FOE: Hooves of Fate: Chapter 5 review. · 3:07am May 13th, 2014
Chapter 5: The Hard Yellow Line
“If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding. How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?" -Pink Floyd
Well, an odd quote. Not quite sure what to say about it other then I see how it applies to the chapter.
Despite their small victory, the foals were still trapped, still locked up, and still under the power of the cloak-o's. The slight bit of chaos they had caused among them being quelled as a mare that was clearly their leader came in. Her cloak was the same as the others, but clean. And she had a circlet around her head on the outside of her cloak. One noted to have several gems in it. (Kind of wondering if it is just pure ornamentation, or if those might be magical gems and the circlet be some kind of magical artifact). Even more interesting, she also had a Pipbuck. (Granted Rose didn't know what it was, but the description is unmistakeable.)
She gets the guards to stop freaking out, and Rose notices them constantly looking and pointing at her. Feeling fear rising, fighting the urge to whine, to cry, to scream that it wasn't her. Anything to try and spare herself, but she kept on singing.
I sang loudly. Badly. It was all I could do to keep from screaming.
“How long shall they kill our prophets, while we stand aside and look?”
Not so inspiring when the “prophet” is you.
Very true. But the important part is, no matter how much part of her wanted to try and save herself, throw the other mare to the guards, blame her, to do anything to avoid the punishment, she didn't. Yes it isn't easy. Yes she was terrified. She's not a hero, at least in her own mind. But she kept her silence, she didn't betray the other filly.
Her unease and fear keep up right until a unicorn pulls her out of the cage and sets her in front of a freshly painted yellow line. All the other kids stopping as they watched what would happen.
Kids, the guard beside me, Captain Super Special Snowflake. It didn’t matter. Every last one of them held their breath, waiting to see what I would do next. Even the long row of saluting cloak-o’s broke formation just enough to lean forward and get a better look. Would I cross the line? Would I hang around behind the line, waiting my turn to die like an obedient chump?
Okay, slight issue right off, how does she ''know'' that's what she's supposed or not supposed to do? That she isn't supposed to march over the line and head to her 'freedom'? Yeah the reaction of all the ponies makes it clear she's doing what they wanted her to do afterwards. But at this moment, there is nothing making clear one way or another what they want her to do, and hence what she would do to defy them. Yes the implications are clear, but there is nothing definitive about it. Nothing that makes it certain for her to know this one way or the other. Even a single line from one of the guards, a gesture, something to make the point, in an unmistakable and clear cut way, that she was supposed to stay put. Then again, that might just be my own personal hatred of ambiguity when it comes to what someone expects me to do.
I dug my hooves into the concrete. Felt the grit crunch beneath them. The big guy next to me licked his lips. He wanted me to step over that line so bad he was salivating. The moment of truth had come and every grain of dirt beneath me seemed to echo throughout the entire room.
I didn’t cross the line.
Sure, we had hearts full of fire and heads full of lightning when we were singing, but when push came to shove, we’d all keep our hooves where we were told to keep ‘em. I was certain of it. Even then, when I was still so idealistic.
So, this. Yeah she chickens out. Well at least that's likely how she sees it. Yes the last chapter made a good point and had a very powerful theme of taking control where you can. Of knowing and realizing you do have some choices, and even when seemingly powerless, at the utter mercy of forces you can't control, you still have control of how you react to those events. And now, she gives that up. But, this is just even more greatness for the story. Yeah all of that IS true, but it's also true what we see here. That fear can cause you to lose that hope, to lose the agency over yourself. Yes standing up, being defiant in anyway you can can be empowering, can be brilliant and amazing. But that doesn't mean it will actually change anything. Eventually, things might just get too bad. And it's also a lot easier to be strong in a group then on your own, at the center of all the attention, just yourself. So no it wasn't chickening out. At least in any negative connotation.
Yes she could have remained defiant to the end, but what would that prove? A case could be made about her simply exercising 'Discretion is the better part of valor." And picking her battles, rather then just bullheadedly being contrary for the sake of it. Granted that only works when looking from the outside, seeing JUST her actions, not her thoughts, which prove that no, it was simply fear of the consequences, no better reason. Though that IS actually one of the themes I see in this chapter. Knowing when to quit, to stop trying for a goal. But more on that later.
Just this whole dilemma, this whole point is so amazingly well done. There is so much I could say, so many angles to look at this from. I know I'd never address them all, and could make a rather lengthy diatribe JUST on this one part of the chapter, let alone what comes next. That a story can be done this well, express something so simply, and yet have so much meaning, so many layers, so much to talk about in one tiny little scene is phenomenal, and a real testament to the story's greatness.
There is no 'right' answer to this, crossing or not crossing. Rose choose not to out of fear of what would happen if she did. But crossing it just for the sake of crossing, JUST to be contrary could be viewed as stupid. Sure some people would be over it the instant the question was raised, just because they were told not to. *Cough* Harry Dresden *Cough*. Just to piss the cloak-o's off regardless of what might happen. Or a more related example, Littlepip. Yeah I could see her trotting right over the line, defying them just because. (Though admittedly would be more likely, and far better IMO if she stayed on that side of the line, and simply telekineticaly choke slammed all the cloak-o's for what they were doing. Then made a show of stepping over the line.) But while more 'heroic' seeming, that's not all the much smarter. It's something that has so many details, so many ways of looking at it, there is no 'right' answer, simply what is right for you.
After seeing she's cowed into obedience they lead her away to another room, this one even more full of cages and foals. Despite her fears, despite knowing she can't do anything, she still tries to see if she could find the foal she saw her first night in the Wastes. Though is unable to make out if he is here or not through the mob of cloak-o's and foals. The guards tell them that because of how dangerous and radiation filled the Wastes are, they have to take a special medicine before it's safe for them to be let free. Something Rose doesn't buy for a second, and yet... still can't do anything about. Is still to fearful, to knowing that she's helpless to even try to fight back.
We were supposed to be lost in the chaos, clinging to our stupid yellow lines, and our nurse appointments - desperate for something that kinda, sorta looked a little bit familiar maybe. If there’s order and direction, you do what you’re told, right to the bitter end, even when it means almost certain death. Because there’s that almost part. And no matter how much you want to scream, to shout, to put your hoof over that stupid line just to prove that you can, you don’t. 'Cause while certain death may be impossible to ignore, almost certain death makes a coward out of just about anypony.
And it's that 'almost' that makes all the difference. Why the Cloak-o's were acting like they were setting them free, trying to keep them calm. While I touched on Hope last time, how that was, to me, the single greatest theme of the original, and how I can see some of that here already. This, this is also keeping with that. Since in essence, this is a perversion of hope. Using it as a weapon to control somepony. Make them willingly walk to their deaths by keeping up that slim, desperate hope that maybe, just maybe, somehow, they might just survive. Hope is one of the most powerful things there is. But that doesn't mean it can't be used against someone if you know how.
Any creature that is backed into a corner, knows they have no hope at all, not a single chance to survive. They will lash out, they will not hold anything back. Some of the cutest, tamest, most harmless seeming creatures can be utterly devastating when they have nothing left to lose. And so they give the foals hope. Give them that small chance that maybe, just maybe this isn't what they think. Sure none of them really believe it but just the glimmer of hope after the darkness is so powerful, that they won't do anything to risk it. And yet, for being so devious, so well done, and so good at working. It really doesn't say much about the Cloak-o's that they use this, doesn't make them that smart or scary. Proves they are a tad bit above unthinking raiders, but not by much. While not understanding it on this deep a level, this is a fairly basic tactic. Because it is rather simple and works so well.
At least, it works well as long as you can keep that faint, false glimmer of hope alive. Tempt your victims with it. Make them doubt in some small way that it's worth fighting. Lose that, and things backfire horribly. Not only do you get the panic of them knowing they have NO option but to hold nothing back, to fight with everything they have no matter what. But you also get the rage, the anger at having used them like this, at having given them that sick, pervert lie of hope. While it is a very powerful tool, it is also a very fragile one. A false image being held on a soap bubble. One wrong move and it bursts. Like say having a filly who is doing her damnedest to look around and see everything, trying to find one particular foal. Who is such a nervous wreck and so hyped on adrenaline she's overclocking and seeing everything in near slow motion. One scared filly who knows she's going to die in her head, yet nonetheless can't fight and risk that tiny hope in her heart, seeing through a door she shouldn't for a split second while somepony goes through it. And seeing a pile of dead foals.
Though, while anyone cornered and with nothing left to lose will fight, Rose wasn't exactly cornered. So she took the second option, and the one that has served many of the greatest heroes of all time quite well. RUN AWAY! Though not even trying to claim this was some kind of tactical withdraw, a strategic maneuver, anything except blind, utter panic. The cloak-o's unable to catch her, since she was small enough to get right under their legs, and also it's going to be quite hard to anticipate the movements of somepony who doesn't even know themselves what they are doing. So they simply end up chasing her. Right back to the room she started in, and ending with her stumbling and falling right in front of the head mare.
Said mare's veneer of civility and care dropping instantly at the surprise, giving a hint of the monster underneath as her first reaction is to rear back and try to crush the foal in front of her under her hooves. Though Rose was still in full panic mode, acting purely on instinct. As the mare rears up she grabs her cloak and pulls. The circlet around her hood holding it on and forcing her head to be pulled along with it, overbalancing her and making her crash to her side.
Okay really gotta give praise here for this. Actually thinking 'pony' rather then just treating the ponies like people for most intents and purposes. This is something that never would have worked on a person. No way would a small, panicking kid have the strength and leverage to pull a grown adult to the ground just by tugging on a cloak. Even one attached to their head. Make them stumble, jerk them around a bit, sure, but drag to the floor? Unless they timed it JUST right, not likely. And yeah it's even MORE absurd for it to happen to an equine standing on all four hooves. Far more stable, far harder to knock down. Unless said equine is rearing up on their hind hooves and the tug has the added leverage of their entire body acting like a lever to increase the force of that tug. As so often is the case, it is not brute force that wins, but rather knowing exactly where to apply just the right small push or pull. So yeah massive YES! for having a really well done idea that works perfectly with them being ponies.
Now, one slight issue with it is the description of what went on right after the cloak was tugged. The rather vague description of how the neck twisted makes it questionable if the story is trying to say she snapped her neck. But it's not clear if that's what was meant. So the wording choice was a tad off IMO. Right after it LOOKS like she is fine. Stunned but alive. Yet that could be just freezing after her neck snapped. Like I said, it's enough to make it look like maybe something like that happened, but not really clear either way. If the story didn't draw explicit attention to the twisting of her neck, it wouldn't matter. But calling it out like that is generally only done when it leads to some rather severe damage. But nothing else shows that it did.
Regardless Rose isn't taking chances, so the instant the mare's head is on the floor she starts wailing on it. Until the other guards catch up and she needs to keep running. Tripping once more near the other exit to the room the panic fading as she comes back to her sense, realizing how utterly bucked she was.
Behind me was a hallway that lead Celestia-Only-Knows where. Maybe freedom. Maybe a pit full of eels and fire breathing tree snails. All I had was maybe a few seconds head start. Tops. And not a clue where to go.
Misty pressed his face to the front of the cage. Everything about him screamed If only I were out there. Next to him was Twinkle Eyes. Everything about her said Run!
But I couldn’t run. Not without her. And I definitely couldn’t stay either. That would be just plain bone stupid.
First, once more a good little bit of humor that fits with what is going on, adds a tiny bit of levity and easing of the tension, without breaking it. Just s tiny reprieve while the situation is still deadly series. Second, I also like it's Twinkle she realizes she cant leave behind, not simply 'The-One-I'm-Meant-To-Save". And it didn't even have to be Twinkle herself. Simply any foal. Yeah Rose is sent to save one particular pony. But this is just more of her taking control of that fate. She will try to save her, but also anypony that needs it.
Though saving anypony, even herself is looking doubtful. One last desperate gambit comes to mind. Misty had escaped before, and so often they had to add a magical force field around his cage to keep him in. She zero's in on the pony who was maintaining that field, picking up a chunk of concrete and getting ready to try and hit his horn as he charges at her.
Yes the pony with Agility as a dump stat. Who is quite possibly the single clumsiest pony ever. Yes even counting Derpy. She's going to try to hit a small, moving target while panicked, rushed, scared out of her mind, and having the pressure of every foal in that place hinging on this one throw. Well, for once that all plays in her favor as the odds of her doing that, and doing so so well with the results she gets, have to be a million to one. Meaning The Lady smiles down on her and ensure that the million-to-one shot is a sure thing. (Either that or she rolled a natural 20. Wasn't sure whether to go with a Discworld reference of more generic D&D type one. SO have both)
Granted despite the joke, it is very well done. Rose knowing all this, going over how sure she was to fuck this up. But "Not this time." That determination, that NEED to get this right, so much riding on her. It is amazing how much something like that can focus you. Again, when pressed into a corner and left no other choice, it's amazing what someone can accomplish. Though it does lead to something else I think could have been handled a bit better. The rock not only strikes his horn, but outright shatters it.
Yeah that just, doesn't feel right to me. At least the way it's presented. Horns are rather tough. In FOE we've seen unicorns use their horns as melee weapons. Granted not as a first choice, but as a back up. Littlepip impaled that one raider in shatterhoof through the chest with hers. And later Velvet impaled one of the robo-owls patrolling the MOM hub in Manehatten. So they are fairly sturdy. One foal, chucking a single rock, which can't be THAT heavy if she could throw it that hard in the first place. No way I could see it outright shattering a horn. Cracking it maybe.
Now that said, I don't think it's a plot hole, or something that's impossible. I could see a number of ways this might work out for the given result. It's just the story doesn't actually make any of them clear. The rock hitting the horn hard enough to shatter it in and of itself is all the story seems to outright say. And even then that works somewhat since all we know, is what Rose knows. She wouldn't be able to know all the other things that might go on. First is the fact he's a raider, or at least the next best thing. Hardly a very healthy lifestyle, so lack of nutrition, combined with the life of a raider. Yeah I could see his horn simply being weaker then normal from the lack of proper diet, and just possible past abuse or injuries. Second, and what I'm headcanoning as what happen to make it make sense. Rose didn't shatter his horn, just cracked it. Normally that would cut off a unicorn from doing magic if only from the pain until it heals. But in this case, he couldn't stop using magic. He was the one who had set up the force field around Misty's cage, and had used some kind of device to do it, some vaguely described hook up to the computer in the room. Given that as soon as his horn breaks, the field goes down, it was clearly pulling power from him the whole time. And since it was a machine doing it, not his own concentration, it didn't stop when his horn cracked. And the power draw through the damage horn overloaded it, causing it to shatter from the internal stress right after the injury.
Like I said, it's something that, as presented, doesn't make sense to me. But there is enough other details given that it's fully plausible there is a valid reason, and also given how the story is being told, a good reason we don't get told those either. So kinda wish this was done a bit better, but it's nothing that really breaks the story and does at least more or less make sense in verse as far as we know.
As soon as his horn was broken, the magic surrounding Misty's cage blinked out. The unicorn used his own magic to tip over the monitor they had used to show them the mare's speech, shattering it on the ground. For all the good it did from what Rose could see. But as the Cloak-o's bunched up to rush her, he added every water dish from every cage in the room, soaking them and spreading a puddle around their hooves. One that also encompassed the broken and sparking monitor. Arcs of electricity leaping over all of them, killing them.
Okay another part that might be a bit of a stretch. One little puddle of water, and that one monitor creating/spreading enough juice to kill all of them? Might be a stretch, but could be rather easy depending on just how the ponies electrical system works. And we know they that they made a ton of blunders in other areas where things we'd take as basic safety precautions are concerned simply through lack of experience. So yeah I could see it being possible.
Okay another bit follows that is, a bit odd. mostly just due to what seems to be poor wording choice not making something clear.
A glowing key ring flew a-jinglin' at all the cages. The doors swung open almost as fast as the lightning that licked its way across the puddle.
Okay this isn't it, but it leads to what the issue is soon. After the shock of seeing ponies killed right in front of her fades Rose renumbers her 'mission' heading to make sure the "The-One-I'm-Meant-To-Save" was released. Though in a really nice touch, only AFTER making sure that Twinkle, the filly from the cage next to her that had befriended her, was freed. She reaches the other filly's cage, only to find Misty had already freed her. While the other foals had taunted him about how he only cared about 'his girlfriend' they both hearty deny any actual relationship. Hmmmm, interesting.
Now the issue from above comes here. Rose and the ponies that had been freed turn to head down the hallway and escape, Rose pausing as she realizes there are still foals trapped in their cages. See the issue? How are there still foals trapped in their cages, when "A glowing key ring flew a-jinglin' at all the cages. " just a few paragraphs ago, it made it seem like ALL the cages had been opened? Yeah likely a misspeak, but one that does cause some confusion.
Rose's unwillingness to leave the foals behind, despite Misty yelling at those that are freed to forget them and move it, jumps to a much higher urgency as they start screaming. The puddle of water was spreading, heading right towards their row of cages, the monitor still sparking and making the water deadly. (Just how much water was there?) She grabs the keys and heads to the nearest cage, struggling to find the right one while the colt inside begs her not to leave him. But in her rush, she couldn't find the right one, and the water kept getting closer.
“Don’t let me die! Don’t let me die!” He was sobbing.
“Mmmmm! Mmmm!” I shouted back at him.
I won’t! I won’t!
Or at least I thought I wouldn’t. At the very last second, as I saw the water closing in on me, I leapt out of the way, and landed safely out of the puddle’s range. I watched in horror as it swept right up to the metal cages. That look of blind panic on Butterscotch’s face. The betrayal he felt – the desperation. But what could I have done? I’d stayed until the very last second. I’d done everything I could!
I squeezed my eyes shut.
I should have stayed. I thought. Maybe one second longer, and I could have gotten at least one cage open. I should have stayed!
And here is the second part of that theme I was talking about running though this chapter. Of knowing when NOT to act, when discretion really is the better part of valor. And how sometimes, you DO simply have to recognize when you can't do anything. While yeah the first time wasn't really the case. While it could fit that situation, Rose's actions had nothing to do with that, but simply fear. Being to scared to make that kind of choice. Though it does still apply to the situation as a whole. Here, she knew when things became impossible. When continuing her actions, as much as she might want to, were utterly futile. That all she would do is get herself killed along with the pony she was trying to save.
Yes she choose to save herself, and even blames herself for it. But there was nothing she could have done. If she had waited, kept at it, she'd be dead along with them. And having to learn this lesson, that sometimes there really IS nothing you can do. No matter how much you want to, how bad shit gets, no mater what ends up happening because you couldn't. There are times you need to accept you simply can't. Her having to learn that like this, at the cost of so many others lives, foals lives at that. It's heartbreaking
Or at least, it would be if not for Twinkle. Who pulled the monitor's plug out of the wall just before it reached the foals. And, just absolutely love the fake out. Just how SURE the story made it seem like the foals were done for. It was harsh, it, I honestly did NOT have that "Like you would really do it" feeling. I legitimately thought this was going to happen, so the reveal. It was just so damn well done and made me almost as relieved as Rose.
Accepting the rest won't leave without everypony Misty gives in and helps release them all, still eager to get moving before more Cloak-o's show up and stop them. Rose personally opening Butterscoth's door. (The colt she had failed to 'abandoned' to die to the water.) The colt giving her a glare and a halfhearted "thanks" as he shouldered past her.
[[quoteblock]] As guilty as I’d felt, that tone made me mad. I wanted to scream at his ungrateful little flank. I could have rushed down the eel hallway by myself; I could have been safe on my way home and halfway out the compound by then, but no! I’d risked everything to get him and everypony else free, and dammit, I’d done everything for him I could! He had to understand that. I couldn’t get the door open in time. That’s all. I just couldn’t do it! It wasn’t my fault.
I couldn’t scream at Butterscotch, so I kicked Skull Stomper’s corpse instead, (because it happened to be near me). Ditching a friend. Stomping on the dead. Yeah, Rose Petal, you’re one of the good ones. Said the little pony in my head. [[/quoteblock]]
While not as bad as her having to know all the other foals died. This is still rather heartbreaking to watch Rose have to go through. All her emotions, her thoughts, fears, anger. it's all perfectly justified, all understandable as she tries to come to grips with the reality of the Wastes. The harshness of life. Blaming herself for her own failings. Even when there is nothing else she could have done. Beating herself up for it. Butterscotch's own understandable, if misplaced anger towards her. It all just feels so real, so believable. And Rose's own lashing out, her doubting her own 'goodness' is, as I said, heartbreaking. Wrong, definitely wrong given everything else she's done and is willing to do. And it does hurt a bit to see her being broken down like this.
She argues with Misty over freeing the rest of the foals, the ones in the other rooms. Misty trying to make her see they should run, flee before they get caught. Rose not wanting to desert the others. Both of them make good points. Yeah Misty is an asshole and clearly doesn't care about anypony except himself and 'her'. But he does have a good point over just how far could they stretch their luck? They are both playing out opposite sides of that theme of the chapter. When do you have to accept you can't do anymore? That going on the way you were would just be a pointless waste? Both realizing that while they talked, the pony they both seemed to want to save had disappeared.
Dear Luna, she’d probably run off in a panic all by herself! She was probably crying up and down the hallway, being attacked my eels and fire breathing tree snails. She was probably leading the cloak-o's straight to us! Misty and I both exchanged glances of terror.
“I’m over here.” She said dryly.
And once more, very nice use of a tiny bit of tension diffusing levity that fits so well.
"Over here." Was by the computer. Turns out, she's a bit of a hacker. Getting into the system and telling Misty, without quite the wording, that he's a bucking idiot. Since he kept trying to get them to head out the tunnel and flee before more guards come. They had taken out all but two ponies down here. The 'nurse' that had been administering the 'medicine' to the foals. And one patrolling guard. But the only way out the way he wanted to go was went right past a much more heavily populated area full of guards. Twinkle proves to have some rather high tech skills as well. Though she had to use Rose's back as a step stool to reach the controls.
Between the two of them they find a back way out, "TOIMTS" (Hey until the story gives her a real name, it takes to long to type out that whole phrase.) Agreeing with Rose they have to take the foals in the next room as well. Misty complaining they don't have time to open that many cages. Oh, they do. Since all it took was a single button and they were all unlocked.
Though they didn't stop there. They found that even more foals had already been given the 'medicine' and were being held for 'processing' somewhere lower down. That they had to go down and rescue all of them before escaping. Showing us some more hints about just why this pony might be so important.
I looked up at the girl. She was bold and resolute. Admirable. A leader.
But, something wasn't right. As Rose gets hit by a sharp pain and sees a vision of the filly lying dead. Shot in the chest. Her body simply sprawled over a bunch of rocks. Knowing that this would be her fate if she goes through with her plan to save the forty foals under the town.
No!” Misty and I yelled at the same time.
It startled The One I'm Meant to Save so bad that she jumped backwards. I instinctively scrambled to my hooves and threw myself toward her. When I got there, I found Misty, flanking her from the other side. He was pale - terrified. Covered in sweat. For the first time since we’d met, Misty was genuinely, truly, honest-and-for-real terrified. He looked as though he had seen a ghost.
Or a vision.
DUN DUN DUN! So, The filly has not one, but TWO ponies sent to make sure she survives!? And, it's not just Rose and her family that end up doing this? Or, is Misty some kind of relative to hers? That, is one hell of an ending. Just the sheer WHAM of that line.
And above that, is this being the next point the chapter brings up that theme. Both of them seeing that what she wants is impossible. That it will almsot certainly result in her death. That it's a lost cause. Now, to see how they convince her of this. How do they get her to see that sometimes, you have to accept you can't do what you want. What you know is right. And that trying will only end in a pointless sacrifice.
Thoughts-Not much more then I already went over. The main theme of the chapter that I see I already went over. The story continues to be extremely well done, the characters feeling so real, so alive. Their actions complex, believable, all flowing well. And, it just drags me in, make me ache to see Rose have to go through this. And that fake out of the foals dying was just, it was so well done.
And that title. Yeah sometimes I really do need to point out just how well the chapter title can be. Yeah the obvious reference is to the line Rose was placed on. The line she didn't have the bravery, or foolhardiness depending on your POV, to cross. But, it's more then just that. It's also the line that I keep mentioning as being a theme in this chapter. That line where continuing on becomes pointless. Where you have to stop doing what you want to and find a new way. Where taking the action you know is right, will only result in pain for nothing. But where that line is, and what crossing it or not might require. Is something unique to everyone.
Then the reveal of Misty at the end. I have to say, that is a HUGE reveal, and I find myself really liking his character. Yeah he's a selfish asshole. But he has a certain charm. And now the reveal that he might be in the same boat Rose is. That he's really only here to save her, because 'fate' is telling him to. It could be serving a very nice parallel to Rose. Both sent on the same task. Misty simply here to do that task, get free, and ignore anything else. Rose, using that task for her own goals. Yeah she'll save the filly. But she's also going to do what she feels is right along the way. Not get so caught up in that one fact that she lets others suffer. One a tool of fate, nothing more. Being used against his will to get one single task done. No matter what. Simply doing what he has to. The other using fate. Accepting her task, but on her own terms. Using it to meet her own ends. To do what she believes is right. Not because fate says she must. But because SHE says she must. Him, seemingly little more then a slave to fate's will. Her, just as much under it's control, but no slave to it. Accepting it and making it her own choice. Despite both being forced to do this, Rose, if given the option, would be doing it anyway.
So yeah really eager to see what comes from this. What Misty's story is. Learn more, see if I'm right. The other new party member, Twinkle, I also like, though not really much to say about her yet.
The action was decent. Nothing extraordinary, but aside from a few logical 'huh?' moments, pretty good. Overall, not quite the level of OMG I LOVE THIS STORY! as the last one, but still riding that peak. Still an amazing chapter, and makes me eager for more.
Actually she should know that stuff about the line because one of the cloak-o's tells her not to cross it.
2883473 Huh, now I'm wondering if I just missed that the first time, or if it's one of the things Sprocket edited in as a response to my comments....