Thread 51: Stories 16-30

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 >Twilight
"Chrysalis"
~~~~

>ARRGHHHH!

Her head hit the desk with a THUMP as yet again the substance she had poured generously over the infected tissue did little more than provide a bit of goo to coat the skin before the cordyceps easily bypassed it all and converted the cells.

>This... it's insane! This thing just bypasses my every attempt to block it and just...it converts it!

The Queen slunk up behind her, peering curiously over her shoulder.

"You can't change the tissue back?"

>NO! It's essentially merging with the skin, becoming indistinguishable! It's like the cells are a giant 'find-replace' magic spell on a book.

"Interesting... does the subject remain conscious?"

>...I don't know. It doesn't look like it, the chemicals released inhibit higher brain functions almost totally. All the nerve impulses are driven by the cells above the muscles, not the brain. It's unlikely that they can see what's going on in there...

Wearily, she looked over to the creature behind the glass, watching as it shrieked and rammed against it over and over in an attempt to fulfill its need to spread to the rest of the lab.

>...No, it's almost certain they can't. This thing is playing them like puppets. Pulled along like giant meat bags against their will.

Involuntarily, she shuddered.

"No idea's yet on a cure?"

>None... yet.

"I see... Twilight?"

The tone was conversational, almost cool and collected.

>Yes?

"Sorry in advance for this."

>For wha-

She had no time to react before a wad of green... something was splattered across the arms on her chair, and her forelegs with them. In seconds, it hardened, leaving her locked in place and not so much as able to move.

>WHAT THE HELL!? CHRYSALIS!

A chitinous hoof jammed into her mouth, silencing her in an instant.

"Now, Twilight, you are going to have to listen to me very, very closely, alright?"

Wide, panicked and slightly betrayed eyes stared back at her, confusion and hurt mixed with terror.

"Good."

Behind her, one of the magical screens floated forth, summoning a look into the outside world, pointed directly out over Canterlot.

And all of the chaos that entailed.

As expected, Twilight immediately began to struggle, muscles tensing hard as she jerked this way and that, trying to break free. Her horn ignited, as expected as well, but was quickly snuffed out with a brief, yet forceful, blow to it.

"This is why you're in the chair."

Fury replaced hurt as she locked eyes with the queen, firey rage practically overtaking her at that moment, but the Queen remained stern.

"Because if you weren't in the chair, you would have just teleported outside, out into that fray. Now, I'm not denying that an alicorn of your power would be useful, of course not, no. But you see, Twilight... there are many alicorns out there, of many shapes and sizes and powers. They're all fighting, right now, right this second. They can fight. But you know what they can't do, Twilight?"

That chitinous hoof jerked her head to the side, forcing her to look at the still imprisoned infected.

"They can't fix it, Twilight. There is a great many alicorns who cans shoot things, cast magic, have power, but do you know how many could devise a cure for this?"

Another jerk, this time right back into the hard, unforgiving eyes of the Changeling.

"Just. One."

The Queen released her, trotting backwards to finally give the lavender pony some space.

"The reason I had to do this is because I knew, without question, you would try to teleport out there. It would be instinctive, really, wouldn't even think about it. But now that you have thought about it, now that you have considered the options of just what you could do, how much you can accomplish in here versus out there, I wonder what you'll choose."

With a blast of green magic, the bindings vanished, and the alicorn was free once more.

"What will it be?"

She stared up at the taller Changeling, bitterness and more than a little anger in her eyes, a glare focused right on the unblinking, unfeeling, face.

>...You could have just asked me that before you showed me the screen.

Thoughtfully, the Queen tapped her chin, eyes rolling around as she considered that.

"...Point. Sorry, bit of a tense situation, did the first thing that came to mind when the shield dropped."

>You sure don't look tense.

Ebony shoulders shrugged, not really bothered.

"I hide it well."

>Aren't you worried about your changelings?

Another thoughtful tap on her chin, another shrug.

"They are more than capable of handling themselves. And, of course, your cure is as much for them as the ponies, is it not? You wouldn't leave them out of this or sacrifice them for your species."

There was a slight edge to the last sentence, but she hid her expression of it well.

"So, back to work? Double time, our grace period has officially ended."

For a long while, there was only that glare, only that anger, only that resentment.

>...Pass me the boric acid.

"Of course."

Helpfully, she supplied it, and with that Twilight turned back to her work.

There would be words about this later, they both knew, but now was not the time.

Now was the time... to save the world.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >AJ
"???"
~~~~

S̸͘ṕ̢͝r̸͝èad͞

>Yeah yeah, Ah' heard ya' the first time. And it ain't gonna-

The knocking against the door made her jump, honestly made her jump with how tightly her nerves were wound up. It was short, quick, and very distinctly familiar.

"Hey, AJ... It's me..."

Her breath seized in her lungs, and she went as still as possible. A part of her prayed the voice on the other side of the door would just leave, just go away and never have to see her like this. Or rather, hear her like this, as she was fairly certain her barricade could keep them out.

"Listen, I know you're in there, and I know you probably don't want to talk to me right now, but... I'm kind of worried we won't get a second chance."

She just kept still, unmoving, unblinking as she stared at that barrier on the other side. Wanting to say so many things right now.

"But before I do, I just want you to know... I'm glad you're safe."

But she knew she couldn't.

"I asked around when the shield went up, couple of guards said they saw you come back in before it did. I don't know what you're preparing to do, but..."

She heard scrapes against the wood of the door, something digging past and into the hard structure.

"When you kicked Diamond Tiara off the team... it hurt, Applejack. It hurt me a lot, because not only did you do that to her, what you said afterwards was worse."

The scraping increased, doubtlessly claws digging straight through.

"You said, it was different for me. You made it sound like I was special, like I deserved some sort of special treatment and exemption. It was wrong. It wasn't fair. It wasn't far to Diamond Tiara, and it wasn't fair to me."

Her heart sank with his every word, bottoming out in the very pit of her gut.

"B-but the worst part?... The worst part was, a part of me was really, really happy. Ecstatic, even. Because for so long, I wanted you to see me like that, wanted everyone to see me like that really. I didn't want you to think of me as a baby dragon, but as a real, strong, mature one. And finally... finally you did. You separated me from what you saw as a kid, and I felt so, so happy... and I know it was wrong, I know I should be mad at you, but I'm not. Right now... I'm still happy."

His voice broke in more than one place as he spoke, obviously choking back something.

"You're a better hero than me, AJ, I want you to know that. You've saved the world more times than I probably will in my whole long life. But... but just this once... could you stay in there?"

She heard a thump, something leaning against the door.

"I know, it's so hypocritical of me. It's so, so hypocritical of me. It's dumb, and unfair, and it makes no sense. You're a better hero than I am, you can save the world better than I can, but... I can't help it, I want you to stay in there, I want to prove to you that you were right to see me as a real dragon. I want to be the big hero who saves the day. It's wrong, it's selfish, I know. I know it but..."

She could hear his breath on the door, could practically hear him lick dried lips as he prepared to speak again.

"But I want you to be safe, AJ. Because you mean a lot to me... so much. If I am supposedly different from Diamond Tiara, if I am better... then at least give me the chance to prove it. Let me prove I deserve the trust you gave me. Let me use this thing for good, just once. Real good."

She heard metal bang against the door, knowing without question what it was.

"If this thing can protect you... everything will be worth it. Everything. So please... I know I can't stop you, but please."

She heard him back away from the wall at last, shuffling awkwardly behind the door.

"Don't answer me. I know right now you probably want to say "Ah'm not some damsel, Spike! Ah' ain't Celestia!" or something, or tell me I've got it all wrong with Diamond Tiara, or tell me I need to step back and let the real heroes save the day. I get that. Don't answer, just... please."

She heard him put his claw to the door one final time.

"If this is the last time we talk, I just want you to know... you meant the world to me."

With that, she heard him turn and run, to afraid to hear her speak and say something to make him stop or turn around.

But she didn't, she couldn't, she just stared. Stared at that barricade that kept her from the outside world, stared at that door that blocked off her infected body from the rest of her friends, stared as if she could see through it, and see the dragon she had known for so long tear off down the hall, off to fight for his life.

Stared with eyes streaked deeply with tears, and a thousand unspoken words on her lips.

>C-.... come back...

She rasped, nothing more than a pitiful, empty whisper.

>C-c-come back...

She knew he couldn't possibly hear her, nor could she stop herself from saying it again.

>Come back...

A sharp pain shot through her chest, and instinctively her magic flared, forcing the thing that had spread further in her chest to recede, just a bit.

>Y-you... you ain't gonna win. He's gonna win. We're gonna win. YOU AIN'T GONNA WIN!

Her words were growing hollow, empty, threats with no spite, no real force behind them.

"You ain't gonna win..."

Against her skin, it throbbed.

"You ain't gonna..."

And waited.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >77
"007"
~~

The hallway was... awkward, to put it nicely.

"So, uh..."

>...

"...What do you think he's doing?'

>He is likely having last words with Princess Applejack, should the worst happen.

"Oh... okay. Yep. Makes sense. Would totally do that too."

>...

"...Not to the princess, I mean, I meant if I had someone like that... which I don't. Heh, hazards of the job, you know?"

>I'm currently in a relationship.

"No kidding? Cool. That's neat. Neat neat neat."

>...

"I'm not, by the way, in case I wasn't clear."

>You were.

"Cool. Good... good good good..."

>...

"Always wanted to fight with you, you know. Well, not always, you weren't really big before the whole... cave thing. Think we barely even talked!"

>I remember.

"Oh? How... how much do you remember?"

>You once tripped me in front of her majesty and called me 'so poor an infiltrator that your corpse stuffed with confetti would make an unconvincing pinàta.'

"..."

>...

"...That was you?"

>Yes.

"Ahhhhhh... uh..."

>It is in the past, and I hold no grudge.

"Good! Great, great..."

>...

"...Oh look, zombies! I should go deal with that!"

>They have not spotted us.

"No no, you stay here, I'll handle it... over there... you tell me when Spike gets back, okay?"

>I will do that.

"Cool... cool..."

>...

"Sorry again."

>...

"Leaving!"

>...Is he related to that one ninny from the Empire or something?
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 >Actarius
"JJ"
'Changelings'
~~~

'Okay! We have ripped up every brick we could from the floor and have locked the doors, now what?'

The stallion they were all looking at just gaped openly at them.

>...I uh... Y-you all realize I have, like, no managerial training, right?

'But you're a guard!... Were a guard! You've got disaster training!'

>Okay, um... we should alllll...

'...'

>...Zombie invasions were not covered in the manual. I know, I read that thing, like, seven times.

'Why seven?'

>I have a learning problem, I think. I had to retake that test so many times...

'...'

>Okay, I'll just improvise!

'That is... not encouraging.'

>All the entrances are blocked, right?

'Right!'

>And all the exits too?

'...Same thing, you know, but sure! They're all blocked!'

>Good!... Now we wait!

Somehow, a cricket had found its way into the ballroom, and had not yet been consumed by fires.

'...That's it?'

>If they try to come in, shoot them?

'...'

>With... with lasers! You all have lasers!

'...'

>And... and uh... you can fly- well, you can't fly in here, because ceiling is... you know what? Stick to the lasers.

'...'

>...Why are they looking at me, again?

"Rule one of changelings in a disaster. Find someone else to take the blame if it all goes bad."

>Ah. I see.

'If some of us die, you are SO fucked!'

>This is making sense now.

'So... anybody got a way to pass the time?'

'Anyone want to hear a preview of the next part of Knight of the Hive?'

"EEEEEE!"

>...

"Uh-"

>EEEEEE!
"EEEEEE!"

>"DO IT DO IT DO IT!"

'...M'kay, sure. We may end up wishing for death.'

'Great!.... A-hem, it was a dark and stormy night-"

Several changelings groaned.

'SHUT UP THIS IS MY STORY!'
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 It wasn't making her.

That niggling thought kept repeating in her head as she deftly slid behind another guard and knocked him out with one blow, leaving him vulnerable to be consumed by others.

It wasn't making her.

Even as she flicked red blades caked with her spores at them, taking them down one by one, it just kept repeating, over and over in her head like a bell that kept it's tone.

It wasn't making her.

Oh, sure, it wanted her to do this. She was being 'nudged' to do this with the ever repeating feeling that reverberated through her body, speaking words without a sound. It wanted her to make it easier.

But it did not make her.

Perhaps it was some base desire, some ingrained feeling inside of her that drove her to need, more than want, to do this. The simple fact this was Canterlot might have reverberated with an untouched part of her mind that yet still wished to conquer this place in the name of her hive.

Or perhaps it was more spiteful, more bitter. She wished to do this so there would be more who were like her, more who understood how pointless the fight was, more who gave up and gave in.

But those feelings as well... did not make her.

The thing inside her did not make her.

Nothing made her do this.

...But she did it all the same.

For the spr̵ȩ͡ad҉́.
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 >Watchdog
"Billy"

>Aha! Finally! Canterlot! We did it, Billy! Just you and me and our whirlwind journey across Equestria to the one beacon of hope! I knew we could do it!

"Screeeee!"

>Shush now with the Gold Standard stuff, that was your orphan name. Now, we just gotta get into the city, wait for this to resolve itself, and sell our story to Applewood! Won't that be great?

"Screeeee!"

>See this is why you're only getting 15%, you pessimist.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 Quick rap so quick it's not worth putting on a beat:

Stand up!

Can you smell it in the air, that infectious disease? Cordies in the house, infecting y'all minds with ease

Lookin’ for a safe haven, lookin’ for a hidey-hole, you’ll find no peace once it’s devoured your soul

Yeah it’s on a roll, no seasons or spices, an entity unleashed with nightmarish devices

Gone in the dark and stripped of your free will, to spread is to kill, you gotta fight until

Chills up your spine while you’re losin’ your mind, voices hissin’ in your head while your senses decline

At the middle of it all is the founder, they found her, buried half-alive but her strong will survived

Deceased in the body but alive in the spirit, fuck you Cordies she ain't ever gonna quit

A bug lost long ago has found her way home, and never again will she be left all alone

Double 7, 32, y’all buggers better hurry up! Your sisters fightin' back but she’s only so tough!

88 hold on, 88 stay awake! This’ll be over soon enough… just wait….
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >???
_____

Amidst the chaos out on the grounds was where he stood.

There was no expression shift as he watched dozen of infected rocket into the air in the aftermath of that combined magical attack.

There was no dejection, no outrage… nothing.

He only stared, just as stoic as his training had made him, then quite suddenly pivoted to the right as an infected made a dive in his direction.

>Impatient pest.

His horn ignited and the infected pony hit the ground with a hole punched through its throat.

The threat now neutralized, only one of a hundred it seemed, he turned his attention back to his Queen, and to the stallion currently touching horns with her.

Surely this was the reward to reap for opting to work in the light, for denying the extra training and choosing to assist her Majesty more on-hands.

Even if Jetset did possess better combat skills, even if he did have more tact, more hindsight, was trusted with critical missions that required the utmost professionalism… there was no denying the fact that Shining Armor was far and beyond more favored, and more known, and more respected.

More everything that really mattered.

>…


Another booming wave of magic sent another wave of infected hurtling through the skies, only for them halt mid-flip and float back at an ominous pace.

>…A good distraction if nothing else. Her majesty’s protege must be working on a vaccine of sorts, seems her area.

Denying the truth made things no better. Still, he didn’t resent the former Captain of the Guard. He chose one way, Jetset chose another, both of them knowing exactly what lay ahead.

Goofy and soft-hearted he may be, and as loathed as Jetset may be to admit it, Shining Armor had made good on his promise long ago, a promise to protect Celestia so long as he continued to breathe. And even after marrying Cadence, he still honored his pledge.

So one could add ‘dependable’ to the annoyingly long list of Shining Armors virtues.

Currently, his Queen was in good hooves, damned as Jetset was to realize. Today, on this night, there was no chance of her being infected.

Not with the fabled ‘Shining Knight’ at her side.

>Which leaves me with elsewhere to be….

And just for the hell of it, he dropped three more infected, unintentionally saving a guard who was neglecting to watch their rear, and then vanished.
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 >Haymaker
"???"
'???'
~~~~

>THIS IS SOME BULLSHIT!

He swung his spear once again, catching one of the creatures just under their left cheek and nearly taking out their eye.

A wound that, to his horror, lasted about as long as it took for him to blink.

>Not only are there zombies, but instant regenerating zombies that don't even have to bite you!? Bullshit I say! That is pure bullshit!

A swarm of them gathered in the hallway, and with a stern resolution he knew what he had to do.

>Okay, you guys want a piece of this!? Well, come on! Have a taste of the HAYMA-GLK!

He was jerked to a stop just as he had started to run, pulled back by the scruff of his neck like an errant child by a magical force.

That same magical force shot out not a second later, blasting the zombies bottlenecked in the doorway back through, before slamming the door in their face.

>...

"They spread via contact, I'd advise not using your namesake, friend."

He felt no shortage of relief when he turned around to find Blueblood standing not too far behind him.

>Oh, thank goodness!

"My, I had no idea you were so happy to-"

>Yeah yeah, glad to see you too, where's miss 'I have a fuckload of swords and can fly with grapples'?

There was an awkward pause after that.

>Seriously?

"She has decided to... reach safety."

>Ahhh, shit. Can't say I'm surprised.

"You know how she is."

>Yeah, not holding it against her, if it wasn't my job I'd seriously be considering it, but man... really could have used that speed right now. And the lasers... if she remembers she had them.

"...Indeed. But best not to dwell on it, her choices are her own, and considering the circumstances it would be wrong to curse her for it. That aside, tell me, do you guards have to hand in your previous keys when you switch jobs?"

>Well, we're SUPPOSED to, but only if someone asks so I know who to drop them off with, and well...

"Say no more. In that case, I have a request to make."

>Is it going to get me fired?

"Possibly."

>That dangerous? Now we're talking! What's the plan?

~~~~~

"So, are you in? Are you finally ready to do something more than just cause mayhem and destruction? And most importantly... can we trust you?"

There was a look shared, a solemn moment, a brief flicker met through past experiences intertwined.

His answer was surprisingly joyful, considering.

'The Flim Flam brothers will have your every world saving need met, and at half the price of our competitors!'

Wearily, Blueblood smirked, and motioned for Haymaker to unlock their cell.

"Here's the plan..."
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 >Spike
"77"
'007'
~~~~

>BRING IT!

Charity's muzzle flared again and again, putting down any who were foolish enough to get close to him. Explosive rounds ripped through ponies, incendiary burned through gryphons, scattershot shredded diamond dogs, every bullet in his arsenal put to the best use.

"Do we have a plan?"

Likewise, bone knife flashed out from the darkness, lancing across any hide it could find before a single reaction could be held. Tendons were severed, veins cut, any vulnerability exploited.

'Yeah, I'm running out of ammo here!'

Explosions blasted through the hordes, any too resistant for Spike's normal fire brought low by the force. Be they thick hide buffalo or mutant manticore.

>We keep fighting, and hope Twilight's got this!

"This seems unsustainable."

>Do you have a better plan?

'Well, how WE dealt with them back in the day was...'

The dragon's glare could have melted steel.

'Hey, I don't want to consider it any more than you do, but we need to keep our options open-'

>For what, wiping out most of the population of the planet!?

'...It's probably not that bad-'

>Look around!

As if to punctuate his point, he put a bullet into the head of a gryphon. A wound that served only to pause it briefly before flames repaired all damage.

>Do you see how many species there are!? That pony is from Manehatten, that one is from Cloudsdale, that one is from freaking SADDLE ARABIA! How many places do you honestly think are left!?

His chitinous hooves fiddled with his rocket launcher, nervous.

'...how many places are going to be if we don't stop this thing before it gets everyone?'

The other two went silent, unanswering.

>...Keep firing, we need to make it outside and help Shiny.

"Of course. Cover my six, Seven."

'Six and seven?'

"No! Just my six, seven!"

'How do I cover a sixty seven?'

"...I hate our names sometimes."

>Oh for the love of... Zombie season, FIRE!

BOOM!

"..."

>Not that hard.

'HAHA!'
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 >Guard
"Guard 2"
~~~

>YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S BULLSHIT!?

His friend looked around the warzone, watching as one by one his contemporaries were picked off.

"...All of this? This seems like it's all-"

>No, what's bullshit is scrimping, and saving, and hoarding, and selling things, and occasionally borrowing money or blackmailing someone's wife not to reveal what you and her did in the nightclub that one night-

"Okay, sounds like I'm now being made an accomplice in a LOT of crimes, and I wish you would stop."

>-What's bullshit is doing all that, ALL THAT, and buying yourself the biggest, shiniest, most badass looking Magical Energy Eruptor's, Canon Class-

"You bought one of those freaking MEECCs!? Who the fuck did you sleep with, Fluer!?"

>-BUYING YOURSELF one of this big, badass, huge fucking honking weapons and just begging, just BEGGING for a chance to use this beauty on some real targets, in a real fight, just praying for a day like this...

Furiously, he slammed his hoof down on the cannon

>AND IT FUCKING JAMS!? ERROR 37!? WHAT THE FUCK IS ERROR 37!? SHOULDN'T IT BE ERROR 1!? ERROR 1 YOU CAN'T FIRE THE FUCKING GUN!?

"...Ahhh, sucks to be you, man."

>If I make it out of this, I will sue the BALLS off of Fawntaine industries! YOU HEARS ME!? I WILL OWN YOUR BALLS!

"...I don't think it's going to happen."

>FUCK YOU!

"No thanks, don't want to get blackmailed, you monster."

>ARRRRGHHH!

"I do not feel bad for you at all."
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >Screwloose
“AJ12”
______

>Well, I’ll be damned… Eh, pervert, you still with me?

“If you’re asking if I’m still in control of myself, then the answer would be partly. I can’t feel my leg anymore… or my other leg, really….”

>Huh. This thing has one hell of an adaption rate. I mean, honestly, I’m trying everything I got here and it’s still spreading like wildfire. The fact that you’re still… well… you, must mean either I’m doing something right or you have the will of ten manticores.

“L-let’s go with the second one… makes me sound more badass.”

>Sure.

“And, uh… can I look at what you’re- GRK!”

In the process of lifting his head, Screwloose pressed a button on the edge of the operating table, which caused a metal band to snap up around 12’s forehead, effectively keeping him down.

>No you may not. Who’s the scientist here? You just lay back and think of my hooves or something.

“But… I smell blood….”

>That’s just the smell of my utensils. I forgot to clean them from the last operation, didn’t really have time with the guards busting in and throwing a straightjacket on me, ya see.

That was a lie of the highest degree but, as 12 merely accepted it with a prolonged stare at the ceiling, Screwloose glanced down at his leg.

Copious amounts of green fluids were spilling over the incision she’d made in his chitin at an effort to see if simply removing the infected area altogether would be a suitable cure.

Turns out, it wasn’t.

Even further, she discovered that whatever spore this was, it actually weakened the composition of his skin. Going even further still, this organism could apparently self-regenerate both itself and the host, evidenced by how 12 had not succumbed to shock due to blood loss.

>Damn. Damn, damn, damn….

“Lotta ‘damn’s there, Screwloose… We alright? We’re alright, right?”

>Couldn’t be better, pervert. Me and this thing here are just trading blows is all, feeling each other out. Still with me, though, right? Consciously, I mean—you’re strapped to the table, don’t see you physically leaving any time soon.

He chuckled, and in that moment, as she tried to keep the mounting tension at bay, that was the most wonderful sound to hear.

“Still here.”

>Wonderful.

But wasn’t wonderful was the incessant banging and snarling of the infected on the other side of her steel door. That was more than a little annoying, and rude. Typical infected, no manners whatsoever.

>Okay, let’s try this. Hey, perv… you trust me, yeah?

“…Are you serious?”

>As serious as this growth threatening to turn you into one of those charming patrons out there. Now. Do you… trust me?

The light in his eyes dimmed with resignation.

“Just do what you have to, Screwloose….”

>Good enough.

She knew better than to touch the pulsating spore with her hooves, gloves or no, being fairly certain that whatever this was, it was contagious, possibly able to leap from host to host with the slightest contact.

She knew better.

But that didn’t stop her from giving the infectious spore a forceful jab with her left hoof.

Almost immediately, her brain surged; it throbbed with the dark presence of another entity. She felt a coldness wash over her, a frigid tidal wave of agony that caused her to draw in a rattling breath through her teeth.

“Screwloose…?”

Amazing. He hadn’t seen, nor felt, what she’d done but just by the tone of his voice, he was wary she’d done something fairly stupid. And perhaps he was right.

>B-but hey… it’s not fair if only you get to have all the fun….

“What’re you talking about? …Are you okay? Screwloose?”

She heard it in the back of her head, a deep, emotionless voice giving a simple order.

Spread.

>Okay… that’s going to get really old really quick….

There was no more operating on 12, he’d been put through enough and any further ran the risk of serious injury. And what happened when a scientist ran out of viable test subjects…?

A labored sneer of insanity took over her face.

>Why, we use ourselves, of course!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >Luna
"Guard"
~~~~

>Madness...

She did not have to say it, not really. Like lambs next to a lion pin, her personal guard were being overwhelmed with every passing second. Still so fresh under her command after her exile, they were somehow even less prepared for large scale battle than the standard royal guard.

She tried her very best to keep them safe, of course, using illusions into trying to trick them into attacking one another instead, but it proved pointless. It was as if they could detect where they were in relation to one another by some otherworldly force rather than their own eyes. Her attempt to distort them proved for naught when they sensed they had not been sent to space, because one of their brethren was but a few steps away, and was not in space.

With that failed, she turned to pure, raw magic. It was effective, in a sense. It could blast them away, cast them aside, blow them through ceiling and wall and hall.

But, alas, she could only point it in but a single direction. Could not harm those who snuck up behind her, or above, or beneath whilst in the midst of an attack to another. That is where her guard came in.

And they were falling.

All around her, they were falling, and no matter how she struggled, no matter how she ordered them to go save themselves, they would not. They were dedicated to her, regardless of capability, and would fight to the end for her.

And for many, that end came swiftly, and without mercy.

>Blast it all... we have to fall back!

"Majesty... to where?"

Dejectedly, she looked out through a hole she had sent one of the beasts through, out into the city of Canterlot.

The city that even now, burned.

"There's no where left to go..."

>...Then, to the last!

As one, those who could speak chanted their agreement, and doubled their efforts.

Sadly, this only doubled the rate at which they were lost.

>...It can't end like this... I will not allow it!

Nothing but words, she realized.

All she could do was fight... and pray.
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 >AJ
~~~~

S̵p̡r̵e̶ad̴.

The ringing was getting louder in her head, that voice that spoke without words getting more forceful, more... not 'angry', but something akin to it.

>Just get yer'self outta here already, Ah' don't want you, and ya' ain't gonna make me inta' yer' dang puppet!

Sp҉re͠a̕d.͝

>AH' HEARD YA' THE FIRST TIME!

Furiously, her hoof slammed down onto the paper beneath her, her free one shooting up to her chest as the thing on her chest pulsated once more, taking the breath from her lungs. Eventually, her magic did the trick, and forced it back down.

>Ah'm a gal danged Alicorn now. Ah'm supposed ta' be one o' the strongest things on the planet, right?!

Furiously, her hooves slammed down again and again on her desk.

>SO! WHY! ARE! YOU! STILL! HERE!?

Sp̢re̷a͡d͠.

>AH' HEARD YOU!

She slumped back in her chair, prickles of moisture forming on the corner of her eyes.

>What's the dang point in givin' me these freakin' things iffin' it don't mean a hill o' beans to a dang PLANT!? It's a freakin' plant! It's somethin' that grows in the dang ground! Everyone treats me like Ah' got the power ta' blow up a buildin' now, but a dang plant's got mah' number!? WHAT PILES O' BULL MESS IS THIS!?

Spr҉e͡aḑ.̀

>AH'! HEARD! YOOOOOOOOOU!

CRACK!

She visibly winced, peering at the crumpled paper underneath her hoof.

Knowing, without looking, what was underneath that paper.

>...Dang it, look what ya' made me do! Ah' love this desk! It's made outta' an Apple tree that got uprooted and wouldn't take! We put that tree ta' good use with this! This is all yer' fault!

S̀p̕r̶e̡ad͟.̧

She groaned, her head slamming against the desk, right next to where she was sure there was a crack, the throbbing in her chest getting worse with every second.

>H-hurry, Twi... dang it gal, hurry... hurry...

And every second, the voice grew louder.

Sp̸̢̕r͘͞e̷̡͝a̸͟d͞.̷̧

>Ah' don't know how much longer Ah'm gonna last...
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 >32
"Arana"
'Reggie'
-Q-

>-and so I fell through the grate and ended up here. Thankfully I landed in one of these comfy chairs so I didn't break anything! Are you alright, my dear? You've hardly touched your brownies.

"I uh...did the roach get on these?"

'*chitter!*'

"...the roach looks offended. I...how?"

>Don't question Reggie's ways, you'll get aneurysm, but no, I only let him get a few nibbles on the ones I'm giving to the Gun Club when they get here. Heh heh heh...

"Mr. 32 can...can I ask your help?"

>With what, child?

"I have to find Princess Twilight, but the door's disappeared and she needs to know Princess Applejack is-"

>You're not going to get to her.

"Wh-what!?"

>Did you not listen to my story, little one? The bi-erm, rude Queen teleported me away to my cell, and if what you're telling me is true, she's put that lab on lockdown. Princess Sparkle has been sequestered, to what end I can only hazard a guess. But suffice it to say there's no getting in there.

"But I have to! Applejack's counting on me!"

>Well she can count all she likes, no mere mortal can seem to outwit that infernal witch, hivemind knows I've tried. I mean, I broke into that lab before, but not with that form of security. No...no I'm afraid your search is in vain.

"I...but...no...no..."

The spiderling looked down, tears welling in her eyes.

"I can't...I can't just give up, she needs me..."

>Oh there there, little one, crushing disappointment is simply the bedrock upon which our species lives. Just stay here and await the Gun Club with me.

"But...why would the Gun Club come here?"

>Why to regroup...or get their weap...no...no why WOULD they come here? It's a war zone out there, is it not? I...VOICE IN MY HEAD, YOU LEAD ME ASTRAY-NNGH!

32 groaned out, flopping forward on the table chin first.

>Ok...yes...do the right thing, I grasp this concept. But perhaps I would grasp it easier if you could SAY MORE THAN THAT!

"Uhm..."

>...yeeeees?

"If you got told to do the right thing after I told you they'd probably be out there fighting...go join them?"

>...yeah that might be a good idea. But if what you said was true, then I'm woefully ill-equipped to just simply walk out and join the fray...no, no I need some kind of-

32 stopped abruptly, blinking, then his face split into a wide maddened grin.

>Oh yes, yes I think that will do nicely.

"Uhm, what will?"

>Don't you worry, little one, just stay here for now. Q, come with me-

-*tink*!-

>-Reggie, watch our guest-

'*chitter*!'

>-and Arry...Rana...Nana...nickname to be determined, you ensure Reggie doesn't manage to launch a nuke!

"Oh, uh, roger!"

>Good girl! Now...

32 began to walk away...then came back and retrieved one of the brownie plates, resuming his walk.

>I certainly hope this goes better than the LAST thing I tried to do with hoverbikes...

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