We'll Need A Bigger Lounge Sphere
Booster Spice's goggled face jerked towards the communications console inside Whizzball.
“Scrkkk! We found the K—Scrkkkkk—the Noble Jury to re—Scrkkkkk—enough space in the Lounge—Scrkkk!”
“Eagle Eye?” Booster slapped the console. “EE!” The communications feed fizzled out. The stallion gnashed his teeth. “Blast it!” He gripped the controls again, grumbling. “It's getting worse!”
Outside, through the dashboard, he saw rampant bolts of electrical energy dancing all over the peaks of the skystone shards.
“If I don't pick them up soon, we'll all be trapped here.” He took a shuddering breath. “This really should have been a job for the Noble Jury.”
Nevertheless, steeling himself, he swung the transport around and headed for the location of the cave's front entrance.
“Guess it's do or die,” he muttered to himself. “God help us...”
“Booster?” Eagle shook and slapped his sound stone. “Hello, Booster?!” His lavender face scrunched up. He turned to gawk at Josho. “I can't get through to him!”
“Must be the skystone going apeshit,” Josho grumbled. “We'll be lucky if we get back to the surface in one piece.”
“How are we even going to fit everypony into Whizzball now?!” Eagle exclaimed.
“One thing at a time, Princess.”
“Princess?” stuttered Queen Azira, shivering in the forelimbs of her mate.
“Erm...” Josho waddled over. “Just being figurative, Your Majesty.” He did his best to bow without rolling over. “The only tiara he's ever owned was bought in a giant floating flea market in the sky.”
Eagle Eye frowned. “I did no such thing at Gray Smoke!” He nevertheless glanced down at his fidgeting hooves. “They were being sold at fifty bits apiece...”
“Answer me this,” King Lunarius said with a frown. “Who in God's name are you?”
“Don't fret, Your Deerness,” Josho half-belched. “We're not extortionists or mercenaries. Well, sunshine over there used to be one. A mercenary, I mean. But don't worry. He only killed ponies who deserved it.”
“Old stallion...” Eagle wheezed. “That's not helping things.”
“Well, excuse me!” Josho shrugged. “If Rainbow Dash had truly figured out who was being stashed away here, then maybe she would have sent somepony with better speaking skills!”
“Rainbow... Dash...?” Azira blinked.
“Your Highness...” Eagle Eye trotted over, bowing low. “My uncouth friend and I are members of the Noble Jury. We're a group of travelers and adventurers from the continent west of the Great Wastes. We don't seek profit or political power—but rather harmony for every pony and deer.” He took a deep breath. “We came here because we've all been on a mission to uncover a conspiracy in Val Roa. You two have been presumed dead, and we fear that tomorrow—the day of your son, Prince Eine's Coronation—a group of deer will be attempting to shift the balance of power in your kingdom.”
“Sharp Quill...” Lunarius frowned. “That traitorous bastard is responsible for this. Isn't he?”
Josho squinted. “How do you figure?”
“He's in league with a monster of the most hideous design,” Lunarius said. “A creature who dug up this lair in the heart of the earth! With Sharp Quill's aid, this monster has sent its... its demons to guard us and keep us here as prisoners! I simply cannot believe that after decades of loyal service he has decided that this was somehow the swiftest course to glory!” The King seethed. “And now he seeks to threaten our son?”
“About this monster...” Josho squinted. “Have you ever seen her?”
“Her?”
“Er... or it.”
“I... I'm afraid I haven't,” Lunarius said. “But its presence is undeniable. Sharp Quill has utilized its accursed black magic. And he's kept us here to... practice it on us.”
“In what way?” Eagle asked.
“He's visited us,” Azira added, gulping. “Multiple times. And when he does, he... performs a spell.” She shuddered. “A most painful... excruciating spell.” The doe clenched her eyes shut. “And every t-time he does so, I have these t-terrible visions of my precious Einey. Oh, the poor fawn... he needs his mother at a t-time like this!”
Eagle Eye and Josho exchanged glances.
“Why would Chrysalis keep the King and Queen alive?” Eagle Eye remarked.
“She feeds off of emotions n'crap, right?” Josho muttered. “Maybe keeping them here is what allows her to get an edge over the Prince.”
“Through Sharp Quill?” Eagle Eye tilted his head aside. “What about Saikano and Fishberry?”
“Did I hear you speak of the General and the Chancellor of the High Council?” Lunarius remarked.
“Uhhhhhh—” Eagle Eye shifted.
“I hate to break it to ya, King.” Josho nodded. “But Sharp Quill ain't acting alone. He's got Saikano and Fishberry in cahoots.”
Lunarius nodded, his antlers glowing faintly. “Then it is as I feared. A complete coup.” He spat. “And they're using my son as a device in their traitorous machinations!”
“Your Majesty,” Eagle Eye spoke. “We're familiar with this monster that placed you and the Queen here. We kinda understand a little bit how she works. But we must admit... it's a bit confusing how or why she's decided to keep you two trapped in this place.” Eagle Eye gestured to the walls. “Especially since she's made it so easy for us to find you and get you out—”
Just as he said this, a shrill screeching noise emanated from the far end of the cave.
Azira gasped, immediately shrinking deeper into Lunarius' embrace. “The guardians! They're waking!”
“Uhhhh...” Josho leaned forward. “Who?”
Sparks danced suddenly between the skystone nodes that dotted the ceiling.
“Tell me, mercenaries of the Noble Jury.” Lunarius' eyes narrowed. “How many of you are here to rescue us?”
“Uhhhh... well, there's us two, and then our buddy outside in a hovercraft.”
Lunarius took a deep breath, his ears twitching as more high-pitched shrieks picked up in the distance. “That is most unfortunate. You really should have brought an army.”
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hmm
was wondering when the changeling killing thingies were gunna show up
also, the conversations between Josho and EE are beautiful, and when you add more?
Oh goddess i'm dying (of laughter)
That settles it. I prefer shopping with Rarity.
Sorry, Roarke was busy.
Now, what's this about visitation hours from SQ? I wonder what spell he kept casting.
Hopefully Booster can pull off a last-minute save.
Azira... 'Einey' is not a baby anymore. He's growing up faster than you'd think. Cave exploring with a princess, remember?
Surely Josho can teleport them out, right?
Right?
5401029 Hush, ye traitorous bastard!
[youtube=N0W9kg9ElUk]
Dammit dammit dammit!
EE and Josho are so screwed, aren't they?
Uhoh. Thngs are getting very messy, and Im wondering just what there is that ate all teh changelings, unless they were food to build the army ants.
Im still remembering the quote, cause a cascade failiure resulting in the total cessetion of all organic life in a 400 yard (?) radius, and that Josho really doesnt want to teleport round there due to not arriving all in the same place, all at the same time.
Now he is looking at 24 hour flight in MC Eschers own Croquet ball?
Stop. Hammer Time.
5401038
Yeah, I remember EE mentioning that Metal-Mares could take on a Battalion alone, but that would have meant sending Josho and EE on a stealth mission, which would have gone worse than Roarkes.
Let's see what horrors are acting as guards, any bets? Established fantasy creatures or original creations of IC?
I say established.
I don't see how it could be anything other than changelings or some kind of abomination from the Dark Side (and all the dead changelings, paradoxically, incline me toward the latter). I've had the theory for a little bit now that there might be another route to the Dark Side, like a tunnel cutting through the Machine World or around the edge. And this seems as likely a place as any, assuming that's true.
(Such a passage to the Dark Side would also allow the Noble Jury to cross; though, that's probably just wishful thinking on my part. It sounds entirely too convenient.)
There's also a chance it's some of the chaos bat thingies, but I dunno if that's likely.
Either way, apparently dire situation is apparently dire. Now would be a sexy time for avuncular reinforcements.
Do I detect a... ZERG RUSH
img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100916100946/starcraft/images/1/18/Zergling_SC2_CineCardToPlay1.jpg
(I wish them the best of luck...)
Time to run very fast!
Be it trolls (the kind from End of Ponies) or owlbears (they used to be common in older FiM fanfics), they will solve the problem with the limited space in the transport.
Please don't be the fucking Smooze. I don't think I could handle that at this point.
Y'all need to keep miniguns on ya.
I have yet seen a monster outsmart several hundred pounds of boolet.
If that isn't enough, a few more hundred pounds of boolet.
Pfft. No you don't. Just solve this problem like you would in real life: lap seats.
Azira can sit in Lunarius' lap (or vice versa, if she wears the pants in the family)...
...and Eagle Eye can sit in Josho's!
I'm certain there will be no protest with this arrangement.
Well poop. They ain't outta the cave yet.
Well, by the looks of things, somebody's not going to make it back to the Jury, because there's no way they're fitting three ponies and two deer in the Lounge sphere.
24
Well.... escape sequence go!
Oooh boy, what could they be?
5401923 Actually not a bad suggestion. Would make for an excellent comedy scene, with very awkward discussions.
"...Josho?"
"Yeah, Princess?"
"You're, uhm... poking me."
"Not much I can do about it."
5403086 "Your fault for being a princess, Princess."
Meanwhile King Lunarius and Queen Azira are staring in horror.
5403179 Probably trying very hard not to stare. IDK what Booster's reaction will be...
5403435 "So wait, you two AREN'T brother and sister?"
5401271
I'm betting on it being whatever killed the changelings. And since it left their bodies mostly intact and didn't eat them, maybe some sort of gorgon-esque creature?
5403503 "How DARE you imply that...! We have a son together!"
"Meh, all you deer look the same to me."
5403553 Let's shorten this a bit:
i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/641/906/ade.png
The End.
What the freak is more dangerous than changlelings?!
Or a Roarke.
5401104 No teleporting with all of this mana-charged skystone screwing with the leylines, I'm afraid. It's a miracle that Whizzball is still operational as it is.
5401029
That sounds splendid. This Chancellor business does not appear to be working out very well at this juncture.
I do not imagine I have had the foresight to plan a proper exit strategy, should things go awry.
Things look bad for Fishberry.
And now, a sneak-peek at the next chapter.
5403706 no
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck
EE, magic shield around the group, Josho shoot forward and clear a path
then run
fucking run
To quote gandalf: Fly you fools!
Hey, at least there will be enough room in Whizzball again!
Good thing EE and Josho are an army by them selfs
I have no excuse for my extended absence, but I am back and ready to catch up on this epic story. Much props to you IC it seems your will to write is indomitable.
...
-Spirit
What Eldrich abomination are we going to face next?
Army? This is the noble jury. 2 is overkill.
This is the running part now, yes? Yes.
Faster. Must go faster.
6083303
orig07.deviantart.net/8c35/f/2009/289/9/c/overkill_by_zylo_the_wolfbane.jpg
Well okay maybe EE will have to join Eine in therapy after this
6537878
There's really an outrageous amount of running involved.
I am so glad I get to read this when it’s all (at least this story) done. If I had to wait a day for every new chapter, I’m sure I’d go insane.
Wouldn't be a Rainbow Dash style cave without monsters now would it?
10/14/2019
00:11 UTC
....aw crap.
I would prefer our local Iron Mare Amazon, but these 2 will do.