Thread 37: Stories 1-15

Thread 37 archive: http://archive.moe/mlp/thread/19224385
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>DT
"77"
'SS'
~~~

>Man, this is boring.

"You would eventually have to run out of insults, you know."

>Nah, still have plenty loaded in the barrel, it's just no fun after the fourteenth one goes off running in tears.

"Funny, 14 tend to have a crying problem too. What an odd coincidence."

'Think we're missing something important?'

>SS, I'm here. Away from whatever might be going down. What, possibly, could be happening of any kind of importance?

"You know, the world doesn't literally revolve around you."

>I have studies that imply otherwise!

"You do not..."

'...'

"..."

'...She uh... paid some scientists....'

"You have a problem."

>Yeah, that problem is I'm BORED!

"...In hindsight, the fact Cheerliee isn't pregnant is probably a blessing. Need to have Twilight look into ensuring she won't come out like... this."

>HEY! Silver Spoon is my friend and I will not have you talk about her like that! I WILL RUIN YOU WITH FIRE!

"...vasectomy it is...."
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NC
>SA
"Cadence"
'2'
[42]
{18}
~~~~

>GAH!

"ACK! WHATWHATWHAT!?"

'Wassa matta' Shiny?'

>... hrm...

[Hrm!? You can't just spaz out in the middle of the room and then go HRM!]

{It's just rude is what it is.]

>...noooot that...

"Are you ignoring us!?"

{I think he is!}

>....nooooot that kind either....

[Are you seriously going to just sit there and-]

'SHHHHH!... Shiny's thinkertaking! LET HIM THINKERTAKE IT TAKES A LOTTA CONCENTRATION SO WE GOTTA BE QUIIIIIIEEEEEETTTTTT!'

"[{...}]"

>.....OH!

"[{Oh?}]"

>Chrysalis just did something needlessly over complicated and evil looking again!

"..."
[...]
{...}
'...Shiny, even I think it's scary ya' can tell that now...'

>...What the fudge happened to my life?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NCaddontoNC
>SA
"Cadence"
'2'
[42]
{18}
~~~

>You think that's bad? I also hear a little ringing whenever Cadence skimps on her diet-

"NO!"

>-a little bell ringing whenever Two gets into the cookies-

'WITCHCRAFT!'

>-a buzz whenever 42 hides to read her romance fanfiction-

[I DENY ALL ALLEGATIONS AS TO MY WHEREABOUTS AND LITERARY PREFERENCES!]

>-and a 'ding!' when 18 is thinking about us uh... 'doing adult stuff' with me.

{...So just... all the time?}

>It never ends.

{...}

>...It just intensified.

{Psychic Shiny is a sexy thought, and I have no regrets!}
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>32
"High Roller"
'Reggie'
-Q-

We return to the dungeon, where High Roller is hard at work devouring a slice from the pony-friendly half of a half-veggie half-pepperoni pizza, 32 is slumped on his bed, staring at a half eaten pepperoni slice.

>...

"Yeah Palomino Bros. is some pretty fine pizza, really, caters to herbivores and carnivores alike, now that's some forward thinking stuff right there, y'know?"

>...

"Bro you seriously gotta stop looking so down, are you sure changelings don't have like an allergy to alcohol or something? You were not this depressed when we started."

>...maybe that says something about your company.

"There's the 32 I know, welcome back old man."

>...

"Aaaaand goodbye, yeesh, I'm glad I didn't go to Partyland, your emotions are all the rollercoaster I need."

>What do you mean?

"Huh? Oh yeah, before you passed out last night you got really mopey, not like right now, more vocally mopey. Hell, your speech had enough twists and turns to give a hydra whiplash."

>Explain.

"One second it's 'Fuck the hive, I don't need them' the next it's 'What have I done, I'm a horrible person', wah wah fucking waaaah."

>Really?

"Really. And like I said before, just wait, bucky, I've seen this story play out a thousand times. I bet you horseshoes to hay bales SOMETHING'S going to come along and get you out of that cell. Could be a disaster, could be an invasion, heh, could just be your Queen deciding to give up the ghost and bop you on the head with her magic. Better or worst, nobody stays in an Equestrian prison for too long...well, unless you count...uhm...no one stays in an Equestrian DUNGEON for long."

>...great.

"I gotta hit the head real quick, let's saaay...five minutes, just in case Punch requires a bath room report."

>You're heading up to the castle?

"Nah, I got b-"

>I don't want to know.

High Roller shrugs, walking out of sight. Then, from below 32's bed come a pair that have stayed out of sight so far. One skittering swiftly, the other clunking along with an audible 'tink' of crystal on stone. Reggie and Q climb onto the bed with quite a bit of effort, walking into 32's field of vision.

>...hey guys.

'*chitter*'

-*tink*-

>I'm...not feeling too well, sorry. How are you?

'*chitter*'

>That's nice...

-*tink*?-

>Apparently, I'm a very sad drunk, according to High Roller, at least.

'*chitter*!'

>Heh, don't like him much either, huh? Yeah, he's kind of a bastard, but at least that's all he is. Just a simple bastard.

'*chitter! CHITTER!*'

>Hmm? Oh, yeah, sure you can have my pizza.

'*CHITTER!? CHITTTER!*'

-*TINK!*-

>Heh...you know it's weird...it's like you're actually trying to tell me something.

'...*chitter*...'

The roach's antenna droop, Q pats at its companion's thorax with a crystalline hoof. The two creatures are not quite intelligent, in fact they're not even technically sentient, but between the two of them, they realize one thing:

That dick in the armor hurt their friend, and he would pay for what he did.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>JJ
“Actarius”
~~~

It was a slow, steady climb down. Pretty silent, to boot.

Bit uncomfortable.

>Sorry you got dragged into that.

A forced, unnatural chuckle punctuated the hoof rhythmically going down the ladder.

“I don't know if you can count 'scaling a building and charging in' as 'dragged'. Sounds like the opposite of dragged, really.”

>Opposite of dragged is pushed, and pushing you into it sounds just as bad.

“Well, then it's not that either. And, refresher, I'm the one who did push you into it the first place and got you shot full of... stuff.”

>I could've said no...

Pointedly, each one couldn't help but marvel how tall this fucking building was.

“I feel like a dick.”

His sudden and unexpected words broke the changeling out of his own cloudy thoughts.

>Wha- dick? Feeling what?

“Just saying, I feel like a dick.”

>Big one?

“What?”

>I meant what kind of dick do you feel like? Big? Small? What?

He sighed, hanging awkwardly on the ladder, still a bit of a ways up.

“I was just... SUPER wrong about your Queen, I was soooo way off base there.”

The changeling grew silent, hanging on his own rung right beneath him.

>...Please don't.

“Hey, I'm just trying to say how wrong I was.”

>I know, and I know you mean it in a good way, but... gets hard to hear how much ponies don't like your Queen day after day...

Keeping the flinch from openly showing proved impossible.

“Sorry, didn't mean to make it sound like that...”

>It's alright, can't say I know you didn't mean it after this! Heh!

“...I am sorry for...”

>No no, I had fun, with the not-grabby part I mean. And hey, stuffs all out of me too! No worries...

“What do you think it was?”

>I don't know. It's weird, I'm normally, like, really good at picking out when someone is lying. Changeling, you know? I'm trained to avoid those signs so that nobody can see when I'M lying my tail off. But she just really seemed like she was genuinely nice...

“...”

>...I never got to meet Sciderella, you know. Heard stories, but I also heard stories that there was once a Queen who could destroy the world with a plasma ball, so I didn't really take it to heart. Seems like 'dissolved changelings and drank them' was just a bit of puffery. But now... kind of wondering.

“...You know, even knowing what she said, I'm still not sure.”

Well, that gobstruck look was familiar.

“Ah, I don't know. I just... I like seeing the best in everyone, you know? I feel like if I keep worrying “Are they just doing this to fool me?” then I'm just going to spend my whole life wondering, and miss out on a ton of opportunities. Just, you know, don't want to judge someone based on nothing.”

>Me being full of... 'stuff' isn't nothing.

“Yeah... guess you're right. But still, I'm going to ask her, see if I can get some answers, you know?... Come to think of it, I should have asked your Queen if she'd give me a once over too.”

>You should have.

“Huh? I was just joking, you think she actually would?”

>I think she likes you!

Stunned, he leaned a bit forward.

“Nu-uh.”

>Totally!

“Nu uhhhh!”

>Got that vibe, I swear.

“She called me an idiot, in a lot of very inventive ways.”

>She calls everyone who tries to fight her an idiot. Because it is kind of dumb.

“...”

>...N-not that I don't appreciate the gesture, it's just... don't. Please don't... If she wanted to kill you, she would just have to THINK in your direction and down you go.

“H-heh, y-yeah... she was a bit out of my weight class... I'll try not to mess up and get you in that position again, okay? Don't think I'll be able to be the cool guard, swoop in and be all heroic next time.”

>That was supposed to be heroic?

“Oooooh...”

>Heh, sorry, just... don't do that? I thought she was going to squish you. Seeing it fall on you...

“Me? It looked like she was ripping out your SOUL. Literally, tearing your soul right out of you.”

>...I think she actually can do that.

“BULLSHIT!”

>Just saying what I've heard.

“But fine, I get what you're saying, I'll promise not to do anymore dumb stuff like that, if you promise not to let me drag you into anymore dumb stuff that might end with you... dissolving or something, I don't know what the hell that stuff was.”

Wearily, he reached down, extending his hoof to the Changeling below.

>...Deal.

He had to stand up on his very hoof tips to reach back up to him, but soon they connected. Black, chitinous hoof to white, fur coated one. They hooked together, and shook. Sharing a warm, happy smile. They had made it out...

SLIP!

>GAH!
“FUCK!”

And then promptly fell down the last twenty feet as said chitinous skin oh his hind hoof proved too slippery, and he pulled the pony down with him. No time to think or react before they landed in a comical pile next to a dumpster.

>Well, that killed the mood.

“Little bit.”

>...Something's poking into my backside.

“Sorry.”

>... I didn't say take it off. I've got an itch back there. Scratch it a bit.

“Well, glad I'm useful for something.”
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>OO7
"???"
~~~~

>This is some bullshit right here, that's what this is.

And bullshit indeed it was. For you see, he had been within mere inches of grabbing a strand of Celestia's tail. The taller mare had been distracted by some action his Queen was doing, though what it was he had no idea, and he had felt this was the perfect time to strike.

The bullshit part came in when he magically grabbed hold of said strand, and his horn had burst into flames.

Now, he wasn't one who was up to date with current spellcasting trends, but a part of him felt that, somehow, setting fire to someone for touching you with magic should have taken actual effort of some kind, or at least a backwards glance.

But as we've established, bullshit.

>Sooo...

Gently, he poured a drink of some kind over his head, letting the steam come up in wisps.

>...to recap, grabbing via magic is impossible. This is good, we're learning, this is a learning experience, and I am growing from it. It's a bullshit one, since every single instance of reflective magic before has shown this is not something anyone can do or has done, but I'm learning, I am dealing with someone who is fighting me with bullshit. This is good. Know what I'm up against now. A big, tall mare with a mane that is just... just so pretty... eee...

"Did you just squeal like a little filly?"

>Nope, sound of pain, I assure you. It is an accompanyment to all the screams of pain that precluded it.

"Yeah, you're loud, I want you to know."

>Not normally, I assure you. Thank you for the drink.

"Meh, turns out, popcorn flavored soda is fucking disgusting."

>Well, I just assumed that...

"..."

>...

"...Get the fuck off my table."

>Right! And I'm off!

The 'pony' he left behind just shook her head in pity, and loaded Mr Popcorn up with another batch.
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>AJ
“???”
'Celly'
[???]
{???}
(???)
~~~~~~

'Must she cause strife with every outing? I swear, every time she gets taken out in public, something awful happens.'

>AIN'T IN THE MOOD, TIA!

'Really, though, do I actually have to get Shining Armor to marry her or something? Do I have to get her a literal ball and chain before she behaves?'

>NOT! HELPIN'!

'A self help seminar, a little book with bright colors, just something!'

>CELESTIA!

There was a shimmer of magic above them, detectable only for those truly looking.

'Well?'

There was a thump of a body hitting the ground next to him. Specifically, a soft, easy thump, like a bundle of cloth... Or a doll.

Because it was a giant doll.

A giant doll of Chrysalis, with a gigantic “KISS ME!” taped to the ass.

'...No good?'

There was only a growl from him.

'I suppose it was too much to hope she would make this easy...'

The growl of the apple loving mare was far, far louder.

>The moment Ah' get mah hooves on that sorry, no good, slimy little-

A dark, light chuckle froze her tongue, and the very blood in her veins.

“Unnecessary, I assure you.”

They both spun, having totally missed the sound of her approach. There she stood, a prideful smirk on her face.

“I am right here, dear Applejack, and if you would like to have a little discussion, well, I've just opened a bit of time.”

She felt her still untrained magic cackle around her, unused to the feeling of it coming out of her horn even after all this time.

Unmoved, Chrysalis only narrowed the gap, long and powerful steps with every single stride. Never once did the smirk leave her face.

“Well, I don't like the look of that magic, you're not planning something foolish, are you? I hope not, would hate to engage in unpleasantness here.”

She felt the ground actually start to crack beneath her hooves, the magic intensifying. Nonetheless, Chrysalis's advancement only continued.

“Because I assure you, whatever worry you have? Worry no longer. The matter has been settled by myself alone, thank you very much, and I am exceedingly confident it will not occur again, you could say.”

A hesitation, a moment where the world seemed to freeze as her world slowed down as the implication sunk in.

“All is as it should be, and the earlier outburst was unneeded. It is done.”

All she could see in that moment was his face. The changeling who had decided, against his Queen's wishes, to help someone she cared about. He hadn't asked for any reward, or even thanks. He had been there when she slipped up, when she made a mistake and someone she was entrusted with was lost, and he had helped out.

He had done nothing but help her, HER, for no reason besides it was the right thing to do. He had hurt no one, but because it went against her orders, her oh so important will, she had taken him for this. And there was nothing to do as she left with him in her fiery grasp... and the matter was 'settled' before she could even make a move. She couldn't do anything...

And here Chrysalis stood, a smirk on her face, lightness in her step, not a single shred of remorse, or regret, or sadness. She was downright happy looking.

“...Oh, and... HAH! It seems I should apologize for my earlier wording-”

She hadn't even let her finish, too enraged by that... that laugh. That damn laugh she did every time. That laugh was the starting pistol going off, the sound of the horn to call her action at last.

Celestia said something along the lines of 'stop!' or some such call to cease, but she couldn't hear it. All she could hear was the rushing of blood in her ears as she launched forward, pure power gained by magic and years of endless hard work fueling a leap at speeds that she had never thought possible. The world became a blur, tunnel visioned in on the singular black shape rearing back in shock.

She had no expectations of what would happen, really, her mind was far too focused on simply getting over there. But if she had, those expectations would have been shattered when her outstretched hooves were met in the air by, of all things, magic.

Shield magic.

Earth scraped against her hooves as she landed, digging into the ground to regain the momentum lost by her sudden stop. Her forelegs shook against the power before her, a magical shield separating her and the wide eyed, but otherwise unmoved, Queen. That look, an almost pitying look, drove her more than any words could have.

She pressed forward, feeling tiny cracks begin to form beneath her force. With a fierce battle cry, she shoved forward with everything she had, shattering the shield into a thousand pieces, pieces that vanished immediately after.

A magical grip encircled her the instant it was gone, trying to prevent her from advancing any further towards the Queen. It slowed her down... But it could not stop her.

Even as she felt herself forcibly pulled against by magic so great, she fought it with everything she had. Further, further towards the Changeling who regarded her with a blank, uncaring expression, and an almost curious look in her eyes.

She was going to reach her, Applejack realized. The magic could not stop her, could not hold her back, no shield or telekinesis or any spell could have brought her to a halt. Nothing at all would end her advancement, or the pain she planned to bring about to the one who had brought it to someone far, far less deserving. Nothing could possibly stop her.

“Twilight? What do I say to make her stop and listen to me?”

...Nothing except that.

The haze caused by her rage slowed, just a bit, just enough she could finally hear the world around her.

[YOU'RE SERIOULSY ASKING THAT NOW!?]

“I'm trying here!”

Just enough, the blur around her eyes reduced that she could see her friend standing off to the side, horn ignited and ace strained.

[JUST TELL HER HE'S FINE!]

“I said that!”

[NO YOU DIDN'T!]

“I said worry no longer!”

[THAT'S PRETTY VAGUE!]

“No it isn't, if he was dead I'd say her worry was in vain or something! She wouldn't stop worrying just because he was dead, there's still the worry he suffered or something! There's a lot to worry about if I killed the guy! Worry no longer means you need to be not worrying!”

[...Okay, I see the thought process, but that still seems really roundabout.]

“How is “Worry no longer” roundabout!? It's a simple command! Worrying? Don't do it!”

[I... okay, fine, when you put it like that-]

>He's...

Her chest was still heaving as both sets of eyes turned to her. She slowly let her struggling cease, and the magic around her let up.

>He's... fine?

“That's what I was trying to tell you! I even tried apologizing for putting fear into your pathetic little...”

Letting out an angry breath, Chrysalis scoffed and looked away.

“You know what? Fuck it, Twilight? Explain it to her for me because obviously my wording is just far too complicated for such a simple mind.”

Twilight rolled her eyes at the insult, but decided now was not the time.

[He's FINE, Appplejack! Listen, Chrysalis detected something inside of him when she was looking for him, this stuff right here.]

The red orb floated before her, allowing the orange princess a good look into it's cloudy texture.

[There are pheromones. Pheromones secreted... by Arana. She sensed there was something inside of him put there by her, and had no idea what they were or what they did. She had to deal with it immediately, she didn't know if waiting longer could hurt him. He's fine, he's not arrested, or exiled, or injured. She just got the stuff out and gave him a warning, okay? He's fine. He's FINE!]

She just felt... numb, all over. Just looking at this stuff floating before her.

>What... what're...

[We don't know what they are, Chrysalis can't identify them. I'm going to have to examine them, immediately.]

>Arana... Arana did that?

The purple mare flinched, looking away just a bit.

[...Yes... but we don't know what they are, or even if she knows she's doing it!]

The snort of derision could not have been more insulting.

'Curious...'

Celestia stepped forward, looking a little winded.

'I've never seen anything like this. Did you notice any adverse effects?'

“None, but most pheromones aren't meant to be deadly without the proper trigger. This could be totally harmless, unless exposed to the air inside the ballroom, wherein it released a toxic plague that could consume them all.”

[We don't know ANYTHING about them, alright? Let's wait before we declare her the walking embodiment of all sickness on Equestria, okay?]

“HAH!”

>O-oh... oh...

There was a ringing in Applejack's head. As if she had just been drowning, and had been pulled up at the last moment. Two pairs of limbs were suddenly on her, she hadn't even noticed them coming up.

{Applejack, Darling, calm down! It's okay, we had the same reaction. Just breath, okay?}

(Sorry, she ran on ahead of us. Friggen... tall. Hate how long her legs are.)

“Mmm, don't hate the sexy player, hate the fact you don't even qualify for the sexy league she's in.”

>He's fine...

She was only sort of paying attention to them, far more focused on the fact her chest seemed to hurt just a bit.

Twilight moved in front of her, putting on her warmest smile.

[He's FINE, Applejack, she would never hurt them intentionally. She cares, really.]

>Ah'm... ah'm...

Her hoof slipped under her hat, rubbing against her mane.

>...

“Pfft, really? Can't even bring yourself to say it? Come on, say you're sorry.”

{CHRYSALIS!}

(You're the one that caused all this in the first place!)

She ignored them, moving Twilight off to the side, and looking right into Applejack's eyes.

“Say you are sorry.”

(She doesn't have to!)

{If anything, you should be apologizing for driving her to this!}

Again, she ignored them, wholly unconcerned with the pony and dragon. All she cared about was the princess right in front of her.

“Say it.”

At last, Applejack could look at her no longer.

>...Ah'm sorry. Ah' shouldn'a cut ya' off, and ah' was wrong ta' go at ya' like that. Ya' were tryin' ta' tell me... and Ah' let it get the best o' me. It was yer' subject, and Ah' shouldn'a been actin' like Ah' could boss ya' around... Ah' was... ah' was wrong.

A wide, almost mad looking grin overtook Chrysalis's face, and she leaned in nice and close, right up to her ear and whispered to her.

“Apology accepted. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. You're forgiven.”

Oblivious to the rage literally pouring off those next to her, she rose up to full height, still grinning like so wide all her fangs were showing.

[...Say it normal.]

And just like that, the smirk vanished.

“...what now?”

[Say it again, but normally this time.]

“...w...what? I DID!”

[Didn't.]

“No, bullshit, I call bullshit! I said “apology accepted” and “you're forgiven”! I said the right stuff this time! Bullshit could that be misconstrued!”

[It was the tone. You did that creepy lean in thing.]

“I was trying to be personal with it! You need to get in close so they know!”

[Just say it again.]

“No, fuck that! I did it right, and if you guys want to spin something as benevolent as me forgiving someone who ATTACKED ME into something evil then that's your problem! This isn't some show I'm putting on for your benefit, this is a royal pardon granted from me unto her, and nothing else! I shouldn't even fucking be forgiving her at all! Last time someone pulled that shit he ended up in a dungeon, rotting away. No, fuck that, the only reason I'm CHOOSING, of my own will, not to hold a grudge over this insult on her part is...”

Almost imperceptibly, Twilight and Celestia leaned in.

'Because?'

“...Because I feel this whole matter is beneath me, and the mere idea that I felt threatened by Applejack of all ponies is ludicrous. HAH! You are just lucky you stopped her, or I would have put that Alicorn Immortality through it's paces, I promise you. So if you'll excuse me, I think I'll find some company I can actually stomach to be around right now!”

With a “HRMPH!” she spun on her hooves and trotted off, regally.

[...You coming over to the room later so we can examine this stuff?]

“YES!”

[Cool. See you later!]

“Have some drinks!”

[What kind?]

“FIZZY ONES!”

[Got it! Can you bring some of those crispy treats?]

“I'LL PICK UP A BOX!”

[Thanks!.... what?]

The incredulous stares of her friend and surrogate little brother said it all.

'...Applejack, are you going to be alright?'

All eyes turned to the mare. Snapping out of whatever reverie she had been lost in, the shook her sweat coated hair every which way, and stumbled to unsteady hooves.

>Y-yeah... Ah'm fine. Totally... totally fine. Guess Ah' really lost mah' head there, didn't I?

Celestia moved before her, looking down with a slight edge in her eye.

'I should say. Attacking a foreign dignitary normally has much harsher repercussions.'

{Celestia, really. She thought Chrysalis had killed the poor soul.}

'And if she had? Would you have kept going? Started a war over this? Finally cast her out for good? It is her hive to command. If we are to blame her for every little thing they do, and do not deny that this is exactly the case, we cannot also command how she deals with them personally. This was a mistake, Applejack.'

She didn't answer, she couldn't.

'I do not blame you for your silence, I know you thought not of a single one of these when you acted. This is foolishness, and you are more fortunate than you even realize.'

She brushed past, gently trailing over her with her wing.

'Let this be the only time something like that happens.'

>...Y-yeah... ah'll try...

'Do not try. Do it.'

Gently, scales and a white coat helped hold her up.

(Come on, lets go get something to drink, okay? You look like you need a minute.)

>Ah' do... boy howdy do Ah'...

They started off, leaving only the purple alicorn trailing behind the group, staring intently at the floating orb as she walked.

[...You are way more trouble than you are worth, I want you to know. Totally not worth the science for this...]

She paused, touching a hoof to her chin.

[...Well, maybe not... could go either way....]

The orb, being non-sentiant, could not reply.

Yet somehow... it still managed to look like it had a deadpanned expression on it...
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NC

>Chrysalis
"Twilight"
~~~
"Wait, you mean you just got your title upon ascension without even establishing yourself as a bitch first?"

>Yeah, pretty much.

"Well what if you turned out to be nice and all that?"

>Still would have stuck. Changeling Queen titles are funny like that. I mean Chitania is known as The Titan, but her title when she ascended was in old Changeling tongue: Ackbo'gormak.

"Which means?..."

>Fluffy Bunny Slippers. There was this one obnoxious queen my mom mentioned. The name eludes me, but she got her title, which was The Whore. So she decided to be the chastist queen ever. She then started to introduce herself by the title and say she did it 'ironically'.

"I used to be terrified with each new thing I learned about the changelings, now I just wonder how you people survived for as long as you did."

>Heh, Darwin was wrong, bitches! ... Wait a minu-

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Chrysalis
“???”
'???'
[???]
{???}
~???~
(???)
=???=
~~~~

Been one of those days.

This singular thought kept persistently repeating in her head over, and over again.

Just not a good day in general, you know?

No Shiny, someone trying to get into Maney's not-a-leotard, Spider Monster running around selling secrets, disobedience, new possibly deadly thing being spread around by said spider monster that she learned of thanks to said disobedience, a guard attacking her, of all things a guard! And now of course Appleass trying to take her out, in public no less! Can't even retaliate because obviously. Being insulted like that and not being able to do anything about it...

This day has just been... it's been one of 'those' days. Days when she starts plotting some grand scheme, something she's not even sure what, but something. Plotting revenge, the downfall of nations, the utter humiliation of all those who have wronged her, lots of very dark thoughts. Not a whole lot could brighten her mood in these times.

“AHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAAAA! LOVESECTA! YOU RETUUUURN FROM YOUR GRAND BATTLE!”

She said not a 'whole lot', not nothing.

>If you want to call shaking some sense into Shiny a battle, sure.

They hadn't moved from that spot she had told them to stay put in, not even a little. Damn, that felt good to see. That's the sort of thing that always puts a smile on her face. Even little Poindexter. Ohhhh, so good to see.

'Is he okay?'

>Fine, of course. Come, I'll show you.

“GOOOOOOOD! AHAHAHAHHA! I HAVE NOT SEEEEENNN... I mean, great! Haven't had a chance to talk to anyone since yesterday!”

'You were gone for a while, by the way.'

She snorted, casually flicking him on the nose.

>The day I explain myself to you is the day I decide to fit 29 for my crown. But if you must know, urgent royal business required my attention.

He looked like he wanted to ask further, but a swift look silenced that. Again, felt nice for someone to just shut up when she said to.

Finding the group they sought was not hard, since she remembered their last location not so long ago, so it was all too easy to sneak up behind them.

And shove herself right between Shining Armor and Cadence.

>Well, look who you found! Two for the price of one!

~Wait, but how much does one cost? I gotta be worth more then them!~

>No no, two the number, not the... you.

~Ohhhhh! That happens a lot...~

[Chrysalis.]

>Caddy! Nice to see you again, since last night, when I saw you last, and not today.

{I know.}

[He knows.]

>Well, never let it be said I'm not a team player.

{...You okay?}

And, of course, Shining Armor was already looking right at her, a look on his face that said he probably didn't even need to ask to know the truth.

>...HAH!

[{GAH!}]
~WHEEEE!~

Two sets of hooves lifted off the ground. Her clear blue wings had snaked under the ponies on either side of her, and with far more strength then you would think now suspended them just slightly off the ground, legs kicking uselessly as they just couldn't quite manage to reach the ground.

>Aww, so concerned! But it's widdle Caddy here who has the frown on her face!

Said mare just frowned harder as Chrysalis leaned her neck over, rubbing her black cheek against Cadence's pink one.

>What's the matter, Caddy? Do something funny? Ahhh, come on, it can't be all that bad! At least not so bad you have to be all grumpy. SMILE! It's Partyland, vacation and all that!

She just frowned harder, to an almost comical level of grump.

Shining Armor, however, was less bothered by his newfound height. Possibly because Two was clearly enjoying the raised elevation atop his head.

[Just saying, you've got a 'everything isn't perfect' look.]

>Oh, Shiny, Shiny Shiny Shiny, am I ever not okay? Really, let's not dance around it. Fireballs could rain from the sky and I'd be okay.

(No you wouldn't, you'd be freaking out that the gods have finally decided they'd had enough of your act and decided to smite you.)

=18!=

>HAH! Please, if anything I'd take it as a challenge! See if I can beat Chitty to the punch... get it?

“AHAHAHHHHAHHAHHHAH!... I get it!”

>She gets it.

(The fact you think that's a good thing tells more about you than any psychologist could describe.)

>You just don't see the humor.

'I do, I thought it was funny.'

>Shut up, you suck up.

=I liked it too...=

[{(…)]}

=...It uh, punching humor, you know?=

>HAH! Thanks, 42, always can count on you for backup.

'Oh come on!'

>Did you say something?

'…'

[How are you holding us up!? These wings look like they're made of shower curtain!]

>Hey, if they can support my big, supple, oh so tantalizing backside as they lift me into the sky, they've got to be packing some serious wingpower. I promise you, that booty right there? It's soft, but it is not full of air. Check for yourself!

SMACK!

[TWO!]

~She said ta' check it!~

{Do not spank someone in public!}

>...Well, that ruined that.

Yet, even as she said this, she was still grinning wide.

>Come on you guys, Caddy-waddy's being all mopey, so I'm going to go get her a face paint to put a smile on those cheeks! Literally.

[Oh no I'm not-]

~GAAAASSSSP! FACEPAINTFACEPAINTFACEPAIIIIIINT!~

[…]

~I WANNA KITTY FACE!~

>That's two... Maney, agree with me!

“AHAHAHAHAHAAAAAHHHH! IT SOUNDS LIKE A MAAAAAARE-VELOUS IDEAAHAHHAHAHAAHH!”

>42, 18, I order you to agree with me!

=I agree with her Majesty!=

(I, begrudgingly and with a little asterisk leading to a frowny face in a footnote, agree.)

>Outnumbered! The I's have it, you are getting a facepaint. THUS I COMMAND! AHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA!

On cue, lightning struck outside the building.

>...
“...”
'…'
[…]
{…}
(…)
=...=

>Huh. Probably... probably didn't mean anything...

“...”
'…'
[…]
{…}
(…)
=...=

>...FACEPAINT!

~YAAAYYYY!~

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Sucker Punch
"41"
'Tour Guide'

>Ok! Good news, bad news.

'Hm?'

>Thanks to you, I'm now in a commanding lead.

'I don't know what I did.'

>Bad news! Thanks to your choice when we let you play the karaoke machine, I now have to deal with THAT!

41 is dancing among the arcade machine, shifting her flanks, tail lashing this way and that.

"I got Pac-Mare fevah~ It's just drivin' me craaaazyyyy~!"

>'...'

>It's distracting!

'Also kind of adorable.'

>No...it's distracting...sooooo distracting.

'...is this one of those things where you say one thing as a euphemism for something else?'

>Very.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Pinkie
"Dash"
'Fluttershy'
~~~~

>Huh... my hiney just started buzzing.

"Ew, Pinkie, you need to take out the batteries if you're going to leave it in."

>What?

"..."

>...OH SCREW YOU DASHIE!

'I don't get it.'

"HA!... but seriously, buzzing?"

>I think it means we missed something important.

"Story of my life here recently."

>HEY! YOU HUSH! YOU GOT TO PUNCH A DINO MONSTER THROUGH A TRAIN! You know what Pinkie's done? NOTHING! I never even got to see the dang dinochangeling monster! I still haven't even met her!

Across from her, someone sneezed.

>So you hush!

"...Sorry."

>You should be!

"..."

>...

'....EEP!'

>Just sank in?

She didn't answer, just hiding her face in her hooves to conceal her blush.

"Just sank in."

>...

"...Like your 'massager'."

SMACK!

>BAD DASHIE!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

88 sits alone in the darkness, head bowed, gazing at a singular stalk of cordyceps growing not far away, she stands, walking slowly towards it before plucking it from formless ground.

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

"This fungus gave me new life"

The stalk begins to sprout red roots into 88's chitin, she throws it aside and backs away.

"It spreads and kills who I used to be
"I am shadow

The stalk takes roots in the ground, spreading around and growing upwards until it forms ghastly forms outlined by the red, they hiss at her and approach. She bows her head, then turns back to them, eyes narrowed.

"You are my enemy."

The creatures growl and charge after her. 88 grins and allows them to follow her, sprinting through the inky blackness that surrounds them all. The sheen off her chitin and the red outlines of her pursuers the only things to distinguish them.

"Incoming, drawing closer
This darkness can’t help swallow me whole
These shadows hyperactive
Save my soul…"

In an instant, 88 dodges to the side, allowing the monsters to stumble past her in their mad chase. She smirks at them and with a flick of her hoof reveals her knife.

"Say goodbye to the Light
The darkness grows
I’m league with the shadow
I can feel the good in me is dying slow..."

88 nimbly dodges her way through the creatures, sharpened bone kissing jugulars, keeping their disgusting hearts company for a few precious seconds before leaving them to die...

"Turning off the sun
Running through the night
I am the knife in a gunfight
Evil left its mark
So tell me -
Are you afraid of the dark?"

The last of her foes dispatched, 88 turns to admire her handiwork...only to find that behind is not the safety of darkness, but the horrid clarity of light...

And the broken and lifeless bodies not of monsters, but of her ten brothers.

And one pony, smirking at her under hard hat. Canary Gem

Her confidence falling away, 88 turns and bolts, her eyes wide, all around her roots of red begin to crawl across the ceiling, the walls, the floor, outlining a nightmarish corridor. Behind her Canary Gem smiles and slowly follows.

"I feel it taking over
My past is quickly falling away
Control is what it craves now
No escaaaape!"

88 keeps running, until she hits a wall, a reflective surface on which she finds herself gaping in terror.

"The me that used to be here
Has gone away but I can’t say where"

The 88 in the mirror slowly grows red growths from her head, she frantically paws at them before disappearing entirely.

"I fear I may have killed her..."

Now in the other 88's place is Canary Gem, stepping through the mirror, and drawing far too close for comfort.

"I’m so scared…"

88 closes her eyes, then opens them with a new fire, enraged she begins to swing her blade every which way she can, desperate to destroy her assailant.

"Say goodbye to the Light
The darkness grows
I’m league with the shadow
I can feel the good in me is dying slow!"

She can no longer see Canary, but she isn't done, she begins to hack at the veins of red all around her.

Turning off the sun
Running through the night
I am the knife in a gunfight
Evil left its mark
So tell me -"

88 is cut off by Canary appearing directly behind her.

'Are you afraid of the dark?'

In an instant it all goes away, she's falling, falling further and further, until she lands in a heap amongst darkened figures, a splash of red marking her landing. Canary sits across from 88, the latter rises, the two begin to circle as the figures begin to stomp the ground rhythmically. With every stomp, the red grows, enveloping the surrounding figures, revealing pony and changeling alike.

"I feel it tearing me apart."

'Are you afraid of the dark?'

Canary begins to move in closer, almost brushing skin with her prey.

"I feel the shadow in my heart..."

'Are you afraid of the dark?'

The two collide and Canary explodes into red particles, a mighty whirlwind that envelops everything, leaving 88 in the eye of the storm.

"Say goodbye to the Light
The darkness grows
I’m league with the shadow
I can feel the good in me is dying slow
Turning off the sun
Running through the night
I am the knife in a gunfight
Evil left its mark
So tell me -"

And then it's gone, and 88 is left lying in the darkness again...a single stalk of Cordyceps growing nearby.

"Are you afraid of the dark?"
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>29
"MM"
'Trixie'
[Zecora]
~~~~~

>THOU DAMNED CREATION OF ONE SO FOUL! THINE HORRIBLE NATURE BURNS TO MINE VERY SOUL! DELIVER UNTO ME THAT WHICH I HAVE DESIRED, AND BE SWIFT LEST YE BE CAST INTO THE FIERY DEPTHS OF HELLLLLL!

"...Think the management would have a problem with you casting their vending machines into hell."

'How would one even go about this?'

"Could just call up Cheerilee, I guess."

'Pffft, you don't actually buy that, do you?'

"..Do... do you not?"

'NO! As if there would ever be an actual portal to hell in PONYVILLE of all things! Ponyville! Boring capital of the world!'

"Bullshit, something horrible happens every week!"

>At least once a week.

[It truly is a bummer, we only seem to get reprieve in the summer.]

"What is up with that, I wonder?"

>I suppose even the bringers of chaos need a break?

"I guess."

'Just saying, if there was actually a portal to hell, the Princesses wouldn't let kids go to school there! That's just... that's just freaking negligent...'

>...It kind of it.

"Well, what do you want me to do about it?"

[Mayor stuff?]

"Don't give me that! You know how many times I've requested Equestrian Guard to be stationed down there!"

>It's true, I've gone up there several times.

"BUT NOOOOOO! I never get any! What am I going to do, fight the demons!?"

'29 could.'

"...."

>"[PPPFFFAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAHAHAHHAH!]"

"G-good one, Trixie."

[Hooo.. feels good...]

>Mine skills are in infiltration, not battle! I am ill suited for such a confrontation.

'But... you're lifting up the vending machine... really easily...'

>So?

'...Nevermind.'

>Good. Now... DAMNED CONTRAPTION! DELIVER MY FRUTIY CAKE!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Arana
"Security"
~~~~~

>...

"..."

>...Sooooo....

"..."

>...How are you?

"The Princes said to watch you, not talk to you."

>Didn't say not to talk to me!

"Didn't say to talk to you either."

>...Is it the legs?

"WHY ARE YOU A SPIDER!?"

>I'm not, I'm a changeling! I just magically grew spider legs.

"NOT BETTER!"

>Ya' know, I think she thought leaving me with security would be the smart thing.

"OH SWEET CELESTIA EVERY MOMENT WITH YOU IS TERRIFYING!"

>...Want a tickle?

"NO!"

>Drat. Wish I was as cute as 2. You'd let 2 tickle you.

"SWEET MERCY WHY!?"
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Temp Pony 1
"2"
[Guard]
~~~~

[Okay, now you're all just being silly.]

>Why, whatever do you mean?

"Yeah, fine soldier of our illustrious Empire, we are merely enjoying a cool refreshing liquid upon our heads."

>It's very nice.

"So nice."

[It's lamp oil.]

>Is it?

"Why, that explains the fine texture!"

>Indeed! It sticks to our skin and remains cool.

"What a stroke of luck!"

[You are also laying candles everywhere.]

>It's hard to see.

"Proper lighting is important!"

[And preparing to light them.]

>That is the point of a candle, yes.

"Would be silly to bring them in and not use them."

[With your heads over the top of it.]

>Just have to make sure the match does not go off somewhere!

"That would be a tragedy if it fell into this... this... pppaaaaapperwooork...."

[...Do you guys need a twenty minute brea-]

>CHEESE IT!

"RUN!"

*GETTTIN'THEFUCKOUTTATHERE!*

[I DIDN'T SAY!... damn.]

'Mpasfm!?'

[Sorry, I'm not paid to dig you out]

'MPHRMMM!'

[...I'll consider lighting the candle and knocking it over.]

'mrphmooo!'
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________