Thread 79: Stories 61-75

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>Mysterious leader
"Head scientist"
~~~~

Saying she was sweating bullets right now would be the understatement of the century. To say she was sweating an entire railgun's worth would be an understatement.

Between the break in, who exactly was breaking in and how much they were doing while breaking in, it was not a good day for the lead scientist of this research facility. It certainly didn't help when her mysterious benefactor, the one funding all of this, demanded she speak to them, now.

The distorted, enshrouded face was nothing short of terrifying.

>I'm very upset with you, you know.

She gulped, swallowing a lump in her throat.

>I give you such funding, such freedom, and this is what I get? You promised me it would be impregnable. Yet, not only is it not, it was impregnated on multiple fronts... I'm very upset with you.

"I...I never thought I'd have to fight off so many at once! And they're changelings, they-"

>Silence!

"..."

>... Fix it.

"B-but sir! How!? They are inside!"

>Then make sure they stay that way.

"But... But they're the-"

>The alternative is answering for all you've done down here. It sure was fun to start, wasn't it? Well, as I told you when you started... All things come with a cost. Now is the time to pay it. They never leave this place... Or you never leave a cell. Choose.

The transmission cut out, and she was alone again.

"... Unlock... Everything..."

She wanted to cry. So much lost, so much good she would never do. So many she would never help.

"...but save the research, just in case..."

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~~~~

The only thing he remembered was being knocked away and taking a flight.

A very, very long flight. Wind whipping at his frame and whistling through his ears.

And then a subtle shift in his very soul.

One of his precious vials had just been broken.

In his current state, he couldn’t even begin to pinpoint the direction in which the sensation had come from. But that didn’t stop his horn from igniting with a harsh intake of magic. He drew it from everywhere, called it from every fiber of his body and concentrated it, honed it. A drop of blood escaped his snout and his mind screamed. It was dangerous, gathering that much that fast.

And it was even more dangerous when he suddenly used it all to teleport.

A volcanic explosion lit up the sky. Rolling waves of silver raced in every direction like a sonic rainboom, accompanied with the deafening roar of thunder.

He didn’t know where he was speeding to, or to who, but as long as he was on the way, that was fine.

Fine enough to lose consciousness mid-flight at any rate.

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>AJ
"Scientists”
~~~~

>Hey, ‘Tia… ‘member when Ah’ was just a farm pony?

“No, no, you idiot, are you mad? Those calculations are all wrong!”

>’Member when… it was on that day ya called me up to the castle? And then ya sang to me?

“You're the one who's wrong! Who in the name of Faust would multiply plot over mass by it’s depth? You take your heresy and stuff it!”

>But right after... right after yer’ lil’ song, ya told me the reason why ya made me what ya made me. Something’re another ‘bout beat cops an’ stuff, Ah forget most’ve it….

“Touch it again! Touch it again and if you can prove that the weight doesn’t offset the firmness by even an ounce I’ll eat my damn coat!”

>Still, Ah recall a few things. Like, fixin’ problems an’ second chances… anyway, in the end, y’all let me loose an’ ever since then Ah’ve been tryin’ mah damned hardest. Done succeeded and failed in good measure, learned a lot in a short while. But even so….

“I’m telling you chucklefucks that this ass- this ass that we’re all seeing- is not normal! It’s beyond the scope of normality! It needs to be studied so that it can reproduced! Everything from the firmness, to the bounce and wobble, even the thickness- we need to run diagnostics to ensure perfect duplicity!”

“Hear hear!”

With a cringe, Applejack continued walking, having been freed from that hole by the small contingent of cheering scientists following her.

>WHY DOES ALL THE WEIRD STUFF KEEP HAPPENIN’ TUH’ ME?

“Hey, princess? Since we freed you, can we come back to the castle?”

“We promise we won’t get in your way!”

“Yeah, just let us study your butt so we can find-”

>NO CONSARNIT!

And a flap of wings later, Applejack was airborne, albeit awkwardly, but still up and away.

“…”

“AFTER HER!”

>RARS WHERE ARE Y’ALL?

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>AJ
"Scientists"

"But...it's such a mystery!"

"Indeed, we must study it, imagine the advancements in biolgical engineering we can make with that combined muscle-fat mass!"

>AHgarghrabl...fine

"..Wait...that's a yes?"

>Mhmmm, in fact, why don't y'all get a closer look... see anything else?

"Hrmm, well, the way the muscle contours into the-"

"There is some inconsistent matting of fur here and there-"

"Taint looks rather large-"

>Ah meant...THESE!

THWACK

BUCK

It had to have been fate that allowed the inquisitive scientists to have been battered one into another, knocking them out cold through sheer inertia

>...Huh...Issat that momentum thing?...Seems dangerous

"Unhhh...owww...."

>Yep, probably should get that criminalized when Ah'm back to work

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Warning:actual spoilers
NC

>Twilight
"Pinkie"

>Whew, glad that's resolved.

"I'm glad at least one of us got to do something, Twi."

>Well you can have the next one, then.

"I guess, wonder what it could be."

ROOOOOOOAAARRRRR

>"..."

>...Pinkie, your turn.

"Do I look like I talk to animals? or whatever that thing is?"

>Okay then, plan B.

"Throw it a party?"

>Must that be your plan B every time?

"...maybe."

>Just think, what would Rainbow Dash do?

...

>"CHARRRRRGE!"

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>Scientist
"Security"
~~~~~~~

"Sooo.... how long do I get in prison, thanks to association to all this?"

>Probably ten to twenty.

"That long?"

>We... broke a lot of rules.

"...C-can I at least have conjugal visits?"

>You'll probably be getting laid, yeah. You have great hair.

"Thanks!"

>...

"...wait a minute..."

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'AJ'
~~~

'Actually, Ah'll have ya'll know our prisons are completely rape free, thanks ta' careful monitorin' put in place via us with some unicorns and Twilight's fancy viewing screens. We don't let ya'll get abused like that down there. Ah' mean, shoot, punishment's bein' in prison, not bein' raped! We're one hundred percent rape free.'

"Oh.... PHEW! That is such a relief, you know?"

'Ain't gotta tell me, sug'. Nobody deserves ta' be violated like that, s'pecially in a place o' the government!'

"Here here!"

'...'

"...You're going to hit me now, aren't you?"

'Ah' was hopin' ya'll would surrender peacefully, actually.'

"Wait, that's an option? Because I'm TOTALLY okay with-"

>LASER BEEEEEAM!

"NO SCIENCE GUY NO!"

'...Gad dang it.'

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Non-Canon
>Pinkie
"Rarity"
'Strange rock'
~~~~~
>Welcome to Not Late Night /pa/ with your host Pinkie Pie! It's during this time that content does matter, but I wanted to grab some extra cardboard! Now for our main guest...RARITY!!!

"Great to be here."

>Wouldn't it be cool if there was a biohazard outbreak in the facility and a special task force had to go in and contain it?

"...Pinkie we're on a search and rescue mission. We're getting in and out."

>I'm just saying...what if we knew too much and had to fight a special task force.

"Well, I certainly hope that doesn't happen."

>B-but it could be a good boss battle for us.

Rarity gives Pinkie a look.
>Aw, fine. That's our show. Enjoy yourselves.

Rarity stops wandering.
"Oh dear I should be more mindful of my surroundings. I think I lost Applejack."
As she makes her way back to AJ she finds a red and black rock near an open door.
"What's this?"

'...(make us whole again).'

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>Crystal Guard
"Changeling"
~~~

>So, I'm noticing you're not freaking the fuck out that your Queen just got punted. Is she okay?

"Yes."

>How do you know?

"We are all linked to her, mentally. When she dies, there is a wailing of the sounds of a thousand deathly cries all going off at once, a terror beyond all compare that seizes the hearts of mortal beings and lets loose the fear, the truth, that no matter how immortal or powerful they may seem, we are all finite upon this earth."

>...

"...I mean, unless she turned that off. If she turned that off, I dunno."

>Do... do you know if it's turned off or not?

"Only one way to find out!"

>...

"...Wait... shit."

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>7
"12"
'SL'
[?]
~~

'You have no idea where you're going, do you?'

>No! I obviously don't! SHUT UP!

'Make me, discount pervert.'

"Screws, please! Which way do we go!?"

'Ask discount pervert.'

>U-uh... left!?

They did as told... and ran right into a wall of soldiers.

>I meant right!

A giant three headed monster, each one a bear, lion or tiger, sporting some rather large crab claws awaited them over there.

>WHO WOULD MAKE THAT THING!?

[Hey, screw you, buddy! He's making leaps and strides in spinal recovery surgery!]

>Fuck it, STRAIGHT!

Dodging past that creature and his impertinent handler, the trio dashed down yet another corridor, only this time...

>...what...

He didn't know what the thing in the giant tube in front of him was. He did not want to know. The fact it looked like a giant tapeworm was plenty, thank you.

"Okay, fuck! Maybe we should just stick around and wait for someone to come get us?"

>Then they'll capture us for sure!

"Well, then they can rescue us from that! It's gotta be better than-"

>NO!

He grabbed him by the shoulders violently, shaking him for all he was worth.

>I AM NOT GETTING CAUGHT AND FUCKING THIS UP! You hear me!? We are getting out of here, NOW! I cannot fuck this up again she'll tear off my head!

The silence grew heavy and thick despite the loud, heavy breathing trying to drown it out.

"...had a bad time since I've been gone?"

>Little bit.

"Okay, so... yeah, maybe we should-"

>LOOK OUT!

He reacted faster than either his fellow changeling or the stunned, wild-eyed pony could. He grabbed both of them and hurled them to the side, just before a scientist could finish pulling the trigger on the gun he had aimed square at all three. Thanks to his quick reaction time, only Seven was hit by the strange ray of light that shown from the barrel of the gun.

Approximately one second after he realized he was still standing, Seven returned the favor to the scientist... with lasers.

He didn't get back up.

He checked himself over once, after he was sure his opponent was down, but found not so much as a scorch mark on himself.

>...Huh. Guess I'm more durable than I thought.

"SCREWLOOSE!"

He rushed past the mildly annoyed agent, at her side in a second.

"You okay!?"

'Hm... I guess I am...'

She looked honestly, actually confused.

'You didn't have to save me with the pervert, you know, I could have avoided that.'

>Whatever. He's not leaving without you, and my mission is to extract him. Ergo, you're as important to get out as he is.

'Is that so...'

She smiled in a weird, almost offputting way, and rose to her hooves. Slowly, she began to saunter to him.

'Well, I guess that means that you've got to look out for little old me too, even though it's not your mission?'

>Yep.

He remained unmoved as she laid a hoof on his shoulders sensually, holding up one of her hooves for him to see.

'You know, pervert loves these things.'

He didn't even show a bit of interest.

>More of a face-ling myself. But hey, some lings are weird.

"HEY!"

>I stand by it.

'Oh ho, unfazed are you? Well...'

She curled in, whispering into his ear.

'Would you like to see why he loves them so much?'

>Lady, if you think sexy stuff will get to me, please. Unlike 'pervert' over there, I was a seduction based infiltrator before today, which means I'm far too well acquainted with a mare's form to-GLLKKKKK!

He looked down in abject horror at the scalpel lodged into his chest, digging in deeper than he thought possible considering it was just a tiny piece of metal.

She leaned in even closer, practically nibbling on his ear as she whispered to him.

'It's mostly this, by the way.'

>H-how... how did you... my chitin is...

He remained frozen in horror as she slooooowly twisted the scalpel, spinning it around and around inside of his chitin...

Then ripping it out like she was pulling a stubborn weed from the ground.

He gasped in shock. Not from the pain, not just that anyway.

But more because of the screeching, flailing worm like creature on the end of her scalpel.

>WHAT THE FU-

'Well, what do you know! I was right, he must've used the light to disguise some airborne eggs that you inhaled. Fascinating, very fascinating!'

>HOW!? WHAT!? ABUH?!

'Lookit you, you must've been eating his skin! But why go for... ohhh! I see! Burn marks! His skin didn't fight back like his magically charged organs did, did it little guy?'

In response, the worm shrieked.

'So, chitin is weaker on the bottom layer of the epidermis... fascinating!'

>WHATWHATWHATWHAT!?

'That was fun!'

With a toss, she hurled the scalpel backwards, clear up into the tank with the larger one, where it was summarily devoured.

'Come come, pervert, discount pervert! Freedom awaits!'

While Twelve fed him the necessary love to heal his wound, Seven couldn't help but... stare.

"Yeahhh... she's something else, isn't she?"

>...

"She's really nice when you get to know her."

>...

"...Seriously, though? Not even a bit for those hooves? I mean... come on!"

>...Yep... think I'm going back to 'get the hair' after this one...

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>SA
"Cadence"
'???'
~~~

>So... that went badly.

His wife, bless her heart, didn't have it in her to glare at him while she dusted the snow off her coat.

But she was thinking it.

"I had kind of hoped I wouldn't get punted again by the giant monster..."

>Sorry... my shield didn't work this time.

Her eyes rolled with a bit of playful annoyance. Quickly, she pecked him on the cheek, perking him up from his downtrodden mind instantly.

"You couldn't have known she didn't need to breath, Shining. It would have worked... if we knew that changeling Queen had that ability."

'Actually, she doesn't.'

A gust of warm air brushed past both of them, tingling their fur with the sudden change in temperature.

Between the huddling couple, a long black neck snaked her way in. Strangely, neither seemed bothered by this.

>Thanks for catching us, by the way.

"Pretty sure that snow wouldn't soften anything considering my shield broke..."

The shrug brushed against both of them as she looked ahead, towards the city beyond.

>So, I guess your plan didn't work?

He sounded disappointed, but not discouraged.

'It almost did... but we have a problem.'

>Yeah, no kidding.

"Figured that one all by yourself, did you? Someone give her a gold star."

'It's not funny... Sunset Shimmer is in there.'

Both snapped forwards, looking on in shock to the castle beyond.

"Oh dear! She's not trying to fight that thing, is she!?"

>Damn it, Applejack's going to freak! Come on, we've got to get back before she hurts herse-

'Let me clarify. She's inside... there.'

Slowly, deliberately, she pointed.

Straight.
At.
Variolus.

The realization came slow, but it came all the same.

>...This another Pommel situation?

'No.'

Her hoof came up, and tapped him n the forehead.

"So... so is she..."

'She's still alive... though I don't know if that counts.'

The chill in the air was nothing compared to the ice that danced down their spines.

"Do... is she still-"

'She's sane, for now. Don't know how much longer it's going to last, Variolus threw her inbetween my magic before I could...'

"You didn't... did you?"

'...No.'

They both wanted so much to breath a sigh of relief... but it wasn't quite time for that yet.

>So... did she have something to do with the fact Variolus is suddenly in more pieces than she used to be?

'Think that's a pretty fair assumption she caused all of this. She's been 'researching' changelings for a bit and got into Twilight's documents. Don't know what she found out, but it's possible she went back to the sight where Variolus died and...'

>Damn... knew I should've swept for remains better than that.

'It was pointless, I was sure we burned every trace... guess we missed something.'

"Or she figured out something else? She's not normal, not even for one like her. She's regenerating and not feeling pain, even Chiantia can't do that."

>And the not breathing thing, that too.

'Part of it might be because she's tethered to the Crystal Heart somehow.'

Both reeled back, aghast.

"NO!"

>Oh no, no no no no! This is bad! This is SO bad! Is she-

'She's not going all... 'me', in case you were asking.'

"So then-"

'So then while we don't have to fear her becoming a god temporarily, we also cannot count on a burnout sans Shiny-Save this time either.'

"Do you know how she's doing it?"

'Not a clue. She stopped me before I could see it.'

>Do you know what she wants?

Her eyes grew dark, and cold.

'...To repeat history.'

>Hey...

His hoof was surprisingly gentle as he turned her face towards his, locking eyes with her deeply, meaningfully.

>...That's not going to happen. Any part of it, Chrysalis. No matter what... that's not going to happen.

A second, reassuring hoof wrapped around her.

"We're all getting out of this in one piece... everyone. And no matter what happens... we won't blame you."

She never lost her tenseness.

But she did lose her cold feeling.

'...So, I have a plan B and a C. B is... if you think this Empire is worth more than Sunset, but C is more dangerous.'

The phrasing needed no further explanation. They shared a look. The Prince and Princess of this land, ones who swore they would never again let it fall to tyranny or destruction. The ones who swore to protect their subjects with all they had, all they could be. The ones who swore it all.

"...We're all getting out of this, if we can. No one left behind."

He needed to say not a word. The nod he gave said that he was with her, every bit. From the way she shifted, Chrysalis understood just as well.

'...Plan C it is. I'll go get it set up, get ready.'

She almost impishly brushed her cheek to both of them, smiling wickedly all the while.

'Let's show her how we do things around here.'

With flames that did not so much as singe the other two, she was gone.

"...You could have argued with me, you know."

His hoof rested to her cheek, and she knew.

No, he couldn't have.

>If it comes to it, we will deal with it. Together. Until that point... we fight, for them.

"...And for us."

They closed the short distance, and their lips connected, warming the other against the bitter snow.

>No matter what happens, we stick together this time. We're not going to do this alone... never again.

"...I wouldn't have it any other way..."

In the snow, in the cold that normally would freeze them down to their very cores...

They had never felt more warm.

>"Together, this time."

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>Pommel
"Haymaker"

"Okay, are we sure it was a good idea to leave lucky down there with some raw recruits pointing heavy arms at the simulator?"

>Well it was either that or stay there and get branded cowards again. Besides, Lucky knows better than anyone-

"I want you say that last bit again."

>...okay, point, but he got a good look at that monster last time, he'll know if something's up surely. If we're fortunate, it won't even do anything until we can regroup.

"Faust it would be SUCH a bitch if we went from one giant monster to another."

>It's almost like life is a wheel, and the spokes of that wheel each have a boot at the end, and as that wheel rolls across the land we all get trampled by it over and over again.

"I always thought of it more as a stick..."

>...we remember to bring some of the big ass guns with us, right?

"Rocket launchers yes, machine guns no."

>Okay, everyone be EXTREMELY careful where you aim!

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>42
"Spike"
'DT'
[77]
~~~~

'You know, I'm starting to see why we never get together for these things.'

She smirked, ego positively exploding in size as a previously massive robot crumbled before her.

'It just makes it too easy.'

>And also because you're very difficult to work with.

'I am NOT difficult to work with!'

>I have looked after starlets who came over for fun to the Empire, and I assure you even Diva's would tell you to tone it down.

'PLPLPLPLPLP!'

"Guys, come on. We've got to work together."

[...Do... do we? We're pretty damn powerful individually.]

"Oh yeah, we're total badasses."

[I mean, we're not the princesses, those are fucking powerful.]

"Well, okay, we're not ALICORN level badasses, but still, badasses."

[...And the changeling Queens probably outstrip us pretty handily.]

"Well, I suppose by default since Chrysalis overpowered Celestia..."

[And then we're not even getting into the chaos stuff.]

"..."

'...Wow, uh... we... we're badasses, right?'

>...

"...hey, at least we aren't the guard!"

'Hey, yeah! We're better than them!'

[That's something!]

>...

"...Let's just... let's just go blow some stuff up."

'Y-yeah, feel like blowing stuff up...'

[...At least I get laid sometimes.]

>"'SHUT UP!'"

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>Dash
"Fluttershy"
'Scientists'
~~

>...This is not what I was hoping for. I was hoping for punches and chaos going wild.

"Now, mister scientist, why did YOU decide to turn mister Bearington's arm into a gun?"

'I-I-I was just trying to test it without doing it on a pony fiiiiirrrrrrherheriiirrrssst!'

"And do you feel good about what you did?"

'NOOOOOO!'

"Would you have felt good if mister Bearington wasn't about to bite your head?"

'NO! NO NO NO!'

"Good! You're learning!... Now, Mrs Scientist, why did YOU decide to cut off a section of mister Gator's skin?"

'I JUST WANTED TO GIVE PONIES STRONGER SKIIIIN!'

"And how do you think that made him feel?"

'I'M SORRY! I'M SO SORRY! I JUST WANTED TO HELP PONIES HAVE STRONGER SKIIIIIN!'

"I understand, but you really hurt him, and keeping him in that cage was going to make him get an infection!"

'I'M SORRRYYYYY!'

"I should certainly hope so!... And YOU Missy! You are going to apologize to every single one of these poor bunnies!"

'I'M SORRY!'

"I said ALL OF THEM."

'...'

"...Bunny? Start nibbling."

"SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!-'

"Much better!"

'SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!SORRY!'

>... why am I not disappointed?

"AND YOU!... Look at this poor chimera!"

'I was just testing haircare products!'

"I know! Her split ends are awful, she feels so ugly right now! How could you!?"

'WHY IS EVERYTHING SO HORRRRIBLE!?'

>...Nope... not sad at all...

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>AJ
"???"
'???'
~~~~

>...

"I knew one day my research would be threatened by you... plebians! You don't understand what I'm doing! None of you understood! I just wanted to make the world a safer place, but you wouldn't let me! Unethical, they said! Unethical!? Letting ponies live under the heel of those more powerful than them is unethical! Letting ponies die horribly when they could be protected is unethical! I did no such thing! I didn't do this out of a need to hurt, but save! You could never-"

>Stop.

"..."

>...are... are those ninjas?

"You fool! They are not your standard fantasy fair! They are not 'ninjas', they are cloaked, specially engineered protectors of-"

>They're wearin' all black.

"Black works better!"

>Not fer' night time, yer' thinkin' o' dark blue. Black makes ya' a silhouette.

"Oh... uh... I suppose that's true-"

>They got swords.

"Those are no mere swords! They're not common metal sticks! Those are designed for surgical precision, which is why only one side cuts. Like a giant scalpel!"

>Or a Japonies sword.

"It only superficially resembles that!"

>So, what do they do?

"They stalk in the night-"

>Like ninjas.

"NO! They do it under the orders of me, their-"

>Like ninjas.

"NOT LIKE NINJAS! Isn't that right, fellas?"

'Hai, science-sama.'

>...

"...He's Japonies, you racist."

>....

"...They're genetically modified!"

>So, sciency ninjas.

"THEY'RE NOT...."

>...

"...Please don't hurt them, I love them so."

>Fine.

"Wait, really?"

>Look, Ah'm tryin' not to-

'ATTTAAAACKKK!'

'FOR SCIENCE-KUUUNNN!'

'YOUR CRUSH IS SHAMEFUL!'

'I know...'

"NO! MY NOT-NINJAS!"

>...Gad dang it.

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