Thread 97: Stories 16-30

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>Chrysalis
"42"
~~~

>Well, that's disappointing.

That, to put it simply, had not been what she was expecting.

"I'm... sorry? I thought you would be thrilled, majesty."

>No, no no nooooo... no. I was hoping you just figured out some really quick secret to how it worked and had it down in, say, a month.

"Ah... no. I'm afraid not. Immediately after Chitania is when I began my first training, and even knowing everything I knew from you-"

>Which was literally everything, since I had no reason to keep it secret because I had no reason to think it was fucking possible!

"And even with months upon months of intensive, hard training of mind, body and spirit, countless weeks upon months logged in our magic room, and even after burning through massive amounts of love stores in record time, I still had not even achieved the first part of it come the invasion of Cordyceps, and even now I've not got it perfect. I can only go to places I have intimately memorized, and in the exact spot I was standing when I memorized it.... and none of this is pointing out that I very well may never have broken through the greatest hurdle at all, the very first teleport, had the situation not been so... hopeless. Without that, I'm still back to where I was several months ago, with no change."

>Fuck... I was hoping to spread this through our ranks quickly.

"While I would love to aide in my Hive's continued growth of power, there's nothing I can teach them that you couldn't. Everything I knew, I learned from you, and everything else just came naturally after months of training for exactly this and getting nowhere. I have trained myself my entire life to become more powerful in a way like this, and yet it proved impossible to me until pushed."

>Fuuuuck...

"...Majesty, if I may, how long did it take-"

>Two weeks.

"TWO WEEKS!?"

>Meh, I had most of the info already in my brain thanks to the heart devouring. Was a snap, just had to recall what I needed to that I got from mom.

"..."

>What?

"Nothing... nothing..."

>...

"...fuckingbullshit..."

>What was that?

"Nothing majesty!"

>Uh huh... but still, all the same get a group of soldiers together, and start training. If it's possible, even if it takes a decade, we shall get to it. The only thing holding me back from commanding it or trying it was the knowledge it wasn't supposed to be able to be done at all. If that's off the table.. who knows what's possible.

"Are you sure that's wise? The ponies might fear we are bolstering our forces."

>Nonsense, we're not doing anything towards them directly, or summoning a power that would only work on them, creating a bioweapon or even dare I say, trying to find their weakpoints. No, we merely wish to use our own power, who can fault us for that?

"Still..."

>Still nothing, they will not fear us for merely using what we were gifted with... any more than they do anyway, of course. Gather the strongest fighters with the most skilled minds, and get to it. Begin, if nothing else, there is no harm if you are but a unique one... but be sure to grab former heirs, just to make sure we have a complete picture of the situation. It might be our superior, made to be queen bodies that allows it.

"...as you wish. But Majesty, the only Heir that signed on to be a soldier is me and... well..."

>Well what?

"Forty One."

>...the one who tied with a guard?

"That one."

>Damn... nobody else volunteered?

"Almost entirely infiltrators, I'm afraid... except for a few who chose drone, weirdly enough."

>That awkward one?

"And Thirteen!... though we know why with that one."

>Unsurprising, soldiers and especially drones have the highest mortality rate-

"Unless they're just this good."

>-So heirs would prefer to be out of the line of fire in the hopes they could one day reclaim their line. We shall have to deal with it.

"Wellllll.. there is... one other soldier..."

>...no.

"I know you dislike her, but in the gunclub she's rather amicable-"

>No. Nooooo... in fact, if that spud eating flipflopper tries to get into the class, hit her, a lot.

"Noted."

>Carabidae's spawn will have to do.

"...wait, you have that mixed up, Fifty Five is Carabidae's offspring."

>Wait what?

"Yes! She's the one with the fire breath, remember?"

>I know, obviously, I'm the one who told you about that, it's just...Forty One doesn't know that?

"I don't think so... I mean, obviously she never used it, but I know Fifty Five is her spawn, he talks about her plenty. That's why he likes fires so much, I think he misses her..."

>...Huh... then who the fuck is Forty One?

"Geeridae?"

>That's Twenty Two.

"Pyrrharctia?

>That's the spud eating nuisance.

"...who's kid is she?"

>Huh... I have... no... idea....

"Can we ask her?"

>...

"Memory wiped?"

>Memory wiped.

"Some reason we can't unblock it?"

>...maybe?

"Huh."

>...

"...So, let her in the class?"

>I guess... and see if you can get some clues.

"You know, there is one changeling who knows all the heirs-"

>NGH!

"Point taken."

>Get to it, Forty Two, and do your very best to see us advance further.

"As you wish, Majesty."

>Good...

"..."

>...fireflight race?

"Yes."

FWOOSH!

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Non-Canon
>Pinkie
"Fluttershy"
~~~~
>Welcome to Late Night /pa/ with your host Pinkie Pie! It's during this time that content doesn't matter and some sleep with fans! Now for our main guest...FLUTTERSHY!!!
Applause.

"Um h-hi?"

Pinkie hugs Fluttershy.
>I was on an adventure and I have you to thank.

"Really? What did I do?"

>You planted the seeds of a great cardboard adventure...well except for the parts where they tried to murder our friends and take over their bodies to achieve canon screen time. In fact it was kind of horrible for the parties involved. I'm not going to lie. It got pretty dark.

"WHAT!?!"

>Don't worry it all worked out in the end. Cool fights, saving Rarity and got myself a dream house which has been giving me great material!

"Are you okay? I'm sorry. I'm really really sorry."

>Oh don't be. It was fun. That's our show! Thanks for joining us!

Fluttershy wakes up.
"...I don't feel better."

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>Quicksilver Sash
"???"
'???'
~~

The trenchcoated pony slipped through the streets as stealthily as a nightguard, hiding away his face from the cruel, uncaring world that would never understand why he did this.

They could never understand why he went down this deep dark back alley, could never understand the depravity in his mind to crave, no, to NEED what was about to come, they could never understand the sickening part of him that he had to have fulfilled here, beyond the door surrounded by filth, as only it deserved.

They could never understand why his knee shook when the door opened, and the stallion looked down upon him with an appraising, interested eye, before licking his lips.

'The usual?'

He nodded, too excited to let the shame into his heart as he was lead inside, too stricken by the need to care for anything else as he disrobed himself before the stallion, leaving himself bare before getting upon the chair and assuming the position he knew by heart.

For this time, and no others, he didn't care what the guards would think if they saw him now, about to surrender his body to-

"Heeyy! Quicksilver!"

>GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

'Sir? Please, the other clients are trying to relax.'

>AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

"...Something wrong?"

>NOGUARDSISAIDISAIDNOGUARDSCOULDSEEYOULIEDTOMEYOUPROMISEDYOUMONSTERRRRRRRRRR!

'You said you're not a guard!'

"I'm not! I work at the changeling embassy, see?"

'...His card checks out. He's not a guard, Quickee.'

>AAAAhhhhhhhhh...hh...ahhh?... OH FUCK! Last Act?

"Ah hah, a hah, I missed that."

>Ohhh... phew! Thought... wow. The guys would never let me live it down if they knew that I came here.

"...Soooo... what's up?"

>Nothing much, getting my coat reshined and my hair done.

"You too? This guy is the best!"

>Isn't he just?

'Stallions, please, let me do my work.'

>Oh course, Manederio!

'...'

>...I'll tip extra for... for the throttling.

'I thank you.'

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 >41
"SP"
~~~

>....

"...Uhhhh... heeyyyy, my favorite punchbug, I uh... I caaaan't help but noticing you're looking at a note..."

>...

"And... well, I don't want to challenge your strength or imply anything, but it kinda looks like you are... crying."

>...

"Crying a lot."

>...mnuhcryin...

"Is... is this something bad?"

>Noooo...

"That is not reassuring because I'm pretty sure you just started crying harder."

>Mnuhhhhcryin...

"...she's not, like, bumping you down to drone, is she? You said that you would probably jump off a cliff if she did that, and well there's a cliff right there and now I'm just going to edge myself that way if you do not mind-"

>Mnuh uh drroooonnnee...

"Oh, good... sooo... do you mind? Just gonna... just gonna peak over your shoulder heeeerreee, and make sure I don't need to put you on suicide... watch..."

>...

"...~You have been offered by her Majesty to take part in an elite training operation to learn a new power that will not be disclosed until time of training. If you deny this offer, burn this note. If not, keep it, as it is your only way of getting in.~..."

>...

"...This isn't like, an experiment, right?"

>Nuuuhhh! I asked and... and... and she gave the same note to the stronger guys sooo......sooooooo... soooooooooooooo...

"...Oh, uh, congradulations-"

>I'M NOT WORST LING ANYMOREEEEEEHORORHORRRRRRR!

"Hug is too tight, HUG IS TOO TIGHT!"

>UH BUHHHHUUHHUH!

"RIBS! MY RIBS!"

>THIS ISHU BUHHHS DUH EVUHHHHHH!

"OH GOD I CAN SEE MY GRANDMOTHER!"

>...yay...

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>29
"MM"
'Zecora'
[Trixie]
~Luna~
(Ghost Kids)
~~~~~

"...This is what you see everyday?"

The "This" in question was little more than a flat plain of white and nothingness.

White and nothingness that was pushed to the brim with more ghosts of children then their eyes could follow, to be precise.

>Verily.

[YOU ARE JUST USING RANDOM WORDS NOW!]

>Verily means yes!

'Not to take her side, for I think your speech sublime. As loath as I am to admit it, that is from another place and time.'

>Tis not my actual accent anyway! Mine life was 'nomad' and wherever mine hooves took me before!

[...fair enough.]

(Ya'll are funny. Like mah momma said, stupid hens cluck the loudest!)

[HEY!]

(Hey sugarcube, at least Ah' didn't say it and then drop ya' off at the firemares house!)

[...was... was that firemare as in 'puts out' the fires, or-]

(Ah'm here, Ain't Ah?)

[Ah. Point taken, and Trixie shall let this one slide.]

>In case thou wonders in thine head so light, this is pretty much it for all of them.

"...all of them?"

>They are dead orphans that died as children and are so bitter they can't move on, how happy did thou think they were going to be?

(Uuhhh... I'm actually pretty sure my parents are still alive, they just abandoned me to be raised by Timberwolves... didn't... didn't quite work...)

>This discussion has been had, thou counts.

(Just checking.)

'Well, while I cannot deny what you are saying of their sadness is true, the bigger question I must ask is... what exactly are we supposed to do?'

~Is it not obvious? Thou wished to see them, and help them more directly, did thou not?~

"Well... yeah, I guess...."

~So... help them.~

"...uh..."

~With dreams.~

"OH! Oh uh... my dreams are not normally age appropriate."

'Or mine own, when I'm alone.'

~So then make one that IS age appropriate!~

"..."
'...'
"...We might have an issue here..."

[Oh for Trixies sake!... STAND BACK, AND WATCH!]

Her hoof waved through the air, swirling the clouds up above that had not been there a moment ago.

[Witness, the majesty, the sounds, the might and color and wonder, of the GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE!]

With a single swing, multicolored beams of light fell from the sky, trails of their many colors streaming out in long tails they left behind, before-

BOOMBOOOMBOOM

(MY EYES!)
(IT HURTS SO MUCH YOU BLOODY WANKER!)
(WHO SETS OFF FIREWORKS THREE FEET FROM A FILLY!? WHO!?)
(I'LL SUE!)
(MY EYYYYYYYYEEEEESSSS!)

[HOW DO YOU LITTLE FELLAS LIKE IT NOW....]

>'"~...~'"

[...Trixie means, that was a total accident.]

'Screw this, if we are to be here then let's have some fun! Stand back, oh "Great and Powerful" Trixie, and let the enchantress show you how it's done!'

From the ether, a staff was formed, standing on it's very edge in waiting for what was to come. She hopped upon it, balanced perfectly on a single hoof as she stood above the others, high off the ground on the fantastically engraved, sturdy piece of stained wood.

Her hooves clopped together, and the party began.

Music, unlike any those around them had ever heard come from a pony, blared out from seemingly nowhere, a jazzy tune with an upbeat, drum laced tempo pulsating in the air. As if called by this music, the ground gave way as drier ground rose from seemingly nowhere, swallowing up the white in it's dusty embrace.

'This was a place I came to love in my long travel, it held many sounds that were such fun to unravel. Now I share this place with you, little foals. But do not worry, it's barren no longer and lacking hot coals! Watch now, and see what I saw on that faithful night. I think you'll agree, it's a special delight!'

The clouds gave way, revealing beneath them wondrous, sparkling stars. But these stars did not stay still, as the night sky should, instead they mixed, they mingled, swirled and shifted.
They danced.

Much like the zebra hopping from one hoof to another on top of her staff, the tempo of the music picking up and throbbing even louder with her every beat.

'Come children, and lose yourself in the trance. For this is not a night for gawking, it is for the dance!'

Sure enough, many began to join in, though doing little more than wild shuffling, mesmerized by the flashing creations and designs up above.

'Come children come, the nights just begun! Come children come, this is your night for fun!'

The music reached a fever pitch, invisible drums being beat at such speeds it sounded more like rhythmic vibrations. Louder, louder and louder still as they danced, losing themselves in just the feeling of being there, together, down below. No worries of adulthood, no fears of the beyond, simply being children, and dancing and playing as children do.

'Cast all your worries and your fears of what has been to the wind! Let it flow through you children, and let it all finally... end!'

The lights that went off when the drums finally stopped was nothing short of blinding, and rapturous. As the sounds and vibrations slowly came down, as did the zebra from her perch, she could not help but notice her crowd so full at the beginning had grown much... smaller.

But still not all of them.

>...wow...

"Wow."

[Wow.]

~...we could have done that...~

She briskly rejoined the others, not looking winded or tired in the slightest, nor a single drop of sweat on her brow.

And, to be sure, some in there were checking quite closely for that.

>That was... impressive...

'We thank you for your words so kind. But we would like a break if you do not mind.'

~...You, mayor, your turn.~

"Me?"

~Yes, you. Do something.~

"Oh... uh... Ah ha!"

POP!

"HEY KIDS! IT'S DOUBLE M THE CLOWN!"

(YAYYYYYYYYYYYY!)
(THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER!)
(IT'S THE ONLY CLOWN I'VE EVER MET THAT DOESN'T MAKE ME WANT TO WET MYSELF!)
(OR SMELL OF SHAME AND UNFORTUNATE ADULT STUFF!)

'...That wig so ugly, and that hair so bight... isn't that the costume from nightmare night?'

"SHH!.... Who wants to see me hit this guy in the face with a pieeeee?"

(WE DO! WE DO!)

>Wait wha-

SPLAT!

"Strap in, Niney, this is gonna be a long night... OH NO! Mister rubber chicken is all stiff? How am I gonna loosen him up?"

(HIT HIM! HIT HIM!)

"YOOOU HEARD HIM!"

SLAP!

>I DO NOT LIKE THIS!

~...we do...~

"UH OHHHH! Mr Pandaman! Whatever is the problem? You look so grumpy, doesn't he look grump kids?

(YEAH!)

(WANKER LOOKS TICKED!)

>Why is there someone in an obvious panda costume coming towards me?

"You know what he needs, kids?"

(What!?)

"He needs a biiiiig old hug, isn't that right assistant buggy?"

>Wait what are you- OH SWEET HIVEMIND NO-

CRUNCH

>WHY ARE THE TEETH REEEAL!?

"Just hug it out, assistant buggy! Right kids?"

(HUG THE SHIT OUT OF HIM!)

>LanguuuAAAAAAGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEE!

~...so much...~

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NC
>AJ
"Dash"
'Spitfire'
~~~

>....

"..."

'...hello, princesses...'

>...Spitfire?

'Yep?"

>What's in the bag?

'Oh, this? This is uh... something I found on the ground and felt was my civic duty to clean up fooorrrr you!'

"It smells like-"

'That's because it is.'

>Why were ya' bringin' it ta' mah' doorstep?

'...Couldn't find a trashcan?'

"Why is it on fire?"

'Well, like I said, couldn't find a trashcan, and you weren't opening it, so I had to get rid of it somehow...'

>...
"..."

'...That's my story.'

>Ya'll realize Ah' can have ya' arrested right-

SPLAT!
FWOOSH!

>OH SWEET MERCIFUL APPLEFUCKS NO! NOOOO! IT'S IN MAH HAIR!... AND MAH HAIR IS ON FIRE!

"HEY! Not cool! I am so going to kick your-"

SPLAT!
FWOOSH!

"WHY DID YOU HAVE TWO!?"

'One for you, 'Dashie'! ONE FOR YOU!'

>YA'LL ARE SO ARRESTED!

'Can't touch me in the Empire, BITCHEEESSSS! ENJOY LICKING EACH OTHER'S DIRTY LAUNDRY!'

ZOOOM!
...
Bloop!

>FUCK!

"YOU THINK SHE'S STILL MAD!?"

>AH'M PICKIN' UP CONTEXT CLUES, YEAH!

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>Fizzle
"Flash"
'???'

>Okay, so there it is!

"Yes!"

>The big dumb tent!

"The big dumb-CORRECTION: INANIMATE OBJECTS CANNOT EXPRESS INTELLI-Ergh! ...tent."

>Now all we gotta do is get in there and get fatso to be pissed off at the Blackfeathers so he votes for the Af Gryphle...Af Graffy...Af Graph Papers. Whatever. The royal guys!

"Uh huh."

>...you're distracted.

"Little bit."

>What by?

"Them."

The former guard points his chainsaw at a gang of gryphons making their way through the bustling tent city towards the massive central encampment. They are clad in black armor, each carrying weapons ranging from swords, to axes, to revolvers, to one specimen toting a rifle. Their intent glares at the tent spell out their goal.

>...did...did what's his face know about this?

"DATA WITHHELD...no."

>Shiiiit. Okay, uhhh...follow my lead!

The dragon (his partner in crime in tow) scrambles over to block the path of the Blackfeathers.

>Afternoon, hail and well met and other old timey words!

'...whaddya want?'

>You guys are with the Blackfeather Clan, right?

'...yeah, what of it?'

"We're mercenaries, we got sent to help out."

'...uncle Barney didn't say nothin' about mercenaries.'

>...Uncle Barney?

'Barnabus Blackfeather.'

>Oh wow.

"We were sent by your friends a WINK Industries, to NUDGE our pals in the tent to vote correctly."

'...right. Actually, we're just gonna kill them all and make it look like they turned their weapons on each other.'

>...each other? The Cloudwings turned their weapons on each other?

'Not just the Cloudwings. You know who else is in there?'

"Enlighten us."

The Blackfeather smirked, looking over at another group of gryphons nearby, clad in the colors of the royal family.

>...oh.

"Fffffff-"

'Hm?'

"-fffortunate for us! Yeah. But come on, we need to-FOCUS STEALTH IMPERATIVE-ahem, do this a little more low-key right? Why not have your little gang here cause trouble with those guys to run interference while we slip in there with you and a few of your guys. Use the scalpel instead of the axe."

>Yeah, scalpel the shit outta them!

'...hmm...well you guys do look like professionals.'

"JUDGE OF CHARACTER RATING: UNACCEPT-gah! Thank you! That is what I meant to say!"

>Yes, we toootally know what we're doing.

'Alright. Paul, take five of your raiders and run interference. The rest of you with me, the robot guy, and the melting dragon.'

>Hey!

'What?'

>I'm working on that, don't judge.

'Right. Let's kill some bastards!'

The lead gryphon grins and begins making his way to the tent with his goons, Fizzle and Flash share a worried look before following along.

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NC
>AJ
"Dash"
'Spitfire'
~~~~~

>Ah'm thinkin' Ah' might be a little worried as ta' the mental state of a certain yellow pegasus.

"The fact you're not talking about the one with the power to summon chaos beings and has other voices in her head is worrying me."

>We do know this was her, right?

"Nooo, it was probably some other super fast yellow blur that dropped all these mousetraps in front of our desks."

>...It could'a been.

"Well, screw this, if this is her taunting me? She's as dumb as she ever was."

>Dash, Ah' feel like, as a former wonderbolt, she is well aware that mah'self and ya'll can-

"Up up and away-OH SHIT OH SHIT"

SNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAP!

"ALL OF THEM! I MANAGED TO HIT ALL OF THEM!"

>High score?

"..."

>Sorry.

"WHEN DID SHE PUT A RUBBER BAND ON MY WINGS!?"

>Huh... well, now that Ah' know what ta' look out fer', Ah'll just reach back and pull it off and be on mah-wellshoot-

SNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAP

"...A-Aj? Applejack? You didn't scream, and that is somehow the most worrying part of this."

>She sawed the leg ta' mah chair, Dash. She sawed the leg ta' mah chair.

"...You are being really calm about it, did you just miss-"

>No, Ah' did not.

"...AJ?"

>This. Means. War.

ZOOM!

'BRING IT!'

"OH DEAR FAUST SHE HAS ANOTHER BOX-"

SNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPENSNAPSNAP

"FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-"

>...hrn...krn... hrk!... so Ah' should just not bother mailin' ya' an invite ta' Big Mac's birthday?

'I'm busy that day, whatever it is.'

>Doin'?

'More of this, mostly. MEEP MEEP!'

ZOOM!

>...Touche.

"FUCKING ALICORN POWERS!"

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>13
"Chitania"
'Sweet Note'
~~~~~

>So uhhh... have fun, mom?

"I had fun."

>You look like you had fun.

'Why is it so scary when she smiles?'

>Because that is your soul, Sweet Note, that is your soul being drained and you can feel it.

'...I'm afraid.'

"No need to be, my Titan Power is back, as it should be."

'...Like it could'a been a month ago?'

"..."

'Just sayin'!'

>She's right you know. You could've been fixed and rich.

'Well, she's already rich-'

>It's not going to last forever.

"Mrh."

>Uh uh...

"...Do you want to get your hair done?"

'YES! YES YES!'

>Seriously?

"You... liked it when you got your hair done."

>Well, yeah, but I was...

"..."

>...thinking of trying it in a new style, and I'm worried others will thing it will look bad?

"Who cares if others think that? You do not need to care what they think."

>Oh yeah? Like you do not?

"I do not."

>Promise to get your hair done too and I'll try it.

"..."

>...

'..u-uhhh-'

"Very well."

'WHAT!?'

>...holy shit...

"Are you coming or not?"

'YES!'

>I have got to see this...

"Obviously, the agreement is you get it done too, is it not?"

>...Yeah it is.

"Then clearly you will come."

>...thanks mom...

"Hrm..."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OOCO
>AJ
"Rarity"
'???'
[???]
~~~~

>Rassafrass... stupid Shiny keepin' me up all night... friggen, Ah' don't care iffin' there ain't no room in the bed, ya' ain't gotta come down here and mixin' up mah room with Cellys! They're across the dang hall! How do ya' even do that!?...OOF!

"OOF!"

>...

"..."

>...Rarity, now what do ya'll think yer' doin'?

"Oh, noting much, just thought I would enjoy a nice relaxing shower, that's all."

>Well, Ah' would hate ta' get in yer' way for that, but Ah' notice ya' made a small mistake as ta' the location of where exactly this here bathroom is.

"Oh, did I? How silly of me, I'll just head down to-oh ho hoo! Wait just a moment, that's right, there is a giant hole in my bathroom wall! A rather large, dragon shaped hole! Do you know anything about that? He said it was due to a misplaced kick, and I know you just love your kicking!"

>...they're sensitive...

"Well, if this is quite done-"

>Ohhhh no, fine, ya'll can have it, but AFTER me, Ah'm not waitin' out here fer' two hours. Ah'm a 'get in and get done' kinda gal, yer a 'get in and just take yer' sweet time' kinda gal.

"Well yes, but I don't see what that has to do with... oh, you meant the shower."

>Move.

"Nooo, you move.

>Move.

"Mooove, darling.

>...

"..."

>"NGH!"

SHOVE!

>...
"...You had to have seen this coming."

>Been hittin' the sweets, have ya'?

"Hello, pot, I'm kettle. Why yes, I am black!"

>NGH!... Shake yer' dang rear!

"I'm shaking! It's mostly you!"

>Shut up!

'...uh, is it too late to use this shower?'

>Spike!?

"Oh, Spikey-wikey! Thank goodness!"

>Sugar cube, Ah' need ya' ta' get behind us and start pushin'!

"Just grab whatever you can and shove!"

'...I need an adult.'

[You rang?]

'Pinkie! Thank goodness! Film this, I want this memory forever!'

[Can do!]

>...

"...What do you suppose he means by thaaAAAAT! EEP!"

>Well, those claws are goin' ta' weird places... push harder dang it!

'I LOVE MY JOB!'

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NC
>Spike
‘Chrysalis’
“???”
[???]
+SA+

Spike approached the office of Shining Armor many questions in mind.

‘Lizardo.’

>Bug.

‘What brings you here?’

>I need to have a chat with my brother. You?

‘Daily appointment.’

>Messing up Shiny’s papers?

‘That’s the one.’

>…

‘…’

>Mind if I go first? It’s kind of important and I don’t really want to watch you…’work’

‘HAH! Look at you being all polite! Sorry, but I’m not going to wait on you and whatever pointless ‘talk’ you want to have. I have a schedule!’

>Running your ass over Shiny’s desk at 2, brutal despotism at 3, self-aggrandizing monologue at 4, failed proposition at 5, start it all over after dinner?

‘Please, the propositions aren’t scheduled, they’re constant! Besides, what are you doing? Moping, then whining, then brooding, then perving, then continuing to be a waste of everyone’s time?’

>Look, I JUST-
+AHH!!!!!+

>’SHINY!’

Bursting through the door they are just in time to see an unfamiliar crystal unicorn teleport out.

‘Oh HELL NO!’

Immediately green flames flicked around her as she moved out, in too much of a hurry to care about the hitchhiker who stepped into her circle.

<FWOOSH.>

***

<FWOOSH!>

‘Where the hell is-‘

<BANG!>

>’AH!’

A bright light blinded them both.

<KAPORT>

>Dammit! Where’d he go!?

‘Lizardo!?’

<hsssssh>

‘Whazzat..I feel…funny..’

Spike’s vison cleared while Chrysalis’ blurred.

>GAS! Stop Breathing!

‘You’d like that wouldncha ‘ya little….little…hee-hee you’re purple!’

>…crap.
<Whir-click>

<Whir-click>

“Target Located.”

>Oh good. Now robots.

A half dozen metallic forms resembling diamond dogs surrounded the pair as the gas began to dissipate. Allowing Spike to take in the dark interior of the stone chamber they found themselves in Lit primarily by lichen high above.

He had little time to appreciate it though as the enemy lunged as one. With little time to prepare he fell back on his claws to defend himself, slamming a knife claw through the chest of one and launching the remains into a second.

A third caught him from behind with a haymaker knocking him to the floor.

As it leapt at him with something he couldn’t make out in hand he blasted it with flame turning it to slag.

Chrysalis meanwhile was rocking back and forth on her legs narrowly and nimbly dodging every blow the other three tried to land. Seemingly erratic movements of her fore-hooves somehow delivering devastating blows.

With her keeping them occupied Spike saw opportunity in the form of a nearby boulder which he hoisted over his head and lobbed at a fourth smashing it flat just as it was preparing for another round.

As he did so Chrysalis kicked out with her back hooves decapitating the fifth, did a pirouette on one leg and brought her remain leg down on the last splitting it in two.

>Well I guess that’s that. Chrysalis how are you-

<THWIP>

<THWIP>

Two small darts flew out of the darkness embedding themselves one each into the pair.

‘AH! SHIT! What’s is that!’

>OW! …You back to normal!?

[Indeed she is my dear little tag along]

A voice echoed from all around them and high above them a projector began beaming an image on a nearby wall. The image of an unconscious Shining Armor with a gun to his head.

[Those tags contain the antidote to the gas along with a tracker. After all, what fun is a game when your opponents can’t think straight?]

>Game!?

[…Yes. Look, do you mind? The adults are talking.]

‘Nope! I’m just gonna’ kill you!’

The green flicker of fire flight began to encircle her.

[Stop right there or I’ll paint the walls with his brain.]

‘HAH! Do that and I’ll have not reason not to kill you…slower I mean.’

[And what if I shoot him…here?]

The gun moved down to his crotch.

‘…you wouldn’t dare.’

[and why not? I’ve no interest in killing him or even harming him…but you will play my game.]

‘…what game?’

[The most dangerous game of course! I’m going to hunt you down and kill you, then add you to my collection! I’ve hunted most everything else…a changeling queen…oh you’ll make my ultimate prize!]

[Ah but games have rules. I have only one: no teleportation. Otherwise, do whatever you like. Struggle. Fail. It will make the kill all the sweeter. Fair warning your tagalong there is also fair game…a whelp is of little challenge but meh, one more for the collection. The game begins…now]

Projector switched off leaving them in only the gentle glow of the lichen…and the decidedly violent glow of the queen’s eyes.
‘Hunting me? Oh no sir…YOU are being hunted.’

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Gwen
"Isabelle"
'??'
[??]
~~

"May I again point out this was a bad idea?"

>May I again point out that if you keep cawing like a wounded crow then I will be forced to put you down like such?

"You are more than welcome to try, but I would like to again remind you that, as an outsider with shall we say, less than fulfilling bloodlines, it would be unwise to challenge a true blooded Af Gryphonian."

>Be so kind as to give me a handicap, then. It shall cut down on how long it takes me to silence you permanently.

Such had been the extent for most of the dialog between the Queen of Af Gryphonia and the Duchess of Buzzard bay, and any who thought it would have been any different would have been fools. Likewise, any who would have thought the other would act on such threats would have been even greater fools. There was business to be done for their family line, and no light barbs would ever come close to being powerful enough to tear the matriarchs from duty.

The pair had not taken long to find the settlement of who they sought, which doubled as both this base of operations and transportation all in one nifty package. In fact, when the thing had rolled up to their fair city, they doubted those in the next country over could have heard it's squealing, groaning arrival. A strange thing of iron and rusted bolts, looking like something quite archaic, even though they had never seen anything like it before. Steam spouted from every other interlude of the endless spiderweb pipes that slithered all around the glorified giant, dometopped metal box, helping to moisten the dirt below and sink it's massive tracks even deeper into the already depressed mud. It had been a nightmare to get the thing over here, that was plain as day from the torn ground behind it, and at this rate it was going to require nothing less than full on excavation to free it.

>Well, at least he rolls in style.

"The sad part is, I don't know if this is something a brute like you would consider stylish."

To say the guards outside of the thing were not overly imposing would be to undersell it by quite a bit. Far from the greatest soldiers the gryphon race had ever crafted, and more ones who seemed the rejects of the rejects. Certainly strong looking, that was to be sure, but that was all they had going for them. Most of them looked as if they were auditioning for a horror play, and that the only real challenge would be picking the ugliest one of the bunch.

[That maaaster will see you now.]

Both found themselves idly wondering if the strange, hunchbacked diamond dog could even see out of his left eye so swollen by natures own cruel joke, and as such could not bring themselves to spout their own at the poor things expense.

The massive, overly burly arms helped this choice as well.

They felt unease when the massive metal door opened wide, and the iron and bronze along the walls scraped and groaned to give them access. It was only with a hint of hesitation, and several covert signals to their guards, before they followed the limping, shambling thing.

What they saw inside was nothing what they could have expected.

Like stepping less through a gaping hole and more through some sort of magic portal, it seemed they had stepped right into a heavily fortified room of science ripped right from some terrible castle of legend. Beakers of colored bubbling liquids foamed everywhere, tubes all along the ceiling and floors that seemed to go nowhere, a thousand sounds of spinning mixtures being spun, and the distinct horrid smell of chemicals and other such... unfortunate smells filled their very nostrils.

And there, in the middle of it, basking in the filtered light coming down from the tinted black dome was none other than the one they sought. The most well known shutin in all of gryphon kind, who was as well known for eccentricities as he was known for never being seen, ever.

Flaconstein.

The disheveled, quite unkempt looking gryphon of strange grey head atop a pure white lower body that reminded them quite a lot of a scientists coat, complete with stains mingled in all along it that one would expect from someone with such a clear lack of use for personal hygiene.

Still, to his credit, he gave a mere halfhearted bow to them, even if this did have the unfortunate effect of causing his wings to ever so slightly brush more of those smells that way.

'Ahhh, my esteemed guests, how nice of you to visit me. I get so few of them you see, always too busy working on my advancements of all of gryphon kind to bother with such trivialities. Tell me, what brings you to my humble abode?'

>We are here to speak of your vote for our lineage to remain in power.

'Ahhh! Ahhh! Indeed, that seems to be the request of the hour, hmm hmm! So many visitors today with this request...'

The two matriarchs needed not to share a look with the other to know what they were thinking, and whom exactly had already shown their faces.

>Blackfeathers...

'And I shall tell you what I told them... do be kind and see to the door? The new age of the gryphons shall begin shortly, one of progress and innovation! I have no need for you, your riches or your... other offerings... so please, begone.'

Neither moved so much as an inch.

>I would really like to discuss the matter further than that.

'Witty! And I do so love a debate... And if I should choose not to accept even when you are done?'

>Then we leave, clearly.

'Ahhhh... quite more sane than I was expecting. Do calm yourself, Idog, you will not need to handle this pair. They're a saner lot than the other ones.'

They had both heard the beast approaching from behind, of course, but thought it best to wait until the proper moment to take off it's head. From the sound of it shuffling away, a grinding of metal on the floor of some unseen weapon in it's grasp following along with it, it seemed such would not be an issue.

With the beast gone, the quite unsteady fellow took one of his many stools, and sat it down upon it in front of him.

'Now... what exactly do you think you can offer me to sway my rock hard mind?...hmmm?'

When his gaze shifted, lingering on Isabelle, she couldn't help but feel her feathers and fur raise in offense and disgust.

>...Isabelle?

A rough, sharp talon snagged hold of the Queen's neck, brining her in for a hissing, biting whisper beyond the hearing of their 'esteemed host'.

“I have already allowed myself to be shipped off and bred with an inferior line once before, Gwendolyn, I swear if this was your idea to barter with him I will tear off your head. I swear, I would rather be given off to my damn nephew Siegfried to bear his heir than this again! One time was plenty! I know that Idris would never do this to me twice, so if it turns out to be you...”

She was serious, quite deathly so, and Gwen had no reason to believe otherwise.

>First off, would you really say no? His residence is quite a lot more lavish than Buzzard Bay.

Ever so slightly, the grip tightened.

“Gwendolyn...”

>Second, do be calm, that option was never on the table, from what I've heard he's not that sort to be interested in you.

“I am a beauty of the Af Gryphonian line, what do you mean, 'not of that sort'?”

>I mean, do you see any heirs running around?

She noticed, quite quickly indeed, that no, none such were to be seen.

“...Oh.”

'Oh ho ho! So you've heard the rumors? Welllll, there's a bit of fun, isn't there? Am I as those vultures say, or am I merely one who has no such time for anything of the sort.'

This time, the look they shared had a bit of a point to it.

>...Former?

“Former.”

He huffed ever so slightly, but they heard no denials.

'If you're trying to think of ways to make me seem weak, you will have to do better than that. My lineage is quite strong, I'll have you know!'

The pair snapped apart, back to being prim and proper.

>We never made claims otherwise, and would not be exerting such force or effort into this if we thought so.

'Very well... I have yet to hear an argument, though. Debates are normally done with speaking, yes?'

A keen, eagle-like eye scanned the room, looking all around for any sign of madness, or weakness. She found none, but what she found instead...

>Do tell me, Falconstein, what is it that you have been working on?

He hopped up, suddenly as eager as a school child.

'Welllll, if you MUST know....'

He dashed over, grabbing hold of the edge of a sheet before pulling it away and proudly displaying a rather large, blocky device, easily as big as a large carriage.

'BEHOLD! My greatest creation for travel! I call it-'

>A steam engine?

He deflated like a balloon, arms slowly lowering to his sides and letting his claws rest at his hips.

Rest before grabbing hold of two long, tube like weapons, that is.

'...how did you know about that!? Have you been stealing my designs!? SPIES?! Have infiltrated me with SPIES!? MY WORK!? MY WORK HAS BEEN COMPROMISED!? YOU HAPRY!'

>Spies? What? We've had those for a while, they're actually really outdate... Oh my, what is that supposed to be?

He pointed the barrel as long as his thigh at her, claw itchy on the trigger.

'Oh ho hooo? This? Thiiisss... this is what I call an autonomous projectile device! Not to overload your brains with such brilliance, but it uses propulsion caused by an exploding mixture of power-'

>So, a gun.

'...a what now?'

>A gun.. a really crappy gun.

'CRAPPY!?'

>Yes, crappy. Why is the barrel so long?

'IT LOSES ACCURACY IF IT'S ANY SHORTER!'

>Mine doesn't.

'...henh?'

His pathetic, gobsmacked squawk just did not do it justice when she pulled out her own lavish, long silver weapon.

>Oh yes, friend of mine sent it to me. It's a little archaic, but-

'ARCHAIC!?'

He looked back and forth between them so rapidly his head was a blur. It was the most advanced thing he had ever seen. To hear it referred to as such... well...

'...F-fine! FINE! Just for you, just for youuuuuu, I shall call upon my greatest creation! My greatest weapon! BEHOOOLD!'

He flipped a positively massive switch, and the world became alive with screeches and whirrs of a machine.

Massive double doors as big as the structure pulled away, revealing a dark, dingy room lit only by a single fire. From inside.

~WHHRRRH! THUMPHISSSS!~.... WHRRRRHHH!THUMPHISSSS!~....

'Behold... his skin, the toughest iron! His brain, a series of controls of my design! His heart an unstoppable power! BEHOLD! MY GREATEST CREATION! A BEAST OF IRON! UNSTOPPABLE!

With every labored, slow step, the slightly above pony sized thing of iron plodded forwards with the speed of a snail. A snail running over salt, that is.

It tugged against the myriad of wires flowing into it, dragging them forwards with every robotic walk, moving with such a determination as to-

>Does that thing go any faster?

'F-fast!? Why does it need to be fast!? It's an impenetrable warrior! BE AMAZED! IT LOOKS LIKE A GRYPHON! But... IT IS A MACHINE!'

“Can it do rapid turns? The Duchess of Hawksway's one can spin on a dime, it's amazing.”

>Oh, I've seen those models, quite a sight. I like the ones that look like dragons, though.

“Those are quite amazing!”

To say that the poor things mind was shorting out simply did not do it justice. Had the pair of lady gryphons decided to cut open his mind and replace it with spoiled pudding, it would have been seen a kindness compared to what they did now. The looks of amusement they gave him wished for him to shrivel up, and die.

'...m-my creation... how... how did they get the design? I only finished it two weeks ago.'

It would have left them in stitches if watching him mope hadn't been just a little sad.

>...I take it you don't get out much? Or... hear things of the world, much?

'It is rather hard to get news in my land, and I don't listen to it anyway. I'm always in my lab, and I ignore the... the lesser beings.'

Both matriarchs shared a mirthfilled, playful look before walking up to him, coming to rest on either side.

>Ahhh... well, Falconstein... perhaps we could help each other after all. For you see, I have a contact in Fawntaine Industries, the most advanced company on the planet. Perhaps I can arrange a... meeting? She's quite receptive to new ideas, and quite high up to deals. You wish to take us into the new age, no? Surely we'd be better than the alternative...

'...T-that... that does sound rather nice, those Blackfeather brutes don't seem like they would be much for advancements.'

>Perhaps I can even show you some of my own robots, they're quite fun.

'You... you have robots?'

>Of course, I'm always looking to advance my peoples.

'...Oh.. oh yes, that sounds nice.'

>So... what do you say?

He looked over her with beaten, pleading, desperate eyes, so shamed at what he thought his every victory was that he just couldn't bring himself to tear away from her.

'...Well... I suppose hearing you out would be alright, I do love a good debate.'

“As do we all...”

All three paused when they heard a sudden thump below, and the sound of what sounded like claws.

>...Creating monsters?

'This... Fawntaine, they don't have those too, do they?'

>Actually...

"Are they at least as small as a dog? They're not bigger than a dog, right? Nobody has figured out that one...'

>...let me tell you about Centitrain... who is exactly what it sounds like...

He didn't know why, but Falconstein suddenly felt like weeping.

'I need to get out more.'

After a brief whiff through their nostrils, neither of them could argue that one.

'Tell me about this... Fawntaine...'

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Pommel
“???”
‘???’
~???~
[Guards]
_____

>…and that’s pretty much the high and low of it, gents. That’s an order straight down from the boss-mare herself, and while I personally think she’s flipped her apple, it’s not my place to dissuade her but assist how I can. And to do that, I need YOUR assistance. I need volunteers.

Before the last syllable could fully leave his mouth, the guards room exploded with protest.

[ABSOLUTELY NOT!]

[You couldn't pay me to do that, captain.]

[Well I can! Someone get me a pen and some parchment paper! …and about two days time!]

>…This needs to happen before two days are up. I mentioned that, weren’t you listening?

[That’s actually my point. I’m trying to drag this out until the deadline passes.]

[Top ha, my friend, top ha.]

>Top salary reduction, my friend, top salary deduction.

[HEY!]

[Look, let’s just face facts. This request is… it’s too much. I know we, the guard, have a bad stigma going around like ‘oh they’re so racist’ and other mutterings but, you know what, honestly, it’s a little hard to see those bugs as anything less than hostile, and I’m not even talking about their fangs and shit. They tried to take us over a year ago. Just… a year. My kid turned seven a year ago and she’s scared shitless of changelings. You know why? Because of what they did. That’d be like if I stabbed your marefriend, captain, and then someone told you to show me a good time. Would you do it?]

All the previous clamoring and barks of refusal died away in wait for the captain’s answer.

Unnaturally still, Pommel kept eye contact with the guard who questioned him. Then his eyes narrowed ever so slightly and he started to speak.

>I’ve… yet to be placed in such a situation so I’m unable to say how I’d truly act….

[So you don’t know what you’d do! How can you expect us to-]

>But hey, shirking away ain’t really what a captain is allowed do, now is it? So I’m going to give your question as honest an answer as I can. And that answer is this. I’d think whoever gave me the order had lost it.

[Yes, exactly!]



[You know this is going to fail!]

A hoof was lifted and the noise fell away almost instantly, a sign of progression in his status if ever Pommel wanted one.

>Still. Given an order like that, I would consider it from all angles. Apart from my own feelings, how would this help others? How would this improve things? What would be the gains, the loss? Because while I could be selfish and only think of myself, I made a pledge a long time ago that I would always do what’s best for the ponies. My ponies, the ones I promised to protect. With my life if the time ever comes. And to that end, to give my honest answer….

Eyes with a resolve hotter than magma seemed to strike every guard in the room even though Pommel only addressed the one from before.

>I would do as instructed and simply… believe. So I’ll ask again. I’m looking for three volunteers. If any wish to participate, speak up. If not, I’ll do it by myself. Either way, for the possible good of Equestria, we must continue to take chances. We must continue to take steps forward. We must continue… to fight for friendship.

Now having said his piece, Pommel settled down, his forehooves still flat against the table before him in wait.

A wait that unfortunately seemed to stretch on.

And on.

And on, until just the subtle ticks of some wall clock were the only noticeable sounds.

Yet, amazingly, Pommel thought no less of his guards. They all seemed to have come to a silent consensus, and he wasn’t about to try and dissuade-

“I’ll do it.”

>…

Try as he might, Pommel couldn’t hide the grin he felt lighting up his face when Haymaker strode forward, his hooffalls wildly magnified in the deepened silence.

>If I can be so nosy… what’s your reason, Maker?

The prison-watcher turned guard merely hunched a shoulder.

“Changelings… are just like ponies.”

Several demeaning snorts met that statement yet Haymaker continued as though hearing nothing.

“You have your good changelings, you have your bad changelings. Just like us. Just like any other race of creature. Dragon, diamond dog, griffon, whatever. There’s good ones and bad ones, but none have a monopoly with either side. I myself happen to know a few changelings who fall into the good category like Dadling, and Arana, and Twelve… and PJ.”

Carefully, almost methodically, Haymaker joined his captain by also placing his forehooves up on the table.

“For them, just to give them even the slightest chance that they, like all of us here, deserve, I’ll go along with this plan. I don’t particularly like it, but then again, I didn’t particularly like Blueblood either and he’s now one of my best friends.”

There was a slight pause, and then Haymaker chuckled, which sounded wholly out of place in a room so thick with tension.

“Besides, when best princess makes a call, how can I not answer it?”

>Heh, how indeed. Well alright then, that checks out with m-

~Count me in, too.~

The air shook with numerous gasps. Unlike with Haymaker, some relatively unknown stallion who got a jumpstart up the guard ladder because of a successful watching session and was thus viewed as superfluous by many, Sucker Punch actually had some pedigree within the ranks.

Nothing too big, of course, and that light had certainly diminished since his romps with that one easily triggered changeling… but still!

[Punch… really? You can’t be serious, man.]

[That changeling, she got to you, didn’t she? ‘Fess up.]

Without delay or preamble, Sucker Punch reared up to slam his hooves down on the table next to Haymaker.

~She suuuuure did! She got me something good, like you wouldn’t believe. She actually got me to see that changelings are indeed just like us, save for outer appearances. Some of them just want to have fun, like us. Though, I do find it worthy of concern that guards such as ourselves, as ponies sworn to protect and serve regardless of creed and whatnot, are acting this way, like changelings are the end all be all to evil.~

[THEY FUCKING SUCK OUT YOUR LOVE!]

[Heh, my wife does the same sometimes.]

[Heyoooooo!]

[But seriously! What part in any of that sounds even remotely not evil? Which part? No, fuck it, which syllable? I wanna know!]

‘Oh for the love of Celestia will you clods of pony puss SHUT THE HELL UP?!’

The table upon which the three stallions leaned on shook when another joined them, this one nearly taking the whole damn thing down when he joined his hooves with theirs.

[L-Lucky Strikes….]

‘I’ve listened to just about all I can take of this whining, this complaining, this foalish bitching! Celestia above when did the Solar Guard get reduced down to you sniveling lot? Abloobloobloo changelings are so evil and so scary and so nightmarish, while totally forgetting the fact that two of the most indestructible ones only care about marshmallows and ass!’

>He’s… he’s got a point, now that I think about it.

“That’s too funny….”

~I suddenly have this urge to meet the marshmallow one, we share a pretty delicious common interest.~

‘And while you all wax and wane about a takeover, did you forget that we can be just as bad, if not worse? We got ponies who can be ten times more horrifying and scary! At this very moment, here in this castle, ya’ know what we got? A stallion who tried to kill a princess. An actual princess. We got some looney tunes batshit crazy mare with more scalpels than a three-star hospital. Who is immune to sedatives strong enough to knock out a full-grown manticore, by the way. And we got a princess who once tried to trap her own kind in a neverending nightmare! We’re not talking about just one kingdom, either. She wanted the whole WORLD! And guess what we did? We FORGAVE her!’

>…

“…”

~…~

[…]

[…Well, I mean, Princess Luna does have a rather nice rea-]

‘Finish that sentence. I double-dog dare you, soldier.’

[-rrrrrrview of the moon from her place in the castle!]

‘Yeah, I’m sure she does.’

If there was one thing to be said about the long-time guard veteran that was Lucky Strikes, it was that he was never one to mince words. Or justice.

Truly, as Pommel glanced around the table at the gathered three, he realized that he did have some stellar guards under his command.

And with time, with patience, the others would come around….

[...I… y-you know what, that might be true but still, I’ll… if this actually goes well, what Princess Applejack wants, I… I guess I wouldn’t mind stopping by the ballroom every once in a while….]

[Like a little ‘how you doing’ to make sure they haven’t killed themselves, you know?]

[Yeah, I get that. Changelings are destructive as fuck, I’ve learned.]

[Gotta protect things like that, I suppose.]

[And Two IS cute….]

…because the truth was right there, budding like a shy flower.

Several shoulders were hunching, no one met eyes, the entire guards room held the awkwardness of a couple on their first date.

Forcing a blast of air from his nostrils, Pommel fixed his gathering with a steadying gaze.

>So… you three are the ones, then? Are you ready?

“Sure. I mean, shit, we’re only going to participate in a very fragile, stressfully tenuous mission to foster goodwill between ponies and changelings.”

~Right? Not like it’s anything serious.~

‘Walk in the park, lads. Smooth sailing.’

>Long as we keep that attitude, it’ll be just as Strikes said. A walk in the park. Now let’s get going, we’ve got a princess to meet.

~“‘Aye, captain!”’~

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Non-Canon
>Pinkie
"Rarity"
~~~~
>Welcome to Late Night /pa/ with your host Pinkie Pie! It's during this time that content doesn't matter and people get the pie they deserve! Now for our main guest...RARITY!!!
Applause

"A lovely night."
Pinkie picks her teeth with a toothpick.
"Must you do that now?"

>Sorry, I kind of bit something earlier. Ahem, how are you feeling now?

"Pardon?"

>Oh you know. When you took on cardboard copies of our friends. I was advised against having continuity, but I still want to check on you.

"Oh I'm feeling just fine. Thank you for asking Pinkie."

>I still feel bad for taking so long finding you when you were just in the bar in the back.

"If you want to make it up to me, how about inviting me to your dream house."

>You don't need an invite, silly. Just go ahead and barge in.

"In that case, I'd like a personal tour of your...private room."

>What? You mean the porn room?

"I wish you wouldn't say it like that, but...yes."

>Ohoho, I will then. That's all for tonight, but join me next time at my dream house with Rarity.
As pinkie waves, Rarity's eyes turn diamond shaped for a split second.

"I'm looking forward to it."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Fleetfoot
"???"
~~~~

She didn't know what she was doing here if she was being honest with herself.

She never came out anymore unless it was in a trenchcoat and wearing a comically oversized hat and sunglasses, never really spoke to anyone in her own natural voice, many times she considered just dying her coat and mane and seeing if she could at least walk normally that way.

She was bitter, obviously. Bitter that the pony everyone couldn't wait to be seen next to was now toxic to be seen in the same room as. She knew she had brought it on herself, knew the risks when this all had begun, but it never stopped stinging.

Except for times like these.

She was hidden away in the corner of the stadium's entryway, not daring to actually risk it and go up to one of the seats. None thought anything of her, and she didn't respond a word to any of the passerbys on their way to get concessions or what have you. Likely, nothing would have been able to tear her away from it anyway.

Tear her away from watching them fly, that is.

She knew a part of this was sort of sick, in hindsight. Pathetic even, that she would be sitting here, watching the Wonderbolts fly by with wonder. Watching them perform the stunts she had drilled into them while Dash was still fighting mountains of paperwork, instantly noting when they got something wrong, and feeling a bit of elation when they nailed something perfect.

Soarin' wouldn't want to come with her. He still felt so sad when he got around the stadium that he often would take needlessly labyrinthine routes around it just to avoid being near it, just to avoid even the vendors who sold food like that.

But she still, as pathetic as it was, wanted to be here, wanted to watch them fly. Wanted to watch them succeed, or fail, but think no less of them regardless. She wanted to see what the Wonderbolts could do.

Even if it was without her.

"And just what do you think you're doing here?"

Her heart literally seized in her chest when she heard the voice, that damned voice that had haunted her for who knows how long... even if it was for a very good reason.

She tried shuffling herself a little further into her disguise, hoping against hope that she had by some miracle been speaking to anyone else, anyone at all, but it was no use. She felt a hoof on her shoulder that spun her around, and brought her face to face with that damned cyan frown she was so used to seeing all the time.

"I said, what do you think you're doing here?"

>...I bought a ticket.

The useless scrap of paper was batted away before she even finished bringing it up, and the bundle of anger got even closer to her already wincing face.

"Not the point, Fleetfoot, what are YOU, doing HERE."

>...I was just watching.

A hoof jammed into her chest, and hissing growls sputtered out from between clenched teeth.

"You are not allowed anywhere near these guys."

She tried to shove back, but it was pointless. She simply couldn't muster the strength to do anything.

>... I was just watching, none of them even come over here-

"FLEETFOOT!"

Her backside met cold, solid cloudsdale cloud, and she could back up no longer.

"You are not allowed anywhere near MY Wonderbolts!"

>...You didn't say I was banned from the spectator part of the stadium-

"That's because I didn't think I needed to! I thought you had at least one single solitary braincell in that empty head of yours to figure it out on your own! But I guess not! Guess I overestimated you, again! Fine, you want to play it that way? You're banned from any single part of any stadium! You want me to ban you from the streets if we're performing up there? I'll do it! I'll corner you off so far the only place in this whole continent that'll accept you is the Yaks! Got it!?"

She tried not to let it show how much being cut off like this hurt her, tried not to let her see it, just so she didn't give her the satisfaction of knowing she managed to hit her right in the core, and knew she had no way to challenge her or fight back, and no moral standing to do so either.

The words hurt, of course, but nothing hurt quite like knowing it was all your fault, and you couldn't blame a single other pony in the world.

"Got it!?"

>...Can I finish watching this show?

"NO!"

The shout rattled through the empty hallway, stinging her ears as the echo reverberated both in her head, and down right into the pit of her stomach.

"You're OUT, Fleetfoot! Out out! You're not poisoning my Wonderbolts with any of your stuff, either with your stupid ideas OR that thing that we BOTH know you caused. They're going to achieve and be the best, and they're not going to get 'boosts', thank you! They don't need it!"

>Neither did I.

The hoof shoved her harder, twisting just a bit to spiral the fabric and her coat beneath it in her grasp.

"No, you had whole other reasons why you never had what it took to be a Wonderbolt. You needed something else, but too bad, it didn't come in a damn pill or needle."

She noticed, needing to look at anything but those angry eyes, that Dash's ears had flicked back. She was preparing, she was expecting some sort of loud, screaming rebuttal. Normally, Fleetfoot would give it to her, give her all she's got just so that she left on at least a note that left an impact, left on a note that Dash would actually remember.

But this one time, she just couldn't manage. She just couldn't build up her cocky, winning attitude and let it all out like she so wanted. She couldn't. It just wasn't in her.

>...Okay.

That was it, a single, solitary, dead word. One little word, one single movement of her own hoof to push Dash's away, just one. That's all she had in her, before she began to walk away.

"What, that's it?"

She should have looked back to Dash, to the almost derisive, spiteful look she was giving her, but she didn't. She looked back to the skies, just in time, just barely in time to see them fly by.

Just one last glimpse of the Wonderbolts.

"I said, that's it?"

She turned away again, and continued on her path. Into the dark hallway that would lead her outside, covering her face again, hiding it, doing her best to shield away what had been something she had so proudly displayed.

"Not even going to call me a bitch or something?"

Her pace picked up, slightly faster this time.

"Not even going to tell me how you could do it better?"

She would have run if the trenchcoat hadn't been so heavy, so impossible to get a good rhythm in.

"That's it!?"

She stopped, just on the edge of the light leading to the outside, she stopped. The very tip of the suns rays edging towards her hooves.

>...Yeah, I guess that's it, isn't it? It's... it's not like I'd get another chance, would I? I mean, if Spitfire didn't... what hope do I have? You made it pretty clear, Dash, If you're out, you're out. I get it, and... I'm out. I'm done... that's it.

"It's your own damn fault!"

She didn't argue that. Dash was clearly trying to get her to argue that, but she couldn't. It was true. It was all true.

>...wasn't lying you know, with that part before you said it, but... that's it.

Without another word, without another thought, without daring to look back and see them fly once more, she stepped out into the streets, and in seconds was lost in the crowds.

Behind her, Rainbow Dash could only stand, completely lost. She had been primed for a fight, she had been ready to lay out exactly why she was right and Fleetfoot was wrong. She had hyped herself up for it, if she was being honest, for a satisfying if one way bout when she took down Fleetfoot again, once and for all.

This was hollow, and empty. And now that her temper had simmered down from the raging inferno it had been when she had seen that traitor dare to show her face around the team she had nearly brought to ruin, she felt a little cold.

"...This was the right thing."

She assured herself, she held on to that like it was a liferaft, this was the right thing. It was the only time to ever really be rid of Fleetfoot she was ever going to get, and if she let the mare off now she'd never be rid of her. This was her one shot, and she had to take it. This was right, this was as it should be. Sure, she lost Soarin', and that was a tragedy, but the important part was getting rid of that mare. That was all that mattered, finally getting rid of the bad element. That mare.

That mare who had come up after her humiliation, bought a ticket, and just wanted to see a show...

"...This was the right thing to do. I had to get rid of her."

This time, she felt it, even if it wasn't in her tone. A tiny, tiny little thing, left off, hidden away.

A tiny little question mark on the end of that line.

"It's what a captain is supposed to do..."

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