The explosion of questions that could have burst forth from him, he only had one at this very moment.
"Are you okay?" He rasped.
She blinked a few times, less confused, more uncertain. Of all the times she had been asked that, few had been genuine. Most were accusitiory of her sanity, but that was then, some place far away.
"Yes. Glad to see you got away, told you that you..." Vera's words trailed off as she noticed something off.
"What is it?" Geiger asked, oblivious to what she was seeing.
She bowed her head and shook it a little. Taking a breath she walked over to Geiger, her sad expression making him very nervous.
"What's wrong?!" Geiger began to panic.
She searched for the words for quite some time. Not sure where to begin.
"Your mane, it's turning white." She mournfully said.
"That all? It was doing that earlier. It's just the stress, running for my life and all, the changelings." He tried to smile, but her face unnerved him far too much.
She shook her head, picked Geiger up, and flew them over to the mesa. The battle torn earth below him, vanishing into the vastness of the plains. She landed, almost precisely where she had when they first arrived. Letting him go, he wobbled in place, as if he was just run a lengthy marathon. There, she rooted around her saddle bags, pulling out a jagged fragment of mirror. She sighed before holding it up to Geiger's face.
He could only let out a gasp of horror. His once black mane, was now almost entirely white. His face looked sunken and aged at least twenty years. His coat looked faded, and his eyes... They shone a milky white, his pupils were massive and black like death. He finally collasped under his own weight.
"What... what happened to me?" He croaked.
"Arcanian Science..." She softly moaned, her face still frozen with sadness.
"I heard you mention something like that before. Back in PonyVille." He replied, his eyes glued to the mirror even as it was lowered away.
"I should've said something sooner. I should've warned you. What the hell was I even trying to hide!" She bitterly scorned herself.
"What has happened to me Vera?" He asked, looking to her for help.
"Your discovery Doctor, it isn't really... You've stumbled upon something known only as Arcanian Science. An ancient form of magic discovered nearly two and half millenia ago. Back where I'm from." She paced, nervous for some reason.
"I... I see. So... So." He was speechless.
The very thing that triggered all these events, his taboo discovery, wasn't even a discovery. It was a long known science! The name itself an oxy moron.
"The name, it comes from the nature of the science, and the very scientist who discovered it. These Arcanians, from the Arcane desert, they learned that all ponies had magic. Most weren't able to use it, nothing like a unicorn could. They figured out how to tap into it, much like you did..." She stopped and spared a glance at Geiger before resuming her pacing.
"I'm guessing they managed to do it better than I did?" Geiger chuckled weakly.
"It has drawbacks. Simply put, it is life magic, and using it... Well, uses life. The casters to be specific. Use too much, and well..." She gestured towards Geiger. "If used sparingly, the caster merely gets hungry, thirsty, tired et cetera."
"So, I've been literally throwing my life away." The irony crushing him.
She only nodded slowly.
"I've been rather careless, and not in the way I'm used to. All this, and for nothing." He let out a long moan that threatened to become a shout.
"I'm sorry... I knew, and yet..." She stopped and stared at Geiger.
"I certainly could've known sooner! What a waste of my life! Literally!" He shouted, glaring at her.
She looked like a regal statue of one of the princesses, only her eyes shone with a wellspring of tears ready to fall.
"I can't justify why I didn't tell you. Maybe I was just afraid you wouldn't help, but I know you would. I... I just kept so many secrets. I can't stop myself from doing it." She sobbed.
He looked to the sky, the blue dissapearing behind large sheets of gray. Rain filled clouds filtered by, indifferent to everything happening below.
"I'm taking it out on you. I screwed up so bad. So very bad. All of this was for nothing! How could I have screwed my life up so damn bad?" He whined.
"You have every right to be mad at me, I've certainly earned it. But, this wasn't for nothing." She gave a stomp of her hoof.
"How so?" Geiger replied, cutting his eyes at her.
"Arcanian Science is incredibly difficult to control, let alone master. It took me my entire foalhood to even learn it. Without the Arcanian Wizards, no pony would've been able to learn it. They spent centuries and countless lives learning about it. Just imagine if some lunatic thought they could try to teach it to say, royal guards? Or some poor foals in some secret weapons program?" She sternly spoke.
"I don't know about that... It seems useless to Equestrians." He blinked.
"I know what you're thinking, but, I've seen for myself. Even the most unlikely of ponies can do something awful for the right reasons. And like you said, Equestria doesn't need it. They have the Elements of Harmony, and super princesses." Vera said while looking northward.
"But to go through all this trouble? I didn't have to run away!" He groaned.
"You don't know how it is... Power is a very dangerous thing. You knew how dangerous this power was, that is why you did it. Look at you now, you're proof of it. Imagine what a trained pony could do." She chastised.
"Oh yeah, what? Force fields, healing, whoo, super bad!" He yelled.
She took a deep breath, shook her head, and began staring off. Her eyes glowed a bit, then flashed.
He watched her, a bit confused, then he saw a bright light reflected in her eyes, followed by a load roar. He turned around and saw a massive eruption of fire below the mesa. He felt the blast of scorching air as it hit him.
Then, just as quick as it had appeared, it quickly began to smoulder and vanish, leaving only red hot rocks and blackened earth.
He felt a massive surge of fear, enough to make him visably shake.
"Do you understand now?" Vera gritted through her teeth, wobbling a bit from the power the spell had taken, panting hard for a few seconds.
"Thank you." He replied.
He turned around, still terrified, but in his eyes gleamed determination like he had never wielded before.
"You just showed me, why I burned those notes and ran like mad. You reminded me what science can do, and why you're so damn terrifying." He nodded to her.
She cracked a weak smile, still wobbly.
"And now, I need a nap." She laughed before collasping down and giggling.
He watched her stress induced laugh as it grew weak and her eyes shut. Asleep, she was still regal, cute even. But now he knew, she was as dangerous and terrifying as he suspected. Such raw power, that is what she was.
Arcanian Science, it truly was deadly. To be able to conjure such spells at will. One only need use it once, the effect would grant them whatever they wanted. He used his magic detection skills to examine Vera, she still had massive reserves of power, but her physical strength had been strained. He ran the math in his head, and if he was correct, she could do that spell at least four more times if she wasn't so exhausted.
Remembering what she had said, he quickly got into his bag, then ate and drank some of his provisions. Feeling immensely better, he began to think some more.
"I doubted myself there for a moment, then you showed me, showed me the answer. Just like everyone does. For once, I'm ashamed and glad for it. Thank you." He muttered to the sleeping Vera.
He weakly crawled near her and shut his eyes, he had more questions, but they would have to wait until Vera and he had the strength to even stand up. His elderly visage would haunt his dreams, if he had any. Thankfully he was too tired to even dream.
Due North...
Scribe shook her head, galloping at full speed southward. She was more anxious than ever. Spyglass' fears were right, Geiger was with the Painter. At least they were heading south, not towards some densely populated city.
She hatched a plan, one that could work out, if all the pieces moved right. She would have to get the Painter's attention, and seperate him from Geiger, then she would lead him to an ambush. There, they would hopefully be able to take him down. If that wouldn't work, she would extract Geiger and let the collectors assualt him. Spyglass would be a problem, if she couldn't keep her cool, things could get bad.
"Why is this even happening?!" Scribe panted.
She understood why Spyglass was freaking out, to some degree anyway. Back in Zebrawa, they had gotten seperated, Spyglass was found, alone and terrified. Spyglass had actually stood up to the Painter, one on one. She was horribly beaten and paralized with fear. For weeks she couldn't look at the color gray without having flashbacks.
Further South.
Alter hissed as the healing potion was poured over his face. The large fractures oozed his insectoid blood. They slowly mended with the application of the potion. The other two injured changelings were whisked away by the two he had sent after Geiger. They were badly burned themselves and had hit the ground very hard after the Doctor's little spell.
"Damn her! How could she have so much power?" Alter roared.
His loyal few supporters, those who were conscious, shrugged.
The hive was very loyal to Vera, so it wasn't surprising when only a few changelings followed Alter's plan. After she had saved their queenless hive from the terror of the Monolith and the Turken Raiders, Alter, as the leader, pledged the hive to her. She refused to be their psuedo queen, which didn't desuade them in the least. It did however change his plans. If they were to become perfect, they had to learn from the perfect living being. If not as their queen, then as his master.
However, it wasn't going so well. She had even more power in her than Alter could have guessed. Where was it coming from? His aura blast should've drained her of her strength, leaving her helpless. Yet she had more in her, enough for several more Arcanian equations! Equations being the Arcanian equivelant of spells, since it was a science, or at least used science to use the latent magic within ponies and other creatures.
"Bring me the chest! Now!" Alter roared, even louder.
His loyal follwers, the changelings of "The Path", exchanged concerned glances before complying. They brought a massive chest over to the healing Alter.
With a hiss and groan of rage and greed, he used what was left of his horn to force open the lock. Once it opened, he pulled from out the chest another slightly smaller chest. Then he opened that one, and pulled out yet another chest. He repeated this process until he finally produced a sixth small chest. It was solid mohagany with gold banding and nails, it's lock was a solid panel etched with an ornate symbol of four curving triangles that bent into a counter clockwise circle. This one was special, for only a special energy could open it. He sighed and slowly, and painfully transformed into Vera again, wailing in pain as his unhealed wounds bled.
"Only you..." He moaned in her voice.
He used what was left of his horn to produce an aura identical to Vera's. Since it was broken, he had to press his horn against the chest. The gold conducting the magic with ease. The sound of massive bolts and tumblers replied. Several large bolts of some unknown metal burst from the lip of the chest, a small cloud of dust following them. Then nothing.
"Nani?" Alter gasped, using his native language for the first time in years.
He carefully waited a few seconds, then reached forward and lifted the incredibly heavy lid to the chest. Inside it's velvet padded interior, sat a lone necklace, it was of simple copper, but what wasn't simple was the massive hoof sized glowing gem in the center of it. It was pale blue and radiated with magic, pulsing with raw power as it's teardrop cut gleamed.
"The time has come, I must use the Emperor's Tear." Alter annouced to his concerned followers.
"With it, I will learn the truth of her power, pushing her to the brink of death. I will make us perfect!" He announced, half expecting applause, half objections.
Instead they solemnly bowed. Knowing that such a powerful artifact was going to have a terrible price. Once Alter put it on, he would be consumed by it, possessed and wholey dependant. For, when the Emperor created the artifact, he intended it only for use by his heirs, not just anyone.
He regretfully gulped, a tinge of fear gripping him. His anger and desire were the only thing driving him to such an extreme, had he his composure, this wouldn't be happening. He slipped the nechlace over his head and let it rest on his neck. Instantly it lit up with flash, the powerful magic coursing through his veins, healing his wounds and growing his horn back. If not for his current form, he would've certainly exploded, as it was, his still in a changeling body, as modified to match Vera's as it was, it could barely contain the magic.
Was it some hereditary advantage she had, or something more? He had matched her physialogy and aura as best he could. So what was the divide?
"Next time we fight, will be the last, Mistress." Alter growled in her voice.
The Mesa, Some Time Later.
He awoke, weary and tired in ways he couldn't fathom just days ago. His body felt alien, the aging it had undergone in such a short amount of time. When he started this adventure, he wasn't any older than the Princess of Friendship. Now, he felt as old as his grandmother. His joints were stiff and his skin was feeling loose.
He sighed as he looked around, the sun was dangerously low to the horizon, the sky full of rain clouds. Nearby Vera was still laying down, though he wasn't certain if she was sleeping. He tried to stand up several times before he succeeded, his slow steps were shaky. He would never fault the elderly for their speed ever again. He reached the edge of the mesa, and slowly began to releave himself. This was also slow.
"Being old really sucks. No, being stupid really sucks." Geiger thought out loud, correcting himself.
With a sift moan, like an angelic song, Vera rose from her slumber. Forcing Geiger to finish and put his bits away.
"I hate waking up in the field." Vera remarked as she trudged over to Geiger.
"At least you aren't a hundred years old, wait, are you?" Geiger mused.
"No." Vera flatly said.
"Ah, good. Wouldn't surprise me though if you were." He laughed, then stopped, noticing his raspy voice.
"I'm sorry you ended up like this Geiger. I really screwed you." She solemnly tucked her ears back.
"I did it to myself. It was something I should've left alone. Then I used the power without even remotely thinking of the consequences. I was more worried it would be used to control ponies. I was kind of right, I just didn't relise the full potential of this power. How far it could go." He shook his head.
"I have only myself to blame. Now all we can do, is get out of here. I think, I'd like to go to your home. Where you're from I mean. I'm no good here, but, maybe there. I can learn more about this power, preserve what's left of my life. I want to help your ponies live that better life you've been searching for." Geiger nervously spoke.
"I. Don't know. It's not something I even considered. Unfortunately, we're heading the wrong way if you want to get to my home. A ship in Manehatten could've taken you, or even near Las Pegasus. The only route now would be to head for zebra lands, then cut over to Saddle Arabia. It would take some time." Vera plotted.
"And with Alter chasing you, such a trip would be hazardous." Geiger added.
"Let me worry about Alter. When that time comes, I'll deal with him." Vera said with an air of finality.
"Well, I hope it doesn't come to that. I saw how you handled yourself, I've never seen such skill." Geiger let his inner fanboy out.
"Skills honed in war." Vera announced.
Geiger's inner fanboy hide for cover.
"I'm sorry, I keep forgetting the pain there. I'm such an idiot." Geiger chastised himself.
"Pain I've caused, yeah, plenty." Vera grimmaced.
"You're not a bad pony... thing. You think you aren't, but you're a good... whatever you are. What are you?" Geiger attempted to cheer Vera up. I did say attempted.
"I'm a hybrid if it isn't obvious. There's plenty of unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies in my family tree. I've got hippogriff cousins thanks to my great uncle, my great great uncle married a dragoness. A great aunt whom supposedly joined a changeling." Vera listed off.
"A zebra somewhere since my father was part. My mother and aunt are... were bat ponies." Vera concluded with a hint of annoyence.
"What kind of bat pony were they?" Geiger asked.
"Mixed, part Fruit Bat, part insectivore blood drinking Vampire Bat." Vera dryly recalled.
"You know more about your family than I do." Geiger chuckled.
Vera thought about it for a moment, then smiled. She at least had that going for her. As much of them were dead, she was keeping their history alive. The great and powerful loves that forged their offspring into something new and wonderful. On the other side, the forced unions in an attempt to make the most powerful and dangerous ponies to carry the name. She decided to focus on the great loves that made it possible for her to stand here today.
"Thank you Doctor, you've reminded me of what's good in this world. And that it's not all darkness." Vera beemed at Geiger.
"I did? Ha, a first time for everything." He let out a snort of joy. "Now then, how about we get going, I don't intend to die here." He smiled, his hope renewed.
Vera nodded and went to grab her camo saddle bags. Geiger grabbed his, now more than ever, grateful they were light.
"It sound's like it'll be a long trip, so how about you teach me a little about Arcanian Science. I find my mind open to new things after all that." Geiger politely asked in his old stallion voice.
"I'd be glad to, and I'l have to start teaching you about home... It won't be pretty, and it won't be easy, for either of us." Vera nodded, stooping down to let Geiger climb on her back.
With some effort he managed. With a great flap of her wings, they were airborn. The sun vanishing behind the horizon.
"I see them." Scribe said to herself.
"I just hope we outrun those collectors before Alter shows up again." Geiger half shouted over the torrent of air.
"I'll certainly do my best-" Vera was saying.
She was interrupted by a red bolt of energy that slammed itself nto her side, igniting her fear and burning her hide. She let out a sharp breath, the air knocked out of her. She lost her balance and tucked her wings, launching them into a power dive. Her teeth gritted and her eyes full of tears from the pain, she guided them down as best she could.
With Geiger shifted on her back and her left side wounded the dive became a perilous fall to the ground. Using her catlike reflexes she managed to land on her hooves before crumpling to the ground. Geiger, thrown from her back used his magic to slow himself before he crashed into the ground with all the grace of a sack of potatoes.
"Is it the changelings?" Geiger asked her.
"No, that was something else. Come on." Vera said to Geiger, getting to her hooves and running over to help him up.
He shuttered and stood up, fresh pain coursing through his body. He gasped as Vera hosted him up onto her back and began running. Her speed was outstanding.
"Damnit Spyglass!" Scribe yelled as she began running to the spot where they were shot down.
There was now a rift between the collectors, Scribe trying to plan things out, Spyglass trying to kill or be killed and the rest of the collectors lagging behind. Their trust firmly shaken, they would be cautious and skeptical of her and Spyglass.
They would give chase, Scribe leading the way. But she would have a hard time catching up to Vera, not that she wanted to be right behind her, alone.
Hours Later, Nearly Dawn.
As much as she had tried to pace herself, her wound and the fight earlier had left her weak. Her gallop had slowed to a trot as she kept putting distance between her and the threat. Just what the hell was a magic beam rifle doing here?
She ran until she came upon a trail, lined with bushes, it lead south and was more stable a place to run than the plains. So, she followed it as far and fast as she could.
Her breathing was ragged and heavy. Geiger felt a great deal of concern as he tried to peer under her left wing to see the wound. Not that he was any sort of medical expert, but he had to see how bad it was. He had to see the pain she was induring because of him.
"Slow up, you're injured. You need dire medical treatment." He sternly pestered from her back.
"Been worse, done more." She replied.
In truth, she had been worse, just not by much. And at that time she wasn't worn out from a previous fight.
"Fine then." Geiger groaned.
He focused his magic and tapped into the magic that was his very life force. He channeled it into Vera's wound, healing it, more steadily and controled than when he had previously done it. Having been studying her use of the magic, he was now familiar with how to properly use the spell.
"What are you doing?!" Vera shouted at him. "You'll die!"
He grimmaced at her words, knowing there was truth to them. His life energy was very depleted, what little he had restored on the mesa was quickly fading.
"I owe you this much." He weakly said.
"You fool... You don't owe me anything. I owe you." Vera mournfully retorted. "I can heal myself the rest of the way."
She relaxed her pace to a walk, her eyes gave a faint flash and her wound finished healing, the hair regrowing and the hide mending. Geiger had at least healed the muscle and burns.
"You... You've given me so much. You tought me how to feel. I'd never felt feelings before, you don't understand what that's like." Geiger said, his own breath ragged now.
"You've given me hope again! I was so defeated, I couldn't have found what I was looking for without your help. You've saved my kin of the earth from certain doom." She responded.
"Only because you gave me a purpose." Geiger grinned, determined to one up her.
"You showed me why I'm here, and what it's all about. The determination I was losing, the sense of purpose that was fading. The past I was forgetting. You saved me from the dangers of disctractions." Vera admitted.
"You've given me the greatest gift of all. I found something to believe in, you." Geiger played his trump card, winning the game.
The weak Geiger remained slumped on her back, on the verge of passing out. He wasn't going to die yet, but he feared he wouldn't be able to tell her any of these things should they be attacked again. He didn't want to leave questions unanswered, not like his father did. Not like his grandmother did. Not like the world did. If he was to die, he was to die satisfied and fulfilled! He no longer had questions, he had desires.
"You were certainly right about one thing. If I wanted a grave to find, you were the pony to talk to. Thank you, Vera." He whispered from his perch.
"I'm sorry Doctor. These things just have way's of working out like this. When the efforts of so many others are hell bent on ruining your day, it inevitably will be ruined." She choked back bitterness and remorse.
"It wasn't so bad. Most fun I ever had." He chuckled softly.
"Hey Vera..."
"Yes?"
"When you get back home."
"When WE get home."
"Save them. Save them like you saved me."
"Maybe a little better..." He chuckled. "But don't forget, to save yourself."
He passed out on her back. Unable to notice the tears she fought, the anger she held back. The words she spoke.
"In another life Doctor, you'd have been a real amazing Arcanian Wizard. You look at the universe and ask why. You use your magic to feel it, and just understand it. You would've gotten along well with him. The both of you could've saved us..." She sobbed.
Not far behind.
"Damn, damn, damn damn!" Scribe was growling.
She followed the trail of a massive stride with giant hoof prints and blood. She wasn't just pissed at Spyglass, nor herself, but the world. She saw a massive gray pony, but it didn't look enough like the Painter to be him. Her memory was somewhat repressed, but she was certain he was lighter gray, and didn't have such a prominant mane. This pony didn't have the coat, simular saddle bags, but looked like a mare. This wasn't the Painter, that much she was sure of. Spyglass however, only saw gray. She'd kill it without hesitation. She had to stop this somehow before an innocent pony got fried.
"DAMN!" She huffed.
Dawn, Red Dawn! Okay... Just Dawn.
She stopped as the sun rose. She was tired, tired in so many ways. Before her she could sense it, a massive surge of magic, familiar in a way that was primal to her. Behind her, the collectors she was certain. On her back, a pony whose life force was too slowly building, it would be weak like this for weeks. Only the Wizards could save him, their constant attention could restore Geiger, if only he could make it there.
"Power... Greed... Obsession... Hate. Such petty things. Useless if there isn't a purpose, a reason. One that has to justify the why of things. Too often it fails." She said to the horizon.
The energy before her was growing faster, it would reach them before the collectors could. So she would have to deal with it first. She set Geiger down, he quietly stirred, unable to open his eyes, he muttered to Vera hoping to hear her.
"Don't worry, I've got this. You just need to rest. Stay here." She cooed, rubbing his back.
"Be careful, that power... I can feel it. Wait, someone else?" He moaned, trying to move his head.
"Come on out, no use hiding from either of us." Vera scowled, locking onto the tiny bush where the culprit hid.
Scribe gulped before stepping out. What she saw before her looked simular to the Painter in anatomy, but was most certainly not him. The other thing she saw, was an elderly lump of pony, one that looked like death had already claimed it.
"Is that... You Doctor?" She weakly asked.
"Yes miss Scribe, it is I." He replied, his raspy voice weak and frail.
"What, what happened to you." She sobbed, seeing a pony so transformed into a weak pitiful creature.
"My discovery... I knew it was bad. Now I know how bad. I only regrete learning the hard... way." He occassionally gasped for air.
"How do I help him?" She asked Vera.
Vera only shook her head. "You can't. No one in Equestria can. If you really want to help him, leave him alone. All of you." Vera added the last part pointedly.
Scribe nodded, knowing that the giant pony before her was right. She also knew, that there was no way. It was too late already.
Vera's demeanor shifted, her attention shifted towards the intense magic now behind her.
"You need to leave, now. All of you." Vera cooly said before turning around.
Once more face to face with herself.
"This ends now." Alter spat.
"So it does." Vera glared.
Scribe looked in confusion, the two creatures before her were identical save for two things. The first lacked a curved black horn. The second had a massive glowing jewel necklace.
"Leave, now!" Geiger bellowed with all his strength at Scribe.
Alter spared a glance at Scribe, merely forwning a little as he sent a spell her direction, in a flash it hit the ground below her before blasting her upwards and out of the way.
"Something's been annoying me Mistress... Just what are you?" Alter borishly inquired before grinding his teeth.
She wanted to give her usual answer, "An abomination of war, boo!" But, she thought of recent events.
"I'm a mare, made of love." She said with the most absolute and sincere smile she could give.
"Liar! You are forged out of hatred, damned to the evils of this world!" Alter shouted in a more shrill version of Vera's voice.
"I am still made of love. No hatred can replace that." She responded, her eyes closed as she inhaled the breeze.
"You're a monster!" Alter venomously shouted.
"A monster made of love, forged by hate, meant to serve a greater purpose." She calmly cooed, letting her eyes open.
They shone with a renewed light, a swirling torrent of blue-green with traces of gold. In this moment, she was exactly what she said she was, something beautiful and strange.
"It doesn't matter anymore. With the Emperor's Tear, I am the one who wins this!" Alter attempted to shake her.
Her eyes narrowed at the name, then opened fully, with pity.
"Power without purpose, is just greedy, selfish and pointless. It won't end how you think." She warned.
"For the hive." Alter growled.
In a blur of motion, they were gone. Their fight rang from off in the distance. Geiger was left laying there alone, struggling to get up. He finally opened his eyes, the world looked more like an old painting than real.
"Miss Scribe?" He called out.
He waited and listened, deciding she was unable to answer, he breifly reached out with his magic, finding her. He hobbled over to where she lay, he could sense she was still alive, just disorientated. He nudged her with his muzzle, producing a groan from her.
"You alright? You know, aside from being blasted." He light heartily chuckled.
"What the hell is going on?" She asked, slowly standing up.
"That would take a really long time to explain, and a much more in the know pony than I. Hurry and get up." He looked around nervously.
"Back off!" Spyglass yelled as she slide over towards Scribe, rifle at the ready.
"It was you then, why? Why in the cursed name of Tartarus did you shoot her?!" Geiger spat, a fire returning to his milky eyes as he hobbled in place.
"Her? Just stay back or I'll end you!" Spyglass cautioned with her rifle.
"I'm fine, so shut up you idiot!" Scribe gritted through her teeth.
"Where is he? Where is the Painter?" Spyglass nervously asked Scribe.
"There is no him! It's not him, it's an innocent pony you tried to kill you moron! You paranoid birdbrained psychopath!" Scribe yelled at the top of her lungs.
Spyglass shrunk in place, her rifle dropping to the ground.
"But I saw him... I saw him!" Spyglass cried.
"All you saw was a changeling portrayal." Geiger chimed in, catching on.
Had it not been for Vera's stories, he wouldn't of made the connection.
"The pony you are looking for is dead, quite so. The mare you shot... She's a good hybrid!" Geiger shouted, the fire in him dulling the pain and weakness.
"And if you do it again I'll be the one you answer to!" He angrily threatened, his horn glowing with a dangerous aura.
"Just calm down!" Scribe interveened, concerned with Geiger in so many ways.
Where his new passion stemmed from she had no idea, last time she saw him this worked up, it was over his career.
"He's dead..." Spyglass weakly groaked, her gaze grew vaccent as it sunk in.
"Are you sure?" Scribe asked Geiger.
"Absolutely. She wouldn't lie about it, she has no reason to." Geiger replied, calming down.
"Who is she? What have you gotten into?" Scribe asked, her face one of such disbelief and concern.
"She... She's his cousin. She came here to find a brighter future, for everyone back home. She came her to put an end to what'd you call him, The Painter? She is trying to put an end to the kind of world where ponies like that come from." Geiger directed his words at Spyglass.
"And where is that?" Scribe asked, in growing concern.
"Where I'm going, assuming you let me." Geiger responded.
"I can't..." Scribe shook her head as she grimmaced.
"I'll die." Geiger deadpanned.
Before more could be said Razor Wire and the rest of the collectors appeared. They looked frazzled to say the least, the clamour of the invisable battle between Vera and Alter echoed somewhere all around them.
"What is this? What have you gotten us into Scribe!" Razor boomed, his instincts telling him off for not listening.
"You need to leave." Geiger warned them. "You need to leave right no-" His words were cut off by a slash from Razor's whip.
"Silence!" He boomed before turning to Scribe. "Tell me the truth, now!"
"You need to leave." Geiger muttered as he regained some level of composure, his right flank bled from the slash.
"You have no idea what's going on." He continued as he began seeing spots.
"No freaking kidding!" Razor scowled, fighting his urge to hog tie the three ponies before him.
"We should listen to the Doctor, and get out of here." Scribe blurted out.
"I want answers!" Razor demanded.
"You'll get them, all of them, we just need to leave." Scribe said in growing urgency.
"Not without him!" Frack said as he stepped forward. "He is... What the hell happened to him?!" He began to panic as he noticed Geiger's aged appearence.
"Nothing worse than what will happen to you if you stay here." Geiger replied to no one in particular, his field of vision restricted to a tiny cone.
Before more could be said a blast of magic landed nearby, erupting into a shower of rubble and dirt.
Clap shook her head. "That was close, maybe we should continue this else where, perhaps somewhere-" She squeeked as another blast landed closer with a bigger shower of debris. "Safer!" She finished.
"Too late." Geiger moaned, his magical detection trying to replace his failing sight and hearing.
All around them seven particularly hideous changelings appeared, their wings beating the air as they support the transformed creatures. Each had their claws or stingers, some had massive jaws. All of them had murder in their eyes.
"I thought the changelings were good guys now?!" Wind Sock whined.
"These are from a different hive, and they aren't about to play nice. They are fast and deadly, they'll come at you from all directions." Geiger informed them.
As he did, the changelings began swirling around their prey, a few of them swooping in and striking at the same target from multiple directions. In mere seconds they had managed to slash Razor, Frack and Spyglass. They broke Sock's left wing and kept Clap grounded. Her thunder cannon firing into gaps the changelings made. Spyglass likewise failed to land any hits. Razor and Frack struggled to cover the two as Scribe tended to Sock's wing.
Geiger used his magical detection to evade as many blows as he could, but his mobility was even worse now and he was taking blows, not slashes however. It seemed they wanted him alive still. This gave him an idea, yet another in a series he doubted would work out.
"Over here you stink bugs!" He shouted as he put all his remaining strength into running away.
He charged off to the south, the changelings giving pursuit.
"Now!" Razor ordered.
The collectors made a break for the north.
Taking a deep breath, Scribe picked Spyglass up and hoisted her up onto her back and began running after Geiger. Mostly to escape the collectors, partially to save the scientist from his latest folly, if she could. The fact was, she had a lot of doubts about what she could do.