Thread 65: Stories 61-75

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>32
"77"
'???'
[???]
{???}
~~~~

>I'M SORRY!

"You are not sorry enough! You need to be more sorry! ALL OF THE SORRY!"

>What does that even mean!?

"I don't know but it means a lots! It has meaning, layers even!"

>...What!?

"IT'S A THING!"

>I feel like you're going off the deep end, brother.

"And I feel like I am two seconds from stabbing you!"

>Would you really?

"YES!"

>Huh... feels weird to think of you actually-YOW!

"Keep looking!"

>That thing is fucking SHARP!

"And unless you want to taste the blade, you will keep looking!"

>...Ohhhh, it's THAT kind of punishment-YOW!

"NONE OF THAT!"

>I'm sorry! I'm trying to bury the guilt of leaving my kin alone while I-... Do you hear something?

"...I do... I do hear something. Where..."

>Where is it coming from?

"It sound like."

>...Oh no, no no nononononono-

'ZHETRI THHUUUUUUULLLLL!'

>NO NO NO NO-

TACKLE!

'Zhetri Thul! Oh how I have muchly missed you! Many many sleeps past since you left morlocks, and Rekulk has so much to tell you! He has become trader! He has traversed the city of white and gained many new-'

>R-rrekkk...

'Yes, Zhetri Thul?'

>Reeelkkkl...lkkl...

'You are speaking much quietly, is there wrongness Zhetri Thul?'

>Glllkkkk!

"I think you need to get off him."

>Y-YEESSS!

'OH! Muchly with the apologies Zhetri Thul!'

>HRK!... Rekulk, while the whole 'tackle and bounce on my chest thing' is adorable when Vekir does it, you are very, very heavy.

'Rekulk is not as heavy as Grehem!'

>...Not better. But, on that note-

Thirty Two abruptly shot forwards wrapping his forelegs around the shocked morlock.

>It is good to see you, old friend. I'm glad to hear you are doing well.

'...T-thank you, Zhetri Thul...'

"Yes yes yes this is all very nice and heartwarming and the like, but we need to find-"

'AH HAH!'

>Ow. Ear.

'Rekulk knows what you seek, Brother of Zhetri Thul!'

"It bothers me that's all I am to you. I have hobbies. I play croquet on the weekends and everything."

'Rekulk presents... hold on... SEBJEK!'

>Oh dear mercy no.

"He bad?"

>No no, quite the opposite, he's just got this weird tick where he repeats everything you say, EXACTLY as you say it. I think Rekulk just wants to show me everything he parroted-

'SEBJEK!'

[The door is stuck.]

A beat, then Rekulk face-hoofed quite hard before walking over to a closet door.

'How for is the door stuck!? Why are you even in there in the first place!?'

[She thought this was a bathroom.]

{...Is it not? Oh, crud.}

>...
"...Was... was that-"

With a swing, the door rocketed open, and out stumbled the dear sister they sought.

Their brief, elated moment of joy was cut short when she kept running... right into the wall on the opposite side of the room.

{Ow.}

>...
"..."
'...Sister of Zhetri Thul does that a LOT. You are quite kind, Zhetri Thul! When morlock is born with eyes of white, morlocks usually just let them wander off!... or eat them.'

"...You don't still-"

'No!... Though Rekulk might want to reseat-'

[Repeat]

'-this to other morlocks, no white-eyes have been born since the rise of Zhetri Thul.'

"...Damn that's an awesome name for a story."

{I'm sorry, can we change the subject? Mostly to the fact that-}

WHACK!

{YOU LEFT ME YOU ASSHOLE!}

'OW!'

{...Whoops. Hold up.}

WHACK!

[OW!]

{Damn it, I will get this.}

WHACK!

{....OW!}

"It was the wall again. Here, I've got this for you."

>YOW! NO USING KNIVES!

"Good. We got the slapstick out of our systems? Good. Good good good."

Abruptly, he embraced his sister, squeezing the life out of her.

"I am so sorry for leaving you with an idiot."

>...Hurtful.

"IT SHOULD BE!"

{Ears.}

"HE NEEDS TO KNOW!"

{...I don't need to be babysat.}

"YOU DO TOO!"

{...}

"That is not what it sounded like!"

Sadly, Thirty Two looked away, feeling a wash of shame overtake him.

>...You've been staring.

[Hello, Zhetri Thul.]

>Hello.

[...I have seen the pictures in the books it is good.]

>Glad to hear that.

[...I missed you.]

>...I missed you all as well.

'HUZZAH! All have been found and are muchly fixed, yes!'

{As soon as he stops squeezing me.}

"NEVER!"

'Huzzah! Than shall we also go out for gathering of Zhetri Thuls kin? It looks like many playfights are about to begin!'

>...Wait, what!?

{WHAT!? Is that what that noise was!?}

'Oh, do not be silly! Rekulk knows Bitch Queen and the Jack of Apples only play fight!... Although you playfights like morlocks, Rekulk saw. Muchly bleeding, so that means the Jack of Apples won, right?

>...
"..."
{...}

'...What?'

"Fuck."

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'???'
~~~

>Between this and the murderbox I'm starting to think you guys are just obsessed with near death experiences!

'The what now?'

"Oh boy, here we go."

A single eyebrow beneath a three-way fused helmet rose up, inquisitively looking over the unicorn mare.

>More of them!?

'...Pleasure to meet you, I am Applejack Forty Two, guest instructor for Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadenza's royal army, and second in command to the changeling forces.'

>That name still makes no sense to me.

'Forty One was taken, I hope this clears everything up.'

>Ugh... and I was talking about between the murderbox-

'Yes, that, what is that? What are you referring to there?'

>The... uh, how do I put this? The magical room that-

"She's been in it a LOT, Sunset."

'Oh, you are referring to the subspace altered reality room. I do not understand the connection to murderbox, though.'

>It's a room where you literally kill each other-

'Incorrect.'

>...You did not just correct me.

'I did. You are incorrect, false, non-factual. You do not 'literally' kill each other, it is a simulation that magically stimulates certain nerves to give the illusion it is happening, when in fact it is not. It cannot physically alter a body, only give you the impression your body is being altered, otherwise any sort of real bodily damage and repair could have been fixed quite easily and surely. It is simulating another reality, not actually transporting your molecules to another universe. That's just not feasible.'

>...A-hem. Well! While you are... TECHNICALLY correct, you are still missing the point of it being a room where you kill your friends-

'Again, incorrect. It is a room where you pretend to kill your friends in a situation wherein you all know and are aware of the fact there will be no lasting damage or consequences to the matter. It is no different than two children with vivid imaginations play fighting and pretending to shoot the other.'

>...WHAT!? It's... that's totally different!

'How so?'

>Because it looks real!

'Good. If it didn't you might forget that there are real consequences in reality. Far too often fights are presented as bloodless affairs it is easy to walk away from without any lasting damage, when in reality it is quite the opposite. While all know that the current fight is not real, I've found that nonetheless the visual aide is important for those looking in to realize that everything from a punch to a shove gone wrong can have permanent, lasting consequences. But, again, it is fake, so it's easy for those in the act to cut loose and just have a time they otherwise wouldn't.'

>You still feel it!

'Good. Then otherwise your body may become attuned to being stabbed and not registering pain as it should, or be taken off guard when stabbed and it hurts when it is used to it not doing so, you would be less prepared for reality if you focused entirely on making every aspect of this fake when you are, in fact, the one doing all the movements needed and simulating a real fight.'

>...You're watching your friends DIE!

'Pretend to die, and knowing full well they'll be fine the whole time through. Which is much better than normal battles, I should say, when it looks like they might actually die. It's just pretend.'

>YOU MIGHT FEEL YOURSELF DIE!

'Pretend to die.'

>How is that better!?

'Than actually dying? I do not think I need to explain this one. Actually dying is a lot worse, I would imagine. Couldn't say for sure, obviously, just a hunch.'

>You know what I mean! This has got to be horrible and psychologically damaging!

'It's honestly a little cathartic to feel it happen, to be frank. It's not that bad when you know you're not going to actually die.'

>WHAT!?

"Whoa, wait, what? You never died in our fights!"

'And? Did you forget we have one over here too? It is mostly used by Shining for Hyperspace Hyperwars with Sombra and Two, but I use it to keep my wits sharp with many a varied battle. It's quite soothing to put yourself in a battle you cannot possibly win, eventually be overtaken and then wake up from it. Like a nightmare you know is fake and knowing you can wake up whenever you want.'

"...Huh."

>How is this okay to you!?

'Because it isn't real.'

>But it looks like it is!

'...But it isn't. Where is the complication here? If it were real, or had the possibility of being real, or any involved thought it was real, I'd see the issue, but to be perfectly honest it sounds like you're whining over what amounts to a very large game.'

>...You at least see the issue with it, right Spike?

"Hey, I got my neck snapped in there once, not doing it again."

'HAH! Only once. You poor sod, you didn't even get to finally get a good look at your back! Were it not for this, I would never have known I have a funny little mark between my wings, it's amazing. But ah well, if it isn't fun for you it isn't fun for you, no reason in trying to force the issue, right?'

"Got that right."

>...I don't believe this.

'Very well, I have no interest in making you believe anything. Is that all?'

>...I guess?

'Good. Now, on that note, what was the 'this' of the 'between this and the muderbox' you were referring to?'

>...

"..."

'...What?'

"Fuck."

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Non-C@n!^0%zzz!?
>Pinkie
"Discord"
'Luna'
~~~~
>Welcome to Not Late Night /pa/ with your host Pinkie Pie! It's during this time that content does matter, but sometimes I wonder if it doesn't. Now for our main guest...DISCORD!!!
Fanfare and a heavenly light beams as Discord floats down on the couch.

"Hello there Ponka P-"

>Don't you even start. Now word on the grapevine is that you'll be showing up soon. Any truth to that?

"Did a writer leak something? I can't confirm or-"

>You heard that right folks! Discord confirms!

"No I said-"

>I SUBSTITUTE MY REALITY FOR YOUR OWN! YOU HAVE NO POWER HERE!

Snaps his fingers
"Not if I turn this story into Canon."

>Nope this is a Non-Canon story.

"Canon"

>Non-Canon

"Canon!"

>Non-Canon!

"CANON!"

>NON-CANON!

'WOULD THOUST SHUT THINE MOUTHS AND WAKE UP ALREADY!'
Both Pinkie and Discord wake up in a bed.

>"Party Pooper"

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>Celestia
"???"
~~~

She had been searching high, and low. She had gone every which was, this and that. Every corner, every nook, every cranny she knew. She had looked, and looked, and looked.

But she just could not find the changeling queen.

Thus, the head princess of Equestria, raiser of the sun, was going to have to just break down, go into the ballroom she knew Chrysalis was most certainly not in, and ask for a location. This... was not going to be fun.

And the moment she stepped in, the absolute moment, she knew she was more right than even she had initially wondered.

Every single eye turned to her, suspiciously, perhaps a little fearfully. Every single eye in that room followed her with an utter lack of surreptitious gazes. Quietly she moved only past the threshold, and cleared her throat.

>I apologize for the intrusion, but I'm looking for your Queen to discuss what transpired in the city today.

Not a one said a peep, not an answer.

>I am only trying to get information, I assure you. Any other matter is of no concern to me.

Still nothing but silence.

>...Is that Seven!? Great heavens!

Though they tried to move in the way to cover him, her elevated height allowed her to peer over their bodies quite easily.

>Is he alright!?

She didn't need to ask, not at all. The very painful looking welt on the side of his head was the farthest thing from 'alright' as could possibly be. She had known Applejack had struck him, but this looked more like he had taken a blow from Chitania in her titan form.

But still, they would not let her come close to him, not saying a word, just defending. And while it did bring her some modicum of joy to see them willing to stand against her for one of their own, it brought her such pain considering they had all been on such good, open terms just this morning. She could only pray the same was not as such for Chrysalis herself.

Powerfully, she rose up to her full height, and a booming voice spoke to the room.

>...I really need to speak with her, this kind of thing cannot be allowed to continue on as it is. This is bringing us all too much strife and lack of understanding. This cannot ever be allowed to happen again.

"Oh, I agree."

Every single body in the room save Celestia's and the still unconscious Seven snapped to attention as green fire flared in the center of the room.

Though her visible, horrible looking wound still remained, she was not angry, she was not enraged. No...

Black, chitinous lips pulled back ever so slightly, allowing fangs of white to gleam in the light.

"I do believe... it is time for a real change."

Her grin only grew, and grew.

Slowly, the dread began to take over Celestia's every cell, and silence hang heavy.

"...That's not as evil as I made it sound, I swear."

>For fucks sake, Chrysalis!

"I'm sorry! It's a force of habit!"

>You made it look like you were going to shoot me again!

"I did not!"

>...Okay, fine, not that bad, but still!

"I said I was sorry!"

>Ugh... every time with you.

"Mneh mnehhhhh."

>PLPLPLPLP!

"Well PLPLP to you right back!"

>...

"..."

>...So, changes? You mentioned changes?

"...OH! Right, yeah... CHANGELINGS! Go and gather everyone wandering around outside of the ballroom! I have a special... announcement to make. It will bring about a change like you have never-"

>You're doing it again!

"Don't you fucking interrupt me, I'm talking to my Hive! I'm giving an order here!"

>Fine! Just... stop it with the thing! It's been a rough day.

"Says the mare who's NOT bleeding."

>...Your announcement?

"Oh fuck you... GO GET EVERYONE NOW! EVERYONE!"

They scrambled, broken from their dumbfounded stupor off to go fulfill their Majesties order.

>...

"..."

>...Well-

"You have to wait like everyone else."

>Darn.

"..."

>...I'm glad you aren't mad.

"Not anymore... oh... not anymorrrrre...."

>You are-

"Oh, I know, and I do not give a damn."

>...Fuck.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NC

"Could be worse though."

>What do you mean?

"At least we're not in Detrot."

>What's wrong with Detrot?

"You don't want to know what's wrong with Detrot."

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 >Actarius
"JJ"
'???'
~~~

>Well, that was rough.

"I told you you were coming in too hard!"

>I'm sorry! I underestimated how fast I was going, I just got caught up in the moment!

"You completely wrecked my back, my spine and my hind legs with that move!"

>Oh please, it wasn't that bad.

"Why am I always the one taking it? Why don't you take it once!"

>I offered every time, you just get intimidated.

"I have my comfort zones, sue me!"

>Now don't be like that, it was still plenty fun up till the end! And hey, maybe I should try it next time, just to see what it's like on the other side.

"...Maybe-"

'YOU TWO!'

>"EEP!"

'THE QUEEN HAS REQUESTED YOUR PRESENCE IN THE BALLROOM!...Well, actually just Jugglejack. You can go get a smoothie or something, I guess?'

>...
"..."

'...What?'

>"WHAT THE FUCK DID WE DO NOW!?"

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 >77
"88"
'32'
[???]
~~~

>Well great, just great! ANOTHER major war almost breaks out! AGAIN!

"This... this is a common enough occurrence this needs to be stated?"

>I SWEAR THIS IS EVERY OTHER MAJOR EVENT!

"This is not okay, why would you think this is okay? My entire basis for not wanting to stab Chrysalis is because I'm under the impression she's not going to kill us all."

'THANK YOU!'

>Fuck off, you weren't even there for any of them!

'Excuse me!'

>No, not excused! You are in no way shape or form excused! NO EXCUSE!

"You are grumpy."

>I WAS SUPPOSED TO-.....

'...Ohhhhh.... sorry?'

>YOU SHOULD BE!

"Wait, I'm confused."

>YOU SHOULD BE!

"I am."

>GOOD!... I mean, no wait...

"..."

>I need to go serve my QUEEN, thank you!

"So why are you dragging me? I'm not getting into hooffights, thank you."

>Damn straight!

"Sooo-"

>I'm not leaving you with him!

'ONE TIME!'

>FUCK YOUR ONE TIME!

'...He is quite irritated.'

"Yeah, when'd little Lucky Seven grow balls?"

>Will you hush so I can just FIND WHERE SHE-

[A-HEM!]

>...
"..."
'...'

[...The Queen has requested a meeting.]

>...Problem solved!

"..."
'...'

>..yay!

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 >Random changeling
"???"
~~~

>...Erm.....

"What? What is it?"

>The Queen has requested... has requested...

"Yeessss?"

>...Sigh... The Queen has requested all changelings go to the ballroom.

"So... what you're saying is..."

>Don't.

"What you mean to say is-"

>Don't do it!

"...The Queen..."

>Noooooooo...

"...HAS REQUESTED THE PRESENCE, OF THE RAINBOLTS!"

~TOKUSENTAI! TOKUSENTAI!~

*RAINBOOM*

>GODDAMN IT!

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 >Changeling
"???"
~~~

>The Queen has requested the presence of all changelings in the ballroom, immediately.

"TRY TO TEAR ME FROM MY BABY'S SIDE! I DARE YOU! I MOTHERFUCKING DARRRRREEEEE YOUUUUUUUUUUU!"

>...Y-you... you can bring her if you want...

"...Oh! Neat! I've wanted to introduce her to her uncles and aunts, two birds with one stone, yay!"

>Y-yay....

"..."

>...A-are you going to take the knife off my balls now, o-or-

"WHOOP! Sorry mate! It's cool!"

>...

"...Don't look at her for too long, I get antsy."

>...W-why did I pull the short straw...

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>Changeling
"PJ"
'Blueblood'
~~~

>Yes.

"No."

>Yes.

"No."

>Yes.

"NO!"

'What the devil are you two doing!?'

"He's trying to make me go to some dumb meeting, I'm saying no."

>I'm saying yes!

"NO!"

>YES!

"NOOOOO!"

>GO OR SHE'LL CUT YOUR DAMN HEAD OFF!

"...Hey, BB? Mind sticking around, gotta go to this dumb meeting, you know how it is.'

'...'

"She fucking mindraped Ten for the crime of 'not luring her into a trap' and put an explosive collar on the guy that's going to go off at any second now, don't you fucking tell me she won't do it."

'...Have fun!'

"I won't!"

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>Changeling
"13"
~~~~

>...

"...Do you really want me in that room?"

>...Q-queens orders.

"...If you all catch fire, not my problem."

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>Chrysalis
"Changeling"
~~~~

She had called them.

Every single one. Every single changeling in all of Canterlot. Everyone from the ever unlucky Thirteen to the forever failing to juggle Jugglejack to the plot hungry Fifty Six to even the normally stand-offish and lonesome Potatojack, even the 'three survivors' as they had come to be called had shown up. Even, incredibly, the Rainbolts. Every single changeling who did not currently have a permanent status in some other location found themselves once more back where it all began, back in the ballroom they had come to call home, back in the place they had been locked into... sealed away inside.

With very few notable exceptions, such as 12, 55 and 29, they were all here.

She stood proudly above them, up on some hastily erected podium no doubt assembled in mere moments by her ever faithful solider, Forty Two, who stood by her as he regarded them, frowning fiercely, unmoving and unblinking as always. She was tall, proud and quite powerful looking, her wound long since hidden underneath a disguise magic so as not to even give a hint of weakness. No... the time for weakness had long, long since gone away. In its place was fierceness, perhaps even a touch of malicious... power.

>You all saw what happened. And if you didn't... you heard of it by now.

She looked over all of them, every single one, drinking in their faces, their stories. Each one had one, each one had lives, skills and things to them, and despite how little she showed it, she knew them all... every one.

>I will not dice words. I will not double talk, undercut or delude you all to... the truth. The truth you no doubt saw first hoof out there, but I must say anyway. The truth is... things have not gotten any better.

She began to pace, slowly, easily, watching over all of them like a hawk. But with every step, she seemed to lose a bit of edge, and replaced it instead with... tiredness.

>We have faced many trial since we were placed here by the chaos bringer, Discord, and placed under the watchful eye of Princess Applejack. It has been very... strife filled since then, we shall say, and I do not even refer to the invasions from outside... the ones inside were plenty. We have faced suspicion, we have faced distrust, harassment in some cases... attacks in others. But even through it all, we did not waver, we did not break. Because, you see, we are changelings... and changeling are strong. But even still, we saw that many out there, even today, would like nothing more than to stand against us, to battle us and win once more. But, perhaps this is not the right way to go. Perhaps it is simply unwise to keep things as they have been out of fear. Perhaps it is time for a change. A change of perception, of thought, and of relations between pony and changeling. It is time to change a system that has been broken for far too long, and create a scenario where you can leave this ballroom at long, long last. There is a way to this, a way to at last shed disguises, shields and fears. There is a way...

Her voice was... soft. Almost angelically soft as she spoke. Not timid, not weak... soft.

>For you see, it has not all been darkness, it has not all been distrust and suspicion. We have made allies, powerful allies, caring ones who wish to see us live, and will fight with us, not against us. Even some who, while they do not care deeply for us, would never wish us hurt. Perhaps it is time we used these allies, called upon them, and at last made a real, lasting change. Together, hopefully, this change will bring about something new, something... wonderful.

She took a deep breath, looking upon them with weary, but not sadness.

>Which is why... I hope you will join me. I ask you, to trust in me as your Queen, trust in my word and believe that I only want to ensure the strength of our hive. I hope you all will understand and trust in me in this new direction we are about to face regarding Canterlot, and the strong change it will bring between us and those who live here. It will not be easy, it will not be done quickly, there will be challenges unexpected and at the start, it will seem impossible, but I feel it will have the most benefit. I feel we will grow more in the next few days that are to come than we have in all the time we've spent here before now.

She smiled, smiled to all of them. Still their Queen, just not as they remembered her.

>Join me, join us, join your brothers and sister right now, as we look to Canterlot, to the place whom we have lived with and fought with all this time, who we bled for, warred for, nearly died for, who we have hidden away from for far too long, join me, as one, all of us truly together. Speak with me.....

She reached out, lovingly, almost desperately.

And then flipped her hoof in what could only be called a 'rude gesture' that had no real meaning, yet the intention very plainly came across.

>AND GIVE A FUCK YOU TO THESE ASSHOLES!

“....Wait, what?”

>PACK YOUR THINGS AND FUCK THIS FUCKING BALLROOM! WE'RE GOING TO THE EMPIRE!

“...Neat.”

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NCOMAKE!
>AJ
~~~~

>...Why did Ah' just start bleedin' outta mah' nose?... Should probably get that looked at.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NC-OMAKE!
>Chrysalis
"???"
~~~~~~

She reached out, lovingly, almost desperately.

And then flipped her hoof in what could only be called a 'rude gesture' that had no real meaning, yet the intention very plainly came across.

>AND GIVE A FUCK YOU TO THESE ASSHOLES!

“....Wait, what?”

>PACK YOUR THINGS AND FUCK THIS FUCKING BALLROOM! WE'RE GOING TO THE EMPIRE!

“...Neat.”

Every head in the ballroom turned, facial expressions ranging across horror, fear, amazement, wonder and even amusement in some rare cases. All staring at the owner of that voice.

Amidst all the small Changeling drones and soldiers sit Chitania, in all her glory. How nobody noticed her is beyond anyone's comprehension.

"What? She asked for EVERY Changeling. Can we leave now? This place seriously stinks."

And then Chitania joined the Changelings in their migration to the Empire.

And there was much rejoicing.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NCOMAKE!
'???'
~~

A high pitched, mumbly voiced called out from the back

'Booo, I don't like this idea, I think we should stayyyy in the balllrooooom.'

>Celestia, I said you could sit in here if you didn't talk, and you are clearly talking.

'Nooooo, I'm... Thirteen.'

*FWOOSH!*

'AHHHH! WHY AM I SUDDENLY ON FIRE!?'

{Whoops, sorry honey! Thought you were the real thing!}

*POOF!*

'...M-mom?'

...

'...Huh.'

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