Princess Spike and Angel's Pip-Boy Diary #18 · 12:52pm Jan 15th, 2016
art by Vector-Brony
Sorry for the wait. New Angel’s Pip-Boy Diary after the break.
I am slowly getting around to watching the few episodes of Season 5 that I didn't catch when they aired. I've recently watched "Brotherhooves Social", which I thought was brilliant, and "Princess Spike", which I did not.
As far as Spike-centered episodes go, it certainly did a better job with his characterization than most of them, and I liked the premise of dealing with Spike's adjustment to his change of status as the number one assistant to a princess. But things like the "dragonsneeze flowers" left me rolling my eyes with an unpleasant taste in my mouth. We enjoy seeing the characters of this show learn and overcome adversity, but most of us don't enjoy seeing these characters suffer. Spike isn't Elmer Fudd or Wile E. Coyote... you can't treat him as bad luck's punching bag for laughs. That said, the sociopolitical backdrop of the story was fascinating... in fact, far moreso than the episode itself.
What did you think of it?
See Agrodaemon's new Fallout: Equestria work in all it's glory, here! Music included.
Angel's Pip-Boy Diary
Days 36 - 37
Day 36 – Early Morning
November 28, 2287I feel like I am on a guided tour of every nasty thing in the wasteland of this post-apocalyptic Commonwealth. Over the last few hours, I have fought molerats, including a “legendary” glowing one. Also, wild dogs, feral ghouls, ogres… the most terrifying being a stunted, mutated bear.
Fortunately, my magical Dogmeat had no trouble picking up the trail again. Admittedly, I’m less surprised that he has been able to continue, as it looks like Kellogg returned to familiar haunts on a regular basis, so the trail is fresher than I imagined. What’s more, it appears that he was recently wounded. He’s leaving a trail of blood and bandages that look less than a day old. That’s good news for my mission to avenge my husband. At least we will have that. Or I will die trying.
With everything I’ve been through, I’m still terrified of dying… but I’m no longer terrified of this new Commonwealth. Some of the monsters and madmen within it, yes. But I’ve grown hard against any fears I had about combat. Fighting for my life has become a way of life, faced with a muted level of dread. I know I am taking my life into my own hands with every fight, but I now feel convinced that if I take it slow and smart, I’ll survive. Like driving in the snow.
The trail continues. What’s up next? Mirelurks?
Ah. Nope. Something I can’t shoot: radstorm.
Day 36 – Morning
November 28, 2287The tour of monsters continued until sunrise. The damaged synth that dogmeat found was no threat. Rather, from the way he reacted, I believe the thing may have been either accompanying Kellogg or felled by him. Possibly both. It lends extra credence to the idea that he is working for The Institute. Or was.
Some two-headed deer and giant mosquito things later, we came across a checkpoint with an abandoned suit of power armor. Valentine wears it well.
The discovery couldn’t have been better timed. Over the next rise, we faced off against a deathclaw! I attribute my survival to an ability to climb and my companion’s ability to distract. Liberal stimpacks awarded to the victors… well, those of use who are flesh and bleeding.
I find myself wishing the military had made doggie power armor. It is a silly thought. But what I am imagining would be badass and adorable.
The tour ended with a legendary albino radstag. This is the first time one of those two-headed mutant deer has actually been hostile. I really have no idea why everyone but me seems to react to the does with unbridled aggression. But this thing was a different story. I have no reservations about having killed it.
Our destination was Fort Hagen. I left Nick Valentine and Dogment at a camp nearby. Now that we know where Kellogg has holed up, this infiltration can wait a day or two. Dogmeat and V. will make sure Kellogg doesn’t leave the area. And I believe they will keep each other good company while keeping an eye on things.
Meanwhile, I need to make a few quick trips to deal with all the stashed I left over the last twenty-four hours…
But first… that’s the sound of a firefight!
Day 36 – Early Evening
November 28, 2287The ruins near Fort Hagen were the site of a pitched battle between the Gunners and the Children of the Atom. I was more than happy to let them kill each other off, sniping the “winners”. The Commonwealth can only benefit from having less of both of them.
On the way back to Boston, I ran across the wreckage of a truck carrying an Arcject engine. I’ve noted the location. Who knows when something like that might come in useful, assuming it still works. Or, even if it doesn’t, for salvage.
I also chanced upon Forest Grove Marsh, where I was able to harvest Solomon’s mutated fern. The fern didn’t try to eat me, nor was it poisonous to look at. There weren’t even any mirelurks around to make the chore dangerous. That was easily the most reasonable job I’ve taken on since awoke in this new world. (I’ll have to come back and give Forest Grove Marsh another, longer look when I’m not so burdened.)
I had a pleasant encounter with a passing junk trader who goes by the name Trashcan Carla. A little flirting even got me a sweet discount on her goods. I should probably phrase that better.
I am almost to the city, and there it is: the every familiar sound of gunfire and explosions. Coming once again from the ghoul neighborhood Street of Doom. Right now, I do not care who is fighting or what. I might come back later and scavenge from the aftermath, but right now I’m taking a detour to avoid the entire street.
Day 36 – Night
November 28, 2287I made Vault 114 by sunset, collecting my huge stash from the Vault and taking the time to pick the safe that I had been unable to before. What was inside was barely worth noting, but actually being able to crack it was a mark of personal pride.
Likewise, I stopped back into Backstreet Apparel. That safe took three bobby pins, but it got it open. The effort was worth it more for the satisfaction than the vegetable starch.
Now it is time to sleep. I’m back at Hangman’s Alley. I’ve really taken a liking to this place. Much moreso than Diamond City itself. It may not seem like much, but it has its charms. I spent the last hours of the evening setting up a supply line with Sanctuary (as well as getting a volunteer for the guard post and setting up a feeding trough for our brahmin). With a supply line in place, I think we’ll soon be able to grow this place into a decent trade post.
Day 37
November 29, 2287It took a lot longer to deal with my collected stashes than I had anticipated. With the exception of the time I indulged in sleeping, I have spent most of the day lugging around my various collected goods and bartering with virtually every trader I know.
Along the way, I have stopped into each of the settlements allied with the Minutemen and made sure everything was going well. While there, I laid out plans for improvement, and turned the work over to the settlers not preoccupied in farming or supply lines. This included overseeing construction of the southern building in Sanctuary, a building that I hope will eventually become a trade hub. In addition, Sanctuary now has electrical power and a water purifier.
As I was leaving, the settlers were putting up the transmitter that will broadcast my pre-recorded invitation to the good people of the Commonwealth. I worry about attracting raiders like those who attacked Concord, but Travis didn’t give use the choice to remain hidden. I don’t want the only invitation to Sanctuary being a voice out of Diamond City. The welcome to Sanctuary should come from the Minutemen.
I do feel a little guilty that I am recycling the same message that I used for Hangman’s Alley.
There has been major construction in Hangman’s Alley as well. And we replanted the garden in a better location. The Abernathy Farm now has a secondary structure under construction, as well as a windmill. They are also digging a second well.
I’ve seen to it that each settlement has had their defenses tightened. I want to make sure they can deal with anything unpleasant that might be attracted by the beacons we are turning on.
Starlight has completed what will be the central station for the Minutemen. The first floor will be dedicated to trade and interaction with the community they serve. There is an open balcony surrounding the water purifier on both the first and second floors. I want the station’s design to speak to transparency. I’m hoping that will help us regain the public’s trust.
Today, the station was augmented with a windmill and turret defenses. We were finally ready to turn on the Starlight beacon.
The response was immediate, and the first new residents of Starlight have moved in. One of them has taken up working the garden while the other will be handling the supply line with Sanctuary.
Now, I’m headed over to pick up that suit of power armor that I discovered nearby.
"... Diyoo Wan' Thum?"
art by NC Mares
Oh am I liking this! I'm just going to be quick and say I love it!
"Princess Spike" did have some fascinating background details, from the summit itself to Cadance's Sombra-esque crystal magic to establishing that "let Twilight do it" is the maximum extent of alicorn delegation abilities. Including Twilight's. It also did a good job of showing why blind obedience is always a bad idea. But the story itself fails, not least because it was Spike's sincere attempts to help Twilight rather than his abuses of power that came back to bite him. He wasn't punished because he misused his borrowed authority. He was punished because it was his lot to suffer in that episode. The dragonsneeze trees are just the insult added to injury.
As for the diary, it's an interesting blend of jaded and hopeful this time around. Angel has become inured to firefights, but is still doing her utmost to restore civilization. And be amazed when mutated life doesn't want to tear her face off. The pragmatism of securing defenses before extending invitations is only sensible.
Trashcan Carla seems to have taken up residence in my version of Sanctuary, she's become a sort of fixture there.
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This right here is the biggest issue. There is no real coherent point to the story. Spike only let the power go to his head at the end, and nothing he did after that caused any problems at all. And yet everyone, including him, was acting like it was all his fault for taking charge and using Twilight's authority to make himself feel important. Hell it wasn't even anything he did while acting as Twilight's representative that came back to bite him either, just stuff he did while doing his one outright ordered task. Make sure she is not disturbed. It was just really confused about what it was trying to be about, beyond making Spike suffer.
That and yeah the 'Dragon sneeze Trees" were just lazy. Why the hell would they have an entire street covered in them? Hell with just a little more thought and no changes at all aside from name they could have made them not so glaring ill fitting and stand out so badly. Just make them some perfectly normal tree, that Spike just happened to be allergic to.
And yet for all it's flaws, it is still the best Spike episode. (Okay looking at it JUST as a Spike ep, Equestria Games was better, but that loses points for what an utterly horrible end of the Games arc it was.) And definitely the lowest point of Season 5. And yet, it's still not all that bad, and better then the lowest point of any other season.
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That is all
"Princess Spike" was an okay episode. Personally, I had fun watching it like every other episode of the show, but that aside I don't feel eager to return to it any time soon. Most Spike centered episodes are just kind of there for me, can't say that I absolutely love them or dislike them though.
Little Pip and Black Jack fighting off enemies together in what reminds me of a scene from Marvels Avengers. Cool.
Edit: Also... sociopolitical to the who what now?
Ehh... well, the show has this habit since the word go of maligning males. Lets go off the list shall we: we have spike, who was told the only way he'd be accepted was to act like a pony, and more specifically mares (Dragons quest) and the rest of the time is somewhat of a cretinous dolt (though recent seasons have put him in a better light, and even that cinematic abortion Equestria Girls managed to show him as the most loyal of her friends), we have Blueblood, the poster colt for useless ponies, though his only crime seemed to have been, shock and horror not living up to someone elses idea of them! Now who does this remind me of, some certain song bird of a mare who used this to her advantage... hmm, I'm sure it will come to me.
We have Braeburn, a rube, Shining Armor, who first appeared as a dude then made a fool of nine times out of ten despite being Guard Captain, Soarin, a slob of a pegasus... see where I'm going?
But this isn't that. Here... they wanted poor Spike to fail, and hard. Some wussy little beta comes blubbering up on no less then a matriarchs doorstep, and when about to recieve wisdom, what does he say? And speaking of useles males, by the by...
They even developed a plant that had no previous mention at all in canon literally created for the sole purpose of forcing him to fail.
Did you mean "What's more"?
Anywho, maybe one of these seasons there will be a good Spike episode...
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Alright, that one made me chuckle
Well Angel, you found where the man that killed your husband is hiding. What will you do now?
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I should have thought as much.
Awesome work with those settlements. I'm not very creative when it comes to settlement building, but I am good at planning how to defend them.
I'm loving the diary, so please keep it going.
On Fallout 4 news, it looks like Patch 1.3 is going to have a status menu for settlers - no more wondering what each settler is assigned to do! Only Beta at the moment, but I'm hopeful.
Well he is a baby dragon after all. I could imagine Spike having difficulty to adjust to something outside his experience as Twilight's Number One Assistant pre-princess years. Still, it feels like the story writers do sort of abuse Spike a little to much for a story.
As for Angel's dairies, certainly sounds like a good idea for her to gather her stuff up and get all her settlements in order. Who knows what Kellogg has waiting in there. These Diaries are fun to read.
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Note to self, sound of gun louder than sound of mime.
Still worth it.
it slow
That Littlepip and Blackjack 3D art gif is absolutely awesome.