Thread 21: Stories 91-105

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Non Canon
>Pinkie Pie

>Aw crap, that's not a good sign.

Don't worry, we're just letting you know you're doing a good job not busting things up, also we haven't forgotten about Partyland and one of us will actually write it at some point.

>Really?

Really.

>Sweet! Cheesy'll be happy too, he's getting tired of not being referenced!

Just wait for this cave thing to resolve itself, alrigh-

>Anon...

What?

>I thought I was the only one in the dialogue indicator thing.

You were.

>Then what's Chitty doing here?

"WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING TO!? WHERE THE FUCK AM I!?"

SHIT CUT TO BLA
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>Chitania
"Guru pony"
~~~~~~

The massive set of twin doors were slammed off their hinges, allowing a burst of frozen, cold air to rush into the huge structure, and gently ruffle the beard of the pony sitting at the top of the stairs in the back of the room on a pillow, and blowing out all of the candles that surrounded him.

>Are you the one they call 'the master'?

He barely twitched to regard the earth pony with a bright orange mane and green body, a slight annoyance making his brow furrow.

"...I take it you found the riddle necessary to enter into my presence taxing?"

>Your fucking guards thought they could stop me. I have no time for mindgames, thank you.

"They were meant to ensure only those with good intentions could reach this place."

>Well...

A dented and warped helmet clanged against the floor as she chucked it at the bottom of his stairs.

>I like to think my intentions are good. Does that count?

"...They trained their entire lives to be the masters of defensive combat. That you could defeat them all tells me you are not here for altruistic reasons."

She let out a long, cackling laugh.

>No, I suppose I'm not!

Like the flick of a switch, her eyes grew hard.

>Tell me how I can reach them.

"Have you tried the post office?"

>...

To his credit, he only flinched a little bit when she ripped a chunk of floor clean out of the ground and hurled it into the wall beside him.

>Play coy some more. Go ahead. I left your little minions alive, but I can change that if you want. Want me to start with the one with the scar? He was very vocal about my entrance.

"...Very well. Who is it you wish to seek?"

>You have devoted your life to seeing 'the grander picture', have you not?

"I have."

>So then... you know about them. Those above us. Those beyond what these eyes can see. What this skin can feel. They are beyond us... and I want to know how to reach them.

He let out a long, tired sigh, shuffling his ornate robes a bit.

"Do you really think you will you finally find peace if you have someone to confront for the wrongs omitted against you?"

>I am not seeking justice. I do not blame anyone. To even worry about the minute problems that have shoved themselves in my way as I've lived is ludicrous. Those matters are small, and I cannot be bothered to even step on them. No... I am after them for one reason. Power. I will take their power, their might! I will crush them as easily as I can crush an ant, and I shall reach true majesty!

"...Will you be happy then?"

>I don't see why I wouldn't be. If gods were not happy, they would use their might to change to world so they were happy. That's the joys of being so much bigger than everyone else, you can reshape the world into pretty much anything you want if you're big enough. Once I find them and take what I want... the world is my plaything.

"...I am sorry, but your journey was in vain. I once sought for as long as I can remember to reach those in the plain above ours, but have not managed. I found peace letting go of that, and have not looked back. This world is more than enough for me, I do not need more."

Slowly, her lip began to curl.

>Useless. Just another insect scared of the big creatures that step upon it's home. They do not know of you, and are content to see you as little more than an annoyance, if anything at all. You are just as weak and afraid as any child.

She turned her back on him, done with this place already.

And then he struck.

In the span of a second, he had dove forward, his mastery of the martial arts allowing him to pinpoint an exact spot on the small of her back, and strike before she could even turn around.

"I may not have found enlightenment in the higher states of being... but I learned enough to know where a pony's spinal pressure point is, thank you. Someday, you will thank me for stopping you now."

But she did not fall, as expected.

She laughed.

Panicked, he struck out again and again, aiming for pressure points to her lungs, her limbs, even her heart. Nothing. Not even a single twitch.

>You poor, poor fool.

Just as he struck forward, a wash of fire engulfed her, setting fire to his hoof and making him scream in pain.

>Blind to the greater things, just like everyone else.

She towered over him, a single strike enough to send him clear back into the perch from which he leapt.

>Hmmm... I think it's time for a little more... enlightenment, on your part.

She did not grow to her full size. She did not need to.

>And tomorrow, when you wake up covered in bruises and broken bones, I want you to learn from this. Learn what happens when an insect bites back against the monsters that walk above him. Teach your students what happens when a bug...

The monastery rang out with the sound of stone breaking, and a scream of pain.

>...fights a god.
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>42
"Fluttershy"
~~~~~

>...Boom... boom... Bakkooooo-

"...What are you-"

>AHHHHHHHWHATTHEFUCKHOWWHOWHATWHEREWHYFUCKTHISFUCKTHATFUCKYOU!

"..."
>...
"..."
>...Princess Fluttershy, how are you? Is there something you require from me today?

"Well, I was actually looking for 18, so I asked Discord to teleport me over here. I guess he missed?"

>Yes. He clearly missed and sent you to the very top of the Crystal Castle. Unintentionally. It was an accident, I'm sure. Pure coincidence.

"...Sooo..."

>She's not up here, obviously.

"Was actually going to ask what you were doing."

>...stuff...

"Stompy stuff?"

>...Pretend stompy stuff.

"Oh..."

>...I was just having a bit of fun.

"Oh no! I didn't mean to imply anything, I was just curious. I'm sorry for interrupting your pretend time."

>You can make it up to me by never speaking a word of it to anyone ever.

"Of course!"

>Good.

"...What's it like?"

>What?

"Pretend stomping, what's it like?"

>Ah... big, I guess. Kind of cool to imagine being the big thing that nothing can stop, instead of... you know, the small thing it doesn't even notice. I wish I had Chitania's ability, I would be able to do so much with it. Any threat a small thing beneath my hooves. And I could...

"...Keep them all safe?"

>Yeah... so much power, but it's in the wrong Changeling.

"...I don't think I'd ever want to be that big."

>No?

"No. Discord told me what it's like when you have all the power in the world."

>What's it like?

"Lonely."

>...Well, this doesn't feel lonely.

"No?"

>Nope. Guess you've just got to make sure you have enough power to share.

"...Yeah. That seems nice."

>Yeah... want to pretend to stomp with me?

"Oh, I really should get these to 18..."

>...

"...You know what? Sure... RAWR! BOOSH!"

>SMASH!

"KABLOOIE!"

Miles and miles away, Discord let out a chuckle, and tossed his binoculars away.

Really, that mare SO needed to get out more.
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>Chrysalis
"Applejack"
~~~~

>What are you doing?

"Hush, Ah' need concentration fer' this."

>For...

"Ah'm tryin' ta fold the paper with magic."

>And this is an... issue for you?

"Yes! Grabbin' stuff's easy, but when ya' gotta focus on holdin' stuff and only grabbin' one end, it's hard!...DAGNABBIT!"

>Setting fires with your mind? Well, that's kind of impressive.

"IT WAS S'POSED TA' BE SOME TELEWHOSEEWHATSIT!"

>...Impressive. You've managed to completely re-invent the concept of magic on a fundamental level. If Nerd-the-word was in here, she would lose her mind.

"Ya'll hush! Ah'm gonna try it again!"

>...

"...RASSAFRASSIN'STUPIDPIECEO'BUCKIN'APPLEEATIN'HORSERADISH!"

>No go?

"CHOKE ON IT!"

>Provide Shiny's super-sausage to me, and I shall oblige!

"REALLY!?"

>It's legal here!...Thanks to you.

"..."

>...No pop? I was hoping for a pop-

*POP!*

>There it is-

*WHAM!*

>WORTH IT!
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>Tickles
"Rekulk"
'Rarity'
~~~~

>Finally! It's taken hours of work, a ton of planning, and no less than THREE head injuries when I fell, but I've done it! The perfect trap! They'll slip upon my bed of killer webbing, and slide right into the wall! Ending them! ENDING THEMMWAHAHAHAHAHAH!

"Friends! Fortune has shined upon Rekulk! A very fine rug has been offered to him, yes! Very fine and smooth!"

'Oh dear, that looks simply divine! You must trade for it!'

"Trade!? We love to trade, yes yes! Very fine trade to make indeed!"

>...BUGBOTTOMS!
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>Spike
“Rarity”
‘Blueblood’
~Rekulk~
{???}
*Applejack*
[Celestia]
-Chrysalis-
_________

>Okay… seriously? I can’t even begin to explain this shit. I mean… you guys, we’ve got enough pieces of clothing to open up a WHOLE chain of stores. No, quit laughing, Rekulk, I’m being for real here. Look at this pile. See this pile? It’s a huge ass pile.

“I’m almost envious actually. Most of this stuff looks to be crafted from some high-quality material… which begs me to wonder where one could acquire any of that down here?”

‘I knew you were a daft mare for certain but really, you wonder about that? You wonder how that’s possible? When we’ve been downing creatures dredged up from the void all this time? THAT’S the one thing you choose to ponder? The clothes? I see.’

~From the void? No, Blood of the Blue, they come from eggs, and sacks, and from a soil enriched with the blood of many! No void down here.~

As one, the group paused and held a smiling Rekulk in a passive stare.

>Never a dull moment with such cheery bits of info.

‘Just how big are these damn catacombs anyway? How long have we been down here? Are we even under Canterlot anymore?’

Rekulk pointed to a gathering of wickedly sharp looking crystals.

~Still Canterlot. The abundance of magic contorts the other home below. That not natural.~

>You know what else isn’t natural? Charity’s down to one bullet.

“‘GASP!’”

>…did you both really need to- …nevermind. Yes, I’m down to one bullet. I didn’t think we’d be down here for almost a year.

~Has it been that long?! Rekulk was sure only five nights had passed! What of my others, what of my trades?!~

“It was a joke, darling.”

‘A joke that holds far too much truth for me as well. Only one round in the chamber.’

>It’s use better left unsaid….

‘Do I use it on my enemy…?’

>Or put it in my head?

“That… was surprisingly well-choreographed, dear.”

>It wasn’t, really. Biggest coincidence of the year right there.

~We… speed up? That is what is wanted, yes?~

In the middle of aiming his pistol at those random pairs of crimson eyes, blinking just in the distant darkness, Spike nodded.

>Yes, Rekulk. We need to speed up. Badly. Before every single creature attached to those eyes out there decides to make a move.

~And… we are looking for… spiderthing, yes?~

“Nothing but, dear. The pest is quite elusive, I’ll say that much for it.”

If Rekulk had possessed a good grasp of the concept of irony, he probably would have exploded in laughter. Elusive? The thing they sought that snuck in every time they slept and either read Rarity’s fiction or tried to ‘eat’ them through vicious tickle strategies?

But Rekulk did not yet get irony and so did not laugh.

He only nodded with a sense of newfound duty and instantly hooked a right, through a wide fissure in the wall.

~Then follow Rekulk. He knows where such a thing lies...~

~~~~~

A little hybrid Changeling sat in a bed of her own creation. Ravenous growls and the sound of menacing claw clicks echoed all around but to her it was the most soothing background noise as she hummed, flipping pages in a little notebook she carried. Within were hundreds upon thousands of scribbles and little notes ranging from proper cannibalizing techniques (the do’s and don’ts of skin peeling) to the proper length of a scarf.

{Okay, soooo… wiggling one of my legs into their necks… does not… melt… skin. There! Got it! Those pony dragons are real resilient, I’ll give them that… I mean, to be able to resist my armada of clothing attacks….}

She shuddered, legs bristling.

{My queen… she would probably be down there already, ripping them limb from limb and yanking out their guts and feasting on their- HRRRGH!}

When the sudden urge to vomit punched her square in the gut, she pitched herself over the edge… but the sensation soon vanished and she swallowed.

{Ugh… o-okay, still need some work there, okay, I s-see that.}

A moment later, she was snuggling up under a blanket of web, notebook hugged to her chest and yawning.

{I’ll get ‘em tomorrow, bet I will. Sciddy’ll be smiling down on me soon enough. …if she doesn’t outright eat me for calling her that. Stupid, stupid, stupid….}

Another yawn followed her self-admonishment and she heeded the call to sleep. The beastly howls had finally stopped, too, leaving the entire area in a state of silence.

It was nice, the quiet.

In fact… she couldn’t remember the last time everything had been so-

Her heart skipped a beat, eyes flying open, and when she went to sit up, something cold met her forehead with a painful force.

>Whoa there, partner. Not so fast.

And Spike slowly pressed her back down into the web, the others coming up on his side and regarding the creature with varying looks of surprise and disgust.

‘Oh, you have got to be bloody joking. Rekulk, when we resurface, get your monster compass looked at. There’s no way this pathetic thing is what posed such a threat, I refuse to believe it.’

“It’s, uh… quite the odd creature, isn’t it? Look at those legs….”

>I am, and I’m sure this is it, what kept dragging me away. You, just what are you?

{…}

>You look like a Changeling mixed with a spider. Is that right? Are you a Changeling? Who’s your Queen?

{…}

‘Okay, Spike, let’s take a mental step back and think about this, m’kay? You’re conversing with the prey, alright? That’s dumb point one. Next, you’re asking some of the most outdated questions in the history of interrogation. That’s dumb point two. And the third? It’s not talking. Just kill it.’

~It is not talking because it is scared. Look closely.~

The tip of Rarity’s horn ignited with simple lighting magic and as the immediate area was bathed in its warm glow, they saw that the Spiderling was indeed frightened. Caught on her side, in the process of sitting up, all of her extra legs had retracted close to her body and she trembled like a leaf in the harsh wind. But while her lips floundered over nothing, it was her eyes that began to glisten as they zoned in on the gun, unsure of what it was but subconsciously knowing it could easily end her.

>Oh, oh damn… you look like you’re about to cry. Is it the gun? I bet it’s the gun- here, look, it’s gone.

And he moved it to behind his back, showing her his empty hand. While Blueblood rolled his eyes, that seemed to work as she came down from hyperventilating levels to just downright fear.

‘For Auntie’s sake, we are not doing this. You hear me? No. This is the thing you were worried about, right? The thing that was supposed to be a threat?’

>Well… yeah. I mean, at first I thought it was but-

‘Then that’s all I needed to know. Pardon me.’

A rifle was leveled at the Spiderling, the long barrel aimed at a point just between her eyes.

>Blueblood!

‘We don’t know what this thing is but it came from these hellish tunnels. If that’s not reason enough to execute it then nothing i-’

~What about Rekulk?~

The Morlock stepped forward, into the light, and stared down at the Spiderling.

~Rekulk… came from here. And I am trader friend.~

‘…That’s different. We know you. We don’t know this thing, or if there are any more-’

{I-I may be alone but I’m nnnnn-not afraid! I-I c-can handle myself!}

Judging by the way she could barely stand, let alone get her legs to work properly, that was clearly a lie, one that Blueblood had no time for.

‘There aren’t many things down here that can survive a high-caliber sniper round, and honestly, I’m betting you can’t either.’

{I-I’m not afraid, I’m not afraid, I’m not afraid-}

The Spiderling repeated the phrase over and over again, her voice cracking as all eight of her legs tried to shield her and she hid her face behind her hooves.

{I’m not afraid, she’ll protect me, momma will protect me, I’m not afraid, I’m not-}

>…

“…oh dear…”

~…~

‘…’

No one said anything, they just listened to the Spiderling try to comfort itself….

‘…Auntie damn it.’

The rifle lost the hue of magic holding it up and fell to the webbed ground. There was something odd in the way Blueblood looked as he approached the shivering insect and lowered a gentle hoof onto her head, which did nothing but cause her to jump and clench.

‘Are… are you alone?’

The Spiderling didn’t answer right away, or within the next five minutes. It only trembled under his touch, and continued to tremble for quite some time until, in a move that stunned Spike, Rarity and even Rekulk, Blueblood inclined his head, nudging her with his nose.

The speed at which she glanced over her hooves was glacial to be sure, but she did, blinking up at the alabaster stallion with red-rimmed eyes.

‘Hey. I asked if you were alone.’

Another lengthy pause. It was like she’d forgotten speech.

{Just me… I’m the l-last of my hive….}

‘Ah…’

The rifle was lifted once again, caught in Blueblood’s magic, but instead of pointing it at the hybrid Changeling, he placed it on his back.

‘Do you have a name?’

That was an odd question to ask where Spike and Rarity were concerned. As far as they knew, and from what they gleaned from Chrysalis, Changelings were drones and didn’t have n-

{Arana…}

>Get the fuck outta here….

~Is pretty name, Rekulk thinks, yes.~

‘It’s a feminine name….’

Arana seemed to find some form of indignation in his words for she tried to puff her chest, but came off looking ill.

{I am a g… a g-girl!}

‘And where is your queen?’

No answer came in the cold silence and Blueblood’s eyes seemed to tighten. His next question wasn’t directed at her even though she remained all that he saw.

‘She’s not a threat. Is she?’

>Not in the slightest….

“No, dear.”

~Is why Rekulk did not tell friends that she came by whenever they slept. She no threat. He- I mean, I can smell her innocence.~

Almost every pair of eyes found Rekulk after that revealing statement….

So this creature had come to them every night and… done nothing.

‘…Where is your home?’

She knew he was talking to her again and one of her back legs tapped the ground upon which they stood.

{Here. It’s where she put me… where my queen t-told me to hide….}

Question switch.

‘On a scale of one to ten, how much trouble to do you think it would cause if I…?’

He didn’t need to finish for the others to get his drift. Spike stared, stunned, then he grinned with a tired shrug.

>Dude, I don’t even know. Loads? Enough to awaken the Ancient Apple Family eye-popping tradition within everyone? Shit, a lot.

There was something humorous in Rarity’s smile as she surveyed the regal stallion.

“I don’t think we’d hear the end of it for days, darling. I can hardly imagine Chrysalis’s reaction, much less Celestia’s and Applejack’s.”

>Right? Whoooo, bombshell waiting to explode.

~Rekulk is confused. Trouble comes if what happens?~

But no one answered. Blueblood only nodded.

‘Then I’ll take responsibility…’

{For what?}

‘For you.’

~~~~~~~~

>HOLY SHIT WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO?

‘I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING DAMN IT!’

“Well, dear, they certainly weren’t so incensed until AFTER you grabbed her!”

‘NOT SEEING A CONNECTION! JUST RUN!’

And run they did, legs working in ways never before imagined as they sprinted back the way they came, back through the winding tunnels, up and down dizzying slopes, plodding through muddy rivers, and crashing through crystallized structures in a mad dash to escape the throngs of ‘dwellers’ in hot pursuit. And through all of that, Blueblood struggled not to pass out from asphyxiation with the eight legs wrapped tight around his neck, the bundle to which they belonged to bouncing along crazily on his back.

{This is kinda fun!}

~Rekulk knows the reason behind this, yes!~

>What’s the rea-

A random slash from one of their pursuers grazed Spike across the back.

>WHOA SHIT, WATCH THOSE CLAWS!

~It is because we took the Arana! They were protecting her!~

“Darling, that makes no sense whatsoever! And do speed up, you’re falling behind!”

>No, it- yeah, it does make sense! No wonder she hasn’t been attacked yet! Small as she is, she should’ve been taken out a long time ago! They WERE protecting her!

‘Well tough luck! She’s going to see the sun today!’

>DAMN RIGHT! FULL-SPEED!

~~~~~~~~

On the second floor, down the third hallway and in that historic bathroom was where the rumbling began. Loose tiles shook, pools of water vibrated, and the restrooms patrons looked up in unison, hardly daring to believe….

As one, they moved closer to that dark pit. They could hear noises… the sound of stomping hooves and shouts! Applejack leaned the farthest, forehooves pressed together in deep prayer.

*Please… pleeeease let them be okay, please let them come o-*

>“‘~GANGWAY!’”~

{WHAAAAAAA!}

It was like they’d been shot out of cannon by the way Spike, Rarity, Blueblood, Rekulk, and the Spiderling launched up out of the darkness, yelling at the top of their lungs as they flew out the stall, across the room, and smashed into the adjacent wall.

As though waiting for exactly that moment, 77 raced to the hole, bearing his bone knife and roaring with a rabid fierceness, one that instantly silenced any creature that may have been foolish enough to try and follow behind.

All at once, everyone was talking and shouting and cheering, but through all the commotion, the stunned voices of Celestia and Chrysalis trumped everything:

[No.]

-Way.-
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>Applejack
"Spike"
'Rarity'
[Blueblood]
{Rekulk}
(77)
#Celestia#
~Chrysalis~
-Arana-
•??•
~~~~

To say the room was relieved would be the understatement of every millennia that there has ever been.

To say the orange pony gripping the dragon like she was trying to crush his very soul would be equally as underplaying.

>YER OKAY! THANKYA'THANKYA'THANKYAAAAAA!

She peppered the purple cheeks with kisses, oblivious to his turning blue.

"A-AJ s-s-stop, c-can't..."

'Really, Applejack, you're going to-'

>RAR!

Likewise, the white pony found herself crushed against the broader orange chest, and her cheek every bit as assaulted as the dragon's was.

>YER OKAY! *MWAH!* YER OKAY! *MWAH!* YER BOTH OKAAAY!...

And then there was a near deafening SMACK as she hit them both over the head.

>YA'LL DIDN'T GIVE US THE WARNIN' WHEN YA' WERE COMIN' BACK UP!

"Owww... we kind of had to- OWOWOWOW!"

>NO EXCUSES!

'Oh hooo, Applejack...'

Her head didn't hurt enough she couldn't hug right back.

'We missed you too.'

>...

"Aww, you're crying. I don't like that!"

>M'not cryin', Ah' just got a bunch'a dust in mah eye when ya'll broke out.

"Suuuuurrreee."

Annoyed eyes nearly rolled in the back of Blueblood's head.

[What, don't I get a hug too?]

#Yes.#

To his shock, the young ex-prince found himself drawn in by much larger white hooves.

#You stuck through it till the end, and didn't run. You did a good job... nephew.#

He didn't know why he suddenly started shaking, or why he couldn't see straight anymore, but it probably wasn't important.

{I am unfamiliar with this gesture.}

(Hugging is a way to show affection between each other.)

{Ohhhh... Morlocks just do not eat each other. Very affectionate if not eaten, yes!}

(I... Guess?)

#Well, I am glad you are all... Chrysalis? What are you...#

The Changeling Queen did not answer. Her eyes were focused forward, wide as they could possibly grow.

Right.

At.

Arana.

#No...#

~Way.~

#Chrysalis, is that a Changeling-#

In a flash, there was green fire.

If Blueblood had been just a moment slower, there would not have been a Changeling after that flash.

[WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU....]

Just from the wild, panicking look in her eyes, he knew there was no chance she heard a single word of it. Had he the ability, he would have heard the loud, screeching ringing going on in her brain as her eyes trained on the panicking creature.

-NONONONONO! WRONG HIVE WRONG HIVE WRONG HIVE!-

She slipped out of Bluebloods grip at that moment, skittering along the walls in a desperate need to escape. Blast after blast chased her, green blots wrecking the walls of the bathroom as she honed in like a laser.

And that's when the screaming really started.

Cheerilee had been the only one paying any attention to the hole from which the others had emerged, the hole that had been bare not two seconds ago.

The hole that was now teeming with screeching, wailing creatures.

In all the commotion, Arana slipped out the door, the only safe haven still left to her, and tore off. Behind her, the Queen of the Changelings payed no mind to the creatures attempting to claw out of the abyss, and gave chase.

>CHRYSALIS! GET YER' DAMN HIDE BACK HERE!

[We have to go after her! She's going to kill Arana!]

(GO! I can handle these things!)

"The hell you can!"

'They are so much more aggressive now! WHY!?'

"If I had to guess, something to do with Arana, but no time for that now!"

#We can't let a single one into the castle! Who knows what havoc they could wrought!#

[But...]

>...Blueblood! Yer out of ammo, right?

[Yes, but-]

Two bullets landed in front of him.

>Get out there, and make 'em count!

[But...]

"GO!"

Wordlessly, he nodded and out into the castle he went.

Further down the hall, the spider-ling's heart raced almost as fast as her tiny legs. The other Queen had ceased firing, merely content just to hunt her purely by running. There was an intensity in her eyes, an intensity that said if she stumbled, if she slowed for even a second, she would die.

She believed that look.

Especially when she came to a dead end.

-O-oh no! No no no no!-

Like a scared insect, she clawed against the walls. Her desperation pointless, as the recent attack had caused them to reinforce every single part of the castle. Mewling in terror, she could only huddle into the corner as the Queen stalked closer to her.

~You...~

Flames ignited along the long black horn, it's burning intensity almost matched by the eyes beneath it.

~Sciderella. You are of Sciderella. The monsters among monsters, the creature the dark fears.~

-I-I...I!..-

~Mother told me... should you come across a stray, you save it. Every Changeling is an asset, never forget that. No matter how useless, you let them in... except for Sciderella's hive. Kill any you come across. Do not let them breath a single breath more. They deserve nothing... but death.~

The heat began to intensify.

~My mother was a wise Queen.~

BLAM!

A shot rang out, and a bullet just barely grazed by her ear.

[Get. Away. From. HER!]

~Or what?~

[Or I'll-]

His threats were cut off as, without even looking, she crushed his rifle into a tiny little ball.

~Anything else?~

Blueblood was not a brave pony, not really. He was pampered, he was whiny, he was used to the easy life. He was not a pony others could look to for strength.

Which is why that bolt to the back of the head was so surprising, Chrysalis realized.

[I said-]

Him shutting up after being magically tossed and glued to the ceiling was less surprising. Though that might of been due to the air leaving his lungs, who knows?

~And as for you...~

She had never once taken her eyes off the little thing before her.

~Burn.~

The flames reached forward. Hungry. Wanting. Ready to consume her and burn her away.

They didn't even make it halfway.

~WHO THE FUCK!~

And there he was. Teleported right in the way. Hadn't even flinched.

Because of course he was going to show up, the Queen realized.

•Chrysalis... I'm upset.•

~Move.~

The white pony just gave her a look.

•No.•

~...DAMN IT, SHINY! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S CAPABLE OF! MOVE NOW BEFORE IT RIPS YOUR SKIN OFF!~

•No.•

~IT CAN MELT YOU LIKE BUTTER! IT CAN DISSOLVE YOUR EYES! IT CAN ROT OUT YOUR FUCKING BONES, SHINY!~

His eyes slowly grew wide as the look in hers gave off a startling realization.

•Chrysalis... are you.. afraid of this thing?•

She reeled back, as if she had been struck.

~I-... I'm not afraid of anything! Must less a drone!!~

A magical grip reached back, grabbing hold of Arana, and despite her protests bringing her forward, right behind the white unicorn.

Needless to say, the almost comical way the Queen flailed around running backwards said more than her lies ever could.

~SHINY KEEP BACK! I-I'M WARNING YOU!~

But he didn't, he just kept going forward, leaving behind deep streaks in the ground as the terrified spider-ling's legs dug into the floor.

~I'LL BURN YOU! I'LL TEAR YOU APART! I'LL RIP OFF YOUR LEGS! STOP!~

But he didn't.

He just kept walking.

And soon, she reached a wall, and she had nowhere else to go.

~SHINY STOP PLEASE!~

At last, he did.

•Chrysalis...•

~K-kill it... Shiny you have to kill it. It's... It's Sciderella's, Shiny. Don't let it live.~

It was here he realized there was no more things to really be said.

•Chrysalis... go wait for me. We'll talk about this, okay? I trust you have reasons, but I can't hear them right now. Please go wait for me.•

All business, no warmth, no caring, no love.

The fire began to surround her, those eyes still trained on the Spider-like creature.

~Don't let it live...~

And just like that... she was gone.

•...Well, I am totally lost!•

He took a moment to compose himself, putting on his best "Princely" smile as he turned to regard the still shaking Changeling.

•Hi! Nice to meet you, I'm Shining Armor, and I'm the Prince of the Crystal Empire. Do you have a name?•

-A-a-a-a-a-aaaaaa...aaaa...-

•Aaaa?•

[Arana.]

•Ah, thanks! Where are... Ah. The ceiling.•

In a flash of magic, the ex-prince was freed, and back on solid ground.

[Thank you, cousin.]

•No no, thank you! It must've been your magic I saw, led me right to this poor little thing. Doesn't talk much, does she?•

[She's... a little shook up.]

•Understandable. Would you mind...•

He didn't respond verbally, just picked up the still rattling little thing, and placed her on his back.

•Thanks. Now, if you don't mind, I've got a... problem that needs dealt with.•

[You need to keep that thing on a shorter leash.]

•P-UH-LEESE do not say stuff like that in front of her, I do not want her to start bringing petplay into her usual barbs.•

-I-is... is she gonna come back?-

•Well, what do you know, she does speak! No sweetie, she won't come back trying to kill you, promise. Okay? Princely promise on that one.•

Slowly, the shaking ceased.

-R-really?-

•Really really. You just spooked her something fierce, but we'll get it sorted out.•

-T...thanks.-

•Anytime! Well, gotta be off now. Take care of her, eh' cousin?•

[Right...]

•See you later!*

And he just walks off. As casual as can be. It was almost... infectious. Certainly seemed that way to the tiny creature who seemed far, far more relaxed.

[...Huh.]

Nothing more to be said after that. Slowly, he made his way back to the bathroom. Hopefully, there weren't too many more creatures left.

-Hey...-

The whisper was almost too quiet to hear, but he managed.

-...Thanks.-

He didn't know how to answer her. So he simply let it hang in the air. Maybe by the time he got back he'd have a response.

Maybe...
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Celestia
"Applejack"
'Rarity'
[77]
{Cheerlie}
-Rekulk-
~Spike~
~~~
-There are too many!-

[We have to try and hold them off!]

'What if I brought in some guard reinforcement? What if I brought Twilight?'

>There's no time, I need all of you to leave the room and lock me inside.

Celestia's horn began to glow brightly, and soon, so did her whole body

"Dammit, Celestia, this ain' time fer heroic sacrifice!"

>It'll be your sacrifice if you stay in here with me!

And that's when they noticed the room growing hot

~... Shit, everyone out, now!~

Without further argument, the group fled the bathroom just as the heat went from the hottest of summer days into 'physically harmful'.

~Applejack, Rarity, can you put up a barrier on the door?~

"Ah dunno how!"

'just channel your magic with mine!'

The door now shielded by a sparkling magical barrier, and after a long silence, Celestia could be heard on the otherside

>You can open the door again.

What they saw inside was anything flammable in the bathroom ablaze, the entrance slagged shut, and anything that had gotten out now was a skeletal wreck (if even that) with melted flesh and sinew pooling around on the floor

{A long time ago, dear, I feared my demons.}

77 just nods

{Then today, I saw what you faced down there and understood your fears.}

The rest of the group nods

{Not long after, I see this, and now realize Celestia is the one I should fear.}

Celestia took this in stride, blew the smoke from her horn, and smirked

>I still got it
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Deep in the Everfree Forest was where they’d been since Spike and his group had set off in search of the ‘monster’.
>They had received no letters of the expeditions progress over the long days, nothing to let them know what was happening… and that was fine.
>Not like they would’ve had the time to read it anyway.
>Day one had nearly killed her. No food. No shelter. Manticore attack.
>Day two saw her starving. Only caught one snake. Got bit twice. Ate the wrong berries.
>Day three came with a storm. Still no shelter. Damn pegs wouldn't stay. Slept under a tree.
>Day four was progress. Caught a rope of fish. Sparked a fire. Beat those damn pegs. Passed out and slept well.
>Day five, she conquered. There was still trouble but experience solved problems quicker than the before days. Stood proudly atop a cliff and oversaw her work. Still hid from the Manticore. Not yet, not yet….
>Day six….
>The sun was at its highest in the sky. Noon.
>Muscles ached something fierce but that was fine because she had foreseen that and caught extra rations yesterday.
>A figure suddenly dropped from the foliage to land with a hollow thud behind Silver.
>That same ‘thud’ came and went plenty of times in the past, never helping physically, only verbally.
“What brings you so early, teacher? You usually don’t come until ni-”
>A Canterlot letter fluttered down over her head.
>…
“They’re… back?”
>She glanced over her shoulder to see her teacher grinning, flipping a potato in her hoof.
“Just got back less than a day ago. You ready to go back and give the club leader his due welcome?”
>Go back….
>On the first and second days, Silver would have leapt at the chance.
>But now things were different. She was being taught to take care of herself, fight the elements… she was being taught how to truly live.
“No.”

“…no?”
“You can go, teacher. I want one more day here. There’s something I have to do….”
>Wordlessly, PotatoJack’s gaze zoned in on the gauze wrapped around Silver’s left back leg.
>The markings that filled with blood spoke of a barely dodged Manticore attack.
>She took a bite of her potato.
“Mmmph ffng mph nrrf….”
“I know. Head on fights aren’t my specialty. I’ll use nature. I’ll use what you taught me.”
>She had grown.
>It was some stunning progress, to be honest.
>Firing bullets was not where this filly’s talent lie. No, she thrived where there was nothing to thrive on.
>She was a survivor.
“Here.”
>Half a piece of potato soared into Silver’s outstretched hoof.
“Looks like you can barely stand. Eat that until you can get your own food.”
>Before she could finish, the potato piece flew back the way it came, the look on PotatoJack’s face one of mild amusement as the filly reached into her tent and dragged out a line of five fish.
“No thanks. I came prepared, teacher.”
“…Well done. Then I’ll let you have your last day.”
“Thank you. And when I’m done… you said you’d tell me who your previous Queen was, right? As a reward?”
“The reward should be surviving by yourself in one of the most hellish landscapes of Equestria.”
>Silver grinned.
“That’s just a side-prize compared to what I want to know.”
>Her bravado was almost laughable but PotatoJack merely shoved that lukewarm spud into her maw and continued to walk.
“Pmmnh mmhp!”
“Of course.”
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>AJ
"Rarity"
'Celestia'
~Spike~
-Rekulk-
(77)

It was over, at long last, it was done. They spoke all around him, relating stories, sharing information, doing the thing known as hugging. Rekulk did not join, Rekulk had something else to think about. The morlock looked at the gateway to his home, sealed shut through godlike powers, and something burned in the back of his mind. Something screamed at him, as though he should be afraid.

One look out the window made him realize why.

>Uh, Rekulk? Ya alrigh' over there?

-...-

"Rekulk? Darling?"

~Buddy, come on, we did it, why're you-~

-It is coming...-

He could see it cresting the horizon, how could it have known? Did it conspire with the beasts of darkness? Those that legend said it had hated? No...no...this was a coincidence...a terrible coincidence...a lethal coincidence.

>Oh...shit. Git him away from the window!

A cloud of magic surrounded him and hauled him back.

"How long do we have before the sun is up?"

'A few minutes, I didn't realize he didn't have his suit back on.'

>We need ta get him somewhere dark!

(The dungeo-)

>"'~NO!~'"

77 blinked.

>Just...trust me on this.

'Hold, I got this.'

Celestia looked at the Morlock, the once proud and gregarious creature now frozen in terror at the coming of his greatest fear. Her horn glowed, and in an instant, he was gone.

>Where'd ya zap him?

'Twilight's lab.'

"I would think a supply closet would have sufficed. Or just a room with the curtains drawn."

'Maybe, but it was all I could think of on short notice. Besides, defenseless little weirdo with a paralyzing fear of the sun? She'll have him walking around in some kind of exoskeleton before the day's out.'

~At least he's safe, that guy saved our asses quite a bit down there.~

----------

-...HAHA! Take that, sky demon! Rekulk lives another day! ...where am I and whyfor do the walls make beepy noises?-
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Twilight
-Rekulk-
--------------
>Like, GROSS! Your mane is UGH and dont even get me STARTED on your skin, like when was the last time you like, bathed?

-What is bathed?-

>Wow. We seriously need to like, give you a makeover STAT.
>Good job i totally have everything we need right here, is that like, super! or what?

-Rekulk's ancestors are telling him to flee-

>*giggle* You talk super weird, now just wait here while i like, get everything ready for your maaaaaakeover~

-Ancestors are now screaming.-
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>???
“AJ56”
_________

He had already hugged everyone who had made it back from the caves. Multiple times. But seeing the way Applejack acted, watching as she smothered his dragon brother in kisses and affection… it made him think about Moons, and all she meant to him.

He didn’t know why he was compelled to go into Applejack’s abandoned office, but he did anyway. He picked up a pen and pulled over a document, briefly scanning the front. It looked really important… but this was even more important so he flipped it over and began to write.

By the time he was done, the ground around him was littered with balled up documents, nothing but failed rewrites and second tries, but it was finally perfect. He hoped... And just to make sure, he cleared his throat and began to recite it:

“H-hey, Moons, it’s me, 56.
I wrote this a thousand times just to make sure that it sticks
I’m really kinda nervous, and I’m thinkin’ that it shows
‘cause whenever I think about you, everyone always knows
I get to st-st-stutterin’, brain can’t keep functionin’
And it’s dauntin’, your majesty, so I picked up this pen
And decided to write, everything that I can’t say aloud
So what you're readin' is from my heart and I’m proud
Yeah I’m proud to say I really, really like you
Snugglin’ your plot is fine but I wanna make you my wife, too
AGH, see I went too far and screwed it up, shucks
You can tell I’m honest by much how my face is flushed
With blush, I’ve got a crush and it feels like I’m in a rush
To tell you how I truly feel about the mare in my dreams
I’m just upset that I can’t even afford a diamond ring
Or at least something like what Spike gave to orangebutt
High quality things, yeah that’s what you deserve but
I’ve got nothing like that so I tried to write you this crappy little song
And hopefully with time I’ll be by your side where I belong…”

It sounded... okay?

"Ah, that sounded terrible... wow, that just... did I write that? I did, didn't I? I can't show this crap to Moons, she'll-"

>Think it's the most cutest thing she's ever heard.

"Oh buck a duck..."

>Why do you slouch in your chair so?

"Because I'm prayin' I just melt right through the floor. Yup, right through the cracks, any moment now..."

>Come now, 56, we’ve had legions of literary masters construct for us poems and sonnets of affection over the vast years-

“Really?! Oh great! How the hay can I compete with that when I can’t even-”

>-and none of them have touched our heart as yours has. It was very sweet.

“…”

>But what won’t be sweet is the apple ones reaction to finding out that you not only wrote over all of her work, but crumpled it as well. And we are afraid not even we can save you from that.

“Annnny moment, I’ll be melting soon.”

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Alternate ending to camping trip

>Potatojack
"SS"
~~~~

>Mgnmgfmh mmnghfmn mfhphfm mngm mphm mhph mghgf mengh nghpham

"...and?"

>mmn mghpf nghphagm

"*snickers*...and the dog wasn't even that shaggy. Okay, that was pretty funny."

>Hrhg mnhyu?

"You want me to tell a story? Um....well there was this one time Tiara and I were running a stand giving out advice. Eventually we upgraded to psychologists. DT even had me prescribing "Meds" to ponies, so I guess technically I was a psychiatrist. Except what I was prescibing were just chewable vitamins. It was great for a while and we both had a good laugh, but when some adults started showing up and telling us their problems, it just got sad. We even had this one kooky pony who was obsessed with hands."

>Mmph mmph mmph.

"...Um...be honest with me. Is it going to be hard become friends with the others?"

PJ makes a loud gulp.
>Not really. I mean, 77 used to be all PTSD and crazy, but he's kind of mellowed out now, so it shouldn't be too hard for him to warm up to you.

"Whew..."

>42 on the other hand, might be slightly more difficult. She didn't seem to particularly like you.

"Wait what? You mean she hates me?!"

>No no, I said she doesn't seem to particularly like you. I think she said something about not really fit for the club...or it might of been about not letting any more kids in.

"Oh..."

>Relax, I don't really remember and I heard it out of context. It could have meant anything. I mean what about Spike and DT? I'm sure once you've proven to us, she'll change her mind.

"I'll still try to chat her up though. Any words of advice?"

>I got one, but it's not related....dodge!

She throws a pine cone and it hits SS in the forehead
"Ow!"

>Learn to dodge. Mobility is important too and I don't think DT appreciates it. If you can't dodge, you should at least know when to run away.

"...okay?"

>Cone to the head!

"Ow!"

>That's not very enthusiastic. C'mon, show some spirit!

"Please tell me you're not serious. I should be getting ready for school tomorrow instead."

PJ stuffs her mouth with a potato and gets a glint in her eye.
>Mmrrm irimph

"Ow!"

>mrrrm!

"Ack!"
SS tries to run and dodge as she gets pelted by pine cones.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Pinkie
"Spike"
'Charity' Not Rarity at all this once
~~~
>Three threads of coolness and awesome subplots

"Damn, does it feel good to be out of those caves. Now just to see if Applejack's down for that incentive-"

>Plotline wrap up! Plotline wrap up!
>Let's finish this shit right here
>Plotline wrap up! Plotline wrap up!
>But the next arc's a doozy I fear!
>The next arc's a doozy I fear!

"... I sometimes worry about that girl."

'I know how you feel, darling. Perhaps she needs some time in the psych ward? Or just some therapy?'


_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>SA
"Chrysalis"
~~~~

The study was quiet. Too quiet.

>Chrysalis? You here?

"You're an idiot."

From the looks of things, she had paced so much she had worn a hole into the ground.

"A stupid, stupid, stupid idiot. I thought you were crazy when you let ME live, I thought you were even more nuts when you let Chitania live, and now I know you're straight up insane."

He just sighed tiredly, smacking a hoof to his face.

>You DO at least see the irony in you of all creatures hating on something for being a 'monster', right? This isn't lost on you? Please tell me it's not.

"You have no idea what we're dealing with."

>You've actually explained in quite graphic detail, in fact.

"And apparently, none of it sank in!"

He just let out another tired breath, and took his seat next to her.

>You're really that scared of her?

"I AM NOT SCARED!"

>...

"...But if I WAS worried, even slightly, it would be because Spider-lings are the most dangerous, frightening changelings who have ever lived! I watched them DISSOLVE their prey, Shining Armor! DISSOLVE! ALIVE! If you or those princesses had any sense at all, you would THANK ME for trying to kill it."

>She seemed harmless.

"Oh, what do you know, a Changeling hiding it's true nature, what ever are the odds!"

>...Fair enough. To be perfectly honest, I have NO idea what the hell is going on, when the hell they got back, what the hell that thing is, where it came from, why it's here, who brought it, and what they plan to DO with it. You get that, right? I was just walking by to find my wife so she can hopefully tell me how to de-crazify Twilight, saw a magic blast, and here we are!

"And you still didn't trust me enough to let me kill it."

>Nope. I know you too well by now to know you losing your head like that meant you weren't thinking straight.

"...It needs to die."

>Tell you what, you trust me, right?

"Trust is a strong word... but sure, we can pretend I 'trust' someone."

>I'll investigate, and if I agree, I'll help you nuke it. Promise. But if I find out that it needs to at least be given a chance...

"..."

>...Do you trust me enough for that?

From the way her brow furrowed, that was a very, very tough question indeed.

"...Shiny, they..."

With a snarl, she stood up.

"Fine. Keep it away from my hive, and if I so much as see a HINT of poison or her pheromones, I'll burn then whole damn castle to the ground, don't test me."

>Fine, but that door has to swing both ways. If I see you going after her without due cause, or find you trying to manipulate events so that you seem justified in this, I'm not going to tolerate it. Either you trust me on this or you get the hell out of my castle and stay gone. I gave YOU a chance, now I need to trust you'll give me one.

"...If you had any idea how different my situation was from Sciderella, you would laugh off ever comparing me to her. She was pure evil, Shiny. Pure... pure evil."

>...Damn, she really was something, wasn't she?

"Shiny..."

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't hide the shudder.

"...You don't know the half of it."

She was already on the move, no doubt heading to her hive to give them the warning.

"Feel free to tell them everything I told you about Sciderella. Just this once? Open book policy. They need to know what they're dealing with."

>Chrysalis...

She paused just at the door.

>...It wasn't too long ago I thought you were pure evil too, you know. That mind control and... stuff... it really did make me think you were a soulless monster. So... just try to learn a bit from that, please?

She let out a slow, annoyed breath.

"I already said I wasn't going to kill her."

>...It's a start, I guess.

Nothing more to be said. She left.

>...Now... Someone needs to clue me in on WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON!?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________