Thread 44: Stories 61-71

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>Actarius
"JJ"
~~~

"So, we're going home sooner than expected."

>They said thanks for the help, but they've got it under control. I'm sure they wouldn't have said that if they still needed help.

"Uh huh..."

>...It has nothing to do with that.

"Suuuuure."

>I'm serious, you just had a little... 'slip'.

"Wasn't so little a reaction."

>Okay, maybe what 'slipped' was a little bigger than I'm making it out to be.

"Flatterer."

>But I'm sure that if they really needed help they'd look past that looming issue and ask for some help.

"Was kind of hard to ignore."

>It's not that big.

"Ego. Destroyed."

>Besides, this is good. I need to get back looking for a job anyway. They won't just sit and wait for me!

"..."

>...That's the reason.

"..."

>...

"...Thanks for sticking up for me. Sorry I let my disguise slip and got us kicked out."

>Dunno what you mean. We were asked very politely to leave, I felt.

"Sure... sure..."

>...

"...Thanks."
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>AJ
"77"
~~

You know, the orange mare wondered idly to herself, maybe this was destiny. Maybe the universe was telling her that speaking to them one on one was the way she should go about it. Really, it's the only explanation she had for wandering into an empty cafeteria and finding the scarred, one eyed changeling sitting in an empty room, nursing what looks to be of all things a milk carton.

Still, when destiny gives you apples, you make... lots of things, apples are crazy versatile.

>77.

There was something almost surreal about watching him perk up, mouth still wrapped around a tiny straw stuck into tiny milk carton he balanced between his hooves.

"Prinseff."

She took a seat opposite to him at the table, giving him a stern look that clearly said 'we need to talk'.

Slowly, he let the straw fall loose.

"Is... is everything alright? Is Poppet okay?"

>Prolly, not, she's probably gonna break her dang bed before the day is out.

His wide, worried eyes just blinked in confusion.

"Come again?"

>Listen, Ah'd hoped ta' do this all in one big meetin', but Ah'm guessin' Ah' gotta do it one on one. Diamond Tiara's out.

The confused blinking just increased in frequency.

"Out of... the hospital? She shouldn't be released so soon-"

>Outta the A-team.

He just stared at her, eyes wide and unsure.

"Did... did she do something? Did a stray rocket hit someone? What... why is she out?"

>She didn't kill nobody, Ah' jus' decided Ah'v had enough o' her livin' this life. She's done, and that's the end of it. She's gonna go back to livin' like an actual kid fer' once. She got a close call today, 77. Too close. Ah' don't want to have to live with it if the next one is a little... worse than just 'close'.

"Oh... oh I see..."

His eyes flickered all around, the corners of his mouth twitching perfectly in sync with the movement as his brain fired off every piston.

>Ya' got a problem with mah' call?

He looked back up, his eyes more uncertain than they had ever been.

"I... I don't know. A part of me wants to thank you, to tell you it's smart to get her away from big battles and horrible chances, to give her a chance to grow up like... well, not that I would know about that."

The question that suddenly burned on her tongue never got a chance to form, he continued almost instantly.

"But on the other... she loves this. She loves this life, the prestige, the power... us. She loves us, even if she doesn't outright say it."

>Ah' can't kick 'er outta the gun club, sug. And Ah' wouldn't iffin' Ah' could, y'all still get ta' spend time with her.

"Good. That's... that's good... and bad."

>Bad?

"It's just going to remind her that we're out there, fighting for our lives, and she can't help. She doesn't get to come with us."

He looked her right in the eye, his own growing hard, yet taking on a far away air.

"When... when I woke up on the river, one of the things that haunted me was that 32 went away as I slept, that I could be right there, but powerless. When the guard rushed up to me earlier today, and told me she was fighting for her life against someone like Chitania, and I was so far away... Applejack, that's the worst feeling in the world. To know they need you, and not to be there."

Her lip curled up, almost to a snarl.

>So, what, Ah'm jus' supposed ta' keep throwin' her at these horrible things? Jus' wait till the day she finally gets taken out? It's gonna happen eventually, 77. Her luck ain't gonna last forever. Maybe iffin' she was an adult, fine Ah' get that and she can make 'er own choices, but she ain't. She's a little kid, and she needs ta' start actin' like it before she dies. Ah' can't stop her, Ah' know Ah' can't, but Ah' ain't gotta help her neither.

He nodded slowly, looking away from her heated gaze.

"I am afraid... I do not know what to say. I'm torn, on this. So much I wish her to be safe, it's true, but... I don't know if this is the right way to do it."

The orange princess stood up, already making her way out the door.

>Well, iffin' ya' figure out a better way, you give me a ring, because until that day Ah' gotta do what I think will reduce the danger. Not keep 'er safe, Ah'm not stupid, jus' bring it to a level Ah' can sleep at night.

He sighed, slumping a bit in an almost defeated way.

"I understand..."

>Good. Don't tell Spike yet, need ta' talk ta' him one on one fer' this too. Only right.

"Of course... should I speak with 42?'

>She's up ta' speed, took it a lot harder than you did.

"...oh?"

>Yep. You take care, 77.

"Of course, yourself as well, Applejack."

She left him alone once again, alone with a headache so massive it threatened to split him apart.

He didn't know what to do, he admitted. So much he wanted to stick up for her and tell Applejack to let her stay on the team, but another part...

Another part of him never again wanted to be sitting alone in a cafeteria, drinking milk just to sooth his racked nerves enough he could tell himself everything would be okay.
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>Chrysalis
"??"
~~~

Queen Chrysalis truly loved very few things in this world. It was a very remote thing, given under very specific circumstances, and very hard to obtain. As such, she couldn't outright say she 'loved' the sight of all of the massive chaos and destruction that stretched out before her.

But damn if seeing this level of power didn't give her a thrill.

If only she had succeeded...

"Well, I do not like that look."

She chuckled almost playfully at the worried voice behind her, flinging her head back to give her hair a flourish.

>Oh, come on, it's just some buildings.

Behind her, Celestia's eyebrow shot up.

"They were my subject's homes."

The Queen practically tittered as she returned her gaze to the rubble.

>Sorry, the concept of 'homes' you can never be without is pretty new to me still. I shall endeavor to be more... sympathetic in the future.

The alabaster princess sighed, trotting up to stand next to her. She knew the changeling was merely joking, but some part of her still felt a little offended.

>She's quite powerful, isn't she?

The princesses eyes narrowed as they aimlessly trailed.

"Destructive, you mean."

>Destruction is little more than power with either too much, or too little focus. I feel she lands squarely in the latter category.

"It almost sounds like you are implying we should attempt to control her."

>Perish the thought! I know we must deal with her as swiftly and finally as you would any other vast monster. I am merely enjoying the view, and wondering what such a power would be like if I myself wielded it. Perhaps before she is... 'dealt with', I can persuade her to pass on her Titan magic to ensure its lineage continues on.

Chrysalis the size of a castle... now there's a terrifying thought, Celestia wondered to herself.

The Queen smirked a little at the ensuing silence.

>Does the thought of me with more power worry you?

"No, the thought of what your titanic ass would do to Shiny's desk worries me."

She let loose a loud, joyous cackle at that.

>Come now, if it can handle your own titanic ass, nothing short of the moon being chucked at it would so much as creak the wood.

"I think you've been staring at my rear too closely, your perception of reality is beginning to distort."

>What can I say? It's very eye catching.

"Regardless, I do not think you would have much luck getting her to hand over her magic. If she did not pass it on to her child, she would not do so to you."

>I suppose so...

Her smile never left her, but she nonetheless had a much more thoughtful tilt to her head.

"What was her child like, by the way?"

>Hm? Oh, not a clue. I don't even know if it survived birthing. I had no idea it existed until Chitania revealed she was defective.

A subtle flinch flickered across Celestia's eye.

"I wish you wouldn't put it like that."

>Sorry, just what it is.

"Still... how did you not know of her? I thought your mother and her were close."

>Dunno. Maybe she kept it hidden so nobody would know that she was def-... 'unable to produce a hive', maybe she just didn't want anyone going after her for the Titan magic, maybe she was just dead, who knows.

"It must have been very traumatic for her, to only have a single child when it is so... looked down upon."

>I doubt it, Chitania was a Queen.

"...Chrysalis, before she was put in the ice, did something... happen to her?"

>What do you mean?

"It's just, you mentioned she couldn't produce a hive... what if her mothers? Did your mother kill them? Are some of the ones in the ballroom?"

Something flickered across Chrysalis's eyes, an emotion hidden too quickly to read.

>You can just say "Twilight told me about how horrible everything was."

"She told me that what happened before would have been very traumatizing, so Chitania's behavior confused her. I pressed, but she would not go into detail, said I had to go to you."

>...Huh.

"Chrysalis... why didn't you tell me before?"

There was just a hint of sadness underneath, barely there to be detected at all.

"If there was something that could have given more insight into her-"

>That's precisely why I didn't tell you anything. You don't want to know it.

"Chrysalis, I do."

>No, you don't. You'll get on your 'oh, power of friendship this' or 'good in everyone' that, or whatever, and you'll do something foolish. It's for the best.

"Either I hear it from you, or I make Shiny tell me."

>He wouldn't.

She was so certain, not a hint of doubt in her voice.

"Of course not willingly, but if I demand it citing national threat, he will have no choice. He will hate every moment, but politically he has no choice."

Fire flickered across a gaze that grew dangerous.

>You wouldn't. You know how much that would hurt him.

"Yes... I do."

That same sadness returned, far stronger this time.

"But I have to know, Chrysalis. There is a creature out there hurting my citizens, threatening my subjects, destroying my cities. If she has been through something so dark, I ask you this not to grant her pity, but... I need to know what she is capable of brushing off, and just how dangerous she truly is."

The fire weakened, just a bit.

>You don't want to hear it. You'll hate every moment. You'll wish you didn't know so you could go back to seeing the good in everyone.

"Chrysalis..."

That weakened gaze burned away, replaced by the intensity of the sun.

"If you consider me an ally, an acquaintance or anything else of that nature, you will tell me what happened on that snowy mountain so very long ago. For my own sake of mind, I need this. Please... if we are friends... tell me."

A chitinous snout pointed upwards to the sky, and a long silence fell over the two of them.

>...It started when Chitania first tried to infiltrate a quiet, secluded town.

And so the story was repeated, bringing five total to all who knew it's tale.

And the Princess, at last, knew of just what it was that walked her land.
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>SA
"Cadence"
~~~

>HONEY NO!

"ACK!... SHINY! I'm just giving out soup for anyone who lost their home!"

>...N-not soup you made, right?

"No!"

>Phew! Wooo... scared me there.

"It came in the package, I literally just had to pour the mix into hot water and it was done!"

>....

"Oh, come on, like even I could-"

*BLUBLBLBUBLBLBU!*

~I AM SOUPSLOR! THE MIGHTEST IN ALLLL THE LAND! I SHALL FEAST UPON YOUR SOOOOOOOULLLLLS!~

>...

"...I... I don't..."

>Don't.

"It was just a little package-"

>Just... just don't.

~FEAR MEEEEEEEEE!~
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>Poindexter
"Crystal Guard"
~~~

>Helloooo?

He'd been wandering around the halls for a solid ten minutes now, and nothing. Frankly, it was starting to worry him.

>Helllllooooo?

"Yes?"

>GAH!... How do you blend into the background so well!?

"Hurtful..."

>Ah, jeez, I'm sorry, I-

"HAH! Just kidding. Sparkly and same colors as everything else, it's awesome."

>Right... uh, where is everybody?

"Define everybody."

>Shining Armor?

"Off in Fillydelphia."

>Shoot... Cadence?

"Same."

>Two?

"Same."

>...Chrysalis?

"Same."

>EEE!

"..."

>...Maaaane-Iac?

"...Same."

>DRAT! DRAT AND DOUBLE DRAT!

"Well, at least that explains the chocolates."

>These were actually for Chrysalis...

"HA! HAHAAHAHAHAH! AAHHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!"

>Not like that! I'm trying to show her I wouldn't be all that bad with... with Mane-Iac.

"..."

>...It's really-


"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAH!"

>Hurtful.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!"

>...But accurate I guess...

"AHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH!"
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>AJ
"Spike"
~~~

This was it.

This was IT.

She didn't know how she had finagled herself an empty room in this chaotic mess, but apparently the wings and horn were useful for at least one thing besides giving her a headache unmatched in Equestria. At least one thing. So here they were, alone, the orange princess sitting across from a worried looking lavender dragon while she mentally prepared herself just how she was going to break this very delicate matter to him. There was a lot she needed to get across, and a lot she needed to make him understand. She had to work for this.

>Ah' kicked Diamond Tiara outta the A-team.

Or she could just charge headfirst and hope the migraine wouldn't last too long, whichever.

“WHAT!?”

She could practically see his brain overheating as it spun away like a wheel going faster than the speed of sound, mind racing as it attempted to process that simple declaration she had given out.

>She's out, Spike.

He started sputtering, mouth unable to keep up with the words his brain wanted to shoot out.

“B-b-but she-shejus-sh-SHE JUST SAVED A CITY!”

>I know, and Ah'm proud o' her for doin' it. Believe me, Ah'm glad she was here and Ah'm glad she did her part. But Spike, there's more to it than that.

“No there isn't! She... I mean, what!? She should be getting medals and a promotion! She shouldn't be FIRED!”

She sighed, putting a placating hoof on his shoulder.

>Spike, listen. She had herself a real close call today, and-

“WELL DUH! She just fought someone who punched out CELESTIA! Anyone who is in a mile of her technically had a 'close call', but that's no reason to make her throw in the towel!”

>Yes, it is. Spike, Ah' was wrong ta' bring her here in the first place, Ah' was wrong ta' encourage her ta' put her life on the line like this at all.

“No you weren't! She's good at this, really! Look, okay, I get it, you just got a little scared because this is the first time she got real close, but-”

>But nothin'!

Her voice had gone from soft to stern in the blink of an eye.

>Spike, from what Ah' got from Gwen, the only reason that filly right there is alive is that the dang monster got bored and walked off. Iffin' it wanted to, it could'a just kept goin' and squished her flat! It ain't about me bein' scared, this is about whether or not Ah'm gonna have ta' tell Filthy Rich his daughter is DEAD and it's all mah' fault!

He froze, eyes wide and mouth hanging slightly open at her words. Before him, her strong, hard shoulders began to slump, and her sharp eyes grew just a little dull.

>Ah' spent mah' entire ride here wonderin' jus' how Ah' was gonna look a father in his eyes and tell her his little girl ain't commin' home no more. Can you... Spike, this ain't right. Don't you get it? Weren't too long ago Ah' was at that filly's party when she got her Cutie Mark. Remember that? She needs ta' have more of that in her life, not... not that.

Her hoof had an ever so subtle shake as she pointed out the window, towards the rubble and wreckage that lied beyond.

>She still in grade school, Spike. She still gets homework askin' her ta' do multiplication tables. This isn't right. Don't you see that?

Her voice had reduced to barely a whisper by the end. Patiently, she waited as it all sunk into him, for him to process everything she had said. She waited, and waited...

“Why...”

His claws had clenched shut, balling up into fists so tight his claws might sink past his durable skin. His eyes snapped open, misty, but dangerous.

“Why even bring her here in the first place, then!? Why show her all the stuff she can do, all the good she can accomplish, all the ponies she can save, and then tell her she can't do it anymore!? Why wait until now!? She... you, out of everyone, should know what it feels like to need to save others! You should know you can't just turn it off! If this was going to be an issue it should have started on day one!”

She shrank back slightly, surprised he would ever yell at her like that. Still, her reaction did not last long.

>Don't ya' think Ah' know that!? Don't ya' think Ah' know that this is all mah' fault fer' not stoppin' this when Ah' had the chance!?

“Then why do it!?”

>AH' THOUGHT IT WOULD HELP HER!

It was his turn to shy back slightly, away from the mare that stood tall and pressed forward towards him.

>When Ah' took over mah' farm, it kicked mah' rear seven ways ta' the sunshine, but it helped me! It made me stronger, it made me smarter, it gave me a dang sight o' the world outside mah' little bubble! Ah' thought gettin' a taste of the real life would reel in that gal-danged ego o' hers and give her some sight! Give her a look at the world beyond jus' what she thinks revolves around her, give her some friends who weren't gonna take no flack and bite back at her, now cow ta' her every word! Ah' knew, the day that she blew a hole in that friggen giant dog thing with a shotgun, that day Ah' couldn't stop her, but fer' lands sakes Spike, can't ya' see Ah' was tryin' ta' HELP HER!

He shook as he stared into her eyes, watching them bob ever so slightly as her breath heaved.

“Well, it-”

>IT'S ALL MAH' FAULT! AH' KNOW!

Her voice had reached a level he had never once heard her in his life, so loud there was no way he could let loose the words still hanging on his tongue.

>Ah' was wrong, Ah' get it! Ah' thought this would help, it didn't! It made it worse, it gave her more ammo, it made her smarter on how ta' wreck things and it gave her an even bigger ego, somehow! No denyin', no excuses, no nothin'. Ah' made a choice, Ah' made a call, and it was WRONG, it was a mistake, and Ah' ain't got nothin' ta' say but it's all mah' fault, end of story.

Bitterly, she looked away from him, eyes clenching shut.

>Ah' was wrong, and this is the only way Ah' can fix just a little bit of it. Not all, just a little bit...

He let her sit like that for a while. Just let her look away, not moving, barely breathing. Just let her sink in her own thoughts for as long as he thought she needed to.

It was only after he felt like the thoughts rushing in her head had calmed down enough that she could hear him again that he spoke.

“She used to try to blow up 56 ever day.”

Her eyes fluttered open as she snapped out of her own dark thoughts.

“She used to... used to make these big traps, used to make acid pits and mines and... she used to do that all the time, you know. She absolutely hated that guy, wanted him dead more than anything in the world. She... you know 42 told me she once lured her out to the woods and tried to kill her too? 42. And you want to know why? Because 42 was the strongest. She was the strongest of... of a species that Diamond Tiara was convinced was trying to take over Equestria.”

His claws loosened up, letting him at last see the tiny cuts they had left in his palm.

“Do you have any idea... some part of her had to put it all together, right? She's got an ego the size of the moon and somewhere as dense, but she's smart too. Some part of her had to put together how dangerous it all was, right? Some part of her had to know she was challenging the strongest changeling. But she did it. She did it anyway, even though 42 was nowhere near Ponyville, even though she was in Canterlot around those like the princesses, Diamond Tiara said “it has to be me, who stops her”, and she gave it her all. She had to know the danger, but...”

His eyes blurred just a bit as he looked to her, desperate.

“Don't you get it? She... she wants to protect. Maybe it's so she can feel better about herself, maybe it's for her own ego stroking, maybe it's just because it's fun for her to do, I don't know, I'm not her. But she wanted to do this. She did it against that machine, against 56, and even... even against that robot that tried to steal Applebloom.”

The orange mare flinched hard at the memory, something still ringing in her chest to this day from the thought of how close her sister came to being taken form her.

“Applejack... you weren't wrong. Look at this. Look at all she can do now! The robot invasion, Chitania, Partyland, successful or not it doesn't matter because you gave her something nobody else could. Not her dad, not her friends, not us, nobody. You, and only you, gave her what she really needed. She needed an outlet to do good, AJ. She needed a place to put those feelings that maybe she doesn't understand yet, maybe she never will, but the feeling to stop bad things from happening. You gave her a way to be a hero, Applejack. You did the right thing.”

She choked slightly, teeth gritting.

>She's gonna die, Spike. She's gonna die from this and there ain't no stoppin' it. She's a little tiny filly who ain't got no special durability or resistance. She's gonna take a bad shot, a hard blow, somethin'. And unlike 42 or 77, she ain't gonna just brush it off and walk away. She's gonna die. Is that what you want? Do you want me ta' jus' keep sendin' her off, markin' down every mission until that one lucky stray shot hits the giant target with the rocket launcher and there she goes? Ya' think this was good for her? Fine, maybe it'll give her somethin' ta' strive for when she's finally an adult and can make these choices. But she ain't old enough now, and Ah'm not havin' it. Somethin' attacks her? Good, she can kill it dead and Ah'll get her a shiny new medal. Somethin' goes at the town she's at? Tear it up, Ah'll throw her a parade. She wants ta' save the day, then that savin' better be somethin' that found her, not the other way around. She ain't goin' on one more dangerous mission, Spike. She's done, goin' back ta' school, and that's the end of it.

His soft, almost caring attitude was gone.

“SO THEN WHAT ABOUT ME!?”

She went still, eyes wide.

>What?

“What about me, huh!? I'm just a little older than she is, am I off the team too!? Is that why you called me in here, to tell me we're both out!? Because I-”

>N-no! No, Ah'm not kickin' you out.

Her response more confused him than anything.

“But...”

>Listen, Spike, yer' different, okay? It ain't the same with you.

“Not the... how am I different!?”

>Well, Ah' mean...

She began waving her hoof, trying to get the words to come out right.

>Yer'... yer' a dragon, fer' starters, lot more durable, so lucky shots gotta be a lot stronger than what it takes take kill a filly, heck, more than what it takes ta' kill an adult even. And... and it ain't like yer' missin' school or nothin', or yer' job. Cause yer' job's, like, with me? And so this is... well, it's a part o' mah' job. So since it's a part o' mah job and ya' work with me then it's just overlap, ya' know? And... well, yer' a dragon, yer' gonna be around fer' a long, long, loooong time, right? So it's not the same as a filly who's jus' got her one lifetime ta' live. And o' course Twilight and Celestia are okay with it, they ain't in denial like Filthy Rich is, not that it matters since iffin' yer' old enough for a steady job yer' old enough ta'... and they're really powerful and can help out and... it just ain't the same, okay? It's two totally different things.

He goggled at her, gobsmacked.

>What? It ain't! Yer' different! And Ah' know-

“You know I want to feel useful, so you won't tell me no.”

She nodded, just a little bit.

>Right, sure, o'course Ah' wouldn't take that from ya'. Ah' mean, iffin' ya' wanted ta' quit Ah' support it and all, but Ah' know how much ya' need ta'-

“I get it.”

His voice had grown cold, icy even as his eyes went downcast, aimed squarely at the floor.

>Spike, Ah'-

“She's off the team, right?”

>Spike, yer' worryin' me sug'-

“She's out. Right? I can't change your mind?”

>Jus' the A-team, not the gun club. Ya' still can, ya' know, spend time with her, have fun, Ah' don't even mind iffin' ya' wanna train in the magic room or nothin' so when she's finally old enough she can-

“I got it.”

Without another word, he started to brush past her, only to be stopped by a hoof that shot out and pressed against his shoulder.

>Spike... it's... it ain't personal with her, it's just that ah' need ta'-

“Yeah, I know. If it was personal, it would have gone different.”

Her hoof snapped back at his biting words, pressing against her chest and releasing him to continue walking away from her, and clear out of the room.

Alone and confused, she just sat there, thinking, totally unsure what his words had meant, but feeling like she should know. She should know...

>Dang it.

The first tear was the only one she let out, before she did her best from letting another fall.

>Thought Celestia brought me in ta' help fix things, not break everything...
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NC?

>As if this couldn't get any worse...-

'Yo'

>...WHO-

'Yeah yeah, mushroom crap and all, kinda freaks everyone out, just wondering if now is a good time?'

>Goo..good time? For what?

'Y'know, my arc? The one all those folks out there keep bringing up? I mean I agreed with 'em when it was "Oh they need a break before you show up" and "Weeeeee kinda overdid the floating Party island just give us some time to get our heads back on right" and something something "Sombranon" I couldn't make it out too well. I think now's a good time and all to make my entrance?'

>...

'I mean, I'm supposed to be the darkest nadir of this thread; though only in a story sense, a great big Mop could just show up and wipe this whole general mess away which sounds pretty dark, with the despair and internal torment yadda yadda, and things look pretty shit fucked as they are...so why no better time than the present, huh?'

>...Buh....?

'Alright, I get it, I'll check by later, I'll go hang with Ebola-chan till then, didja hear she disguised herself as some chinese cartoon hologram and appeared on national television? Damn, she cray-cray! See ya later, fuckos!

[Exit thread right]

>...I need a gun...
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NCOMAKEEE!
>SA
"AJ"
~~

>Huh. I haven't been getting a ton of screentime here recently.

"YA' DON"T WANT IT! TRUST ME YA' DONT WANT IT MAH LIFE IS HORRIBLE!"

>...

"AH' DIDN'T KNOW! AH' WANNA GO BACK TA' WHEN YA'LL WERE THE ONES GETTIN' THE CRAP KICKED OUTTA' YA! AH DON' WANNA BE THE FOCUS NO MORE! GO BACK TA' SHINY!"

>It's not that bad-

"MAH' DRAGON DON'T SNUGGLE ME NO MORE MAH' LIFE IS THE WOOOOOORRRRSSSTTTTT!"

>...Huh.

"WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
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NComake!
>Cadence
"42"
~~~

>UH BUUUUUHHHHH~!

"You realize I'm supposed to be the one crying, right?"

>SOMEONEHURMAHPUNCHBUUUUUGGG!

"...It did hurt a little."

>UH WANNA MAKE IT ALL BEHHER!

"...The hug is nice."

>NUHHHH!

"...I like this."
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NCOMAKE!
>Cadence
"SA"
~~

>WHAT THE FUCK!? I slept with you and didn't get anymore screentime!

"..."

>Isn't that how it works!?

"N... nooo? We're married. Why would sex with me give you bonuses?"

>THIS IS SOME BULLSHIT!

"It's really not. Married. We're married. MARRIED."

>Well, I got more screentime when I wasn't having-sayyyy...

"Noooo..."

>I got a ton of screentime in the early threads, and the main running gag was-

"Noooooooo!"

>It even carried over to-

"STOP THIS LINE OF THINKING RIGHT NOW!"

>I've got it! It must be reversed for me! If I DON'T have sex, I get screentime!

"NO NO NO NO NO NO!"

>Brilliant! Thanks Shiny!

"NOOOOOOOOO-"

>Oh, and by the way, Pinkie and Dash said the want an appearance next thread. Just to show up, they don't have to do anything. I'll let you work out what that's worth. I'M OFF! FOR MY SCREENTIME!

"...Thank fuck for Non-canon..."
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OMAKE

>Spitfire
"Dash"
'???'
_____

>Okay, so why'd you call me here when you know full-well I have like, eight loads of everyone's laundry to do?

"Is... is anyone around?"

>Hm? Nah, just us, why?

"Oh. Good. Well then...."

Deeeeeeep inhale.

"OMIGOSHOMIGOSHOMIGOSH SPITFIRE YOU ARE THE BESTEST FLIER EVER THAT WAS THE MOST AMAZINGEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE MODIFYING THE SONIC RAINBOOM WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME EARLIER I COULDN'VE HELPED AND WE COULD'VE BEEN PARTNERS AND EEEEEEEEEEE!"

Spitfire reeled back with a slight grin.

>Um... thanks, I guess. But it's like you said, I consider myself one of the best and as such, gotta keep up the style, keep the flare going, know what I mean? Blaze was just one trick I've got hidden.

Rainbow gasped, hooves to her mouth.

"Y-y-you mean y-you've got MORE?"

>Better believe it.

"SHOW ME!"

>No can do, laundry's a-callin'-

"Awwwwww!"

>-but thanks for giving me the chance to show those kids what they can look forward to with dedication. Now then, this maid has stuff to d-

'Okay! Found me some cake and a fork! All I gotta do now is put it on your plot, right? What's the proper technique for that? Know what, might as well teach me the right eatin' method, too!'

>...
"..."

'What?'

>This bug makes me laugh just as much as he annoys me.

"Well, 56, it goes like this, first you have her bend over like so. Flamebitch, position 1-5C."

>...Oh you can't be serious.

A sinister smirk was her response.

"Are you talking back to your master?"

>Vindictive bitch...

"What was that?"

>I'm bendin', I'm bendin'...

'Yaaaaay!'
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Non-canon preview

>Pinkie
~~~~~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CoWplXbeUw

>Oh noes, Applejack isn't going to get snuggles after all that. Diamond Tiara plans her next actions while making a syringe gun. Ponies come by to thank DT for her heroics. Rarity talks to Spike about Applejack's decision. The changelings start a fire in the castle and it's up to Blueblood to put it out. Cheerilee finds relevance in the plot. Maud punches a rock. Find out what happens next in thread 45: Silver Spoon Apologizes...and of course, healing fan service!