Fallout: Beyond Equestria, 37: Northern Blues (Part 20)

[2013-05-22 13:18:34] <Little_Gloom> 3CopyCat shakes her head but is visibly comforted by Noble. "No, it's my fault. It just happens and I don't even realise it. Sometimes I don't even remember it."
[2013-05-22 13:18:40] <Little_Gloom> 3Noble_Heart nuzzles CopyCat's cheek. "It is alright. We do not blame you. We are sorry to put you through it all the same." She looks up as Shatara joins them. "Are things well below?"
[2013-05-22 13:18:46] <Little_Gloom> 3Shatara scratches behind his head. "Well, not exploded...I guess..."
[2013-05-22 13:18:53] <Little_Gloom> 3Bookwright lays down next to Boomer's slowly-breathing form and begins to meditate. He'll need to have a clear mind to do what he's going to do next. "Hey, please don't make any noise or stuff, okay? I need to meditate before I start poking around in Boomer's head."
[2013-05-22 13:18:59] <Little_Gloom> 3Kid looks at the workbench and decides that after she was done making sure that those, what she now terrifyingly knew as Sparkle~Grenades, were out of reach of him, she'd do a tracing of the schematic. She didn't like explosives, but like her mom always said, "You can't really deal with a fear if you don't confront it."
[2013-05-22 13:19:06] <Little_Gloom> 3CopyCat manages a smile for Shatara. "Not exploded is good."
[2013-05-22 13:19:12] <Little_Gloom> 3Shatara nods quietly, sitting down beside the mares.
[2013-05-22 13:19:24] <Little_Gloom> 3Kid frowns and gets a weird feeling. She remembers looking through a psychology pamphlet once from the followers. It said that cognitive dissonance was an off-putting feeling one gets when they hold two conflicting beliefs at the same time. She figured maybe that was what she was feeling now.
[2013-05-22 13:19:33] <Little_Gloom> 3Bookwright breathes out. Touches his horn to Boomer's head. Gradually, the room grows a little brighter. Golden brown, like fresh bread. "And now," he breathes, "I begin."
[2013-05-22 13:20:04] <Little_Gloom> 3Fallout: Beyond Equestria, Session Thirty-Seven: Northern Blues (Part Twenty) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KIsa8-aXpk
[2013-05-22 13:20:11] <Little_Gloom> 3--- Session Begins ---
[2013-05-22 13:20:21] <Little_Gloom> 3Bookwright mutters softly, almost imperceptibly, "Let us begin with... your name."
[2013-05-22 13:22:38] <Little_Gloom> 3While he is called Boomer now, Bookwright is able to swiftly pull from the Heartless' mind that once... long ago... he was named Sparkle Shine.
[2013-05-22 13:24:52] * Get_Lost simply sits there waiting for bookie to do his mojo. wouls cheer the unicorn but it could be more a bother than a help
[2013-05-22 13:25:51] * Noble_Heart keeps her wing wrapped around CopyCat, her other wing wrapping around Shatara as she watches the sky quietly.
[2013-05-22 13:26:07] * Get_Lost but really, who would turn down some good cheering? "one two three four! c'mon bookie find out more! five six seven eight! ease that poor soul from his wirght!"
[2013-05-22 13:26:15] <Get_Lost> *weight
[2013-05-22 13:26:32] * Shatara chirps a little in surprise as the wing drapes over, but he leans into it nonetheless.
[2013-05-22 13:28:58] * Bookwright breathes slowly. "Alright... Sparkle Shine. That's a nice name. A lovely name. Whyever would you want to forget it? No matter. Now... What is this spell that Princess Cadance was supposed to cast do, exactly?"
[2013-05-22 13:29:27] * CopyCat shakes her head sadly as she senses Get's cheer. "I don't think anything Bookie finds will ease that lost pony."
[2013-05-22 13:31:40] * Noble_Heart frowns, "No. Perhaps not. But it may help Us save many more ponies from a similar fate." She sighs quietly.
[2013-05-22 13:31:58] <Little_Gloom> 3Bookwright gets flashes of images, mainly focused around Princess Cadance giving a speech to a throng of crystal ponies gathered about her tower.  From the fragments, Bookwright can draw a simple claim: Stop the war.  Save the world.
[2013-05-22 13:37:35] * Bookwright smiles. "A single spell to stop the war? That's what it was supposed to do? Clearly it didn't work, but still, a nice sentiment." He inhales and exhales slowly. Then, softly, "Okay. Now for the fun one. Why don't you want to remember? The memory of pain..."
[2013-05-22 13:41:35] * Get_Lost frowns "a single spell to stop the war... like.... some mass megaspell using the power of all the crystal ponies? well, that could have drained all of them of their ponyness, i guess...."
[2013-05-22 13:43:40] <Little_Gloom> 3The memories flash before Bookwright -- a whole population poised and ready, held in a magical status as they poured all their love, all their hope and joy and friendship, every ounce of it, towards the crystal heart.  Waiting for the spell to trigger.  Waiting...  Days became months, became years, became decades.
[2013-05-22 13:46:58] <Little_Gloom> 3A whole population frozen in the act of caring, of giving love.  Until, after a century had past, some had nothing left to give.  All the good in them drained away in the monumental, everlasting effort.  They break free, wake up, but without anything good in their hearts.  Wretched ponies.  The Heartless.  And the memory of what they once were is agony.
[2013-05-22 13:48:32] * Bookwright nods slowly. "I understand. It hurts because you gave your love for so long. Selflessly giving your love for decades, and nothing happening at all. That is why the memory hurts. Because you loved for so long, and received no reciprocation... Hmm... Do you remember, is there some way to restore the love in your hearts?"
[2013-05-22 13:49:32] <Little_Gloom> 3Boomer... Sparkle Shine... doesn't know.  And is no longer capable of wanted to be restored.
[2013-05-22 13:50:15] * CopyCat cries quietly; unable to bear the feelings Bookwright had uncovered, yet unable to stop herself from reaching out to share them.
[2013-05-22 13:51:16] * Bookwright "...He doesn't know. And he no longer cares. Hmm... I have one last question then. Is there one you love still among the silent throng?"
[2013-05-22 13:51:28] * Get_Lost taps her chin thinking
[2013-05-22 13:52:31] * Noble_Heart gently tries to comfort CopyCat, her wing drawing closer around the other alicorn.
[2013-05-22 13:53:58] * Shatara sees CopyCat's distress, leaning up to her other side.
[2013-05-22 13:54:36] <Little_Gloom> 3Boomer is incapable of love, so no.
[2013-05-22 13:55:10] * Get_Lost "well ,technically he lost some sort of spark in his spirit... we could try to light that spark again... the question is: how"
[2013-05-22 13:55:30] * Get_Lost "maybe a song...."
[2013-05-22 13:57:52] <Little_Gloom> 3Bookwright is treated to the vision of Boomer, formerly Sparkle Shine, infiltrating the throng of frozen crystal ponies, a large hunk of pipe in his mouth.  There are other Heartless doing the same... hunting.  And he finds who he is hunting for.  Sparkle Shine's wife and their small colt.  He raises the pipe and brings it down on her.  Over and over.
[2013-05-22 13:58:38] <Little_Gloom> 3Until the object of his past love, and the source of his pain, is nothing but chunks of crystal and dust.  He turns to the colt.
[2013-05-22 14:00:22] <Little_Gloom> 3...and is driven back by blasts of lightning from the brain bots.  He turns and flees, as do the other Heartless.  Those, at least, who do not fall to the robotic onslaught.  Across the skies, the voice of Princess Cadance booms, "PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE PONYCIDAL ROBOTS!  THEY ARE HERE FOR YOUR PROTECTION!"
[2013-05-22 14:03:18] * Bookwright grimaces. "I sincerely wish I hadn't turned up that memory. That was horrifying." Bookwright concentrates on the image of the colt, taking in every detail. Making sure he can find him. "...Okay, I'm going to end this session now. "
[2013-05-22 14:04:48] <CopyCat> struggles to speak, "They tried to save everypony. To stop the hatred of war with the strength of their love but... those feelings were washed aside like a drop of water in the sea. And they stayed. Giving everything they had until some had nothing left."
[2013-05-22 14:05:00] * Bookwright finally opens his eyes again. Yawns. "Phew. I feel wrung out. Sparkle Shine here is a real piece of work."
[2013-05-22 14:05:35] * Shatara chirps sadly as he leans into CopyCat.
[2013-05-22 14:05:48] <Little_Gloom> 3Bookwright leaves Boomer's mind with a clear image of where the colt should be, and a fair certainty that Boomer has yet to go back and finish the job.
[2013-05-22 14:05:56] * Noble_Heart frowns, furrowing her brow. "Then perhaps We can help them by finding the Crystal Heart and reversing that spell..." She didn't seem very certain of that, though.
[2013-05-22 14:06:46] * Get_Lost "or maybe a love transfusion...."
[2013-05-22 14:07:14] * Get_Lost "is a love transfusion contraption even possible to build?"
[2013-05-22 14:11:22] * Bookwright stretches and heads outside. "I need some fresh air."
[2013-05-22 14:11:57] * Shatara waves a wing to Bookwright as he emerges.
[2013-05-22 14:12:16] * Get_Lost shrugs "ohwell, here goes nothing" hugs the heartless and gives him a kiss on the forehead "there, there... it's all right... sleep a little more and dream of pretty ponies..."
[2013-05-22 14:15:31] * Bookwright "...I... The darkness in Sparkle Shine's head is pretty black. They say that when you look into the void, the void looks into you... Sparkle Shine's heart is a void. He literally has no love remaining, and the capacity to love has left him entirely. He's afflicted with a terrible disease that fills him with anger and hatred and pain and it's not his fault."
[2013-05-22 14:18:38] * Bookwright looks up at Noble_Heart with tears in his eyes. "I found a memory... After he became Heartless, he sought out his wife and child... He smashed her to pieces, but the son remains." He hangs his head and mutters, "I /really/ wish I hadn't tried to find that memory..." Looking back up, "Come on. Let's relieve him of his bombs and weapons so he can't hurt anypony else easily, let's find that...
[2013-05-22 14:18:38] * Bookwright ...Crystal Heart, and get 'Doctor Amore' to fix this mess!"
[2013-05-22 14:18:45] * Get_Lost remained inside, rocking slowly the heartless and humming a lullaby
[2013-05-22 14:19:12] * Shatara blinks and gulps at this revelation.
[2013-05-22 14:22:33] * CopyCat uses a wing to wipe away her tears after hearing Bookwright's story. "Thank you Noble_Heart, Shatara. There are others who need your help more than I."
[2013-05-22 14:25:12] * Noble_Heart frowns and nods, slowly standing up. "We understand. We shall do our best to fix this. But it does not sound like an easy solution. These ponies have sacrified everything in their goal. Now something must come of it." She looks up in the direction of the castle. "Or there will be retribution for their loss. If not by Us, then by them."
[2013-05-22 14:27:16] <Little_Gloom> 3The cool air of midday is carried on winds through the shattered ruins of the Crystal Empire.  A couple of the "Manti-puppies" scurry after you, trying to follow Mitzi.
[2013-05-22 14:27:58] * Noble_Heart sighs. "But first We must do something to help the Zebras." she frowns. "If that is possible..."
[2013-05-22 14:32:29] * CopyCat also gets up, leaning on Shatara to help her stand. "Bookwright is right, we should remove any weapons we can find here before leaving."
[2013-05-22 14:34:18] <Little_Gloom> 3On the workbench is a schematic for crafting "Sparkle~Grenades" made (in part) from bottles of Sparkle~Cola Rad.  The fridge contains three such homemade explosives, not counting the disarmed one.  There are bottlecaps and other little treasures scattered about the cage.
[2013-05-22 14:34:46] * Shatara supports the alicorn, pondering the various revalations.
[2013-05-22 14:35:23] * Get_Lost sighs and leaves the crystal pony be, then reaches the others
[2013-05-22 14:38:02] * Noble_Heart moves back downstairs to help raid the place. She didn't like scavenging, but she did agree this pony needed to be relieved of their munitions.
[2013-05-22 14:43:46] * CopyCat follows Noble. The group effort to find things would help keep her mind from straying to dark places.
[2013-05-22 14:44:32] * Kid loved scavenging, usually. Although she sometimes wavered, it didn't seem as much stealing as much as picking a rock up was considered stealing from the earth.  This time, though, it wasn't even really scavenging. It was more like confiscating, really. Oh, it still didn't do much for her mood, especially since she was totally right on what it was. But fear is best conquered head on. And that...
[2013-05-22 14:44:34] * Kid ...started with her fear of explosives.
[2013-05-22 14:50:56] * Shatara gives CopyCat a parting nuzzle before going to see how the basement crew are holding up.
[2013-05-22 14:51:12] * Kid lifted the bombs gingerly, even the dud, putting them away in her pack for later while reading what the schematics were all about.
[2013-05-22 14:52:03] <Little_Gloom> 3There is nothing of interest in the "stallion cave" for the tech-minded Get_Lost ... unless she wishes to cannibalize the working refrigerator, which is in surprisingly good condition.  There are a few boxes and bottles of household chemicals under the workbench, and enough empty bottles and tin cans to form a makeshift chemistry lab.
[2013-05-22 14:52:09] * Get_Lost takes a look around... after all this was supposed to be the basement of the guard tower, so maybe it had some more terminal
[2013-05-22 14:52:22] * CopyCat pauses by Kid, who had been a little quiet after the nearly-getting-exploded thing. "Kid, are you feeling alright?"
[2013-05-22 14:53:12] * Get_Lost since there seems to be nothing interesting to do here, the tech mare decides simply to stop and pimp the fridge so that it could liquify ozone
[2013-05-22 14:53:45] * Noble_Heart took some time to search for any signs of weapons other than the bombs. The bombs were obvious, easy. There was sure to be less obvious armaments here...
[2013-05-22 14:55:52] * Kid doesn't look fine. She's thinking about what she did. He wanted to be alone, and she knocked him out. Although it turned out well, if she had known that he was about to pull out those bombs, she would've done the same thing. But she did it on suspicion that he might, not certainty. "Fine." She lied.
[2013-05-22 14:58:14] * Bookwright cocks his head curiously and asks, "Kid? You're not okay. You don't look fine at all."
[2013-05-22 15:00:28] * Kid frowned and continued to look over the schematics. For once, she was really kind of at a loss for words. "I..." She sighed. "I ain't. But I don' think ya'll would really understand, Bookie. You before anypony else."
[2013-05-22 15:01:23] * Shatara peeks over Kid's shoulders at the schematic.
[2013-05-22 15:01:35] * CopyCat nods slowly. "Yes... you know, your quick thinking saved that pony. And Bookwright and Get_Lost and Mitzi-" One of the manti-puppies scuttles past her hooves, following the hellhound "-and those creature-things, too."
[2013-05-22 15:02:21] * Noble_Heart moves up next to Kid, extending a wing around the smaller pony. "The attack was not expected, but the results were well. This pony needed help, and you helped to deliver it."
[2013-05-22 15:03:09] * Get_Lost "i like these mantipuppies..." keeps tinkering with the fridge "maybe if i add a couple of spires...."
[2013-05-22 15:06:10] * Kid felt a creep of guilt go up her gut, but at least the oppressive weight seemed to leave her shoulders. "I... Look. I didn't shoot 'em 'cause I was thinkin' quick. I shot 'em 'cause I panicked and that was the only real way I saw at the time to handle things. Hell, I didn't even know fer sure if I had beanbags put in. And... Well, it turned out alright, but I don't like what it says about me."
[2013-05-22 15:08:22] * Kid thought back, folding the schematics away. "I ain't taking kindly to that thought. 'Specially since bein' forgotten about is why most folks go to Froggy."
[2013-05-22 15:08:51] * Noble_Heart frowns. "It says that you are not afraid to use violence to solve your problems. But We would expect no less from a pony shaped by the wasteland. Equestria has become a world where such things are often necessity, and even more often a good idea. As much as it pains Us to say it, it is not a reflex which is without merit."
[2013-05-22 15:08:57] <Little_Gloom> 3Noble_Heart isn't finding any other weapons.  The Heartless dropped the club he had been carrying in the run from Kid, and didn't seem to have a preference for anything other than explosives and Sparkle~Cola.  (And the latter might have been the preference of the former owner.)
[2013-05-22 15:12:01] <Little_Gloom> 3The schematics call for a mixture of Sparkle~Cola Rad, some of the household chemicals stored below ("Get your home sparkling clean with Good Pony!"), and a single spark cell.
[2013-05-22 15:20:48] * Kid looks for the things underneath the counter. "Get_Lost. Gimme some Sparkle Bottles, please."
[2013-05-22 15:21:35] * Shatara glances around and fidgets a bit.
[2013-05-22 15:24:49] * Get_Lost hoofs out a couple of bottles "here you go"
[2013-05-22 15:28:18] * Noble_Heart frowns, tapping her chin. "We wish to take a closer look at the Solaris facility. Or perhaps the Stable-Tec facility. These places may hold secrets to the entry into Professor Paladin's dome..."
[2013-05-22 15:33:39] * CopyCat watches the Solaris heir's chemical-handling technique. "Maybe the Stable-Tec facility will be the safer option. I'd like to go there"
[2013-05-22 15:34:28] * Shatara glances somewhat meaningfully at is pipbuck. "Sounds good to me..."
[2013-05-22 15:36:16] * Noble_Heart nods her head. "We agree. The maneframe manual We found came from Stable-Tec. They may have further information of what became of it there." She frowns, "And it is far less likely to involve Us exploding. Again."
[2013-05-22 15:38:05] * CopyCat nods along. "Not exploding is good... wait, I think I said that already."
[2013-05-22 15:38:33] * Kid starts pouring some of the aformentioned chemicals into aforementioned empty bottles. She didn't need all of the chemicals under the sink. Just some of them.
[2013-05-22 15:41:55] <Little_Gloom> 3The Stable-Tec facility is a fair distance across metropolitan rubble.  Getting there by hoof will likely take several hours if threats are to be avoided.
[2013-05-22 15:45:34] * Noble_Heart contemplates. "We shall have to hope the zebras can survive for some time without Us. When We finish at the Stable-Tec facility We would suggest coming back here to check on them. After depriving them of some of their turrets, We would not wish to leave them with no support."
[2013-05-22 16:02:00] * CopyCat scuffs the ground after Science! has been done. "I am ready to leave. I'm sure the zebra can manage for now. They have so far."
[2013-05-22 16:04:14] * Noble_Heart nods her head. "We are prepared as well."
[2013-05-22 16:27:04] <Little_Gloom> 3The party sets out across the crystal wasteland, Kid guiding the way.  All goes well for a good twenty minutes... then a sharp pain and a blossoming of blood on feathers as Shatara is struck in the head by a bullet from a silenced rifle.
[2013-05-22 16:28:06] <Little_Gloom> 3A second bullet strikes Kid in her right hindleg.
[2013-05-22 16:31:54] * Kid winces and collapses onto the ground. Shit! What the hell was that? "Gaaargh!" is all she managed to get out.
[2013-05-22 16:32:50] * Shatara yelps as the bullet thuds through his armor, diving for cover and searching for the sniper.
[2013-05-22 16:35:27] * Noble_Heart looks up as her companions gurgled in pain, her horn glowing to throw a shield up and moving to try and get close to Kid. Her priority on hopefully blocking any further gunshots from hitting her youngest companion.
[2013-05-22 16:35:28] * CopyCat doesn't hear the shots, only the cries of pain from her friends. "Oh no, oh no!" She runs to Kid as quickly as she can, planning to stand over the fallen pony.
[2013-05-22 16:40:33] <Little_Gloom> 3Shatara spots the sniper, a Heartless hiding (albeit not nearly as well as she thinks she is) on the roof of a multi-story crystal home whose neighboring house has collapsed against it.
[2013-05-22 16:41:34] * Shatara braces his rifle on some convenient crystal rubble, pointing a talon toward the offending former-pone. "There! On the roof!
[2013-05-22 16:55:49] * Kid looks for whatever put that... Oh, wow. That's a bullet. Sunovabitch. Who the fuck shot her? She looks for that fucker what shot her in the flank!
[2013-05-22 17:12:12] * CopyCat reaches the fallen Kid before the sniper opens fire again, and surrounds herself and her friend with her shield.
[2013-05-22 17:13:11] * Kid is currently cursing up a storm. "Will somepony shoot that sunova manticore!"
[2013-05-22 17:14:43] * Bookwright is face down in the rubble, trying not to inhale as much as he can
[2013-05-22 17:50:00] <Little_Gloom> 3The Heartless sniper takes two ugly wounds as Shatara returns fire.
[2013-05-22 18:00:20] * Bookwright squints upwards. My, she's far away. Ah, whatever. Lasers travel in perfectly straight lines, right? Why not?
[2013-05-22 18:00:34] * Bookwright aims upwards with Pew-Pew and fires off two very controlled shots.
[2013-05-22 18:07:22] <Little_Gloom> 3The Heartless cries out, both lasers striking true
[2013-05-22 18:19:06] <Little_Gloom> 3The sniper reloads and fires off two more shots, one into Shatara's right flank (barely missing something vital), the other striking Bookwright's back!
[2013-05-22 18:28:23] <Kid> "What is with this shit-stain and it's fetish for shooting folks in the flank?! You cock-monglin', mother fuckin', brahmin humpin', piece of chunky toad vomit! Come over here and do this shit you-" And the string of curses keeps getting longer and longer.
[2013-05-22 18:38:50] * CopyCat blushes, trapped in the curse-filled bubble. She does find time to pass Kid one of her healing potions.
[2013-05-22 18:45:23] * Shatara yelps in pain again, now with two too many holes. He tries to press himself further behind cover, his talons shaking a bit from the pain. He wipes some of the blood from his eyes, grits his teeth, and lines up his aim again.
[2013-05-22 18:54:47] <Little_Gloom> 3Shatara's shots tear through the sniper, the last one piercing her heart.
[2013-05-22 18:55:01] <Little_Gloom> 3She is dead before she drops the sniper rifle.
[2013-05-22 18:57:20] <Little_Gloom> 3The sniper rifle drops down almost four feet, landing in a flower planter hanging beneath a broken attic window.
[2013-05-22 18:58:03] <Little_Gloom> 3--- End of Session ---
[2013-05-22 18:59:53] * Shatara lets out a breath and flumps back against the rock, touching a talon to his bleeding flank. "So...uhm...."
[2013-05-22 19:00:45] * Bookwright gets up, spitting out dust. "Well, that was unpleasant..."
[2013-05-22 19:04:39] <Kid> "-o suck Nightmare Moon's left hind teat in hell, you worthless puddle of bog snot!" Kid's finally coming to an end to her string as all that pain started to numb out.
[2013-05-22 19:22:56] * Bookwright cocks an eyebrow at Kid. "Are you done now, or are you just taking a breather?"
[2013-05-22 19:25:10] * Kid 's lungs are heaving air in and out. "Yeah." Gasp. "Ah think ah'm done." Gasp again.  "Got me right-" Gasp once more "-right in the cheek. Not right."