//------------------------------// // Part 13 // Story: An Azure Future // by Krass McWriter //------------------------------// An Azure Future Part 13 The Final Chapter Its not whether or not you know the destination, but if you enjoy the journey. I'd like to take the time to thank each and everyone of you who has put up with my shenanigans throughout the writing of this fic. Its been real fun getting to know all of you! I hope you have enjoyed reading as much as I have writing. Though I doubt it. I was drunk half the time. ********************* John stared intently at the grey coated white maned unicorn on his doorstop. This was the pony that had tried to steal Azure, the pony who was hellbent on removing his race from existence. He remembered the last time he was face to face with this pony. He was strapped down and about to be forcibly ponified. "Long time no see." John seethed. "Move aside skin bag. I'm here for my daughter." Grey Crusader growled. "First things first, you organized that attack didn't you?"  John leered at the pony before him. "Yes I did, what's it to you?" The was no remorse in his tone. "You are without a doubt the most wanted man in the world. Top of Celestia's list and every single human's. You took the ponification potion and weaponized it. You forced what should be a choice upon thousands of people." It was hard to decipher his emotion. "And?" "And, I may regret this, but I need a favor from you." It was resignation. "Oh, do you now?" Grey smirked. "I think this is a conversation better held in more..." he waved his hoof around as if he were searching for the right word, "...private areas." John begrudingly stepped aside, letting the fugitive into his home. "Daddy!" The green filly cried in an attack hug. "You're alright!" John knew by now that Grey was the filly's father, but seeing the kind, almost too friendly foal hug Grey was an odd sight indeed. "Of course I'm fine, sweetie." "But they were talking about your work on the TV and Celestia herself is overseeing your capture and-" Forest machine gunned. She was cut off by her father with a gentle embrace. "Its okay honey," he said softly, he then glared at John, "I think I found a way out." "What's he talking about dad?" Azure asked, catching on. "Azure, go play." John deadpanned. "Me and Mr. Crusader have some business to discuss." "I think you should accompany Azure, Forest." Grey dismissed his own child. "When ya need to talk about it..." Azure trailed as he sulked off to his room, accompanied by Forest. Once their respective offspring were out of ear shot, John and Grey began their bartering. "So, you want to be the little pony eh?" Grey smirked. "Be serious." John snapped in response. "Heh. I am no idiot, you want a service I can provide and I believe you can help me with my...  situation." "Name it." John stated. "E-Excuse me?" The unicorn stammered, taken aback by the unexpectedness and bluntness of it. "You heard me." His temper rising. "Name it." The PER leader regained his composure, "You know, a blank check isn't the best way to get what you want from a negotiation." "What I WANT," John was uncharacteristically calm for the given circumstance, "is to raise my son. The barrier's growing. Flying lessons or not, I'd have at best three years. Realistically, eight to fourteen months. And that's not accounting for its random growth spurts. I'm all he has left." "'The Beast slain by love' eh?" John glared at Grey. "Now, now. No need for that. As for my price Mr. Norris, listen closely." If John acknowledged him, he didn't show it. "I have three things I require. First, I am going to assume you are indeed rich and influential. You are going to use this to help me escape the wrath of Celestia. >Help to escape the wrath of a supposedly immortal being that some believe to be a goddess...? that's going to be a hell of a trick.< "Second, you are to impart ten million bits to the cause. You will also help the cause as needed as a member." The prospect of actually joining the insane stallion on his crusade to eliminate all mankind was both foreign and unwelcome. John gritted his teeth and reminded himself of his purpose. "Third, you are to help us launch the attack on Fort Stillwater. Our transportation is... indisposed at the moment. You will drive us there. Once we are finished, you will help us escape. Upon returning to the headquarters you will have your prize." John was silent. He would be betraying his species. Marked a terrorist. Help the greatest villain of the century get away Scott free. "Where do we start?" Grey smiled. "Let's get those bits and then get me out of here." John led the way up. Past Azure's shut door, into his own room. "Turn around." John instructed Grey. "Excuse me?" "Just because you have secured some reluctant favors does not mean I'm about to let you know my code." "Fair enough Mr. Norris." Grey complied. John punched the code into the keypad and the false wall slid away out of sight. John entered the room stacked with bits. Over a period of several minutes, he counted out the required sum by the stacks of thousand and piled them outside of the entrance. "There. Now how do you plan on getting this out of here?" John gestured towards the sizable pile. Grey just gave John an odd look and tapped his horn. "The transportation of inanimate objects is foal’s play." His horn glowed with grey light as did the pile. Then it disappeared. "Now how do YOU plan on sneaking me out of here?" John paused for a moment and pondered. Then a wicked smile crossed his face. "Follow my lead." John made haste to Azure's room and kicked the door open upon an odd scene. Forest Mint had Azure pinned to his bed and was inches away from the young colts muzzle. "FOREST?!" Her father bellowed. "D-Dad! Uh, its not what it looks like!" The filly defended, removing herself from the nervous looking colt. "Damn. Your daughter works FAST." John stated. "What's THAT supposed to mean?!" Grey turned to John furious. "I'll have to show you the video later. Its fucking hilarious. Your filly was damn near presenting herself to Azure earlier." John chuckled. "You RECORDED that dad?!" Azure exclaimed, to which John just shrugged. "We are going to have a talk later little missy." Grey glowered at his daughter. "Okay kiddies, off the bed. Grey, hop on." John orderd. Once he sat alone on the bed, Grey asked, "I fail to see what y-" He was cut off by john suddenly snatching up the corners of the comforter and gathering them up into a bundle in a move he made once before. "Trust in the power of the sack, inexperienced one." He smirked. "What the hay are you doing?!" The PER leader and founder struggled against his makeshift prison. "You told me to sneak you out. This is me sneaking you out. Now stop making so much commotion." John explained. "I am a pony of prestige and respect! I refuse to be subjected to such barbaric measures and I fail to see how this could possibly work!" Grey complained. "Well, for better or worse the tenants of this building have come to expect a good deal of eccentricities from yours truly. Also, I own this building so they can fuck themselves." The pony in the sack was oddly silent for a few moments. "You are truly mad." John ignored the comment. "Azure, grab your female and let's go." "'His female?!" Apparently Forest would be having none of that. "Holy hell, we can work this out later, let's go. Azure, Forest, follow me." John kicked the door open and tromped down the stairs. "AWAAAY!" The filly and the colt just looked at each other for a moment, confused, before finally shaking their heads in disapproval and following. The group consisting of a human, a sacked unicorn, a young unicorn and a pegasus colt made their way awkwardly out of the penthouse condo. They were stopped by a light green earth pony. "Hey John!" It beamed. "Jo- I mean Breezy, this isn't the time. I'm kinda busy right now..." John tried to dodge. "Did you see the news?! PER is carrying out attacks on the human race all over the globe man! You’re, like, the last human on the West Coast! Maybe the world! Hey, what's in the sack?" John scanned the area and found nothing. He busted out his fallback, "HEY LOOK, A DISTRACTION!" John pointed behind the pony and bolted towards the stairs the moment he turned, Forest and Azure following closely. They screamed down the stairs, Grey's sack bouncing against John's back and the walls every time they turned a corner. John stopped about two thirds of the way down, panting heavily. "I... think we... lost him." "John." Came a muffled voice from the makeshift sack. "Yes?" "Could you do me a favor and BE MORE GENTLE?!" The unicorn shouted. "Shouting will get you nowhere. Except caught. Now pipe down boy-o." John lazily formed the words. He shifted the sack as Grey muttered something intelligible. Probably insults and swears. The group finally descended the final flight of stairs and exited into the lobby. Once more their smuggling effort was interrupted by social nuances. "Hello, Mr. Norris!" Cheered the receptionist, Sweetie Pop. A confused look crossed her face once she saw John towing a large comforter over his shoulder like a sack. "What's with the blanket Mr. Norris?" "Its just the world's largest shit bag, wanna see?" John smirked as he leaned into the counter. He could've sworn he heard Grey murmur a death threat under his breath. "Uh.. N-no... I'm quite alright..." she shied, going back to the computer in front of her. "Well, then, I'll carry on my merry way." John beamed before turning and exiting the building. The group crossed the lit street to the parking complex where John kept his truck. He unlocked the truck and tossed the sack inside. A very angry unicorn burst out. "What the horsefeathers Norris!" Gray seethed. "I got you down unnoticed, what more could you ask for?" John shrugged. "Oh I don't know... How about not slamming me into walls and tossing me around?!" "That's your own damn problem. What did you expect when you let me make the plan? To use my secret emergency escape route?"  John shot back. "We have a secret escape route dad?" Azure asked as he hopped into the passenger seat. "Since when?" He asked as he situated himself. "Since forever. I'll have to show it sometime, its really cool. You'd dig it." John beamed as he got behind the wheel. Forest climbed into the back and was trying to calm her father out of his nigh uncontrollable rage. "So ponydude, how do I get there?" John asked. Grey swallowed his rage the best he could, though his voice was still trembling with it, "Its not far... just at the old junior college." "Really? FJC? That's about an eight minute drive from here. Why there of all places?" John queried as he started the engine and put it drive. "It was abandoned and convenient. Has buildings and areas suitable to our needs. And it was close." The truck had rolled out of the parking complex and unto the street. John drove slowly as much of the town walked about the street with moving cars being quite a rare sight. The truck garnered looks from the few ponies about at night. "So, basically 'because'?" "Sure. 'Because'." Grey gave to John's illogical approach to debates. The rest of the way was silent. John arrived at the old junior college after a short drive.  The truck unloaded. "Follow me, I know the way." Grey lead the group out of the complex and onto the campus. It wasn't long til they came across the first pony of many. An earth pony whose eyes went wide with shock. "Grand Master Crusader! You escaped!" He bowed. John was taken a little aback. >No wonder why Grey is pissed at my escape. He's the Grand Master of PER, it must've been a hellava blow to his pride. One of the few to escape the PER and from their leader no less. Never thought about that before...< "Squire, take me to Grand Knight Pathfinder, I found us a way to Fort Stillwater." Grey commanded.  "Right away Grand Master!" The Earth pony turned and began to trot away, the group followed closely. It was a silent journey. John noticed looks of respect and adoration directed at Grey. It wasn't long until the earth pony leading the group stopped in front of the library. "He is inside Grand Master, in the observation deck with Grand Knight Cross, Grand Knight Silence, and Grand Knight Whisper." The pony bowed out of the way. "Thank you squire." Grey dismissed. His horn lit up dully as he grabbed the wood and glass doors magically. "Welcome to the PER Knight Norris." The Library was just as grand and majestic as is was for his time as a student here, cut short by a wise investment and a young fortune. The ponies roaming were new though. All the effects of seeing this place again were lost to John. "'Knight?'" "Well of course." Grey lead the way to and up the staircase. "I told you you would be inducted into our ranks. If you can help me escape Fort Stillwater I will happily promote you to High Knight." Grey paused for a moment, "Maybe even Grand Knight once you become a pony proper, if I'm in the mood." He continued.  "Now, let us meet three of The Nine." They summited the stairs and John could see them, two earth ponies and two pegasai in the observation area that overlooked the campus. They approached the table where they sat; there were maps, charts and assorted layouts strewn about it. "Grand Master Crusader, I was just beggining to think those skin bags got you." Said one of earth ponies without lookin up from the papers in front of him. "I made it out quite fine Grand Knight Cross. I am happy to inform you that not only did I escape, but I found a driver." Grey motioned towards John.  "Well that's fantastic news!" Piped the other Earth Pony. "What's with the foals, Grey?" Posed a female pegasus that was lightly armored. "Ah, this my daughter, Forest Mint." "I know that Grey." She interjected. "Remember your place Grand Knight Silence. The other one is Azure Wind, he is Knight Norris' son." "Let me guess, he knocked some human up and she ran off and ponified?" The other pegasus guessed. John clenched his fist, to hear it put so bluntly. Before he could he awnser, Pathfinder spoke up. "Wait, Norris? As in THE Norris? The one who escaped not once, but twice?!" John smiled a little at his reputation. "Both assumptions are correct." He answered both questions with a single statement. "Well, we have been discussing the manner in how we'll carry out the final stage of Operation Disinfect." Pathfinder continued to indulge specifics. They would be expected, so a distraction was necessary. They'd send in a single unicorn, with the liqud ponification potion. Once he was captured, he'd cast the spell to turn it into a vapor. Then three teams of three pegasi would swoop in and drop gas canisters. After the area was flooded they'd hurry back to where John was waiting on an unregistered back road. "Sounds solid." Grey approved. "Now let's begin."  John turned to Azure. "Son, I want you to stay here. I will return." Azure smiled weakly. "Okay dad. Just... Just stay safe. For me?" John gave Azure a hug. "I promise." He said as he embraced his son. He turned to the assembled leaders of PER. "Let's do this thing." "Alright then, Knight Norris, Squire Sugar will escort you to the vehicle." He stated. "Squire Sugar, escort Knight Norris and fetch him a gas mask." He orderded to one of the earth ponies standing by. The pony bowed. "If you would follow me Knight." She asked and lead the way. John followed and cast one last look at Azure as he left. Once his son was out of sight, he resigned himself to his fate and went along silently. They came to a garage after a while, inside was a completly unremarkable semi truck with a trailer attached. It was inconspicous. It was perfect. John never noticed the earth pony leave, just that it suddenly reappeared, gas mask in the clutches of its mouth. John jumped. "Tath thith!" She said around the mask. He regained his composure and took the mask. It was suprisingly dry for just having been in a mouth. >How the hell do they do that?< "Grand Master Crusader and High Knight Streak will be here with the rest of the strike force shortly." The pony bowed and dismissed herself. >Did she... just bow to me?< John decided to get behind the wheel. He noticed it had a Navigator Mk I. It was little buggy in mint condition and probably had broken self driving capabilities given the situation. On the plus side its auto balance and anti-tip programs were nigh infalliable, meaning John could go as fast as he wanted. John ran a quick diagnostics check that only proved his suspicions right. Auto Drive was shot, balance and tip counter measures were gold. He took a look at the Auto Drive, it was a hardware failure. John swore. There was no way out of it, he was driving the whole way. It was no sooner than John finished his checks that he noticed Grey and an unfamiliar Pegasus approach. Behind them was a group of nine pegasi and a single nervous looking unicorn. They unceriousmonly loaded into the semi's trailer. Grey hopped in the front with John. "Let us finish the final chapter of mankind." He stated as he buckled down, there was a look of sereness, upon his face. As if he knew his lifes purpose and was about to see it finished. John took this as the signal to go. So he started and drove out of the now open garage. ************ They had been on the road for two days now and were a little over half way to Fort Stillwater. They should arrive tomorrow around noon. The previous day was painstakingly silent and John felt he would go insane if it were silent again. "So... Grey. What's with the King Arthur rank system?" John ventured. "Its based off that of The Crusades in the ninth century actually. Its because I intend to lead the last great crusade against the last great evil in the name of the goddesses Luna and Celestia." It seemed Grey also desired conversation. "Now now, 'Last Great Evil'? Isn't that a bit harsh?" Anything but silence. "Mr. Norris, as one of the prime contributors to the problem, you don't make the best advocate. Or should I call you 'The Great Job Thief'?" A few years back, when AIs had replaced a majority or workers, Time magazine had printed a distasteful article about John using the very same title. Even though he never personally developed an AI, he owned them. Thus, he received the blame. It hurt then and Grey had only reopened old wounds. "Oh hey now, Grey, that kinda hurt. C'mon just tell me what's burning ya?"  "Are you quite sure you want to know?" Grey asked. John motioned to the open road. "From the beggining mankind has only killed, hurt, or desecrated anything and anyone that stood in their way. Their fellow animals. Their own species. Their own family. The very planet they stood on. "Now, for a time, some of this was necessary. But then man became master over all! Did they need to contiune their rampant destruction? Did the need to keep each other down? No! They had thousands of years, billions of chances to make utopia theirs. "The people with power, such as yourself, held onto it greedily. Unwilling to share and all happily ready to do whatever was necessary to keep it. I saw mankind for what it is. A monster that fancies itself a saint. A demon who believes he's an angel. "Then along came ponies. They didn't fight each other beyond a strongly worded dispute. They worst they'd ever do is exchange verbal blows however dire the circumstance. If something else fucked with them, they'd subdue them no more than was absolutely needed. They didn't pillage their planet, they lived in harmony with it. "From the moment I saw Celestia, heard about their lands, found out about the potion. I knew what I had to do. I would help her on her noble crusade. I founded PER." Grey finished his monolouge.  John almost felt sorry for the pony. Sure it may be true that the last ten years or so John was one of the wealthiest men who ever lived. But he grew up in a broken home. No mother figure to speak of; an abusive father. If his dad had never committed suicide, John would never have had the money or opportunity to invest in AIs. John couldn't, and may never be able to explain it, but for some reason - despite all the horrors and tragedies of his past - He still believed in his race. His ‘doomed to go extinct and fade from all memory’ race. "So... what kind of music you listen to?" John changed the subject. Grey smiled slightly. "You ever hear of a band called Lamb of God? Their 'Wrath' album is amazing." "Hear them?" John beamed. "I've been listening to them since I was twelve." The rest of the trip was filled with delightful small talk between the odd pair. ************* They were an hour away from Fort Stillwater. John check his watch, it was ten fifty-eight in the morning. "Grey, where's this back road you were talking about?" "Give it a moment..." Grey paused, waiting for it to appear. "Take the next thing that even looks like a left." He instructed after a couple minutes. John saw the path, it was quite small. He hoped it didn't narrow further on down as the semi was barely fitting on the small dirt trail already. It veered and curved in what would be a relaxing drive in anything but an eighteen wheeler. It might not tip, but it could still get stuck in the woods. Fortunately the road didn't narrow. Soon John came to an area that looked recently cleared. "Turn around here and stop. This is where you will wait." John performed the action and exited the truck as did the Grand Master of PER. John went around back and opened the trailer. The ten pegasai and lone unicorn unloaded. They assembled into two ranks of five with High Knight Streak in front. Grey positioned himself in front of the formation. "Knights," He began. "Today is the day PER erases the last stronghold of mankind from the face of the earth. Whether or not we survive this day, know this: We will have done all of pony kind and Celestia herself a service. No longer will the violent apes roam free! The way for Purification will be paved clear! Today the final chapter of mankind is written!" The ponies cheered. Grey approached his fellow unicorn. "Knight Fresh, you have been awarded the honor of leading the charge. Go now and carry out your task." The unicorn bowed nervously and set about his purpose at a slow trot. "Now, we wait." John, Grey, and the assembled pegasai sat and stood around waiting. Moments turned to minutes, minutes to hours.  Suddenly, Grey's horn glowed and everyone jumped, John heard the faint sound of distant shots fired shortly after. "That's the signal! Let's go!" He ordered. "Stand at guard, and wait for our return! And wear that mask in case it comes down here!" He shouted back at John as the pegasai took flight. John put the gas mask on. There was nothing to do but wait in the semi. Just wait in the semi and think. >They've been gone for two hours... I hope Azure is ok... Alone... with lots of anti human crazy ponies. Well fuck. He's an intelligent little guy, he should be alright. I hope.< John decided to light a cigarette while he waited. He removed the mask, a cigarette and his lighter. After he lit it, he just sat there smoking, watching the cherry slowly descend towards the filter. When it was gone he sat there and watched the smoke play around the cab. He heard a rustling sound in the forest. John threw the engine on. He looked towards the sound and saw Grey galloping towards the truck with four pegasi behind him. Grey simultanously threw open the passenger door, jumped in, and slammed the door to the trailer. "Drive!" He shouted,shutting his own door. John started back down the dusty trail. The drive was made infinetly more intense by the slow carefulness it required. "Did you smoke in here?" Grey accused. "Uh, yeah." John admitted. "Why?! You knew I was returning!" Grey shot, offended. "That wasn't a given." John retorted.  Grey seethed. John reveled in it. The forest started to thin out ahead. "Take it slow when we get to the road. No need to draw attention by speeding." John rolled his eyes. >Yeah I was going to do a hundred and seventy eight while swerving.< He took a right onto the hardball and sped up to seventy-eight miles per hour. Ten minutes after leaving the dirt trail John saw something that seemed impossible. It was another vehicle. Then John heard the faint siren of a cop car. >There's still human cops?< His internal question was answered as the car grew closer. "Fuck." Any hope Grey or John had of it passing by quickly disapeared as it made a quick, tight U-turn shortly after passing. John calmly pulled over and the officer followed. "John, put the mask on." Grey ordered. "What?" "Just do it Knight." Grey's horn was lit and John saw an odd canister in his magical grip. There was only one thing it could be. Ponification gas. John obliged, strapping on the mask and making sure it was sealed tight. Grey popped the canister and the cab was quickly filled with a purple gas. John could vaugly make out what was probably the last human cop in america approaching. John waited for his fellow human to come closer. The purple smoke was viscous and so thick that it limited John's vision. The mask seemed to be working, as he didn't feel any changes. He heard a curious rapping on his window and rolled it down. The vaporized potion flooded out of the window. As soon as he saw the human collapse from the beginning of the change, John sped off. "It seems Grand Knights Gear and Aether really got their departments to improve the anesthetic. There wasn't any screaming this time around." "Wait, what? Wouldn't you know that already?" John puzzled. "Bah, some people scream anyways." Grey rolled his eyes. They crossed the state border not too long after. Now there was nothing to do but drive home. John kept the window down to air out the cab. Even with the wind whipping around, it would be hours before John could remove the Gas Mask. John turned on the radio and relaxed. It was a long journey home. ************** John recognized the area, he had been here many times before. They were just outside of the recently redubbed New Foalerton. His hometown. They weren't too far from the PER HQ. It was nine in the morning. "Homestretch." John's statement was blunt and accurate. His journey of over a month and a half would be complete by day's end. Tomorrow he would wake up on hooves. "Indeed." Grey agreed. The two had driven across the country and back. Celestia had found PERs front; the real HQ was safe. Unfortunately, it was only be a matter of time until someone talked. Thus, Ponification for Earth's Rebirth was moving once more. Though never again would they gather as they had. PER would spread across the Earth, scouring it for remaining humans. At least that’s what Grey had said on the drive over. John and Grey had spent a good time talking about their lives. Turns out they weren't so different and actually became fast friends. Grey wanted to immortalize John as a PER hero for his services rendered. John declined but Grey wouldn't hear it. The short remainder of the long week was surprisingly relaxed. John let out a sigh. This last month and a half felt closer to about a year. John took a right. The garage was three blocks down the street.  Moments later John was pulling into the garage. This was it. Azure was waiting there as was Forest, and a fair amount of PER. John put the truck into park. John and Grey exited the truck to the stamping of hooves from the various PER members. Which only was re-doubled when John opened the back and let out the remaining pegasai. John was tackled to the ground by a wild blue streak. "I was so worried dad!" Azure was crying. John held his son and comforted him. Then he noticed something that wasn't there before. It was a partially unfurled scroll, with three checks down the left side of it. It was located on his flank. "Azure... is... that what I think it is?" Azure's mood changed immediatly and brightend. "I got my cutie mark! Some of the ponies here were having a debate about humans being evil, but I know you aren't! So I talked about how mankind's unique drive is what's lead to it advancing far beyond what Equestria. How the main reason mankind should convert is mostly due to Equestria devouring the Earth, not because we're inherently better. Which isn't true, both species have their advantages, its just ponies have the advantage of overall survival. I used the stories you told me and the histories I read and applied them. I mean I've done it before but I only then realized just how much fun it was when I saw the looks on their faces. Then IT appeared!" He beamed as he machine gunned the story. John smiled, "I guess we'll have to have a party then." The crowd had died down. "Cutecenera." "A what?" John asked, puzzled. "A party that celebrates a cutie mark is called a Cutecenera." Azure answered. John was about to make a remark when he felt a hoof on his shoulder. He turned to face Grey Crusader. He was floating a small flask of the type that usually held alcohol. "Your prize, be it well earned." Grey placed it in John's hand and trotted away. It wouldn't be the last time John saw him, but it felt as such. John turned to Azure. "Let's go home." *********** John stood in his living room. Azure was sitting attentively on the couch. "Are you sure dad?" He asked, a hint of remorse in his voice. John stopped. He stared down into the flask. A viscous, purple liquid stared right back. He had betrayed his race to obtain these few ounces. He had labeled himself a terrorist for them. He had attacked an officer to get away. There may be hell to pay down the road. >Why?< He found his answer in that pegasus colt with the azure coat and dark steely grey mane. Before he had come along, John was broken. Alone. Purposeless and just waiting to die. He was afraid of all social interactions. Now, he was actually happy to wake up in the morning. He hung out on the weekends. He had someone that looked up to him. It was painfully obvious. "I have never been more sure of anything in my life." John downed the contents like he was shooting whiskey. It tasted like grape, just as he knew it would. John smiled faintly at Azure and collapsed unconscious. ***********************Authors Notes: Wow, been a while since I did this huh? Look at that! A cliffhanger! Whodathunk? Oh god Azure almost got laid. Just the epilogue left. It shouldn't be too long. Once I actually start it! HUZZAH!