63 - Aquatic Showdown
Long Road descended the stairs as an odd sound reached his ears. Following it, he peeked his head around the corner to see the stallion shopkeep was exchanging saliva with Sonata in a kiss without an end in sight. He flushed and glanced away, spotting Soft Mane watching with wide eyes. "What is she doing?" he asked towards the Soft as he approached her.
"Kissing," said Soft. "A lot."
"I can clearly see that, but why?" asked Long Road as his eyes looked everywhere but at the lip locked couple. "She isn't up to her old tricks, is she?"
"What? No, I mean, sort of, but I told her to," explained Soft as she held up her hands in a placating fashion. "I want to prove a point. You're lucky, I asked her to do it to you first."
Long Road jumped in place, "Me? Why on Everglow would you do that?" He glanced at the exchange, guiltily considering what it would be like to receive such a kiss from the comely, if manipulative, mare.
"You'll see," said Soft before she raised a hand. "Alright, that's enough kissing, Sonata, but you still haven't won."
Sonata pulled back from the stallion with an audible pop and turned at Soft with an angry noise, "Not won? I said I've have him in palm of my hoof and here he is."
Soft shook her head, "No dice." She held up a finger, "I said you had to get him. Getting a kiss is easy, but he doesn't like you."
Sonata looked baffled at this a moment before she turned back to the dizzy looking stallion, "Don't you like me?"
He nodded hesitantly, "Um, I suppose. I don't know you that well, but you're good at kissing."
Soft nodded, "Your magic can make him kiss you, but not love you." She crossed her arms over her chest. "If you want to make a real friend, you have to be nice, and learn about them."
"That sounds like a lot of work," complained Sonata, walking away from the stallion even as he stared at her. "Do I have to do that with every person?"
Soft extended a hand, "Every one, but it's worth it. You made one friend at least."
Sonata paused before slowly reaching a hoof of her own to rest on Soft's offered palm, where Soft grabbed it and shook gently. "We're friends?"
Soft nodded quickly, "Sure, you seem nice, if a little... funny. I like funny. Me and Pinkie Pie get along just fine, I'm sure we can too."
Sonata smiled and perked up, "It's good to have a friend—wait. Are you going to start bossing me around like the others? They said they were my friends before too."
Long Road interjected, "They were not your friends. You were using each other, and that is not friendship. Friends give, they do not take. I don't mean to be the wet towel over this, but if you used magic on that stallion, you should apologize to him."
Sonata glanced back at the innkeeper, "He doesn't look upset. He's smiling?" She raised a hoof along with her voice, "Hey, sorry about that!"
The innkeeper just nodded mutely, watching Sonata before he blinked, "Uh, no problem, miss."
Long Road gave a soft chuckle, "I will assume he's not married. Sonata, you have a great skill, but it can leave people broken inside to be forced to do what you want, even if it's fun at the time."
Sonata pouted at this, "I'll be careful, sheesh. I was just having a little fun. So when are we going to rescue Twilight?"
Spike's voice joined the conversation, "That's a good question. Sonata, we need your advice. They have powers like yours, how would you defeat... you?" He glided down the stairs and joined the group, looking rested.
Sonata went blank in expression for a moment before she gave a hmm, "Well, if you can't hear them, that will block a lot of it. It doesn't work on things without... thinking? Like machines." She gestured with her hooves a lot more than most ponies, showing her acclimation to having hands. "Um, like, you could attack from far away?" She moved over to get a drink, peering balefully at the pitcher before she stomped a hoof. "I won't." She stared at it witheringly until it began to shake in place then slowly raise from the table. She giggled in delight, though her concentration lapsed and the pitcher fell, splashing water wildly in the process, "Oops."
Pinkie Pie was abruptly there, grabbing the still half full pitcher in her mouth and pouring a glass quickly before setting it back where it came from, "There ya go."
Sonata jerked back in surprise, then smiled, "Thanks!"
Long Road nodded lightly, "Alright, well, I'm stubborn enough to give them pause. Spike, focus on strafing runs with that lightning of yours and never stay close to them. Pinkie, I know bards can counter this sort of thing? Do you know how?"
Pinkie got a blank expression, "Huh?"
Long Road shook his head, "Nevermind that, just support us. Soft, stay out of sight and only approach if things get dicey and you need to do what you do, then get away."
Pinkie slid up beside Sonata and wrapped a leg around her withers, "You and me, we're gonna play a song together."
"We are?" asked Sonata. At Pinkies enthusiastic bobbing she nodded back, "Well, ok!"
Long Road pointed to the door, "Let's get moving. Speed is the most important factor. If we take too long, there will be guards everywhere. To be clear, we must not harm the guards, or Twilight, even if they're trying to hurt us."
The group filed out of the hostel, leaving the stallion behind the counter as frazzled as he was at the start of the conversation. Pinkie Pie paused at the corner of the street, "They didn't get your good side at all."
Spike zipped over to see what she was looking at and saw papers posted with crude drawings of Spike and Swift Strike, "Wanted posters, great."
Pinkie smiled, "See, you're wanted."
"Not the kind of wanted I was hoping for," moped Spike, "Huh, it's just like that issue, where the good guys are framed by the villains. We'll clear our name!" Emboldened by the stories of heroism he was not living, Spike rushed ahead, into the stare of an imperial guard.
As Spike came to a screeching halt, Sonata walked up beside him, "Hey there. Isn't it a nice day? I hope you find something to do soon."
The officer nodded slowly, "I hope so too. Have a nice day." He wandered past, expression returned to a neutral boredom.
"Ok," said Spike, "That was kind of cool."
"What are friends for, right?" asked Sonata, offering a hoof. Spike met it with a fist, bumping.
Thankfully they didn't run into more curious guards on their way, soon standing at the wall surrounding the castle. Spike volunteered, "I can get us all over, one at a time."
Long Road frowned, "That's all well, but our retreating options will be very limited."
Sonata grinned alongside Pinkie as both said, "Then we win the first time."
Long Road sighed but did not further object. Spike ferried them up and over the wall one by one until the whole group was on the other side. They crept together until they arrived at a thicket of bushes. Soft Mane ducked into them, giving a thumbs up before they approached the pond directly. Pinkie Pie and Sonata broke off, and Spike lifted into the air. They could see two guards were already near the pond, looking for trouble.
Sonata rose up onto her hind legs along with Pinkie. "Hush now quiet now," started Pinkie
"It's time to rest your weary heads," said Sonata, the magic settling over the guards as they slumped in place, then curled up to sleep where they had been standing.
Two heads popped free of the waters. Adagio called out, "Sonata, is that you?"
Aria turned to face the former siren, "Enough playing, Sonata. If you come over right now, we'll put this behind us."
Sonata's tail twitched as she glanced around, "You won't be mean to me?"
Pinkie nudged her in the side gently, "Don't let them fool you, Sonata. When have they ever been nice to you?"
Long Road stopped at the water's edge, "In the name of good, surrender yourself and you will be given proper chance at redemption."
Aria gave Long Road a flat stare, "Seriously?"
Adagio splashed water at him, "As if. Why don't you just take a bath." Her words were heavy with magic, and Long Road shuddered as he fought against it. He took a step into the water before he forced himself back.
"No, I don't think I will. Do you surrender?" demanded Long Road.
Pinkie burst into song, which Sonata supported with a flash of blue light that clung to Long Road, Pinkie, and the others.
Aria peered at Adagio, "What's the plan, glorious leader?" Her tone dripped with accusing sarcasm.
Adagio snorted, "It hasn't changed. Call the guards and let them deal with it." She dropped back beneath the waves. Spike came in quickly, bathing the two in electricity. Aria screeched in pain and bubbles came up from where Adagio had vanished to.
"Stupid dragon!" shouted Aria, "Why don't you come down here and fight fair!" Spike's ascent paused and he looped around to splash into the water beside her, "No, wait, I didn't mean actually fight!" she yelped as she flailed her hooves at the dragon in a futile effort to keep him away. Fortunately for her, she was much more agile in the pond than the dragon was, but this didn't stop her from catching the occasional painful swipe of the dragon's sharp talons.
"Bring her to the side," shouted Long Road, circling to keep the two of them as close as possible and waiting for the chance to strike.
Suddenly Spike went still, eyes drooping before he sank into the pond. Replacing him was a smug looking Adagio, "I don't see guards coming, Aria."
"Gee, it's like I was being mauled by a dragon or something," retorted Aria before she let loose the haunting melody that would summon help to their side.
Sonata trembled with indecision. Pinkie gently squeezed her, "You can do it." Sonata smiled at the support, then stepped forward.
"Aria!" she called.
Aria spun to look at Sonata, "What?"
"You are the worst!" she shouted, stomping a hoof.
"Is that the..." she slowed as she spoke, then froze, sinking much like Spike had.
Adagio scowled at Sonata "Two can play that game. Why don't you take a little nap?"
Sonata's eyes drifted shut as she sank to the ground, finding the idea of sleeping irresistible. At least there was a pink pillow available. She snuggled into its warmth and was soon out.
There was a splash in the water as Long Road dove in. He swam inarticulately, but his armor pulled him down. This was just as well, as down was where he wanted to go. He grabbed the unconscious Spike when he came into reach with his mouth and gave the dragon a good shaking, waking him up with a start. The water logged dragon went wide eyed, scrambling his way to the surface to flop out on the edge of the pond, sputtering and coughing up water.
Soft Mane hurried from her hiding place after Adagio went underwater to deal with Long Road. Soft reached the sleeping forms of Pinkie Pie and Sonata and shook the former siren first, "Come on!" She was quickly moving to nudge Pinkie awake next, "There's no time for sleeping!"
Adagio reached Long Road in the water with a loud growl and darted forward to sink sharp teeth into the donkey. Long Road grimaced but grasped his sword in his mouth and swung it into the scaled flesh of Adagio. Their blood mixed in the water as they fought fiercely, though only one of them could breathe.
As the two recovered from their nap, Soft Mane was already rushing for Spike's prone form. He wasn't underwater, but he wasn't moving either. Just as she reached his side, the surface broke with a recovered Aria. "Who are you? I don't care, buzz off." the last word rang out loudly in Soft Mane's ears and she went down like a sack of bricks, hands clutched over her ears.
A loud bang erupted. Aria twisted to see the pink one was beside a large cannon. She caught the glitter it had fired in her face and grunted in annoyance as everything went dark for her. "Adagio, where are you?"
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I think you forgot a word there.
5544286 I did, or Sonata did?
She totally would have won that bet if she'd taken Charm Person.
If ever there would've been a good time for protection from evil... Or maybe chaos. Eh, they probably didn't have the hour Long Road would need to prepare any, and characters in a narrative aren't going to take the optimal action if it leads to a more exciting story.
In any case, a thrilling mind-control fight. Given that Pinkie's something of a unique case, it makes sense that she wouldn't know countersong (you know, aside from it being replaced in her archetype.) That's the kind of thing that develops as... well, a countermeasure. Kind of right there in the name. Of course, she distracts quite capably, but that comes naturally to her.
Of course, in all the ruckus, the question of what's happened to Twilight comes to mind. And those guards seem awfully slow in coming...
Interesting typo to discuss:
Sonata's subject change is too abrupt for a comma. You need an em dash. No, not Rainbow Dash's aunt, something like "It's good to have a friend—wait."
Looking forward to more.
5544863 Protection from evil would only have stopped Spike from leaping into the water and attacking, and Long Road's almost failure to enter. They don't stop holding effects, or sleep, only the ability to issue fancy instructions. Still, +2 bonus! Long Road, start thinking tactically!
Pinkie Pie traded away counter song for her archetype ages ago, long before anyone suggested the sirens show up. It's just another case of things working out delightfully for maximum drama.
We've broken the typo free of its mind control and restored it to good order!
Where Twilight is hiding is a good question, however.
"doesn't work" I assume.
If he knows, then it's not a question.
Breathe.
5825618 Fixed!
I was worried Spike or Long Road would suffocate underwater, then I remembered this is set to pathfinder rules, so they have a few hours.
5849411 Hrm, closer to a minute or two?
I guess thats planed? Since it was pionted out two times by now and you didnt fixed it yet. Which makes me pointing it out again look stupid. Oh, well.
sword in his mouth and swung it into - that sounds better I think.
I'm probably misunderstanding something since I know practically nothing about pathfinder, but aren't dragons immune to sleep.
6297594 That is correct.
6298042 I imagine this was something different. He can't breathe water after all.
Okay.. still going at it, mostly just, nothing much to say that isn't more of the same "Good overall, great worldbuilding, but ye gods is it rushed and needing time to flesh stuff out and let emotions develop more." A few really odd things, are the way it's written it seems like the train trip to Viljatown took only a few hours, they board in the morning, and then it says they arrive in mid afternoon, nothing says that is not the same day. Soft Mane's introduction was fun and LOVE bringing in the concept of Satyrs though that whole "You said something nice to my filly, have a reward, felt way to contrived and.. to much like Spike just choose the right dialog options in a quest. Far to quick.
But like I said, main issue overall, did LOVE the Dungeon of Love, few things I wish I had done in my groups run through it, and a lot of things rather similar. At least you have the ability to control all your PC's, so no having them ruin plans for some tests by finding a way around them because.. they are PC's ruining a GM's plans is what they do. The 'death' scene, really just.. did not work, had no fear no worry to it, one, because I really did not believe for a moment you'd kill Spike, so knew it was likely they'd be revived by the power of Lashtada returning. 2. it's a Pathfinder world... death is meaningless to adventurers of their level unless it's over done and handled in a way to ensure they can't just be raised back up the moment you find a decent level cleric or druid. So "Death" is hard to pull off dramatically unless you go out of your way to hammer home they will not be able to just drag them to a temple and get them revived. Worst case, just lop off a finger of something and find a High Priest or something to cast Resurrection. Yes Twi does not realize how easy it is, but she can learn quick.
The bigger issue I do kind of want to point out that just.. really did not work well is Twi's whole insistence on staying till they can get Spike home as he is now. Now, the IDEA works great, Twilight wanting Spike to keep all he's learned, to be able to have that body, that power, to be more useful and like who he is. That is brilliant and.. yeah love that. Even her being willing to stay in Everglow till they can do that, again it works and is great, touching and in character. The issue is the execution, it's all rather meaningless the way it happens. So what she wants to stay till they can find a way to Plane Shift back to Equestria.. that is not a sacrifice in the least, given at the moment, that could very well be their ONLY way home. How is it emotional, or some big gesture on her part to do this, when it's what she'd be doing normally anyway? The sentiments great but.. really falls kind of flat because of that.
What would have worked SO much better, is if Celestia had told Twilight they have found a way to bring her back, they had figured out the spell she used, make it clear that, if she wanted, Twilight and Spike could return home that very day. Make it be a CHOICE to stay, rather then, well what they'd be doing anyway. It would give her decision far more weight and power to have the option to go home, but to stay for Spikes sake and find another way. And also makes Spikes sudden issues make more sense and have more reason to be brought up now. Just, without that impetuous the whole thing just.. while a great character moment, falls flat and fails to be as truly powerful as something that good deserves. Also the fridge logic of how the hell Twilight learned of a means they could use to get home and did not immediate start working on it and telling Spike she found a possible way to do it.
Oh and Sonata..... holy sweet Sheila was that rushed, and comes far to much of the "Sonata is the 'good' one" cliche. She was not 'good' she wa just as eager to be a controlling bitch and revel in being evil as the rest, she was just an idiot on top of that. She was firmly Evil. Now, I can see this path working, resentment of the other two, finding she just wants to live here.. do her own thing.. again the idea could work but the execution is so rushed t feels impossible to buy this is happening naturally. ALSO.. how does she not have Charm Person on her spell list?
Oh one final complaint.. more a continuity issue this time.. I do not recall the Dazzling's ever meeting Spike, or even directly interacting with any of the Rainbooms beyond Sunset. Hell if anyone it's Sunset they should be blaming for this, not Twilight. And I do not think at any point they even heard Spike's name, let alone hear him talk to recognize the voice. So, acting like they know so much about these two really.. does not make a lot of sense given how little interaction they had in the movie.
But, again, those are... laces that I just can't help but feel the story could relly have used help and want to point out just for feedback. On the whole, still loving the story and it has a LOT of great stuff to it. Oh one more
All the 'they broke the law" and what not for doing what they did..... how does this place not have an SOP for dealing with mind controlled guards? Seems like the kind of base level situation you'd have plans for in this type of world. But still, LOVE the world building, the story as a whole, it does a lot of great stuff but, just, rushes through things so fat it, feels underwhelming compared to what it's clear it could be if it wasn't taking shortcuts and hurrying along so fast.....
7516049 One part of your review bothers me. I really don't care what someone else who is not the characters think. If the character thinks death is death, than it is death. To say nothing of the fact that, even in the most gamiest of games, if they all die, well, they're gone. No one's left to haul asses back to the temple.
I don't write 'for' people. I write from the view of those living it, and their opinion matters, not mine or someone elses.
That first song Pinkie and Sonata sang, I thought it would be a full song! The notes are even ringing in my ears.
Soft Mane, you owe Sonata 50gp.
I wonder how much damage Pinkie's party cannon could do. Or maybe Aria simply is vulnerable to glitter damage!
7574297 If it helps, her canon was a re-flavored glitterdust.
Pinkie has arms again?
8078308 You are a fine hunter of vintage typos! I even found another lurking nearby.
*looks at Spike's character sheet*
Defense
--------------------
AC 22, touch 13, flat-footed 21 (+2 deflection, +1 Dex, +9 natural)
hp 85 (9 HD; 1d10+8d12+27)
Fort +12, Ref +11, Will +9
Immune electricity, paralysis, sleep
How'd they knock him out?
10822153
Ikr.