>Berry is asleep in your arms, now.
>You slowly lift her away from her flask, to which Redheart quickly trots over and takes it for safe keeping.
>You carry Berry over to the soft, cushioned bench and gently place her down, the soft snores turning into rather loud ones as she tosses and turns to find a comfortable spot, ending up in two of her hooves hanging off and her mess of a mane covering the rest of her face.
>It’s sort of cute.
>Nothing you’d PURSUE, however, keep that in mind.
>Your eyes return to Red and you smile at her.
>”Well, that’s a trick you could’ve used with Pinkie.”
“Yeah, tell me about it… Alright, I think I need to go searching a little more.”
>She nods, and the two of you return back to the depths of the library.
>You steal a quick glance at the outer windows before leaving, and see that Iron Will was out in the distance, having met up with Gable and coming back to the library.
>…
>It is currently 4:35 P.M., five minutes after the agreed rendezvous.
>There were aisles all the way from AA to ZZ.
>Which aisle should you look in for subjects pertaining to psychology?


>Inspect Blessing of Harmony
[Your markings have begun to unlock their hidden potential that can help others as well as fight off the shadow, this ability being the first of many so long as you do the right things at the right time. (-10 MP, releases a powerful magical spell that soothes, rejuvenates and calms anyone that the blessing is given to, and removes all mental and spiritual status effects.)]

>Status
>ANONYMOUS (cc) / SIR DUCKSALOT [HP: 25/25]
[HP: 130/130][MP: 10/20][Stats: 20 PD, 25 MD / +10 PA, +15 MA wep / +75 PA ranged]

>Inspect Small Mana Crystal
[This little gem has a variety of purposes. You can use it to aid a pony to enchant your items and increase their potency, use it in alchemy for various recipes that are magic-related, or use it as a substitute mana potion that will restore you for 33% of your total MP. You can combine 3 small mana crystals into a medium mana crystal, and 3 medium mana crystals into a large mana crystal.]

“Finally… I have something that I can use to help others, instead of destroying everything.”
>Redheart smiles and pats you gently.
>”Well, even you need a little break from the action sometimes. I know you have plenty of that.”
>Ooh, that didn’t sound nice.
>Then again, she’s probably going to be distant until you apologize to Pinkie.
>At least the situation is stable.
>At this point, you get a thought and backtrack a bit, going back to the desk.
>”Excuse me miss, but I was looking for books on psychology, and I was wondering if I’d go down aisle PS for that?”
>The librarian shakily turns around and looks you straight in the eye.
>”Wait a tick… I remember you now!”
>Oh shit.
>”You’re that one back in ZZ who was mas-”
“Mastering the restoration arts, yes! But I need psychology now, so can you direct me to that?”
>Redheart looks between the two of you in confusion.
>Your eyes plead with the librarian not to say anything about it.
>After a very long, tense moment of subtle charades, she finally makes an O shape with her lips in understanding and points out.
>”You and your uh, marefriend, can try FF, for Flank Fort, greatest doctor in this old gal’s time… Uh… clean up when you’re done, please.”
>Redheart looks at you as you quickly nod and leave with her in tow.
>”What did she mean by that?”
“Oh, I snuck in a little juice and spilled it a few nights ago in here, caught me red handed and had to clean it up, just a little minor misshap with no big problems just a little bit of a mistake yes siree Oh here we are at FF what do you know I’m gonna go look for him why don’t you keep guard just in case okay bye!”
>You run out of breath right as you leave her at the edge of the aisle, completely bewildered.
>You did not want her finding out about that night, things were intense between you already.
>You look down FF and look for Flank Fort, browsing through the double F’s until you finally reach his name.
>He seems to have 5 books here on wildly different subjects of psychology:
-Dr. Frank Fort’s Psychology 102: For Dummies
-Dr. Frank Fort’s Love is in the Air: You and Your Ponymate
-Dr. Frank Fort’s Back in Time: Guide to your Childhood
-Dr. Frank Fort’s Post-Trotmatic Stress of Magic: When Spells Attack
-Dr. Frank Fort’s Depression, Anxiety and All Those Unfortunate Thingamajigs: What to Do for a Friend Near You
>Which book(s) should you take?

>You’re gonna need all five.
>Gotta hoard those books.
>Well, you have an actual reason in terms of preparation, because you never know when you’re going to need them.
>And these books are going to really start weighing you down.
>Gotta hoard those books.
[You take all five books.]
>Shifting them inside your pack, you feel it getting excessively heavy.
>With all the things you have in there, it’s no wonder the pack itself split.
>It feels as if you’re nearing your limit, so you’ll need to be careful what you take from now on, unless you find a place to store your unnecessary items.
>You walk back to the aisle and wave sheepishly at Red, still confused by your actions.
>That took about 5 minutes, and Gable and Iron Will are probably at the lobby by now, wondering why Berry’s laid out on the bench.
>What would you like to do?


>You beckon Redheart and you make your way back to the lobby, the stairs grinding further and further on your patience.
>When Gable and Iron Will see you, they both wave at you and Red, and when you get within talking distance, Iron points out Berry.
>”Good to see you brother, but why is my sweetcheeks all tuckered out? I figure she got the easiest job, ain’t that right?”
>No it ain’t right.
“Not exactly, let’s just say she’s had a long day. In fact…”
>You remove your coat as you approach her sleeping form and drape it over her, the only response being a cute little yawn.
>You can smell the rum from where you’re standing, and it’s not so cute anymore.
>When you turn around, Gable’s holding out that chest you gave him, magical chain completely gone.
“Now that’s progress.”
>”Remember that unlocker’s fee, Anon.”
“Right, right. Let’s see what we got here…”
>You slowly undo the latch of the chest and take its contents.
[You receive 1,363 bits, 4 small gems, 6 medium gems, 4 large gems, and Neck-Ring of Kinich Ahau: (Increases MD by 40, decreases fire damage by 10%, Grants ability Scorch)]
>Wow, that is a nice set!
>Oh, right.
[You give Gable 136 bits and a large gem.]
>He picks up his cut of the cash and stows it in his pocket with an uncharacteristically large grin.
>”Don’t you just love the sound of money in your pocket? I could’ve had more, but you just had to have those saviour-of-the-world markings.”
“Yeah, sorry about that…”
>You then turn to Iron Will, and the sight beheld is pretty nice.
>It’s a Yeti fur… coat that’s wrapped around his muscles, looking glamorous as ever.
”I thought you were making armor with it?”
>Iron simply shrugs, still feeling the fur between his fingers.
>”Iron Will likes his fashion. Plus, I could only get the armor base, which is what this is. Gotta haul it down to the Protected Wither if I want the real armor, and I wasn’t sure if you were alright with me spendin’ your well-picked bits.”
“Well, thanks for the concern.
[Iron Will gives you 2,400 bits.]
“Holy shit.”
>”That’s about what I felt when she told me. Ms. Stringtie’s gonna be adjustin’ a lot of attitudes with her new pizazz line of Gem Leopard Gems. You started her a whole new season, and she says thank you from the bottom of her sweet little mare heart.”
>Very kind…
“Hey Iron? Thanks for doing this. I owe you one.”
>He raises a single eyebrow, and you very reluctantly hand him a share.
[You give Iron Will 240 bits.]
Total bit pouch: (3,387 bits, 4 small gems, 6 medium gems, 4 large gems)
>”You owe me jack squat, doctor. Now, what’s the plan?”
>Pinkie and AJ have not yet arrived, but they should be here soon.
>Twilight left a while back for Wheaties’ and the hospital.
>It is currently 4:50 P.M.
>What would you like to do?




>Inspect Neck-Ring of Kinich Ahau
[A golden, pony-sized neck ring that snaps on with a highly decorative clasp. It has a lot of eerily glowing rubies and amethysts embedded into the ring itself that create a secondary ring of fire around it, insinuating a powerful magical presence. It’s also rather hot to the touch unless worm. (Increases MD by 40, decreases fire damage by 10%, Grants ability Scorch)]
“Alright, we’re still waiting for the rest of our group, which I see is Applejack and Pinkie Pie. When they return, we’re going to go back to the hospital to meet up with Twilight Sparkle as she’s currently conducting her own research on the shadow’s influence on other ponies. After I try a new spell out there with those that are outcold that I just recently learned, we’ll take her with us to the Crystal Palace to go talk to Princess Cadance, and get all of this straightened out. Any questions?”
>All of them shake their heads, and you dismiss them.
>It feels odd being the ringleader of the group despite knowing the least of this world, but you suppose humans have a bit more of a backbone than ponies.
>But what does that make Iron Will and Gable?
>One’s a showboat, the other doesn’t care.
>Your choice of bodyguards really needs a workout.
>After a little bit of time passes, you think about reading your book, but you instead decide to approach Gable and lean on the wall next to him.
>”What is it?”
>Damn, he didn’t even open his eyes.
“Uh, hey. Just wanted to talk for a little bit.”
>”You have other dimwits for that, for the record.”
“True, but you’re my favorite dimwit.”
>Gable opens his eyes and looks right at you.
“Kidding, kidding… anyways, I know you probably don’t want to get into it again, but I really wouldn’t mind you living in Ponyville, if anything else to see each other after all of this is done.”
>”Anon.”
“Look, I’m not telling you where you should live, I just… Don’t want us just separating so abruptly. You’re a cool guy to hang around.”
>He doesn’t say anything, but you swear you see the hints of a smirk on that beak.
“So, the Gryphon Kingdom. How much is a house there? You told me 5,000 for Ponyville, but I’m guessing that’s a little more?”
>”Much more. Reigetalon is a high class city, more like a province under the Jarl.”
“Jarl?”
>”Leader of that Province. Reigetalon’s ruled by Jarl Graegar.”
“Oh.”
>”If I were to get a settlement in there, it’d probably run me upwards of 40 or 50,000 bits.”
>That’s a good deal out of your league.
“Well, I have a few more inventions being patented at Gyro Gear’s, and I’ll be making well over 2,000 bits a week. Add a few more thousand for each invention, and I’ll be having a lot waiting for me back at Redheart’s place. So, don’t worry about anything we spend on this journey, because there’s a literal treasure waiting for when we get back, and however much it is to pay for your house in Reigetalon, I got it covered.”
>He looks up at you more seriously now.
>”Really?”
“Yeah. All you have to do is wait, and help us out.”
>Gable looks over at Red reading her medical book and Iron getting along with the receptionist for a little while, presumably thinking.
>”What makes you such a goody two-shoes, anyways?”
“What do you mean?”
>”All I’ve seen you do is help ponies or save them, even if you screw up sometimes.” 
>You can definitely see where you’ve fucked up in the past.
>“I’m simply asking, what’s your deal? What’s the good samaritan’s reason for being so good?”
>You’re not entirely sure why you do what you do.
>What do you say?

>Odd that he knows what a samaritan is.
>Wait a minute, it’s just a normal word, isn’t it?
>You quickly pull out your phone and look through your downloaded dictionary app.
>Sa·mar·i·tan.
>səˈmaritn,-ˈme(ə)r - noun; a charitable or helpful person.
>Well, would you fuckin’ look at that?
>You return your attention to Gable, that little moment giving you the words you needed to explain yourself.
“This world is a lot better than the one I come from. It… well, it inspires me, I guess. I want to make it perfect, for as many people as I can. I don't know what happened to the world I came from; I might never get back there. So I feel kind of obligated to make this one the best it can be. The people with the power to change the world for the better have an obligation to do so. Whether it's a divine tree, a spear with the power to vanquish evil, or just my own hands, I've been given strength that I can use. So I use it wherever I can… weird, I know. I just like helping others, because everyone needs a hand or hoof from time to time. …It feels good. Good way to make friends, too. You should try helping someone else, you just might like it.”
>Gable was rather entrenched with your speech until the final sentence.
>He just rolls his eyes and stretches out his wings, almost hitting you in the face.
>”I don’t plan on doing that anytime soon, but you’re welcome to keep doing your thing. I was just curious. Figures I’d get a bonehead answer.”
>You’ll get to him, one day.
“By the way, how good are you at fishing?”
>He looks back over at you.
>”Oh right, you’re an omni whatever.”
“Omnivore.”
>”You’re a carnivore at heart, so it doesn’t matter to me. I’m good at it. I can catch a salmon with one quick flight over a river if I’m hungry, if that’s what you’re asking.”
>You rummage through your heavy pack and fish out your pole.
>Heh.
“Here, take this.”
[You give Gable Fishing Rod and kit.]
>He looks at what you give him with a disinterested look.
>”Oh, great. I’m getting food for you, right?”
“Well, us, and only if we need it. We should have enough bits on us to get real meals.”
>He stows it inside his own pack and you pull out your Medical book.

>Read Medical Expertise: Bleeding, Clots and Nasty Gashes
>…
[You get through a few chapters and learn about natural remedies to clot blood.]
[+20 Experience]
[Medical Knowledge: 290/300]
>…
>Red: Read Medical Mastery: Volume 1
>…
[Red gets a higher understanding of the intricate practices of severe injuries.]
[+50 Experience]
[Medical Knowledge: 875/1500]
>…

>You look up from your book and see Applejack and Pinkie Pie finally return, the bell sounding their arrival at 4:55 P.M.
>The first thing AJ does is look for you, and she breathes a sigh of relief when she does.
>”Howdy ya’ll, … What happened to Berry, now?”
>Redheart pats the sleeping Berry on her head, her own book in hoof.
>”She was a little flustered after what she needed to do and got a bit, uh, tipsy. We got her to sleep it off, but we’re waking her when we leave.”
>AJ nods, and you see Redheart look at you for a moment.
>Her eyes lead you over to Pinkie.
>Red didn’t forget the promise you made in the slightest.
>At least Ponk’s looking very happy that you weren’t torn to shreds.
>Well, this is it.
>Do you tell Pinkie here, or lead her somewhere private?


“Hey Pinkie?”
>She looks up at you with those bright blue eyes.
>”What’s up, Nonny?”
“Is it alright if you, Red and I go talk privately for a moment?”
>Her demeanor falls flat immediately.
>”Oh… O-okay.”
>You walk with her with all eyes on the three of you as Red joins your side, now walking to one of the secluded parts of the library, around aisle DS.
>By the time you figure you’re secluded enough and turn around, you see that Pinkie is looking at Redheart like she’s a ticking time bomb.
>You start speaking quickly before anything else messes up.
“Firstly, Pinkie… I want to say again that I’m so sorry for this whole mess and for what I said. I tried to find a solution that wouldn’t hurt anypony but I screwed up, and I screwed up bad, and for that I apologize deeply.”
>Pinkie nods slowly, and Redheart’s expression softens.
“So, here’s the one hundred percent truth of how we feel, how I feel, and what’s going to happen. I’m with Redheart, I will never leave her for anything in this world or the last. So… We can’t be together in any way, whether it’s grouped or not. It won’t happen.”
>Pinkie rubs her eyes of incoming tears, but when she opens them again, she’s smiling.
>”…Thanks for telling me, Nonny.”
>A sudden premonition comes across your mind.
>Use Window of Reality
>You look into the mirror not to see yourself, but to see two diverging paths within your future that slowly clear from the mysterious fogs.
>As the vision focuses, the paths split away from each other and you see two windows of reality.

-The left path is what would happen if you use the Blessing of Harmony on Pinkie Pie. The window shows Pinkie’s cutie mark, and a radiant light flowing from them that soothes your mind.
-The right path is what would happen if you do not use the spell on Pinkie. The window reveals a similar sight, Pinkie’s cutie mark, but there is a steady decoloration to a monochrome light, yet the cutie mark keeps its colors.

>What would you like to do?


>You look back at Pinkie and kneel down next to her, your markings already beginning to warm up.
“Just remember Pinkie, I’ll always care for you. I know I can’t just change the way you feel, but maybe this’ll soothe that pain.”
>You reach out and envelope her in a hug which she readily reciprocates, and the white glow returns, beginning to bathe the pink pony in a calming, rejuvenating light.
>”Ohhhh…. …Wow, Nonny… I never had a hug this great before!”
>As the blessing washes over her and you part from each other, she looks over her body with a new, refreshed light, her fur and mane pinker than ever.
>You feel completely depleted of your magic, however. You’ll need to do something about that before you go to the palace.
[MP: 0/20]
“And Red? I’m still really sorry for all of this. I hope we can put it in the past.”
>Redheart slowly smiles and walks up to you, throwing her hooves around your neck.
>She embraces you fully as well as your armor sets would allow, and before you can pull away she gives you a bold kiss on the lips.
>”Okay. I’m watching you though, Anon…”
>You stand up with some affectionate difficulty as you follow the mares back to the lobby, where the rest of the group is waiting.
>AJ and Iron Will are currently nursing Berry as she wakes, looking much more sober than she was before, as well as happier.
>”Hey, Anon.”
“Hey. Feeling better?”
>”Loads… Thanks, for uh, what you did.”
“That’s what friends do. Just try to remember what I said, and cut back a little?”
>Berry hops off the bench and goes over to pat you on the waist in reassurance.
>However, you watch her suddenly snag her flash from Redheart in the same motion, giving her a muzzle-to-muzzle stare right in her eyes.
>”But if you ever take my flask again, I’ll give it back to you on your head, and they’ll call you Nurse FLASKHEART!”
>Berry walks away triumphantly as she takes a bountiful swig, leaving Redheart shrunken and afraid.
>She returns to Iron’s side and they exchange a hoof-high five, when AJ gets your attention.
>”What’s the plan, partner?”
>What would you like to do?

“Well, now we’re going to go back to the hospital to meet up with Twilight where she’s doing her research, pick her up, and we’re all going to the Crystal Palace. Are you all ready?”
>”Tride and true, let’s go ya’ll!”
>”Okey dokey lokey pokey tokey rokey sokey mo…”
>”Hey, anyone else got a raging migraine..?”
>”Right behind you, babe. Berry, nothing’s going to cure that hangover except time, or coffee if they have it.”
>”Time to show off the coat, Iron Will style!”
>”Let’s get a move on, bonehead.”
>You’re almost pushed out of the library as you wave to the receptionist, who waves back enthusiastically, a little low to the ground.
>Oh, she’s dangling it.
>Like, yeah.
>Took you a moment to get it.
>You walk out to the streets of the Crystal Empire with the hustle and bustle of many crystal ponies going home or going to work during the rush hour, and you and your party join the traffic as you head off towards the hospital.
>As you walk, you see Redheart’s finally walking closer to you again, so you decide to do a little small-talk with her.
“So how is that book coming along? Mind discussing what you have been reading and teach me some stuff at the same time?”
>Redheart looks back at the book she was reading while walking.
>”Oh, this? It’s a very informative read, I’m surprised how much I’ve learned from it. It’s a lot more detailed than anything I read in nursing school…”
>It is a medical mastery book.
“How many volumes do you think it has?”
>She bookmarks her page and flips back to the front index, and you see numerals that you don’t recognize.
“Whoa. What is all that?”

>”They’re an ancient numeral script. There’s 101 copies.”
>She doesn’t sound very enthused by this.
“Hey, at least you’re a fast learner.”
>”In the foreword, it says if you just want a crash course you just need to read the last few in the series, so I’ll be on the lookout for those.”
>You’ll make sure to look for them yourself.
>”But here, look what it says on page 76…”
>You talk with Red all the way to the hospital and she ends up teaching you some of what she read in the medical mastery book, dumbing it down enough for you to understand.
>The practicality of some of these techniques makes you wonder how you ever went patching ponies up without them.
[+15 experience]
[MEDICAL SKILL INCREASED TO EXPERT!]
[Your skill now increases medkit effectiveness by 75%, poisons and diseases have a 100% chance to be removed, and you’re able to perform full physicals on earth ponies, pegasi and unicorns.]
(Experience: 5/1500)
>You and your party arrive at the hospital about 20 minutes later, and you hold the door for each of them to go in, coming into the lobby yourself last.
>Twilight bumps the far surgery door open with her magic at the same time you come in, holding an extra sample of the shadowy substance and a clipboard.
>She spots your party instantly, especially AJ and Pinkie.
>”Applejack, Pinkie Pie! Where have you guys been, they said you were here!”
>The three mares reunite in hugs and friendly banter, having not seen each other for two days.
>You wish you had a friend like that back on Earth.
>Not that you can really remember.
>While AJ and Pinkie are catching up, you look at the clock.
>It is currently 5:30 P.M., and you’re hoping to get to the Crystal Palace soon.
>What would you like to do?

>Before you do anything, you turn back to Berry.
“Hey, since you found that chest in the first place, I want you to have this. I found it in there, might help you out.”
[You give Berry Neck-Ring of Kinich Ahau.]
>She looks at the ring before taking it, holding it like a hot potato in her hooves.
>”Whoa, this thing is weird… Oh, I see what I can do with this… Thanks, Anon. This should be fun to put on…”
>You bemusedly watch at Berry tries her best to snap on the neck-ring without burning herself, eventually succeeding after a few extra tries.
>Her horseshoes weren’t insulated, after all.
>Once she gets it on, she blows out a certain way, and pure flame comes from her alcohol-riddled breath.
>”Ohhh yeeaaah. Much better…”
[Berry no longer needs matches for Drunk Dragon.]
[Firepower for Drunk Dragon increased by 4x.]
[Berry has gained the ability Scorch.]
“Hey Twilight, Red, come here.”
>Twilight finishes her friendly banter with AJ and Pinkie and the three of them rejoin the group.
>”Sorry, it’s just been a while since we’ve seen each other. What’s up?”
“I have this new ability that my markings gave me, like a sort of blessing. I’m not sure the extent of what it does, but it’s really helped out Berry and Pinkie, and I was wondering if you could study it sometime and help me learn a little bit more about it?”
>Twilight thinks for a moment.
>”I’ll see what I can do after we visit Princess Cadance, okay?”
“Thanks. Now Red, can you go grab a few extra medkits and mana potions if they have them? On the way, can you ask a doctor if there’s any patients that my new ability can help? Oh and uh, any supplies or healing potions that might help Cadance’s condition would be appreciated, too.”
>Red nods with an odd expression.
>”Alright babe. I don’t know why you’re getting me to do it, you’re more well-known than I am here, you know.”
>Everytime you go down the street, you’re still getting looks and points.
“Oh, and ask if they have a Doctor’s Kit?”
>She waves back without looking as she goes up to the receptionist, doing what you asked of her.
>Redheart’s gone while the rest of the party chats idly as the time ticks, Cadance’s condition growing ever worse.
>What would you like to do?




>Sometimes you think you’d forget your own head if you left it.
>You turn to Pinkie and go through your massive sack.
>Appreciate the innuendo while the mood’s light, always good advice.
>You’re aware that Cadance could be in that aggression state that Tidal Wave was in.
>Going to have to be careful there, but for now, you settle for handing Pinkie the book you found at the library.
[You give Pinkie Pie Equestrian Wildlife: A History of the Evolution of Animals.]
“So you know I didn't forget.”
>Pinkie gasps at the sight of the book and hugs it tight to her.
>”Thank you thank you thank you! Now we can make up for all the bad stuff I did!”
“Pinkie, what you did wasn’t bad, it was necessary, just like I said before. Now, you can read it in time to help the creatures of this world, and combined with some of the vet skills I managed to pick up from Fluttershy, we shouldn’t be killing anymore. In fact, we can help them on the way.”
>She bounces over to you and hugs you around the waist, making you feel like you’re a tub of toothpaste.
“Y-yeah, you’re welcome.”
>Once she’s finished squeeing and begins to read the book, you check for pelvic damage as you leer over at Twilight.
“Hey Twilight, have you found anything else out from researching?”
>”Well, I got down to Wheaties’ house and first off, she told me she misses you guys and feels like she’s missing out. I’d go visit her after we get this stuff straightened out.”
“Oh, noted.”
>You’ve sort of forgotten about Wheaties over the past few days.
>You definitely want to make sure she’s okay.
>”She gave her sample to me and told me her alchemist friend couldn’t find anything on it, so I took it here to the hospital to compare it to the one you gave me with the special instruments here, and I found something interesting.”
>You notice at this point she only has one sample.
>Twilight backs away from the party to give herself some room, and she slowly opens the container.
>The black substance immediately jumps out in the fresh air and rockets straight for Iron, being the closest in proximity, but it stops short in the middle of the air by Twilight’s magic.
>The shadow is levitated to the ground, and Twilight fires at it with a powerful purple-white beam that slams it into the ground, shapes it to the contours of the spell, and seemingly fries it.
>When she picks it back up, the shadow’s life is gone, and it now presides as a black disk.
>”It’s harmless now, so come here and take a look at this surface.”
>You meet each other halfway, and upon exceedingly close inspection, something catches your eye.
>There are jagged shapes on the skin of the dead shadow, and they have a very similar theme to your markings.
>”See it yet?”
“Yeah, that’s really weird.”
>”I don’t know what this means, and if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I’d have thought your markings were from the shadow. I think whatever this thing is has the ability to copy and mimic other magical qualities. That’s why its corruption is so similar to the old disease that Celestia thought she eradicated… and now its getting its power and life by stealing the runes that the tree gave you.”
>That’s not good at all.
>Bane is getting stronger.
>Now you must avenge your parents- er, wait, wrong hero.
>It’s still really bad, though.
“Anything we can do to stop it?”
>Twilight looks up at you seriously.
>”Find the shadow and destroy it. That’s all we can do, and that’s why we need to get going.”
“Fair point. Everyone ready to go?”
>The party affirms their readiness once they get a look at the shadow coin.
>”Oh, you can have this, by the way. I’ve done my research, but you might be able to do something with it.”
[Twilight gives you Shadow-Infused Rune]
>At this point, Redheart returns, but with another nurse walking with her.
>”Anon, this is Nurse Chrysanthemum.”
>She gives you a happy smile.
>”I heard you’re looking for some supplies, so I got out our cart of surplus. We’re a bit tight right now because of the recent tournament -congratulations, by the way- so as much as we’d like to help you especially with Cadance, we can’t really give things away. We can sell them so we can buy more, though!”
>That’s a fair deal, especially with the huge payout you’ve recently acquired.
“Alright, what do you have?”
[MI AMORE HOSPITAL]
>”There’s everything in this cart, plus a few things in the back.”

-Medkit (“The standard-issue first aid kit.”) [20 bits]
-Supply Medkit (“It’s the same kit, but more portable and less weighty.”) [35 bits]
-Isopropyl Alcohol (“Have to be careful with those wounds.”) [7 bits]
-Roll of Gauze (“One time, my mother used this in stitching and made a gauze t-shirt. I wore it for halloween and pretended to be a mummy.”) [5 bits]
-Needle & String (“For stitching, use with caution.”) [5 bits]
-Set of Bandages (“I hate it when my foal gets into the bandage drawer and pretends he’s really hurt… Can’t say it isn’t cute, though.”) [10 bits]
-Anesthetic (“This helps to ease the pain of more intense injuries, but too much will send them into a coma, so be careful.”) [100 bits]
-Casting Agent  (“Just heat it up and drench gauze in it, keep it slinged, and bones will heal in due time.”) [100 bits]
-Sanitizer (“Always have to be clean and ready for action if you’re going to be messing with ponies’ bodies.”) [5 bits]
-Doctor’s Mask (“Keeps your germs off the patient, a good policy to be followed.”) [10 bits]
-Latex Hoof Gloves (“Oh, seems we don’t have any gloves with fingers at this hospital… But your friends, or Nurse Redheart here could use them!”) [10 bits per pair]
-Doctor’s Coat (You already own this item.) [70 bits]
-Practitioner’s Coat (“It comes with a lot of detailed instructions and special chemicals that can be put to great use by a master in the medical arts.”) [1,200 bits]
-Healing Potion [Small (33% HP) | Medium (66% HP) | Large (100% HP) | Omega (125% Overheal)] {7/14/21/40 bits}
-Mana Potion [Small (33% MP) | Medium (66% MP) | Large (100% MP) | Crystal (33%, used for other functions)] {12/24/36/12 bits}
-Syringe (“You’ll need this to inject any chemicals and withdraw liquids.”) [50 bits per needle]
-Doctor’s Kit (“This is a one of a kind item that usually only hospital heads or wardens possess. It’s a medkit with magical enchantments that really get the job done, and the supplies never run out, a permanent, re-usable medkit!”) [7,500 bits]

>”Is there anything you’d like to take with you?”

-Buy
-Sell
-Talk to Nurse Chrysanthemum


>Inspect Shadow-Infused Rune
[It is the dead remnants of the shadowy substance you gave to Twilight that she pounded into a coin shape. It it cold and sleek in feel, and there are runes on it similar to your own markings. It gives off a very faint magical signal.]
>Inspect Practitioner’s Coat
[The ultimate cloak of medical mastery, you see that it has countless vials and draughts hidden within its many pockets, coming in different sizes for ponies, but there’s one size for minotaurs that fits you. You can’t help but notice the pristine white steam-pressed collar and hoof-sewn buttons. (+25% Overheal on medkits, removes all physical status effects, grants permanent syringe, anesthetic, sanitizer, and comes with a freelance license of medical practice.)]

>You have selected Doctor’s Mask (2), Latex Hoof Gloves, Medkit (5), Medium Healing Potion (3), and Medium Mana Potion (2)
>Total: 220 bits, prefer to pay in gems
>Do you want to buy these items? Y/N


>Y
[You have received 3 Medium Healing Potions, 2 Medium Mana Potions, and a Doctor’s Mask.]
[Redheart has received 5 Medkits, Latex Hoof Gloves and a Doctor’s Mask.]
>You pay with 1 large gem and 1 small gem, with 20 bits change.
>Bit pouch: (3,407 bits, 3 small gems, 6 medium gems, 3 large gems)

>”Thank you, sir, this’ll definitely help us with our next shipment.”
“You’re welcome, I hope it helps.”
>You turn back to the party and see that they’re all ready.
>It is currently 5:00 P.M.
>What would you like to do?



>Use Medium Mana Potion
>66%
>+13 MP<
Anon: [MP: 13/20]
>Use Small Mana Potion
>33%
>+7 MP<
Anon: [MP: 20/20]
[You give Redheart a Medium Healing Potion.]
“Alright, if that takes care of everything, let’s move on to the Palace.
>You get a unanimous cheer of approval, and you wave away at Nurse Chrysanthemum, who waves back.
>Your party returns to the outside world at the lightest cusp of sunset, and you head off for the big palace, seeing that the Crystal Heart is booming with power from the Fair.
>While you’re walking, you look over at Twilight to discuss tactics.
“So, do you have any plans if Cadance is aggressive and attacks us?”
>Twilight’s ears flap down on her head.
>”No, not really. If she wanted to, she could stand hoof to hoof with Luna or Celestia, even if she wouldn’t win. I don’t know what we could do.”
“So long as we find a way for me to touch her eyes, I can remove her corruption. So maybe if she’s sane enough I can just perform a quick physical on her, ask to check her temperature or something. If not…?”
>Twilight perks up again.
>”I may be able to hold her steady for a few seconds with my most powerful binding spell, but I don’t know how long it would hold. I couldn’t counterspell her, so you’d really have to watch that horn.”
>Right, she could turn you into ashes with a single thought.
>As you finally get this realization, your heart starts beating a little faster.
>You really hope she’s alright.
>You need to get your mind off of it.
>You haven’t talked pano e mano with Applejack in a long time, so you slow your pace to meet up with her.
“Hey, how are you feeling?”
>AJ pulls back her hat so she can look at you properly.
>”Who, me?”
“Yeah.”
>”I’m doin’ just fine, Anon.”
>Her gaze returns to her front with that quick, curt statement.
>No… she couldn’t still be…?
“You’re sure you’re alright?”
>”I’m doin’ just fine.”
“It doesn’t sound like it.”
>AJ sighs, and looks back up at you.
>”Can ah just ask you somethin’?”
“Shoot.”
>”What in tarnation was goin’ through that mind of yours when you asked our sweet, innocent Pinkie to do whatever it is you were thinkin’? Look, I don’t personally have any stigma about it, ya’ll can do what you want with your uh, private life. But why her?”
>What do you say?

“It was a stupid mistake that I hopefully fixed… Pinkie was sad, broken down by all of the fighting and violence and death, and she tried to fix at least one thing by confessing her feelings to me. It hurt to see her that way, and just saying no would break her heart. I would’ve been lying if I said I didn’t have feelings for her either, so I went with the first thing that came to mind that could make everyone happy, because I like making people happy, it’s kind of my thing. I… I guess I just got too used to everything coming up milhouse to even think about the downsides, and I just made everything worse. I guess I tried to live up to an unrealistic expectation and it blew up in my face, and for all of what happened, I’m truly sorry. I just want to move on from here, and do my best not to ever make a mistake like that again.”
>AJ was silent throughout your explanation, and when you’re finished you meet each other’s eyes in understanding.
>”It’s a tough thing tryin’ to keep everypony happy, I’ll give ya that one. I can’t tell ya how many times I’ve tried to keep the wishes of my family only to have them conflict and all of it just fallin’ apart. But if you were tryin’ to not to hurt their feelings, well, you sure coulda done better. Instead of tryin’ something half of Equestria hasn’t even heard of, ya should’ve just got them both together and just talked it out, let it down easy so it wasn’t just you droppin’ her like a rotten apple.”
“So you’re saying because I didn’t talk to her with Red, she was a lot more vulnerable with what I said?”
>”That’s right.”
“And what you said would’ve fixed everything, no sour feelings or depression or anything?”
>”Notta one, Anon. Like ah said before, dunno how it works in your world, but that’s all you had ta do here.”
“…I’ll come to you more often about stuff like this. You’re definitely more down-to-earth than most ponies I meet.”
>”Ya mean down to Equestria?”
“Er, yeah.”
>”So that’s your world, huh? Earth?”
“I guess so. … If I can recall, we had other names too, like Gaia or something.”
>”Freaky alien words is all I’d understand.”
“Right, right… Hey AJ? Thanks.”
>She smiles at you and tips her stetson.
>”We should talk more. You’re always business, Anon, and ah like that… But loosen up, got me?”
“Yeah.”
>Once you finish with the conversation with AJ, you look back over at Twilight, suddenly getting yourself a new idea.
“Twi!”
>She glances back as you catch back up.
>”Er, Twilight for now. I like you, trust me, I’ve just not had anyone besides my closest friends and Spike call me Twi.”
“Er, sorry. I was just wondering, do you have any enchantments or spells that might change my voice when I’m wearing this doctor’s mask I bought?”
>You could see Twilight’s lips curling in amusement.
>”I do have a spell like that, but it could only affect your actual vocal cords, not a mask. It’s also permanent unless I change it back.”
“Oh. What kind of voice?”
>”Any kind that I’ve heard before. Why, are you interested…?”
>An opportunity to change your actual voice is interesting indeed, but you don’t feel comfortable with making some big change like that without at least taking certain downsides into consideration, especially Redheart.
“Maybe later.”
>”I can enchant your armor or weapons, though. It’s not my forte, but I could put a little more use in them. It’d take a lot of my magic, though, so if you still wanted to do it, ask me after we’re sure we don’t have to fight Cadance… or if we’re alive after we do it.”
>You note the fact that if you’re alive within the next few hours, you can get some free enchantments.
>The Crystal Palace quickly approaches in your field of view, and it wouldn’t be long at all before you stop at the gate.
>Is there anything else you’d like to do before entering?

>You and your party finally approach the guarded gate to the main palace, and they cross their spears instantly, otherwise motionless and silent.
>You motion for Berry to give you the royal pass, and she obliges.
>You then hold it up as you speak.
“My name is Dr. Anonymous the Legendary, inventor of the newly designed F.U.C.K.E.R. with two other patents on the way and winner of the First Annual Crystal Fair Tournament. Me and my teammates have come here to assist Princess Cadance with her condition, and are on important business from Princess Celestia herself. It would be best that we see her without delay.”
>The guards do nothing, and say nothing.
“…H-hello?”
>At this point, Twilight comes out from behind you, and their gaze instantly averts to her presence.
>”Scholar Twilight Sparkle sent by Princess Celestia… He’s with me. All of them are. We have the Royal Pass, so can we go in?”
>>”Of course, Ms. Sparkle.”
>They uncross their spears and the guard on the left snatches the pass from your hand, as you begrudgingly follow Twilight into the Palace.
>As you’re walking through the entrance hall, you hear snickering from the mares and guys behind you.
>Any pride that was wounded just a moment ago quickly becomes replaced with awe and wonder, and surprise only rivaled by the first time you saw the tree.
>The entrance hall opens up into a wide, unbelievably luminated sanctuary of crystal and gems, emblazoned with magical lights and pristine floors, walls, ceilings and everything else with grace you never imagined you’d ever see in your life.
>Redheart, Berry, Gable and Iron join your starstruck gaze as Twilight, Pinkie and AJ lead on ahead without so much as a blink.
“Wait up!”
>As they move forward through the Great Hall, they begin to ascend a flight of stairs near the other end and you follow behind with the others.
>Berry is quite the tourist, it seems.
>”I’ve never seen anything like that! I mean, bein’ born and raised out in Ponyville sort of makes you miss out, but now I want to drink a fruity martini or something out of these crystal goblets. I mean, this floor is so squeaky clean, you can see the glow from my new ring!”
>Iron Will was checking his reflection in one of the hanging ornaments, admiring his coat once again.
>Redheart stays closer to your side, admiring the view with you.
>”You think we can get a place like this with all that royalty cash coming in?”
“That would be nice…”
>You feel a bit guilty since all you can think about now is how much the decorative gems are worth.
>But at least you aren’t taking them.
“Gable?”
>You see a talon throw a gem back into its holster, and a single feather drifting away from the white and brown blur.
>”I didn’t touch anything.”
“Really?”
>”I look with my claws, bonehead, now keep moving.”
>Riiiight.
>The feeling of newness slowly subsides as the seriousness of the matter returns to the mindset of your party.
>As the three lead you through the increasingly higher and smaller balconies, you turn the corner with them…
>And you take back what you said about not ever seeing anything so surprising.
>This is surprising.
>From what you can tell, the hall you just turned to leads into the royal bedrooms, but about halfway in, the entire hallway and all of its walls and floor and ceiling are completely covered in black veins of shadow just like the ones anchoring Tidal Wave’s head to the table back at the outpost.
>”No…. No no no, this isn’t right… CADANCE?!”
>Twilight yells into the hall, but to no effect.
>You feel a sudden shaking on your leg, and you see Pinkie is hiding behind you just like Fluttershy would, a look of intense fear on her face.
>The rest of the party is rather disturbed by this sight, as well.
>But you know what has to happen.
“We have to go in.”
>Twilight looks back at you for a moment, then at the corrupted hallway.
>”It’s too dangerous… I’ll go myself, I have to go see if she’s okay.”
>What do you say?

“I can’t let you do that Da- Twilight. I’m not about to risk you getting corrupted, and besides, I’m the only one who can remove it. It might be dangerous, but we fought a god of rage and hatred, and a huge star bear yesterday. We go together. Now… If anyone wants to hang back, then wait here. Otherwise, suit up.”
>You could tell the majority of them considered actually staying back since you offered.
>But Redheart stays at your side, Pinkie keeps near you, and one by one the rest of them walk up and form a line with you and Twilight.
>
>Except Iron.
>”Er, I’m not sure if I have the appropriate attitude to be a hero and uh, looks like you guys have everything under control, so I’m just gonna go use the uh, bathroom.”
>He walks away proudly like he successfully got away, but Berry has his coat snagged under her hoof, having a bored expression on her face.
>She yanks him down next to him and pushes him forward.
>”You’re going to help us, or so help me I’ll drown you in my rum and give you the dragon’s kiss!”
>”Oooh, that doesn’t sound half bad.”
>She kicks him hard in his shin, and the rest of the party looks to Twilight.
>Twilight herself begins to charge a spell on her horn that begins to take its entire length in a blinding light, and she throws herself forward, a blinding laser beginning to shear off the top, live layer of the shadowy corruption, en masse.
>As in, she’s clearing yards of it by the second as she runs forward.
>The shadow isn’t happy about this, as it begins to reform itself.
>You rush forward to catch up to Twilight as the party follows, and you make it a sizable distance down the hallway.
>But you’re suddenly tripped!
>You fall face flat to the ground as the rest of them fall on your back.
“Ow…”
>Red helps you up, but when you both look up to see where Twilight had gone, the light fades instantly.
>A high pitched squeal attacks your eardrums as a writhing mass erupts from the ground, sprouting arms and claws as a dark violet light protrudes from its eyes.
>You hear another scream, and more and more, as you back up in a tight group with the rest of your party, weapons drawn as shadow entities surround you, now beginning to form legs by pulling themselves out of the mutated floor.
>The only one who can form words anymore is AJ.
>”This… This isn’t good, is it?”
>Their claws extend with a very sharp noise, and one monster in particular clasps its hands together, a black fire beginning to seep from its core.
“No… No it’s not.”
>They rush at your party with bloodlust in their eyes!




[BATTLE START] [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYtQQv4Z6HE ]

Anon: [HP: 130/130][MP: 20/20][Stats: 20 PD, 25 MD / +10 PA, +15 MA wep / +75 PA R]
>Basic hand to hand combat
>Ogre Dance (0-4 Fail, 5-9 Succeed, confuses enemy)
>Expert spear combat (+15 dmg, ½ crit chance)
>Call Shot (Call specific location to attack, focus dmg and -66% hit chance)
>Shoot dart
>Giga Buster (R, -4 MP, Good attack, +25 MA, 3 turn CD)
>Redheart Cummer (-2 MP, +25 magic dmg, 2 turn CD)
>Flamescythe (-2 MP, Good attack, +10 MA, 4 turn CD)
>Parry (50% hit, deflects enemy atk/counters 50% dmg)
>Heart’s Calling (5tcd, Gives 50% attack boost to entire party for next turn)
>Shoot (R, Shoots F.U.C.K.E.R.)
>Ignite (-2 MP, Fire source, +25 MA, 50% chance to burn for 3 turns, 3tcd)
>Shockwave (-5 MP, AoE +36 MA each, 25% chance to stun for 3 turns each, 7tcd)
>Blessing of Harmony (-10 MP, cures all mental/spiritual status effects)
Red: [HP: 130/130][Stats: 30 PD, 25 MD / +40 PA wep]
>Basic Spear Combat
>{S.S.S. +15 dmg with Anon’s/Red’s separate dmg.. 5 turn CD}
>Block (+5 PD and 25% chance to negate all dmg.)
>Parry (50% hit, deflects enemy atk/counters 50% dmg)
>Downforce (Good attack, +12 PA, split between all enemies, 3tcd)

Pinkie: [HP: 105/105][Stats: 12 PD, 6 MD, -25%B / +100 PA wep / +15 PA R]
>Sugar Rush (+3/+3 PA, hits twice)
>Party cannon (R, x3 damage, 5 turn CD)
>Darkstrike (Epic attack (rnd) single, or Good attack AoE split, 90% chance to bleed enemies hit, 7tcd)
>Parry (50% hit, deflects enemy atk/counters 50% dmg)
>Hypno-Necklace (0-4 fail, 5-9 win, confuses enemy)
>Shoot Bow

Berry: [HP: 220/220][Stats: 40 PD, 60 MD, +10% FD +15 HP / +44 PA wep]
>Throw beer bottle
>Drunk Dragon (R, 9.6x multiplier AoE, 24x against wood, 3tcd)
>Fisticuffs (Basic attack)
>Do No Evil (Good Attack, +25 PA, 5tcd)
>Trample (+25 PA, 50% chance to crit for x2.5, 2tcd)
>Scorch (R, +30 MA, x2.5 and 75% chance to burn, 5tcd)

AJ: [HP: 240/240][Stats: 40 PD, 20 MD, +15 HP / +50 PA wep]
>Treekicker (x2 damage, 2 turn CD)
>Lasso (R, Immobilizes enemy for 3 turns)
>Bash (Basic attack)
>Cyli-Spin (Good attack, +25 PA AoE split between enemies, 50% chance to stun affected enemies for 5 turns, 4tcd)

Gable: [HP: 200/200][Stats: 20 PD, 12 MD]
>Winged Fury (x5, 3 turn CD)
>Screech (+15 PA, 20% chance to fear for 5 turns, 3 turn CD)
>Flight (Allows 3-dimensional travel / R, +20 PA, 40% bleed chance for 5 turns, 4 turn CD)
>Rip and Tear (Good attack, 25% bleed chance for 5 turns, 5 turn CD)
>Frost Nova (5tcd, +75 MA AoE solid, immobilizes for 3 turns)
>Slash (Basic attack, 10% chance to crit for x2)
Iron: [HP: 275/275][Stats: +10 PD / +10 PA wep]
>Pummel (Basic attack)
>Charge (+25 PA, 2 turn CD)
>Enrage (+75% PA, -25% PD for 5 turns, 8 turn CD)
>Assertive Annihilation (Good attack, 50% chance to stun for 3 turns, 5 turn CD)
>OOOH YEEAAAH (Increases Party defense by 25% for 3 turns, 6 turn CD)
Monstrous Acolyte: [HP: 200/200][MP: 50/50]
Shadowy Fiend 1: [HP: 150/150]
Shadowy Fiend 2: [HP: 150/150]
Shadowy Fiend 3: [HP: 150/150]
Shadowy Fiend 4: [HP: 150/150]
Shadowy Fiend 5: [HP: 150/150]
Shadowy Fiend 6: [HP: 150/150]
[AWAITING BATTLE COMMANDS]
[ANONYMOUS]
>Attacks Shadowy Fiend 1 with Shoot F.U.C.K.E.R! [7 turn CD]
>7 (+75+25 ammo)(x2 doubles) = >214<
Shadowy Fiend 1: [HP: -64/150]
>SF1 returns to the shadows from which it came.
[REDHEART]
>Attacks with Downforce! [3 turn CD]
>88 (+12 PA)(x2 doubles) = >200<
>The Acolyte withstands damage better than his counterparts.
[Acolyte PD/MD: -33%]
Monstrous Acolyte: [HP: 189/200]
Shadowy Fiend 2: [HP: 117/150]
Shadowy Fiend 3: [HP: 117/150]
Shadowy Fiend 4: [HP: 117/150]
Shadowy Fiend 5: [HP: 117/150]
Shadowy Fiend 6: [HP: 117/150]
[PINKIE PIE]
>Attacks with Darkstrike! [7 turn CD]
>87<
>15 split<
[Shadows cannot be bled!]
>The Acolyte withstands damage better than his counterparts.
[Acolyte PD/MD: -33%]
Monstrous Acolyte: [HP: 179/200]
Shadowy Fiend 1: [HP: 102/150]
Shadowy Fiend 2: [HP: 102/150]
Shadowy Fiend 3: [HP: 102/150]
Shadowy Fiend 4: [HP: 102/150]
Shadowy Fiend 5: [HP: 102/150]
Shadowy Fiend 6: [HP: 102/150]
[BERRY PUNCH]
>Attacks with Drunk Dragon!
>3 (x9.6)(x4 quads)(x2 critical strike) = >230<
>38 split<
>The Acolyte withstands damage better than his counterparts.
[Acolyte PD/MD: -33%]
Monstrous Acolyte: [HP: 166/200]
Shadowy Fiend 1: [HP: 64/150]
Shadowy Fiend 2: [HP: 64/150]
Shadowy Fiend 3: [HP: 64/150]
Shadowy Fiend 4: [HP: 64/150]
Shadowy Fiend 5: [HP: 64/150]
Shadowy Fiend 6: [HP: 64/150]
[APPLEJACK]
>Attacks with Cyli-Spin! [4 turn CD]
>99 (+25 PA)(x2 doubles) = >248<
>41 split<
>The Acolyte withstands damage better than his counterparts.
[Acolyte PD/MD: -33%]
>Shadowy Fiends 4 and 5 are stunned! (2 turns left)
Monstrous Acolyte: [HP: 152/200]
Shadowy Fiend 2: [HP: 23/150]
Shadowy Fiend 3: [HP: 23/150]
Shadowy Fiend 4: [HP: 23/150, S]
Shadowy Fiend 5: [HP: 23/150, S]
Shadowy Fiend 6: [HP: 23/150]
[GABLE]
>Attacks with Frost Nova! [5 turn CD]
>7 (+75 MA)(x2 doubles) = >164<
>The Acolyte withstands damage better than his counterparts.
[Acolyte PD/MD: -33%]
Monstrous Acolyte: [HP: 97/200]
Shadowy Fiend 2: [HP: -141/150]
Shadowy Fiend 3: [HP: -141/150]
Shadowy Fiend 4: [HP: -141/150, S]
Shadowy Fiend 5: [HP: -141/150, S]
Shadowy Fiend 6: [HP: -141/150]
>The rest of the shadowy fiends are obliterated by the powerful torrent of ice!
>Monstrous Acolyte absorb the magic with his black flame, and dark ice spikes begin to grow from his body, increasing his size, attack and defense!
Monstrous Acolyte: [HP: 172/354][MP: 89/89]
[IRON WILL]
>Attacks Monstrous Acolyte with Assertive Annihilation! [5 turn CD]
>86<
>The Acolyte’s absorbed strength has greatly increased his defense!
[Acolyte PD/MD: -66%]
>29<
Monstrous Acolyte: [HP: 143/354][Abilities: Shadow Bolt (+50 MA, 25% chance to manaseal), Darkness Flame (+10 MA, x10 AoE split, 3tcd), Black Ice (-66% HP to target, 50% chance to stun for 3 turns, 5tcd), Demonic Ritual (+200 HP heal/+50 MP heal, revives 3 Shadowy Fiends, 7tcd), Maso-Manipulate (Envelopes party within self, -40% HP to party, usable once)]
[AWAITING ENEMY ATTACK…]
>Monstrous Acolyte uses Demonic Ritual! [7 turn CD]
>He expands his magical power and the ice armor gained from Gable’s Frost Nova further increases in size as a black tendril eminates from his body, beginning to reshape his body for greater attack and defense!
>+200 HP<
>+50 MP<
>The Black tendril then splits into three smaller tentacles that strike the ground around him, and three more Shadowy Fiends rise from the ground, ready for battle!
Monstrous Acolyte: [HP: 343/554][MP: 139/139]
Revived Fiend 1: [HP: 200/200][Abilities: Dusk Claw (+35 MA, 10% chance to manaseal), Flurry Strikes (+25 PA AoE solid, 3tcd), Absorption (75% chance to transform into a Monstrous Acolyte if hit with magical attack), Life’s Destruction (+150 PA, +20 MA, 7tcd)]
Revived Fiend 2: [HP: 200/200]
Revived Fiend 3: [HP: 200/200]
[AWAITING BATTLE COMMANDS]
1
[ANONYMOUS / REDHEART]
>Attacks Monstrous Acolyte with Synchronized Spear Strike! (5 turn CD)
>9 (+10 PA, +15 MA)(x3 trips) = >102<
>7 (+40 PA) = >47<
>+15 Synch bonus<
>164<
>The Acolyte’s absorbed strength has greatly increased his defense!
[Acolyte PD/MD: -66%]
>54<
Monstrous Acolyte: [HP: 289/554]
[PINKIE PIE]
>Attacks Monstrous Acolyte with Party Cannon! [5 turn CD]
>3 (+60/+40 PA)(x3)(x3 trips) = >954<
[Acolyte PD/MD: -66%]
>315<
>The Acolyte is shredded by the near-sound breaking Sir Prize and Miss Direction, being destroyed by the impalpable force of the blast.
[Monstrous Acolyte has died.]
[BERRY PUNCH]
>With nothing to attack, she guards!
[+5 PD next turn]
[APPLEJACK]
>With nothing to attack, she guards!
[+5 PD next turn]
[GABLE]
>With nothing to attack, he guards!
[+5 PD next turn]
[IRON WILL]
>With nothing to attack, he guards!
[+5 PD next turn]
[AWAITING ENEMY ATTACKS…]
>Revived Fiend 1 attacks the party with Flurry Strikes! [3 turn CD]
>7 (+25 PA) = >32 solid<
>Revived Fiend 1 attacks Iron Will with Dusk Claw!
>7 (+35 MA) = >42<
>Revived Fiend 1 attacks the party with Flurry Strikes! [3 turn CD]
>7 (+25 PA) = >32 solid<
[PD and MD absolve the attacks to varied degrees.]
Anon: [HP: 116/130][MP: 20/20]
Red: [HP: 126/130] 
Pinkie: [HP: 65/105]
Berry: [HP: 220/220]
AJ: [HP: 240/240]
Gable: [HP: 200/200]
Iron: [HP: 204/275]
[Pinkie’s natural physical defense has increased by +5!]
[AWAITING BATTLE COMMANDS]
2
[ANONYMOUS]
>Attacks Revived Fiend 1 with Flamescythe! (-2 MP)[4 turn CD]
>95 (+10 MA) = >105<
F1: [HP: 95/200]
[REDHEART]
>Attacks Revived Fiend 1 with Basic Spear Combat
>2 (+40 PA) = >42<
F1: [HP: 53/200]
[PINKIE PIE]
>Attacks Revived Fiend 2 with Sugar Rush!
>5/5 (+3/+3)(+60/+40)(x2 doubles) = >232<
F2: [HP: -32/200]
>The Revived Fiend is decimated by Pinkie’s overzealous attacks, shredding away into nothingness.
[Revived Fiend 2 has died.]
[BERRY PUNCH]
>With nothing to attack, she guards!
[+5 PD next turn]
[APPLEJACK]
>Attacks Revived Fiend 1 with Bash!
>4 (+50 PA) = >54<
F1: [HP: -1/200]
>Applejack slams through the first fiend with a powerful righteous swing, flattening it into the ground back where it came from.
[Revived Fiend 1 has died.]
[GABLE]
>With nothing to attack, he guards!
[+5 PD next turn]
[IRON WILL]
>With nothing to attack, he guards!
[+5 PD next turn]
[AWAITING ENEMY ATTACK…]
>Revived Fiend 3 uses absorption!
>Revived Fiend 3 attacks Applejack with Life’s Destruction! [7 turn CD]
>7 (+150 PA, +20 MA) = >177<
[-40 PD, -20 MD]
>117<
>Applejack is stunned! (3 turns left)
AJ: [HP: 123/240, S]
[AWAITING BATTLE COMMANDS]
3
[ANONYMOUS]
>Attacks Revived Fiend 3 with Expert Spear Combat!
>4 (+15, +10 PA, +15 MA)(x2 Critical) = >88<
F3: [HP: 112/200]

[REDHEART]
>Attacks Revived Fiend 3 with Basic Spear Combat!
>0 (+40 PA) = >40<
F3: [HP: 72/200]

[PINKIE PIE]
>Attacks Revived Fiend 3 with Sugar Rush!
>1 (+3/+3)(+60/+40) = >107<
F3: [HP: -35/200]

>Pinkie delivers the final blow once again with her legendary daggers, slicing up the final Fiend until it retreats back into the shadows, the hallway growing still.

[BATTLE END]

[LOOT]
[MONSTROUS ACOLYTE] - You have found a half-eaten sandwich, and an Enchanter’s Rune!
[BATTLEGROUND] - You have found a medium gem and a Crystal Poleaxe (2H, 35 PA, Grants Parry)!
>…

>As Pinkie sends the shadow back to its depths and overcomes her fear, you and the rest of the party are left standing in battle positions.
>It takes a moment for anyone to realize that the battle is over, and Redheart finally runs over to AJ who got quite the nasty hit.
>”Applejack? Say something if you can hear me, anything.”
>”…Ah… Ah got laid ou’, didn’ I…?”
>Redheart checks her over along with Pinkie who arrives beside her, and Red starts to patch her up.
[Red uses Medkit on AJ]
>25% (+75% skill) = >100%<
>+240 HP<
AJ: [HP: 240/240]
>Redheart and Pinkie help her get up, and AJ snatches her hat off of the veined floor and sets it back on her helmet.
>You still wonder why she bothers with that.
“You’re okay?”
>”Yeah, I’m fine… thanks for helpin’ me out, ya’ll.”
“We wouldn’t let you just lay there, AJ.”
>Red interjects.
>”I need to get the rest of you bandaged up too, especially you, Pinkie. We don’t know what’s waiting for us out there.”
[Red uses medkit on Party.]
[Party fully healed!]
[Redheart has 4 medkits left.]
>You and the rest of the party look back out at the hallway, and you suddenly grasp the fact that Twilight’s long gone.
“AJ, Pinkie… You’ve been here before. Do you know where she was leading us?”
>Pinkie nods exuberantly.
>”Oh yeah! Cadance’s bedroom is like three floors up around two corners and down this little special staircase thing and the third door on the left!”
“Can you lead us there?”
>”Okey dokey lokey!”
>Pinkie jumps and bounces to her destination, but upon the first bounce she sinks straight into the black veins, and she scrambles to get out before they overtake her.
>”Wowowow! … Okay, no bouncing! Nopony jump!”
>Not that anyone was jumping, but alright.
>AJ and Pinkie lead the front of the party towards Cadance’s bedroom, up the three flights of stairs and you see that everything out from the point where you first saw it is covered in the shadowy veins that pulse with life.
>There were a few pods with a sickly purple liquid inside them, as well.
>On the way through, you see a fork up ahead where AJ and Pinkie are turning left.
>To your left is a door that seems slightly ajar from a large black root keeping it open.
>To your right is another door that for some unfathomable reason is completely unhindered by black veins, shining glossily like a crystal.
>The others haven’t noticed these.
>Should you stay with the party, go through one of the doors, or turn right to see what awaits?

“Wait a second, why's this section not overrun with corruption? AJ, Pinkie, any idea what might be over this way?”
>AJ and Pinkie look back at the door that was untouched.
>”Huh, now ain’t that a conundrum…”
>”I don’t remember what door that is, Nonny! We should like, totally check it out.”
>You look back and see the other door as well.
>Only one thing to do in a situation like this.
>Used Window of Reality
>You raise the window to your vision, and you see your face only for a moment as the glass begins to fog and split into two paths.
>These paths converge at the edge of the window, and the fog slowly clears to reveal your destiny.
>One path is if you take the open door. There is an image of a slim, spiraled triangle with some sort of magic flowing around it.
>The other path is if you take the uncorrupted door. There seems to be some sort of uncertainty as the fog hasn’t completely uncleared, but you can make out a four-legged figure in the midst of the mist… and if you’re not mistaken, it looks like there are two heads.
>…

>What would you like to do?


>Before deciding, your eyes roll to the one of the pods that are growing out of the wall, pulsing and looking embryonic.
>You slowly approach it as the rest of the party watches you carefully, and you draw your spear, readying it.
>Whatever this thing is, you have a feeling it has something to do with whatever is behind the untouched door.
>Yet, you also feel a sense of great uncertainty.
>Do you want to attack the pulsing pod? Y/N


>Inspect Pod
[Ingrained into the veins that cover the halls, it forms a big, bulbous bubble shaped like a heavyset man’s gut, drooping over and pulsing as if it were breathing. The sickly violet liquid inside churns from an unknown source, and smells rather foul, and a bit spicy. There is a bit of light given off from it, but not much.]

>You decide to leave it for now and go to the untouched door, your group a little less hesitant to look over your shoulder now.
“Keep on guard just in case.”
>You only hear Gable’s voice.
>”Just be careful, we don’t need to be getting killed when we have more important things to do.”
“Optimistic, I see.”
>”Just open the door.”
>You place your hand on the doorknob, and pull down.
>It doesn’t budge.
“It’s locked…”
>What would you like to do?


>You kneel down and raise your hands to the doorknob, slowly letting magic flow through your fingers as you once did.
>Your hands begin to glow with a white aura similar to a unicorn horn, as you focus deep within the lock on its tumblers, attempting to unlock it manually.
>You hear the sound of a clicking latch, and you realize it just unlocked.
>The rest of the party looks on in awe, Berry starting in first.
>”Do you think anypony else has ever thought of doing that with their magic? I sure as hell would love a horn, I’d do all sorts of things with that…”
>”Iron Will has a horn you can use anytime, sugarplum.”
>You hear another kick and a howling from the minotaur as you turn the knob and open the door.
>Walking in, you see that the room inside is untouched as well, seeming to be some sort of living common room.
>What’s interesting is that you now know why there isn’t any corruption here.
>It’s all pulled in and focused at the center, a black, dripping mass in the center of the room.
>The sound you and your party made when walking in startles whatever it is, and it slowly uncurls itself, four legs lifting it off the ground, and two heads suddenly popping up from the body, one with red eyes and one with violet eyes.
>Both of the heads scream impossibly loud screeches that shake the very palace!
>It doesn’t charge immediately, but threatens you with its screeches and pounds, all the while black veins are quickly beginning to crawl towards your party.
>What do you do?

>You raise your hands and let your markings power up, a white lining coming across your body as that familiar white glow that consoled Berry and Pinkie flows outward towards it.
[-10 MP]
>As soon as it touches the corrupted monster, both heads scream out in pain and the black skin slowly begins to boil off.
>The glow that comforts the living so seems to burn its enemy like it were a destructive, burning gas.
>You lower your hand as the glow does its work on its own, the monster greatly reducing in size from the boiled shadow as it slowly begins to reveal who was under the veil.
>All this time, this monster had been brewing itself from a live host, and you and your party walk forward to see.
>In the midst of the dead, liquid shadow, lays an oddly-shaped black unicorn, with holes in its legs and a red and violet eye each, stunned from the event that just took place.
>It blinks, and the eyes suddenly return to a natural green, the same shape as its resined insect wings.
>You have no idea what this is, but it seems the rest of your party does.
>Redheart and Iron being the closest to you suddenly take your arms and pull you back from it, the former warning you.
>”Don’t get close to it Anon, it’s a changeling!”
“A what?”
>Applejack finishes.
>”It’s a no-good varmint of Queen Chrysalis, an old enemy that tried to take over Canterlot a while ago. They’re nothin’ but pure evil, no wonder that there shadow made it so powerful!”
>They are very hostile towards this changeling that now seems a bit scared by the anger, a frightened look upon its face.
>It stands up and slowly backs away, the wings beginning to flap in case anybody makes sudden movements towards it.
>What do you say?


“Okay, duly noted, and if we need to put it down we will with extreme prejudice. Until then… calm. It’s just scared, right? It’s not our enemy right now, so let’s see what it has to say.”
>As you say calm, you lower their hooves and weapons, and you step forward, crouching over to the changeling and slowly holding out your hands non threateningly.
“Now, first thing’s first… can you understand me? We don't want a fight, and I think you don't either. Can we just talk?”
>The changeling stays silent for a moment, almost as if it were acting on instinct to fight or flee.
>After a long, tense moment, it begins to part its lips, and a ragged, neutral voice emanates from its throat.
>”What did you do?”
“I just removed the corruption that had turned you into some sort of monster. Uh, what’s your name, miss?”
>”Miss?”
“…Mister?”
>It thinks for a moment.
>”I do not have a name, nor can be called by what you say miss or mister. Now tell me where I am!”
>Now it sounds a bit more demanding after gaining a bit more confidence.
>You decide the best thing to do right now is tell the truth.
“You’re at the Palace in the Crystal Empire. It’s currently being corrupted by a powerful enemy named Bane, and we’re here to stop it. We found you here covered in the stuff. Now that I answered yours, you’ll answer mine, right?”
>It slowly nods, the wings still flapping.
“How did you get here?”
>”… I was flying. I don’t know when I came here, but I was trying to fight off something that took over my form. I suppose I failed.”
>More like helped it turn you into a gigantic monster.
“Do you know anything about it?”
>”No.”
>You look back at your party for a moment, most of them still distrustful.
>Looking back, you ask the big question.
“Where did you come from?”
>”The hive… my home. We were attacked by something… something black and perilous. We tried to fight it, but most of us scattered. I was one of them. I would never have spoken to your kind, but I don’t know how to get back… I’ve lost contact with my Queen.”
“Queen Chrysalis?”
>”Yes, my mother, and my ruler.”
>Mother and ruler?
>Queen, hive, insect-like, now it makes sense.
>So you know it wants to leave, but it has nowhere to go, and without a name.
“Why don’t you have a name?”
>”None of us have names.”
>That’s a shame.
>You want to further befriend this creature, but it seems old wounds still exist on both sides between it and your party.
>What would you like to do?



>Used Medium Healing Potion
>+66% MP<
>+7 MP<
Anon: [HP: 130/130][MP: 15/20]

[LOOT]
[BATTLEGROUND] - There is nothing here!
>…

>You really don’t want this changeling running off for some reason.
>One of the biggest reasons you suppose is that there’s an entire civilization being destroyed by this shadow.
>Looking back at your party, you do no less than speak your mind.
“‘The enemy of the enemy is my friend,’ right? If Bane's invading their hive, it probably has a purpose for doing so. We should give some thought to helping them, if for no other reason than to weaken the shadow.”
>They all stare at you in silence.
“Plus, y'know… right thing to do? Help those in need?
>AJ finally speaks up.
>”Ya’ll know what a hivemind is, Anon? Every changeling in existence has their mind connected with Queen Chrysalis, and she commands every single one of ‘em.”
“Yeah, but-”
>Pinkie interrupts you.
>”And Chrysalis is just a big fat evil monster who doesn’t have any feelings or parties! All she tried to do when she was at Canterlot was try to marry Twilight’s brother and take over Equestria!”
“W-”
>Redheart now takes the lead and finishes you off.
>”Anon, If you didn’t know, Chrysalis locked Princess Cadance in a dungeon, and left her there for dead. She overpowered Celestia when she was imbued with love’s magic and sicked her little children on the entire populus. For all we know, this one’s just been lying to get on our good side!”
“She said she lost contact with Chrysalis though, right?”
>”-It- could be lying, and very well is.”
>You sigh heavily, glancing back at the changeling who is silently observing the conversation.
“But… for right now, let's deal with the problem at hand. I fear that your Queen, your home and your people might have been painfully corrupted like you have been. IF you say that this black peril invaded your hive, then that’s what most likely happened.
>The changeling’s face finally begins to show emotion, an overbearing sorrow coming over it.
“No creature in this world deserves such a thing… but I'm willing to help. In fact, I might just be one of the very few that can help save them. I know that you and my party distrust each other, but I hold no ill will against you and your people. I’m not from this world at all, so I don’t know either side of the story very well, but I do know that the best thing to do right now is to help each other, so…”
>You can feel the stares boring into the back of your head, but you’ll explain it to them afterwards.
“How about this… we've got a really pressing problem to go deal with right now. This castle's a deathtrap, but it looks like it’s relatively safe in this room. You hold up here, we go take care of this stuff, and we'll come back and discuss this when our friend's not in the same danger you were just in. That’s you helping us. If you stay here and wait, we’ll come back and help you figure out what’s going on. Can you trust us, so we can trust you?”
>The changeling’s eyes dart across each member of your group, before finally setting back on yours.
>”So long as they do not attack, neither will I. I’ll stay.”
>You couldn’t help but smile at her/its cooperation.
“Awesome. Now, this thing can control ponies' minds, so don't open the door for -anyone- unless it's us. Tell anyone who comes knocking that the human and his friends told you to, for your own safety.”
>It nods robotically, and you nod back as a sign of good will.
>You turn back around and see that they haven’t stopped looking at you.
>”What’s gotten into ya, Anon? We just told ya that it’s dangerous, so you go off makin’ friends!? You’re worse than my sister, ah swear! At least give us a good reason for doin’ this!”
>What do you say?

“Well, besides helping her like any good pony would do, she can help us find that hive and lead us right to Bane.”
>Gable finally speaks out with a very strong tone.
>”It is not a she, Anon. It’s a freak of nature that’s no better than this shadow we’ve been chasing, and you’re too blind to see it because you haven’t been here.”
>Iron agrees with him.
>”I was in Canterlot when the attack happened, brother. Let me tell ya right now that there was a whole lot more injury and casualty that day than you saw in Ponyville, so don’t be getting the wrong idea here.”
“OKAY! Look… whether or not s- it’s actually evil or not, it’s our only lead to get to that hive right now, which we now know we have to do. Maybe not to save those in danger, but at least to eradicate whatever’s left of the shadow. We can’t do it though unless we have someone who’s been there before, and it can lead us through the hive. We’ll talk about it some more later, okay? We have a princess to save.”
>You give a smile and wave to the changeling before ushering your party out of the door and back into the veined hallway.
>The heat of the discussion dies down instantly as you return to the abyss, and AJ and Pinkie start leading the way once again.
>There is still the door propped open by the black root, and the other turn that could hold other things.
>What would you like to do?

>Your eyes dart over to the black root that’s keeping the other door propped open.
>Then your eyes look over at one of the pods.
>You forgot about those weird pulsing things.
>You redraw your spear and approach it yet again, but you then have a thought.
>Might as well try, just to be safe…
>Used Window of Reality

>The mirror once reflecting the light around it begins to bend physics to its will, changing the image of the window and showing you fog.
>This fog eventually clears, as a single path splits out from the corners, revealing the future.
>This picture shows what will happen if you open one of the shadowy pods. The fog clears much more quickly than it usually does, and there is a red light.

>This is all it shows you, and it leaves you even more confused than before.
>There’s only one real way to find out, then.
>Do you want to attack the purple pod? Y/N


>You suddenly step back.
>From all the thoughts going through your mind, a few of them scare you, so you walk back over to the group and wave down their attention.
“Hey, Pinkie!”
>”Hi Nonny!”
>She waves at you like you hadn’t seen each other in days.
“Er, could you help me out real quick?”
>She walks normally up to you with the rest of the party wondering what’s going on.
“Can you take that bow of yours and shoot that pod? I’m pretty sure there’s something inside, but it’s best to pop it at a distance. It’s just like a balloon, right?”
>Pinkie starts to reach for her new hunting bow, but she suddenly looks back at you with a sad expression.
>”I’m sorry, I don’t have any arrow thingies…”
>Oh right, you never went to the store to get any.
>Oh well.
>Is there another way you would like to attack the pod?
[ERR 0x834U56YTR4599 – MEMORY FAULTATION LOCATED IN SUBJECT 3-I-W-A NODE]
[REPORTING. . .]
[SCANNING FOR CHANGES. . .]
[EDITING LOG. . .]
[DONE]

>”Wait a minute, Nonny!”
>You look back as you see the pink party pony problematically probing her pack, probably looking for something.
>After a long moment of reviewing, she suddenly pulls out a quiver with three yew arrows inside it.
>”I stowed it reaaaaall tight inside my bag for safe keeping! Should I still shoot the purple thingy?”
>Do you want Pinkie to shoot the pod? Y/N


“Yeah, go ahead, just be ready for whatever comes out.”
>Pinkie notches an arrow in the string and slowly sets the pike on the ground, pulling the string back with her teeth as she aims at the pod with one eye open.
>”Erryne rthy?”
>Applejack, Redheart, Gable, Iron and Berry all brace themselves for the upcoming event.
>With the go ahead from your thumbs up, she pulls back a little farther, and fires.
>You watch as the arrowhead pierces the pod, and suddenly expands outward in a very rapid fashion as the gas underneath begins to initiate a rapid chemical degredation process you likely see on a daily basis.
>In short, it fucking explodes.
>The power of the explosion knocks you and your entire party back into the wall, and in yours and Iron’s heavier cases, through it.
[-40% HP to the party, -60% to you and Iron Will.]
Anon: [HP: 52/130]
Red: [HP: 78/130]
Pinkie: [HP: 63/105]
Berry: [HP: 132/220]
AJ: [HP: 144/240]
Gable: [HP: 120/200]
Iron: [HP: 110/275]
>In fact, you’re blasted straight through the wall back where the changeling resides.
>Your glazed eyes stare at it upside down, with a surprised expression.
>”Are you alright, human?”
“…Gghhhhhhhh.”
>You slowly pick yourself off the ground and sit up, rubble and debris falling off of your armor as you look out at the hallway.
>The crystal underneath the blown away shadow was cracked, but still holds strong.
>You don’t see any of the mares or Gable because they’re outside of the room, but you do see Iron got knocked in with you, and he was still stirring with some major cuts all over him.
“You okay…?”
>”Oooh… Did I chip my horn..? I think I chipped it, is it chipped?”
“No..”
>”Alright… Iron Will is fine, brother…”
>You take a moment before you stand yourself up, and you go over and help up Iron.
>His heavy weight ends up pulling you to the ground with him, and it takes another few minutes to get back up properly.
>The ringing in your ears subsides by the time you’re finally standing upright, and you move outside to the hallway where you see the rest of them recovering.
“Everyone… okay?”
>Berry is the first to answer, holding a bloody wound on her face.
>”Ffffffffffffffffuck! What was in that thing?!”
>The rest of them pop up in tandem, having moderate injuries but nobody being unconscious or majorly hurt.
>Everyone gets readjusted from the aftermath, and you all look at where the pod was.
>There’s nothing inside except the violet liquid that was inside it, now bubbling apparently from the oxygen.
>Yet, you now feel a powerful magical signal from this liquid.
>What would you like to do?

>You pop open a healing potion and motion for everyone to gather round.
“Here, this’ll help a bit…”
>Party used Medium Healing Potion
>66% heal / 7 = >9.4%<
Anon: [HP: 64/130]
Red: [HP: 90/130]
Pinkie: [HP: 73/105]
Berry: [HP: 154/220]
AJ: [HP: 166/240]
Gable: [HP: 140/200]
Iron: [HP: 133/275]
>After everyone gets a taste, you realize with all the people you gave the potion to, it didn’t do all that much good.
>You look at Redheart and she nods, and the two of you get to work.
[Redheart uses Medkit on party.]
>25% (+75% skill) = 100% / 7 = >14.3%<
>Collective bonus +50%<
[Party fully healed!]
>You and Redheart finish fixing everyone up while working as a team, and you get yourselves back up.
>That’s when you really feel it.
>The liquid has some sort of magical presence, no doubt.
“Do you guys feel that magic?”
>They all look at you, and trace your sight to the liquid pouring out of the pod.
>Redheart is the first to point out the obvious.
>”We don’t use magic, babe.”
>Then a neutral voice returns to your eardrums, the changeling speaking through the hole in the wall.
>”I feel it as well. There is a magical potency inside.”
>You thank the changeling and it returns to the uncorrupted room.
>You sneak up to the liquid to examine it properly.

>Inspect Pod Liquid
[A violet, bubbling substance. It has a powerful magical presence once it reacts to oxygen in the air, being manufactured in the pods. Perhaps it is a power source, or some sort of collection. Whatever it may be, if you had a vial or bottle, you could salvage it.]
>It’s at this point you realize just how long it’s been since you first came in here with Twilight.
“We should go.”
>The rest of the party nods, and AJ and Pinkie take the lead once more, actually getting closer to the corner this time.
>The door that was opened by the black root has been destroyed as well as the room inside.
>However, you see the glint of something with a shine on the ground underneath the rubble.
>If you have some sort of container, you can grab some of that liquid as well.
>And there is also the right turn that is still available.
>What would you like to do?




>The only containers you have are the vials from your potion-making kit, and your empty chest.
>The chest probably can’t hold liquid very well since it’s pretty old.
>You’ll have to use the vials to get some samples, but you can refill it later.
>You approach the liquid as the party continues onward, and quickly fill it up with the already-pouring substance, making sure not to cap it too tightly lest it explode again.
>With this method, you’re able to fill three vials.
[ACQUIRED (3) VIALS OF POD-LIQUID]
>Unfortunately, without any prior knowledge of this substance except that it explodes on contact with oxygen for the first time, you’ll have to test it out other ways to find out what it is.
>It probably has something to do with magic, so that’s a good starting point.
>On the way to catch up with the group, you then scoop up the shining item on the ground, which was presumably in the open door from before.
“…Whoa.”
[ACQUIRED MAGICAL SCROLL: TEMPORARY HORN]
>As you begin to read it to see what the fuss was about, you see the words beginning to glow upon the paper and wisp towards you, and you quickly shut it.
>You’ve played enough games back home with that effect to know what that does.
>You stow the scroll in your pack and run out to meet up with the party, already going upstairs down the left side of the hall.
>Rejoining the party, you nudge Redheart to let her know you’re here and she smiles at you.
>You and the group reach the crest of the stairs, and there is another fork of the hallway, both going forward and left/right.
>Coming up to it, AJ and Pinkie start leaning towards the right.
>You inspect the hallway closely, but see nothing.
>Nothing besides the intense black veins still corrupting everything.
>Is there anything you’d like to do on the way to Cadance’s bedroom?


>You run up to Pinkie and tap her on the shoulder to get her attention.
“Hey, now that we know that these pods things on the wall explode, we need to take them out from a safe distance. Can you use that bow of yours and blow the rest of them up?”
>Pinkie gives you a concerned look, along with AJ and Berry who overhears this suggestion.
>”But Nonny, won’t we all get blown up again? It made a big boom and pop, a lot more kablooie than kablooie powder!”
“If we stay really far back, we’ll be fine. See, my reasoning is that these pods are obviously here for some reason, and since there’s a powerful magical fluid inside them, maybe they’re powering whatever’s really gotten a hold of Cadance.”
>They all think for a moment, Berry receding the silence.
>”That’s not actually a bad plan, I mean, if I were gonna be a huge, disgusting evil monster, I’d want a little extra kick.”
>AJ sighs and directs Pinkie to another nearby pod.
>”If ya’ll are really gonna do this, then get it over with. Everypony, get behind the corner!”
>Pinkie takes her bow back out as the other six of you go back behind the corner, Pinkie coming far back about the same distance.
>She sets her pike on the ground, draws her second arrow, and pulls it back.
>Being a much farther shot, it wouldn’t be very helpful if she missed, so she takes her time to really get it down.
>In the same second you hear the string twang from the fire, another explosion rocks the hallway and ends up pushing Pinkie down on her rump, while the rest of you are more or less protected.
>Once the dust and shadow dies down, she gets back up and waves the group over, to which you get up and look around the corner.
>Yep, it’s busted alright.
>More of the liquid is pouring, but you don’t have anything left to put it in.
>Once the coast is completely clear, you and Pinkie repeat this process all the way through the hallways up to the spiraled staircase.
[EXPLODING PODS . . .]
[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIijFSN35x8 ]
[-2 yew arrows, -6 ammo]

>Some funky demolition shit just went down.
>With all of the pods destroyed, you feel much more confident in destroying whatever has taken ahold of this place.
>You never got any actual evidence that destroying them helped, but what else could they be?
>You and the party begin traveling down the staircase, and when you reach the bottom, the ponies ahead of you gasp at the sight.
[ http://vocaroo.com/i/s0AvarP4tuUX ]
>When you look down under, you see that the royal hallways that lead to the bedroom are so thick with the shadowy veins that the entire length is pitch black, and now there’s a violet smoke beginning to accumulate in the air.
>What’s the most disturbing about this sight, however, is the third door on the left.
>There isn’t a door there at all, but it’s been completely enveloped in some organic tissue that is foul to sight and smell, like an orifice within intestines, it closes in the middle and breathes outward.
>You see that the entire lining of this circular gateway is enshrouded in the same violet liquid that was in the pods, and the lines were receding into the walls, floors and ceilings, as if they were what was filling up the pods in the first place.
>At this point, you feel four powerful magical signals within this unholy sanctuary.
>”…I’m not sure I wanna go in there, guys…”
>Pinkie’s confidence is faltering again.
>Looking at the rest of the hallway, you see that there isn’t anywhere left to go.
>Are you ready to face what awaits you? Y/N

“Everyone ready…?”
>You draw your spear and influence it with your magic, and everyone else readies their weapons by example.
>”Let’s go find Twilight!”
>”I hope she’s okay…”
>”Let’s get on with this so I can get a new drink!”
>”Anon, you better know what you’re doing..”
>”Iron Will will take on anything in this weird-lookin’ place! Have you ever seen Las Pegasus? Nothin’ scares me anymore!”
>”Anon.”
>You look back at Gable, who directly gets your attention.
>”You better be careful. I mean it.”
>Gable has the most experience with battles and instincts, so you know to be ready.
>You walk forward with the rest of your party behind you, and the orifice opens up like an automatic door, shrinking into the wall all across the circular opening.
>The violet light turns a bright red as it opens, and you slowly approach the inner sanctum of Cadance’s Palace.
>The entire left side of the room has been blown apart, revealing the cold rushing air of the side of the castle and the Crystal Empire, lush green fields a stark contrast to the black and edgy appearance of her bedroom.
>You glance back at the doorway, and this side of it has an amalgation of pods that look like they’ve been smashed together, but the liquid in them is a burning red.
>This must be where it’s all getting manufactured.
>Your eyes come back to the front, and even you hold your breath at the sight.
>In the center of the room stands Twilight, and her brother Shining Armor, completely crystallized as if they were statues, and a look of horror frozen on their faces.
>You can still feel magic coming from them, so they aren’t dead.
>That doesn’t make the shock any less dull for Applejack and Pinkie Pie.
>“TWILIGHT!”
>They start to rush to her aid, but you stop them both instantly.
“Wait…”
>Your eyes then avert to what’s in the back of the room.
>There’s something behind the veil of the bed.
>…Two of them.
>You have to tread very carefully.
>You need to get Twilight and SA free.
>How do you proceed?




>ANONYMOUS (cc) / SIR DUCKSALOT [HP: 25/25]
[HP: 130/130][MP: 20/20][Stats: 20 PD, 25 MD / +10 PA, +15 MA wep / +75 PA ranged]

Inventory: Med. Pamphlet (First Aid 101/Procreation), Med. Book (Diseases), Wallet, Bit pouch (3,407 bits, 3 small gems, 7 medium gems, 3 large gems), Roll of duct tape, Rope, Book of Dark Magic, Notes of Starswirl the Bearded: Portals, Potion-making Kit, Blowdart, Blue herbs (3), Red herbs (1), Supply Medkit (3), Small mana potion (33%, 1), 
Alchemy/Engineering Books (Transmogrification/Practical), Lifeleaf (6), Rizzleberry bunch (4), 9 oz. of Kablooie powder, 4 ounces of combustible powder, Wisp weed (5), 2 handfuls of bolts, Haze Flower (9), Yeti Hair (2), iPhone, Medical Expertise Books (Bleeding, clots, nasty gashes; stitches and poison treating), Pickaxe (+10 PA, grants ability Mine), (Book) Introduction to Architecture, Screwdriver kit (reduces bolt and screw cost by 3), Socket wrench kit (reduces wheel & axle and nut cost by 1), Foal’s Guide to Magic (Gives basic knowledge of magical theory, allows learning of basic level spells, levitation and luminate), 1 Oz. of Thermite, Four-Barrel Lead Ammo (14, +25 PA to fight), Black Marker, Hoofcuffs (3), Cock Ring, Ultimate Knowledge of Medical Expertise: Volume XXVII, Medium Healing potion (66% restore, 3), Map to the Tundra Outpost, Firewood (2), Window of Reality (Allows you to see into the future of different possibilities of your choices with limitations), Iron-Hide Brew (10, +5 PA for 3 turns), 1 piece of coal, Iron ingot (4), Platinum Ingot (1), Small mana crystal (6), Uncut Ruby, Dr. Frank Fort’s Psychology 102: For Dummies, Dr. Frank Fort’s Love is in the Air: You and Your Ponymate, Dr. Frank Fort’s Back in Time: Guide to your Childhood, Dr. Frank Fort’s Post-Trotmatic Stress of Magic: When Spells Attack, Dr. Frank Fort’s Depression, Anxiety and All Those Unfortunate Thingamajigs: What to Do for a Friend Near You, Empty Chest, Shadow-Infused Rune, Doctor’s Mask, Enchanter’s Rune, Crystal Poleaxe (2H, 35 PA, Grants Parry), Half-eaten Sandwich, Vial of Pod-Liquid (3), Magical Scroll: Temporary Horn
Abilities: Basic hand to hand combat, Basic alchemy skills (Allows brewing of low-level potions and enchantments), Expert medical use (+75% medkit efficiency, removes poisons/diseases), Basic Veterinary knowledge (Allows kit usage on animals), Basic Engineering skills (Allows creation of simple mechanical devices), Ogre Dance (0-4 Fail, 5-9 Succeed, confuses enemy), Expert spear combat (+15 dmg, ½ crit chance), Call Shot (Call specific location to attack, focus dmg and -66% hit chance), Very High Magical Defense (+20 magical armor), {S.S.S. +15 dmg with Anon’s/Red’s separate damage. 5tcd}, Shoot dart (50% hit), Brew potion (non-com), Giga Buster (R, -4 MP, Good attack, +25 MA, 3 turn CD), Redheart Cummer (-2 MP, +25 magic dmg, 2 turn CD), Flamescythe (-2 MP, Good attack, +10 MA, 4 turn CD), Parry (50% hit, deflects enemy atk/counters 50% dmg), Heart’s Calling (5tcd, Gives 50% attack boost to entire party for next turn), Mine, Shoot (Shoots F.U.C.K.E.R.), Moderate knowledge of magical properties (Allows learning of basic/intermediate tomes, spellbooks and decent control of magic), Weak Levitation (noncom), Luminate (Light source, 1 MP per five minutes), Wallwalking (Lets your hands and feet stick to surfaces for 20 seconds, -5 MP), Ignite (-2 MP, Fire source, +25 MA, 50% chance to burn for 3 turns, 3tcd), Shockwave (-5 MP, AoE +36 MA each, 25% chance to stun for 3 turns each, 7tcd), Blessing of Harmony (-10 MP, releases a powerful magical spell that soothes, rejuvenates and calms anyone that the blessing is given to, and removes all mental and spiritual status effects.)

Equipped: Redheart-inscribed ‘Legendary’ Doctor’s Trenchcoat (+15 HP to medkit usage), Mysterious markings, Double-bladed spear (+10 P dmg., +15 M dmg, can attack spectrals), Amulet of Heart’s Calling (+5 HP), Medic-Issued Avian Chainmail Cap (+5 P.D./+1 M.D.), Medic-Issued Avian Chainmail (+7 P.D./+2 M.D.), Medic-Issued Avian Chainmail Talons (+5 P.D./+1 M.D.), Medic-Issued Avian Chainmail Sabatons (+3 P.D./+1 M.D.), Avian Leather Boots (Lowers exhaustion), F.U.C.K.E.R. (R, +75 PA, 7 turn reload, 1 oz. of Kablooie powder per 24 shots {1 shot is one full reloaded round, fires all 4 for each shell}), Thick Winter Coat

>REDHEART: [HP: 130/130][Stats: 30 PD, 25 MD / +40 PA wep]

Abilities: Basic Spear Combat, Expert Med. Skill (+75% medkit efficiency, removes poisons/diseases), {S.S.S. +15 dmg with Anon’s/Red’s separate dmg.. 5 turn CD}, Block (+5 PD and 25% chance to negate all dmg.), Tesseract-bound (+20 MD), Parry (50% hit, deflects enemy atk/counters 50% dmg), Downforce (Good attack, +12 PA, split between all enemies, 3tcd)

Inventory: Medkit (4), Ultimate Knowledge of Medical Mastery: Volume I, Defibrillator, Recipe for Defibrillator, Recipe for Healing potions, Lube, Ribbed Strap-on, Supply Medkit (1), Doctor’s Mask, Latex Hoof Gloves
Equipped: Medic-Issued Crystal Chainmail Coronet (+4 PD, +1 MD), Medic-Issued Crystal Chainmail Breadth (+6 PD, +1 MD), Medic-Issued Crystal Chainmail Sabatons (+6 PD, +1 MD), Medic-Issued Crystal Chainmail Flankguards (+6 PD, +1 MD), Medic-Issued Crystal Buckler (+10 PD, +1 MD, grants Block), Highguard Glaive (1 hoofed, +40 PA, Grants Parry, Grants ability Downforce), Medic-Issued Crystal Leather Cloak (Reduces exhaustion), Thick Winter Coat

>PINKIE PIE: [HP: 105/105][Stats: 17 PD, 6 MD, -25% B / +100 PA wep]

Abilities: Sugar Rush [Highly energetic attacks] (+3/+3 PA, hits twice), Party cannon (x3 damage, 5 turn CD), Darkstrike (Epic attack (rnd) single, or Good attack AoE split, 90% chance to bleed enemies hit, 7tcd), Parry (50% hit, deflects enemy atk/counters 50% dmg), Shoot Bow

Inventory: Party Cannon, Various sweets, ??? (“Hammerspace, Nonny!”), Knife, Anal Beads, Bit pouch (1 bit), Quiver (empty) Equestrian Wildlife: A History of the Evolution of Animals

Equipped: Sir Prize and Miss Direction (+60/+40 PA, Grants Parry, Grants ability Darkstrike), Manticore Leather Armor (+12 PD, +6 MD, -25% chance to bleed), Crystal Leather Cloak (Reduces exhaustion), Hypno-Necklace (0-4 fail, 5-9 win, confuses enemy), Thick Winter Coat Hunting Bow (R, +15 PA), Quiver (3 yew arrows [+3 PA])

>BERRY PUNCH: [HP: 220/220][Stats: 40 PD, 60 MD, +10% FD +15 HP / +44 PA wep]

Abilities: Throw beer bottle, Drunk Dragon (9.6x multiplier AoE, 24x against wood/frost, 3tcd), Fisticuffs (Basic attack), Do No Evil (Good Attack, +25 PA, 5tcd), Trample (+25 PA, 50% chance to crit for x2.5, 2tcd), Scorch (R, +30 MA, x2.5 and 75% chance to burn, 5tcd)

Inventory: Bit pouch (empty), Box of matches (14), Bottle of hard liquor (DD up), Vibrator, Torches (2), Rags (5), Bulletin (Animal Aggression), Iron Aegis’ Journal, Badge I.D.’s (Iron Aegis, Bastion Aurora, Tidal Wave), Missive from Shining Armor, Royal Pass, Firewood (2), 2 bundles of sticks, White Rum Flask (Increases alcohol-related abilities’ damage by x2)

Equipped: Clawed Thick Iron Horseshoes (Modified, +20 PA/+24 Claw PA), Crystal Plate Helmet (+8 PD, +5 MD), Crystal Platemail (+15 PD, +5 MD), Crystal Plate Flankguards (+10 PD, +5 MD), Crystal Plate Hoofguards (+7 PD, +5 MD), Crystal Leather Cloak (Reduces exhaustion), Thick Winter Coat, Neck-Ring of Kinich Ahau (Increases MD by 40, decreases fire damage by 10%, Grants ability Scorch)

>APPLEJACK: [HP: 240/240][Stats: 40 PD, 20 MD, +15 HP / +50 PA wep]

Abilities: Treekicker (x2 damage, 2 turn CD), Lasso (Immobilizes enemy for 3 turns), Bash (Basic attack), Cyli-Spin (Good attack, +25 PA AoE split between enemies, 90% chance to stun affected enemies for 5 turns, 4tcd)

Inventory: Flask (Apple cider), Tri-braid rope, apples (12), Bit pouch (1 bit), Dildo

Equipped: Stetson hat, Crystal Plate Helmet (+8 PD, +5 MD), Crystal Platemail (+15 PD, +5 MD), Crystal Plate Flankguards (+10 PD, +5 MD), Crystal Plate Hoofguards (+7 PD, +5 MD), Empire Express (2 hoofed, +50 PA, Grants ability Cyli-Spin), Crystal Leather Cloak (Reduces exhaustion), Thick Winter Coat

>GABLE: [HP: 200/200][Stats: 20 PD, 12 MD / +20 PA,+25 MA]
Abilities: Tough Hide (+10 PD), Expert Hand to Hand Combat (+15 basic attack, 10% chance to crit for x2), Winged Fury (x5, 3 turn CD), Screech (+15 PA, 20% chance to fear for 5 turns, 3 turn CD), Flight (Allows 3-dimensional travel / +20 PA, 40% bleed chance for 5 turns, 4 turn CD), Basic medical use (Able to use medkits), Rip and Tear (Good attack, 25% bleed chance for 5 turns, 5 turn CD), Frost Nova (5tcd, +75 MA AoE solid, immobilizes for 3 turns), Fish, Slash (Basic attack, 10% chance to crit for x2)

Inventory: Red Headband, Bit pouch (138 bits, 1 Large Gem), Karate Instruction Manual (Raises HtH combat ability), Fishing Rod and kit (Grants ability Fish)

Equipped: Avian Leather Salet (+2 PD), Avian Leather Harness (+3 PD), Avian Leather Gloves (Modified: Fingerless, +1 PD), Avian Leather Greaves (+2 PD), Enchanted Talonguard Bracers (+12 MD), Thick Winter Coat, Sword of the Windigo Spirit (2H, +20 PA/+25 MA, Grants ability Frost Nova)

>IRON WILL: [HP: 275/275][Stats: +10 PD / +10 PA wep]

Abilities: Minotaur hide (+10 PD), Pummel (Basic attack), Charge (+25 PA, 2 turn CD), Enrage (+75% PA, -25% PD for 5 turns, 8 turn CD), Assertive Annihilation (Good attack, 50% chance to stun for 3 turns, 5 turn CD), OOOH YEEAAAH (Increases Party defense by 25% for 3 turns, 6 turn CD)

Inventory: Protein Shakes (3, increases HP by 20 temporarily), Bit pouch (277 bits), Coupon to Maregaze’s M&S Lover’s ‘Retreat’ (20% discount for one checkout), Yeti Hide

Equipped: Pure rock hard knuckles (+10 PA base), Microphone (Increases voice volume at will), Necktie, Thick Winter Coat


>Inspect Crystalline Statues
[Twilight and Shining have been encased in an odd crystalline prison as if it were granite. You feel their magical presence underneath it, and yet it feels as if it has its own power. It shouldn’t be too hard to break the crystal, but you’ll probably have to be very careful as to not injure them.]

>Inspect Host Pod
[This bright red amalgation has a very strong source of magic buried within its liquid. It feels much more volatile than the violet liquid, so it’s probably much more of an explosive substance. Taking that into account, and the fact that this host pod is much larger than all the others, it could very well demolish the entire palace if disturbed. You take care not to go near it.]

>The figures behind the veil begin to stir.
>You need to act now, and everyone in your party knows it.
>Should you try to (A) Break Twilight and Shining out of their crystal prisons, (B) Check what is behind the veil, or (C) Attempt to break the Host Pod?



>(A)
>You direct Applejack and Gable to come with you and you quickly sneak over to Twilight, the closer of the two.
“Help me break them out, they’re still alive.”
>You try to speak and perform your actions as quietly as possible.
>AJ and Pinkie go over to Shining, and from this angle you hold Twilight’s body for Gable, who wretches his arm back, and strikes his claws into the center of the crystal.
>As soon as his talons penetrate it, the veil in the back stirs.
“…Quickly.”
>Gable rips his talons down, and a cracking sound emits an echo across the room, just as AJ and Pinkie start bucking the crystal off of Shining.
>Twilight and Shining begin to stir instantly, but everyone freezes when Cadance’s voice suddenly blossoms from beneath the belly of the beast.
>̢>͟͝”́͠W̧̕h͘o h̵a͡s̶̛ ͞c̶om̵e҉ ̧t̢̛ơ ͝d͢ìs͟tu̢r̵̷̛b ̵m̧y͏ ̵͠f̕e̴e̛͟͝d͘͏i̶̕͡n͜͡g̀?͜”͡͏

>The veil falls away, and you can’t help but stare slackjawed.
>It’s presumably Princess Cadance, but… not her.
>She’s sickly white, the violet and yellow that was said to compose her mane has turned into black crystal and moving shadows, and her eyes are smoking with red allure.
>The other figure you see…
>It’s Rainbow Dash.
>You can tell just from looking at her that her mind is gone.
>She sits as a puppet, eyes monochrome and blank as she awaits command of the shadow.
>AJ and Pinkie aren’t even looking at her, either too entranced by Cadance, or too traumatized by the sight.
>Cadance quickly takes your attention again however, as she steps from her bed and slowly begins to approach you.

>͞>”Ìt’́s͘ a ̸ple͠a͝sur̢e,͞ my̡ ̕ot̕he̵r̵ h͏alf. Įt ̶m̢i͢ght̴ ͢n̴ót̶ b͠e̸ ҉l͢íke oưr ͜la͘s͡t ̸me͘et́i͠n̢g͡ i͞n Can͜t͠er̕lot͟, ҉b̵ut I’̶m͏ ͞pleas̴e̷d ̶t̵o see yo͏u̢’ve g҉ot͘ten͘ ̨y̸o͡urs̕e̶lf͏ ͜a ͘litt͞l̵e ͡p͞o͡we̛r̨ ǫf͜ y̶o͡ur ow̡n.̵”

“What… What do you mean?”
>The rest of the party looks onward, including the now freed Twilight and Shining, as it speaks directly to you.

>>”T̢h͝e ma͠rk̢ings̷ ͞up̀on ỳòur͜ ͝p̵h͟y̶si̵c̵a̸l ̕form̵.̢ A̢non҉y͞m͠o͡us̷… I͡’v̡ę w̨ai̢te̕d̢ so͞ ̸lo͏nģ ̸t̸o m͜ęet̨ y͡o͠u͞ ͝with͏ouţ ̢t̨he dim͟e̢nsio̸n҉s ̛k̶eepíng̴ ͜us ͠ap͟art̷. ͘Come͠ wi̢t͘h u̢s, ͢a͡n͞d̷ ̴f͡ulfiļl ̷your̢ ŕeąl ͘des̨t̴i҉ny͠. Be̛com̵e̴ ̷a ͠K̸ìn̶g̴ ̕along̸s͠ide ̢m͝e͝, a͟n͘d͞ ̕ẃę will̴ rid̡ E̷q̷u͏es̵t̶ri͡a of̛ ͞a̵ll t͡h͡osę w̕h͡o op̡po҉s͝e̶ ̴us.̸”

>The shadow, using Cadance’s body as a catalyst, is asking you to join her side.
>You have no idea what to say to something like this.

>̨>͘”Yơú wi̶ll ͏h̸a͢ve͠ th́ę ͝life y͜o̡u’ve͝ aļw͘a҉ys͟ ̡w͡anted,̸ A̡non̷y̛mous.̢ And̛ ͠w͏h҉e͡n ẁe ̷co̴nq̴uer t̛h̢is͞ wo͢r͘l̸d…̷ ̵we̷ ̴can̴ mo͟v͡e͘ ͞o̕n t͟o ̵y̢o͟ur͟s.͜ Yo̡u ̶w̢ill̵ g͟et t͟o see ̡yo̸ur̷ ͘home ̴aga͠i͡n.͞ D͢o̴n̢’t̛ ͏you wa͟n̸t̕ ͜th̨at͘…́?”

>What do you say?



>You sheath your spear.
>Redheart exclaims at this action instantly.
>”A-Anon!”
>You then slowly walk up to Cadance, being eye level with her.
“I’ve… tasted the shadow’s power before… Alright. I’ll join you. I want to be home.”
>Hearts and souls are shattered at this sentence.
>You dare not look at them.
>You don’t want to see the way they’ve broken when you have a plan.
>Cadance’s corrupted face actually smiles, and it sickens you to the core.
“Embrace me… Make me yours.”
>You hear sounds of struggling, and realize it’s Iron trying his best to hold Gable back.
>”YOU TRAITOR! I’LL KILL YOU, YOU HEAR ME?!”
>You slowly open your arms, and Cadance walks forward.
>͘>̴"Yo̸u͝ ͠h̛a͞v̀e̸ ̡cḩo̕sen ̶wi͡s̴e̷l͘y͘,̷ ̨my ̸òt͟h̴e̶r̢ ḩa͞l͜f. Let ̀us ͘become ̧on̴e o͢n̕ce ̨m͝or̷e.̕.͘.͟"͡

>As she begins to place her muzzle upon your forehead, you feel powerful magic beginning to run through you.
>It’s time.
>You grasp Cadance by her withers with the strongest vice you can muster, and your markings flare to life with a powerful white light as you begin to seed your Blessing of Harmony inside her!

[ http://vocaroo.com/i/s1WMyc5WdbEO ]

>Blackness.
>Your vision slowly returns to you.
>You just got sent right through the side wall, and you’re pretty sure your ribs are broken.

>͞>"͠HO̸͘͢W̴̨ ̵̀͞D͟͠A̡̛R̨E҉ ̡͡Y͏Ó̴̡Ù T́RY̶͡ ̡T͜O C͟͏͘L̵͝E͞A̸͝NS̨͢E̢͟͝ ͡M͠E͜ ̵W̵I̸͞T̛͟͝H̵͜͝ Y̷̕͞O̴̧̨U̶R̵̨ D͘̕͜I҉S̢͘Ģ͜Ų̸S̵͜͡T̀I͘͜N̸̛̕G͘͜͏ ͟P҉̵̛Ó̵͟W̛͘ER̕!̕ ̴Í̧ ͢͡͞W̴̶̨Í͞LĻ̷͜ ͜͠OBL̸̴͟I҉T̕͜E̴R̡Á̷̧T̨͘Ȩ ͟Ý͜O̷͞U̵ ̛A͟Ņ̵̕D̛͞ ̶͢A̢L͢L҉͢ ͘O̷F̴ ͝Y͏̶͢O͘U̸̡R̛ ̡F͏̕͞R̴̵̨I̵̡E͏N͝D͡S͘͟,̶͜͝ ̷̷̕A҉N̸D͟ ̕Y͞OƯ͜ ̸̢W̢ÌL͠Ĺ̡́ ̶B҉͝O̷͞W̵̧ ̵̛͠D̴̴O̵̢W̧͟͝N ͘͘B͡EF̢̀͡OR͘Ȩ͞҉ ̡M̶E̶̵͟ ̢A̷S ̸̶͡Y̶̡͘O̵̵U̶ Ş̷̢E͟͟È̶̷ ̴̀TH̶̢͜E̕͢ S͏̴Ò̶͟ÚL̢̕S͡҉ T̡A̛͞҉K̴̀E̕͞N̕ ̵͘F̸̛RO͟͠M̨͏ ҉̛T̴̛͡HE̴M̧҉!̡͝͝"

>You feel hooves helping you up, and a bright flash of light.
>When you’re able to look up, your whole party is gathered around you.
>Twilight Sparkle is stopping Princess Cadance and Rainbow Dash from striking you dead, levitating in the middle of the room and fighting back with her corrupted magic.
>Shining joins in and tries to dispel her, and there’s another flash.
>Twilight is suddenly knocked back into the wall with a resounding crunch just like you had been.
>That’s when a small case falls out of her satchel, revealing six necklaces with odd jewels attached.
>Applejack and Pinkie see this instantly and leave your side, rushing for them.
>”The Elements!”
>”Hold on Twiley!”
>A blue streak suddenly stops them, and you spot Dash with the chest in her hooves, the lightning bolt already around her neck.
>Redheart sums up this situation in one phrase.
>”.. Oh no..”
>As Dash is about to hand the rest of the elements to Cadance, the chest is suddenly blasted out of her hands by Shining, and he levitates it to him before they can react.
>”AJ, Pinkie, catch!”
>He throws the apple and balloon necklaces to the two, who put them on promptly.
>͟͠>͠"̷͜͝RŖR͝҉R̀̕͡R͞RA͘͢͠À͘҉A͞A͟A͟A͘҉̨A̛͘͠AGḨ!̵͡"̛͟

>Cadance empowers her horn with a bright red light, and she blasts the chest out of Shining’s hands and out of the large opening on the left side of the room.
>Shining and Twilight take this opportunity to blast Cadance and Dash together, but there’s yet another flash that nearly blinds you.
>When your sight returns to you, you redraw your spear as the rest of the Party move forward alongside you.
>The sibling duo have a tether tied to the two, but they are free.
>Twilight yells at your party.
>”We can weaken her magic, but we have to concentrate! You have to stop them yourselves!”
>With your spear in hand, you know this is going to get tough.

>>͢"IF YOU͜ ̢THIN͢K͞ Y҉OU ͢CA҉N ͠FACE̛ ͜ME, ́Y͘OU A̷R̶E SA͞DL͡Y ҉M͜I̶S͟TA͞KE̷N̶! EVE͢N̵ ẀI͜TH̶ ̸Y̡O̡UR͘ EL̀ĘM̶E̴N̷T̢S YOU̴ CA͠N͡NOT ̡HOPE̢ T̛O͘ WI̴N͜!́ ͡I̷ ̢W͠I͘L̀L̨ ̶END ͟ YOUR̢ ̴LIVE̢Ş ̴A̛N͠D T͢A͟KE̶ ̨AL̛L T̡HE͟ M͟A̴GIC͜ FR̡ÒM̀ ̷THIS͝ ̡WOR͡L̸D҉!"

“Then LET’S GO!”
>Cadance and Dash rush at your party!

[BATTLE START] [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sghh8HURjU ]
Anonymous: [HP: 130/130][MP: 20/20]
Redheart: [HP: 130/130]
Pinkie Pie: [HP: 105/105][MP: 50/50] [New Ability: Harmonic Laughter (-25 MP, +200 MA, ½ crit chance, sends target into fits of laughter)]
Berry Punch: [HP: 220/220]
Applejack: [HP: 240/240][MP: 50/50] [New Ability: Harmonic Honesty (-25 MP, +200 MA, ½ crit chance, exposes possible weaknesses of target)]
Gable: [HP: 200/200]
Iron Will: [HP: 275/275]
Princess Cadance: [HP: 15,000/15,000, weakened][MP: 10,000/10,000]
Rainbow Dash: [HP: 5,000/5,000, weakened][MP: 50/50]
[Cadance strikes too quickly and attacks first with Dash!]
[AWAITING ENEMY ATTACKS…]

>Princess Cadance attacks Pinkie Pie with Starbolt! [-100 MP]
>9 (+50 MA) = >59<
[-6 MD]
>53<
Pinkie Pie: [HP: 52/105] “AAGH!”
>Rainbow Dash attacks Iron Will with Buccaneer Blaze! [5 turn CD]
>9/9 (+75/75) = >83/83<
>166<
[-10 PD]
>156<
Iron Will: [HP: 119/275] “Agh… too assertive…”
[AWAITING BATTLE COMMANDS]
1 turn over
[ANONYMOUS]
>Attacks Rainbow Dash with Blessing of Harmony! [-10 MP]
>Dash seems to resist the will of the blessing, Cadance protecting her brainwashed state of mind!<
>͘>̷"Do͜ ̀yo̷ư ̶h̛o͟neśtly th͢i͟nk I'd ̶let̵ ̸y̴o͏u͜ t̀r̢y̛ ̛t҉h̨at ̸ag̷a̵i͜n̛, A͟non̷y̴m̢ǫus͟!?"
>Anon uses all of his willpower to fight off Cadance’s control, and proves somewhat victorious! (x3 trips overturn)
>-10% HP, -250 Ducksalot<
RD: [HP: 4,250/5,000]
“We can still do this guys, don’t give up!”
[REDHEART]
>Uses Medkit on Pinkie Pie and Iron Will
>25% (+75%) = 100% (/2) = 50% (x2 doubles) = >100%<
[Pinkie Pie and Iron Will fully healed!]
[PINKIE PIE]
>Attacks Rainbow Dash with Harmonic Laughter! [-25 MP]
>Dash is hit by the blast, sending her into fits of laughter! (3 turn stun)<
>+200 MA<
RD: [HP: 4,050/5,000, S]
[BERRY PUNCH]
>Attacks the duo with Drunk Dragon! [3 turn CD]
>5 (x9.6)(x2 dubs) = >96 solid<
PC: [HP: 14,904/15,000]
RD: [HP: 3,954/5,000, S]
[APPLEJACK]
>Attacks Rainbow Dash with Harmonic Honesty! [-25 MP]
>For one quintessential moment, Dash’s voice becomes her own, and in between the laughter, she speaks one phrase!<
>”P…P-please… h-help me…!”
>+200 MA<
RD: [HP: 4,754/5000, S]
[GABLE]
>Attacks the duo with Frost Nova! [5 turn CD]
>3 (+75 MA AoE) = >78 solid<
PC: [HP: 14,826/15,000][MP: 9,900/10,000]
RD: [HP: 3,766/5,000, S][MP: 50/50]
[IRON WILL]
>Invigorates the party with a signature shout!
>”OOOH YEEEAAAH!” [6 turn CD]
[Party’s defense increased by 25% for 3 turns!]
[AWAITING ENEMY ATTACKS…]
>Princess Cadance attacks Applejack with Telekinetic Throw! [5 turn CD, -100 MP]
>9 (+150 PA, Armor Penetration) = >159<
[-25% defense]
Applejack: [HP: 127/240][MP: 25/50] “Auuuff! … Now ah’m mad…!”
>Rainbow Dash is stunned!
[AWAITING BATTLE COMMANDS]...