Fallout: Beyond Equestria 179: Interlude (Part 12)

[2016-05-04 13:17:33] <Kkat> 3Game Starting Soon! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzLT6_TQmq8&feature=youtu.be&t=47s
[2016-05-04 13:19:36] <Kkat> 3Previously...
[2016-05-04 13:19:46] <Kkat> 3The shaman considers that, then motions.  "Follow.  We will take you to the cowards."
[2016-05-04 13:19:52] <Kkat> 3Shatara frowns a little at the 'cowards' remark. Sadly, it...wasn't entirely an innacurate description of the pirate bands; seeking to flee to another world rather than fight for the one they were born in.
[2016-05-04 13:19:55] <Kkat> 3...
[2016-05-04 13:20:08] <Kkat> 3The shaman scowls at Jugeote and Kifaa, then turns to CopyCat.  "Every zebra here stands against the darkness, knowing we face desolation and death.  We stand strong, allied with the spirits.  And we *shall* drive the darkness from this land."
[2016-05-04 13:20:14] <Kkat> 3The shaman tells CopyCat, "The spirits have looked into the hearts of your friends and found them lacking.  If the spirits find yours brave and noble, then we will turn the prisoners over to you.  If you are craven as well, you shall join them."
[2016-05-04 13:20:18] <Kkat> 3...
[2016-05-04 13:20:27] <Kkat> 3The pool of the cenote begins to glow.  A brilliant golden light rises up, pushing out of the water.  The first of the spirits to answer the shaman's summons has arrived: a glowing, golden stag -- easily three ponies tall -- made entirely of swirling, incandescent light.  The spiritual stag shines, seeming to epitomize all that is royal, patient and true.
[2016-05-04 13:20:32] <Kkat> 3Mitzi 's jaw drops.
[2016-05-04 13:20:39] <Kkat> 3The second spirit appears from above: a great beast, dark and dire, embodying the most idealized and terrifying legends of a wolf.  It stands at the rim of the cenote and lets out a noble hunter's howl.
[2016-05-04 13:20:44] <Kkat> 3Mitzi can't resist the urge and lets out a howl of her own.
[2016-05-04 13:20:50] <Kkat> 3CopyCat gasps, her eyes wide as she looks at the majestic stag. "Oh... my... now that is handsome. And beautiful. I'm starting to like Get Lost's idea more and more," she murmurs.
[2016-05-04 13:20:58] <Kkat> 3At the feet of the dark wolf of legend, the third spirit appears, peeking her head over the rim.  She is a fox -- sleek and graceful, but in size and appearance easily mistakable for an actual animal if not for the piercing intelligence in her eyes.  The fox spirit leaps down into the cenote, gliding about the glowing hooves of the stag.
[2016-05-04 13:21:08] <Kkat> 3Golden_Dream  watches them arrive. "Well. Guess yer' th' folks we was waitin' fer'. If I knew what y' folk ate, I'd a made y' somethin' t' eat."
[2016-05-04 13:21:16] <Kkat> 3Shadows expand, threatening to eat the light of the many torches and fires, and all falls into absolute silence as the final spirit arrives.  It is the only spirit to model itself in an equine form, but a distorted one -- a tall, gaunt zebra devoid of stripes and without a face.  Black tendrils writhe from its back.
[2016-05-04 13:21:44] <Kkat> 3Golden_Dream raises her eyebrow. "Oh, hey. It's you. How you been?" she attempts to say.  But Golden_Dream's words fail to sound.
[2016-05-04 13:21:47] <Kkat> 3...
[2016-05-04 13:23:02] <Kkat> 3Rasdon steps forward.  "Zebras of the Light, displaced people, prisoners: we are honored to be granted an audience by the Grand Spirits of Honesty, Nobility, Loyalty and Secrets."
[2016-05-04 13:23:03] <Kkat> 3Noble_Heart raises her eyebrows slightly. An unusual, and impressive, array for certain. "Secrets We have met before. But it is impressive to see others of such stature coming to such a meeting."
[2016-05-04 13:23:15] <Kkat> 3Bookwright says, "And the fox is the Spirit of Loyalty. So the others are Honesty and Nobility... I have to say, I'm impressed by the resources Rasdon and company have."
[2016-05-04 13:23:21] <Kkat> 3Noble_Heart frowns slightly. "It says a great deal of the threat and danger of the Empress, that she has such powerful enemies, yet still holds sway over so much of the world."
[2016-05-04 13:23:30] <Kkat> 3Rasdon replies, "The task before us is monumental: to bring low the Quetzalcóatl Empress.  To restore light and life and peace to this dark-entombed land.  The spirits side with us in this effort.  Without them, there would be no chance.  But this is as dangerous to them as it is to us, and their agreement with us is a cautious one."
[2016-05-04 13:23:39] <Kkat> 3"The chain is only as strong as its weakest link.  By a single traitor, all may be lost.  So they will not aid us if we harbor even one amongst us whose heart is craven or cowardly.  Those who are not strong of character and brave must be sacrificed for the uncompromising pact."
[2016-05-04 13:23:47] <Kkat> 3Noble_Heart bristles slightly at that insinuation, ruffling her feathers in irritation, but bites her tongue for the moment.
[2016-05-04 13:23:54] <Kkat> 3"The Great Spirits will look into your minds, and into your hearts.  Your true nature will be revealed.  You will be judged.  And the tribe will take action as is necessary."
[2016-05-04 13:24:06] <Kkat> 3...
[2016-05-04 13:24:58] <Kkat> 3The Fox cocks her head, looking at Rainbow Dash.  "Huh?  I think you've got the wrong pony... ghost," Rainbow says.  "I'm pretty sure I would remember meeting a fox spirit before."
[2016-05-04 13:25:22] <Kkat> 3Rainbow Dash suddenly gasps, her colors becoming abnormally vibrant, cutting through the dark.  All around are hit with a vision.
[2016-05-04 13:25:50] <Kkat> 3"Oh.  I see," the Fox announces.  "You were My Surrogate!"
[2016-05-04 13:26:13] <Kkat> 3Rainbow Dash plops to the ground, staring.  "Wait... *You're*..."
[2016-05-04 13:26:15] <Kkat> 3...
[2016-05-04 13:27:21] <Kkat> 3Fallout: Beyond Equestria, Session One Hundred and Seventy-Nine: Interlude (Part 12) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02q8kPJn_e4
[2016-05-04 13:27:28] <Kkat> 3--- Session Begins ---
[2016-05-04 13:27:50] <Kkat> 3Rasdon asks, "Which of you is brave enough to go first."
[2016-05-04 13:28:12] <Kkat> 3Rainbow Dash notes quietly, "I think I just did."
[2016-05-04 13:29:51] * Fridge  attempts to hold a tentacle out of the way. "Hey. Hey. You ask permission first before puttin' them things near me, alright? I don't care who y' are."
[2016-05-04 13:30:00] * Golden_Dream  does that.
[2016-05-04 13:32:43] * Get_Lost is waiting for somepony else to go first
[2016-05-04 13:35:01] * Noble_Heart looks around her companions then sighs quietly. "We shall be first, if none of Our friends wish that concern."
[2016-05-04 13:35:17] * Bookwright looks sheepish, but nods.
[2016-05-04 13:42:01] <Kkat> 3The Golden Stag steps forward to stand over Noble_Heart.  The Faceless finally breaks its non-stare with Golden_Dream, attending.
[2016-05-04 13:43:35] <Kkat> 3The Noble Hunter and the Fox watch, the latter moving to the former's feet.
[2016-05-04 13:44:41] <Noble_Heart> ***
[2016-05-04 13:44:42] <Noble_Heart> Colors shift, stretch and whirl as the vision begins.
[2016-05-04 13:44:42] <Noble_Heart> ***
[2016-05-04 13:44:42] <Noble_Heart> The swirl resolves into a middling wooden room furnished with the usual accoutraments of life. A rug, a small bookshelf and some basic furnature adorn the hard wood floors and  unpainted walls. There was no clutter or dust in the corners to mark a well lived-in residence. In the far wall was set a small window, beyond which one could see rolling  brown hills and the very tops of
[2016-05-04 13:44:42] <Noble_Heart> a cast iron fence, topped with tiny prancing ponies.
[2016-05-04 13:44:42] <Noble_Heart> Upon the carpet stand two earth ponies. One clearly younger than the other. The younger, still a filly who has not even found her Cutie Mark yet, sports a brown coat and  purple mane and tail. The older a brown coat as well, but with a brilliant grass green mane and tail, her cutie mark a white orchid in full bloom. Around her neck hangs a  lanyard with a plastic identification
[2016-05-04 13:44:42] <Noble_Heart> card sporting her photograph and the name 'Corolla', according to it her position is 'Head Botanist'.
[2016-05-04 13:44:42] <Noble_Heart> Corolla looks down to the younger pony, speaking with the sort of mild accent that one retains after growing up with a much thicker accent then spending a great deal of time  and effort attempting to rectify that. "Ah know you're bored Sugar Plum. But th' work we're doin' is important! It might jus' help us win th' war. Isn't that worth a few  months of boredom?"
[2016-05-04 13:44:42] <Noble_Heart> Sugar Plum looks up and pouts, whining in that way that only children really can, her accent significantly thicker. "Ah know. But it's jus' not faihr! There ain't even 'ny  foals mah age 'round tah do somethin' with! All Ah got tah do is sit 'round this here house 'n' read books all day. Ah'd rather go stay wi' great auntie Orange in Manehattan!"
[2016-05-04 13:44:42] <Noble_Heart> Corolla looks briefly aghast at the idea, "Really? Truly? You'd rather spend time with that old fossil than your own sister?" She mocks looking hurt. "Ah've spent time around  her, she's the most proper and least interesting pony Ah've ever met." She kneels down and puts a foreleg around her younger sister's neck in a hug. "Listen Sugar Plum,  there's rumors the zebras are planning
[2016-05-04 13:44:42] <Noble_Heart> something big. If we don't finish the project soon, it might be too late. So Ah'm afraid you'll have to make the sacrifice of enjoyment  for now. It'll be worth it in the end, Ah promise. We'll find a way to succeed, no matter what. Ah'm sure you can understand that. Ah'll find some time to spend with you soon.  Promise." A kiss to her sister's forehead punctuates her seriousness.
[2016-05-04 13:44:43] <Noble_Heart> Sugar Plum looks down sadly and nods her head. "Alright. Ah know 's important. Ah love you." She nuzzles briefly against her sister's neck.
[2016-05-04 13:44:44] <Noble_Heart> The larger pony stands and waves goodbye, turning to depart the room for a day of work.
[2016-05-04 13:44:45] <Noble_Heart> ***
[2016-05-04 13:44:46] <Noble_Heart> Another whirl of colors fly by as the scene shifts.
[2016-05-04 13:44:47] <Noble_Heart> ***
[2016-05-04 13:44:48] <Noble_Heart> The sun glints off a glass ceiling filling the room with brilliant light. Dozens of plants grow in small planters sitting upon tables and sills, many resemble the plantlife of  Equestria or the Zebra Lands, but some look wholely different, sharing aspects of several different plants. Unique crossbreeds likely only extant in this single laboratory  greenhouse. Beyond its glass walls
[2016-05-04 13:44:49] <Noble_Heart> other buildings can be seen, the distinctive skyline of the Maripony Military Base.
[2016-05-04 13:44:50] <Noble_Heart> Corolla walks down the aisles humming a quiet tune with a set of tools in a saddle, checking over the plants and their health and safety. She takes trimmings from a few and  adds them to a small bag. "Ah know, ah know. You spent all that time and effort growin' those leaves and Ah just come along and take them for myself. Ah promise your  sacrifices are for great things." She pauses
[2016-05-04 13:44:51] <Noble_Heart> to examine one of the bulbs growing on a plant. "And you'll be ready very soon too. Ah'm sure we'll find the right combination of  plants soon enough. It'll be-"
[2016-05-04 13:44:52] <Noble_Heart> Her words are cut off mid-sentence as brilliant green light, brighter than the sun, fills the sky above. A brilliance so blinding that for a moment even the vision seems  impossible to resolve. Then a sound  like thunder but a thousand times louder comes crashing down upon the small building. The buildings nearest the blast implode, sending  scattered debris clattering against the
[2016-05-04 13:44:53] <Noble_Heart> windows for the briefest moment before the glass is crushed by the pressure wave. Leaves are ripped from plants as glass shards cleave  through stalk and stem. And pony.
[2016-05-04 13:44:54] <Noble_Heart> Corolla doesn't even have time to scream or speak or look up, the glass shards embed themselves in her legs and flank, as the blast wave tosses her to the ground like an angry  child hurling an unwanted toy. She hits the metal supports of the now-destroyed windows with a 'crunch', before collapsing to the ground in a heap. A moment later she  struggles to get her eyes open, coat
[2016-05-04 13:44:55] <Noble_Heart> slick with her own blood as she hauls herself to her hooves. "What was..." She looks skyward at the fading green light, barely managing to  stumble from the wreckage into the larger part of the base.
[2016-05-04 13:44:56] <Noble_Heart> In the distance the green outline of fading dragon fire is still visible, the great fireball of the first balefire bomb ever detonated on Equestrian soil expends itself,  fulfilling its destiny and visiting death and tragedy upon a world. Around her, upon the streets, lay ponies. Charred along one side where they faced towards the explosion,  gasping for air and barely alive.
[2016-05-04 13:44:57] <Noble_Heart> Corolla struggles to continue walking, looking in the direction of the distant bridge, and the houses. "No... Nonono! This isn't right." Her  voice hoarse and cracking in her haze of pain and sorrow, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Sugar Plum. Ah'm coming..." She struggles to put one hoof infront of the other making  it barely a dozen paces past the wreckage of her greenhouse before
[2016-05-04 13:44:58] <Noble_Heart> collapsing.
[2016-05-04 13:44:59] <Noble_Heart> "Sugar... Plum... I'm sorry..." She barely manages to get the words out before consciousness begins to fade. Just before her vision fades fully to black, a blue glow  encompasses her, lifting her from the pavement.
[2016-05-04 13:45:00] <Noble_Heart> ***
[2016-05-04 13:45:01] <Noble_Heart> Again, the brilliance of a rainbow thrown through a washing machine signifies a change in place.
[2016-05-04 13:45:02] <Noble_Heart> ***
[2016-05-04 13:45:03] <Noble_Heart> A purple alicorn stands beyond the low walls of a settlement. Behind her, a filly chained to a wooden stake cowers as the body of a pony falls in a limp heap not far away. A  dozen others like it litter the surroundings, a larger mob, but clearly badly thinned, surrounds the pair pinning them against the walls. The alicorn is clearly exhausted, her  shield having faded, wounds
[2016-05-04 13:45:04] <Noble_Heart> pockmarking her coat. A severely abused nine-iron floats in a purple energy field nearby, slick with the blood of raiders.
[2016-05-04 13:45:05] <Noble_Heart> The apparent leader of this group of marauders steps forwards. Wearing heavy metal armor, which looks like it might have been salvaged from a Steel Ranger, he's a mountain of  a pony though not quite as large as the alicorn. "Tch. All you had to do was hand over our tribute and we'd have left this town alone. Now you've gone and made me angry and  I'm going to reduce this place to
[2016-05-04 13:45:06] <Noble_Heart> rubble."
[2016-05-04 13:45:07] <Noble_Heart> The alicorn pants for breath. "We shall not allow it! There shall be no more sacrifices for your sick enjoyment." She plants her hooves. "This charad of the strong stealing  from the weak ends now! If you cannot find your better nature, then this world is better off without you."
[2016-05-04 13:45:08] <Noble_Heart> The leader of the group snorts in anger. He motions for his forces to move forward. But they hesitate. Having seen this alicorn kill a dozen of their compatriates, it seems  that they're beginning to fear her even more than their leader. He grinds his teeth in anger. "Fine. I'll do it myself." He draws a vicious looking serrated blade carved from  some bit of scrap from his side
[2016-05-04 13:45:09] <Noble_Heart> and charges at the alicorn.
[2016-05-04 13:45:10] <Noble_Heart> The moment of conflict is brief, his blade bites her side, her nine iron meets his temple, he stumbles, she faulters. But in the moment of confusion, she recovers just  slightly faster. The crack of thunder as a familiar sight to her friends is seen, brilliant lightning lancing from her horn to the metal armored pony, the briefest of screams  as a tiny whisp of smoke escapes his
[2016-05-04 13:45:11] <Noble_Heart> lips, his mane crackling and standing on end before he collapses with a look of pain and horror on his face.
[2016-05-04 13:45:12] <Noble_Heart> The others, seeing their leader fall, step back. The alicorn is badly injured, struggling back to her hooves. "Flee fools! None of you have the strength to face Us!" Her voice  rises like thunder, washing over them with a tempest of anger. And with that, their will to fight is broken, they scatter like leaves in every direction, fleeing for the  horizon.
[2016-05-04 13:45:13] <Noble_Heart> As they pass beyond sight, the alicorn collapses to her knees, her magic fading as the nine iron clatters to the ground. Behind her the filly struggles against her bindings,  speaking up to her savior. "Are you alright? That was super awesome!"
[2016-05-04 13:45:14] <Noble_Heart> The alicorn smiles weakly. "We are just glad there were no more innocent deaths today. Our strength was enough... again..." She wobbles briefly and falls to the side, barely  conscious.
[2016-05-04 13:45:15] <Noble_Heart> The filly finally manages to pull the wooden stake from the ground. "Wait! You can't die! You're the hero! The heros aren't allowed to die!" She prances briefly in place in  confusion. "I'll go get the doctor!" She begins running towards the town entrance.
[2016-05-04 13:45:16] <Noble_Heart> The last sound the alicorn can hear before passing out is rattle of chains and the clatter of wood against stone.
[2016-05-04 13:45:17] <Noble_Heart> ***
[2016-05-04 14:00:06] <Kkat> 3When the vision fades, the Wolf leaps down into the cenote, moving to stand on equal ground with Noble_Heart.  The grand spirit gives a little huff of approval.
[2016-05-04 14:01:17] <Kkat> 3The Golden Stag steps back, turning His head slightly to acknowledge and respect the Noble Hunter.  Then turns back to the ponies and zebras assembled.
[2016-05-04 14:01:32] * Noble_Heart ruffles and visibly bristles in discomfort at having to relive a moment of significant agony from her past. She neither bows nor retreats from the great wolf.
[2016-05-04 14:05:05] <Mitzi> Mitzi blinks in apparent confusion. Where had those pictures come from? She looks over to Noble_Heart. The alpha pony protecting a young one from harm. The stuff before gave her pause as well. Some of what she had seen from that strange glass house made her think of her father's stories of Oldhome
[2016-05-04 14:07:16] * Bookwright mutters to himself. "Loss... commitment to avoid loss... strength of character..."
[2016-05-04 14:07:30] * Get_Lost "wow, that's a lot of stuff to chew... was that... equestria before the bombs?" doesn't have very much to say, is still trying to put together what she has seen
[2016-05-04 14:08:34] * Golden_Dream  holds her mouth. She felt kind of bad, since the first thing she thought was about her accent. The second was that the whole deal with her, the reason she seemed to have a fascination with her, must have been because of Sugar Plum. Or maybe herself from long ago.
[2016-05-04 14:10:07] * Get_Lost is silent, it is difficult as always to tell her reaction, since she has no expression. she just muters a word "family"
[2016-05-04 14:12:25] * CopyCat 's eyes had widened just a little more as she experienced Noble_Heart's vision. When it passes she looks to her purple sister, with even more admiration than usual in her eyes. "Noble_Heart, I had no idea... although having had the honor of being your friend, I'm not surprised either."
[2016-05-04 14:14:24] * Golden_Dream  exhales from the nose. "Right. If nopony else, then I'll go." She looked at Noble with a look that can't quite be discerned, mostly because she hasn't quite made up her mind how best to feel about what she saw.
[2016-05-04 14:21:00] * Get_Lost turns towards golden and waits
[2016-05-04 14:21:21] <Kkat> 3Rasdon finally speaks.  His words are gentle.  "Clearly... you have passed.  Your heart is noble.  Enough that the Grand Spirit..."  He pauses, staring respectfully.  Then turns to the rest.  "Who shall face the test next?"
[2016-05-04 14:22:16] * Shatara cant help but crack a chuckle. "Just what it said on the tin..." he mutters to himself.
[2016-05-04 14:22:51] * Golden_Dream  slowly makes her way up. "Yeah. That's me."
[2016-05-04 14:28:01] <Kkat> 3Rainbow Dash trots up next to Golden_Dream and gives her a quick, reassuring pat.
[2016-05-04 14:28:12] * Golden_Dream  sighs.
[2016-05-04 14:28:15] <Golden_Dream> ---
[2016-05-04 14:28:16] <Golden_Dream> https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bPWibD6jLX0dqYXShXEUao9GYEt10gdthDOJjy8j3fc/edit

It was a night where the cicadas and bog fauna sung and howled and chattered and otherwise desperately wanted to be heard. The hum of the forest sang in a remarkable chorus of things older and more mysterious than ponies. Water Moccasins glided over the top of tiny ecosystems of algae that went on alive even as it was severed.

White Lightning plodded along a dirt road, more paved by his repeated walk home than anything, looking as if his eyelids had put on weights and his cheeks gaunt with hunger. His coat, normally a white-blue that naturally caught the eye was covered in brick dust and wood splinters that cut deep into him.

Goldy hated when he came home like this.

She tried her best to make him welcome back. His favorite whiskey was stuck on ice that she snuck from Rusty Turnip’s meat rack. His rocking chair on the porch had one book stuck under the leg that never really hit the floor right. He hated punga, more out of having had it more than anything else nowadays, but she tried to sneak it into his fruit skewers to fill them out because the apple and the loquat harvests were once again in a period of lower yields than expected, and that meant that places like Froggy Bottom were left to fend for themselves.

She was sitting, lying on the porch, just sort of taking in the ambiance to help her sleep. White Lightning considered her, ran a hoof through her mane and parked himself down onto his rocking chair.

“Another twenty-hour shift, dad?”

“Yeah.”

“You know that Comfort worries about ‘y. Says that these are hours that just ain’t good fer’ y’.”

“I do. You and him do your book learnin’?”

“Yeah. Finished it up t’day. Comfort’s gettin’ more from Pulp Pages again.”

There was a quiet moment, before the rain started to tap on the corrugated tin-roof. The patio shelter had been rusted through so that there were intermittent holes in just about every place someone would care to stand. But that was alright, since it would wash off the brick and would make his bleeding show up better anyway.

“I’m gonna be here for a couple weeks, kiddo.”

“Laid off again?”

“They finished their load of bricks for the month. No more need for people like me hanging around.”

Golden’s mouth curled up on the edges as if she’d been forced to swallow something bitter. She scooted along closer to White.

“Why do they do this t’ y’? Everyone knows it’s wrong. Ain’t the NCR supposed t’ do somethin’ about all these stupid work problems?”

The stallion looked off into the trees and the brook that surrounded one side of their hut. He took a drink and seemed lost for a moment. She knew that he liked to just let the whiskey sit on his tongue for a little while before drinking it. He once told her that it made it last longer. To her, not tasting it as much as possible was sort of the point.

“They are. But they got so many problems already that they ain’t fuckin’ with jobs. Enough blow-hards tryin’ t’ keep things as they is because they gotta line their pockets before anyone with a borin’ enough mindset gets t’ seein’ what they’re doin’.”

She grits her teeth. “Jus’ like Lil’Pip and all them woulda wanted.”

“I figure after carvin’ up th’ Enclave and all of Manehattan’s way of livin’, they figure any sort of civilization’s better than nothin’.” He let the irony linger, before finally gulping down the mouthful of whiskey. This felt wrong. Something in her disagreed, but she didn’t feel much like making a fight out of it. Not now.

“You ain’t answered m’ question, dad. Why do you let them do this t’ y’? I know you. You can fuckin’ get ‘em all t’ stop by raisin’ hell. You keep the peace here by doin’ that.”

“Then I wouldn’t get paid at all. Neither would anyone else. I got a family t’ provide fer’, they got the same.”

“Then he’d at least learn his lesson fer’ usin’ y’ all!” She sniped.

“Kid…” He sighed. “Kid, no matter what, people will use you, alright? Jus’ th’ way of things nowadays. Now, y’ could fight it. Break them. Leave nothin’ behind that others could use so long as you get your own. But that’s how raiders do, and y’ know it.”

“So… How do I fight that, dad?”

“People will use weapons like boredom, awkwardness, and yer’ own goodness against you, and you gotta roll with the punches good enough that, when th’ opportunity does come along t’ get yer’s, you can take it. Alright?”

“Alright.”

“Now. What’s fer’ dinner?”

“Skewers. They’re in th’ kitchen next to th’ stove.”

“Thank you, Golden.” He muttered. She caught the wood-grain radio crooning out a tune as he opened up the door and didn’t really have it in her to close the door.

As he went off, she let the words sink in as she watched the algae form up again from the water moccasins movements. She watched frogs stealing from flytraps. She watched fireflies dancing out in the night in jars while ponies made their way around. She saw plane parts and cinderblocks, errant traces of things that couldn’t be put back and made right again, and how the world went on around them.

~.O.~ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAA_zE5a3JQ)

There came a time where an evil wraith took her over. Where she was forced to be used for someone else’s evil designs. It didn’t end well for them, but the cost was great.

There came a time when hucksters worked with a set of raiders to try to pillage her weapons. She sent a letter in response to the authorities.

There came a time when she met a ghost that she felt was worthy of her attention. She let herself be used by her, despite her misgivings with the wraith from before.

There came a time where she stared down a windigo, and refused to do what would ensure her own death, despite her own fears.

There came a time when she met a lot of new friends that one would never reason to even be friends. Death spirits. Zebra ghosts. Zebra pirates. A mad scientist with a fascination with failure.

There will come a time when all the strange things in the world will happen, when reason fails and when logic is inconclusive.

And when it does, it will be up to people like her to decide what to do. Because nopony else will know for sure.

[2016-05-04 14:28:19] <Golden_Dream> ---
[2016-05-04 14:29:48] * Get_Lost smiles a little, she doesn't know why, but kid's vision made her mood improve a bit, probably because of herway of dealing with things, or... who knows? go figure
[2016-05-04 14:30:00] <Kkat> 3Rainbow Dash flies back to the others as Golden_Dream's test begins, landing next to Noble_Heart.  "Hey... um... mind if I hug you.  Cuz after that..." her words are cut off as the vision starts.
[2016-05-04 14:33:54] * Noble_Heart opened her mouth to answer Rainbow Dash, but didn't get the chance before Golden Dream's vision struck. She looked down sadly at the smaller pony. She was still clearly distraught with her own memories, finally answering Rainbow Dash. "... I would appreciate it..." She contemplated Golden Dream's past and trials quietly.
[2016-05-04 14:34:58] * Mitzi shakes her head a bit as more pictures come out of nowhere. She looks to Golden_Dream as they fade, looking sad at the memory of her haggard father.
[2016-05-04 14:37:17] <Kkat> 3The visions end.  The Golden Stag contemplates Golden_Dream.  The Fox looks between Golden and Rainbow, eyes widening.
[2016-05-04 14:37:54] <Kkat> 3After a short silence, the Golden Stag nods.  Then turns to the others.  Golden_Dream has passed.
[2016-05-04 14:38:54] <Kkat> 3Mwana trots up and wraps his hooves around Golden_Dream.  "He'd be so proud of you," the zebra whispers.
[2016-05-04 14:39:38] <Kkat> 3Mwana then looks up at the Golden Stag.  "I'm next."
[2016-05-04 14:39:45] * Golden_Dream  looks solemn for a moment, then parks herself next to Mwana. She began to tear up when he said that. The kind that just sticks in ones eyes and refuses to fall.
[2016-05-04 14:40:55] * Golden_Dream  looks up at the spirit of silence, briefly. "See why I really don't care for you doin' that without permission?"
[2016-05-04 14:41:03] * CopyCat smiles, inclining her head towards the youngest member of their group. "Our Goldie is brave, too."
[2016-05-04 14:41:25] <Kkat> 3The Golden Stag eyes Mwana, then takes a step back.  The Faceless approaches, inky tendrils reaching out for Mwana.
[2016-05-04 14:42:09] * Bookwright isn't crying, that's just the reflections of light on his glasses.
[2016-05-04 14:42:39] <Kkat> 3The vision begins, echoing in the heads of everyone within the cenote.
[2016-05-04 14:45:56] <Kkat> 3For those who traveled here with him, the vision is mostly familiar, and not surprising.  But the vehemence of the argument at the pinnacle of the vision, an argument between Mwana and his mother, the Captain of the /Cutlass/, is impressive.  As is Mwana's resolution.
[2016-05-04 14:47:01] <Kkat> 3And in the end, the pirate captain relents, and gives Mwana leave to travel below the lake with his new friends, going into the unknown to try to rescue two old ones.
[2016-05-04 14:47:46] <Kkat> 3At the end of the vision, it is the Fox who scurries up to Mwana, putting a paw on the zebra, letting all know he has passed.
[2016-05-04 14:48:24] * Mitzi chuckles a bit at Mwana. "Standeen up tu alpha eez hard. Gud job."
[2016-05-04 14:50:34] * Golden_Dream  quietly smiles at Mwana. "I know she is." She said in a scratchy tone.
[2016-05-04 14:56:13] * Bookwright steps forward, gulping down his nervousness. "I'm ready."
[2016-05-04 14:59:20] <Bookwright> The vision starts out completely transparent, but slowly swims into view. http://pastebin.com/cKrPWvG5
-----
The vision starts out completely transparent, but slowly swims into view.
Words issue forth, from thin air.
"What do you remember from before the war?"

The strangely unsaturated crystal pony in view stomps and looks annoyed. "What the hell? What is it with all the questions?"

Bookwright, clearly visible and clearly annoyed, replies, "We're asking questions because we genuinely want to make things better, and we can't do anything if we don't know what needs doing." The view pulls out, and reveals Bookwright, Noble Heart, Copycat, and Golden Dream, crouched in the squalid dwelling of Boomer. Bookwright looks annoyed.

The scene jumps. Ponies have moved. Bookwright looks upset. Boomer speaks again, "Got better. Woke up. Stopped being Statues of Loving Kindness or whatever."

Bookwright replies, "How do you reconcile the memories of your former life with what you do now?"

"I don't. Past is past. Best forget about it."

Bookwright shakes his head in disbelief. "What is a 'Statue of Loving Kindness, precisely'?

Boomer scoffs. "You know.  Standing around frozen, holding onto all those warm fuzzies and waiting for her bitchiness to use the Heart and cast her spell."  He pauses, staring at the lot of you.  "Well, maybe *you* don't know."

Bookwright stares. "As a matter of fact, we don't. Which is why we're asking you."

Boomer shrugs noncholantly, which just seems to make Bookwright even more upset. "Can't remember. Don't care."

Bookwright is seething now. "Can't remember, huh? I can help with that." Boomer's face betrays fear as Bookwright's eyes drill into him.
Bookwright laughs a laugh completely without humor. "Don't be like that! I promise it won't hurt. I would much prefer to have a willing participant. Who knows? Maybe I can help you remember who you were."

Boomer seems to find the prospect of remembering anything unpleasant, because he flinches when Bookwright says the word "remember".
"Look, I don't want to remember. Just leave me alone!"

"Why? Why don't you want to remember? What's so hard, so painful about this memory?"

Boomer yells, "Get out! Get out now!"

Bookwright presses on: "You attacked zebras just because you could. You hurt people, just because you can. You invited us into your home and then you sicced your pets on us! At any of those points, we could have just shot you and been done with it but we haven't. You can answer our questions. You can tell us why it hurts."
The scene shifts again. There's been some kind of ruckus, because Boomer is tied up and unconscious. Bookwright is standing him, touching his horn to Boomer's forehead. "Let us begin with... your name."
Bookwright's eyes go out of focus behind his glasses, giving him the double glazed look of a china doll. He speaks, distantly. "His name is Sparkle Shine. He is a subject of Princess Cadance, like all the other crystal ponies. There is a crowd, standing before the palace. He is in it. There are hundreds of others, and they all look up beaming, on the face of Princess Cadance. And he gave her his love. For decades, for... centuries. Until he couldn't anymore. And then he woke up, Heartless. It hurts for him to remember because to recall being loving is anathema to being heartless. He had a wife... no, I won't repeat that. And a son. The son still lives, petrified."

The scene shifts one last time. A wordless, soundless vision of Sparkle Shine, full of color again, hugging his restored son. Bookwright looks relieved and happy as the vision fades.
------
[2016-05-04 15:02:27] * Get_Lost nods remembering that part, smiles again, thinkng about things going the right way for once
[2016-05-04 15:12:43] * Mitzi smiles. There was a lot of nice family moments in these visions
[2016-05-04 15:13:43] * Noble_Heart frowns sadly and looks away, remembering something else from that particular memory she'd rather not dwell upon. She gently places a wing over Rainbow Dash, assuming the spirit remains near her side.
[2016-05-04 15:16:32] * Get_Lost goes and patpats bookie on the back. good times, aaah, good times
[2016-05-04 15:16:53] <Kkat> 3This time, it is The Faceless who signals its approval.  Bookwright too has passed.
[2016-05-04 15:17:07] * Bookwright winces a little bit at the memory. He regrets those trespasses, even if they turned out well in the end.
[2016-05-04 15:17:40] * Mitzi looks around the assembled spirit things. She wondered which one was the alpha of their... collective.
[2016-05-04 15:24:36] * Get_Lost still sits next to bookie "hey, we saved that day and... he couldn't hide forever, you have to face your problems at some point. you helped him out of his denial"
[2016-05-04 15:25:34] * Bookwright "I know. I know. And just seeing him deny his past all over again... it still makes me mad. I just... I hated doing that. I hated that it had to be by force."
[2016-05-04 15:26:02] * Get_Lost then turns towards the spirits and step forward "my turn?"
[2016-05-04 15:26:18] * Golden_Dream  tilts his head to the side. "Figures it'd be him that's okay with that." She sniffles, and hugs Mwana. She still seems pretty bemused at the Fox. "So. If she's the host for you, and I'm th' host fer her, what's that make me to you?"
[2016-05-04 15:27:20] * Get_Lost "bookie, even my patients don't want me to touch where it hurts, but if i don't, they will never heal. you did what it was needed. no regrets"
[2016-05-04 15:30:08] <Kkat> 3The Golden Stag steps towards Get_Lost.
[2016-05-04 15:30:47] <Kkat> 3The Fox seems to find the question curious.
[2016-05-04 15:32:30] * CopyCat pats Bookwright. "I agree. You help others despite themselves."
[2016-05-04 15:32:33] * Mitzi tilts her head at the spirits. "So, how yu make dose pictures appear? Sum kind uv magic?"
[2016-05-04 15:37:48] * Golden_Dream  snickers. "Think that one out, lil' miss clever-like-a."
[2016-05-04 15:39:29] <Kkat> 3The Fox strolls around Golden_Dream, her tail brushing against the small pony and her zebra boyfriend.
[2016-05-04 15:44:17] * Golden_Dream  giggles. "Hey, Fox. Thank y' fer' bein' cool. I dunno either, so I figure yer' guess is prolly better than mine."
[2016-05-04 15:45:29] * Golden_Dream  looks at Mwana. "You get ticklish? 'Cause her tail is sorta- *snrk*- Is sorta gettin' t'- *snrk*- me."
[2016-05-04 15:46:50] * Mitzi looks over to Golden_Dream and chuckles, then back to the wolf. She had been impressed by the lot of them, but that one seemed to speak to her the most. She had even been drawn into its howl.
[2016-05-04 15:47:59] <Kkat> 3Mwana snickers a bit too.  Then oohs with a dangerous smile.  "You're ticklish?"
[2016-05-04 15:48:32] <Kkat> 3The Fox pauses with a start, then starts sniffing at the bag of Seeds of Life.
[2016-05-04 15:50:58] * Golden_Dream  points at Mwana dramatically. "Don't you dare." She sniffled. Still not quite over that drama. She does, however, spot the spirit sniffing at her satchel of seeds. "Can I help y'?"
[2016-05-04 15:53:37] <Kkat> 3"May I have these?" the Fox asks Golden_Dream.
[2016-05-04 15:54:29] * Golden_Dream  looks at Rainbow Dash. She seems worried. "... Promise me she'll be alright?"
[2016-05-04 15:54:31] <Kkat> 3The Noble Hunter nods to Mitzi, locking the Hellhound with a gaze.
[2016-05-04 15:55:04] * Mitzi engages the Noble Hunter with a level stare, and then experiences a strange flushing sensation.
[2016-05-04 15:56:47] <Mitzi> The vision that follows seems... faint. Half-remembered, like a dream. A litter of hellhound puppies, newly born, five in all, sharing a nursing with three slightly larger, older pups. The five newborns look... out of place, suckling at the teats with the larger three. As though they were making due with what they could, rather than being where they should.
[2016-05-04 15:58:49] <Mitzi> A figure looks on, mostly indistinct, but then starts to turn away as growling and snarling draws his attention. A growling, gutteral language that those seeing the visions still seem to understand. "Pony comes." The figure, short in stature but carrying a big... bone, snarls and follows the commotion.
[2016-05-04 16:00:38] <Mitzi> A unicorn pony in the colors of the Followers of the Apocalypse stands on the far side of a fence. He looks nervous, but is clearly trying to ignore the myriad of claws lingering around that could tear him to ribbons in a heartbeat. The bulldog like features curl into a snarl as he spots the pony, gripping his bone walking stick tightly. "Wut ponee want?"
[2016-05-04 16:03:04] <Mitzi> The pony responds gently. "An offer, from the New Canterlot Republic. We know you don't have much here bu-" The pony is cut off by a threatening growl. "Wu not have much becuz ponee take eet all. Ur home, ur mate, ur friends. Yu eez lucky We dun want more fighteen, ur Uh'd tear yur throat out. Go." The hum of magical energy weapons hastens the pony's departure.
[2016-05-04 16:03:12] <Mitzi> ***
[2016-05-04 16:04:20] <Mitzi> Four sick puppies whine pitifully, looking deathly ill. The body of a fifth, one of the girls, is covered by a tattered blanket. The three larger ones from before look on sadly, whimpering.
[2016-05-04 16:04:28] <Mitzi> ***
[2016-05-04 16:08:39] <Mitzi> There is more snarling and growling as two more ponies walk past the gate into the Hellhound settlement. An old, frail yellow pegasus with a gray mane streaked with pink, and a charcoal unicorn with a white mane streaked in red and gold. They are unarmed and unarmored, but walking with purpose through the throng of Hellhounds unafraid. They were invited, although most of the hounds don't seem pleased. The pegasus looks around the rui
[2016-05-04 16:10:16] <Mitzi> around the ruined pre-war town with a sad nostalgia
[2016-05-04 16:14:46] <Mitzi> The small, bulldog faced leader of the hellhounds sniffs at the ponies with a frown and steps between them and the puppies. "Yu ponees. Yu take Ur home, den und now. Yu take ur kin, ur mate, ur friends, ur freedom." He looks at the four puppies, looking about to cry in spite of his stern face. "Dere eez nutteen left tu take now, so eef yu can, yu give Ur puppies dere life tu come."
[2016-05-04 16:15:40] <Mitzi> The ponies nod solemnly and the horn of the charcoal one glows as the pegasus plucks out bottles of medicine and potions.
[2016-05-04 16:15:42] <Mitzi> ***
[2016-05-04 16:20:03] <Mitzi> Rather than the broken pre-war town, the next vision is sharper, clearer, and apparently underground. Four grown Hellhounds bound through the tunnel happily. They eventually come to a stop when the biggest of them brings it to a half. She looks around, then beckons the others closer. "Here!" She pats a soft patch of earth as the others look on curiously. "Wut yu find Mitzi?" asks the other girl.
[2016-05-04 16:22:07] <Mitzi> The big brown hellhound digs into the mound and unearths a gorgeous, and rather sizeable, baby-blue sapphire. The other hellhounds look at it admiringly. "Dis gem eez sumteen special," she declares. "Uh cudn't keep eet fur myself." With remarkable strength and a sharp claw she breaks the gem into four pieces.
[2016-05-04 16:25:31] <Mitzi> She gives one of the pieces to each of her siblings who take them with a broad smile and admire them more closely. The black coated male chuckles. "Findeen gem dis gud must be sign uv nice tings. Wut yu been wisheen fur?" he asks of the siblings. The other female smiles at hers. "Uh want lots uv puppies." The second male smirks. "Uh want to be hero, like Barkeen Saw."
[2016-05-04 16:27:07] <Mitzi> Mitzi stares at her own fragment a while longer. "Uh want tu make peace wit ponies." The other three give her a slightly odd look. She looks back at them. "Eef yu want tu be hero, we need not be shunned aneemore." She looks to her sister. "Eef yu want lots uv puppies, und dem grow up well, we need not be stuck een small town."
[2016-05-04 16:29:26] <Mitzi> The other siblings nod slowly at Mitzi. The black brother speaks up. "We wud not be here tu find gud gem without ponees." The motherly one speaks as well. "Old hounds still mad about Oldhome. Dey never forgive ponies." Mitzi grips her shard firmly. "Den we need new alpha. Young hound who can furgive."
[2016-05-04 16:29:39] <Mitzi> ***
[2016-05-04 16:31:27] <Mitzi> The final vision is that of Mitzi emerging from the ground in front of a caravan station, a collar around her neck set with a lovely gemstone. She looks around, although there's lots of startled ponies keeping their distance. She strides towards her destination. She would first need to make the ponies see that they could play nice and be friends, then the hounds would see it too once she was Alpha.
[2016-05-04 16:34:34] * Get_Lost smiles... these visions make her smile a lot. probably, this is a good thing
[2016-05-04 16:36:02] <Kkat> 3The Wolf stares into Mitzi's eyes.  Then turns and walks to the Golden Stag, giving a huff of approval.
[2016-05-04 16:36:11] * Get_Lost will never confess that she was almost sure that the collar was somehow related to weird bed habits
[2016-05-04 16:37:51] * Noble_Heart listens curiously and tilts her head to one side. Decidedly a noble goal, if a distant one. There was much bad blood between Hellhounds and Ponies, for certain, after all.
[2016-05-04 16:38:15] * CopyCat bows her head towards Mitzi. "Seeing it like that, I begin to understand your determination all the more."
[2016-05-04 16:38:18] * Bookwright is writing in a notebook a hurried description of what he saw.
[2016-05-04 16:38:34] * Mitzi wobbles a bit and rubs her head. "How did yu..." She smiles faintly. "Uh haven't seen Rex, Benji, Ur Fifi een a while. Tank yu."
[2016-05-04 16:39:52] * Mitzi pouts a bit. "Uh didn't get tu see Fifi's puppies tho..."
[2016-05-04 16:39:56] * Get_Lost also, decides that all puppies are best puppies. hellhund puppies are just larger, and this means that there is more to pet
[2016-05-04 16:40:23] * Get_Lost "when we will be back you'll see them, son't worry"
[2016-05-04 16:40:28] <Get_Lost> *don't
[2016-05-04 16:45:48] * Mitzi smiles at Get_Lost
[2016-05-04 16:46:28] * Golden_Dream  looks at the scene going on, face growing longer. Shit, is there anyone here that doesn't have a sobering thing about them? "... Heya. So. Can y' promise?"
[2016-05-04 16:46:32] * Get_Lost rubs her neck with a hoof, where the helmet meets the coat, is a bit nervous "well, i guess it's my turn?"
[2016-05-04 16:46:50] * Mitzi blinks and looks over to Golden_Dream, "Promise wut?"
[2016-05-04 16:46:59] <Kkat> 3The Faceless nods, striding towards Get_Lost...
[2016-05-04 16:47:51] * Get_Lost "well, please, consider i'm justthe medic, ok? also... oh, to hell, just watch the show, no refunds"
[2016-05-04 16:48:07] * Get_Lost the visor turns off and the memories flow
[2016-05-04 16:48:12] <Get_Lost> ***
[2016-05-04 16:48:21] <Get_Lost> https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qkMfF-isiHoKH7Mx7d4AjVIMD6YRmNVZGsL2litu24s/edit

There's a dead foal on a blood-covered mattress. The vision is blurry, tears make it hard to tell even the specimen of the dead pony but ears pick voices very well

"what the fuck!? you told you could save him!"

The host replies with the broken voice of a filly

"I... I tried my best... I-" She is grabbed, turned away from the dead body and towards a very alive and angry colt

"YOU TOLD US YOU KNEW WHAT TO DO!!!" The colt growls in anger and desperation “YOU LIED TO US!"

The filly’s reply is weak, guilty "I.. I tried... the healing potion didn't work, I don't know why, I... I'm sorry"

The colt gets even more angry, tears roll down his muzzle "I DON'T GIVE A FUCK! You killed him! You… YOU LIAR!"

The filly looks down, whispers again "I'm sorry"

"I!”
“DON'T!”
“CARE!"

The colt grabs the filly's head and brings it back up, staring in her eyes "I don't care, do you understand it!? He's dead and it is your fault! There's no coming back!”

The colt trots to the other side of the shack “I don't care if you are sorry! This is the last time! The last time!"

"But... the potion..."

The colt simply points a hoof at the door outside of the improvised shack the group is in "Go away! Now! I don't want to see you anymore!"

"But... but I tried my-"

The colt readies his rifle and point it at the host.

"GET! LOST!"

The last words echo for several seconds while the vision fades, turning into several, very fast scenes

There are books, a lot, and syringes. Dozens of injections into different coats and patterns, then bandages. Sometimes there's blood but more often not, scratches, plagues, rotten teeth and the like.

"It will go away in a week"

"I'm done, she'll be fine. 50 caps"

“I tried to amputate, but the blood loss...”

"He's ok now, don't worry."

"That should deal with the radiation. 50 caps"

"There's nothing I can do, it's too late..."

“Put her on the bed and give her something to bite, block her legs. I need a blade, ANY blade!”

The words fade into a tidal wave of similar sentences, pages from medical magazines, pony plots getting shots, then words come again.

The voice is somewhat mechanical and impersonal, coming from a terminal in an office. There's a mug with the solaris logo on it just besides the computer

"You try, you fail. It can't be otherwise: the safe way is slow and sometimes you just don't have time. We knew it: you can't win a race if you don't take a risk. Okay maybe we had time to test those prototypes, but... okay, stop."

There is a short pause, then the terminal starts slashing blue again while it speaks "We are not talking about the company, we are talking about you: you don't always have time and you have to take your decisions and live with it."

"Don’t be afraid, just try your best and trot on. Next time you will probably take a better decision, but at least you won't regret that you didn't even try saving a life. Keep going, follow your own destiny. Don't give up"

Another pause "And with your own destiny, I mean it: you don't belong here. I have taken things under management: there's no need for you Solaris here anymore. How did they say it? So long and thank you for all the robots? Well..."

A couple of turrets pop up from the floor and turns towards the host of the vision.

"Get lost"

The last vision is of a small commercial town. Some ponies are gathering in front of an office, there's an argument going inside. The host takes a deep breath and trots toward the others. If you don't try, you'll never know.

[2016-05-04 16:48:23] <Get_Lost> ***
[2016-05-04 16:53:44] <Kkat> 3Rainbow Dash is hugging Get_Lost already when the vision fades.
[2016-05-04 16:54:28] * CopyCat similarly moves to wrap Get_Lost in her wings.
[2016-05-04 16:54:52] * Noble_Heart scowls and shakes her head, moving to place a wing over Get Lost.
[2016-05-04 16:57:18] * Get_Lost smiles a bit "in my defence, i can say that lately i lose a lot less patients?"
[2016-05-04 16:58:48] * Shatara adds a hug, knowing a thing or two on failure and rejection
[2016-05-04 17:00:06] * Get_Lost patpats shatara on the back, like an old comrade
[2016-05-04 17:01:09] * Get_Lost trots back to the others, leaving te place for the next one
[2016-05-04 17:01:19] * Mitzi rubs her chin with a paw contemplatively
[2016-05-04 17:02:41] <Kkat> 3The grand spirits look to each other.  The Golden Stag and The Faceless are impossible to read.  But the pained expression and tilted ears of the Fox suggest they are undecided in how to judge the vision they have just seen.  The Fox holds a paw to her chest, looking at Get_Lost with clear sympathy, regardless.
[2016-05-04 17:06:51] <Kkat> 3--- End of Session ---
[2016-05-04 17:07:18] <Kkat> 3+3000 XP