Thread 81: Stories 31-45

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>Snake Eyes
"Scientist"

>Well.

"Well."

>Fuck.

"We had nothing to do with that, right? We're innocent here, right?"

>In this specific instance, probably. Though I would prepare some lube for the abject buttfucking we are getting when they eventually get us to Canterlot.

"Wh-what? Why?"

>Think about it, those changelings they got? They'll use those to pick through your brains to find all your secrets. Then when they're through, they'll take the palatable ones for themselves and throw you in a dungeon to rot after an insectoid lobotomy.

"Th-they wouldn't do that."

>Just like they wouldn't go to all this trouble for one changeling, right?

"..."

Snake Eyes leaned against his cage, smirking. He didn't care if that was true or not, he was feeling shitty and wanted company in abject paranoia.

He'd fucked up.

He'd fucked up so hard.

His plan was bust, his world was unraveling. If he went back to Pennydrop, he'd be hers forever, if he stayed it was almost certain he'd be imprisoned for the rest of his days.

There had to be an exit, there had to be.

He just had to find it.

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 >SA
"Crystal Guard"
'???'
~~~~

>...

"Sire? Is something the matter?"

>...Hey, Shimmer Stone? Do you like your head?

"...Okay, I'm impressed you know my name, but uh... can you clarify?"

>Your head. You like it? Want to keep your head?

"Y-... yeeeesss?"

>Then duck.

"...wha-"

>I said duck!

'nnnnnnnnnnnNNNNYYYYYYYYYY!'

He did, a mere half a second before a boom of something zooming past would have, best case scenario, left him with one hell of a concussion.

'SHINY OH DEAR FAUST WHAT HAPPENED ARE YOU OKAY IS CADENCE OKAY IS TWO OKAY IS CHRYSALIS OKAY IS EIGHTEEN OKAY ARE YOU OKAY DON'T NOT BE OKAY MOM WOULD FREAK OH FAUST WHO TRIED TO HURT MY B B B F EFFFFFFFFF!?'

>...Blanket statement, everyone is fine-

'OH THANK FAUST!'

>-except Chrysalis, she's pretty messed up, but alive.

'FUCK YOU, FAUST!'

>Stop yelling.

'NO!'

>Okay...

'...TALK!'

>Are you going to stop pinning me down, hugging me so tight I can't breath, or at least back your nose off a bit? I can taste your breath. I can taste it.

'NO! TALK!'

>...It all started when an undead changeling became huge and started punching my castle..

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OoCO
>Chitania
"13"
~~~~

>You felled a damn demon-Titan that managed to knock me down! With just WORDS! How can you be so BAD at everything else?!

"I'm sorry, Mom..."

>...

"..."

>...sorry for yelling.

"It's fine. You're just looking out for me."

>...

"..."

>Let me show you again. Pay attention.

"Yes, Mom."

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>Cadence
"Guards"
'Citizens'
~~~~~

"Princess! Where should we move the fourth unit to?"

>Oh, um... organizing, right. I'm not very-

"The seventeeth want to know if they should move on from the Berry sector or not!"

>U-uh, I guess you should...

'Where do we go right now to get our stuff? Should we just leave it!?'

'I have memories in there!'

>Well, the crews need time to-

'My daughter's hurt her leg, where are we taking them?'

>Oh! I know that one, we're going to the st-

"The changelings are asking what they're supposed to do now! What do I tell them!?"

>Erm... well, I don't want to...

"Princess?"

>... Excuse me, the exhaustion is setting in, can I have one minute here?

"Princess, time is sort of important here."

>Sixty seconds, be right back.

She ducked into the wreckage of the castle, leaving multiple of guards standing around, and waiting. Waiting, and counting.

One... ten... twenty... thirty........ fifty five, fifty six, fifty seven, fifty eight, fifty ni-

SLAM!

>Okay! Get units seven and eight over to the living sector now, and make damn sure they don't let anyone near the buildings!

'But my memories!'

>Will still be there, just like anyone trapped in a collapsing building, if you get my point! Clearing out the rubble so everyone can walk again when we get the shield up is priority one, we need to be able to work!

'What about my berry trees!?'

>Get the west unit and pray to whatever deity like that we can cover them before the frost sets in!

"Princess, the changelings?"

>Tell them that until Chrysalis stops being in terrible condition, Eighteen is giving out orders, and she's saying to get together in the stadium and stick to the ceiling! Don't let them stay out in the cold too long!

"Ma'am yes ma'am!"

>Good, now MOVE! If you're not a solider or a worked get to the stadium! I need to go find Shiny and see about getting this damned shield up before we get iced!

"Princess, do you have the power-"

>I'll work with it! Now GO!

The soliders saluted her, running off in every direction to do as ordered. Following as well, the citizens began to shuffle towards the crystal stadium.

'...So, what're the odds she just snorted a bunch of crystal dust?'

'She did go from weary to yelling out orders pretty fast...'

'So long as it gets this done, she can take whatever drugs she likes. Success is all that matters.'

'...'

'...Er, don't do drugs, honey bunches.'

'But dad, you just said-'

'DON'T DO DRUGS!'

Unknown to all, while indeed there was a Cadence rushing to and fro, barking out orders, she was not the only Cadence.

The other one was high, high on the castle, her horn pointed to their most sacred artifact, funneling her power into it slowly, deliberately, undoing all the damage that had been done to it.

Assembling them was important, but this was far, far more important.

>She can handle it... for now.

The Heart had to be healed, and she was the only one who could do it.

>...Everything was going so well...

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>Chitania
"Thirteen"
'???'
[???]
~~~~

"...You ever planning on actually moving?"

She, in fact, had not.

She had been perfectly content to be still, and just sit there, in the snow, in the cold once more, and just be there. Just be in that spot, in that time, and never move again. Her daughter knew this, but she had to ask, if only to confirm it.

"...You should really get that looked at."

The red, angry looking scar throbbed back at her, seeming to respond to her as if it were alive.

>I will.

"No, really, you should. Scar-tissue has terrible effects on Chitin, obviously. It's a huge weakpoint now."

>I said I will.

"Your structural integrity of all your chest is compromised now."

>I'll have it repaired.

"You do that..."

For a mare who always had an opinion before, she sure didn't have much to say right now.

"...you don't have to keep holding me, you know. I'm not going to run away."

>I'm not afraid of that.

"I know you're afraid right now. I can sense it."

>...Not of that.

"Then what?"

Her grip, powerful yet gentle at the same time, tightened just a bit.

>...That I am bleeding out on the ground right now, and that none of this is real. That this is just the last wish in my dying mind as the light leaves it.

"You're being melodramatic."

Even more, her grip tightened.

>I did not let myself ever dream of this happening again, I would not. I thought you in the past, dead, buried and forgotten. I had failed, and that was that, there was no point in weeping or wishing for that which had passed. I did not let myself dream... so I fear that seeing it now means that I am gone, passed myself, and I just keep clinging to it.

"You're not dead."

>That's exactly what a death-hallucination would say.

"And how would you know that?"

>Exactly.

"...h-heh. Didn't know you made jokes now."

>I'm a laugh riot.

"...Do you want me to come back to Canterlot with you?"

A great shift in her body rumbled as she pondered that question, a hum to her chest as she mulled over every option she could fathom in her brain.

>...I... I do not know. I know you want to go right now, but I do not know if you would wish to stay.

Far worse than before, she tensed, far worse than before, she felt worry, and fear.

>I know, child... I know. Was she...

As close as she was, she could feel the lump in her throat shifting up and down her slender, elongated neck.

>...Was she kind to you?

She did not wish to tell her of it, any of it. It seemed cruel, thinking on it, to rub it in her face of the Queen that Chrysalis had been compared to her own mother, who had tried her very best.

But, she knew, it would also be a disservice to that kindness if she did not speak of it, and hid it away.

"She was... better than she had to be."

She shivered in the cold as a memory returned, the memory of herself, partly submerged in a shallow river, wounded, in pain, drained of love entirely, a broken, dying thing sure to be forgotten by all within a short time. Nothing more than a curiosity, if any should even find her body before it decays.

And then came... the voice.

'Well, shit, you were right, there is one down here!'

The voice attached to the tall figure that scooped her up by the horn, dangling her off the ground like a wet rag as sharp eyes scanned her over.

'Oh, hey, still alive?'

She did not know why this one would be so cruel as to mock her like this. She knew, as a drone, and a female drone no less and undisguised for all the world to see, she would likely be tortured for information, knowledge ripped from her head, and her body tossed away like the garbage it was. She could not fight, she could not defend, she could not do anything. She was nothing, and she would return to nothing beneath the damned gaze of those fucking Queens.

She could only dangle there, in a rage, and wait for the painful and forgotten end to her miserable life.


But, instead came a poke to her chest, and... life.

'There you go. That'll at least keep you from dying, but you've gotta keep up on your own, I ain't carrying you.'

She felt life in her limbs, the ability to move once more as she was sat down, not roughly, upon the ground. She felt bewilderment, confusion, all of that as the Queen moved on.

But... she was not disguised. She was a female. She had to know she was, which means that she should know that her life, and her mind, was forfeit. No Queen would have the kindness to spare a drone and risk themselves. No Queen held this.

'Well, come the fuck on already!'

She was numb as she started to move, but move she did.

It was without pomp or any flare, but she had, officially... found a new hive.

Back in the time of the present, her hoof reached up to just above her ear, where even now a hairclip was clinging to her mane. The mane that only existed when her disguise was cast away.

"...Are you mad at her?"

>...did she know you were...

"No, no of course not. She never read my mind, and I never spoke of it. As far as she knew, I was just a random drone from any hive. She didn't find me until well after you.. vanished."

>Hmm... then I suppose I cannot hold any grudge that... that she was my better.

She wanted to deny that, speak of all the times she herself showed kindness and caring to her, watching over her and caring for her.

But then, her mind returned back to that cliff on the day after the infection, her mind returned back to the familiar feeling of failure, mockery and needing to jump and run away in fear... and finding only arms that had once pulled her away from any danger once more holding her, and telling her without a word she was forgiven for being weak.

She wanted to deny it, if only to make her mother feel better.

But she couldn't, not yet.

This had been a step, a big one, but Chitania needed to prove it yet.

>...We shall see her, and then you may decide where we go.


Her head craned up, looking up into that powerful strained jaw.

"We?"

>Yes. We. The choice is yours... as this is mine.

A smile began to form, a twinge at first that grew more as she pondered over those words.

"I... I'm sorry, I ran away."

>...It was for the best.

The words were like a sudden knife to the back, a betrayal of everything that had come before, like a rug pulled out from under her at the worst moment.

>If you had remained, you would have been there... when the rest of them fell. At least now, I got to see you at least once more, some day.

And then it all went away, gone in an instant.

"I might've been able to stop her."

Protectively, the grip tightened.

>...I would not wish to risk it.

"I mean, I won this time."

>That you did, and I'm proud of you. Since when could you...

"Well, I didn't learn when I was with you, but when you're as accident prone as me, you get...desperate sometimes. And then came the learning."

>...Heh. I always was terrible for spotting potential.

"I was pretty terrible at telling you how I felt too."

>...Do not worry of the past anymore. Come, we shall go to that white city, and-

[CHITANIAAAAAAAAAAAA!]

The snow erupted as she landed, a bundle of orange colored rage that gave even the legendary Titan pause.

[IFFFIN' YA'LL DID THIS AH' SWEAR ON MAH' MOTHER'S NAME AH'M GONNA BREAK YER' FRIGGEN LITTLE-]

>I didn't.

[...Ya' sure?]

>I'm... sure? I mean, I broke some stuff, but the biggest concern was fighting Variolus.

[... That name sounds familiar, who?]

"Hi, Princess."

[...Who the buck'r you?]

>This is my daughter.

[...]

>...

[...Oh, hey, ya' ain't dead. That's... wow. Ah'm glad, actually. Saw what happened and... guess ya'll gotta talk about that.]

"Y-yeah..."

[Where the applebuckin' hell did ya'll come from?]

"I uh... I'm actually Thirteen."

[...Thirteen Thirteen? As in, almost gets set on fire all the dang time thirteen?]

"That one."

[Didn't she almost...]

"..."


>Wait, almost what? Why is she looking at me like that?

[...Nevermind. Uh... so ya' helped?]

>Actually, it was my daughter who stopped her, but yes. Not that I intended to, but I... 'helped'.

[Oh, okay...]

>...

[...That looks like it hurts.]

>Not as much as having your heart exposed by a fiery red demon looking thing.

[Wait what?]

"Yeah, what was up with that? What did they call that pony it turned into?"

>Ugh, it's that little bitch who's been annoying me for who knows how long. Apparently she only wanted my Titan power so she could wreck the place. Heh, knew she was full of shit.

"Oh? What's her name?"

>...Did I ever get it? I don't remember, wouldn't have paid attention if I did. Something... something to do with suns?

[Sunset.]

>That's the one-

With a sonic boom that Chitania thought her incapable of doing, she was gone in a flash.

>...Well, that was weird.

"Yeah, little bit... so, to Canterlot?"

The drone abruptly found herself hefted up into the air, just as she had when she was little. A familiar feeling that lasted only the moment until she was placed behind the horn and crown, and found herself buried in her mother's lion-like mane.

>Where ever you want to go...

The warmth chased away all the chill of the wind as she nestled herself into that familiar mane, and the wings behind her buzzed to life. The ground, and city, soon left her, and she fell back into a content wait.

"You know, we could have just taken the portal."

>...I feel like taking the long way back.

"...Yeah..."

So many things had changed today.

So many new challenges and fears realized.

But... one thing had changed back.

"...I do too..."

And a lost soul had found what she had been looking for again.

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>Celestia
"Pommel"
'???'
~~~~~

>You're going to need at least some firepower with you to clear some of the thicker crystals, she threw a blasted house into the tracks!

"Gotcha."

>And make sure to help find some blankets, they're likely to be terrifyingly short on those, on account of most of them being under rubble.

"Done and done."

>And for star sake, keep the media from swarming over there! Last thing we need is a bunch of reporters going through damaged rubble and getting pinned! Get the word out to them so everyone knows they need help, but keep it under control as best you can. It's bad enough that this happened at all, we don't need to add to the tragedy because someone got 'a scoop'.

"What about Chrysalis?"

>Put the best doctors on her until Twilight arrives, she should be able to help more when that comes. Until that point, we wait.

"Of course, your majesty... what do we do about her?"

>About wh-

A tugging on her ever eternally flowing mane drew her attention away from the suddenly very nervous looking solider, and down, and down, and dooooowwwwn....

'Hey, Auntielestia? Can ya' tell 'em ta' let me use tha' portal real quick? Ah' think they're cleanin' it or somethin' cause they won't let me pass, but Ah' promised 'em Ah'd keep mah marchmalleys in the bag! Promise promise! It's jus', Ah gotta get home, Shiny and Mom are gonna get worried about me! Crumbles can't watch me forever!... Shhh! He don't know Ah' know he's over there, don't look.'

>................................................................................................................................................

'...Auntielestia? You okay?'

>..............................................................................e-eeeeeeeeeeeeee......

'We makin' funny noises? RAWGL!'

>.........................................................................................................................................................

'...What?'

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 >Rarity
"Scientists"
~~~~~~

"Soooo... you're taking us back?"

>Well, someone has to darling.

"We know, it's just... we thought we were going to get brought in by a princess."

>EXCUSE ME!? Do you not see the wings!?

"...So? I can sew wings onto things if I want."

>I AM A PRINCESS!

"Wait, seriously?"

>What do you mean, seriously!? I've saved the world multiple times!

"Well, sortof. It was mostly princess Twilight."

>WHAT!?

"Come on, we all know who the real important one is."

>FUCK YOU!

"See? Way too unrefined to be a princess."

>...You believe I'm a princess, don't you centitrain?

SCREEE!

>That is a yes.

"Then why is he shaking his he-"

>THAT! IS! A! YES!

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>Nurse
"Doctors
'???'
~~~~

"Okay, this is bad!"

"This is so bad!"

"Why did we choose this profession, why!?"

"I wanted to be a doctor stripper!"

>Uh... so I guess you guys don't know how to make the beeping stop? The beeping is a problem.

"What do we do!? WHAT DO WE DO!?"

"A foreign royal is about to die in our hospital bed!"

"WHAT DO WE DO!?"

"Well, I mean... at least it's one our royalty doesn't like..."

"Princess Celestia hired THE BEST for this!"

"I meant Applejack. If push comes to shove, at least princess Applejack will-"

"NOT! NOW!"

"WHAT DO WE DOOO!?"

>Um... maybe we should-... Do you hear overly dramatic music?

"It sounds like someone fell into a string orchestra in a desperate attempt to sound big."

"Kind of insulting, actually to think we would be moved by dramatics so long as they have big sounds-"

BOOOOM!

SLAM!

"..."
>...Princess Twilight?

'Get the FUCK out of my hospital room, I'm about to lay down some medical TWIENCE!'

"...Absolutely not, you cannot call it that-"

'I heard what you all said.'

"I MEAN THAT SOUNDS GREAT AND YOU SHOULD BE SUPER PROUD OF IT!"

"LET'S LEAVE HER TO IT, STALLIONS AND MARES!"

"YOU GOT THIS!"

STAMPEDE NOISES!

>...So why is that thing beeping?

'Her heart rate is going off.'

>You don't look worried.

'I'm not, I know the cause. Because even though she's asleep, she knows... and she is pissed.'

>...Sooo-

'Leave.'

>GOTCHA!

SLAM!

'...Oh, Chrysalis... what did you do to yourself this time?'

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>Applejack
"Guards"
~~~~

>THE BUCK YA' MEAN, NO!?

One would be forgiven for thinking that the ones hold anti-airship weaponry would be the ones making the 'shaking with fear' happen, rather than be a participant.

One has never seen Applejack angrier than a bull who has walked in on his wife cheating on him and his life plans have gone horridly awry in the meanwhile.

"W-we were ordered not to let anyone pass into the sealed room, princess, anyone!"

>YA'LL BETTER GIVE ME A GAT DANGED GOOD REASON WHY YER' STANDIN' BETWEEN ME AND A RECKONIN' THAT'S GONNA MAKE THAT WRECKAGE OUT THERE LOOK LIKE A TODDLER HAD A BAD DAY!

"...Seriously? Because I don't know if we can take-"

>TALK!

There was very little racial prejudice in the land of the Empire when you got right down to it. Any misgivings they had certainly didn't last very long after they literally flew to their rescue to face off against twisted nightmares in their honor and carried them to safety away from the battling Titans.

That said, unsurprisingly, when it came time for 'who's going to get shoved in front of the raging pony', the number still came up a distinct 'Changeling'.

Hey, they weren't racists, they just weren't stupid either.

>AH' SAID TALK!

"...Well, for starters, uh... wweeee're not sure... that's... um... that's um..."

>THAT'S! UM! WHAT!?

"...That's um Sunset."

>.....WHAT?! IS SHE OR AIN'T SHE!?

"Well, that's just the thing, she LOOKS like Sunset, but Sunset was also in a changeling Queen's mind when it happened, and she was very much still trying to kill Chitania after she changed, so while her BODY may be Sunset..."

>...oh...

It just did not seem to give it justice, but 'oh' is all she had.


"Worse, uh... she might... do what she did to Sunset... to someone else who's in the room, if they're not protected. You uh... you get what I'm saying? Took a lot to put down one of them... noooot keen to do it again with an Alicorn this time."

>...Ah' see...

"Oh, good, cause I was worried you were going to be all-"

>Ah' wanna see her.

"...All that, that is the thing I was worried about and you are now doing."

>Ah' said, Ah' wanna see her. Ah'll be able ta' tell if it's her.

"Right, but if we wake her up and it isn't, then we get a heaping helping of giant monster."

>Iffin' it comes ta' that, Ah'll stop her.

"...Buuuuuulllshiiiiiiiiiittttttt!"

That changeling had clearly been bottling up some feelings, if the scream was enough.

"Bullshit, bullshit, BULLSHIT! My Queen fired a blast that would have turned this place into a fucking CRATER if it had landed, and you know what happened? She SHRUGGED IT OFF. I've seen shell casings that can take down castles go into Chitania, and you know what? They bounced off, and she punched a hole in her! A HOLE! Hole in Chitania! So, Princess, to your little "Oh, I'll handle it", allow me to deliver unto you a heaping cry of BULLSHIT and tell you to step off, because I don't wanna shoot a princess, but you know what I want to do even less? DIE! You, I can blow up. Her? I am FUCKED! So, allow me to speak on behalf of everyone else who would rather not die right now... BACK! OFF!"

She admired bravery, she really did. And she had to admit, it took some real balls to point that weapon at her nose, knowing what she did to Chrysalis. Furthermore, she knew that he was right, and she was not strong enough in mindmagics to be safe.

But damn did she want to break his fucking nose right there.

But she didn't.

She glared until his legs started turning to jello, and then waited another beat, and turned around.

She left with her head bowed low, teeth grit so hard they were going to break. She knew where she had to be right now... she just didn't want to be there.

She supposed... she had a delivery to finish, after all. On failure to answer for at first, before she talked with Celestia and learned of just how badly she had done it the second go round... or the third... or whatever.

Better get it over with, then drink herself into a stupor for failing yet again.

Yeah.. that sounded nice.

Could really use a drink right now.

"...okay! So! Who's all in favor of NOT telling the Prince and Princess I just said that to her?"

Nobody raised their hooves.

"...Seriously?"

"Dude, fuck that, I'm telling everyone. Literally everyone. My parrot is learning about this... if he's still alive."

"...Shit."

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>Changelings
"Citizens"
~~~~~~~

Was it possible for an entire room to literally be made of awkwardness?

Yes. Yes it was.

>...Soooo...

Was it possible for an entire stadium to be made of awkwardness.

Also yes.

"..."

>...

"..."

>...Uh... well, at least it isn't cold!

"..."

>I mean, cause we've got this nifty torch bearing thing. Isn't that cool? Totally worked out. And hey! Stadiums are built to hold back the weather and everything, so this just all fell in place. Yep...

"..."

>...Is it cause we're hanging over you?

"The whole 'black figures standing in the shadows above your head' thing is a little offputting, yeah."

>Uh, wanna switch? We want down there anyway. That's... kind of my tent you're leaning on.

"My apologies. I'd offer to let you lean on my house in revenge, but I'm pretty sure you'd set off some domino effect if you did."

>That would be kind of coo-

"..."

>...bad timing, gotcha.

"...This is some bullshit."

>I feel you! Really! We didn't want this!

"Happened literally two days after you moved here."

>Not us, trust me.

"I believe you, but still."

>Yeaaah. Kind of... kind of looks bad.

"..."

>...Anyone got any stories?

"Fraid I left my books at the house."

>...You know, Citrine, you used to be a lot more peppy.

"I HATE EVERYTHIIIIIIIING!"

>...this is going to be a problem... especially since I keep slipping.

"STOP FALLING!"

>it's crystal! It's hard to stick to!

"YOU CAN FLY!"

>...

"..."

>...Oh, right.

"I HATE EVERYTHING!"

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >SA
" 'Cadence' "
~~~~

>...Really.

"Really."

>...Really.

"Really."

>You cannot be serious.

"He said to the mare who is totally serious."

>...She seriously swapped with you NOW!?

"Well, I am better at-"

>SERIOUSLY!?

"Is... is this a problem?"

>I juh... she jus... I didn't even leave her alone for five minutes!

"She only needed one."

>...Everything going well?

"Like clockwork."

>Well, I guess that's what's important, but me and her need to have a serious talk when this is all over, you've got your own business to do! You can't just do 'her' whenever she needs a minute!

"I don't mind..."

>Not about you minding 'honey'! Bigger picture!

"Well, bigger picture is getting this done..."

>Ehhh... fine, fair enough, but seriously. Me and her, having a talk. A LONG talk.

"...So, if someone did hear, what do you think they think we're talking about?"

>Judging by my last tabloid, Mane-Iac.

"...Wait, seriously?"

>....

"Ew."

>...Thanks for covering for her.

"Shiny? It's my job."

>Yeah, I guess so, 'Cadence'... I guess so.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Non-Canon
>Pinkie
"Luna"
~~~~~
>Welcome to sort of Late Night /pa/ with your host Pinkie Pie! It's during this time that content does still matter, but I'm taking shots! Now for our main guest...PRINCESS LUNA!!!

"Wooo! The night has liven up over the centuries."

>I need to ask something important.

"Oh? And what's that?"

>I'm being pressed to fulfill some fanservice and was wondering if you could give me a belly rub?

"..."
Stares

>...

"..."
Blinks

>...uh that's all the time we have. Join us next time when I take more shots!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >Sombra

It was still there, miraculously it was all still there. Down in the dark, his study, his laboratory.

His lair, once upon a time.

Sombra shivered at the memory, continuing to put things back into place deep beneath the crystal palace, once the seat of his power, then a beloved home, now a mere pile of rubble. It would take weeks to get the pathways cleared, even if he was selfish enough to try and place himself above the devastated denizens he'd once lorded over.

>No no no, it can wait, surely. It's...waited this long.

He cast a glance at the relics and magical artifacts with which he would regain the spark of life, the promise of an afterlife, good or ill. He had taken precautions against them being damaged down here, they had to be safe if he was ever to fulfill the deed.

>One of these days...one of these days...

He quietly levitated a few books that had fallen from his shelf during the initial commotion, putting them back into place. His mind wandered to thoughts of what was going on above, the confusion and fear, yes, but hopefully also the commencement of reconstruction, of rebirth for the city. His mind turned to the three wonderful and one highly unpleasant bugs, the gallant hero, the...exceptionally pink Princess (that was a good compliment, surely), all of whom he called his family. He thought of breakfasts and movies, of hijinx and fun, of pranks and nights spent standing vigil over their bed.

He glanced at his body-to-be again.

>...it can wait.

And he went back up, to see what he could do, to see what kind of counsel he could give, anything, anything at all.

For his family.

>Oh by the flames of Tartarus, I just remembered! THAT TOWERING WENCH PROBABLY SMASHED MY DIORAMAS!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Idris
"Zephyrious"
'Hilda'
-Herald-
~???~

>She's late.

"I'm certain mother just got held up in Griffonstone. Again."

'To be fair, I doubt she thought she'd have to take the express route back here.'

>It's not the fact of the tardiness that worries me. Our enemies are already conspiring in dark corners here in the capitol, and we are expected to accommodate them all as guests. I've yet to hear from Ignus, and your mother's family will probably be forced to travel at a snail's pace to avoid ambush.

"You don't think mother could be so easily subdued by mere highwaymen, do you?"

>Of course not, but to underestimate our foes' abilities for subterfuge would be a mistake that's giant in scale.

'You sent one of your elite guard to escort her home, in addition to Siegfried's bodyguards, that should be enough, surely.'

>True, but we're without allies so far, and I...

Idris' eye is caught by a herald, standing patiently if a bit anxiously near the door.

>...we have a guest, don't we, Horatio?

The herald nods.

>...is it my brother?

The herald shakes his head.

>...my father-in-law?

Another shake.

>...oh dear.

-Ahem, presenting her grace, the- -

A voice, dripping with regality, yet somehow coarse as one could be, cuts the herald off.

~No no no, you little toad, introduce HIM first, HE'S the Duke.~

-Oh, yes yes, sorry, of course. Presenting, his eminence, Duke Anton Crooktalon of Buzzard's Bay!-

~...NOW me, you insolent little addle-brained peasant!~

-Ah, yes, yes, right. And her grace, the esteemed regent of Buzzard's Bay...-

The doors open and a taciturn pair step through, on the right, a very small, almost sickly gryphon child dressed in a ridiculous amount of layers of finery. On the left, dressed more simply, but keeping a watchful eye on the other gryphon, an aged female looking just shy of Idris' age.

- -Isabelle Af Gryphonia.-

The pair made their way towards the throne, Isabelle giving a low sweeping bow to Idris, Anton mocking the gesture and nearly falling flat on his face in the process.

~Your highness.~

>Sister, is there really such need for this formality? It's been how long since we've seen you last? Two years? Three?

~Five. It's been far longer since father and mother sent me away to bear a single egg to my dear departed husband. Zephyrious, Hilda, you've grown well, as proper royal children should.~

"Thank you, Aunt Isabelle."

Hilda paid little mind to the severe Gryphon, instead kneeling down to smile at the silent fledgling.

'Hello Anton, are you still unwell?'

"All those clothes can't be comfortable..."

~Oh but it's a must in these cold climates, the poor thing. He gets chills so easily, and back home, we have to keep him in cool places so he doesn't faint from the heat. Crooktalon bloodline, truly a fount of great swarthy warriors. Now, where are Gwendolyn and Siegfried?~

>They've yet to return from Equestria, I'm afraid.

~Ha, she probably can't get that little hellion away from trying to father a hippogryph. Alas, then you and I shall speak alone, brother. We have to know what we're dealing with.~

>Yes, please, we'll speak in my study. Anton can stay with Zephyrious and Hilda.

~Very good.~

Isabelle regarded he son with the ghost of a smile.

~Be good for your cousins now, Anton, no monkeyshi-~

*ACHOO*

~Oh good heavens, the plague!~

>"'...'"

~...false alarm, just allergies. Onward, brother.~


_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >SA
"???"
~~~~

>Here they come...

The snowy wisps coming down his mountain foretold of their coming. The ones from another land, here to come to this place in their moment of weakness. The white ones who would descend upon his Empire and soon hold the wreckage of their homes in their hooves. The ones who-

>Oh, wow, that was ominous. What is with you, brain? You've been weird lately.

"AHHHHHAHAHAHAHAH! I KNOOOOOOOOOWWWWW!... It's been one of those days."

>...Maney? How long have you been behind me?

The taller than average pony in a bright purple leotard surrounded on all sides by a massive sea of living hair shrugged.

>...Nevermind.

"AHHHAHHAHA! Oh WOW! This BAAAATTTLEE was a LOT more EXPLOSIVE than I EXPECTED!"

>I will never get used to comic talk. And yes, it was.

"AHHHHAHAHAHAHAH!... So, when's it back to normal?"

>It'll be a while, Maney.

"Oh no! There was a delay!?"

>No, not a... I mean, yes, it got delayed, it'll be fixed a little later, instead of by the next time we see everyone.

"CURSES! CURSES AND CURSES AGAIN!... Can I help?"

>Yes, Maney, you can help.

"AHHHHHHHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA! THIS RUBBLE IS NO MATCH FOR THE MANICAL MIGHT OF THE MANE OF THE MAAAAAANIAC!"

>...To think, I was worried you were hurt.

"HAHAHAHAH!... Don't tell Poindexter I did that, he told me not to fight giant monsters."

>I'll... I'll keep that in mind.

"THANKS! You're a GOOD pony! AWAAAAYYYY!"

Cackling all the way, she swung off.

>...I guess this next parts on me...

He took a deep, steadying breath. He had been drained, battered, beaten and exhausted today...

But he still had a job to do.

>Come on...

He focused... and focused... and focused.

And soon, all the citizens could breath a sigh of relief again, when a single light shot into the sky, and a shield covered them all.

>...S-still got it.

He was just a little unsteady as he made his way to the soldiers seeking guidance.

>...And to think, I used to be one lazy son of a bitch.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________