Thread 34: Stories 46-60

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4n3Am3J7UE

Jazzy, Japony-ese pop music played in the amphitheater as Cheerilee and Spike found themselves locked in an intense battle of masquerade.

Spike, in hopes of coaxing information on the location of the others from Cheerilee, or embarrass himself to the point where others inevitably found him via narrative laws of comedic timing.

Cheerilee did it... for the hell of it, really. She was looking damn fine for a woman who has trouble sleeping without a changeling and a school teacher who gets little exercise and is approaching her 30's.

"C'mon, Cheerilee!" Spike began to protest the nonsense of their battle while wearing a catgirl and sailor fuku combo. "Just tell me where 77 and the others are!" He said between para para dance steps.

Perhaps it was the influence of demons, but Cheerilee coldly chuckled in and struck a dynamic pose in her Fugo outfit, even having one of her demons take the form of The Stand Purple Haze. "Why should we rush ourselves? Why are you always in a rush, Spike? Going this way and that! you help so many so much, so why do you never consider relaxing?"

Now Spike was in a fuzzy, bunny girl outfit with a midriff, still grooving to the song's beat. "I don't think now's a good time for psycho analysis. I mean, I'll admit I need mental help, but I'm not sure this is the time or place. Or that you're qualified."

"I'll have you know I minored in psychology back in college!" Cheerilee protested and was now dressed as wrapped herself in silver and donned the guise of Captain Bravo.

"Really?" Spike's interest piqued while he had discreetly slipped into a Boku no Pico speedo. "You know, we should probably talk more, I mean we lived in the same town for so long yet I rarely got to know anyone."

"I know, what's up with that?" Cheerilee concurred in her Battosai Kenshin robes and wig, complete with yellow, demonic gaze.

"Anyway though, think we could stop this?" Spike pleaded once again, this time dressed as Platinum Trinity. "I really just want to spend my time here with my friends."

"Hmmm..." Cheerilee contemplated, complimenting Spike's cosplay with a Kokonoe outfit. "I suppose I could, but I laid down the condition of your victory. And i'm sorry, but my pride as a competitive cosplayer WILL NOT LET ME ACCEPT THAT! BECAUSE... I MADE A PROMISE!"

Spike stopped his dancing, and yet somehow still was now dressed as a kitsune girl in a kimono. all to stare blankly at Cheerile and ask "what?"

The crowds reeled back at spike's costume and so did Cheerilee.

"ugh! What cosplay skills! Tch, I guess it can't be helped, it looks like I'm gonna have to use THAT!" Cheerilee announced and pulled metal folding screens around her.

"Okay, seriously, Cheerilee, for someone who minored in psychology, you seemed to have taken a spiraling jump off the edge of sanit-... whoa."

There Cheerilee stood, or what could only be assumed as Cheerilee, in the unparalleled glory of flawless Gundam cosplay, dressed as Double X, there was little trace of the mare that was inside.

The crowds cheered for her, and Spike was defeated.

"Sorry, Spike. Seems like you lose."

"... Can you tell me anyway?"

"Sorry, that's not how these things work."

Spike then palmed his face. "The hell have i been thinking? There's an easier way to contact everyone!"

Pulling out a quill and parchment, Spike scribbled on several note papers the same message. 'Everyone, meet me at the amphitheater so we can all meet up/rally' and then burned them in quick puffs of green flames which sent the smoke flying out in many directions.

Meanwhile...

"Ah don' know if we'll ever find Spike 'r Arana like this..." Applejack bemoaned as she and Rarity took a seat. Right at the moment a piece of paper appeared in front of them in a poof of green flames.

"Well, I suppose that solves that. But I wonder how others will find the-" Rarity's comment was cut short by a shrill, whistling noise, looking up, she and applejack watched a green flare ascend into the sky and explode in a spectacular blast that spelled out 'Amphitheater is right here', followed immediately by a long, towering get of green flame.

"Huh..."
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>18
"Chrysalis"
'???'
~~~~~~

>....Now, I know what you're thinking, you're thinking this looks bad.

"..."

>You're also thinking, 'wow, I'm feeling really, really angry right now.'

"..."

>Believe you me, I get it, I get why you are feeling angry, but perhaps, maybe perhaps, this is all a misunderstanding? Let's give misunderstanding a try.

"..."

'STEP RIGHT UP! STEP RIGHT UP! YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE YOUR MOUTH! Sciderella's Popcake is the new sensation sweeping the party nation!... Literally! We can't keep these in stock, ponies!'

>It has to be a misunderstanding. Some other, clearly different Sciderella. Completely unrelated in any way shape or form to-

'Oh hey! Changelings! Either of you guys know Arana?'

>...
"..."

'Listen, if you spot her, tell her that her freebies are waiting for her, we're keeping them fresh just for her, her mom's recipe selling like crazy!'

>...
"..."
>...I uh... I've got nothing.

"She's here."

>Well, I mean, it IS a public park. She's not a prisoner.

"...And she's selling secrets."

>Cake related secrets, but I guess?

"..."

>And that fireball has just... it's just glowing at this point, I can actually see cancer coming off of it. I mean, I hope that's cancer... wow that's a phrase I never thought I'd say...

"..."

>You know what we need to do? We need to find your buddy. Why don't we, uh, we go that way? That way, right! That's the direction what's-her-face said to go, so clearly we should-

[AHAHAHAHAHAHHA]

>...

"..."

>...Well... that was... fairly close...

"18?"

>Yuh huh?

"I have a new mission for you."

>...

"Turn into me."

>...I'm sorry?

"Turn. Into. Me."

>...OH! Disguise, you mean... sure.

*FWOOSH!*

>Ta daaa? Why... why am I you?

"Because I need an alibi, and you are now it."

>Uh...

"Be back in a bit."

>.......Was nice knowing you, Dex.......
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>???
"???"
~~~~

>...You see it too, don't you?

"Guessing that ones not Spike?"

>Nope.

"Planning to go deal with that?"

>Pretty sure I have to.

"Want backup?"

>...Nope, gotta handle this one alone.

"Try not to end up with someone dead."

>Her, me, or whoever she's after?

"...We're flexible on the 'her' part."

>Right....
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>42
"Brain"
~~~~~

>...Okay, brain? Need a second opinion.

"Go for it."

>There is a fireball over there saying something about an amphitheater-

"Since when could Spike spell stuff with fire?"

>WE WILL WORRY ABOUT THAT LATER!... Anyway, there is that fireball over there, and then there is also another one just above cloud cover that looks... distinctly familiar.

"And our current mission is wholly unrelated to either of those."

>Indeed. It is doubtful Two will head that way, but then again I must also consider my Queen may be in some form of danger.

"Which is why the fireball is just hovering?"

>It would be hidden to any directly beneath it, mostly, she may be preparing a surprise attack. I have a hard choice to make now. Do I abandon my current mission in favor of protecting my Queen, leaving Two to find her own way in this strange place, or do I continue the hunt and leave it in my Queen's capable hooves?

"Essentially, do you abandon looking for a kindergartener who looks up to you and admires you for the sake of someone who far outclasses you in firepower and skillset on the off chance she's not just throwing ANOTHER hissy?"

>...Well, see, when you put it like that-

"You sound stupid, I know, I'm brain, that's what I'm here for."

>...Shut up.

"SEXY SHINING ARMOR TIME!"

>NO BRAIN NO!
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>Cadence
"???"
~~~~

>...Okay, my royal duty probably says something about investigating that, being there when others are in times of danger and all that, and there's always the chance this is in some way love related... buuut there's also a sizeable chance one of the many ponies I am avoiding is also headed in that direction, and my plan of 'pretend I never left the hotel' would be placed in jeopardy. This is a hard choice, royal duty or personal appearance... what do you think?

"I think you should stop hiding under my table before I shove it downward and crush you like a pancake."

>You are a really angry pony, you know that?

"...So I've been told..."
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>Applejack
"Rarity"
'Jetset'
~~~

>...Ah'm gettin' a really odd pricklin' at the back o' mah neck..

"Will you focus! She's just this way!"

>Right! Right, sorry.

Idly, Jetset wondered if he should mention the fireball directly behind them only 'mostly' covered by enough clouds to as not incite a panic.

But that was not his mission, they could deal with that later. His Queen would not have to fear such a fireball, so it was of no concern to him.

'Please, keep focus on the mission.'

>Ah'm focusin!... jus gotta really bad feelin' is all...

If she had only looked back, she would have known.

Alas.
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>Poindexter
[Mane-Iac]
“???”
'???'
~~~~~~~~~

[AHAHAHAHAHAH! THIS IS GLOOOOORIOUS!]

>Only you could think 'ringtoss' was some kind of amazing, mind blowing thing.

[INDEEEED! WITH BUT THE POWER OF MY MAD MIIIIIIND, THIS GAME BECOMES THAT WHICH HAS ME ENCIRCLING THE HEADS OF MY FOES WITH THE RINGS OF CONTROOOOOLL!]

>Power of the mind, Maney.

[AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!]

>...now or never, I guess...

[HMMMM?]

>Hey, Mane-Iac? Can I tell you something?

[Of COOOOOURRRSE!... I mean, yeah! Shoot away!]

>Well, uh, this is actually kind of awkward for me to say, I'm not very good at talks like this. It's just, we've had fun here, right?

[VEEERRRRRRILY! Our fun is of the most HIIIIGH!AHAHAHAH!]

>Right, well, I mean, I kind of don't want the fun to end when, you know, we're not here, in partyland anymore.

[...I don't understand....]

>Maney, what I really want to say is, well, I've enjoyed our time together, and well, I wouldn't mind if you-GLK!

[...Oh? Well, thanks, I don't GLK all that often, but I'm glad you don't mi- where are you going!?]

He would have responded if he could, but alas, the tight grip around his throat pulled him away before he could.

The world became a blur as he was suddenly pulled by what felt like the angry hand of god, an angry hand of a god who is also made of fire at that. The moment he was pulled from sight of Maney and the crowd he felt the ring of fire surround him, warping space and time around him, and all too soon for his taste he felt a hard, chitinous hoof to the back of his head and the grip of fire around his throat. His eyes eventually regained focus and allowed him to look around an area he did not recognize, and was unfortunately barren of anyone he could ask... or witnesses.

“You have made a fatal mistake you poor fool.”

Every bone in his body seemed to have suddenly been replaced with jello at the horrifying, cold voice. He could practically feel the fire on his neck as he was slowly, painfully slowly, turned around.

“The game you thought you were playing is too far out of your league to ever comprehend. I do not know what you tried to do to her, yet, but I have the feeling that by the end of this long, regret filled night you are about to endure, you will very soon be-Poindexter!?”

He honestly did not know whether to be relieved or insulted by her wide eyed, shocked face.

>I, uh... pretty sure I'm going to be Poindexter regardless.

The shock that had stretched her face ebbed away, and to his relief, or again possibly to his ire, she actually seemed to... smile.

Scratch that, she was grinning like loon.

“Oh... oh wow! O-oh wwoooowwwwahahahahah! WOW! PHEW! Okay, wow, you have no idea how much you've been freaking me out, you little nerd.”

>...Sorry?

“You should be! Do you have any idea how worried I was when they said Maney was with a guy!? I thought he was, like, an actual guy!”

Insulted it is.

“WOO! Oh, hoo. Okay. So, guessing you stumbled across Maney and just made sure she wasn't alone last night? HAH! Knew there was something I liked about you. So glad it wasn't someone with an actual, you know, sex life. Not some sexless nerd who's only love is the OnO character he made. HAH! That could have been SO bad, we're talking I have to hide a body bad, you don't even know.”

>...

“No, seriously, I was worried someone with actual interest was...”

He knew he probably should have tried harder not to suddenly get a bit shifty eyed. Secretly, he had hoped that she would not be able to notice through his glasses.

She did.

“...Right, nerdlinger? No interest in someone like her, none at all. You absolutely weren't spending time with her out of some sort of attraction, just because you saw a mutual friend was running around on her own, and you wanted to make sure she was safe, right?”

Not that he would get a chance to voice it. From the narrowing of her eyes, she understood and saw through anything he would have to say.

“...You little fucker.”

>NO-N- WAIT! KLK

The sudden tightening on his throat and the sudden height off the ground silenced him better than her hard, fiery stare could have.

“You know, some part of me always knew you were a pathetic little thing underneath that nerdy exterior. Always your type, isn't it? Probably feels like this came right out of one of your shitty novels about space queens or whatever the fuck. You just want a moldable, impressionable mare like her to make her just like one of your stupid stories, don't you? 'Teach me kissing, Poindexter, you're so smart'. I know it, you perverted shit. I know what that kind of power feels like, and I know you're just seeing her as another game you can set the rules to.”

>NO! NOT THAT! JUST LIKING HER COMPA-

“Save it. You are trying to bullshit a changeling about intentions. A Changeling. You might as well be trying to hide a fireball in a paperfactory.”

>SPEAKING OF FIREBALLS!

“Oh, you like that? Yeah, been building it up for a while. You're actually pretty unlucky, most of it dissipated in the brief time I thought this was going to go nicely.”

>...This is unlucky.

“Indeed, because you see, this just means it'll take that much longer to burn through your stupid, perverted, disgustinglittlePEASIZEDFUCKINGDIC-

*BLOOP!*

>..
“...”

Right before their eyes, a shield enveloped the fireball, and it burned away it's oxygen in seconds.

“...DO YOU HAVE A FUCKING SIGNAL OR SOMETHING!? Fucking tell me! Do you have a fucking spotlight that ignites whenever shit like this goes down? YOU TELL ME RIGHT NOW!”

The white stallion just slapped his hoof to his face, and slowly dragged it down.

'You had a fireball hovering over you. A green, angry looking fireball.'

“SO!? That could have been anyone's fireball!”

'…'

“YOU DON'T KNOW!”

'Mind telling me why you're strangling my friend? I have, like, three real male friends, Chrysalis, and one of them is technically my brother, so I'd like to keep them mint for as long as I can, okay?'

“This is personal, Shiny! I don't get involved when you get in spats concerning Twi-Brite or the little tyke, you stay out of it when I have to clean out some trash regarding my Mane-Iac, okay?”

'… Ah. I take it Poindexter is the one who has been entertaining her? I wondered where she went.'

>I CAN-GLK!

'Please stop choking my friend, Chrysalis.'

“You friend, is he? Shiny? How close would you say you two are, one out of ten.”

'Solid eight.'

>SEE!? YOU CAN'T... eight!?

'What?'

>How am I a eight!? I'm not a ten!? Not even a nine!?

'Well, ten is Cadence, Two, Twilight, Spike or Celestia, because obviously. Nine is, my parents, because they're my parents and I love them so. Then there's you, 42, 18, you know, guys who I'm really close to and either have a personal history with or a spend most of my time with, then various ancillary characters that go down the line further and further and so on and so forth. I think eight's pretty good!'

>I just thought I was higher, is all.

'You're in the top ten regardless!'

>Well, I mean, so long as I'm still in the top ten...

“Tell me, is an eight really worth trying to face me? I don't feel like an eight is worth straining our relationship over.”

'Chrysalis, put him down.'

“Or what?”

'No 'or what', just put him down.'

Hard, dark eyes burned into him, and very slowly she lowered Poindexter, releasing him from her magic.

“If you think I'm going to back off from him because you tried barking a command, you are sadly mistaken. This is a slight forbearance for diplomatic reasons, nothing more. I will have my words with him.”

'I'm sure, but not like this. I have no earthly idea what is going on, but you're not exactly screaming 'hey! I'm so sane right now!'”

“You are correct, sanity would be reducing him to a pile of ashes. You are lucky you bring out my crazier side.”

'Sure...Poindexter?

>Uh... I can explain?

'Listen man, I don't know what you're doing with Mane-Iac, I don't know what this is all about, what you did or what you want to do, we'll talk about it later, but right now all this secretive stuff has very obviously backfired, and you need to get moving. I've got this, go on ahead.'

>...Really? I can, um... help...

'If I can handle her every other day, I can handle this.'

“Please don't pretend you can 'handle' anything about me, unless I let you.”

'Go on, go tell Mane-Iac that Chrysalis just wanted to ask you something. If she tries to set fire to you, I've got your back.'

>...Thanks, man.

“I hope you feel the unspoken threat I am giving to you right now.”

He didn't pay any attention to her, just gave one last, appreciative look and ran away as fast as his non-athletic body could carry him.

'And with the civilian out of the way...'

“Your little shit of a friend took advantage of the fact Maney was wandering around on her own to play his sick fucking game with her. I am very, very angry.”

'Oh for the love of...'

Rolling his eyes dramatically, he plopped his rear down on the ground, and reached out with his forelegs.

“What are you doing?”

'…'

“You think I'm going to stop being angry if you hug me? Do you think I'm four years old or something?”

'…'

“Because I'm not, I'm a Queen of an ancient, powerful race. We sap love like a drink, turning what brings you the most joy into the weapon of your own destruction. I am an ageless, spiteful creature, ascended only through my ability to cast aside all love and do what would bring me the most power! I am that which hides right before your eyes, I have no remorse, not even a scrap of pity for all those I can destroy! I have-”

'Been hugging me since the fifth word.'

“...That is irrelevant.”

He sighed, halfheartedly bopping her on the head.

'You know I actually really, really sympathize with you, right?'

“...”

'I know! Never thought I'd say that myself, but I mean... I get it. I mean... I'm pretty sure if the positions were switched and that was Two and some friend of yours, I would probably be just as... firebally. I don't think I have it in me to actually kill them... but I'd feel the temptation.'

“She's not my daughter.”

'I know, she's your friend, the closest one you have that you can actually be with. So, you're afraid she's going to...change.'

“She's perfect exactly how she is. She doesn't need to get into relationship drama, she doesn't need to worry about shit like a mortgage or bills or whatever, and she doesn't need to fucking get 'fixed' like everyone keeps trying to. There's nothing wrong with her to fix. She just needs to be Mane-Iac. Crazy, insane Mane-Iac who laughs at everything and doesn't care about backstabbing, or politics, or any of that shit. Just a crazy mare who's...”

'...Who's always there for you, I know.'

“I don't care if it's fucking Poindexter, he's just going to want her to act a certain way, think a certain way, be more 'normal' like everyone else does because she's more 'tolerable' if she just acts like he wants her to. Just wants control like everyone else.”

'Says the one who mind controlled me, without a hint of the irony of it all.'

“...”

'And also the one... who really needs to trust me on this.'

“Don't ask me to do that.”

'Listen, Chrysalis. I told you, I get it. But Poindexter... he's been my best friend for as long as I can remember. We've been through a lot, you know? I know that guy inside and out. He's a great guy.'

“He could be your clone for all I care, she doesn't need to be like that.”

'Which is why if it looks like he's starting to try to change her or mold her, even subconsciously or accidentally... I'll step in.'

“...oh?”

'I told you, I get it. This may sound weird, but I wouldn't want Maney to be anyone else but herself either. She's nuts, attacks my soldiers all the time and laughs at everything from a guard's scream of pain to pouring cereal in the morning, but I'd be lying if she wasn't exactly that kind of crazy I need some days. If he tried to make her stop enjoying life her way, I'd put my hoof down, even if he is one of my closest friends. I understand, if someone did that to Twilight, I'd probably snap and castrate them.'

“...”

'...What? I said I wouldn't have it in me to kill them, you can survive that. I mean, I probably wouldn't do that to Poindexter, but-'

“I get it.”

'And?'

“...She's perfect just like she is. So you just... you need to let her stay that way.”

'Told you, wouldn't change her for the world. I didn't change you, did I?'

“...Not the best example.”

'Just saying, I didn't do it, and nobody else could have if they tried. If Maney ever starts acting different, It's not going to be because someone 'made' her that way, I won't let it happen, and I know for sure you won't either. But we can't just make her not talk to ponies, Chrysalis, come on. She's not someone you can keep locked in a cage, escaping prisons is supervillain 101.'

“He can't date her. I'm not letting him.”

'I don't think she understands what a 'date' is, to be honest. But we'll burn that bridge later, okay? We don't have to worry about them going out for crazy nights on the town right now. Just... no killing my friends?'

“...I wasn't going to kill him, I just wanted to scare his scrawny ass off.”

'To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure it would have worked. If he didn't try to lie his ass off at the start of this, he's pretty dedicated.'

“I'm not tolerating this 'going behind my back' shit.”

'Agreed, dumb idea and I'm with you on that... even if he apparently had the totally justified fear you would strangle him, so maybe let this one slide?'

It was a long, hard pause for her after that.

“...The only thing I'll agree to is not to try to take him out. She's my friend, and I'm going to keep watching out for her, end of story.”

'Can't really argue with that.'

“But there's one more thing you need to tell that bucktoothed little nerd.”

'And that is?'

“...no fucking trying to 'fix' her.”

'Chrysalis? Come on. If he actually does like her, he's got to know...'

Even here, as far away as they were, they could hear her amused cackle, likely at the fact she had found Poindexter, and wished to go on the same 'ride' he had.

'She's already perfect.'

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Suckerpunch
"41"
'Tour Guide'

The two competitors stand before their arena, grins plastered on their faces as they prepare for a day of fun, games, and ruthless competition.

>You're going down, you know that right?

"Ha, you wish, ya armor plated asshole!"

>On the count of three

"One!"

>Two!

>"Three!"

The two run towards the arcade-

CLONK!

>"'OW!'"

'The hell!?'

The two competitors look at the unsuspecting bystander they'd run into.

>Hey, you're the dickhead Tour Guide!

"From the Hall of the Whatever!"

'Huh? Well yeah.'

"Why're you out in the park?"

'...because it's my day off?'

>You get those?

'Well yeah, I work for Fawntaine, not Stalliongrad.'

"Hmmm..."

'Why's buzzy here staring at me.'

"You owe us."

'For what!?'

"For putting us through all that boring crap yesterday!"

'I was told to give the full tour-'

"He should be our ref."

>Our what?

"Our referee, makes sure neither of us cheats to get more tickets."

>...you saying that because of me or you?

"Juuuust sayin, he'll keep us honest."

>Fair enough.

'Don't I get a say in this!?'

"No!"

>I'll give you ten bits.

'...'

"And you'll get to lick the loser's tears."

'Alright, screw it, I'm in. Most rides here give me motion sickness anyway.'

The three enter the arcade.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Celestia
"SA"
~~~~~~

>So... everything cleared up?

The tired sigh said more than any words could have.

>That bad?

"Ugh... problem is, I don't really know who's side to take here."

>Oh? That's interesting, normally you're very much against the ones throwing fireballs.

"Little more complicated than that. See, she was mad because a guy was, well, 'hanging out' with Mane-Iac."

>Ahhh. So, I take it this male has run off, burnt remains of tail between legs?

"That's the thing, uh... it's Poindexter."

>...The poor fool.

"I just... he's one of my best friends, you know? But Chrysalis is right, Mane-Iac isn't really all that 'up to date' here. It would be way too easy for him to take advantage completely accidentally. I know the guy, he'd never do it consciously, but..."

>Whole lot of things we don't do consciously, or thinking them through all the way. I should know, I once sent a bug monster after some poor schmuck because I was feeling annoyed at him. I feel like a right idiot every day since.

"See my point? I just keep thinking, 'what if that was Two there instead of Maney, wouldn't I be all pissed off if someone might do that to her?'"

>Sorry to say, but you might need to farm this one out.

"To who?"

>Well, you do know a certain someone who is allegedly an expert on love. Surely, of everyone, she could figure this out, no?

"...Is this a subtle 'stop thinking about this and go back to finding your wife'?"

>No, it was a subtle 'let's multitask so we can keep Cadence from setting this place on fire because she wants to be the opposite of cool because she heard that somehow makes her cool.'

"...Yeah, you've got a point. It's not like I have to figure this out right now. Still, kind of wish she would set fire to something."

>...

"...she'd be easy to find, is all I'm saying."

>...

"... I know..."
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>55
"12"
'???'
~~~~~

>NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

"...Can I help you?"

>THE MEGA BALL! IT'S GONE! I ONLY HAD ONE SHOT AND IT'S GOOOOHOHOHOOOOOONE!

"Beg your pardon?"

>NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

'I know that cry!'

Before either of them could respond, a tiny shape grabbed hold of the fire-hungry changeling, and hugged him tightly.

'That is the cry of regret! Regret for the greatest thing ever falling out of reach!'

>IT'S TRUE! IT'S SO TRRUUUUUUUUUUUE!

'I feel your pain, cuz! I too was denied the megaplot! IT JUST ISN'T FAIIIIIIRRRRR!'

>WHYYYYYYYYYYY!?

'WHYYYYYYYYYYY!?'

"...This is my species. This is the species I was born into, and forever shall be... and these two are some of the more SUCCESSFUL ones..."

>'WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!?'

"...Maybe I should just... just finally see if I can borrow that dragons gun real quick..."

>'YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY'
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Mane-Iac
"Poindexter"
'???'
~~~~

>I WANT TO GO NEEEEEEXXXT!

"...I'm sure she'll be more than happy to uh, 'send you on the ride' when you see her, Maney."

>INDEEEED, THE MAJESTY INSECTORIA IS QUITE ACCEPTING OF MY NEEEEEEEED TO PARTAKE IN EXCITING RIDES!... she'll probably say yes! She said yes to you.

"Not that I asked..."

>What was that?

"Er, nothing. I uh-"

'Hey.'

Ice bled through Poindexters veins at that voice. Ice that, impossibly, got even colder when he noticed she was alone.

"Dang it, Shiny..."

>EMPRESS OF-... I mean, hey, Chrysalis! HIIII!

Her face was almost warm as she trotted up to the two of them. This, of course, did nothing to make Poindexter feel at ease.

'You been having fun?'

>INDEEEEEEEEED MY FELLOW MANIACAL MARE OF MAYHEM! I HAVE GONE ON MAAAAAANY A RIDE AND WON MANY A TINY TRINKET FOR THE FORCES OF EEEEEEEVVVIIILLLL!... It's been fun!

Poindexter had begun to think that everything she would do would only bring him more fear.

'Yeah... sorry about ditching you like that.'

This shattered those beliefs.

>Oh, do not WORRY, BUZZTAINIA! I understand that you must PERSUE LUMINOUS SHIELD in your QUEST of NEVER ENDING DESIREAHAHAHAHAH!... It's cool!

'...No, no it wasn't, sorry, I should have at least dragged you with me. I mean, it would have sucked not being able to talk about...'

>...

'...er, your birthday stuff, but you know-'

>What is a 'birthday'? Is it EEEEVIIIILLLL!

"...Really?"

'It's never come up!... Nevermind, Maney, I'll tell you about it later.'

>VERY WEELLLLAHAHAHAHAHAH!

'Come on, I think Lizardo is trying to assemble everyone, I want to see what's going down at the theater.'

>THEN AWAAYYYY WITH US! TO THE GLORY OF THE THEATERAHAHAHAHAH!

'Right behind you...'

"...So, uh-"

'You talk to Shiny first, then we talk.'

"No choking?"

'...'

"...I'm a dreamer."

She just sneered at him.

'Too bad you turned out to be such a weaselly little thing. I was actually going to thank you for helping her have fun. She could have done it herself, but I guess it was nicer with someone else. Would have been a real nice thing from someone else.'

"...I wasn't trying to take advantage or anything, she's just... really fun to be around, you know?"

'...Yeah...'

Up ahead, Mane-iac continued swinging from streetlight to streetlight, not a care in the world or any idea of the conversation going on behind her.

'...And she's going to stay that way, you four eyed greenspit.'

No point in arguing, he decided. It's not one he would win, not right now.

He would just have to take the extremely backhanded compliment, and keep following.

It wasn't going to be easy...

>AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

"...But sometimes it's worth it."

'Quit talking to yourself you social reject.'

"...you're going to make OnO a pain, aren't you?"

'Painful for you, maybe.'

"..Still worth it..."
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NC
>Rainbolt Red
"Rainbolt Yellow"
'Rainbolt green'
{Rainbolt Blue}
+Rainbolt Indigo+
~~~~
+Hey Blue. What are you doing?+

{I'm making a new Gundam for my Gundam model collection.}

+...But that's a GM+

{No, it's a Gundam.}

>Whoa, what is that?

{It's a Gundam.}

>A Gundam!?!

+But it's not a Gundam. It's a GM.+

"Hey, is that what I think it is?"

{Yeah, it's-}

>A Gundam!?!

"Cool, I've always wanted a Gundam myself."

'Whoa, sweet Gundam.'

+No, it's not a Gundam. It's-+

>A Gundam!?!

{It's a Gundam.}

"IT'S A GUNDAM!"

'It's a Gundam~!'

>It'sAGundam!

"It's a Gundamu!"

'Gundam, It's a!'

{It's...a Gundam!}

>What? A GUNDAM!?!

"It's an Angel!"

'Iiiit's a Gundam!'

{It's a GUNDAAAAAM!!!!}

+AAAAAAAAAAHHHGGGHHH!!!+

Tokusentai, Tokusentai, TOKUSENTAI~!
~~~~
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BGM: All Around The Watchtower by: Jimi Hendrix

The clatter of hooves on stone and lazers blasting from horns was the only sound that could be heard as the eleven fighters made their way across the battlements. Below them on the shifting sands of the desert the Morlocks worked to scale the walls with little success as the Cider Squeezy Mk 3 rained fruity fire on the still swarming changelings. 32 grit his teeth as the tower they sought to storm drew closer, its windows darkened with vile forms of more changelings clinging to the walls, horns alight with energy to be hurled at 32's band. Only...

"What...ARE those!?" 32's jaw dropped as the 'changelings' came into a more detailed view.

At the very least these versions possessed eyes, but that offered little solace once their necks ended. What 32 had mistaken for a press of bodies was actually a writhing mass of blackness the heads of the grisly sentries were sprouting from, snapping at the air all around and preparing to rain death from above.

"Hmm," The voice in his head intoned, "It appears he's sacrificed form almost entirely for function. The fact they're rather macabre looking simply adds to their effectiveness. Do not let then faze you, they are a sign that his asinine dream is shattering before our eyes!"

"My eyes are gonna shatter if I look at them much longer," 44 made a face.

"There is a flaw in this design," 77 said stoically, "Their interconnection is their weakness, do not aim for their heads-"

"SHOOT IT IN THE BIG BLACK PART!" 50 shouted curtly.

As one the changelings did just that, loosing a volley of shots as they advanced, falling behind Pommel when the nightmarish beast screeched in pain and returned fire. The unicorn put up a shield, absorbing the brunt of the fire and making the caster grimace in pain.

"Don't think I can take a lot of those," Pommel grunted, "You need to take that thing out pronto!"

"How the hell are we going to manage that!?" 50 shouted, "All we've got is our horns, we can't-hey who's screaming?"

"What screaming-?" 32 began, before he too heard a shrill shriek on the winds, growing until finally something collided with the battlements. From it rose a figure, small and swaying, a large object clutched between its hooves.

"...are you fucking kidding me?" 32 asked.

Diamond Tiara groaned, shaking her head, TBDRLIATU giving her more stability upright than her hooves. A roasted apple rolled out its barrel.

"Nngh...where am I?" She asked, before noticing 32 and narrowing her eyes, "You!"

Snapping out of her daze, she hefted her rocket launcher and growled.

"No stupid fruit to save you this time, asshole! Any last words?"

32 smirked, "Yeah, the big blobby guy behind you said your boyfriend has all the killing power of a BB Gun."

"WHAT!?"

A maddened glint in her eye, she twisted in an about face, glaring at the Blobling.

"SAY IT TO MY FACE, SHITHEAD!"

The Blobling's many heads hissed before Tiara let out a salvo of fire that made the Blobling disappear in a massive explosion and sent her flying backwards. The changelings side stepped her as she kept going off over the horizon.

"...thank the Hivemind for silly little bitches," 32 snickered.

"Everyone loves it when a gag comes back for round two," The voice agreed, "...oh...oh dear."

"What oh dear?" 32 asked, "We just cleared the way to the damn tow-oh...shit."

"I may have given him an idea, fucking continuity, double-edged sword!"

The voice was referring to five rapidly forming puddles of darkness directly in front of the tower's entrance. From them rose five shadowy figures, their forms slowly stabilizing into jet-black oily bodies that stared at 32 with blank white eyes.

The Gun Club was back for round two.

"...Faust DAMN do I hate boss rushes!" Pommel shouted.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NC
>Spike
"Interchangeable"
~~~
"So... Spike. Why are you dressed in drag?"

>I listened to Pinkie Pie.

"Ahhhh... That explains everything.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Non-canon
>Spike
"DT"
~~~
Years in the future...

>Hey, Tiara, been awhile since I last saw you, how you been?

"Well as you can see, just perfect. I just came by and wanted to rub it in that instead of fatty old pedojack, you could have had all THIS! BAM!"

>I feel as though I dodged a nuclear bomb.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________