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Scorch_Mechanic

Fallout: Beyond Equestria, 78: Tragedy's End (Part 7)

Scorch_Mechanic
Mar 26th, 2014
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  1.  
  2. [2014-03-19 13:14:23] <Little_Gloom> 3Previously in Beyond Equestria...
  3. [2014-03-19 13:16:06] <Little_Gloom> 3"I promise to be careful."
  4. [2014-03-19 13:16:12] <Little_Gloom> 3Bookwright steps up to the desk in question and focuses his magic. It squirts from his horn to the desk like a puff of steam.
  5. [2014-03-19 13:16:35] <Little_Gloom> 3The magic touches the desk, spreading over and down it. Into it and over everything that is part of it. Bookwright watches as the magic spreads out from the table, realizing belatedly that the table has become welded to the floor...
  6. [2014-03-19 13:16:42] <Little_Gloom> 3"Oh. OH! Everypony step back. Far back, please."
  7. [2014-03-19 13:17:12] <Little_Gloom> 3Golden_Dream does so. CopyCat flaps her wings, hovering slighty in the air, her eyes still on the orb. Get_Lost says "what?"
  8. [2014-03-19 13:17:19] <Little_Gloom> 3Golden_Dream attempts to bump into Get's bubble and get her out of the way.
  9. [2014-03-19 13:17:27] <Little_Gloom> 3Noble_Heart blinks, spreading her wings and lifting off into the air. Even just a little bit should be enough. She reaches out with her magic to levitate the others, even that many shouldn't be too hard. And just as much as 'not fall' would be fine. "We can catch you. Someone needs to stop the orb!"
  10. [2014-03-19 13:17:36] <Little_Gloom> 3...Then a blast of magical feedback! Before Bookwright himself can step back, the magic washes over the memory orb, revealing that it has indeed been fused to the rest of the desk. There is a seering pain, even as Bookright (and several nearby desks) fall through the floor into the basement below.
  11. [2014-03-19 13:17:42] <Little_Gloom> 3CopyCat shakes her head, as if she had just dozed off. "What? Oh, the orb. Don't worry, I'll get-" She starts to say as the whole thing falls. "Oh..."
  12. [2014-03-19 13:17:47] <Little_Gloom> 3Shatara facetalons. It's almost as if these orbs were designed to be as hazardous to their users as possible...
  13. [2014-03-19 13:17:54] <Little_Gloom> 3The desk with the orb in it stays where it is, becoming intangible but still considered part of the floor. It is only the desks nearby which were not fused to the floor, and Bookwright, who fell into the unknown space below. The magical feedback also serves to kill the spell -- and the floor and desk become solid again.
  14. [2014-03-19 13:18:02] <Little_Gloom> 3Noble_Heart looks down at the floor in shock and fear. "Bookwright!" She beats her wings. "There must be a stairwell down into the basement somewhere. We must find it before something finds him!"
  15. [2014-03-19 13:18:09] <Little_Gloom> 3CopyCat looks down at the patch of floor where Bookwright used to be. "Bookwright most have been really serious about getting to the bottom of this."
  16. [2014-03-19 13:18:18] <Little_Gloom> 3Noble_Heart is deftly catches Get_Lost, everyone else managing to fly or dive back.
  17. [2014-03-19 13:18:25] <Little_Gloom> 3Bookwright, meanwhile, isn't where he is at all. After the initial surge of agony -- and a garbled flood of sounds, smells and tastes -- the memory magic asserts itself, and Bookwright is in the past.
  18. [2014-03-19 13:18:31] <Little_Gloom> 3CopyCat finds herself seeing what Bookwright is seeing through the telepathic link she maintains with him, the experience overlaying itself across her actual senses in a most disconcerting fashion.
  19. [2014-03-19 13:18:38] <Little_Gloom> 3Golden_Dream starts bolting out, reaper be damned. That stupid pony, why doesn't he ever fucking listen to reason, the obsessed jackass!
  20. [2014-03-19 13:18:44] <Little_Gloom> 3CopyCat looks around like a meerkat. "Ah, I'm seeing double again!"
  21. [2014-03-19 13:18:55] <Little_Gloom> 3Golden_Dream is to the door when she hears the deep, echoy not-voice. >> Save them. <<
  22. [2014-03-19 13:19:29] <Little_Gloom> 3Fallout: Beyond Equestria, Session Seventy-Eight: Tragedy's End (Part Seven) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW5n3k2VgZE&feature=youtu.be&t=55s
  23. [2014-03-19 13:19:37] <Little_Gloom> 3--- Session Begins ---
  24. [2014-03-19 13:20:25] <Little_Gloom> 3(The opening of this session: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3c6dz16fq76o3ul/memory_orb.mp3 )
  25. [2014-03-19 13:20:41] <Little_Gloom> 3(Everyone thank Scorch Mechanic!)
  26. [2014-03-19 13:21:27] <Little_Gloom> 3<-=======ooO Ooo=======->
  27. [2014-03-19 13:21:45] <Little_Gloom> 3Gloomy ruins transform around you, regaining the humble splendor of halcyon days, as memory replaces reality. Shattered windows become whole, gentle moonlight streaming in and mingling with the lights of the candles. The stains and tatters of the curtains wash away.
  28. [2014-03-19 13:21:59] <Little_Gloom> 3Marred and cracked blackboards reveal their pristine former selves, one of them boasting: “Friendship Day”. Smart wooden desks replace ruined ones in perfect crescent-moon rows that face the instruction floor.
  29. [2014-03-19 13:22:07] <Little_Gloom> 3The twisted, skeletal reminders of young lives lost vanish and are replaced by colorful foals – squirming, whispering, sitting at attention – each dressed in a school cloak of midnight blue with silver trim and the school’s crest.
  30. [2014-03-19 13:22:15] <Little_Gloom> 3“…someplace else.”
  31. [2014-03-19 13:22:26] <Little_Gloom> 3Your host is one of these, a young colt who turns around in his seat at the sound of slightly raised voices. In the back of the room, between shelves of colorfully-bound books, is an arched doorway into the hall. Through it, he can see the fuscha flank of a matronly mare, the three smiling flowers of her cutie mark seeming to look back at him.
  32. [2014-03-19 13:22:39] <Little_Gloom> 3He cannot see the rest of her, nor the mare she is arguing with, but he catches bits of their argument.
  33. [2014-03-19 13:23:11] <Little_Gloom> 3“I’m here to teach these children, not fill their heads with your nonsense. They get enough of that everywhere else.”
  34. [2014-03-19 13:23:21] <Little_Gloom> 3“I’m not asking you to change your curriculum, Miss Cheerilee,” the other mare offers, “I just want to sit in and observe your… next presentation. I don’t want to interfere. I’m just… concerned about the children’s safety.”
  35. [2014-03-19 13:23:29] <Little_Gloom> 3Your host twists in his seat a little more, bumping his desk and accidentally knocking his scrolls onto the floor. “Oops,” he mutters as a couple of fillies seated nearby giggle. He turns his attention to the floor, picking them up two at a time (one by magic and one in his teeth).
  36. [2014-03-19 13:23:48] <Little_Gloom> 3“That’s awful. And I know what you’re asking,” the colt hers his teacher nicker in a chastising tone, “But so long as Luna gives me authority over my own class, I intend to help these children grow up to be better ponies than you would like them to be.”
  37. [2014-03-19 13:24:00] <Little_Gloom> 3You feel the colt smile. Nearby, a young filly with a slight lisp whispers, “Somepony’s getting a lesson.”
  38. [2014-03-19 13:24:08] <Little_Gloom> 3“Well I never!” There is a stomp. “Listen. If you refuse, I will have to report this.”
  39. [2014-03-19 13:24:14] <Little_Gloom> 3“Report away.”
  40. [2014-03-19 13:24:21] <Little_Gloom> 3There is a silence from the mare that can best be described as miffed.
  41. [2014-03-19 13:24:28] <Little_Gloom> 3The teacher turns and re-enters the classroom. Cheerilee is not a young mare, there are age lines under her celadon eyes and her mane and tail are mostly grey. She glances towards your host as she walks in.
  42. [2014-03-19 13:24:34] <Little_Gloom> 3“Sowwy, Miss Cheewilee,” he apologizes, the last of his scrolls still between his teeth
  43. [2014-03-19 13:24:42] <Little_Gloom> 3Cheerilee puts on a smile. “That’s okay, Joy. Why don’t you go tell our very special guest that we are ready for him?”
  44. [2014-03-19 13:24:51] <Little_Gloom> 3The colt spits his scroll onto the pile on his desk. “Wight away!” He scrambles out of his chair and scurries towards a side door, pushing it open. An exotic male voice is speaking something indecipherable beyond, but the voice stops at the movement of the door.
  45. [2014-03-19 13:25:05] <Little_Gloom> 3Beyond the door is a small room, the furnishings suggesting it serves both as a teacher’s retreat and as excess supply storage. In the center of the room is a zebra; you can feel the colt’s eyes go wide. The zebra turns away from a cart. There is something on the cart, but it is covered in cloth. The colt looks around the room as the zebra smiles.
  46. [2014-03-19 13:25:11] <Little_Gloom> 3“Greetings, little one.”
  47. [2014-03-19 13:25:17] <Little_Gloom> 3“Who you talking to?” Joy blurts out.
  48. [2014-03-19 13:25:25] <Little_Gloom> 3“A spirit friend of Uguani,” the zebra answers in rhyme, “Whom only zebra eyes can see.” The colt oooohs, looking about as if trying to see the invisible spirit. “We are here at the behest of Cheerilee. Are her children ready for me?”
  49. [2014-03-19 13:25:32] <Little_Gloom> 3Joy nods, looking back at the cart. “What that? What awe you gonna do?”
  50. [2014-03-19 13:25:38] <Little_Gloom> 3In the classroom, Joy can hear Cheerilee telling the class, “We have a very, very special guest today: his name is Doctor Uguani, and he is a zebra medical shaman from Angel of Mercy Hospital in Stalliongrad. He’s here to teach us about the zebra…”
  51. [2014-03-19 13:25:47] <Little_Gloom> 3“We already know about zebra!” one of the children calls out. “They’re evil and bad!”
  52. [2014-03-19 13:25:59] <Little_Gloom> 3Joy sees the zebra flinch slightly as he moves around behind the cart. He steps towards the doctor. “Don’t listen to them. They’we just jewks!” Joy smiles. “You a doctow. That means you awe a good pony… um… zebwa!” He nods vigorously. In the background, Cheerilee can be heard gently scolding the child.
  53. [2014-03-19 13:26:07] <Little_Gloom> 3“Thank you, little one,” the zebra smiles. “My your days forever be in the sun.”
  54. [2014-03-19 13:26:16] <Little_Gloom> 3The colt cocks his head, then shakes it. “Nuh-uh. We sleep when its sunny. I don’t wanna be always asleep!”
  55. [2014-03-19 13:26:24] <Little_Gloom> 3The zebra chuckles, “I forgot…” His rhyme is cut off by the voice of Cheerilee.
  56. [2014-03-19 13:26:34] <Little_Gloom> 3“…and Doctor Uguani is going to give us a little demonstration about shamanism.” She pauses at the grumbles of some of the children, many of whom are quickly shushed by others. “Now I know a lot of you have been told horrible things about zebra, but a lot of that is not true. Most zebras are perfectly nice, just like ponies.”
  57. [2014-03-19 13:26:40] <Little_Gloom> 3Joy watches as Doctor Uguani takes a deep breath. He looks towards the door, then down at Joy.
  58. [2014-03-19 13:26:46] <Little_Gloom> 3“Can you make your eyes glow?” the colt asks as he watches the zebra stare at him, oblivious to the expression on the zebra’s face. After a moment of awkward silence, the colt looks back behind him at the open door. “Oops! I’m in the way! Sowwy!”
  59. [2014-03-19 13:26:54] <Little_Gloom> 3Joy scurries out as Cheerilee asks the classroom of children, “Please give hooves of welcome to Doctor Uguani!”
  60. [2014-03-19 13:27:05] <Little_Gloom> 3The zebra follows, pushing the cart before him, one of the rear wheels squeaking badly. It almost entirely drowns out the feeble stomps of a half-dozen foal hooves. Your host starts towards his seat, but stops, staring at the expressions of the children. Many are wide-eyed. Some with awe, some with fear.
  61. [2014-03-19 13:27:13] <Little_Gloom> 3One of the fillies had ducked down and is hiding behind her desk. A few of the expressions on his classmates faces are angry.
  62. [2014-03-19 13:27:20] <Little_Gloom> 3Cheerilee, meanwhile, has trotted towards Doctor Uguani. Your host cannot see her, but catches her whispered “um… that doesn’t look like what we talked about…”
  63. [2014-03-19 13:27:26] <Little_Gloom> 3“This is all they could spare, unfortunately,” Doctor Uguani’s voice sounds regretful, “I’d have wished for something less military.”
  64. [2014-03-19 13:27:33] <Little_Gloom> 3Neither Cheerilee nor Doctor Uguani see where the thrown eraser comes from. But Joy does -- the filly third from the center in the second row. One of the gigglers. From the thump behind your host, you can tell the eraser hit its target.
  65. [2014-03-19 13:27:39] <Little_Gloom> 3Cheerilee steps into view, scolding, “Children!”
  66. [2014-03-19 13:27:51] <Little_Gloom> 3A colt in the first row jumps out of his seat. “A zebra killed my daddy!” More objects start to fly. Books, quills. Several more children hide under their desks, especially after a thrown book from the back row hits a girl in the front row, knocking her face into the desk. She comes back up with a bloodied nose and starts to cry.
  67. [2014-03-19 13:27:59] <Little_Gloom> 3“No! Stop!” Joy cries out, waving his hooves. “He’s a nice zebwa!” Beside him, Cheerilee issues similar commands. But anger and threatening behavior does not seem to come easily to the mare, especially towards misbehaving children. She is trying, but the children are out of her control now.
  68. [2014-03-19 13:28:06] <Little_Gloom> 3Things become dangerous when the fatherless colt’s horn glows and several lit candelabras lift up like tridents, aiming towards the zebra. The first one flies over Joy’s head, and the zebra lets out a yelp. Another careens off course, smashing burning candles into the curtains of a window.
  69. [2014-03-19 13:28:11] <Little_Gloom> 3Fire starts.
  70. [2014-03-19 13:28:18] <Little_Gloom> 3Joy jumps up on the cart, his hooves stumbling to find purchase on what is under the sheet. The colt may not know, but you are familiar with the shape and feel of armor.
  71. [2014-03-19 13:28:34] <Little_Gloom> 3“/Calm/ /down/!!” Joy shouts, and you can feel the flair of magic wash out from him. There is a ripple in the air, expanding from the colt, rolling over everyone.
  72. [2014-03-19 13:28:45] <Little_Gloom> 3The room seems to change. The demeanor of the children shifts so dramatically it is like water dumped on a fire. The room goes quiet, save for the soft sobbing of the filly in the front row with the bloodied nose, and the crackling of the fire as it climbs up the curtain.
  73. [2014-03-19 13:28:51] <Little_Gloom> 3Your host’s body loses all its energy, nerves tingling with exhaustion. Joy collapses on the armor hidden beneath a blanket.
  74. [2014-03-19 13:28:58] <Little_Gloom> 3“W-what…?” Cheerilee starts, “Joy? Are you okay?” She looks down at the colt. “What did you do?”
  75. [2014-03-19 13:29:05] <Little_Gloom> 3“Is Mistew Uggy okay?” Joy asks softly, watching several very meek-looking children begin to pick books and things off the floor. Two adult unicorns come rushing into the room, one levitating a barrel of rainwater behind her. The other casts a spell, tearing the burning curtain from the wall.
  76. [2014-03-19 13:29:12] <Little_Gloom> 3“Yes, brave little one, I am okay,” the doctor zebra rhymes, “Such minor burns will soon go away.” He pauses, then adds, “Your kindness has given you more than just a friend today.”
  77. [2014-03-19 13:29:18] <Little_Gloom> 3The zebra’s hoof touches the colt’s flank
  78. [2014-03-19 13:29:34] <Little_Gloom> 3Joy turns to see the little monarch butterfly that is there – they hypnotic kind with little waves radiating from it. Joy has just enough energy left to gasp in joy.
  79. [2014-03-19 13:29:36] <Little_Gloom> 3<-=======ooO Ooo=======->
  80. [2014-03-19 13:29:41] <Little_Gloom> 3The vision fades.
  81. [2014-03-19 13:32:28] <Little_Gloom> 3CopyCat had broadcast the vision to all her friends. Everyone saw it.
  82. [2014-03-19 13:35:18] * Golden_Dream is a little busy at the moment. She's currently racing down to try to save the stupid pony that tried to touch the stupid magic thing and wouldn't listen to her when she brought up totally reasonable points and she is totally going to slap the crap out of Bookie when she gets down there. "Whoever's talkin', ya'll better bring this talk on th' trail! Who're we savin' an' how?"
  83. [2014-03-19 13:39:27] * CopyCat sways in her bubble. She did not necessarily mean to send out the vision to her friends, or even to see it herself, but she couldn't help herself. It's just what she does.
  84. [2014-03-19 13:42:33] * Get_Lost checks the floor "yeah, we better find a way down, even if we dig a hole in the floor it will fall on bookie's head..."
  85. [2014-03-19 13:43:19] <Little_Gloom> 3Bookwright emerges from the vision to find himself faceplanted on the floor of the classroom complex's basement. The first thing he notices, aside from dull pain and blood dripping from his muzzle, is the rotted hooves of a child inches from his face.
  86. [2014-03-19 13:45:05] <Little_Gloom> 3>> The souls of the children. << answers a voice in Golden_Dream's head.
  87. [2014-03-19 13:46:21] * Golden_Dream blink blinks and skids to a halt as she looks around for a way down. "... You got mah attention. What's th' how of it?"
  88. [2014-03-19 13:47:35] * Noble_Heart frowns and looks at the walls and floors as she moves through the halls. She's in a hurry, but not rushing. The hue of her shield made things look too similar and monotone, she might miss the stairwell if she was too fast in her search. A way down was needed to save their friend, after all.
  89. [2014-03-19 13:47:53] * Shatara joins in the search.
  90. [2014-03-19 13:48:30] * Bookwright rolls his eyes upwards. "Uh. Hello."
  91. [2014-03-19 13:49:14] * Get_Lost follows the others, in the boubble she coulfn't help very much anyway
  92. [2014-03-19 13:49:18] * CopyCat does her own blink blink as the vision fades from her senses. Suddenly she looks all around herself. Up and down and up and down and left and right... "Somepony help me! I've been trapped in a bubble!"
  93. [2014-03-19 13:52:57] * Shatara facetalons. "...you made that bubble."
  94. [2014-03-19 13:53:01] * Get_Lost "it's allright copy, the bubble is your friend, it keeps you safe from the ouside evil"
  95. [2014-03-19 13:56:53] * CopyCat tilts her head and taps at the shield. "Oh yes! I think you're right. Aren't they funny."
  96. [2014-03-19 13:57:17] * Bookwright sits up, carefully.
  97. [2014-03-19 13:57:26] <Little_Gloom> 3Golden_Dream was nearly at the door marked "Basement: Adults Only" when she stopped. The cloaked reaper rounds the corner, moving slowly towards her. >> The one you saw, he is special. The other dead ones follow him. And, because of him, they are clinging to their souls. <<
  98. [2014-03-19 13:57:34] * Get_Lost nodnods "also, we're looking for bookie, he fell through the floor some minutes ago"
  99. [2014-03-19 13:58:28] <Little_Gloom> 3The reapers message seems to imply that the soul of a ghoul can only pass on once it has gone truly feral. But, as CopyCat had realized before, the Academy Foals have not degraded that far... or are being prevented from it.
  100. [2014-03-19 13:59:21] <Little_Gloom> 3Bookwright's hello is greeted by a trio of questioning rasps. Three Academy Foals surround him.
  101. [2014-03-19 13:59:50] * Bookwright "Umm... Take me to your leader? Please?"
  102. [2014-03-19 13:59:56] * Golden_Dream starts running for the basement door. "If you're askin' me t' kill 'im, yer' gonna be disappointed wi' m' answer." She wasn't exactly an adult, but then again, pre-war signs were just an indicator to check the area or not.
  103. [2014-03-19 14:00:17] <Little_Gloom> 3Their eyes glow pink, their Luna Academy capes are melted to what remains of their flesh. The one in front of him cocks her head, listening.
  104. [2014-03-19 14:00:42] * CopyCat stares at Get_Lost blankly. "Oh? Oh! Yes, that's right. We're looking for Bookwright. And he went down, so... we need some stairs. Let's find stairswright."
  105. [2014-03-19 14:02:27] <Little_Gloom> 3It does not take long for Noble_Heart and Shatara to find Golden_Dream. For a moment, she was talking to someone. But now, she is running for a door.
  106. [2014-03-19 14:03:17] <Little_Gloom> 3>> My brother wishes that. << says the voice in Golden_Dream's head. >> I do not. <<
  107. [2014-03-19 14:04:34] * Noble_Heart blinks and frowns as Golden Dream seemed to be speaking, she moved after the smaller pony towards the stairs as well. if Bookwright was below, he would likely need aid. This whole school seemed in need of aid, right now.
  108. [2014-03-19 14:07:18] * Golden_Dream pants a little and starts rolling into the door, trying to ram it open. She guessed it was locked. It probably didn't matter, since she couldn't exactly jiggle the handle to make sure while in the bubble. She seemed relieved, although it's hard to tell with the refined panic in the way she held herself. "So, what's yer idea?"
  109. [2014-03-19 14:12:10] * CopyCat does a little more eavesdropping. This time for directions. She turns to Get_Lost and Shatara. "I think Golden has found a way down." She points roughly in the direction of their friends. "Roll out!"
  110. [2014-03-19 14:12:33] * Shatara groans.
  111. [2014-03-19 14:12:40] * Get_Lost "wait, we dont' transform first?" shrugs and follows the others
  112. [2014-03-19 14:16:25] <Little_Gloom> 3The Reaper informs Golden_Dream >> Remove the offending object. Let nature take its course. <<
  113. [2014-03-19 14:18:43] <Little_Gloom> 3The dead filly nods and turns, trotting away, leading Bookwright deeper into the basement. The other foals rasps and groan in childlike voices, and fall in behind him.
  114. [2014-03-19 14:19:02] * Golden_Dream backs up, then goes at the door at full speed to try to ram it open. "Better idea. Lemme get back t' you on that one as soon as I get th' stupidest pony ah know back."
  115. [2014-03-19 14:19:25] * Bookwright walks slowly behind them.
  116. [2014-03-19 14:19:37] * Noble_Heart approaches the door behind Golden Dream, reaching out with her magic to try and open the door, frowning slightly.
  117. [2014-03-19 14:22:09] <Little_Gloom> 3Golden_Dream's ball bounces harmlessly off the door. Repeatedly.
  118. [2014-03-19 14:22:19] <Little_Gloom> 3The door is indeed locked.
  119. [2014-03-19 14:23:37] * Golden_Dream looks a tad panicked at this revelation. Stupid ball! Can't get a good hoof purchase!
  120. [2014-03-19 14:24:55] * CopyCat leads her troop of pinballs down the corridors until they come across Noble_Heart and Golden_Dream. "There you are. Is this the way down?"
  121. [2014-03-19 14:25:34] * Golden_Dream pants. "I dunno, but it's prolly th' best shot we got of saving Bookie's dumb flank!"
  122. [2014-03-19 14:25:41] <Little_Gloom> 3The dead filly leads Bookwright to a corner of the basement filled with fuse boxes and the remains of the long dead generators. A feeble red light glows in one corner, behind a cage. It backlights the skeleton of a stallion, drapped in maintenance barding. The filly points at it and rasps.
  123. [2014-03-19 14:26:11] * Noble_Heart looks up towards CopyCat. "It would seem so, based on the sign. Assuming that he is indeed in the basement. But the door appears to be locked and We do not have the skills to open it without breaking it."
  124. [2014-03-19 14:28:10] * Bookwright is very, very nervous. "Oh. Um. Sorry, I can't fix your friend. He's, uh. Dead. Um. Can you take me to Joy, please?"
  125. [2014-03-19 14:28:59] * Get_Lost "i can try opening it if you bring down my shield...."
  126. [2014-03-19 14:29:29] * Golden_Dream seems very fed up with doors in general. "Noble, blow that fuckin' door up! Bookie's life is on th' line here!"
  127. [2014-03-19 14:34:09] * CopyCat looks at Get_Lost and Golden_Dream. "Shield down?" CopyCat nods. "Shield down." The bubbles around herself and her friends fade away.
  128. [2014-03-19 14:34:40] * Get_Lost quickly gets in picky mood and tries opening the lock as fast as possible
  129. [2014-03-19 14:35:15] * Noble_Heart blinks in some surprise as CopyCat drops the shielding spell. Hopefuly the mist would not be too thick here...
  130. [2014-03-19 14:38:39] * Shatara finds something off the ground to perch on and not blow mist around.
  131. [2014-03-19 14:39:04] * Golden_Dream doesn't exactly have the luxury of flight to try to get out of the mist.
  132. [2014-03-19 14:39:33] <Little_Gloom> 3Get_Lost opens the locked door easily. The door swings inward over the dark pit where the stairs used to be.
  133. [2014-03-19 14:40:35] <Little_Gloom> 3The demeanor of the Academy Foals changes at Bookwright's words. Their eyes glow a fierce pink. Auras of magic appear around their horns.
  134. [2014-03-19 14:40:36] * Get_Lost staps away from the door "be my guest"
  135. [2014-03-19 14:42:56] * Golden_Dream puts on a very upset expression. "Oh fr fuck's sake, why can't this shit /ever/ be easy?" She exclaimed.
  136. [2014-03-19 14:43:15] <Little_Gloom> 3Bookwright feels a blast of pain as he is hit in the back of the head by a floating lead wrench.
  137. [2014-03-19 14:44:23] * Noble_Heart frowns, opening the door for Golden Dream now that it was no longer locked. "We suggest hurrying. If CopyCat has dropped her protection, Bookwright is no longer shielded either!"
  138. [2014-03-19 14:45:10] <Little_Gloom> 3There is a loud WHUMP of metal against concrete, audible to those at the open basement door, as the other dead filly misses with a telekinetically-swung sledgehammer.
  139. [2014-03-19 14:45:52] * Golden_Dream jumps on Noble. "Shatara, get Get. Copycat can fly her own flank down!" She commanded, digging out her flashlight to go in her mouth.
  140. [2014-03-19 14:46:01] * Bookwright "No! No! Please, no!"
  141. [2014-03-19 14:46:05] * CopyCat makes an 'O' shape with her mouth. "Ohh... right. Well let's hope his isn't being set upon by a group of angry ghouls."
  142. [2014-03-19 14:46:13] * Shatara dives down swiftly, snatching up Get_Lost as he swoops through the door.
  143. [2014-03-19 14:46:50] * Get_Lost is now an inventory item. is okay with it
  144. [2014-03-19 14:55:34] * Golden_Dream shouts out before leaping onto Noble. "Bookie, y' stupid suicidal dork, follow m' voice and get yer flank over here right th' fuck now!"
  145. [2014-03-19 14:58:01] * Golden_Dream checks her pipbuck... Well, it was about time that she actually used the thing. She turned on the EFS and tried to pinpoint the not-red pony.
  146. [2014-03-19 14:58:19] * Noble_Heart dropped her own shield as Golden Dream moved to mount up. "We shall go to Our friend's rescue! She reared up briefly before pulling the crystaline lance from her side and charging down the stairs in the direction of Bookwright's cries for help! Her lance braced in her magic ready to impale the first enemy in sight. "Have no fear! We are here to rescue you!"
  147. [2014-03-19 14:59:04] * Get_Lost eeps when is grabbed and blushes for a moment "woah, you're quite straightforward arent' you?"
  148. [2014-03-19 15:02:12] <Little_Gloom> 3Noble_Heart is the first to go charging in. Sprinting at full speed, no effort to slow down, she aims at the dead filly with a telekinetic grip on a sledgehammer... just as the filly draws the sledgehammer back for another swing, levitating it across Noble_Heart's path.
  149. [2014-03-19 15:03:22] <Little_Gloom> 3The alicorn trips over the sledgehammer, sending it clanging and spinning across the floor as the alicorn stumbles forward past the fillies and their target, the lance jamming into the meshwork cage beyond.
  150. [2014-03-19 15:04:35] <Bookwright> Oh. OH
  151. [2014-03-19 15:05:00] <CopyCat> ACTION hurries down the stairs just after Noble_Heart, running towards the sound of Bookwright's yell. She stops short when she sees the three foals, but a moment later she begins to speak in a voice that was not her own. Bookwright might recognise it as the voice of Cheerilee, like they had heard from the memory orb. CopyCat tries to scold the fowls just as their teacher had. "Children! No fighting! Stop this at once or you each be gett
  152. [2014-03-19 15:05:07] * Golden_Dream sprints over with utmost speed and draws her shotgun, lines it up with the foal... And realizes that, for all her anger, she really can't pull the trigger on them. "... Damnit!" She then decided to attempt to grab Bookie by the hoof and start leading him out of the basement towards the exit.
  153. [2014-03-19 15:05:08] <Little_Gloom> 3Golden_Dream's E.F.S. lights up with multiple colors, only one of which is red.
  154. [2014-03-19 15:05:39] <Little_Gloom> 3A moment later, the dot that is red changes color, and another becomes red.
  155. [2014-03-19 15:06:33] * Golden_Dream will have a word with Get_Lost later. A very few very loud words. Most of them being four letters long.
  156. [2014-03-19 15:08:16] <Little_Gloom> 3Quickly assessing the situation, Golden_Dream realizes that the red dot had initially been Noble_Heart, who had charged in first. Seeing her current position, Golden_Dream can hazard a guess as to why her PipBuck suddenly decided Bookwright was instead the classiest pony in the room.
  157. [2014-03-19 15:10:11] <CopyCat> "Children! No fighting! Stop this at once or you each be getting a frowny-face."
  158. [2014-03-19 15:11:16] <Little_Gloom> 3The foals stop... or at least pause. Ears fold back. One of them hides a floating wrench behind her back, looking up with innocent, dead eyes.
  159. [2014-03-19 15:13:46] * CopyCat nods. "That's better. Now put those things away back where you found them. They aren't toys and they don't belong to you. But don't let me catch you running with them."
  160. [2014-03-19 15:14:18] * Bookwright runs for the stairs.
  161. [2014-03-19 15:14:43] * CopyCat turns to Bookwright. "No running in the corridors!"
  162. [2014-03-19 15:15:54] * Bookwright ignores CopyCat and keeps running.
  163. [2014-03-19 15:22:05] <Little_Gloom> 3Bookwright runs, reaching the stairs... which are crumbled in a heap on the floor ten feet below the open doorway above where Shatara and Get_Lost stare down at him.
  164. [2014-03-19 15:22:56] * CopyCat shakes her head as Bookwright makes himself scarce. "Honestly. Kids today. You wouldn't misbehave like that would you, children?"
  165. [2014-03-19 15:24:46] <Little_Gloom> 3The fillies rasp at CopyCat meekly. One filly points accusingly at the skeleton in the room.
  166. [2014-03-19 15:27:09] * Shatara dives in and plunks Get_Lost down, looking between the gouls. "...did we win?"
  167. [2014-03-19 15:27:16] <Little_Gloom> 3Copycat suddenly gets a flash of understanding, something coherent from the nearly-gone minds of the foals. A image of the maintenance stallion ushering the foals into the basement when the sirens screamed. A blast of pressurized Pink Cloud... the maintenance pony fighting to push the door closed and lock it, even as the Pink ate away the stairs beneath him
  168. [2014-03-19 15:28:00] <Little_Gloom> 3... the maintenance pony, in his dying breath, giving the foals his tools... telling them to guard themselves against any zebra that come in after them....
  169. [2014-03-19 15:28:46] <Little_Gloom> 3The coherancy of the foal's minds is fleeting, their grasp on memory and thought almost but not quite gone.
  170. [2014-03-19 15:32:03] * CopyCat bows her head. She speaks gently. "Ah. I see. You've all been very good ponies."
  171. [2014-03-19 15:33:12] * Get_Lost arrives with shatara "here we are, does somepony need help?"
  172. [2014-03-19 15:33:21] * CopyCat smiles. "But now it is time to put those things away and join your friends outside. Would you like that? They're all waiting for you in the playground."
  173. [2014-03-19 15:34:19] * Noble_Heart blinks and frowns a few moments, working to free her lance from the metal meshing where it had been lodged.
  174. [2014-03-19 15:36:58] * Bookwright turns around in place, helplessly. "Uh. What, uh. Copycat? What's going on?"
  175. [2014-03-19 15:39:02] * Get_Lost trots next to bookie "are you okay? need some bandages?"
  176. [2014-03-19 15:40:38] * CopyCat looks round at her friends. "The maintenance pony tried to save these foals from the cloud. He held the door closed even as he was dying, and gave them those tools so they could protect themselves if a zebra found them. They really have been good little ponies."
  177. [2014-03-19 15:41:26] * Bookwright rubs his bruised head. "I'm shocked I don't have a nosebleed, actually. Yeah, I could use some bandaging."
  178. [2014-03-19 15:41:37] * Get_Lost listens to copy and nods "i see... so.... what now? we leave them here so they can keep defending themselves?"
  179. [2014-03-19 15:42:15] * Get_Lost takes some bandages and starts wrapping bookie's head with them "there, there..."
  180. [2014-03-19 15:45:12] * Golden_Dream gasps for air. [Copycat? Are we safe?]
  181. [2014-03-19 15:45:34] * Noble_Heart frowns and looks to the floor sadly. "We wish to help these ponies somehow. But We do not have the skills to save their minds."
  182. [2014-03-19 15:45:34] <Little_Gloom> 3The foals stare at Copycat deadly.
  183. [2014-03-19 15:46:43] * Get_Lost then gives bookie a potion "here you go"
  184. [2014-03-19 15:49:52] * Get_Lost while she is tending to bookies' wounds, the gem beads in her left hoof start glowing helping him healing better
  185. [2014-03-19 15:50:10] * Bookwright drinks. "Ahhh... Much better. Here, why don't you take one of the healing potions we found earlier." He digs out one of the pre-war healing potions and sets it before Get_Lost. "Watch out, the lid is fused to the bottle there. Might have to break the neck off to open it."
  186. [2014-03-19 15:50:51] * Get_Lost nodnods and takes the potion "thank you"
  187. [2014-03-19 15:52:23] * CopyCat nods sadly. "I fear Noble_Heart is right. These foals have only the barest grasp of sanity remaining. Perhaps we should leave their safe place. We know where they are if we need to find them again. Although, I would have liked to reunite them with those outside."
  188. [2014-03-19 15:53:43] * Get_Lost nods "yeah, we better leave them here. atr least we know where they are"
  189. [2014-03-19 15:55:12] * Bookwright "They wanted me to fix him. I told them I couldn't, and they attacked..."
  190. [2014-03-19 15:56:43] * Golden_Dream gasps. "Are you sure that's what they said?"
  191. [2014-03-19 15:57:05] * Noble_Heart frowns and sighs quietly, closing her eyes. She let the others discuss this for now.
  192. [2014-03-19 15:58:13] * Bookwright shrugs helplessly. "They pointed at the skeleton. They didn't say anything."
  193. [2014-03-19 15:58:43] * Bookwright cocks his head. "Er, after I asked them to take me to their leader, actually."
  194. [2014-03-19 15:59:45] * Golden_Dream frowns. "Are y' sure they weren't jus' tellin' you?"
  195. [2014-03-19 16:00:16] * Get_Lost frowns, looking at the ruined room "you know... i think i'll join the sisterhood once i get back..."
  196. [2014-03-19 16:00:43] * Shatara tilts head at Get_Lost.
  197. [2014-03-19 16:00:49] * Golden_Dream will save that rant at Get_Lost for later. Right now, she's in rant mode for Bookwright!
  198. [2014-03-19 16:02:38] <Little_Gloom> 3Getting out of the basement is easy when so many of the party have wings. Or can teleport.
  199. [2014-03-19 16:05:42] * Get_Lost waits for her lift out of the place
  200. [2014-03-19 16:06:26] * Shatara picks up a Get_Lost.
  201. [2014-03-19 16:06:37] * Bookwright "Ah, Noble Heart? Can you give me a boost up? Thankyooo."
  202. [2014-03-19 16:07:03] * Noble_Heart blinks in surprise and looks up. "oh. Yes." She moves up towards the stairs to levitate Bookwright up and out. And to help the others who need it.
  203. [2014-03-19 16:07:18] * Get_Lost "thank you"
  204. [2014-03-19 16:08:09] * Golden_Dream glares at Bookwright. "Bookie, next time ya'll try t' do somethin' like that without listenin' t' us, I will personally put a shot in yer head as a mercy t' you. Alright?"
  205. [2014-03-19 16:09:36] * Get_Lost "oh, don't be mad at him, kid. he's our only historian... he's just doing his job. our job is to avoid that he gets killed."
  206. [2014-03-19 16:09:58] * Bookwright has fear in his eyes. "I thought it would work! Honest!"
  207. [2014-03-19 16:10:42] * Golden_Dream continues her glare. "Bookie, if it /had/ worked, what was your plan to get it inside your shield?"
  208. [2014-03-19 16:10:54] * CopyCat is the last to ascend. Before she does, she looks back at the foals sadly. "Goodbye children. Please stay safe." With a flap of her wings she rejoins her friends.
  209. [2014-03-19 16:12:05] <Little_Gloom> 3The dead children continue to stare deadly.
  210. [2014-03-19 16:12:46] * Bookwright "My plan was to... to... Oh."
  211. [2014-03-19 16:12:55] * Get_Lost as soon as she's upstairs, the mare trota a bit away from the door and sighs "they deserve some peace. but how?"
  212. [2014-03-19 16:13:29] * Noble_Heart frowns and spreads her wings, following the others up. "We are not certain." She looks to Golden Dream. "Have the spirits here anything to say?"
  213. [2014-03-19 16:16:16] * Golden_Dream bonked Bookie on the head. "Nopony will remember th' shit you've seen if yer dead, and we can't help you if you've screwed us all over. Think with yer head, not with yer horn." She sighed. "For what it's worth, happy yer not dead." She perks an ear up for the voice. "Well? Where're we goin' next?"
  214. [2014-03-19 16:18:14] * Get_Lost "hey dont' bonk my patients on the head! he just got hit there!"
  215. [2014-03-19 16:20:44] <Little_Gloom> 3Golden_Dream looks around, but the wing-cloaked Reaper is nowhere to be seen.
  216. [2014-03-19 16:21:06] <Little_Gloom> 3Its last words echo in her head, but then silence.
  217. [2014-03-19 16:21:49] * Golden_Dream sighs as the reaper seems to have disappeared on her. "... Remove the offending object. Let nature take its course." She muttered.
  218. [2014-03-19 16:24:45] * Get_Lost frowns "well, you know... i'm not saying that they are right, still... as a medic... they should be dead"
  219. [2014-03-19 16:26:04] * Golden_Dream frowns. "... We gotta know what's in th' cart." She looks up at Noble. "Noble, scootch. I'm gonna be in yer shield from now on, because ah'm pretty much stuck with y' anyway. Everypony else, I recommend ya'll buddy up with fliers n' not fliers t' save poor Copycat her effort. Bookie, what was that thing they were by? Were it somethin' that lead down t' somethin'?"
  220. [2014-03-19 16:26:39] * Noble_Heart blinks and tilts her head to one side. "Alright." She nods her head and lowers down to let Golden Dream climb on before refreshing her shield. "We shall keep you safe."
  221. [2014-03-19 16:28:58] * Golden_Dream seems drained. "Yeah, ah know." She muttered in a low tone. "D'y' think th' wire mesh thing coulda been an elevator r' somethin'?"
  222. [2014-03-19 16:29:32] * Get_Lost looks for a poy to pair with in the ball
  223. [2014-03-19 16:29:52] * CopyCat looks between Get_Lost and Bookwright. "Okay. Who wants to ride on the CopyCat express?"
  224. [2014-03-19 16:30:20] * Golden_Dream looks at Shatara, and then looks at Get_Lost. Now's your chance, you hopeless griffon.
  225. [2014-03-19 16:30:36] * Noble_Heart taps her chin. "It is possible. It seems more likely it was a way to isolate potentially dangerous objects from those in the basement. Prevent those who lacked authority from accessing something whih might hurt them."
  226. [2014-03-19 16:31:15] * Golden_Dream scruffs her chin. "Then why was th' light red when it were closed?"
  227. [2014-03-19 16:31:50] * Bookwright "It was just a caged light. The cage is there to prevent the light from being broken. It's just a basement.
  228. [2014-03-19 16:32:51] * Noble_Heart frowns and tilts her head to one side. "We wonder what the demonstration the zebra was giving might have been, that it would require a body clad in armor."
  229. [2014-03-19 16:33:03] * Golden_Dream nods. "Alright. Then I guess our only lead's to head back t' th' playground." She frowned. "Find out what that is."
  230. [2014-03-19 16:33:39] * Bookwright "I don't think the armor would ever be worn. I think there's a zebra spirit bound to that armor."
  231. [2014-03-19 16:33:51] * Get_Lost "maybe if we go to the dorms and find joy's room we could find out something more about this story before we break the eggs?"
  232. [2014-03-19 16:33:52] * Shatara blushes at the 'copycat express'.
  233. [2014-03-19 16:34:29] * Bookwright accepts CopyCat's offer and gets very, er, close to her.
  234. [2014-03-19 16:36:59] * Golden_Dream nods at Get_Lost. "Alright. I don' think we're gonna find much, but we'll do that before we meet up with th' poor thing."
  235. [2014-03-19 16:38:12] * Noble_Heart furrows her brow and frowns. "Perhaps he meant to demonstrate how zebra's magical items are created? We do not know much about it, but it might explain the necessity of the armor." She shook her head. "In any case, We suggest returning to the playground as well."
  236. [2014-03-19 16:38:13] * Get_Lost "or... we meet him and ask him the rest of the story... so we don't do stuff behind his back, maybe"
  237. [2014-03-19 16:38:58] * Golden_Dream flattens her lips. "Get, I'm leanin' towards that option."
  238. [2014-03-19 16:39:31] * Golden_Dream crooks an eyebrow. "Also, why th' heck am I still seein' red on th' EFS, Get?"
  239. [2014-03-19 16:40:15] * Bookwright "Get Lost is right. We need to speak to Joy."
  240. [2014-03-19 16:40:47] * CopyCat smiles and then 'oofs' at Bookwright's reassuring weight. "You are a big boy. All right, do we want the shields again or do we want hooves free for poking at things?"
  241. [2014-03-19 16:41:23] * Shatara tries not to be jealous of Bookwright, while offering Get_Lost a ride.
  242. [2014-03-19 16:42:28] * Golden_Dream opts for shields before pointing Noble in the direction of the playground.
  243. [2014-03-19 16:42:36] * Get_Lost "well, the red dot on your EFS is a function i uploaded instead ot the FoF system. since it won't help you to be happy. my DoR function is a lot more useful for you"
  244. [2014-03-19 16:43:12] * Golden_Dream blinks. "FoF? DoR?"
  245. [2014-03-19 16:43:48] * Bookwright grimaces. "Let's hold off on the shield for the moment. I keep needing to poke at things."
  246. [2014-03-19 16:43:54] * Noble_Heart nods her head and moves towards the doorway.
  247. [2014-03-19 16:43:59] * Shatara sighs and facetalons. Of course the stupid sexy sciencpone screwed with it...
  248. [2014-03-19 16:44:42] * Get_Lost "FoF stands for friend or foe. it is the standard color code for any pipbuck. tells you if the ponies in front of you are friendly or not. quite useless if you ask me. so i uploaded a Date or Run program. it tells you if the pony in front of you is a good date or not. if your souls are compatible. so much better"
  249. [2014-03-19 16:45:00] * CopyCat nods at her passenger. "Okay Bookie. But be careful not to distract me while I'm flying."
  250. [2014-03-19 16:45:02] * Get_Lost "it uses a very complex alorithm."
  251. [2014-03-19 16:45:08] <Get_Lost> *algorithm
  252. [2014-03-19 16:45:20] * Golden_Dream frowns. "Get, why is CopyCat in bright friggin' red?"
  253. [2014-03-19 16:46:42] * Get_Lost "really? that's so sweet! you are perfect for each other! you should start dating now!"
  254. [2014-03-19 16:47:19] * Get_Lost notices they're in the same bubble "well, you kinda are already dating! i'm so happy for you!"
  255. [2014-03-19 16:47:32] * Noble_Heart groans slightly and sighs quietly.
  256. [2014-03-19 16:48:51] * Golden_Dream shuts her eyes closed tightly and weakly facehoofs. "Get, turn it back as soon as possible. Appreciate the gesture, but me'n Copycat ain't goin' out. That's someone else's job when they get around t' actually doing it."
  257. [2014-03-19 16:50:37] * Get_Lost "turning it off? but why? it is so much better than that boring S.T.A.B.L.E. dumbproof program! this one is actually doing something useful!"
  258. [2014-03-19 16:51:27] * Shatara sighs. "Identifying who is about to attempt to rip your face off is useful.
  259. [2014-03-19 16:52:23] * Get_Lost "excuse me if it isn't ebvious enough who is trying to kill you! please, dont' tell me you couldn't tell a foaming killer from a friendly merchant!"
  260. [2014-03-19 16:53:26] * Golden_Dream remains facehoofed. "Get, I appreciate what y' did, and ah still like y'. But at least teach me how t' switch between th' two."
  261. [2014-03-19 16:54:23] * Get_Lost "ah... yeah, about that... i... could haveneeded to make some space for the new program... you know... small memory and all... are you sure you dont' like the matchmaking program? maybe?"
  262. [2014-03-19 16:57:49] * Noble_Heart raises an eyebrow. "Do PipBucks not have impressively massive storage capacity? We have never heard of one running out of room... Ever."
  263. [2014-03-19 16:58:10] * Golden_Dream closes her eyes, and seems to feel a wave of fatigue overcoming her.
  264. [2014-03-19 16:58:54] * Get_Lost "depends on the protocol you use when you format them."
  265. [2014-03-19 16:59:41] * Shatara sighs. Hates being right.
  266. [2014-03-19 17:00:01] <Little_Gloom> 3As they group takes to the air, flying across crumbling rooftops and pink-misted alleys, Bookwright's spell helps him spot two more records, about thirty meters apart, in an alleyway not far from the security station they had found.
  267. [2014-03-19 17:00:30] * Golden_Dream groans. "Get, what protocol did y' use t' format it?"
  268. [2014-03-19 17:00:53] * Bookwright points down. "There! Down there. In that alley. Can you land there please, CopyCat?"
  269. [2014-03-19 17:01:02] * Get_Lost "but i think i can recover the old functions simply by copying them from another pipbuck formatting it again... i used a protocol of my own making. takes a lot of space but has faster access"
  270. [2014-03-19 17:02:43] * Get_Lost smiles a bit, hard to tell how she feels since her eyes are gone "i will work on it when we make a pause... won't take more than a couple of hours"
  271. [2014-03-19 17:02:52] * CopyCat nods. "Okay Bookie, coming in to land. Please keep your seatbelt fastened and leave any tray tables in the upright position."
  272. [2014-03-19 17:03:16] * Bookwright "...What? Tray tables? Seatbelt? What are you talking about?"
  273. [2014-03-19 17:04:07] * Get_Lost whispers something under her breath, then shakes her head a little
  274. [2014-03-19 17:04:45] * Golden_Dream hugs Noble tight and cranes up to say something in her ear.
  275. [2014-03-19 17:05:38] * Noble_Heart frowns and follows CopyCat down, eartwitching curiously at Golden Dream's words.
  276. [2014-03-19 17:05:57] * Noble_Heart nods her head in agreement to Golden Dream's words.
  277. [2014-03-19 17:06:57] * Shatara flaps quietly with Get_Lost on his back.
  278. [2014-03-19 17:11:00] * CopyCat sets Bookwright down where he had pointed. "Thank you for flying CopyCat Airways. I'm afraid your luggage has been lost somewhere. Have a nice day."
  279. [2014-03-19 17:12:49] <Little_Gloom> 3The two records are a final set of audio recordings, identical to the ones before.
  280. [2014-03-19 17:13:17] * Get_Lost once on land, the mare approaches kid a moment, a faint smile "i'll fix it as soon as possible... are you sure of it? normal pipbucks aren't predisposed for housing artificial intelligencies..." offers weakly
  281. [2014-03-19 17:14:48] * Golden_Dream frowns. "... Just try t' clear things up, alright? I don' wanna ruin yer work, just, y'no. Make it more boring n' practical. Like me, right?" She smiles weakly.
  282. [2014-03-19 17:14:56] <Little_Gloom> 3As the group land in the alleyway, the last shreds of twilight disappear, the darkness of night enveloping the ruins of Luna's Academy for Young Unicorns completely. The only light is the glow from Noble_Heart's shield and from the PipBucks on Golden_Dream's and Shatara's forelegs.
  283. [2014-03-19 17:15:21] * Bookwright swipes up the recordings, picks one at random, and plays it.
  284. [2014-03-19 17:16:03] <Little_Gloom> 3The ex-chaplin griffin is huffing, out of breath, with a tremble in his voice.
  285. [2014-03-19 17:16:33] * Get_Lost nods "i... i'll clean the mess, i'm sorry" trots back to shatara, i ncase there will be a need for getting out rapidly
  286. [2014-03-19 17:16:47] <Little_Gloom> 3(Thank you, Scorch Mechanic! https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/62984274/tape_8.mp3)
  287. [2014-03-19 17:16:56] <Little_Gloom> 3---oooOOOooo---
  288. [2014-03-19 17:16:56] * Shatara perches on something.
  289. [2014-03-19 17:17:07] <Little_Gloom> 3I... <huff huff> I h-had to. <huff huff> T-to kill him. The Enclave scout. I regret it. He was friendly, guided me out of the Pegasus pony’s territory. Even offered me provisions when I was st-starving. But <huff huff> I saw it in his eyes! The moment he learned I was h-headed for Luna’s old <huff huff> academy.
  290. [2014-03-19 17:17:22] <Little_Gloom> 3H-he was going t-to report… the Enclave would h-have come, <huff huff> would have stopped me!
  291. [2014-03-19 17:17:31] <Little_Gloom> 3I-I’m too close. F-fortunately <huff huff>he d-didn’t see it coming. Claws on throat. <huff huff> I-I’m no skilled fighter, but I am a griffin. I can <huff huff> use what those Above have g-given m-me.
  292. [2014-03-19 17:17:37] <Little_Gloom> 3<huff huff>
  293. [2014-03-19 17:17:42] <Little_Gloom> 3It was fast. But… so m-much blood. Everything’s r-red. <huff huff>
  294. [2014-03-19 17:17:50] <Little_Gloom> 3P-pull it together. I’m almost there. What’s one d-death, when the r-reapers will <huff huff> give me the power to d-do something worthwhile. Maybe even c-change the wasteland. L-little s-sacrifices.
  295. [2014-03-19 17:17:56] <Little_Gloom> 3---oooOOOooo---
  296. [2014-03-19 17:18:10] <Little_Gloom> 3The recording ends with a click.
  297. [2014-03-19 17:18:43] * Golden_Dream frowns at her expression. "... Ya'll can keep th' date thing and th' AI on, so long as I can switch it out n' put th' AI t' sleep again. Alright?" She offered a smile.
  298. [2014-03-19 17:19:26] * Get_Lost "yeah i... i'll fix it"
  299. [2014-03-19 17:19:38] * Bookwright frowns. Plays the other tape.
  300. [2014-03-19 17:20:58] * Noble_Heart eartwitches and frowns. "With little sacrifices are the worst of things made true." SHe bows her head sadly.
  301. [2014-03-19 17:22:01] * Golden_Dream looks distant for a moment. "Little sacrifices are just big sacrifices t' folk that don't care none."
  302. [2014-03-19 17:23:27] * Bookwright "So which one is Joy then, Golden? A little sacrifice, or a big one?"
  303. [2014-03-19 17:23:41] * Get_Lost shrugs "i don't think that killing somepony can be consideredas a little sacrifice... still, we killed a lot of ponies on our way... we're not that different, i guess."
  304. [2014-03-19 17:24:40] <Little_Gloom> 3The final recording of Bonaparte, the chaplin from Shatara's home Stable, begins.
  305. [2014-03-19 17:25:34] * CopyCat blinks at Get_Lost. "We killed ponies?"
  306. [2014-03-19 17:25:38] <Little_Gloom> 3(Isn't Scorch Mechanic awesome!? https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/62984274/tape_9.mp3)
  307. [2014-03-19 17:25:47] <Little_Gloom> 3---oooOOOooo---
  308. [2014-03-19 17:25:53] <Little_Gloom> 3The task they demand!
  309. [2014-03-19 17:26:00] <Little_Gloom> 3They are not subtle, these death-spirits. There is no dance of seduction. No softly whispered enticements, as with the stories of the Stars Above tempting the foolish into damnation with sweet encouragements and concealed costs. With the Reapers, at least, there is no obfuscation.
  310. [2014-03-19 17:26:06] <Little_Gloom> 3Still, I do not know if I can kill the children.
  311. [2014-03-19 17:26:11] <Little_Gloom> 3All this way. All the cost just to get here, and I hesitate. Even knowing what I know, knowing what they are…
  312. [2014-03-19 17:26:24] <Little_Gloom> 3They’re still /children/.
  313. [2014-03-19 17:26:30] <Little_Gloom> 3Oh!
  314. [2014-03-19 17:26:36] <Little_Gloom> 3No… no. Master, I was not questioning. I understand!
  315. [2014-03-19 17:26:43] <Little_Gloom> 3They are a blight. Trapped souls in need of release. I will give them to you; do not take my power. Please! I will end the children, or I will die trying. I promise you this…!
  316. [2014-03-19 17:26:48] <Little_Gloom> 3---oooOOOooo---
  317. [2014-03-19 17:27:07] * Get_Lost "aaaaaand he died trying. so. much. win."
  318. [2014-03-19 17:27:13] <Little_Gloom> 3The message ends. The final epitaph for Bonaparte.
  319. [2014-03-19 17:27:52] * Shatara sighs a little. "Did he even mention what kind of power he was so desprate to have?"
  320. [2014-03-19 17:28:20] * Bookwright "I think so."
  321. [2014-03-19 17:28:45] * Get_Lost then turns at copycat "yes we did: we killed some enclave ponies back at gaia valley and then we did it again trying to defend an ambushed caravan... we also killed the crystal ponies and i personally killed all the kidbots in the crystal empire"
  322. [2014-03-19 17:29:02] * Noble_Heart nods her head. "He mentioned that they had granted him the darkest of gifts. That of necromancy. The power over the dead and the spirits of death. Even the Zebras feared it, if stories are to be believed."
  323. [2014-03-19 17:29:32] * Shatara sighs and shakes his head. "Why would you even want that?"
  324. [2014-03-19 17:29:53] * Get_Lost "no idea.... maybe you get extra credits for it?"
  325. [2014-03-19 17:30:20] * Bookwright "He wanted it because... he was jealous of other griffins. He craved power."
  326. [2014-03-19 17:30:49] * CopyCat lowers her head at Get_Lost's reply. "Oh yes. Some of the Heartless. Before we knew there was a chance to save them."
  327. [2014-03-19 17:30:59] * Golden_Dream frowns. Death in the pursuit of some vague, distant power. She seemed to hate that Bookie asked that question. She hated that ponies would lose themselves so quickly to it. She hated that's what essentially what has born so much death in her life. It reminded her of the lighthouse in the fog, and how folks would chase it and chase it. Tomorrow would be different, so on and so forth.
  328. [2014-03-19 17:30:59] * Get_Lost "maybe he just wanted to see if he could do it...."
  329. [2014-03-19 17:31:32] * Noble_Heart shakes her head. "He wished to be more than he was. To be someone significant. Someone important. To matter and prove that he was not useless or weak or pointless in his life." She bowed her head sadly. "It is not an unfamiliar feeling. But no sacrifice of another should mark such a path."
  330. [2014-03-19 17:32:41] * Get_Lost "yeah" nods "you don't just... saw other ponies legs off to test your new cyuberlegs... doesnt' help making friends"
  331. [2014-03-19 17:32:42] * Golden_Dream hated that ambition was spoiled for her. "T' be significant always means steppin' on other folks."
  332. [2014-03-19 17:33:17] * Shatara finds Get_Lost's example suspiciously specific.
  333. [2014-03-19 17:34:39] * Get_Lost "sooooo... we ask joy to show us his room? maybe we can tell him about his dad... i think it'll make him happy"
  334. [2014-03-19 17:35:15] * Noble_Heart slowly straightens up. "We would like to know what is in that cart. Why it was so important to be saved. It does not seem as simple as a demonstration still carried..."
  335. [2014-03-19 17:35:37] * Bookwright "It all hangs on Joy. We need to talk to Joy."
  336. [2014-03-19 17:35:45] * Get_Lost "maybe it has something to do with his power to command other ghouls."
  337. [2014-03-19 17:35:47] * Golden_Dream has a notion what it might be. But she hoped it wasn't what she thought it was.
  338. [2014-03-19 17:36:09] * Get_Lost "or, it is cheerilee"
  339. [2014-03-19 17:37:26] * Get_Lost tries stealing a glance of shatara withut being noticed
  340. [2014-03-19 17:38:16] * Golden_Dream seems very sour at her own statement, because it means she knows how this will all end, and it wasn't a nice thought.
  341. [2014-03-19 17:39:19] * Noble_Heart nods her head. Spreading her wings and taking to the air. "We suggest heading back to the playground. He will be there. In time if not now."
  342. [2014-03-19 17:41:18] * Get_Lost waits to get carried "thank you, shatara... can i use your pipbuck, later? i need to copy the system into kid's, please"
  343. [2014-03-19 17:41:52] * CopyCat nods. "Back aboard Bookie. We go."
  344. [2014-03-19 17:42:31] * Bookwright clambers aboard the CopyCat train.
  345. [2014-03-19 17:43:02] * Bookwright "We should head back to the shack. Maybe Joy is waiting there for us."
  346. [2014-03-19 17:44:10] * Shatara nods and agrees with Bookwright.
  347. [2014-03-19 17:44:34] * Shatara bends down to let Get_Lost on his back. "Sure..."
  348. [2014-03-19 17:46:22] * Get_Lost hops on the ride "thank you"
  349. [2014-03-19 17:48:29] * CopyCat takes off and joins Noble_Heart in the air. "Bookie says we should check the shack first."
  350. [2014-03-19 17:49:57] * Noble_Heart nods her head. "We are fine with that."
  351. [2014-03-19 17:54:27] <Little_Gloom> 3A few moments later, the group is flying through the still Littlehorn night, over the ruins of Luna's Academy. The streets glow very faintly with the pink, an broken and barely visible grid.
  352. [2014-03-19 17:56:22] <Little_Gloom> 3The teacher's apartments move into view, and with them the small playground, no minus it's dead child. Beyond, the alley, and the shack with a hole in its roof. And two pinpricks of glowing bring pink in the night. And a softer light, barely phospherescent, eminating from beneath the tarp over the wagon.
  353. [2014-03-19 17:56:31] <Little_Gloom> 3--- End of Session ---
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