Thread 90: Stories 16-30

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>Luna
"Applejack"
'Pennydrop'
~~~~

>Thou comes across a strange temple, a structure hidden out in the middle of the edge of the world... what is that? Hark! Inside you hear a screaming, a noise of a struggle! But oh no! Only mages can enter into this pla-

"Nope."

>You're just going to leave them!?

"Yep, ain't playin' that game."

>...what?

"Ah' said-"

>Are thou sure?

"Totally sure, so iffin' ya' don't mind-"

>Well, if you insist.

"Ah' do, as a matter o' fact! Party! Let's turn around and..."

'Hello, mage.'

"...How long have ya'll been standn' there?"

The you looking mare didn't say anything, only shrugged.

"Well, what do ya' want?"

'You're running away.'

"...Oh, oh Ah' get it. Whelp, yep! Sure am-"

'Because you're a fake.'

"...S'cuse me?"

'You're a fake, 'mage'.'

"Actually? Right on the nose! Was meant fer' the barbarian role, actually. But SOMEBODY had ta' stick her nose in where it didn't belong."

'Yes, I suppose she did.'

"...Come again now?"

The mare began to circle her, looking her over with a disdainful eye.

'You were never meant to hold real power, were you? No... you were always meant just to hit things, to hit them as hard as you could and hoped that fixed everything. You're only good for the physical aspect, not the power side.'

"...Well, Ah' suppose that's sorta true-"

'Because even when some higher being actually decides that, hey, maybe it'd be worth it to give you, just little old you, a power that very, very few have, you decide 'well I didn't want it in the first place'. She didn't take away your strength, she didn't take away any of your abilities, no, she just gave you the option to expand and get even more. But you'd prefer if you didn't, you'd prefer if you just hit things.'

"...yer' not gonna turn me around."

'And now, here we are, outside of a cathedral filled with screams of pain, and yet you, being the only one granted the power to do something about it, decide 'meh, I'd rather not be railroaded.' You'd rather throw away what any in those towns would kill for just to make a point.'

"..."

'So, Applejack the Barbarian, I will not turn you around, I will not stop you, and in fact I'm not even going to say another word after this, I'm going to wander off into the woods and I'm not even going to see what choice you made. Because I don't have to. I know what you said is absolutely, totally true, and I will not argue with you. I know that...'

She came in, nice and close.

'You were right, and she made a mistake.'

And then she turned around and walked off into the woods, just as she said she would. Never looking back, just like she said she would.

"...Dang it."

Pity. If she had looked back, she might've seen Applejack reluctantly enter the building, and then heard the sounds of battle shortly thereafter.

>...Wow.

'Huh. Didn't actually think she would go in.'

>What was that?

'Oh, nothing.'

>..Thou art rather good at this.

'Ponies, Princess Luna, you'll find can be quite predictable if you push the right buttons.'

>...

'...Or so I've been programmed... beep boop.'

>...Computer, never say anything of this, but we are beginning to fear our sisters old student.

'Oh, it's not her you should be afraid of....'

>...

'...It's, uh... hoofrot. Terrible affliction, gotta keep ahead of that. Hoooeee, the images I could show you... in my server, because I'm a computer.'

>...

'...Beep boop.'

>Well, we're convinced.

'...Uh... huh...'

>...

'...Lets set the dragon on fire again.'

>Now thou art talking!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >SA
"Cadence"
'Celestia'
~Chrsysalis~
[42]
{18}
+Twilight+
~~~~~

>We're lost.
"We are not lost!"
'You're right, we're really lost.'
~All of the lost.~
[...]
{She doesn't want to say it, but lost.}
+...We're lost.+

"We are not! My fairy's skills include, and I am quoting here, 'always knowing the way'! So I know the way!"

~The way to get lost that is.~

"YOU HUSH! I can so find the way!"

~The way to being even more lost.~

"Forty Two, tell her she's lost."

[No.]

>"'{+...Wait, what?+}"'

[Erm... ahem. If she says we're not lost, and it is within her abilities, then we're not lost.]

+...Did she just...+

~But we clearly are lost. Look for yourself.~

[I stand by it.]

~...Fine, Forty Two, if you trust it so much, then why don't you go on ahead.~

[Okay.]

Without another word, she trudged forwards amidst shocked, or in Chrysalis's case quite hard, gazes.

And then she vaporized right before their eyes.

>FUCK!

"OH SHIT!"

'Did she just get vaporized!?'

+It must've been a hidden trap or something!+

~HAH! Told you so!~

>NOT THE TIME!

"OH FUCK I THOUGHT I WAS RIGHT NO NO NO THIS ISN'T-"

[It's just a hidden room.]

>"'{+~....~+}'"

She came back, re materializing before their eyes.

[See? Hidden room, looks like there's a shortcut back up in there.]

~...~

"Ahem... HAH!"

~....You win.~

"DAMN RIGHT I DO!"

She skipped past, giving a brief pat on the shoulder to 42 as she did.

"Still the best! Thanks Forty Two!"

>'{+~....~+}'

[What?]

>Uh... nothing I guess. Onwards?

[Of course.]

With that, she joined Cadence in the lead.

~...Come then, still a lot of adventure to do.~

Shortly, Chrysalis joined them, an odd look on her face.

>...So did anyone else think that was weird-

'{+YES+}'

>Just checking.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>29
"MM"
'Zecora'
~~~~

>From the depths beyond, till the light yet to be, to the end of the earth and the song we sing amidst their glorious burning of the stars last lights! To you I call! To the sight beyond what can be see I seek! To the grandest of luminance of the very soul that burns in mine body of flesh and chitin! TO YOU I CAST THIS SPELL!

*Fzzzt*

>CURSES!

"You know, this book says you don't need to chant anything with the spells."

'Indeed, and I will spell it out. 'merely casting is what this spell is about'.'

>I am merely adding flair to it!

"Oh no no, I'm fine with the sexy talk, sexy talk is just... just the best. Definitely okay with sexy talk, just, you know... not necessary."

>Lies! All speeches are necessary!

"If you say so."

'Well come down from that hill, you have yet another bill.'

>Oh for the love of... Damn you, cousin! Must you break so much stuff in that blasted training session!?

"He's made for breaking stuff."

>Ugh. Tis speaks to us that hundreds of the souls of the dead do not cause me such grief as he does living.

"Speaking of, anyone around? I didn't see a flash."

>No, that would be pointless, this is to SUMMON them.

"...Point. So... wanna go back to Zecora's hut?"

>...

'...'

>...Did thou get more of the good stuff?

'The best stuff, and just enough.'

>Oh, how I wonder what my life would be like without thee...

"...So why are you teaching your cousin to fight?"

>He dreams, marey, he dreams!

"..."

>And also his wibbling is just... very hard to say no to.

"Thaaaat's what I wanted to hear. Come on, lets go ride the cloud pony."

>...

"Little outdated?"

'Little bit.'

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>AJ
"Luna"
'Pinkie'
[Dash]
{Rarity}
~Spike~
(Fluttershy)
-Poindexter-
+PD+
~~~
We join our…heroes? As one of their mighty number rolls around on the ground trying to extinguish flames which had, inexplicably, caught on to him.
~That’s it! I’m DONE!~
Spike stood up.
~POINDEXTER!~
-…yeah?-
~Are you done!?~
-Not sure what you mean…-
~Are. You. Done. With. This. Bullshit!?~
-You mean the game? The game we’re still playing?-
~I Do Indeed. Specifically, Are You Done Screwing Around~
Poindexter blinked, confused.
-Not quite sure how you mean…-
~GAH! Look man, I’m a DM, You’re a power gamer, and Luna’s never played before. But somehow she has forced me into cursed armor, with a cursed weapon, a friggin’ cursed dick enhancer, and now she’s set me on FIRE! I. AM. DONE. The only question is, are you with me?~
-…I’m not sure I like where this is going-
~We can break it. We know how. We’ve played nice until now for the sake of the others but We. Can. Break. This. Shit. Full Henderson.~
-gasp! You spoke the name! Why would you speak that name!?-
~Because it can be ours. It can all be ours Dex. Join me, and together we can rule this game as Dragon and Unicorn! I with a Kingdom of fire, you with a Kingdom of Ice!~
‘Hey! What about us!? Where do WE fit in all this hmm!? Or did you plan to leave us behind!?’
~Not at all dear pinkie. After all a king needs queens…~
He looked to AJ and Rarity
{Oh my}
~..generals..~
He looked to dash
[Awesome]
~Entertainers~
To Pinkie
‘ehh… maybe’
~and…crap, sorry Fluttershy, but you did pick peasant so…churls?~
(oh. That’s alright)
~So…Will you join me?~
>Now hold up there sugarcube. That don’t sound very heroic. Shenanigans and fun is fun ‘n all. But we’re still the good guys!
~…barbarian stats huh? Must suck trying to cast~
>Not sure where yer goin’ but-
~Have I ever told you of the muscle wizard dearest applejack? Would you like to know how to USE you power here?~
>…You had mah curiosity. Now you have mah attention.
~And Fluttershy, I know how to boost your charisma so high, we’ll never have to fight another beast. They’ll join you. Willingly. Every. Single. Time.~
(No more hurting the precious DireEarWigs?)
~never again. And dash-~
[Had me at general]
~Rarity-~
{QUEEN Rarity Darling}
~Thought so. Pinkie?~
‘I Don’t know…seems kinda…evil?’
~Evil? Oh no my dearest pinkie pie, we shall not be evil. We shall conquer this land and rule it with an IRON CLAW! …In a velvet glove. Our friends shall know our love. Our Enemies our wrath. We Shall be great and Wonderful! Beautiful and Terrible! ALL SHALL LOVE US AND DESPAIR!~
‘okie dokie’
~So Dex, whadya say. When’s the next chance you’ll have at being King?~
-It does have a nice ring to it. But it also means I’ll have to fight Shining Armor doesn’t it?-
~In a completely consequence free environment~
Poindexter smiled at this, if it could be called as such so twisted was the expression that graced his face.
-I accept-
~Good. Now then, AHEM…
Come with me, and we’ll be, in a World of Stat Manipulation…~
“We…We should probably stop this. But we know not how! Computer, HELP!”
+I’mnotturnedonI’mnotturnedonI’mnotturnedonI’mnotturnedonI’mnotturnedon+
“LIES! You Are Clearly Turned On For We Can Hear You!”
+…Beep boop?+

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Jetset
“???”
~~~~~

For the fortieth time, the ground trembled and a hail of leaves fell from the thick canopy overhead.

Or was it the forty-third? Forty-eighth maybe?

As he took a few steps back, legs wobbling like a bowl of jello, Jetset couldn’t really remember, nor did he put much effort into doing so.

>Once… once more….

It was a struggle to speak. The taste of copper was plentiful on his tongue, credited to the red liquid dripping over his bottom lip. He could barely see straight, the forrest was doubling up on him. However, what remained a constant, despite his waning sight, was the indent in the tree ahead of him. The same one he’d spent the past four hours trying to teleport through.

And thus far had only succeeding in smashing headlong into it. Repeatedly.

He spat an amalgam of spit and blood off to the side, snorting.

>Perhaps it is a good thing… that my Queen’s are tied up in their little game….

It was simple. So… damned… simple. And yet he couldn’t grasp it!

>To be seen like this… a bleeding failure… Unbearable.

Teleportation was his specialty. Everyone who knew him, whether personally or through rumors, was well aware of his prowess in the art of flickering. Jetset, teleportation expert, he prided himself on owning that title.

>So why… why can I not do this?

He almost yelled. Almost. His voice had certainly risen but a throb of pain exploded on the right side of his forehead and he blanched, nearly losing consciousness.

With Seven on his own path to discovering a way to better himself, Jetset knew he had to match that.

Go beyond that.

Or get left behind.

To that end, he took to studying, pouring over any and all books pertaining to speed and the theories surrounding it. That lasted for about a day before he realized that he was not Twilight, that studying was moot when all that he was he had obtained through trail and error.

While teleporting by itself was good, quickly jumping from area to area, it was not enough. But being able to move through objects… that was, to him, the pinnacle of speed, of efficiency. If there arose a threat he could not beat physically, then being able to move through them, and subsequently snatching things out in the same blink, would increase his chances of victory.

>Maybe… maybe if I attempt it at a different angle I can-

“It’s been long time since I’ve seen you looking so shabby, Jetty.”

Jetset didn’t register he was no longer alone until he felt that swift jab in his side, and then he toppled over.

A figure stood over him, one that caused his eyes to widen and his breath to catch.

“It’s really quite…unprofessional.”

>Ah fuck….

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

~~~~

The scratch of a sharp quill, the smell of fresh ink, the feeling of old parchment against her hoof. This was what Sunset Shimmer adored, what she lived for. She was a student. Whether personal, prized, prime or just newly appointed. Her life was an on-going study of the world around her, and she relished every piece of information gained through her own observations.

But imparting said knowledge gained from her studies was something new to her, a step from away from the student she enjoyed thinking herself of and towards becoming a mentor herself. A teacher. She liked that word.. It implied she had something worthwhile to pass on, beyond the age-old lesson that one learns from their mistakes. Thus, here she was, writing the final few words meant for Princess Applejack.

>- thus allowing the arcane caster to bring Harmony, inner and outer, through the mindful application of of her complete arsenal of spells and abilities. That, in the end, is what magic should be about about. Though merely my personal opinion, I can assure you that every pony, magical or not, eventually finds their own path. As you will, or more likely already have. Thank you for your time. Signed.... Sunset Shimmer.

There it was. All done. A complete, handy little manual; meant to guide Applejack through the arduous process of learning and enjoying actual, practical use of her magical abilities. The unicorn knew the Element of Honesty well enough now to make some basic assumptions of how she would like and wouldn't like to learn, and had figured simple, practical examples with ease of use and without seeming forced would be the right path to go.

Stacking the newly written stack of papers, Sunset slid them into an envelope, marked by number, then busied herself staring out of the window as the train to the Empire rattled along.

Had she slipped away unnoticed while every one with same name or rank to them prepared for something big that clearly didn't involve her directly? Uh huh. Had she packed for a stay that might a couple of days? Certainly. Would anyone be mad?

Sunset spared another look at the potted plant on the bench beside her. Previously only drooping and sickly, it not seemed to be outright suffering. The rim of the leaves were starting to wilt, the main stem looked weak and the earth was dry. Sunset had done as Applejack had recommended, and even read up on additional material, feeling that there was more to this budding plant than just a passing connection to her own state of being.

And yet, the flower continue to wilt, because its caretaker didn't know how to care for it, and was often-times too busy to notice. A weird parallel, certainly applicable to her and her new mentor's situation if one was cynical, but an undeserved one. Applejack was just.... just busy, right now. Very busy... so very busy, like her.

>Focus.

Yes. Somepony may be mad at her for leaving the premises she was told to stick to. If they noticed at all, that is. But Sunset Shimmer had a plan, a purpose. And with everything of rank and name unable to pay attention to what she was doing, she might have just enough leeway to-

~~~

“Fuck no.”

>CAPTAIN Spitfire, please, I am just asking-

“I do not currently hold the rank of Captain of anything. It's just Spitfire now. Advisory role to the Empire's air force, at best.

>-you to act as my chaperon while I visit the Crystal Empire, so you may ensure that-

“You do not get caught obviously trespassing and sticking your nose where it doesn't belong, likely resulting in both of us in the same cell? To you, another fuck no.”

>-I do not appear to have fled Canterlot on a whim, but am here for purely studious reasons that involve-

“Stalking the princess, trespassing and actual espionage, because you are totally not on some sort of parole right now.”

>-following the lead of a potential problem Princss Cadance might face and is merely to kind to openly ask for help.

“The only one who has problem acknowledging her own problems is you. Did I forget to mention that I owe Shining Armor big time, he's my old friend and you are someone who smacked me out of the air while she went berserk?”

>You did not, I am sorry, I will make it up to you. But, look, worst case scenario, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza is shouldering the whole Empire on her shoulder, overworking her body to the limitations of alicorn endurance. She might suffer severe burnout or worse, if left unchecked.

“What the princess does or doesn't is, correct, none of your concern. I am sure she knows her limitations better than some wayward student of another princess, who, if I recall correctly, didn't know her own limits either.”

>It *IS* my concern! I owe her! The princess, all of them, found it in their infinite compassion to forgive me and allow me one more time to redeem myself. I just want to repay some of this kindness, nothing more! I don't know how else to help her!

“...I like it here. Shining Armor isn't being a jerk about my past. None of them are.”

>Yeah. They...

>”Forgive and forget.”

A sullen silence.

>Just... you don't have to do anything. Push them blame on me, I will explain my reasons. I won't even tell them you kept tabs on the princess.

“Haaaaah...”

>Please.

“...fine. But I am keeping an eye on you. But if we stumble on ANYTHING that looks like the princess or Shining's dirty laundry, I quit. I will quit so hard you won't even see the contrail I am leaving. And if you don't, the Guard will escort you out. I will see to that.”

>Alright... alright! We will- we will just look if she had a problem we can help her with! By taking a look in her office. Just a quick look around, then we'll leave it be if there is nothing to be found. That sounds reasonable right? Official paperwork and documents, maybe some small trinkets currently not locked away or hidden.

“Aaaauuugh... I just KNOW this is going to bite me in the ass later.”

>It's a nice ass.

“What was that?”

>I said: it's a nice ass.

“Uuuh... riiight. Not gonna correct yourself even when I try to act like I didn't hear it, huh?”

>I stand by what I say. Your worked your entire life to hone your body, and that dedication reflects itself on how you are built. You do, indeed, have a very nice ass.

“Compliment accepted with some prejudice. You can stop staring at it now. Let's just go.”

>I am right behind you.

“That's what I worry about.”

>Hee~

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>???
“???”
~~~~

There was only one lunar guard crouched atop the building, overlooking a small changeling sniffing through the grass of the Canterlot park as if on the hunt for clues to a mystery.

Then, there were two lunar guards, the newcomer wielding a note tucked behind their ear.

>So I just got an order handed down from Glims who got it handed down from the Captain who got it handed down from the Princess.

“Why do we always get the hand-me-downs?”

>I asked myself that same question when I was with your wife last night. But then I figured it wasn’t so bad.

“Ha, you dick. Anyway, hold onto that for a sec and look.”

>I don’t want to.

“Why?”

>Because all that kid’s gonna do is wind up face-deep in ass again and it’s seriously starting to wear on my spirit that I can’t have his luck.

“…Wanna talk about some things, Freighter?”

>Nothing that won’t leave me in tears, n-what the fuck?

“Whoa. Freights… am I seeing right?”

Neither guard could believe it when, seconds before he could accidentally become acquainted with some mares rear, 56 was tackled by another mare with a minty coat.

A minty coated mare who then proceeded to swing 56 around by his tail like they were in a cartoon. He rebounded off the ground, bushes, trees, all the while flailing about in confusion.

Then they were bickering, something about her being a stalker and him not appreciating a good booty when he saw it and then she was trying to drag him in one direction but he wanted to go the other way.

More bickering.

More wrestling.

And then 56 was streaking away with the minty mare right behind him.

>…The fuck.

“Was that?”

Mission detail overriding confusion, Freighter plucked the note from his ear.

>Annnnnyway, order from the Top Mare. We gotta give the kid a hint.

“Oh, you mean that corny letter he wrote her on Hearth’s Warming actually worked?”

>A little bit, I’m guessing.

“Huh. Well, can’t rightly give him that hint while he’s being chased, can we?”

>Certainly not. Let’s keep following for a bit, wait until that passes.

“…That doesn’t make us dicks for not helping, right?”

>Whaaaat? No, no way. We were told to watch, not assist. Whatever hangup’s the little guy has in his life, that’s his business.

“Obviously.”

>Yeah, obviously.

“…”

>…Well, let’s row this boat after our target, shall we?

“Aye-aye, Cap’n Dick.”

>Heh, that's what she called me last night.

"Har har har."


_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NC as fuck
>Pommel
"Fleetfoot"
'Daw'

>Alright, that's finally settled, you're coming with me.

"Ah ah ahhhh~"

>...what?

Fleetfoot produces a piece of paper.

"Read it and weep."

>What's this?

"Clause 5a of interdisciplinary procedures."

>...this is a thing?

"It is a thing."

>And it's not just for me to look at while you make a run for it?

"Nope, not that you'd catch me, racist."

>Speed is not a race.

"Just what a racist would say."

>Fine, I'll read it.

"Good."

>Over here.

"Yes."

>With my back to you.

"Uhhh huh."

>Here I go. Going to be dead to the world for as long as I'm reading this. Aaaaaand...

"I'm not going to run you stupid-"

>Now.

THWACK!

"Agh!"

Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!

"Hrk!"

Suplex noises.

"Aaaaaargh!"

>Mhm...

Crack!

>Interesting...

"Oh Faust!"

CHOMP!

"MY ASS!"

>Huh.

'And one to grow on!'

Spank!

>Welp, guess you're right, Fleetfoot, it's plum out of my jurisdiction...oh, what happened to her?

'She tripped. A lot.'

>Pity. So! Think it's about time I trained the guys. I'll send someone to go and take her to the infirmary.

'But isn't she out of your jursidiction?'

>Oh that's right! See ya later, Fleets.

"Unnngh..."

'...call me!'

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >Sombra
"Two"
'???'

>Okay, well, this idea did not go as intended.

"Ya think?"

'Hail the dark mistress of nightmares!'

'Hail ye of spikey darkness!'

"I'm not evil, you guys! Stop it!"

'But dark mistress, you are so spikey and black!'

"...is this the 'r' word not-mom keeps using?"

>Technically it's a positive stereotype...well positive to these weirdos to be precise.

"Why'd ya enchant the Nightmare Warriors first?"

>Because I wanted the ones most likely to hurt if you stepped on them to get out of the way.

"Oh riiight..."

'...shall we sacrifice a rat in your name?'

"WHAT!? NO! EW! I am gonna need sooooo many marchmalleys for this-"

'Marchmalleys?'

'What are these marchmalleys, dark mistress?'

"Marchmalleys? They're little bits of fluffy delicious joy! They're the best! ...besides Shiny, and Cady..."

>...

"And Somby, but a close fourth!"

'Soft and fluffy?'

'They must be...THE SOULS OF THE INNOCENT!'

'WE MUST GET THEM FOR THE DARK MISTRESS TO FEAST ON!'

'WHERE ARE THE MARCHMALLEYS, MISTRESS!? WE MUST CULL THEM IN YOUR NAME!'

"Uhhh...upstairs in the cupboard, I think."

>Two! Don't give them a quest!

"What? They're little guys hopping around on squares of fake grass, they're aren't gonna go anywh-"

'WE SHALL CLAIM IT FOR THE NIGHTMAAAAARE!'

>"..."

"Dang they move fast when they're motivated."

>AFTER THEM!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Non-Canon
>Pinkie
"Cardboard Pinkie"
'Luna'
~~~~
>Welcome to Late Night /pa/ with your host Pinkie Pie! It's during this time that content doesn't matter and the best part of the night happens! Now for our main guest...PINKIE!!!
Applause and a wave from Pinkie. Cardboard Pinkie is in the guest chair.

"..."

>All right you! Don't know what's going on, but I know you're a part of this somehow. Now fess up!

"..."

>Where's Rarity! Give her back!

"..."

>Fine, I guess we can do this the hard way.
Pinkie blinks and a sign appears next to cardboard pinkie saying. I can't talk, but speak and you'll hear my voice.
>...okay? Where is she!?!

"...some place where I can make her useful."

>You better not hurt her or I'll-

"Poor poor Applejack. She tries, so hard and gets so far, but in the end...is she fixing things? Are ponies really happy? Does she really deserve that spotlight? Wouldn't it be better if this was a thread about me? It'd be so easy to take it over. I know that's what you're thinking."

>What? No! I wouldn't want to hijack my friend's thr-

"Folks deserve a better pony. One that can deliver the laughs and smiles better. I could make everypony so happy if I was running things instead of playing the ditz."

>SHUT UP! That's not what I'm thinking at all!

"Oh? Then why is it that every time you open your mouth, my voice comes out? You really think a piece of cardboard can do all those things? Maybe I'm even the better Applejack, because I'm going to be honest...I AM YOU."

>No...NO!

Luna falls through the ceiling.
'DON'T SAY IT!'

>YOU'RE NOT ME!
A shadow envelops cardboard pinkie and it comes to life.

"Hmhmhmhahahaha HAHAHAHAHA! FREEDOM!!! Hoo, my neck is as stiff as a board. Get it?"

'This creature is a dark part of your subconscious. By rejecting it as part of you, you've allowed it to become independent.'

>What do we do now?

'...my job.'

>Um...that's all the space we have so rest well everypony!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >Celestia
"Cadence"
~~~

>You know, her hounding Chrysalis and Shining aside, this has been rather fun!

"Actually? Yeah! I've been enjoying myself!"

>By the way... what class are you?

"Sorry?"

>Your class, what is it?

"Oh... you know... it's pretty classy!"

>...

"..."

>...No, absolutely not.

"It was funny!"

>I should disown you for that.

"You would not!"

>....

"...Wow."

>Does this look like the face of mercy?

"It was just a joke!"

>You are a princess, Cadence. We have high standards of jokes around here. If it's not a four point o on the chucklemeter, we do not shame ourselves by voicing it!

"That is not a thing!"

>...

"HOW IS THAT A THING!?"

>We, as rulers of these countries, must hold ourselves to a high standard of comedy and refinement!

"But you almost never make jokes in public!"

>Of course not, public jokes are at least a nine on the chucklemeter! Really, didn't you study this at all? It was all in the princess orientation book!

"...P-princess orientation?"

>You didn't read it!? You mean you don't know about the secret hoofshake!? But then how will you know the great secret of the universe!?

"U-uh-"

>You don't!?

"U-uhhhhhh-"

>Oh no! That means you could explode at any second!

"WHAT!?"

>Any moment now it could come! Just a BOOM and you're dead!

"WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT!?"

>Oh no! I set it off by making you think about it! HIT THE DECK!

"AHHHHHHH!"

>...

"..."

>...That was a seven, by the way.

"I hate you, Auntie Celestia."

>Oh please, can't let Luna have all the fun.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Chrysalis
"18"
~~~

>So then I said that it was legal, but as it turns out-

"GAH!"

>..

"...Someone... is going near... MY OFFICE!"

>...

"..."

>..You need to get laid, 18.

"I KNOW WHAT I FEEL!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >Luna
"Pennydrop"
~~~~~

>No no no no! What are we going to do!? This is nothing how we planned! They were supposed to rise above the hardships we placed in front of them, not grow dark! They were supposed to grow stronger with the adversary, not become that which they were supposed to fight! This is madness!

"..."

>Computer... computer!? HELP!

"...Princess Luna, have you ever seen a dragon cry before?"

>...w...what?

"Have you ever seen a dragon cry?"

>Well... well no, we have not. We never saw that one cry.

"...Princess Luna, let me tell you something, and this is something you, being a ruler, need to hear."

>...

"Every time someone gains a position of power, there are always those below them. There is, obviously, a group on the ground who look up to them and think 'I would like to be there'. And of course they do, being up there is awesome. If it wasn't, you wouldn't fight, claw and scratch your way to the top.There will always, always, be those down there that look to the top of the hill, and want to be there."

>...A-and?

"And there's only room for one on that top. There's only room for one. So let them think they have you, let them think they've taken the reigns. They act more predictably when they think they're winning, they shoot straighter, follow the path of 'victory' without question. Why question it? It works, after all... but they don't realize they're following a set path, a straight line, a line that we can see the end of. Do you know where that line is going to lead them, princess Luna?"

>....Nooooo?

"Neither. Do. They."

>...

"Let that dragon think he's taken control, let him rally his allies, let him gather power he thinks makes him untouchable. Gods, warriors, generals, he thinks these things make him strong, make him win. But..."

>But?

"...exactly."

>...

"...The game has not ended yet, princess Luna... the game... has only begun."

>...

"And we are going to win."

>...C-computer?

"Beep. Boop."

>We are regretting our choices...

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OOCO
>???
"???"
'???'
~~~~

The sunlight on any normal day was a happy thing, most would agree. A sign that the day had begun and there was much to be had and much much more to go and do.

That, specifically, is how the mare known only as "Rubi"- and that was Rubi with an I, like Rubidium, she liked to stress- knew that today was not going to be a normal day. For, right now, she hated the sun creeping into her window with an indefinable passion.

>Ugggghhhhhhh...

Absentmindedly, her hoof plopped around on her bed for a bit, searching for the other body that had been there previous. Surprise surprise, the stallion was gone. She had certainly expected that, and she at least regarded him courteous enough not to wake her, but she was growing pretty tired of this. She liked this one a lot, and had sort of been hoping he would stick around for a bit longer than the usual.

It was only after a few morose thumps on her head to her pillow that she realized there was no shriek of an alarm to awaken her, no cry of birds to rouse her from her slumber. It was only her internal clock crying that she was wasting away daylight that allowed her to peer to her clock, and realize that she was fucked.

And not in the fun way.

>GODDAMN IT!

Her senior was going to chew her out hard for this one. It was utterly inexcusable to be this late. It was the middle of the damn day.

She groaned with pain, knowing that at the very least she had to make it to the shower before she even attempted to go to her job. This was bad enough, but the last thing she wanted any of them to know was that she slept with...

>Oh, holy fuck... that did happen, didn't it?

Well, on the other hoof, maybe she would tell them.

After all, as far as excuses for being late to work go, "I hooked up with a changeling last night" was probably going to get her some points... or ruthlessly mocked, one of the two.

Actually, considering where she worked, that might get her fired.

>On second thought, let's just keep this... hm?

Her nostrils, as tainted as they were from last night's smoke ridden bar, deceived her not. There was, indeed, a pot of freshly brewed coffee sitting there and waiting for her... two sugars, even, he had been paying attention when she had been blathering on last night!

>Wow, that's... unique... hm?

It seems he had left more than just that. Beside that pot was a note, nicely written, pretty in its swivels and colors.

~Had to run, but I'll see you again soon~

So simple, and yet... so different.

>Well well well... changelings are pretty diff-FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!

Her panic was only somewhat mild when she realized the door to her study was open, and it was only a foggy recollection of last night's stomping out in need of a good time that calmed down the idea he had broken the lock, and made her realize she just hadn't shut the door as she ran out. Her temper was a problem...

>FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK-phew

Nothing was opened, none of her papers had shifted, everything was exactly as she had left it down to the inch... she was pretty sure, she didn't measure it or anything.

>Phhhewwww... whelp, definitely keeping this one to myself now.

For the best, she supposed.

If her bosses at Fawntaine Industries knew she had a changeling over and he was in the same room as unguarded documents, she would probably be fucked.

And, again, not in the fun way.

But it was all fine... everything was fine.

And she would remember to lock that door next time.

>...Next time.

~~~~~~

'You get thing?'

The changeling barely regarded her hulking form tailing him, hopping from tree to tree as they both avoided using their prominent wings. Made it harder to spot this way, he had claimed.

He didn't answer her directly, but from the way he kept looking at the pictures in his hoof, she was pretty sure he had.

She wasn't sure how she was sure he had, but she was.

'What she do?'

"She, Buttercup, is the lead scientist on the bio-research division of Fawntaine Industries. It used to be a certain someone else, but she was recently... incarcerated."

The manticore understood exactly none of that, and he knew that, but she also knew that when he said a lot of words that she didn't understand she wasn't supposed to ask about it. She could, and he would normally try to explain it, but she didn't like it.

'You going back?'

"Of course."

'...Me come?'

"No, not yet."

'...Me want to follow you.'

He paused, hanging on the edge of a tree, looking back to her with a curious, yet not at all detached gaze.

"...I'll consider it, Buttercup."

'Thank.'

"The phrase is "Thank you"."

'Oh... thank... you.'

Her head tingled, just as it always did when she learned new stuff.

"Come, there's planning I need to do."

'What you doing?... Use me words.'

"Why, Buttercup..."

His lip curled ever so slightly as he held up a picture, one that had been taken right of the papers on the desk of that mare.

Schematics, but certainly not for a machine, no. Schematics of a whole other kind of creation.

A very, very special kind...

"I'm getting you some new friends to play with."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>SA
"Cadence"
~~~~~~~

>...

"What are you thinking about?"

>...Do you ever wonder about who keeps this place clean?

"...wh... what?"

>The whole evil maze thing, who keeps it clean? This ice looks great and smooth.

"I guess the evil witch has servants down in here?"

>Why don't we ever see them? You think we'd stumble across at least one.

"Maybe there's just a magic spell?"

>Over the whole floor? That seems overpowered.

"Maybe the monsters keep it clean?"

>Oh, right, cause that multi-eyed monster just screams 'broom prowess'

"Fine. You know what it is?"

>Really, tell me.

"The walls are alive, and they're watching you every second. They can clean themselves because they're alive. That wall you punched through? Several dead. Everything here? All alive. And they're watching you.

>...

"Every. Single. Moment."

>...

"...Didn't wanna know now, did you?"

>...n-nooo...

"That's what I thought."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________