Morbid Fascinations
Upheaval: Reckoning
Chapter 39: Morbid Fascinations
There were plenty of tears to be shed when Rainbow and Third Squad made it back to Canterlot. After days of fending for herself, Rainbow was misty-eyed at the sight of so many ponies. When Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Rarity, came out to meet the group, they were also in tears. Even Applejack and Twilight shed a couple at the unfolding scene.
Scarlet nearly burst into tears when he caught sight of a newly-established, Barrier Lands-only brewery. There was no drinking for him, though. He and Rainbow were off to stay in the hospital until they were cleared of any lingering ophidite drugs.
When Twilight was allowed access to the hidden archives the following day, that was when she really had to hold back a sob. The Coldhorn the Watcher Wing, the lone reading room in the library that she had avoided as a filly, had turned into a long hallway of ancient books. She could barely contain herself as she surveyed the shelves. Special Operations had several researchers combing through the material. She was going relish going in there with them, looking through the notes they already compiled, and adding to them when she had a chance. When orders came from Prince Terrato for the Elements of Harmony to stay put in Canterlot, she was the only pony who took them in stride. The only sour note so far was when she had to pass by Captain Bad Arc on her way to the hidden archives.
“Try not to wet yourself in there, Purple Pyre. Don’t want to ruin any of those books.”
Twilight put that unpleasant pegasus behind her. All this knowledge was too important to be soured by one pony. Apparently, she wasn't the only who thought so as well. Fluttershy, of all ponies, was as determined as she was to go through the books. Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie, had also come along, more because of the prince’s orders that they be near each than out of any enthusiasm.
“So what’s got you so interested in the hidden archives, Fluttershy?” Twilight asked.
Fluttershy pawed the floor nervously. “Well…um…I wanted to find out more about the Stare…”
Twilight raised an eyebrow. “What makes you think that there would be information about the stare here? These books are mostly about pre-Equestrian history.”
“Well…” Fluttershy glanced away. “He told me that there’d be something to find out here.”
Twilight’s eyes narrowed. “Who’s this ‘he’?” she asked. She stopped when Fluttershy backed away from her looming form.
“It-it was, Blue Moon,” Fluttershy said. “I’m sorry, I wasn't trying to keep it a secret!”
“It’s alright,” Twilight said. “Sorry for being pushy. Did he say anything else?”
“No…”
After making a mental note to talk to Blue Moon, as well as to call for Fluttershy if she did stumble on anything about the Stare, Twilight went on her way. She had already thought about what she wanted to learn first so she could narrow her reading focus.
First and foremost, Twilight wanted to learn more about the Old Kingdom. Ever since she visited Clover the Clever’s last refuge, the darkness around that time before Equestria beckoned her scrutiny. It wasn't just because the Foul Weapon and the Blasphemous Rift were important to their current situation. She wanted to learn more about how ponies dealt with their connection to their “Deep Father”; a connection that, as much as she hated to admit it, she and all of Equestria had. What had happened in Clover’s refuge was but a small taste of the influence of Oceanus. What was the result if that small taste was magnified to great proportions? What did the power of Oceanus do to a pony?
Down one aisle, Applejack had picked up a book. She took a single look at the pages before frowning, and placing it back. “Land’s sakes, Twilight, I can’t stay cooped up in here with all these fancy books,” she said. “I’ll go crazy. I’m off to do some training!”
“Don’t stray too far from the library,” Twilight said. “We’re supposed to stay together.”
“I’ll just be nearby,” Applejack said solemnly.
“Hold on, Applejack,” Rarity called out. “I’m coming with you!”
Twilight and Applejack looked towards Rarity.
“Really?” Applejack asked. “I mean, you want to go…with me…while I go off to train?”
Rarity frowned. “Yes, thank you for clarifying. If you’re going, then let’s go!”
“Well, I…uh…okay,” Applejack said.
Applejack and Rarity trotted to the Great Library’s exit. That left Pinkie still in the library somewhere. Twilight scratched her head as she searched. It shouldn't be that hard to look for Pinkie. All she had to do was follow the sound of books being thrown around, high pitched squeals of delight, and the annoyed cursing of legionnaires trying to rein somepony in. Yet, there weren't any of those at the moment. Had they “misplaced” Pinkie before they even made it to the library?
Twilight was about to call for some help when she finally caught sight of Pinkie, who had been passing through the shelves in a subdued manner. “Pinkie?” Twilight asked. “Are you looking for something specific too?”
“Huh?” Pinkie replied. She shook her head. “Oh, uh…yeah. Hey, Twilight, you think there’s some kind of a book here about Rock Maven?”
“Rock who?”
“Rock Maven. Copper Mane’s been teaching me a lot of stuff about him, but...well, he makes me want to find out more. Don’t tell him though. He’s been teaching me lots of stuff that I like doing. But, when he starts talking about being a True Earth Pony and stuff, I just feel like wanting to find out for myself.”
“Well, good luck looking for Rock Maven then,” Twilight said. “I’ll call you if I read about him somewhere.”
“Thanks, Twilight!” Pinkie went off again.
Twilight didn't even know how Pinkie was able to tell what a book was about without picking them up. However, if there was indeed a book here about this “Rock Maven”, Pinkie would find it.
Realizing that she had wasted too much time with what her friends were up to, Twilight picked up a promising title, and began reading. Fortunately, this one was already in Equestrian, as were most of the books. The ones that weren't were with the translators. Now, she just needed to find the ones about the Old Kingdom…
“So why did you want to come with me, Rarity?” Applejack asked as they trotted to the nearest training ground. They made sure to keep the building in sight, and let the Special Operations ponies know where they were.
“A couple of reasons,” Rarity replied. “First, how was your first mission with Vanguard and Twilight?”
“You know, Scarlet and Rainbow were involved in it too. And First Squad.”
“And you know what I’m talking about, Applejack.”
“You’re prodding again, Rarity!” Applejack said. She stayed silent for a while, but she eventually sighed, and replied. “It wasn't--” She remembered that night when she did talk to Vanguard, then Twilight: the thrill that spread all throughout her body when Vanguard reached out to her, her relief when she was able to reach Twilight without losing her temper. “It wasn't as bad as I was afraid it was going to be,” she said.
“Really?” Rarity asked. “No fighting? No tears, or screaming? That is quite the pleasant surprise, Applejack. Well, I’m glad to know that you've got this messy triangle out of the way. Now we can--”
“We haven’t gotten it out of the way,” Applejack said. “Sorry, Rarity, but I'm not stepping aside. Twilight isn't either.”
The widening smile on Rarity’s face nearly collapsed on itself. “Oh my stars…” she said. She massaged her temples with her hooves, then let out a long exhale. “Well, at least you two addressed it. Not too bad, Element of Honesty.”
Applejack walked over to a nearby practice dummy. On the way back to Canterlot, she used all the time she could squeeze out of the mission to practice with Apple Slice’s chain, especially in controlling its pulling strength. She didn't want to pull off somepony’s head whenever she wanted to lasso them. “You’re just making fun of me now, Rarity,” she said.
“No, I mean it,” Rarity said. “Things can still go bad very quickly, but I rather like being pleasantly surprised. There’s still a number of things that might ruin all of Equestria, but I think I’ll sleep a little better from now on.”
Applejack snorted. “Don’t tell me that you followed me all the way out here just for that!”
“Well...” Rarity said. “There is one more reason.”
Applejack turned around in time to see Rarity's blades float above her. “Rarity…what are you doing?” she asked. "Those blades--"
“Carefully wrapped in leather to prevent serious injury,” Rarity said. “They’ll still hurt if they hit you. And I will hit you if you don’t take me seriously.”
Applejack grinned, and pawed the ground. “Is that right?” she asked. She was about to get Apple Slice’s chain ready when she hesitated. “If I get this thing around your neck, the fight’s over, alright? I don’t want to snap your neck.”
“Agreed,” Rarity replied.
Applejack's grin returned wider than ever. “Hope you’re better than a training dummy, then!” She whirled the looped end by her side.
The mage blades around Rarity began spinning in a wheel-shaped pattern. “We’ll see,” she said.
The sheer number of books within the hidden archives was nearly enough for Fluttershy to turn around, and give up. This was pointless. She could spend days and days within this place without coming upon anything she was looking for. The Special Operations ponies moving through the place looked so busy that she must be disturbing them by simply being there. She was better off just walking away. She could just tell Blue Moon that she didn't find anything.
Except that she wasn't doing this for Blue Moon.
Fluttershy stopped herself halfway through her turn. ‘That’s right,’ she thought. She remembered the helplessness just a few days ago, and used that to push herself forward. She had an opportunity here she couldn't afford to waste. She approached one of the Special Operations ponies. “Um…excuse me, w-would you mind helping me find a book?”
The legionnaire, a blue green unicorn mare whose blue mane resembled the usual Royal Guard mane style, turned around. Fluttershy expected a stinging rebuke about getting in the way, and that this wasn't a public library. To her surprise, she actually got a salute, and a respectful tone. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Oh…um…well, you don’t have to stand at attention," Fluttershy said. "I just wanted to find some books about Commander Hurricane and Private Pansy.”
“There are several books on Hurricane and his Graywing Elite by that stack with Squall Chaser.” The legionnaire pointed to a very light gray earth pony with a curly, cream-colored mane. “Squall!” she called to him. “Show Legionnaire Fluttershy here those Graywing Elite books.”
“Wow…” Fluttershy said. “You know my name?”
“Legionnaire Fluttershy, Bearer of the Element of Kindness,” the legionnaire said. “We've been updated on who you are, and your position within the Legion.”
Squall Chaser walked over, and saluted. “Right this way, ma’am,” he said. He showed her a stack of books, many of which lacked any title on their covers save for the picture of a gray-feathered wing and a spear forming an “x”.
Fluttershy picked one book up. “Graywing Elite?” she asked. “What’s that?”
“The Graywing Elite was the ruling body of the pegasi nation prior to the rise of the Old Kingdom,” Squall Chaser said. “Hurricane was its leader during the Windigo Crisis, and Pansy was his second. After the Old Kingdom was established, it was merged with the Unicorn Monarchy, and the United Earth Pony Clan Lords.”
“So all these books are about Hurricane and Pansy?” Fluttershy asked. The number and thickness of the books made her dizzy. All she needed was to know more about the Stare. These books looked like they chronicled every day in the lives of Hurricane and Pansy.
“Oh no,” Squall Chaser said. “Only a few of these are about the two of them. The rest are about Pansy’s Experiments.”
“O-oh, I see…” Fluttershy said. “Have you read most of them? Maybe you can tell me where to read about the Stare?”
At Squall Chaser's blank look, Fluttershy consigned the rest of her day to going over the stack. “I’ve made it through halfway the material,” he said. “I haven’t encountered anything involving a stare. Hurricane and Pansy aren't quite in the Legion’s sights at the moment, so it’s just me working on this stack. Everypony here is more focused on Clover, Platinum, and Smart Cookie. They’re the ones who were really into delving into the power of Oceanus.
“I better get started then,” Fluttershy said. She picked up a book, and began scanning pages.
Finding books about the Old Kingdom turned out to be quite easy, as Twilight quickly discovered. Lexarius’s commitment to historical documentation was admirable. Many of the records were written on his orders, and he was quite adamant on writing down every detail of the enemy he had defeated. It was nothing short of a tragedy that a pony so organized and meticulous was now an insane entity trapped in stone. Twilight would have loved to meet him when he was still himself.
Hours had likely passed. Twilight didn't really care. Several finished books were already stacked to one side of her, while books she wanted to read were stacked by the other. There was so much to find out about the Old Kingdom, from its sordid beginnings to its ultimate fate.
The Six Companions and those who followed them called their nation “the Everlasting Kingdom”. Clover the Clever envisioned a grand destiny for ponykind, one that was tangled in the tendrils of her “Deep Father”. She had stayed true to what she told her mentor when she murdered him. Twilight took some grim comfort over knowing that it was now referred to as “the Old Kingdom”.
While it was Clover who picked the name, it took all six companions, and the factions they led, to create their Everlasting Kingdom.
Princess Platinum all but ruled the Unicorn Kingdom in her father’s name while Clover the Clever officially served as “court mage”. Twilight didn't need to find any writing about it to suspect that Platinum’s hold over her kingdom did not come from legitimate means, nor did “court mage” come anywhere near Clover’s true position.
Hurricane and Pansy commanded the Graywing Elite, the military, therefore ruling, arm of the pegasi.
As for Puddinghead and Smart Cookie, they were the leaders of the two most powerful earth pony clans. Their alliance, and their progress with attuning themselves to Oceanus, allowed them to beat most of the clans into submission, then sell the particularly defiant ones to slavery.
It was at this point that Twilight encountered the name that had Pinkie so curious. There was a brief list of the earth pony clans that had been sold to the unicorns, and one of the clans had been led by Rock Maven. It was merely a passing mention, not worth taking herself away from her reading to look for Pinkie.
This turned out to be the right choice. She sped through line after line, page after page, just taking in all the information. “A lot of bad things were committed during those times, several books worth,” Nightcanter had said. Several books worth was right. Lexarius made sure that every monstrous ritual was described as vividly as possible without making them repeatable. Twilight winced at each event: the pony sacrifices, the slavery, the purges…but she couldn't stop reading. She soon found more interesting and pertinent details.
From Special Operations, Twilight already knew that the Old Kingdom’s capital was located in Sky Mirror Lake. She also knew that something was going to happen there very soon so every bit of information about the place was going to be important.
What she hadn't known was that it was the Six Companions who called upon the waters that still remain to this very day. They had done it to “preserve the sanctity of the Everlasting Kingdom”. If Twilight despised Clover the Clever before for murdering Starswirl the Bearded, it was nothing compared to the loathing she felt for the errant student now. Clover destroyed the nation she built, then escaped its fate at the very last moment, abandoning even the other companions. The ritual was called “Deep Father’s Embrace”, and the name did fit. Oceanus’ loving hug killed the city’s thousands of inhabitants in a deluge of magically tainted water. Lexarius had a lot of detailed notes on the devices he had to construct just to get around this obstacle, and seal the Blasphemous Rift.
“Twilight Sparkle.”
Twilight's first instinct was to be irritated. She had a lot more reading to do. But she recognized Vanguard’s voice. “Vanguard,” she said. “Wait, what time is it? How long have I been reading here?”
The serious mien around Vanguard was enough for Twilight to close the book she was reading. “Well over eight hours,” he said. “The princesses have summoned the Elements of Harmony. They’re already waiting in the Chamber of Harmony.”
“I’ll go get Pinkie and Fluttershy."
The alicorn stallion laughed a loud, bellowing “HOO! HOO! HOO!” as he brought his massive weapon down on a group of changelings. The hammer's head, a polished, rounded chunk of metal the size of a small cottage, crushed half a dozen of the screaming insectoid creatures, splattering their blood across the soft, sandy ground. The other changelings continued to fly away. Despite his enormous size, and his heavy barding, the alicorn was right behind them, hammer ready for another overhead smash.
“Isn’t this a strangely amusing chore, Fulmen?” Ridentem Malleorum asked. A much smaller alicorn in golden armor darted about behind him, impaling the changelings scattered by Ridentem’s initial charge with a long, broad-tipped spear.
Fulmen Lancea stopped briefly before pointing his weapon towards a few more fleeing changelings. A stroke of golden lightning burst from the tip, incinerating his targets before they could fly another foot. “No,” he said. “It feels too much like pointless posturing, Ridentem. It will always be until we fight Oceanus’s troops.”
“But this thing they’re doing,” Ridentem said. “It’s so bizarre and amusing! It’s an excellent diversion!”
“What do you mean ‘this thing’?” Fulmen asked.
“This thing! This thing!” Ridentem said, nearly unable to hold back his mirth. “This maneuver that looks like a retreat, but with that racket!”
“It’s called ‘fleeing in terror’,” Fulmen said. “This world’s inhabitants are prone to such behavior.”
Ridentem paused. “You mean…they’re afraid of us?” he asked. Before Fulmen could reply, he laughed again, and crushed another group of changelings. He spotted a large group of changelings trying to escape, but appeared to be hampered by something. “Over there,” he said. “That one looks just a bit more organized!”
Fulmen didn't reply, but he followed his partner. As they approached, half the group formed a defensive barrier while the other half continued to fly away with their burden.
“Now here’s something more familiar,” Ridentem said. "A bit of organized resistance for once. What’s that thing they’re trying to escape with? It looks like one of them, only bigger!”
“I recognize this one,” Fulmen said. “It’s their queen, the one the general tried to talk to.”
“Should we finish the task?” Ridentem asked. He advanced even more. The changelings rushed him, but their teeth, and hooves merely bounced off his barding.
The changeling leader began to stir. She opened her eyes weakly, and tried to rise without help. The other changelings gathered around her in support.
“Let’s try to talk to it,” Fulmen said. “As I recall, it can actually communicate.”
“Better speak slowly,” Ridentem suggested. He didn't bring down his hammer, but he swatted a few changelings away with a foreleg. They crashed to the ground, and did not rise again.
“Do you understand me?” Fulmen asked.
“I understand perfectly, monster,” the changeling queen spat. “Celestia talked so innocently about just passing through, then she sends you to destroy us all!”
“We are not affiliated with the secondborn,” Fulmen said. “We are letting you go. Come back with reinforcements, or flee to a far away land. It doesn't matter.”
“Regroup, and get your allies,” Ridentem said. “Please, make it more amusing when you return!”
“We will get our revenge one day!” The changeling queen glared at them, then flew towards Canterlot.
“We don’t really need that many escorts for her do we?” Ridentem asked. Without waiting for a reply, he brought down his hammer on some of the changelings lagging behind. Fulmen shook his head, and turned away.
There was no crash or splatter, however. Ridentem’s attack had collided with a great chunk of stone before the hammer’s head could even travel past his horn.
“The changelings deserved some punishment,” sompony said. Prince Terrato landed in front of them. “I even suggested to Celestia that they be wiped out. But seeing it done like this…well, that makes me see her point a bit more clearly.”
Fulmen placed his right hoof against the left part of his breastplate, then dipped his head: the normal greeting that soldiers of the Eternal Herd made for royalty. “Highness,” he said. “The general was hoping that you would be the one to come and negotiate.”
“Good,” Terrato said. “We start off positive. Take me to General Gravitas.”
They flew along the shores of Sky Mirror Lake, past hundreds of the dead changelings scattered across the ground like flies. Most were barely discernible pools of mashed gore and bones. They landed at the northernmost point of the lake, in front of a large tent.
Terrato didn't waste any time in stepping forward. He had flown from Canterlot at night, but it was morning when he arrived in Sky Mirror Lake. “Gravitas,” he called out. “We need to talk.” The tent flap lifted, and Gravitas stepped out.
General Gravitas was taller than Terrato by a few inches, and just as muscular. His barding was polished to a silvery sheen, and intricately engraved. It covered him from head to hooves in gleaming, overlapping plates. Underneath the armor, he had a coat of a very light gray, almost white. His mane was a dark blue mist that seeped through the openings of his criniere, and he looked at the world through a disapproving set of ice blue eyes. “Yes, we do,” he said in a rich, baritone voice. “It's good that it was you who came, highness. I have had quite enough of dealing with your sister.”
“Is that the only reason?” Terrato asked.
“You are the most likely to understand,” Gravitas added. “We’re soldiers of the Herd, you and I. We both understand the necessary steps that your sisters are often so quick to condemn, and overlook.
“And what is this that I am most likely to understand?” Terrato asked.
“That these mortals must be destroyed for their own good,” Gravitas replied. “The Council sent me here to secure the Foul Weapon, restore Celestia’s power, and ensure Equestria is not under the influence of Oceanus. These half-hearted measures will spell the end of the Herd if we do not do something.”
“I think you've overestimated my open-mindedness.”
“Hear me out,” Gravitas said. “This matter stretches back even before Lexarius volunteered to come to this world.” He lifted the flap to his tent. “Come in, and we will talk.”
Despite the centuries, Terrato recognized the two soldiers.
Ridentem Malleorus was as tall as Terrato, but with twice the girth. He looked fat, but he moved around earlier with plenty of agility. He had no mane, and his coat was the color of aged cream. The hammer slung across the his back, and the way the burnished metal plates of his barding curved outward added more to his sheer presence.
Fulmen was nearly Luna’s size, but he carried himself as if he was as big as his partner. His mane was a wild, bright red blaze that sprouted from his closed champron’s top like a second tail. His golden barding covered his rust red coat, and he had a long spear slung across his back.
“The two of you haven’t changed,” Terrato said.
“I wish I could say the same of you, highness,” Fulmen replied.
Terrato followed Gravitas into the tent. There were times that he felt as Fulmen did.
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Mane 6 reunion!
Research!
Uh, be careful with that chain, AJ. Everypony is going to be unhappy if you accidentally decapitate Rarity.
The OC alicorns cometh. Actually, on reflection that's somewhat funny, we've had Terrato from the very beginning, long enough that I wasn't even thinking of him as an OC anymore.
2172013 In fairness, its not like they are the main characters. If you must make a powerful OC support or antagonist is probably the best role for them.
2172060 Oh, that wasn't meant as a negative comment, I think the usual reaction to OCs is fairly silly. Maybe I should have said something about the Eternal Herd cometh instead.
2172068 Oh I get what you mean, but it still cracks me up that in this story, a red maned black coated unicorn becomes an alicorn. When I first realized what had happened it made me cringe, then laugh.
YAY! new chapter!
hmm, this chapter was one of recovery, exposition, and generally the plot not advancing, but that's perfectly okay
Oh, Scarlet
oh, Twilight you're such an egghead
well it seems Pinkie is resisting the bigotry of the True Earth pony pretty well.
I think you're missing a 'know' between 'ponies' and 'where' Visiden
lets see...1. another rebellion happening so that it's only a matter of time until the ninth, 2. Black Rose and whatever her plans are 3. the love triangle breaking apart the Elements of Harmony and, 4. now there's Gravitas and whatever his agenda is
that doesn't sound good...
This is worded weirdly, you probably want to drop the 'way', Visiden, or re-word it to something like 'I've made it halfway through the material' though I would change 'material' to 'these books'
let me guess, he was the Alicorn of Order, before he became the Spirt of Chaos, oh the irony, also this story is now confirmed for not canon with season 3
hmm, very interesting...
oh dear...
hmm, isn't that where the Changelings and Gravitas are?
these two must not get out too much...
I'm pretty sure you meant 'she', because I'm pretty sure Celestia's a girl...
saw that one coming, now to see what Terrato will do in response...
so we have Lightning Lance and Laughing...something, Malleorus doesn't translate, though I should know this given I studied latin not too long ago
did someone say politics?
have I mentioned how awesome Terrato is as a character? that underneath the proud warrior and loyal brother exterior, there's a good bit of self-doubt and longing for the way things used to be, I have the feeling that some character is going to give him a deal that plays right into those feelings and he's going to pick the option that allows that to happen but screws everyone else over, or maybe he'll prove his strength as a character and turn it down
2172077 I'm pretty sure Visiden was just subverting expectations on that one, or else the Upheaval is some kind of massive 'Take That' to show that all these negative tropes can be used in a good way, black and red alicorn who's more powerful than Celestia? turns out she's one of the best villains I've ever encountered, a pegasus whose's (sometimes) faster than Rainbow Dash? there's a reason for that, is tons of OCs still a negative trope? anymore you can think of?
2172229 Don't get me wrong, I admire his storytelling. Subverting tropes in this way is pretty damn awesome.
2172244 I know you weren't criticizing Visiden, I was just listing the negative tropes I've seen that he's subverted
Ahh, more Dark Souls references. It took the description of Lancea's armor to make me notice.
Very happy to see a new chapter! ...of course these eternal herd guys are really ticking me off... I guess it's the whole "we're gods and we know what's best... it's best for you to be destroyed... for your own good of course." And that's when the mortals rebel and try to stay alive... really looking forward to the next update!! Please keep up the good work!
I liked this chapter a lot. Many good character interactions and moving the plot forward. Also, there were, well, not exactly hints, more like outright telling us about how the past was really dark.
Like this? ಠ_ಠ
Semicolon should be a comma.
awesome chapter! i wonder if the girls will be able to activate the elements, as well as what the girls special powers are (other than applejack of course, she's got some kind of shield).
ornstein and smough, ahem, i mean ridentem and fulmen were interesting, they were a little to cruel though, their actions speak like bright neon signs saying "both of us will die, cause we're without any doubt bad guys and beyond redemption". though i wonder who's gonna die first, they gotta play this right
Wow this chapter had a little bit of everything that makes the Upheaval series so great XD
That being said I'm pretty interested in seeing how General Gravitas develops as character. Originally when all we knew was his name and his objectives, I had figured he wouldn't be to keen on any diplomatic actions that opposes his goals. From the glimpse we got of his character in this chapter he doesn't seem outright unreasonable, just dedicated to the Council and his appointed mission.
Perhaps he can be convinced to join forces with our heroes? Then again this is all baseless predictions, so for all I know Gravitas could be a colossal prick.
(Elements of Harmony finally reunite as a group...and they go to the library
)
Ok, so...
Applejack and Rarity are training, Twilight, Fluttershy and Pinkie are going through books and Rainbow is sitting with Scarlet in hospital... probably moth strapped to their beds by Redbrand <_<
Meanwhile Chrysalis got her sexy changeling ass handed to her and is running to Canterlot and Terrato is most probably going to confront Gravitas about his methods of operation... whatever Black Rose told him included.
Speaking of Black Rose... seeing hos she can't hold her power any longer I suspect she'll make a move soon and so are the princesses (since they are calling the Elements)
we still didn't have the the thorns/elements showdown we've been waiting for, but that too could happen pretty soon.
In other words, we're heading towards the finale of this "book". :D
Oh boy, I can already see it coming . Gravitas will actually be a god just trying to do what is right in his eyes and not a hypocrite. Damn it, are all the villains in this make feel some pity?
Just think about it. Oceanus was refused his birthright for Celestia (it's implied) right on the day he was going to get it. Now I get the idea that Oceanus was a bit bad already, but doing that to a person on the moment he supposed to get it? No wonder the guy wants to rule everything, if he was told he was going to for his entire life and was denied.
Also Black Rose, really don't have to explain that one.
Lexarius, went insane, somewhat pitiful.
Regi Carnifex, went good. When he realized what he did was wrong, at that point he could never go home
Only one that I don't feel any pity for is Clover the Clever. Good riddance
Then he sends you to destroy us all!
He ought to be she.
FUCKING FINALLY, the elements are being brought together
awsome chapter as always visiden....so many new questions for us to ponder on as we await more chapters
keep up the writing
Almost a month since the last update Visiden... Where did you go?
2306692 he actually posted a blog about it, apparently he had some research papers due which were eating up his time and Fluttershy segments always take longer for him to write
though I think the deadline for the papers just past, so hopefully we should be seeing the next chapter soon
2307311
and now I know he has a blog! Thank you!
Dark Souls, Ornstein and Smough, anyone?
>books she wanted to read where stacked by the other side
I think you mean "were"
Calling it now - Clash is gonna die heroically, thus solving the love triangle shenanigans. Heartfelt parting words (or as heartfelt as Clash can get, anyway) to both mares optional.
If he does pick one, I'm betting its Applejack. They just seem to have more chemistry. Still counting on the first guess, though, unless he just denies both of them and never gives his distraught mother any grandpuppies.
The Dark Souls references are strong with this one. Next thing we know is, that Fulmen uses LIGHTNINGBOLT!
And so we see the alicorn versions of Ornstein and Smough! I am loving these Dark Souls references!
...I am ashamed I didn't see the resemblance to Ornstein and Smough until I read the comments. I was already thinking the Blackmoon Blades sounded a lot like the Blades of the Darkmoon......