Take it from me, folks... · 9:50pm Mar 26th, 2020
Nothing is ever as bad--or as good--as it first seems. So do yourselves a favor and don't obsess over Coronavirus; checking news feeds and numbers constantly. It won't change anything and the overly-sensationalistic (and often false) coverage won't accomplish anything except to heighten anxiety. This thing will run its course and we'll come out the other side of it in decent shape; in the meantime just take care of yourselves and take what precautions you can.
In uncertain times, escapes are necessary, especially if we're cooped up inside. So my writing continues. A third straight Firefly chapter is well on the way, and after that? I'm finally going to work again the TLaTU edits, which I've let languish. And for it, I owe an apology to James Cyberlink, who has been working hard on that separately and waiting for me to address them. I've been oddly reluctant to return to that story for whatever reason; maybe I stamped it complete and was happy to leave it behind. But it does need some serious cleanup, especially in the earlier chapters.
We're currently aiming for a late weekend release of Firefly, several factors depending. In the meantime, have a teaser, told from the point of view of Captain Shady:
“The Polaris Pressure Points Technique,” Still Way said in great satisfaction and admiration as I trotted over following the apparent end of the duel, saluting his Captain crisply as Gavian all but leapt into Firefly’s forelegs like an endangered foal returned to his mother. “An amazing art, enabling its practitioner to paralyze or even slay with but a single touch. An art so potent yet difficult to learn that not even I could counter or master it.” Methinks he seemed to be saying it as much to Typhoon himself as to himself.
“Greetings, First Sergeant.” Captain Typhoon returned the salute with a wing instead of his hoof as he stepped back from Gavian and Firefly. “Your compliment means much, given the potency of your arts. Perchance you wish to try its luck against mine again?” he asked with a sly grin as the Corps and Naval pegasi stared at him in awe. Methinks I was no different—I had no idea such an incredible and unlikely battle art existed!
“I might,” Still way admitted with a wry grin of his own as the two then exchanged an affectionate hoofbump more suited for two old friends than a commander and underling. “Once I’ve regained my full power, that is. ’Tis just as well you arrived when you did, Captain. For I was not relishing the prospect of trying to restrain Thunderbolt with my magic in a weakened state.”
“Understandable. I look forward to hearing your report, once I am more settled and rested. But for now, I must take command of the city, as per Our Princess’s orders.” He looked to his left to see the civilians and Rolling Thunder approaching, by hoof instead of by air, the civilians looking almost afraid to approach him and letting the Sergeant Major take the lead.
To his credit, Rolling Thunder himself had no such qualms. “Sir!” He stood to attention and saluted hard along with his remaining militia Lieutenant, waiting until the honor was returned before lowering their hooves. “Welcome to Cloudsdale. ’Twould seem you received my message.”
“I did indeed,” Typhoon confirmed with a nod. “And fortunate it was. ‘Twould seem I got here in the proverbial nick of time.” He nodded to Firefly and Gavian, who was still crying like a cub in her arms. “Though I believe the bat-ponies were less than pleased when I broke through their cordon and disobeyed orders to halt. They did not attempt to stop me, though.”
“Sir? Thank you,” Firefly spoke up in a trembling voice, tears in her eyes as she held her son tightly. “Thunderbolt was going to k-kill Gavian. And I couldn’t stop him!” she admitted to great apparent shame with a glance at the wreckage of her friends and comrades around us. Thanks to Tailwind, they were already being attended to by unicorn healers, who were levitating them onto the Loyalty deck for treatment; I made a mental note to visit them as soon as possible.
“’Tis no shame in that, Master Sergeant, as there are very few on either side who could. But ‘tis worth noting you have significantly improved your abilities since I last saw you,” he told her truthfully. “For ‘tis certain such a bolt as you batted aside would have overwhelmed you the last time we sparred. So make no mistake, Guardsmare—by doing so, you did save your son from his initial attack. And that is to say nothing of your defense and escape from Epsilon, which are already legendary… as is the Loyalty itself.” he concluded as I took that opportunity to step forward, and was surprised to receive a salute from him!
I hardly felt deserving of such accolades at that moment, but accepted the respect nonetheless. “Thank you for your efforts and honor, Captain. I was told you were looking for Cloudsdale as well, but I had no idea that you had already found it, or I would have coordinated with you.”
“We found it but an hour ago, from the ground, as the thestral patrols were suddenly and unexpectedly recalled, allowing us to infiltrate their borders. Perchance ‘twas your secret crossing of the border that drew them away?” he mused, and as I thought about it, I realized ‘twas likely the case. “Once I got into range, I called on the short range Corps command crystal and the Sergeant Major answered. I would not have appeared this quickly but for his emergency request to restrain Thunderbolt.
“In any event, ‘twas to your great credit you found and reached the city before we, and did so bloodlessly. Methinks the Loyalty is well on its way to becoming legend even in this short time. I look forward to learning how, but before we discuss this further, methinks there is a minor matter I must attend to first.”
His expression turned cold again as he marched over to where Thunderbolt lay.
There will a section in here penned by guest author AJ_Aficionado, whose thestral Nightborne/Highborne headcanon, it's worth noting again, I've shamelessly stolen for this story. But it's too good not to use.
I know Thunderbolt was in the wrong for his actions, but considering his heroism in defense of Cloudsdale as well as what it's citizens went through I hope they aren't too harsh on him.
Additionally, I hope this pushes Firefly to redouble her efforts in lightning mastery!
Agreed.
I'm looking forward to the next chapter and I'm wondering what Typhoon is going to do with Thunderbolt.
Rome didn't fall with the Antonine Plague but it did progress its destruction; Coronavirus will be the same way for the American Empire. It's true enough that we don't know how the numbers will shake out but the world is watching us go to hell from a disease that didn't even originate on our continent. This doesn't end well for us even if the death toll is low.
At least that six trillion dollar stimulus isn't going to end up towards wiping out Israel's enemies. Got to take the good news where you can find it!
very true about the virus, but it has the chance to not go away, ever. Immunity is non existent, even to those who got better.
Oh, and write on.