what you think she's implying, but you just nod
  3496. >"Okay."
  3497. >she lets you step back, and you fall back into line with Sweetie, still blushing a bit
  3498. >you do your best to keep your face neutral, but going by how her own expression hardens, you probably flubbed the stoic look
  3499. >"Er... if we're going to make it in time, we'd better leave now, right Scootaloo?"
  3500. >she volunteers
  3501. >you nod, not feeling comfortable meeting your teacher's eyes and flatly not wanting to meet this Pinot pony's
  3502. >but as they trot past you, headed for another part of the castle town, you hear the mare with the grape cutie mark say over her shoulder
  3503. >"Toodle-loo, girls! Don't have too much fun and lose track of time!"
  3504. >you take a deep breath to try and calm yourself down, as you and Sweetie Belle slink further into the back alleys...
  3505.  
  3506. >"She gives me the creeps..."
  3507. >Sweetie waits until the two of you are well and clear of your teacher and her guest before she says anything
  3508. >it's rare that Belle has anything mean to say about anypony under normal circumstances
  3509. >but she can't help looking over her shoulder to make sure, regardless
  3510. >you don't blame her
  3511. >personally you couldn't get away from that conversation fast enough, though for very different reasons
  3512. >Al was never the most attentive of stallions, but he's not leaving you out in the cold at night!
  3513. >worst case scenario, you just call Harry--
  3514. >ugh-- wait--
  3515. >you frown as you realize you're getting your wires crossed
  3516. >if Al's as much of a schmuck here as he is back home, Cheerilee might be right to worry about you not being able to get into the house sometimes
  3517. >...it still doesn't sit well with you though, you don't like ponies fretting over you like that
  3518. >you're a big mare, you can take care of--
  3519. >you jump as you feel Sweetie's head nuzzle against your neck
  3520. >"Scoots."
  3521. >her tone is calm and sweet, but firm at the same time
  3522. >"Talk to me."
  3523. >you sigh in irritation
  3524. >great, now she's worrying about you too
  3525. >the pair of you continue to walk, but you slow your pace a little, trying to gather up your thoughts
  3526. "Sorry. Just, Ms. Cheerilee said something about having a place to sleep, and I guess it... bugged me."
  3527. >you grumble
  3528. >"...Oh..."
  3529. >she gives that time to settle as she considers it
  3530. "I mean, it's dumb to be upset about it, and I know that. For all I know, Al really is leaving me locked out still, and it's not impossible she could've found out about it."
  3531. >you brush it off as casually as you can, turning down another dark alleyway
  3532. >the places are starting to get downright grungy now, with the stores and shops turning into tiny two-levels sporting old, rickety signs for food or drink
  3533. >"If he's here."
  3534. >Sweetie volunteers sadly
  3535. "Huh?"
  3536. >she thinks for a second before looking you in the eye
  3537. >"Rarity said she was still a little filly when she started working in the castle. I thought she was just confused or that they'd done something, but what if she really did?"
  3538. >you frown, not fully understanding
  3539. >"I woke up in a fancy room in the castle, decorated like I was princess for a day. And I know that before we got here, we were in that dark room. But... I can kind of remember before then, too? I remember getting invited to come to the castle in a letter, and it wasn't Rarity's first time meeting me."
  3540. "So...?"
  3541. >TH-THUMP
  3542. >"So she don't think we just popped outta thin air."
  3543. >you suppress a full on scream as somepony trots out on unsteady hooves
  3544. >the color trickles out of the narrow street as the pair of you turn to see--
  3545. >"Apple Bloom!"
  3546. "Apple Bloom!"
  3547. >you run over and hug her along with Sweetie, the three of you reunited at last
  3548. >it's hard not to notice that she's looking pretty banged up, and more than a little tired
  3549. >you look her all over for any glaring injuries, but from the looks of things she's just generally roughed up, with no single critical injury you can even try to take care of
  3550. >still, she hugs you back, her face splitting into a huge grin as she giggles happily
  3551. >"Oh girls! Ah've been lookin' for ya as quick as Ah could!"
  3552. "Same here, oh, thank Celestia! We've been trying to figure out how to get your attention without, y'know, getting everypony else's at the same time..."
  3553. >she lets out a sigh of relief, looking behind her in the direction she'd come
  3554. >"Looks like Ah made the right call, then, was fixin' t'ask a favor of somepony if'n Ah couldn't find ya soon but Ah wasn't quite lookin' forward to it."
  3555. >the three of you let go of each other, reluctantly, as you circle up to talk
  3556. >"Oh, we were so worried! Scoots and I wound up way back in the... castle..."
  3557. >Sweetie gestures back to where you two had come from
  3558. >you turn to look as well, the sensation of being stuck in time becoming more familiar to you
  3559. >...!
  3560. >the castle rises above the town that surrounds it, the grim and brutal architecture creating an imposing silhouette against the night sky
  3561. >but its blackened form isn't what caught your eye
  3562. >from near the back of the castle, you can see some of the towers illuminated in orange
  3563. >a pillar of gold-and-red fire, whirling in a concentrated tornado, rages wildly as it climbs into the sky, the clouds around it growing black as the tongues of flame lick at them like burning cotton!
  3564. >you think you can see a dark outline in the clouds above, but they're so blackened by the fire itself that you can't see much more than an enormous, vague outline
  3565. >within the pillar, though, you can see the faint outline of something brighter, a shining figure flickering amidst the fiery hurricane
  3566. >it's too far to make out what it could be from here, but judging by how you have to fight the instinct to hide when you look at it
  3567. >maybe it's for the best you can't see every minute detail...
  3568. >"Y'all came from... there?"
  3569. >Apple Bloom asks hesitantly
  3570. >"...Don't do nothin' by half-measures, huh?"
  3571. >you sputter a little at the implication she's making
  3572. "Wh-- no! We didn't do that!"
  3573. >you look over at Sweetie for confirmation
  3574. "I mean, we didn't, right? That shadow... complex... thing, it breathed fire on me but it didn't freaking explode!"
  3575. >she shakes her head, agreeing there's no way you two caused it
  3576. >"There was that plant I mentioned, remember? I thought it was just the room that caught on fire, but..."
  3577. >the three of you watch for a moment in awe
  3578. >"We don't... have to fight whatever's making that, I hope."
  3579. >Belle bites her lip, concerned at the idea of going all the way back to deal with it
  3580. >"Ah sure ain't in any kinda shape to fight much of anythin', right now..."
  3581. >Bloom agrees
  3582. >you think back again to what you were told in that space between worlds...
  3583. >'This, then, is the 「burden」 which is inextricable from your task.'
  3584. >'Once conferred to a resident of that existence, you will be relieved of said burden, and thus able to freely move between realities.'
  3585. "If I had to guess? That's why this place needs a hero."
  3586. >you say
  3587. >"Ah don't envy whoever they wind up bein', that's a pretty tall order..."
  3588. >"True, but before we go looking for them, um... could we take a rest real quick?"
  3589. >Sweetie asks
  3590. >Apple Bloom looks supremely grateful, and you have to agree
  3591. >it seems like all three of you need a moment to recover, whether from a grueling fight, a difficult situation, or too many thoughts rattling around your head
  3592. >your instincts say there's a small public fountain not too far away
  3593. >it's remote enough nopony outside those living in the neighborhood would visit it
  3594. >it's also secluded enough that you'll be able to hear anypony approaching and escape well before they can spot you
  3595. "I think I know of a place."
  3596. >you volunteer, taking point once again
  3597. >you trot through the now-silent streets once more, now so deep into the residential district that even the streetlights are few and far between...
  3598.  
  3599. >you arrive at the small... park?
  3600. >you've never seen a park with no trees, but it has benches and a decorated fountain
  3601. >whatever you call it, it has an air of safety to it
  3602. >how much of that is the place itself, and how much is your unnamed hunches, you're not sure
  3603. >but as the three of you sit down on one of the benches, you marvel at how much running you've been doing lately
  3604. >"Whew! Good call, Scootaloo!"
  3605. >"Yeah, thanks for taking the lead, Scoots."
  3606. "Well, don't thank me just yet, this is just a good place to take a second to breathe. Wish we had something to actually heal us up, but all I've got is..."
  3607. >you dig around your saddlebags
  3608. >...?
  3609. >huh, you were in such a hurry to get to the Apple Family Farm this morning, you didn't even empty the candy out of them
  3610. >but y'know, looking at it now, this wouldn't make a bad pick-me-up!
  3611. "...actually, maybe a snack would be good right about now?"
  3612. >you volunteer, shaking a few pieces out
  3613. >"Ooh! Hold on, I have some too!"
  3614. >Sweetie volunteers, rifling through her own bags
  3615. >you see Apple Bloom go for hers as well, scooping a few strangely-colored coins out of her bag as she does
  3616. "Wow, what're those?"
  3617. >you point to them, as Bloom looks up from her search
  3618. >"Oh, those? Couldn't tell ya, Ah found a bunch of 'em while Ah was fightin' with Applejack."
  3619. >she pauses, thinking about it
  3620. >"Well, not Applejack 'zactly, but y'all know what Ah mean."
  3621. >"Oh, I got a couple too!"
  3622. >Sweetie pulls out a few coins of her own, all colored white
  3623. >hmm...
  3624. "First time I've seen one..."
  3625. >you pass Belle your Chuckles Bar and scoot Bloom a couple of the fun-sized pieces like the Mercury Bar and Mega-Snap
  3626. >you unwrap a Ms. Greatbar for yourself, the mix of salty peanut and sweet chocolate melding perfectly on your tongue
  3627. >the sugar rush and memories of the time you had collecting it...
  3628. >you feel a bit more revitalized as you chew!
  3629. >but it feels weird to sit here eating in silence, especially now that you're finally all back together again
  3630. >between the three of you, maybe you can put your heads together and figure some things out...
  3631. >what would you like to discuss?
  3632.  
  3633. These weird coins Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom found
  3634. Where you all wound up, physically or metaphysically
  3635. The citizens of Hypnos, including yourselves
  3636. Who and what you're fighting when this time-stop happens
  3637. Something else
  3638. We're all fine here, now, thank you
  3639. >All of the above
  3640. >also, whether or not we might've been unintentionally creating heroes with our fights
  3641.  
  3642. >you might as well start with the most immediate subject
  3643. >you pick up the coins Belle and Bloom had collected, examining one of each
  3644. >they look to be made out of pretty standard metal
  3645. >Apple Bloom bites one cautiously, testing the hardness
  3646. >"Hmm... well, other'n bein' colored different, they seem 'bout normal?"
  3647. >she winces a little, rubbing one side of her jaw
  3648. >"Well... those ones, maybe, but look at this one."
  3649. >Sweetie magics one up for all of you to see
  3650. >it had originally been in Apple Bloom's bags, and it has a simplified design meant to resemble a hammer on one side
  3651. >"Oh right, Ah noticed that. When Mac left me in charge'a the till at the open-air fair, he told me t'call him if anypony tried to pay with coins what didn't have a horseshoe on 'em. Ah'm guessin' these ain't "real" currency, then?"
  3652. >you nod, flipping it over and looking at the back of a white one
  3653. "Yeah, you gals said they only showed up when you were fighting, right? They probably don't spend for much here, either, if we can get to them at all outside of this grey world... oh, wait!"
  3654. >you lift the coin at just the right angle to catch the light from Sweetie's horn as she levitates the one she's looking at
  3655. >sure enough, it's hard to see, but there's some sort of symbol there!
  3656. >looks like it's just a little more smooth and polished than the rest of the coin face...
  3657. >you've got no idea what it might mean, though, it looks like some crazy combination of circles, loops, and crosses
  3658. >still, you show it to your friends, with Sweetie's help especially
  3659. >"Huh... well, Ah can safely promise Ah've never seen a mark like that, here or anywhere else."
  3660. >Apple Bloom nods sagely
  3661. "Er... are we sure? I don't know about you two, but I never bought anything here. It seems unlikely, but I guess they could just have really weird coins in this town?"
  3662. >Sweetie seems to agree with you, but Apple Bloom scratches her chin for a second and shakes her head to disagree
  3663. >"Nah, when that pony bought drinks for the table, she paid in regular ol' bits. Or, well, close enough to 'em that Ah couldn't see much difference; they were halfway 'cross the room at the time."
  3664. >you let out a small 'hmm', but Sweetie's obviously distracted by something
  3665. >"Wait, drinks for the table, like, soda and juice, or..."
  3666. >you see Apple Bloom's whole face scrunch up at the memory
  3667. >"Nuh-uh, it was hard cider. But if you're worried, don't be, Ah didn't have more'n a couple swigs, thankfully. Ah don't think I'm much of a hard cider mare anyhow, an' even if Ah were, this tasted like they made it outta crabapples an' dishwater..."
  3668. >she sticks out her tongue in disgust, and you can't help but chuckle
  3669. >"And they just let you? Nopony thought that was weird?"
  3670. >"Nopony 'sides me, Ah guess. Then again, that whole place was loopier'n a rollercoaster, so Ah couldn't tell ya if that's really the norm."
  3671. >she grumbles a little
  3672. "Oh, right, this place! We just ran into Ms. Cheerilee and her... sister?"
  3673. >you look over at Sweetie for confirmation, who nods hesitantly, taking another bite of the full-size candy bar she's munching on
  3674. "And they called this town Hypnos. That was the name in that article, right? So we're for sure in the same place where the article was written, I guess."
  3675. >"Yeah! But okay, so hold on then: 'Gabby Gums' was talking about stuff going on here, but where is 'here' in relation to Ponyville?"
  3676. >the three of you think for a bit, Apple Bloom pulling out a box of Dweebs and crunching on a few of them idly
  3677. "Well... from what I got told, we're helping ponies in some weird what-if, didn't-really-happen world? The folks who told me weren't super clear, but they made it sound like it wasn't just someplace far away. Maybe it's like, if something different had happened in the past, our world would be like this."
  3678. >"...Oh! Ah got it!"
  3679. >your earth pony friend clops her hooves together, accidentally spilling a couple of the hard candies on the ground in her excitement
  3680. >"Mah article was talkin' all 'bout how Ms. Cheerilee was teachin' stuff that was common sense, right? Plants need sun t'grow, an' such? Like it was real controversial."
  3681. >Sweetie agrees as you blink at the sudden revelation
  3682. >"Well, Ah remember somepony who wanted the night t'last forever, not s'long ago... maybe this is what would'a happened if Princess Twilight hadn't done nothin' to stop Princess Luna when she first came back!"
  3683. >you look over at Sweetie to see if she caught it
  3684. "What do you mea--"
  3685. >"I don't think so... at least, not quite? Apple Bloom, my own sister didn't recognize me. And I don't know if this 'me' recognized her, either."
  3686. >she says seriously
  3687. >you hold up your hooves in a T-sign
  3688. "Whoa, whoa, wait, back up, what do you mean by 'this you'? And what do you mean by 'your article'?"
  3689. >you look between your friends, Sweetie offering you a Suc-Pop that you pop in your mouth while you listen
  3690. >"Right, sorry, I was trying to explain it before: I think we didn't just drop into this world, Scoots. We jumped into the 'us' who was already here, in the middle of whatever 'we' were doing."
  3691. "W-wait... huh?"
  3692. >Apple Bloom shakes the last few Dweebs from their cardboard box before throwing it across the stone walkway and into a trash can
  3693. >"Shcootsh, schinsh you were dealin' wif-- 'scuse me, since we first showed up here, have you gotten any weird feelings that ya didn't know where they came from?"
  3694. >you think about it and pull the lollipop out of your mouth to speak
  3695. "Yeah... when I got us here, it was like I knew this place like the back of my hand."
  3696. >you feel a dull throb in the base of your skull that reminds you as well
  3697. "Oh, right, and when I was fighting Rainbow Dash, that whole thing with my Persona... that sucked."
  3698. >you wince, rubbing the back of your head
  3699. >when you look up, both of your friends have a concerned look on their faces
  3700. >"Persona thing?"
  3701. >Sweetie asks
  3702. "Yeah, I tried to summon Hraesvelgr when that monster first came out of Dash, and it came out, um."
  3703. >you have a brief flash of the twisted, burning hunk of metal lying wounded in front of you
  3704. "Less than good. Like, almost-split-my-head-open less than good. I guess it had to change, or something? It turned into Hraesvelgr Ego afterwards, but it was like it was reacting to Rainbow Dash."
  3705. >"That's... more'n passin' strange."
  3706. >Bloom comments, pursing her lips as she thinks
  3707. >"Ah wanna talk 'bout that in a sec, but if what Sweetie'n Ah think is right, 'fore we jumped through that picture, the ponies we are right now were doin' their own things; we c'n remember stuff from them, kind of, though Ah had to play a bit of detective t'figure out what 'Ah' was up to."
  3708. >she looks a little embarrassed, but she looks you in the eye as she announces
  3709. >"Turns out, Ah was Gabby Gums. This me, anyhow. Ain't proud of it, but that's the truth of it. So.. sorry, on mah own behalf."
  3710. >she says slightly awkwardly
  3711. "That's... way too wild,"
  3712. >you say, still in awe that Bloom and Belle picked up on this so easy
  3713. >your head's still kind of spinning from the idea, though it does make a lot of those weird hunches and instincts make sense
  3714. "Oh! Um, not that you need to apologize for it, I mean it's not you-you that did it, just... a you?"
  3715. >you try to explain
  3716. >"Especially since I think this 'you' is more different from our 'you' than you're giving her credit for."
  3717. >"Huh?"
  3718. >Apple Bloom asks
  3719. >"Well, we all met just a few weeks after Princess Twilight and everyone fought Nightmare Moon. But Rarity didn't even know who I was? And this me didn't know her either?"
  3720. >she looks at you and Apple Bloom in turn
  3721. >"I know it's not fun, digging through our memories, but... do the 'yous' we are right now remember a time when Nightmare Moon wasn't the ruler?"
  3722. >you close your eyes and think about it, asking yourself to picture a time before Nightmare Moon was around
  3723. >the response you get is... confusion?
  3724. >it's like you're asking yourself how much a mile weighs
  3725. >what your hunch says is: Nightmare Moon has been the undisputed ruler for forever
  3726. >maybe not since time began, but as far back as anyone cares to even imagine, never mind recall
  3727. >your eyes snap open, and you look to Bloom to see a similar thought crossing her mind
  3728. >"A thousand years."
  3729. >Sweetie says it in a breathless voice like she has trouble believing the idea herself, even if she's the one that came up with it
  3730. >"I bet there were plenty of castles a thousand years ago, and if Canterlot was Princess Celestia's favorite, I bet this was Princess Luna's."
  3731. >"We ain't in a world where Princess Twilight lost..."
  3732. "Princess Celestia did."
  3733. >holy smokes
  3734. >you don't like to imagine how different the world would be if Princess Celestia hadn't been around to keep Equestria safe for all those years
  3735. >not that you have to imagine, anymore
  3736. >Princess Luna
  3737. >no
  3738. >Nightmare Moon is the undisputed ruler of Equestria, here?
  3739. "Of course the ponies in this timeline need help, getting the courage up to be a hero around here."
  3740. >you remark quietly
  3741. >"No kiddin'... mah sister 'bout tied herself in knots tryin' t'avoid gettin' on anypony's bad side, an' I bet if'n she did she'd be answerin' ta the Mare in the Moon herself."
  3742. >"Rarity gave up her freedom to keep her family safe, including this me. It's not like fighting was an option, to her."
  3743. >you nod
  3744. >given the alternative, who wouldn't?
  3745. >well... you
  3746. >this you wouldn't, now would she?
  3747. >after all, what family does she need to keep safe? What does she have to lose?
  3748. "...no wonder."
  3749. >you look up with a newfound grit and determination
  3750. "We have to find whoever it is that's going to be the hero around here."
  3751. >you stick the lollipop back in your mouth, biting down with a crunch
  3752. >...ooh, there's gum at the center!
  3753. >"Well sure, but--"
  3754. >"Hoooold on a sec, 'fore we let ourselves get all sidetracked, Scoots. Tell us 'bout your Persona."
  3755. >you shrug, figuring you're all going to talk about everything anyway
  3756. "Right, I mean, when I first got here, I had to fight Rainbow Dash's shadow-thing. Complex?"
  3757. >"Sounds good enough for me. Go on?"
  3758. "And when I did, I tried to summon my Persona, but like I said, it came out wrong. So I had to, I dunno, choose how I thought of Rainbow Dash? It wasn't super clear, but I picked the Rainbow Dash I know."
  3759. >Bloom frowns at that
  3760. "Why, what'd you girls choose?"
  3761. >"Nothin', that's what's botherin' me. Ah didn't get a choice, Pheme just appeared for me like she'd always been there."
  3762. >"Same with Anastasia, it just sort of came from me when I needed help..."
  3763. >well that's a little worrying
  3764. >you didn't screw something up by choosing wrong, did you?
  3765. >you managed just fine against RD's complex, so you don't think so
  3766. >but it's bizarre, to be sure
  3767. "You don't think I messed up, do you?"
  3768. >you ask
  3769. >neither of your friends seem to know for sure, but Apple Bloom pats you on the back reassuringly
  3770. >"Ah can't imagine so, nah. It's still your Persona, an' it still helped you beat back that complex thing, so it prolly ain't bad."
  3771. >"Oh, right!"
  3772. >Sweetie Belle unwraps a Fruit-by-the-Meter Rollup, munching on a little bit of the ribbon-like candy as she talks
  3773. >"So, I had to fight Rarity's complex. Not very fun. But, um... when I beat her, I kind of took the time to talk to her. It? Her?"
  3774. >her too, huh?
  3775. "Same, seeing Rainbow Dash act like that just... ugh, I couldn't help it, I had to say something!"
  3776. >"Looks like we're three fer three, then, Applejack needed somepony to tell her what she needed to hear."
  3777. >Belle takes another bite of fruit strip before continuing
  3778. >"Do you think what we said got through to them, at all? Maybe they'll change and become heroes in their own right, or something?"
  3779. >you shake your head
  3780. "Maybe, but I don't think this Dash would be willing to do anything on her own, even after what I said to her."
  3781. >you chew on the gum at the center of your lollipop
  3782. >it loses its flavor awfully quick...
  3783. "Like I said, I think that's who we have to find. A pony who'd stand up to anyone and do anything they had to, if they weren't dealing with their complex."
  3784. >...
  3785. >you take a moment to consider:
  3786. >is there somepony you believe to be a good candidate for the role of hero?
  3787. >a rebellious soul who would be willing to stand against all odds, alone if need be, against the oppression of somepony like Nightmare Moon?
  3788.  
  3789. >hmm...
  3790. "What about Ms. Cheerilee? She wanted to look after me, even while she's dealing with the whole... y'know."
  3791. >you meet Apple Bloom's eyes and she gives you a nod that you interpret as
  3792. >'yeah, that's fair'
  3793. >"Well, I guess it couldn't hurt to check, right? But we just ran into her; wouldn't her complex have gone all crazy, if she had one?"
  3794. >"Not necessarily, Ah was talkin' ta Applejack for a while 'fore hers manifested, so maybe it's only when it affects somepony that it comes out."
  3795. >that's true, from what Sweetie's said, it was only when her sister realized they were related that she had to fight
  3796. >and as for Rainbow Dash...
  3797. >you're pretty sure she was going to fight you no matter what you said, but it wasn't until you argued with her that the armored complex came out of her
  3798. >so, maybe you could track her down still, talk to her and try to draw the complex out of her?
  3799. >it's certainly an idea
  3800. >though, you did have another one
  3801. >you doubt Apple Bloom will like it, but it's worth considering nonetheless
  3802. >in the play that Princess Twilight helped put on, you saw a certain someone play a pretty heroic role
  3803. >it's not like he'd be TOTALLY opposed, right?
  3804. "I... did have one other idea, too."
  3805. >"Well, lay it on us! Doubt we c'n afford ta be picky right 'bout now."
  3806. >"Yeah, anything's worth considering, right?"
  3807. >you look at Belle and then at Bloom
  3808. "What about... Discord?"
  3809. >as you kind of expected, Apple Bloom frowns at the mention of his name
  3810. >Sweetie doesn't dismiss it out of turn, though
  3811. >"Hm... would he be around here? I guess somepony could have set him free, but things do seem awfully calm to have a draconequus nearby."
  3812. >that's a pretty valid point
  3813. >"Settin' aside how Ah feel 'bout the idea of askin' him to help... he's a pretty smart, fer bein' crazier'n a soup sandwich. If he was around, Ah doubt he'd just announce himself. That bein' said, though, it is hard picturin' him havin' any hangups about causing chaos."
  3814. >that's... very true, too
  3815. "What about you, girls? Anypony come to mind?"
  3816. >Apple Bloom shakes her head
  3817. >"Ah can't think of anypony in town Ah'd name as a 'rebel', an' Ah don't know who all'd even be available to pick from if Ah did. If Nightmare Moon's been 'round a thousand years, who even knows if somepony without family in the area'd be here? Would Twilight? Or Ms. Gilda?"
  3818. >Sweetie's eyes squint as she runs through who all might be a good candidate
  3819. >"...What about Zecora? She was a traveler before she settled down in the Everfree Forest, so it's possible she'd be around, at least. There's still so much we don't know, this is a tough question..."
  3820. >you think for a moment more, blowing a bubble with your gum as the three of you consider your options
  3821. >"Well, we got a short list, at least. We could always think 'bout it more while we get on our way to tryin' one of em?"
  3822. >Apple Bloom suggests
  3823. >she's got a point
  3824. >no reason not to multitask, especially since you're still technically in this frozen time bubble thing
  3825. >"Who do you think we should try first, then?"
  3826. >both Belle and Bloom look to you
  3827. "Wait, why am I the leader?"
  3828. >Apple Bloom giggles lightly
  3829. >"Ah dunno, ya got us to someplace safe, didn't ya? An' you seem t'be comin' up with other good ideas, anyhow."
  3830. >"Yeah! Besides, you know the most about what we're doing here. We're still a team, but sometimes it helps to have a leader, and I vote you."
  3831. >"Seconded!"
  3832. >well
  3833. >looks like you get to choose, then
  3834. >you have a few leads you can run down...
  3835. >which do you want to check first?
  3836.  
  3837. track down Cheerilee, the unflinching educator
  3838. >try to summon Discord, the embodiment of chaos
  3839. search for Zecora, the sage wanderer
  3840. suggest someone else
  3841.  
  3842. "...Let's try Discord first."
  3843. >you give it some careful consideration, but this seems like the right move, right?
  3844. >an agent of pure chaos against the iron hoof of somepony like Nightmare Moon?
  3845. >you could see it happening
  3846. >"If'n ya say so, Ah guess. How should we try an' find him, though?"
  3847. >Apple Bloom seems to be committed to helping you out, even though she's obviously not too wild about the old draconequus
  3848. "Well, we could try the castle's garden, right?"
  3849. >you suggest
  3850. "He was on display in that hedge maze when we found him in our world, right?"
  3851. >"Well, that is true... maybe Nightmare Moon had him moved here from wherever he got turned into stone?"
  3852. >"If she was lookin' t'keep an eye on 'im and add insult ta injury, turnin' 'im into a glorified lawn ornament mighta done the trick."
  3853. >you nod in agreement, trotting towards the exit that your instinct tells you leads most directly towards the castle
  3854. >"'Fore we go chargin' right at it, Scoots, uh... should we be worried 'bout that?"
  3855. >Bloom points up at the tornado of fire rising from the middle of the castle
  3856. >oh right
  3857. >you bite your lip
  3858. >realistically, you and Sweetie have both been inside the castle where that thing must originate, and you didn't draw its attention
  3859. >it might be fine, actually
  3860. >you look up at it for a few long seconds
  3861. "If it was going to do anything, it would've done it by now, I hope?"
  3862. >you ask because you're really not sure
  3863. >but Sweetie seems to agree with your assessment
  3864. >"If it wanted to attack us and could, it's had plenty of opportunity while we were talking. We'll be careful, though."
  3865. >you nod, and resume your trot, Belle and Bloom in tow as you sneak towards your destination
  3866.  
  3867.  
  3868. -Castle Town Hynos-
  3869. -Courtyard Edge-
  3870. >you sneak in as quietly as you can
  3871. >you're surprised that the bubble of frozen time hasn't stopped yet, given how long it took you to get from the castle to your little campsite initially
  3872. >you felt a couple more of those
  3873. >TH-THUMP
  3874. >sensations as you were running back, but if there was anypony with a complex nearby, they never showed themselves
  3875. >maybe you cleared out the big threats, and these are less dangerous things that don't want to fight you?
  3876. >you can't be sure
  3877. >what you can be sure of is that judging by the wrought iron gate and the sign on its archway, this is the closest thing to a garden you're going to find
  3878. >it's labeled as an 'arboretum', but going by the wide paths and sparse clumps of grass and bushes, it counts as a garden?
  3879. >and you can see a thick patch of flowers, covering the ground like a carpet
  3880. >in this space, it's hard to tell anything about them other than their shape, but they look kind of familiar...
  3881. >"Don't look like much of a garden, but..."
  3882. >Apple Bloom pushes the gate open with her shoulder, and the three of you step inside
  3883. >you wander down the dirt path, the first really soft surface you can remember walking on since you got here
  3884. >but while you kind of had your hopes that you'd spot him propped up on a pedestal somewhere or even just tucked into a corner, your chimeric friend is nowhere to be found
  3885. >not that you had much ground to cover
  3886. >the garden is pitifully small here, and you suspect it's only with some serious work that the flowers and bushes that are here exist at all
  3887. >eternal night isn't really conducive to growing things, and from what you remember of the article that first drew you here, there's only a few hours of sun each day to grow food
  3888. >still, what a disappointing discovery...
  3889. >"Discoooooord!"
  3890. >Apple Bloom shouts for him, to no avail
  3891. >"Um, we're still in this time-thingy, would he even hear us if we yell?"
  3892. >Sweetie asks uncertainly
  3893. "Well, it IS Discord."
  3894. >you point out
  3895. >"Lemme just... Ah had an idea t'try an' get Applejack's attention when Ah was fightin' her complex, but things got a li'l hectic an' Ah never quite got around to it. Maybe if Ah use mah Persona, Ah can get his attention that way?"
  3896. "We don't have much to lose, right? If you think he'd notice it..."
  3897. >Apple Bloom gives you a shrug, but rears back and smacks her card with a forehoof, the golden goddess of fame appearing above her head
  3898. >"Pheme, Ah got a message to get out, y'all mind spreadin' the word?"
  3899. >she gives a nod, her red curls bouncing as she rises slowly into the sky
  3900. >as she does, her normally resplendent neon wings flicker out in sections, until she's held aloft by a pair of rapidly flickering eye-like symbols
  3901. >you see a black microphone extend downwards from the sky, and Apple Bloom takes it in her hoof
  3902. >she inhales sharply, and you can hear the sound echoed through her Persona as the golden goddess opens her mouth
  3903. >a squealing sound you recognize as feedback chirps in the air as your friend reels back to yell
  3904. >...oh buck
  3905. >you dive for Sweetie and cover one of her ears with a hoof and one of yours with the other
  3906. >"HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY DISCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORD!!!"
  3907. >Apple Bloom screams into the mic, the noise blasting out of Pheme like you're front row at a concert
  3908. >you wince at the sheer volume, the sky above Bloom's persona igniting in a huge, Las Pegasus-style billboard representation of the draconequus
  3909. >he's bizarrely dressed in a pair of jaunty cowpony boots and a ten-gallon hat with a toothpick hanging from his mouth
  3910. >in the wake of her shout, though, you lift your head up and hesitantly listen for a response
  3911. >all you can hear is a distant echo of 'ORD-ORd-Ord-ord...!' as the sound ricochets off the taller buildings and echoes back to you
  3912. >well, that and a ringing in your uncovered ear
  3913. >you sit hopefully for a few more seconds, daring to hope against reason
  3914. >...
  3915. >"Dang."
  3916. >the word echoes out of Pheme's mouth so loud it makes you jump in surprise, even as Sweetie can't help but giggle
  3917. >"Sorry gals, was really hopin' that'd work..."
  3918. >Apple Bloom sighs in disappointment, letting go of the mic as it retracts back into the ether
  3919. "It was a cool idea though!"
  3920. >you volunteer
  3921. >"Yeah, don't apologize, it just means we'll try something else!"
  3922. >"Too true, you can't win them all, Applesnack. No reason to feel bad. Maybe next time?"
  3923. >the giant luminescent eagle claw of Pheme's projection pats her consolingly
  3924. >...!
  3925. >"Discord!"
  3926. >"Discord."
  3927. "Discord?"
  3928. >you all look up at the garish representation of the draconequus, which seems to have taken on a life of its own
  3929. >Pheme even looks slightly irritated at it, before her body goes ephemeral and she recedes back into the place Personas go
  3930. >"In the flesh! Well, after a fashion. How's things, my fellow Cutie Mark Paladins?"
  3931. >he slaps his own flank with his lion paw and reveals a blinking symbol of his own face winking with a thumbs-up as his "cutie mark"
  3932. >"Awful! Discord, do you know what's been going on around here?"
  3933. >Sweetie asks
  3934. >"Up to a point! The past all seems so disconnected these days, and it's hard to find a way to stay up-to-date."
  3935. >he floats his body up and around until he's laying on his side, head propped up on one hand
  3936. "Then don't you think this place needs a serious shake-up? Like, some major... chaos?"
  3937. >you say, grinning a little mischievously
  3938. >"Couldn't agree more!"
  3939. >he smiles back at you like the cat that ate the canary
  3940. >"Then you'll help us?"
  3941. >Sweetie asks hopefully
  3942. >"Not a chance!"
  3943. >...what?
  3944. "What?"
  3945. >he looks at his unoccupied hand casually, picking at an imagined piece of dirt under his nail, sparks raining down as they click against one another
  3946. >"Oh, girls, I appreciate you thinking of me. More than you know, actually! But you see, this whole 'hero' gig is a full-time job of several months, and I'm simply booked solid at the moment."
  3947. >he produces a long scroll that he unfurls and reads down with a giant, non-neon pair of reading glasses perched on his nose
  3948. >"Let's see, tea with Sir Bearington on the 5th, dinner with Fugo and the Boys on the 8th, sit in on Pinkie's lecture hall class either Wednesday or Friday,"
  3949. >he reads his list off rapid-fire
  3950. >"...last Sunday of the month I have to lay in bed, stare at the ceiling, and slip slowly into madness, then in July replace Hermit's dice with a loaded set, early August introduce Shining Armor to the zebra delegation... I'm just swamped, girls!"
  3951. >he opines
  3952. >"So... you can't?"
  3953. >Sweetie asks hesitantly
  3954. >"I might be available sometime during Act 3, but that's months from now, Diminutive Equines of Mine. So sorry!"
  3955. >the way he snaps the list away and sits up with a yawn and a stretch doesn't really sell you on him actually being sorry
  3956. >he looks down at the three of you, looking various shades of disappointed or irritated, and rolls his eyes dramatically
  3957. >"Oh, don't give me that look. Think how boring Ponyville would be without me!"
  3958. >"Er... what? Y'all are stayin' in Ponyville?"
  3959. >Discord's neon form leans down to squint at Apple Bloom's eyes
  3960. >"Did you hit your head there, Applette? Memory still working? How many fingers am I holding up?"
  3961. >he holds up a paw with... way more than 10 fingers on it, you don't bother to count
  3962. >"Uhhh..."
  3963. "Wait, wait, you're... OUR Disord?"
  3964. >you hold up a hoof
  3965. >how's that work?
  3966. >did he follow you into the portal somehow? Is he a helper in the Velvet Room now, too?
  3967. >"I'm not YOUR Discord, I'm my own independent Discord, who of course needs no mare (or stallion, for that matter). That said, if you were expecting a different draconequus, sorry to disappoint, but there's only one me like me!"
  3968. >he jabs to himself proudly with his thumb
  3969. "Well, we didn't think he'd be completely different, but we thought there'd be... some other you, here?"
  3970. >you scratch your head
  3971. >"Oh, there was, but he's otherwise occupied. Very busy."
  3972. >"Could he just--"
  3973. >"No... no I don't think he could."
  3974. >something about the tone of his voice tells you you shouldn't pry too deep into that
  3975. >"Well... sorry we bothered ya, then?"
  3976. >Apple Bloom asks
  3977. >this always seems to be how a conversation with Discord goes for you and your friends
  3978. >you start with a pretty simple question and end up less sure of anything than when you started
  3979. >"Ha! Not at all, I'm quite pleased you thought to ask me in the first place. Some other place, some other time, and I might have been just who you were looking for!"
  3980. >there's a faint
  3981. >B-BUMP
  3982. >as the image of a gargantuan being with hundreds of slithering, whipping... somethings... pulses ever-so-faintly behind him
  3983. >"And in yet another time, yet another place... maybe not."
  3984. >he gives you a particularly mirthless smirk, before dropping easily into a more friendly demeanor
  3985. >"But you know, girls, you came all the way out here just to try and find a little old me, I feel bad sending you away with nothing at all."
  3986. >this feels like a setup
  3987. >but it's hard to resist the opportunity...
  3988. >"Want a little, tiny, teensy bitty hint?"
  3989. >he offers
  3990. >...
  3991. >do you want a hint?
  3992.  
  3993. >Yes (reluctantly...)
  3994. No
  3995.  
  3996. "You'd... do that?"
  3997. >you ask, uncertainty plain in your voice
  3998. >so of course Discord can't resist cackling at it
  3999. >"What, give you a hint? Of course not! It'd throw off the delicate balance of the whole world if I tipped the odds in your favor."
  4000. >his luminous form shrinks down considerably, though he still towers over you by comparison
  4001. >"Then why ask us?!"
  4002. >Apple Bloom snaps impatiently
  4003. >Discord tents his fingers in response
  4004. >"Because the best way to get you moving forward is to ask you questions, and see how you react, you silly little pony."
  4005. >he lets out an indignant sniff
  4006. >"No, obviously I can't tell you the right answer to your little question, or that'd remove all the fun of it, right?"
  4007. >"Right...?"
  4008. >Sweetie Belle seems a bit at a loss, but she's willing to play along with the old amalgamation's game
  4009. >"And if I give you a hint and it's too easy, or too hard, then nobody's going to be satisfied by that either, now are they."
  4010. "Makes sense."
  4011. >it doesn't, really, but you get the impression he's playing at something, so you let him continue
  4012. >"So instead I'll gift you this most useless bit of information: an anti-hint, one that will lead you only to the wrong answer!"
  4013. >how
  4014. >how is that even remotely helpful?
  4015. >well, you guess that's entirely his point, but still...
  4016. >to what end?
  4017. >"So, if you want to find the certain somepony best suited to playing hero around here, you can't narrow it down thusly: 'they are an alicorn.'"
  4018. "They are? Wait, I mean they aren't?"
  4019. >he dusts his hands off with a final-ish motion, before interlacing his fingers and cracking them in a symphony of snaps
  4020. >"I've said what I said! Now, as much as I appreciate you letting me using your Persona as a mouthpiece,"
  4021. >he reaches up and rips his own mouth from his face, leaving his jaw featureless and giving a 'come hither' gesture to the open air above Apple Bloom
  4022. >"I think I've done more than enough for you girls, here."
  4023. >Pheme's arm materializes just enough to snatch the dissociated mouth from his hand before poofing into the ether again
  4024. >"But you didn't actually DO anything!"
  4025. >Sweetie pleads
  4026. >Discord doesn't bother dignifying it with a remark, simply turning and fading into space as the component parts of his neon body flicker out one by one until he's gone
  4027. >"Uuuurgh..."
  4028. >Bloom's face twists up into a scrunch as she stares at where he used to be
  4029. >"Well... I don't know what that was supposed to DO for us, but I guess we know it now?"
  4030. >Belle suggests, trying to look at the bright side of things
  4031. >you ponder it a second, yourself, not wanting to jump to conclusions even if you kind of agree with Apple Bloom's sentiments more right at the moment
  4032. >what could Discord's anti-hint mean?
  4033. >do you really get anything out of knowing the potential hero is an alicorn, if that's a guaranteed wrong answer?
  4034. >you could always check out some of your other potential leads to give you time to stew on it...
  4035.  
  4036. track down Cheerilee, the unflinching educator
  4037. >search for Zecora, the sage wanderer
  4038. suggest someone else
  4039.  
  4040. "It's not a total bust,"
  4041. >you say hopefully, looking up past the spinning vortex of flame to the moon behind it
  4042. "he might've been trying to imply something else, instead."
  4043. >"Ooooor he was tryin' t'mess with us an' make us think 'bout stuff what doesn't matter. Ah wouldn't risk bettin' a rusty bit on either option, personally."
  4044. >Apple Bloom answers a touch more cynically
  4045. >"If he's only allowed to say something false, and he said we're looking for an alicorn, that means it's not an alicorn, right? But that doesn't really narrow it down much, I only know of five alicorns, and a couple of them might not even exist now."
  4046. >Sweetie's still considering it, so you lead the way at a comfortable canter towards the arboretum's entrance
  4047. "Well, maybe what he wanted us to focus on was some other part of what he said."
  4048. >you wait until Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle are out, before shoving the gate's door closed again
  4049. >"So yer sayin' he let on more'n it seemed like he did?"
  4050. >"Oh, like one of those logic puzzle things."
  4051. >you nod as the three of you head down the stairs that separate the castle from its surrounding buildings
  4052. >you glance over you shoulder and see the pillar once more, the bright light in its center a bit more discernable from this close
  4053. >it looks... humanoid? And it actually has a kind of unnerving beauty to it, a sort of unearthly perfection
  4054. >but at the same time, just gazing at it raises the coat on the back of your neck
  4055. >don't worry about that now, you tell yourself
  4056. >focus on the task at hand
  4057. "So... yeah. Like, maybe narrowing down who it is or isn't based on them being an alicorn isn't the point. He said it wouldn't help finding the 'somepony around here' who's going to be a hero, but maybe it's not the alicorn part he wanted us to focus on?"
  4058. >Apple Bloom looks down as she walks for a second, lost in thought
  4059. >"...Oh! Like, who cares if they're an alicorn or not, we know it's gotta be a pony? Or that they're 'round here?"
  4060. >Sweetie nods
  4061. >"Yeah! Or... not one of those things, instead."
  4062. >...huh
  4063. >so maybe the right person isn't a pony, or isn't 'around here'? That does sort of line up with Sweetie's guess from earlier, actually
  4064. >you're pretty sure if you popped Discord's head open, his brain would be shaped like a corkscrew, with how twisted his logic is
  4065. "I'm sure it's one of those things that he wants us to look back on later and say 'ohhh, now I get it'."
  4066. >you grumble a bit as you head towards the main road, figuring you'll take the most direct route towards the gate
  4067. >"Hey Scoots, where are we headed?"
  4068. >Sweetie pipes up, and you nod in the direction of the forest
  4069. "Well, you did mention Zecora might be a good choice for hero... and it might fit with Discord's hint? She's not an alicorn, she's probably in the Everfree Forest so she's not 'around here', and depending on how literally he was speaking, she's not a pony."
  4070. >"Huh. Y'really think so? The way ya lay it out, Ah can almost believe that's what he was tryin' t'hint at."
  4071. >Apple Bloom sounds surprised
  4072. >"Discord's a bit of a jerk sometimes, but I think he really does want to help us."
  4073. >Sweetie's faith in him feels a little naive, but you like to think of it more like...
  4074. >he wants to see what you'll do, and the easiest way to introduce his brand of chaos is by giving you more options
  4075. >helping you is like a side effect, but he would never go out of his way to actively hurt your chances, either
  4076. >"What do you think Zecora's complex is?"
  4077. >Sweetie asks as you trot
  4078. >you pick up the pace a bit as you notice some of the color fading back into the world
  4079. "Honestly? Hard to say; I never would have thought Rainbow Dash of all people would have had a thing about blindly obeying authority, so what we know about Zecora might not really apply."
  4080. >"Yeah, no sense worryin' too much 'bout it right now, right? Ah'm sure we'll find out if we talk to 'er long enough."
  4081. >you duck into the guard house, slipping around the pony standing at the door as carefully as you can
  4082. >luckily you manage to get out of Hypnos' border wall before time resumes again, though you can hear the sounds of birdsong growing less distorted as you make it to a wide bridge over a chasm
  4083. >you look over your shoulder to make sure Belle and Bloom are keeping up with you, and get your first view of the town from the outside
  4084. >it's imposing and stifling, but there's a sort of comfort to seeing it, like this
  4085. >it's even pretty, from a distance
  4086. >Sweetie and Apple Bloom look back as well, as the three of you reach the tree line, the tamed hills giving way dramatically to the truly wild foliage of the forest
  4087. >you hope you're on the right track here...
  4088. >could you get back, if you need to?
  4089. >what if this is a bust, and Zecora's not even out here?
  4090. >...then you'll just have to deal with that when it happens, you tell yourself bracingly
  4091. >you trot towards the largest dirt trail you can spot, hoping that the tamped ground means it's at least somewhat traveled
  4092. >the broken branches at its edge imply somepony's passed by recently...
  4093. >here goes something, you hope!
  4094.  
  4095.  
  4096. -Everfree Forest-
  4097. -Dark Woods-
  4098.  
  4099. >the Everfree Forest is... downright creepy
  4100. >even in your own world, wandering too close to the tree line in Ponyville is something everypony knows to avoid if they can help it
  4101. >from the crazy monsters like cragadiles, timberwolves, and cockatrices
  4102. >to more natural dangers like poison joke, swamp fever, or plain old sheer cliff faces
  4103. >it's not a death trap, but there's plenty to be worried about out here
  4104. >let's just say a thousand years of darkness haven't exactly improved the place
  4105. "Sweetie?"
  4106. >you turn around to check on your friend, spotting her looking up at a particularly large willow
  4107. >"Ssssh!"
  4108. >Apple Bloom whispers back at you, pointing up at the red, bulb-like fruits hanging off of it
  4109. >you furrow your brow in confusion for a second before you notice a couple of them shifting in the wind
  4110. >no, not in the wind, they seem to be shaking by themselves--
  4111. >"Look like fruit bats, but Ah wouldn' risk it after that patch'a Blast Apples..."
  4112. >Bloom whispers
  4113. >she has a point
  4114. >Zap Apples are already a bit dangerous to cultivate, but the ones you'd found growing wild in the last clearing had apparently been charging for a while, since they exploded violently the moment they hit the ground...
  4115. >and the Lightning Sprites (as you'd taken to calling them) had munched through a few of them and fried the nearby grass for a foot in every direction
  4116. >with that in mind, you don't want to risk waking up these little guys
  4117. >so you trot back as stealthily as you can and nudge Sweetie Belle
  4118. >she shakes her head to clear it and looks around, before nodding silently
  4119. >the tree and its residents do have a haunting sort of beauty to them, but now's not the time
  4120. >luckily, the path so far hasn't been impossible to follow
  4121. >well, for you anyhow
  4122. >Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle seem to mostly be following your lead, but you're not sure whether that's because you're the 'leader' for the moment
  4123. >or because the other you's knowledge is keeping you on the right track
  4124. >none of it has that 'deja vu' quality like the places around town, so you don't think so, but it's hard to know for sure
  4125. >the trail is getting narrower and harder to keep track of as you venture into the woods, though, and you'll spot places that look like they could be branches in the path
  4126. >you had initially wanted to explore a couple of them, but Sweetie brought up a valid point that if the three of you got lost out here, it'd be almost impossible to find your way back
  4127. >so you've been sticking to the most obvious path so far
  4128. >but you're not sure how much longer that strategy's going to keep working, as the path keeps getting narrower and harder to track
  4129. >more than once you've wandered for several panic-inducing minutes through the underbrush before finding the next sign of travel
  4130. >you keep hoping that something is going to spark your recognition, and you'll be able to make your way to Zecora's Hut from there
  4131. >but the winding trail keeps changing directions, zig-zagging strangely rather than heading towards a destination with any real purpose
  4132. >"Ah'm likin' this idea a little less now than Ah was twenty minutes ago..."
  4133. >Apple Bloom admits quietly, hopping up on a wide rock to get her hooves out of some swampy water
  4134. "Yeah, we can look a little while longer, but if we can't find anypony out here, it's not worth the risks... ugh, I just figured for sure we'd be able to find her faster than this!"
  4135. >you balance on a long-dead tree trunk and help Sweetie up after you as you talk
  4136. >"Well... it would make sense that she wouldn't want to be found, though, too."
  4137. >Sweetie says, giving you a thankful grin for the hoof up
  4138. "True. She always did kind of like her privacy."
  4139. >"Ah could probably find 'er if we made our way t'Ponyville, 'tween Applejack goin' there and when Ah'd visit?"
  4140. >"That assumes Ponyville even exists."
  4141. >Sweetie reminds her
  4142. "True... the town grew up around the Apples' farm, so maybe some of your distant relatives...?"
  4143. >Apple Bloom thinks hard for a second, diving into memories that aren't fully hers
  4144. >"This me don't remember any o' that, but Ah can't say fer certain; pretty sure she followed mah sister to Hypnos early on..."
  4145. >you and Sweetie hop back off of the rotting old log at the end and rejoin AB on a patch of relatively dry ground, the leaves from nearby trees covering huge swaths of the land under your hooves
  4146. >"So. Should we press on? Or turn around and go back?"
  4147. >Sweetie looks behind you all at the rapidly dwindling lights of the castle itself
  4148. >the chiming of the bell not long after you started in signaled the start of that curfew Ms. Cheerilee had mentioned
  4149. >since then, the glow of streetlamps and candles in windows had rapidly diminished, until now the main source of light is the castle itself, its crescent-topped spires glowing dimly
  4150. "Well... I really don't want to give up on this lead, but maybe we should cut our losses?"
  4151. >you suggest tentatively
  4152. >sure, you're leader at least in name, but you don't want to boss your friends around
  4153. >"Ah can keep goin' for a bit more if y'all can, but Ah don't know how we're gonna find 'er, 'less we wanna wake up who-knows-what shoutin' for 'er."
  4154. >Sweetie and you both shake your head vehemently at that
  4155. "Give me a second, I'll try to come up with a plan..."
  4156. >you think about what you know so far, as you sit down between the roots of a huge, gnarled black tree
  4157. >you have been finding signs of other creatures out here
  4158. >at least roughly pony-sized and pony-shaped, unless the horseshoe mark back there was a very clever trick
  4159. >but every time you think you've figured out the heading, the trail will get hard to follow again
  4160. >Zecora's always been a tender of the forest, as well, and you haven't seen any places where she's cleared out land or cultivated any plants
  4161. >you sigh in frustration and look up at the sky, wondering what the right call is
  4162. >it's like she really doesn't want... to be... found...
  4163. >you get a sinking feeling in your stomach as you piece something together
  4164. "...Uh oh."
  4165. >you stand up as casually as you can, walking over to the girls so you can speak to them
  4166. >"Hey Scoota-- um... what's wrong?"
  4167. >Sweetie Belle notices your expression and pulls in tight, Apple Bloom right behind as you huddle up
  4168. "I figured out why we can't find Zecora."
  4169. >"'Cause we're way outta our element?"
  4170. >"Because she's hiding from us in case we're up to no good?"
  4171. >you shake your head
  4172. "It's because the ponies who made those tracks--"
  4173. >there's a shimmer in the air as two unicorns with blue coats appear with a faint 'pop' sound right in your midst
  4174. >"Don't appreciate company."
  4175. >you feel the adrenaline surge at the sudden teleportation, but it gets immediately overpowered by an irresistible grogginess
  4176. >you faintly notice one of them casting something, and see Sweetie go off-balance as well, struggling to stay awake as your legs give out from under you
  4177. >"...'m to the Camp..."
  4178. >you blink slowly, your eyes losing focus as the magically-induced sleep washes over you
  4179. >"...erful can decide wha..."
  4180. >you hear Apple Bloom hit the ground, but you're out before you can get the first letter of her name out
  4181.  
  4182.  
  4183.  
  4184. >nngh
  4185. >you groan as you squint your eyes, trying to focus as you fade back into consciousness
  4186. >you become dimly aware of something biting into your shoulder, but it's hard to sort out what's going on
  4187. >your head still feels like it's filled with cotton, but you're quickly overcoming it as the after effects of the sleep spell wear off
  4188. >!
  4189. >you panic for a brief second as you realize you're not on solid ground
  4190. >you're not falling though, either, so you take the opportunity to take stock of the situation
  4191. >the bite in your shoulder lines up with a small obstruction in your vision, and you realize:
  4192. >you're suspended in a net, several feet in the air, in line of sight of a couple unicorn ponies at the edge of a clearing
  4193. >you do your best not to make too much noise as you shift
  4194. >you don't know whether your captors have plans for you once you're awake, after all
  4195. >but you crane your neck as much as you dare to look around
  4196. >let's see...
  4197. >the embers of a fire glow dimly red, with a few ponies still gathered around it, a large pot suspended over the top of it
  4198. >you can see the faint outlines of several patched-up tents, further in the distance
  4199. >hanging from another branch you can see a white bundle that you have to imagine is Sweetie Belle wrapped up in a similar net, still asleep (or pretending to be)
  4200. >Apple Bloom must be somewhere nearby too, but not in your direct line of sight; maybe around the back of the tree?
  4201. >there are also the wooden carts scattered around the makeshift campsite
  4202. >they each look specialized in some way, one clearly the main storage for food, another that you suppose carries camp gear, another with several locks that you might guess is for valuables...
  4203. >all of them look cobbled together, the roof of one partially covered with a tarp, another with a mismatched wheel that makes it lean slightly in that direction
  4204. >what you can't help but notice most, though, are the postures and figures of the few ponies you can see
  4205. >sullen, angry, or disinterested, almost to a one they seem terribly unhappy
  4206. >the mares and stallions look like they've been run ragged or beaten down, and even the younger ponies seem thin and skittish, like they're constantly on edge
  4207.  
  4208. [People Living Without Hope]
  4209.  
  4210. >there's at once a sense of quiet desperation and pervasive despair that hangs over the whole place
  4211. >you hear a small noise and see a young colt, too young to even have his cutie mark, looking up at you
  4212. >looks like the jig is up on your being asleep, but maybe you can ask him for some help?
  4213. "Hey... psst, hey, could you--"
  4214. >you start to whisper to him, but before you get much further than grabbing his attention, he runs off towards a small gathering of the ponies standing nearby
  4215. >your guards, probably?
  4216. >this is extremely not good...
  4217. >he speaks quietly and quickly, pointing over in your direction with one hoof, and you see the group look in your direction
  4218. >there's a faint 'pop' sound as two of them teleport to you
  4219. >more unicorns...
  4220. >come to think of it, you can only see one or two ponies who aren't unicorns in this little encampment, and no pegasi at all
  4221. >a lot of blue and purple coats, too... you've never seen so many ponies that look this similar all in one place
  4222. >well, that's not true, at one point Farfalla's children came to visit on Mother's Day
  4223. >but that's almost what this feels like, a more close-knit family than even Apple Bloom and her kin
  4224. >"Hey, you. You're finally awake."
  4225. >the mare who teleported has a peculiar accent, one that you don't think you've ever heard before
  4226. >"Sorry, sorry, didn't mean to drop them so hard, don't know my own strength I guess."
  4227. >her stallion companion seems positively proud as he "apologizes" to her
  4228. >"Wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that they're a bunch of fillies, and only one's a unicorn, eh."
  4229. >the mare asks sarcastically, and the stallion sputters as she turns back to you
  4230. >"Now then, why don't you tell us your name, child. We've got questions for you, but you're not in trouble."
  4231. >the word 'yet' is implied so heavily she might as well have said it outright
  4232. >but she does have you ten feet in the air and over a barrel, so you shift a little to try and make yourself as comfortable as you can before answering
  4233. "I'm Scootaloo. What's your name?"
  4234. >"You can call me Plume. You came from the town of Hypnos, did you not? What were you and your little friends doing out here?"
  4235. >you look around as much as you can, no point in trying to be stealthy at this point
  4236. >you can just barely see Apple Bloom's form around the trunk of the tree you're all strung up in
  4237. >good, she's probably at least as safe as you are, then...
  4238. "We're looking for somepony."
  4239. >"Oh, I'll bet you were. Too bad they found you 'fore you found them."
  4240. >the stallion snarks back, before Plume puts her hoof over his muzzle and pushes him away
  4241. >"Lul, don't you have someplace to be? The filly and I are speaking."
  4242. >"Feh, fine. Wasting your time though, damn pigeonpony's probably not even worth the parchment. I say dump her."
  4243. >you scowl at him as he saunters off, giving you a dark look as he does so
  4244. >even in another world, it's not hard to identify a bitter jerk when you see one
  4245. >Plume looks like she's considering saying something, but bites her tongue and turns back to focus on you
  4246. >"Who, exactly, are you looking for?"
  4247. "..."
  4248. >you hesitate for a moment
  4249. >obviously you don't trust this pony as far as you could throw her
  4250. >why potentially give her leverage over you and your friends?
  4251. >"Difficult question to answer? Then let's try an easier one. What are your parents' names?"
  4252. >you narrow your eyes
  4253. >that's none of her damned business, even less so than who you're looking for
  4254. "Why? Going to tattle on me for being out past curfew?"
  4255. >you curse yourself the second it comes out of your mouth, realizing that while you might not feel too strongly about what happened to your dad, the Scootaloo from this timeline clearly does
  4256. >"My parents are Betty Bouffant and her husband Magnum. Ambassadors to Prance. They live in Trottingham, for the record."
  4257. >Sweetie Belle says, sounding a little hoarse as she speaks up right on your heels
  4258. >Plume's still glowering at you from your comment, but on hearing the word ambassador, her ears perk up and you might as well be invisible
  4259. >"...Hm? Are you now... well, if you're lying, she'll find you out... have to bring you to her anyhow..."
  4260. >Plume mutters mostly to herself, before giving you a shallow smile that doesn't reach her eyes
  4261. >"Would you mind letting us down so we can negotiate, please? I and my escorts."
  4262. >Belle asks, struggling to right herself in her net
  4263. "Sw--?"
  4264. >"I'll explain in a second, Scoots."
  4265. >she says, a hard edge to her voice telling you to hold off on saying anything for the moment
  4266. >"Escorts, huh?... Sure, we'll have you down in a jiffy. What a smart mare you are, Ms.?"
  4267. >"Sweetie Belle. It's spelled with an 'e' at the end."
  4268. >she volunteers, earning a chuckle out of the navy-coated unicorn
  4269. >"Hah! Good thing you aren't any brighter, or we wouldn't have caught you in the first place!"
  4270. >you feel your weight shift suddenly as you and both your friends are lowered to the ground, the rope slipping through a magical cinch that slows your descent
  4271. >"Now, since you're so smart, I'm sure you know not to go running off. But keep these two on a short leash, or you might make it back a couple bodyguards lighter than when you came out here."
  4272. >the casual way she chirps that out is somehow creepier than if she'd threatened you outright, as she trots towards one of the carts, knocking before slipping inside

MLP CMC Personas

by Outis

My Little Persona: Social Links are Magic - CMC DLC[...]

by Outis