Special Intro:
BrownDog’s Comment
TheRutherford’s Comment
ErisedtheInkMoth’s Comment
Kersey’s Comment
ThePonySpartan’s Comment
After the three Changelings mock and claim how you all are going to be food for them,
Rutherford speaks up and asks,
“So what you’re saying is that you’ve all been bucking with us since the beginning? Was none of it real? Was Flag Burner a changeling too?"
"No, he was just an Earth Pony," the changeling guard responds.
"Although he did have the drive and rage to make a good officer," another comments.
"He was indeed the original founder of your little club by himself, but unlike you idiots, he had sharp and ruthless senses. We probably couldn’t have pulled this off if he were still alive.”
"Quite so, but after his fall at the hooves of the Hooded Offender, we were free to flood your pitiful little fan club with more “followers.”
"Especially when we got the order from the Queen herself through her... promoted super-officers."
“Of course that B!%$# did,” Erised growls, causing the other three to hiss. While they do, Rutherford continues asking questions.
"So, you Hydra'd our group, so that you could manipulate us to cause some trouble for the Equestrian government, organized a prison transfer so you could get all of us here and closer to your hive, and trapped every living thing in this train and adjacent town so you can assimilate us into your hive to bolster your forces?"
"Correct."
Rutherford turns to Solarkness and whispers
"Hey Sol, is our little project ready?"
"For you and Rebl yes," answers the Timberwolf.
"That will have to do…" he mutters while the Changelings continue to speak.
“You’re all pathetic you know that? We all let you play your little games, but at some point you have to wonder why any of you would be allowed such freedom. You all did work rather nicely together in the beginning though, so that’s why we had you all separated.”
“Separated? But we didn’t separate until after the Zeppelin Crash,” Snap Drake points out.
“Yeah, the one we thought Spartan died in,” Kichi adds.
“Exactly,” the Changelings say with a toothy smile.
Changer suddenly perks up at that,
“Did you all have something to do with that crash?”
They smugly smile and say,
“But of course little emo git You all were a little too chummy, we felt a little accident would make you all separate, and it did. It made you run off to your little sorcery with hatred in your heart.”
He growls at that, as do many of the other knights.
“So…you’re the reason we all thought our friend was dead?” Brown Dog asks with heat in his voice.
“Oh what does it matter? You’re all going to be assimilated either way, and there’s nothing you can do with those magic inhibiting shackles on.”
Rutherford then nods to Solar and Grey Rebl.
“Yeah, well here’s the thing,” Rutherford starts to say, but is interrupted by a metallic,
SNAP
The Brown Dog, snaps his wrist bonds and ensnares one of the changelings by the throat to the surprise of everyone.
“Some of us rely on brute strength FlankHole!” he growls with his teeth showing as he punches the Changeling right in the face, knocking him out.
Before the Changelings have a chance to recover from their surprised stupor, the shackles on Grey Rebl and Rutherford’s wrists are removed and they rush forth and get ahold of the other two.
Rutherford, since he can’t bite or slice yet with his mask and gloves, slams his changeling into the roof and ground multiple times, while growling,
“Noling Bucks with one of our own!”
Grey Rebl delights in breaking his Changeling’s wings,
“And I just hate your filthy face!” he yells before back kicking him in the jaw.
The three of them then turn to the rest of the surprised Knights.
There is a moment of silence, before Changer asks the million dollar question.
"Okay, What just happened?"
Rutherford then speaks up,
"A modified version of the escape plan Sol and I have been working on since the bounty hunter beat us."
As Rutherford says this, the Knights look to see that Grey and Rutherford’s wrist shackles have bits of wood in the key holes.
"Sure he couldn’t use magic, but all he needed was a few bits of wood to whittle into the right shape. Haven't any of you wondered why Solarkness was barely moving the entire ride?”
They then look to the Timberwolf who says,
“I only had time for the two though, and I don’t think now’s a good time to be making more.”
“Only two? Then how’d Brown Dog get out?” asks Snap Drake.
“I don’t know, he wasn’t even a part of the plan. How long could you have broken those shackles?” asks Solarkness to the Diamond Dog.
“I don’t know, I was just kind of hanging out. Didn’t know I could till those bugs starting mouthing off and pissed me off. You heard what they said about Spartan.” Brown Dog growls.
"While I'm happy that you care, you remind me that I was weak back then. Instead, let's remind ourselves to obliterate the hive!" Changer yells in anger and determination.
“Yeah, no spit. But seriously, why did you getting pissed make a difference?” asks Grey.
“Dude, you ever seen my freaking forearms? Diamond Dogs can dig through compacted earth and rock no problem. Just because I’m a lazy, alcoholic drug fiend doesn’t mean I can’t lift,” he declares as he bites Rutherford’s restraining mask off making the Wyvern happily rotate his jaw. Rutherford then proceeds to bite his soft gloves, freeing his claws.
“Well, nice improvisation I suppose,” Rutherford declares.
“Stupid bucking Changelings…no offense guys,” Brown says looking to Kichi, Candy, Silver and Erised.
“Eh, some taken,” Candy responds.
“Hey Brown, you gonna be Okay?” asks Snap Drake as he sees the angry glare behind his shades.
“I will be after I get a few dozen drinks in me, but that will have to wait. Right now, we gotta get through this bullspit!”
Brown Dog, Rutherford, and Solarkness then break the chains on the others, but the inhibitors still remain.
“Okay, since most of us are still shackled and we don’t have time to make new ones, we need to keys, or some tools to get them off so our magic friends can let loose. Rutherford, Grey, Solarkness and I are brute strength, so we’ll cover you until we can get them off you. Finding tools and keys is priority, but also we need a steady supply of wood so that Solarkness can go all out. Kichi, Candy and Silver, put something on to distinguish yourselves from the other changelings. Erised is pale enough to distinguish, but he’s still weak, so someone wheel him and cover him. I say we find a building or enclosure that we can defend after we can all fight. I’m personally heading to whatever taverns that might be in this town. If we stick together, we might survive this.”
They all look at Brown Dog in confusion after this rapid fire plan exposition.
“What?” he asks obliviously.
“Since when were you the guy that gives orders and gives a buck?” asks Kichi in surprise.
"Yeah, did Tartarus freeze over?" asks Solarkness.
“Hey, I'm at a very emotional crossroads here, so I’m just as confused as you guys. But some jaggoffs told me they nearly killed my friend and played us like fiddles all this time. I ain’t no one’s Bitch!” he answers which doesn’t even remotely explain anything, but they shrug at this not really having any other ideas.
As they all start readying themselves for the plan, Brown Dog notices Erised wriggling around on his bed.
"Yo Ink-Moth, you alright over there, edgelord?"
"How dare they?" Erised says through clenched fangs, "No one puppeteers the puppet master! I swear I'm going to end them slowly, that arrogant Queen and her whole wretched hive! I'm going to make their brains dribble out their eye-holes like snot!"
"Not that that doesn't sound really... you. But you're still weak as a wet noodle and strapped to a gurney," The diamond dog points out.
Erised lets out a strained sigh.
"You're right... Hey you," he calls over to Candy, "you're my legs now, Sugarlips."
"Excuse me?!" Candy says, looking indignant, "What did you just call-“
"You heard me, now get pushing. There's vermin to be crushed."
She gives an indignant look to the older changeling as she walks up to him and slaps him in the face.
“Ah! Why you insolent little-”
“Learn some manners you cantankerous old buck. I’ll push you, but you could have asked nicely!” she declares as she gets behind his head.
“Note to self, don’t piss off female changelings,” Snap Drake chuckles.
“Alright, so if that’s taken care of. What do we do now? How do we even get off this train car? They open from the outside?” asks the Wyvern to the Diamond Dog.
“And what about tubby?” Grey Rebl adds pointing to Kersey on his bed. “His bed got damaged in the emergency stop.
“I will answer both of your questions. He’s our main weapon,” Brown Dog says as he goes to his bed side and unshackles him.
“Main weapon?” asks Silver.
On the outside of the car, a few Changelings hear grunts of effort. Curious, they go to unlock the door, when all of a sudden they are all blasted back as the doors slam open into them as Kersey’s unconscious body is thrown through the door.
Inside, Brown Dog and Rutherford are panting after having thrown Kersey.
“You guys could have helped,” Rutherford complains.
“Tartarus no, I ain’t touching his dirty flesh,” Grey gags as the rest of them shudder.
“Alright, let’s find a guard with keys and then let’s take the hurt to these Buckers,” Changer declares.
“That’s the spirit Spartan!” Brown and Snap Drake cheer.
“It’s no-You know what, buck it, I don't care. Let’s just kick some flank!”
They all then rush out…only to immediately take in the scenario of the giant dome around the town, how they’re in the middle of the desert, and a bunch of Ponies wearing cowboy hats are running around.
“This severely limits my wood intake,” Solarkness growls.
“There’s Apple Trees in the distance,” Kichi points out.
“Yes, but are there any guards with keys from the train around?” asks Erised.
They all then spot some guards running with some civilians in town.
“That way! Roll Tubby and keep behind him for safety!” Grey shouts as they all (except for he himself) start rolling Kersey while taking cover behind him.
Fireheart1945’s Comment
In town, there are a few guards from the train shouting orders as they try to defend the town ponies.
“Protect the Citizens!” shouts one of the unicorns.
“But sir, what about the priso-“
“These ARE our prisoners! We brought them here! Keep fighting!” the Guard leader declares.
He then sends out a blast that knocks a Changeling off of a mare and she runs off.
“Sir, there’s way too many. What are we going to…” the guard is cut off as he hears…singing.
Both the guards, and some changelings look to the source and pause in confusion by what they see.
Kersey’s Comment
Brown Dog and Snap Drake standing atop Kersey’s unconscious body, rolling him like a barrel as they run down any changeling in their way while the other knights huddle behind them.
As the little group of guards regain their wits, they blast their still confused changelings.
“Sir, were those our-”
“Yes, those are our other prisoners. And right now, they got a handle on things. Follow that barrel race!”
As the knights continue to roll themselves through the mayhem, Erised declares,
“This is bucking stupid.”
“Yeah, but it’s working surprisingly enough,” Rutherford answers as he side punches a Changeling that tries to divebomb him.
“But why are we singing and drawing attention to ourselves?” asks Solarkness.
“Because it will keep them off the innocent town ponies,” Changer declares.
“Do they really need our help? Some of them seem fine,” points out Silver.
DWC’s Comment
You all see that several of the towns ponies, and even a group of Buffalo are fighting off the Changelings…With Pies. The pies don’t exactly…hurt the changelings, but they slow them down enough for anyone not armed to make a run for it.
“Pies? Seriously? Where’s the boiling oil or corrosive acid?!” shouts Grey Rebl.
While the citizens…momentarily defend themselves, the Knights continue to make their journey, looking for a defendable position.
ThePonySpartan’s Comment
As the changelings continue to attack, the heavy hitters mostly swat them away, but then one sneaky Changeling tries to pounce on Candy from the back as she pushes Erised’s bed.
Before the blow lands, Changer’s right hoof and blocks the punch before punching the Changeling away.
“Heh, I thought we weren’t your “Friends” Erised insinuates.
"I may be brutal, but even I don't harm innocent mares when I don't need to."
“Didn’t you tell us that you tormented the Element of Kindness and some kids for like no reason?” points out Snap Drake. Changer freezes as he completely forgot about that innocent.
“Okay fine, but at least I didn’t sucker punch them!” he shouts back.
"Well, regardless, thanks for the save" Candy thanks while blushing.
"For both of our sake's forget about it and keep rolling the Moth."
"Oh don’t get all flustered over that traitor!" Kichi yells noticing Candy as he fends off another changeling.
“What?” asks Candy in surprise.
At this, Silver Strange gives Changer a dirty look for some reason.
“Spartan, stop trying to cause romantic drama, there’ll be time for that later!” Brown Dog shouts over his shoulder causing said pony to just roll his eyes.
“Um, guys, I think we picked up hitchhikers,” says Solarkness.
Looking back, they all see that several panicked towns ponies, and even a few Buffalo are trotting along with the group, trying to hide behind Kersey’s rolling path clearer.
“Hey it’s a free country,” Snap Drake chuckles.
Eventually, the group does come across what they seek.
SnapDrakeGames’s Comment
Kichi’s Comment
Kersey’s Comment
ThePonySpartan’s Comment
Rutherford glances around, and points to a mid-sized building, a wooden tavern with saloon-style doors.
"That might work as a defendable position," he suggests. Brown Dog nods, and they roll Kersey towards it.
The knights with their tag alongs burst through the door and find that the interior is already crawling with Changelings, but then again, everywhere in this city is crawling with Changelings.
These ones go out pretty quickly, as Brown and Snap Drake roll Kersey into a cluster of them, knocking them back like bowling pins. Solarkness and Grey both leap forwards and make short work of the rest, before they are thrown out the bar.
"Alright," Brown Dog speaks up. "Resources, people, let's gather them and get ready for a siege. Rutherford, help me push Kersey so we can block off the door. Sol, these tables are all wood. You can use that right? Grey, this is a tavern, they're bound to have some heavy duty cleaning equipment. You folks help my buddies board up the windows,”
As the Knights and citizens listen to the commands of the Diamond Dog, Snap Drake just stares at his friend in awe.
Here's my pal, loafer extraordinaire and number one drinking buddy, taking charge of the situation like a total boss…he thinks.
He'd never have imagined Brown Dog to be even capable of something like this, but watching it unfold before his eyes, he can't help but be impressed.
Where does that leave me though? Brown’s at an emotional crossroads. If we get out of this will he be a more moral person and everything? Will I just be left behind?
“Silver!” Brown speaks up. “Get me and Snap a bottle of something good! I ain’t had a drop in months!” The changeling then does as he’s commanded and Snap Drake smiles.
Okay, that’s a relief.
The relief is short lived as several other changelings begin trying to get in through the windows, attempting to break what few barricades have been set up.
"It's like Nazi Zomponies in here!" Kichi comments punching one changeling in the horn when he tries to get in.
"Except it's round one bucking hundred!" Changer yells, remembering his free time playing Call of Duty with Kichi when they were once friends.
"Candy, Kichi, Silver, can you make some of that slime stuff to block off the windows?" Rutherford asks.
"We could, but I don't think it could do much, it’s more like glue or jelly than something solid,” Kichi explains.
“Well use it to reinforce the boards we’re all nailing up,” Solarkness adds.
The trio nods and goes about doing that as the rescued citizens help board up the windows as they smack any changeling that tries to get in.
After awhile, all the windows and the doorway get boarded up.
"That won't hold forever," Brown Dog notes. "There are other ways in. The chimney, maybe a back door somewhere. We block those and they'll probably just start breaking through the walls."
"Maybe, then, this wasn't the best place to hole up," Rutherford says. "Though I don't know where else we could go..."
"Ooh!" Snap Drake pipes up, spotting an opportunity for personal growth. "What about, like, a well? We could hide at the bottom of a well. And since the entrance is so narrow, we could bottleneck the Changelings.
Rutherford looks at Brown Dog. Brown Dog looks at Rutherford.
"No," Rutherford says, "that's a bad idea."
"It's not bad," Brown Dog says, "It's just..."
"It's a bad idea."
"Yeah."
Snap Drake slumps into a remaining booth, disappointed. Brown Dog continues,
"We're doing pretty alright here. If we double down, hopefully we'll be totally fine and this whole thing will blow over."
"This is hardly an adequate place to hold a stand, especially when more than half of us are still handicapped" Rutherford argues. "We need to find a more practical way to defend it."
"I dunno," Silver Strange interjects, "it seems pretty nice. Lots of wine, real wood stove, probably a pantry full of real nice food somewhere."
"...Real wood stove..." Snap mutters. He gets a crazy idea.
"Bottles!" He leaps behind the bar and finds the recycling bin full of empty liquor bottles. He grabs a few and lays them on the table.
"Fuel!" he turns again towards the wood stove and grabs the bucket of lighter fluid lying next to it. He makes for the liquor bottles and starts filling them up with fuel.
"Uh, uh, tablecloths!" He leaps over the bar again and starts tearing tablecloths into thin strips, Brown Dog and Rutherford smirk, finally catching onto his train of thought.
"And now, they all come together," Snap grins as he soaks a tablecloth strip in fuel, sticks it in a bottle, and plunges the cork in.
"Someone give me a light? No, wait, matches by the stove!" He snags a few matches and strikes them against the counter top. He lights the tablecloth of one bottle, turns towards the front door, and lobs the bottle over the fat pony blocking the entrance.
"Molotov Cocktail!" Snap cheers as the bottle bursts against the ground outside and a ball of fire bursts into the air, scattering Changelings buzzing around too closely, some who’s heads get set ablaze.
“Alright. When all else fails, set things ablaze with cleansing fire, it’s the best kind of medicine” Grey Rebl smirks.
“Somepony say medicine?” comes a drunken idiotic voice as both Erised and Grey do a double take, “Hi everypony, Crazy dream we’re having right now huh?”
“How in Tartarus did you get here?” asks Erised from his gurney to the Drunken Dr. Quacksalver who comes out of the bathroom.
“I have no clue dream bug. My last job exploded with craziitus, and I decided I needed another drink.”
“That was months ago!”
“Nah, that can’t be dream janitor. Though the whole dream world appears to be suffering from Aggressivus-Buggus. This one has it worst of all. Let’s get a closer look at you.” He then drunkenly stumbles towards Erised with a broken bottle.
"Grey, get this Quack off me!" Erised calls.
"I ain't your puppet, you deal with him!" Grey responds as he whacks a pair of changelings attempting to come in through the window across their faces with a broom,
"UNCLEAN!"
“Don’t worry dream bug pony, I will only- “whatever he was only is cut off as Candy bashes him over the head with an empty bottle, knocking him out.
Erised looks to Candy who taps her hoof.
“You’re welcome.”
“I don’t need to thank you. You saved your superior.”
She just rolls her eyes and rolls Quacksalver and places him next to Kersey.
With the door even more reinforced, they go about fending off attackers.
“Keep holding on, we’re doing great,” cheers Snap Drake.
“We still need to get these magic inhibitors off though,” Silver pipes up.
“If I had my books I’d be able to help more,” Changer adds.
GreyRebl’s Comment
Hearing this, Grey Rebl goes up to one of the guards from the train and slams him into the floor, shocking several ponies.
“Start talking: Where’s the keys to the anti-magic restraints?!” Grey yells at the guard, pinning him down, a foreleg to his throat.
“Like I’ll tell you criminal scu---hrmf!” The grey-brown pony just chokes him hard.
Growling threateningly, he says,
“You’re surrounded, you’re entire force is in shambles, and you’re in no position to have the luxury to waste our time. Now where’s the bucking keys?!”
When he loosens the hold, the guard breathes out heavily,
“W-why should we release you?”
“Because you will need our help if you want to live through this mess,” Erised says coldly from the side. “Either you stand against us AND the changelings, or we stay out of your way. Take your pick.”
“But you’re a changeling too!” the guard blurts out.
Suddenly, the snapping of wood and a snarl sounds from the entrance. Immediately after that, Kichi cries,
“DOES IT LOOK LIKE WE ARE WITH THESE GUYS?!” before cracking a block wood into the intruding changeling’s face.
Slowly, Grey tightens his hold around the guard’s throat.
“We don’t have all day…”
“Grrff!” The guards grunts, quickly scanning the spacious tavern and then those who are amazingly defending against the invasion like practiced veterans of war, and what few civilians that are taking refuge. He makes his decision.
“Only if you help the citizens get to safety in this tavern. The one with the key will follow.” Even when threatened, this particular guard still has the wits to think about the citizens first.
Grey narrows his eyes at him before looking towards his fellow inmates. The reactions are mixed, but it is made very clear what they’ll have to do next.
“Might as well,” Brown Dog shrugs, “We need all the help we can get anyways. We’re all stuck together in this dome anyways until this is over.”
The silver-brown unicorn turns back to the guard, pausing for a moment before letting him go, who greedily gasps for breath. He then trots away, grabbing a nearby broom before saying,
“Keep barricading and consider it done.” With a sigh, he idly mutters, “Great. More babysitting.”
He then shouts over Kersey’s body.
“Attention MeatBags! If you don’t want to die, then get the buck inside this Tavern NOW!!!”
And surprisingly, this is effective. Several townsfolk start rushing off the streets and towards the tavern. Grey Rebl, Brown Dog, Solarkness and Rutherford stand guard out front as the citizens bring with them uninvited guests.
Grey does a flying leap kick and knocks a changeling into the dirt, as Rutherford whips his tail and sends two into a trough, while a more bulky Solarkness body slams two, and Brown Dog throws one into the Tavern Overhang.
“Get in, Hurry!” they usher the fleeing towns folk. With the majority of them inside, they leap over Kersey’s body and seal up the entrance again.
The guard looks to the Knights and mutters,
“Thank you,” as he starts organizing the increased civilian presence in the bar.
Now with more numbers, defending the windows, the Knights have a moment to breathe and collect their thoughts as a group.
“Alright, so all we have to do is wait for the key guy to come right?” asks Candy.
“It’s all we got. But I’d be ten times more effective with MY mop,” Grey bemoans.
“And my books,” Changer grumbles.
“Not to mention our sick cloaks,” Snap Drake adds.
“Yeah, but even then, we’re better than we were like ten minutes ago. What are we looking at long term Erised?” Rutherford asks.
“A swarm tactic, just like back in the Wedding Invasion,” Erised sneers, recalling the plan the Hive came up with previously, “but only at a smaller scale. Sabotaging the inside, and then overwhelming it in its weakness: That’s nothing new, but it works. I believe the dome is operated on the outside. No escape.”
All the former Crimson Knights frown.
“So we have no choice but to last against all those changelings out there, huh?” Kichi grumbles, “Judging by their plan, they’re desperate for love. They won’t go down without risking their lives.”
“Yeah…” Candy winces in thought, “To fight while starved…”
"What I don't get is how do they think they’re going to get away with this?” Kichi continues, "Sooner or later the Alicorn Princess will show up with the Elements right?”
“And who’s going to tell them? This is a remote location. By the time anyone else comes along, this town will be assimilated and impersonated by the Hive.”
Silver winces at that.
“I knew I left the Hive for the better, but to fight my own like this?” Quickly, he says, “I’m trained to fight, not figure out who the enemy is. Even then, I can’t shake this feeling.”
Erised snorts from his bed.
“It’s simple: we are enemies now. The Hive gives no mercy to deserters even if you feel too ill to fight back. It doesn’t matter if we are of the same species. That’s how the Hive is.”
“Erised is right, guys,” Rutherford pipes in, “It doesn’t matter what race we are now. Pony, changeling, dragon or timberwolf---we are all in the same page.”
“And so here we are, a band of misfits of mixed races, “ Grey Rebl dryly says, “but it’s not like there’s any choice.”
“But it’s because we ARE a band of misfits of mixed races that we DO have a choice.”
Everyone looks at the speaker, Brown Dog.
“...Brown Dog?” Changer asks quizzically.
Cheerfully, the diamond dog goes on.
“Ever since that incident with Spartan, we went our separate ways and things changed. But now that we know all of that was orchestrated by wannabe Hydra Agents, then that means everything that we’ve been doing for the Crimson Knights was all a lie. Fun for someone else, and not our own. But look at us now! We’re all together, exactly what they didn’t want! So you guys know what this means?”
They all look at each other, eyeing for understanding.
“We have a battle royal?” Grey Rebl guesses. Judging by the amused look he receives, he’s close.
“No, that’s just a benefit,” the diamond dog laughs, “What it means is that, at this moment, the choice is really ours. No strings attached. So I say buck their plans for us to Tartarus! We are sticking together whether they like it or not, and we will have OUR fun.” He puts a paw in front him. “So, who wants in?”
Nobody fails to see the social que. It is something cheesy, something that teams do in hoof ball to inspire morale. Once they put a hoof or claw in, though, it means they will recognize that they are...more than just acquaintances who just so happen to be in the same club. They’ll be a party in a bizarre adventure.
“Heck yeah, man! I’m in!” Snap Drake, of course, enthusiastically put his vote in, looking at everyone else excitedly, expecting an answer as well.
Spartan does so as well, but with less excitement compared to Snap.
“Don’t misunderstand. I still have issues with you guys, but someone has to watch out for Snap and Brown.”
“Aww, we love ya too, man,” Snap says tearfully.
“Shut up.” Changer looks away.
Smirking, Solar and Rutherford look at each other.
“Can you believe these guys?” Solar says.
Rutherford just shrugs, smiling as well. Obviously, it is a mocking gesture, yet they both put their respective paw and claw in.
"I guess everyone has to have a hobby."
"Yeah? And look at what making a movie for fun did!"
A reluctant chitin hoof joins in as well.
“Crazy,” Kichi shakes his head, muttering, “This is crazy. The odds are against us and I can’t believe I’m placing my life on you guys. Gosh, I really am desperate.”
Silver and Candy at once put their hooves in unison. Throughout the months with their cells adjacent to each other, they’ve been relatively close.
“I might not have known you guys in the past, but you guys aren’t all that bad. Crazy, but not bad,” Silver simply says, “Sure, I’ll take my chances. Just no funny business, alright?”
“Mhmm.” Candy just smiles bashfully and nods affirmatively. “If it means I have a place to belong.”
Grey just stood for a moment, glaring a hole into the floor as if in deep thought before softening his expression. He begins to trot toward the circle but Erised called him.
“Grey.”
“What?” he tersely says, temper flaring.
“...get me closer so that I can reach in.” Erised then utters a near incomprehensible, “please.”
Grey blinks, and then he shrugs uncaring.
“Fine. Just this once, alright?” He pulls the bed near the circle.
Now Erised and Grey’s hooves are in, the former’s weakly hanging over the edge.
“Hmmph. So this is what it feels to be driven into a corner,” Erised grumbles broodingly.
Grey instantly retorts,
“Suck it up and deal with it you pansy.”
“Well, I guess that just leaves Kersey,” Solar says, eyeing said pony in front of the door.
“Eh, he’s in with us by default anyways,” Brown Dog declares as he picks up a limp hoof and places it in the pile, “Besides, there’s no way in Tartarus we’re not including the whole gang.”
At that, Kersey subconsciously shudders from where he lays comatose.
ThePonySpartan’s Comment
"Ready?" Brown Dog whispered to Snap, looking eager.
"I've waited so long for this!" Snap whispered back.
"Three... two... one..."
"WE ARE THE CRIMSON KNIGHTS! DON'T TAKE US LIGHTLY!"
They all declare in unison, the strength of their words echoing within the tavern and inspiring the guards and citizens inside.
Kersey’s Comment
After the huddle is broken, the guard from before walks up to them.
“I heard you all earlier talking about equipment. Well, when the invasion first started, some of my crew took a wagon with your confiscated belongings away from the train. We didn’t know it was the changelings escaping and not you.”
Changer raises an eyebrow at that.
“And where did they head with it?”
“I don’t know. We lost contact,” the guard admits, "They were heading from the station towards,”
“Oh there it is,” Snap Drake declares while looking through a crack in the door with two whiskey bottles acting as binoculars.
Surprised, the rest of the group begin to peak out and see that down the road at a distance, is a group of changelings sliming up some guards, with a wagon full of random stuff beside them.
"Along with about 3 squads of changelings!" Solark observes.
"We're gonna need a distraction to get past them! Something big!" Snap Drake says.
"Something cinematic!" Rutherford says
"Something graceful!" Brown Dog adds in.
"Something stupid." Changer snarks.
*Multi-DING*
"Spartan, can you spare a few seconds?!” asks Brown Dog.
“If it means getting my books back, then yes. What do you have in mind?”
“I’ll explain on the way,” he declares before looking to Snap Drake. “Snap, you’re coming too. We’ll be back in no time with our gear, maybe we’ll see the key guy on the way, who knows.”
The three of them then peel back the barrier and step over Kersey silently as they all begin to make their way up the road.
Once the three are out of sight, more ponies rush up and beg to be let in. As if that’s the cue, the buzzing of changeling wings seems to become louder.
GreyRebl’s Comment
“Gorrammit!” Erised curses, eyes scrunching at the implications. “They are noticing that ponies are gathering here. They will combine forces and come in droves at this rate!”
“Ugh!” Grey groans, as he leaps over Kersey and defends the ponies entering as he mercilessly jabs a worn broom into the throat of an invader, before slamming a chair in front him, kicking it to launch it towards an incoming group. The satisfying sound of snapping wood couldn’t ease his indignation. “And now we’re down three guys. Was the one with the keys part of that newest group?
“No, but hopefully the others will come back with our stuff soon!” Candy says, eyeing through an open window when, suddenly, a changeling reaches through it and snarls. She yelps causing Silver to rage and punt the bugger out.
“Well I hope they’re stupid plan works!” Kichi cries out from the other end of the tavern, defending against the windows along with a few other brave townspeople. “I still can’t believe we are working with these ponies!”
“Coming through! Coming through!” a voice from outside suddenly yells. “I’ve got wounded!”
Frowning, Grey lightens his assault to let the approaching through.
“Erised,” he calls.
“On it,” Erised nods tersely.
Another royal guard, but one who has a more empowering appearance than the rest and brimming with charisma, stumbles in hurriedly with an unconscious pony in a cowboy hat and wild west vest beholding a shining, starry badge. They both collapse within safety, exhausted from what is likely a dead sprint.
The charismatic guard gives out a relieved sigh.
“Thanks. It’s good to find a safe haven in this mess...” He stops dead cold when he looks up, Erised’s hoof to his forehead as they both stare at one another. Then, the coldness washes away and the guard lets out a gasp.
“Good. Not a changeling in disguise. Would’ve been problematic,” the pale changeling muses.
The charismatic guard grits his jaw, wearily looking at him.
“And what if I was?”
“Oh, I would’ve forced you to stop breathing with what little mind magic I have. But since I can’t at the moment,” he gestures towards his anti-magic restraints, “I would’ve left your fate to him over there.”
Following what Erised is looking at, the charismatic guard is gifted the sight of a Grey breaking the leg of changeling with a cringing snap. He then proceeds to gag the poor thing with the cleaning end of his broom, pauses, and then wipes away the resulting spittle with changeling's wings. The guard gulps.
“Well? Do you have the keys to unlock these restraints?” Erised pointedly asks. “We are being overrun. We need all the firepower we can get.”
The charismatic guards opens his mouth to retort, but he notices his fellow guards gesturing him to answer honestly.
“They’re here to help us. They can be trusted. For now,” the choked guard from early says.
Before the guard can ponder anymore, a yell sounds out from one the volunteers at the far side of the tavern.
“A lot more comin’ in! The bigguns!”
Running out of patience, Grey blares,
“Keys: do you have it or not?!”
Clicking his tongue, the guard nods. With a slight of telekinesis, he tosses them to the other unicorn.
“Quick!” Kichi suddenly shouts, “Get Silver first! Trust me!”
Grimacing, Grey rushes towards Silver and swiftly unlocks his restraints, just in time for a Mongo-sized changeling to burst through the back entrance, the defenders flinching at the brute force.
Happily, Silver steps forward towards the danger.
“Yo! You all came in just in time...” A blue flame suddenly bursts from his flashing killer eye. “...for a bad time.” With deft wave of a hoof, forces unknown quaked. Like water, the furniture moved. Like static, the hairs of everyone present moved. And like a whirlwind, the big changelings are flung back towards where they came from, smashing into the smaller ones behind them.
At this, sudden display of raw power, Erised chuckles darkly.
“The Hive never has been one about high quality and nurturing talents. Serves them right for trying to toss us away.” Then, he frowns, eyeing the sweat running through Silver’s brow, obviously exhausted from the magical exertion and being low on love. “But we still need to be conservative about this.”
The others then begin to uncuff themselves as their magic returns to them.
Kichi’s Comment
“Yeah, no crap we need to conserve!” Kichi speaks up. “It seems like these guys got more love in the joint than we di-“
In the middle of his rant, a changeling bursts their upper torso through some boards and grabs him from behind and tries to drag him out.
"Give up deserter! Unlike you, we are fed properly!” it hisses.
“OH COME ON! Can we talk about this?!” Kichi shouts.
"You will be assimilated" is all the response he gets.
“Well, I tried,” he declares as he elbows the Changeling in the nose and drags him into the bar, while others start replacing the boards.
Kichi then places his hoof on the changeling’s chest.
“Don’t take this personally, but you’re right. I’m bucking hungry!”
He then places his horn against the other changeling’s and it glows.
"What are you doing? No! Stop!" he shouts as his voice tapers off, before he passes out.
“Ah, that hit the spot,” Kichi declares as his magic glows brighter and he starts gooping up more windows.
"Did you just do what I think you did?" asks Candy in shock.
"Eyup, and no I don’t feel guilty,” Kichi answers with a smile.
"Care for an explanation for those aren’t changeling?" asks Rutherford as he finally is able to blast a Changeling with water.
"He just sucked the love out of that Changeling through his horn,” Silver says, his blue eye flashing.
“What? He was going to do the same thing to me. It was either him or me, and I was starving,” Kichi defends.
“Are you justifying cannibalism?” asks Solarkness.
“No…Yes? Maybe? Look, the point is, I will not apologize for it,” the now not starving changeling decrees as he turns away from the group.
“Oh all of you quit your whining. Taboo or not, you’ve given me a tin soldier,” Erised says jovially as Rutherford takes off his shackles.
TheMechanic’s Comment
ErisedtheInkMoth’s Comment
Erised takes in a deep, satisfied breath as he feels his magic literally surging through his veins. Not enough blood to make even one clone, but he's notorious for being able to work with what's on hoof.
"Solar, bring me Kichi’s meal would you kindly?" he asks with a chilling calmness.
The Timberwolf looks unsure, but decides not to question it as he picks the drained changeling up and brings him to the pale one.
“Good boy,” he patronizes before he suddenly lunges for the neck of the Changeling and bites down.
Beads of green blood seep out, of the wound. Erised then bites his own hoof, drawing out his Ink Blood as he drips some drops into the injured Changeling.
Slowly, the blood coming from its neck turns a sickly, viscous black. Thick tendrils of Erised's blood start surging through the drone, converting its own changeling blood to Erised's ink, giving him full control over him.
The Changeling’s eyes snap open and he looks up in panic.
"Resist and the pain shall grow worse. Now spread my blight. All shall drown in my darkness!"
With spastic movements flinging black splotches everywhere, the drone towards where another Changeling attempts to get in through the Chimney and bites it, causing it to cry out in pain.
To the shock of all the citizens and guards, the screaming Changeling then stops and becomes an automaton like the other.
"That's new," Grey comments, nearly stepping in the black substance left behind. "And messy."
"Actually it's an older method: slow suffering and betrayal, specially cooked up for members of my own kind." Erised says almost wistfully, before wincing. “Though it seems I can only control a limited number as weak as I am,” he groans as he makes his way behind the shelter of the bar counter. "Now do your jobs and cover me, I need to concentrate."
All friendly changelings present share a shiver among themselves before turning back to the fight.
Behind the bar, Erised then concentrates on the two Thralls.
“Defend this bar with your lives,” he mutters within their minds, and they obey.
With two more “allies” added to the fight, and magic restored, the Knights and towns folks and guards have a new step, but they still feel a bit short handed.
“Ugh, where are Brown, Snap and Spartan already?” groans Rutherford as he sends another jet of water through a crack in a window, where it sparkles in the sunglight.
Kersey’s Comment
Down the Road, the group of Changelings continue to cocoon up and drain the energy from the captured guards. A mongo-sized Changeling then gets curious and begins to lift the tarp on the wagon they were pulling, when all of a sudden.
"PUT ME DOWN YOU IDIOT!"
“And for my next impression. Jesse Ponens,” he shouts before jumping over the Changelings and running down the street.
While the changelings are distracted, Snap Drake jumps into the cart causing it to start rolling towards the tavern.
"I got it! Back to the tavern!" Snap Drake declares as he rides the kart like a skateboard.
"Little busy!" Brown Dog yells while being chased by changelings.
"WHY THE BUCK DO I KEEP HANGING OUT WITH YOU MORONS!?" Changer yells.
“Because you love us!” Brown Dog shouts as he throws Changer onto the out of control cart before jumping onto it himself, with all the changelings chasing after them.
GreyRebl’s Comment
Inside the Tavern, the Knights and allies all become aware of one deafening noise. Silence.
Then, a voice breaks that sweet sound,
”Hey guys! Open up! Clear the doorway!”
Silver, with his superior telekinesis, moves aside Kersey’s big bod and the Quack doctor out to reveal the members of the expedition barreling down the street towards them in an out of control wagon.
“Hit the deck!” he yells as everyone dives out of the way. The cart goes right through the door, before crashing into the bar.
“Quit trying to smash my safety zone!” Erised shouts.
As Silver and Rutherford place Kersey and Quacksalver and all the other pieces of debris back in front of the door. Brown Dog, Snap Drake and Changer all sit up.
“Alright, we got our stuff back. Who wants prizes?!” Brown Dog declares.
“We got our cloaks back!” Snap cheers. While the others cheer and begin to swarm over the wreckage to get their stuff, Kichi huffs.
“You’re late to the party! We got keys just time to NOT get overwhelm-OW! Buck off!” Kichi flinches away from the splintered wood when another changeling is lucky enough to break through. The invader in turn receives the full might of several applebucking farmers. As he watches the ponies pummel his own kind, he mutters, “I know they’re high up in my Pyramid of Respect, but I’m starting to think I should put them down a level lower.”
“You think that NOW after they readily admitted to tossing us away?” Spartan snarks, as he starts looking through the equipment in the broken cart.
“...Good point,” Kichi concedes.
“There you are! Can I get the keys?” Spartan inquires, holding up his spellbooks. “I’m tired of carrying things by hoof.”
“Here,” Grey tosses the item of interest over to Spartan. “Now gimme my mop. I know it’s there.”
“Yeah, sure,” Spartan inclines, tossing the mop while catching the keys simultaneously, “but what makes a mop of all things be confiscated?’”
“I clean up a lot of blood with it. Erised’s sometimes.”
“...figures.”
Grey doesn’t here the snark, because he is cataloging his resources. Specifically, stuff that consists of cleaning supplies.
Airspray, a bottle of hoof soap, dishwashing soap, some towels, several brooms and mops, and finally his own personal mop gathered as “evidence” by the guard. But not just any mop.
Grey stares at the polished wood of his sturdy mop, admiring its shine as he sees his own reflection on it. Caressing a hoof over the cleaning utility, he mutters,
“My most faithful companion. You’ve returned,” and then he jabs the handle through a window gap knocking into 3 snarling changelings, a psychotic grin on his face.
“Now that I have my mop, I can clean this entire town ALL BUCKING DAY!” Everyone can hear his mad laughter and the rhythmic thwacks of his mop with great clarity. They all shy away from his damage zone. Never before has janitor work look so sinister.
“Ugh.” Erised face hoofs with a look that says ‘this shit again?’” “He has relapsed.”
“Relapsing has such a negative stigma,” Brown Dog points out as he takes a shot of Jack Spaniels.
After everyone gathers their cloaks/weapons, the Crimson Knights are now for the first time in a long time fully prepped and ready as a unit. But this time, they don’t have anything to hide. All of their hoods are down.
“Alright everyone, let’s get buck wild!” Brown Dog declares triumphantly, straightening his shades.
“Hit the music.”
ThePonySpartan’s Comment
As if that’s the cue, many changelings come in a wave at the bar, attacking all entrances and the Knights get to work.
Changer blasts some away from his nearest window with cutting winds by using his yellow enchanted book.
"Ah, that’s much better. I am noling’s pawn!" He yells at them.
“Woohoo! Magic Books for the win!” Snap Drake cheers as he throws a molotov out a window.
"Way to go, Spartan…you filthy traitor,” Kichi whispers as he blasts a changeling in the face.
"Yeah, very impressive." Erised adds as he shoots out an ice projectile.
"Hmph!" Changer glares. “Just because I stopped going after you doesn't mean I like you."
"Great to know." Solar says sarcastically as he claws one of the Changeling’s trying to get over Kersey.
"Whatever. If there’s betrayal afoot, I will show no mercy.”
“The return of the Revenge Fetish, With a Vengeance!” Brown Dog chuckles as he uppercuts a changeling trying to get in through the back.
The guards help at the windows and entrances as well, while the towns folk who aren’t fighting are being guarded by the two Buffalo that were taken in.
GreyRebl’s Comment
“Hey, Snap!” Grey trots over to Snap while still facing the front, levitating a can of air spray. “Can I borrow a light?”
With a knowing grin, Snap nods and levitates over the flame of a molotov cocktail. In the direction of one of the windows that’s been breached. Grey sprays and the contents bursts into flame. The duo waves it side to side to spread the cleansing fire. Now that that ground outside that window is burning, the changelings are discouraged from taking that route.
“Y’know, I thought you’d be an aquamaniac or something,” Snap comments.
“If it cleans the mess away, I’ll use whatever method it takes.”
“Ah. Gotcha.”
Suddenly, a crash occurs on the other side of the establishment, the ponies screaming to get away from a dead charge of three changelings of hulking size who carren down the stairs.
“Crud! Upper levels breached!” Kichi yells.
“Mess in the East aisle!” Solar roars, rushing to meet them head on.
Grey returns the call.
“On it!”
Using his abnormal speed, Grey is able sprint parallel along with the timberwolf. In fact, taking advantage of it, he rushes ahead with splintered brooms and mops in his telekinetic grip and flings them at the attackers. They didn’t even flinch and ignore them as though they are twigs. Solar follows the trail of broken cleaning utilities, assimilating them into his body. However, they are only distractions for Grey’s real mop as he swiftly goes to the side and slams the lead changeling in the leg with unexpected strength. Giving no time, he smoothly does the same to the second, and then the third!
With them unbalanced and with his strengthened maw, Solar lifts the first over himself as he passes it along and slams it into the second and swings it again into the third. He ends the motion by mightily flinging it back up the stairs.
The other two downed, Grey quickly closes in so that the almighty mop shall be their end. Thwack! Solar grabs the second and throws yet again. Thwack! The same things happens once more! The timberwolf and pony stare at their handy work. The three unconscious changelings are then kicked out of the upstairs window they came in from.
“Wooo! Go team!” Snap appears right between and gestures for a brohoof from each of his front hooves. The two look across him and towards each other, roll their eyes, and then return the gesture with a smile.
Behind the bar, the charismatic guard asks Erised.
“Is there a doctor here per chance? This stallion needs medical attention,” the charismatic guard says, looking worryingly at the unconscious Sheriff by his side.
Quacksalver momentarily hops upon hearing the word ‘doctor,’
“Somepony call a-,” but he is shut down as one of Erised’s proxies punch him out.
“I suppose I can do something,” Erised quickly says opening his eyes. “Let’s make this quick. What’s the issue---Is that apple pie I smell?”
Taking a whiff towards the Sheriff, there is indeed apple pie.
“Uh, yeah.”
“Explain.”
“While throwing pie at the enemy changelings, one of our own accidently shot a piece at the good Sheriff. He tripped and bumped his head.”
A brow twitches.
“I see.” With a touch on the Sheriff’s forehead, he uses his mind-control with as little ink as possible to forcibly awake the mustached stallion, whose eyes suddenly shoot wide open like an energy drink junkie. He then bounces to all fours instantly, spazzing like a cartoon.
“Wooooweeee!” the Sheriff hollers, “Ah feelin’ so alive Ah feel like can tussle with ‘em buffalo a thousands times over!”
“Actually, that is all fake,” Erised interrupts, “I only stimulated the emotion to make you inclined to go out and fight.”
Suddenly, the Sheriff is right up in his face,
“So you the boy who healed me?”
Growling, Erised says,
“Don’t call me a ‘boy,’ you---urk!” before he is suddenly pulled into a hearty hug!
“Thank you, sonny! Ah appreciate the pick-me-up!” Letting go, the Sheriff then turns and goes straight into the fray, meshing with the chaos as he shouts, “Howdy-ho!”
Rather than putting up a response, Erised wheezes for breath, nursing his chest due to his injuries.
“Thanks? When is the last time that was said to me?”
“With your attitude, probably never,” Candy calls out as she punches a Changeling in the nose.
As the Knights continue to defend their turf, from outside comes a loud cry of.
“In the name of the Masked Stallion, feel our Vengeance!!!” in several voices that sound the same.
“Say, do changelings tend to disguise as the same pony in en masse?” Brown Dog suddenly asks.
“To confuse the enemy during swarms, yes,” Erised answers. “Why?”
“Might explain all the pink all the way over there.”
“...what?” The pale changeling closes eyes to reconnect to his personal hivemind, using the senses of his puppets to see what’s up. Indeed, there are dozens of pink mares of the same exact face, facing the invasion head on. “That is just…”
Kersey’s Comment
Falx_of_Lume’s Comment
AllenNoir’s Comment
"Pinkies! Form of: PARTY CANNON!" the lead Pinkie with a black spot on her side declares causing the other Pinkie clones to cartwheel together into the shape of a cannon and start blasting Pinkies at the changelings, providing covering fir-er Pinkies for other civilians to try to get away.
Erised behind the bar drops his jaw.
“What in the actual Buck?”
“Oh, what is this ah hear?!” The Sheriff suddenly enters the conversation, snapping him out of his battle of pie and chitin. In fact, his face is filled with genuine concern. And hope. “Could it be the Pink Sisters? Ah thought the changelings has about had them all!”
Eyes still scrunched, Erised mutters,
“No it seems they’re holding them back all well and good. In fact, they’re all defying the laws of reality by-?” His eyes snaps open. “Everyone away from the front! Pink mare incoming!”
Suddenly, a pink cannon ball breaks through one of the barricades with so much force those near the place of impact flew! A collection of beaten changelings (including one of his proxies), wood, and dust alike bursts into the tavern. The destruction might’ve gone further if Grey hadn’t valiantly caught the pink ball of calamity with his face.
Violently tumbling across the tavern and crashing into and breaking the bar section into splinters, the pink mass finally stops with a grey-brown mass under it.
“WHY THE BUCK IS THERE SO MUCH PINK?!” Grey shouts, muffled by a poofy mane.
A few of the Changelings wearily begin to stand before Brown Dog and Snap Drake pick them up with their arms and telekenisis alike and throw them out into the road.
“Alright, I’m convinced, we need those mares,” Brown Dog declares as he calls out.
“OI! Pink ladies! Get over here and help us!”
The lead Pinkie looks to the tavern, and she orders the others to bound towards it.
By the time they get to the bar though, all but six of them have been captured by the Changelings.
With the six identical pink mares’ help, the hole in the wall is barricaded.
“Thanks for the shelter, many of my sisters didn’t make it,” the leader says.
“No problem. We got seven out of dozen, I think we broke even,” Snap Drake encourages.
“I have 34 other sisters,” she responds sadly as she looks down.
“Oh…dang…” Brown Dog mutters.
“By the way, have you seen Nines? We accidentally misfired her?”
“Yeah, she’s behind the bar,” Solarkness points out. “Now do you mind telling us why you all look like the Element of Laughter?
GreyRebl’s Comment
While the lead Pinkie briefly gives her tale, the misfired “Nines” is being looked over by Erised.
“Tell me mister, will I die?”
A sigh escapes the pale changeling one of frustration and painful resignation.
“No. It is literally just a scrape,” Erised deadpans, “I’m surprised the crash didn’t do much worse. Honestly, if only Rutherford was capable of actual healing rather than energy rejuvenation, I wouldn’t be doing this.”
The pale killer changeling stares bemused at the pink mare before him. She is a total flower, eyes filled with sky-like innocence and a cheerfully poofy mane, acting as blissfully ignorant as child. And, with baby-faced worry, she thinks she’s dying over a small scrape on her foreleg. Unbelievable.
“But why does it hurt? Things don’t hurt unless it is really, really bad!”
“Oh for the love of, were you born yesterday?!” he growls
“About a month ago, actually,” she says with a straight face.
With an even straighter face, Erised simply says,
“Nevermind.” He has no patience to deal with stupid. He taps her head and then her expression lightens.
“Oooh! The hurt is gone!” she says giddily, like a kid witnessing magic.
“Just made your mind ignore the injury. Now-No hugs!” Erised hastily says when the mare gets too close with a familiar sense of happiness in her eyes.
“Awww,” the pink mare whines sadly, “But how else I’m going to thank you?”
Erised’s eyes widen, his jaw dropping slightly.
"That...that is the second time…!" He shakes his head, getting the thought out.
“Just scram already! I’m busy, and I’d rather not waste ink shutting you up permanently,” he grumbles, irritated. “In fact? Grey! Get this mare away from me!”
Still bitter about being a cushion for her fall, Grey growls,
“Buck off! Unless she has grade-A cleaning supplies as a peace offering, I won’t do jack spit for her!” To emphasize his point, he slams a soapy towel onto a head peeking through a window, it’s owner screaming bloody murder as the detergent seeps into its buggy eyes.
“Oh, is that all?” The pink mare says simply. With a swipe of her hoof, cleaning supplies of notoriously popular brands magically appears by his hooves. Well, actually, she just pulls a plank out of the floor and pulls the stuff out from underneath.
This gives Grey pause and his jaw drops. What he is seeing are miracles. Clorox wipes, All-Purpose cleaners, and Tide detergent. Especially Tide detergent. Legends say that their cleaning ability can even turn the Tide of battle!
“I do cleaning work around the tavern. I keep emergency supplies hidden all around. Pretty cool, huh? Oh, and you can have these, too.” She then slips a stack of coupons along the pile. Tide Laundry detergent, 80% off. “Appaloosan policy,” she boasts cheerfully.
Grey just gapes at the coupons and the wonders of the household cleaning world. It’s the sweetest bucking deal in the world to him! With a finality of the fates, he looks up and stare deep into the abyss of the mare’s eyes.
“I love you.”
“Dude! That’s cheating on Erised!” a voice sounds.
“Shut the buck up, Snap!”
As Brown Dog watches all of this whilst smashing a few skulls, he hums in thought. He looks at Kichi, Silver, Spartan, and Candy. They are looking tired, exhausted even judging by the wilting of the eyes. He then looks back at Erised and Grey with the pink mare, to her 6 other sisters, and then back at his allied changelings.
An idea comes to him, but before he can voice it, everyone inside the tavern notices that there is a distinct lack of changeling wings and hissing. The windows stop being attacked entirely. Looking through the window, Kichi says,
“It looks like they’ve stopped. They’re keeping their distance.”
The others notice that a group of changelings are surrounding the tavern from the air and ground, but none of them are moving.
“So what, did we beat them?” asks an optimistic Sheriff.
“No. They’ve no doubt realized we’re a hassle and are regrouping,” Erised says sullenly.
They all look to him.
“Regrouping?” asks Solarkness.
He nods and says, “Just listen. There’s much less screaming and buzzing of wings outside." Kichi, Candy and Silver all grit their teeth in worry at that.
“What’s that mean then Erised?” asks Rutherford.
“It means they bulk of them have gone on to easier pickings. They’re gathering their love from everypony that isn’t tucked away in this bar.”
“Oh crud,” Snap Drake moans.
“Well hey, if they’re catching their second wind, we can do the same,” Brown Dog says as he looks to the Pinkies.
“Backward town hicks, give us your pies and other apples, and if any of you can cook, start making some grub for us in the kitchen, we need the strength. Native Buffaloneans, keep reinforcing Kersey and make sure he’s not too injured, fat can only protect so much, and Clones of the most Attractive Element of Harmony, give Erised, Silver, Candy and Kichi as much affection as you can muster,” he orders.
The Pinkie’s salute and get to hugging the Changeling Knights, as some of the sullen towns ponies start to make fresh food.
“No wait I don’t- Hrk!” Erised cries out as Nines hugs him. “Damn it Dog…”
“Seriously, where’s all this leadership coming from?” Solarkness asks the Diamond Dog.
“I don’t know really. It confuses and scares me truthfully. Months of sobriety have corrupted me,” Brown Dog shudders as he takes another shot of whiskey.
“Well don’t fall off the wagon yet, we still have to get through this, no matter how long we’ve held them off,” Rutherford advises.
“Yeah…speaking of how long has it been?” asks Changer, and one of the Pinkies answers.
“Oh, it’s been 20 Minutes since all those bug pony things came shooting out of the train.”
Everyone’s eyes pale at that.
“20 Minutes?! That’s it?!” shouts Snap.
“Uh-huh, I know because it was almost second breakfast time,” another Pinkie declares.
The Knights then collectively shudder.
“Wave 2 is definitely going to be a B!#$%,” Kichi mutters.
While the bar is left alone for now, The rest of the town is assimilated and the love harvested from the captured ponies, a Changeling Grunt trots up to four scarred Changelings as they direct other grunts.
“How goes the Eastern Sector?” asks the Female.
“For the most part taken ma’am, but there have been some…complications.”
The big one silently raises an eyebrow at that.
“What do you mean Private?” asks the female with the yellow mane again.
“There is a gathering of civilians barricading themselves inside the tavern. And…and they have repealed our initial attacks. That’s why we’ve come to gather enough love energy.
“Are your numbers so weak?”
“Are your numbers so incompetent?”
“That you can’t break down a simple tavern?” the two near identical changelings say together.
“No sirs. It’s just…they are being led by the Crimson Knight leaders. They’re working together.”
The four Officer Changelings then all share a glance.
“Very well Private, you and your forces gather your strength,” the yellow haired female orders.
“Ma’am!” the private salutes and buzzes off.
“Well, that is some troubling news,” Vicky says aloud.
“Should we call for the Shell Marshall?” asks Biff.
“Shall we call for Sin?” asks Tannen.
Vicky looks from them to Mongo who just scowls.
“I don’t know. This was supposed to be simple while she goes to recruit…” she trails off as her frown deepens and Mongo clenches his jaw.
“To recruit 9001.”
“To recruit Bugze.”
“To recruit The Hooded Offender,” they say in unison.
Vicky sighs at that.
“Yes, Him,” Vicky declares with venom.
“Why does the Queen even think we need that traitorous little…” she stops ranting as Mongo puts a hoof on her wingless back.
Biff then speaks up,
“It as the Queen demands.”
“Yeah, I know. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
Tannen then speaks up.
“We’re more than capable of handling the situation, though we should give her a sit rep.”
“Yeah alright,” Vicky gives in. “I’ll let her know we’ve captured the town, and are in the process of mop up duty.”
Biff and Tannen nod at this.
“Very well. We shall gather the forces when they’ve gotten their strength up.”
“And Biff and I will ensure the puppets and their quarry are taken down.”
“You two carry on with the rest of the town.”
Mongo and Vicky nod as Biff and Tannen buzz their wings and fly off.
Vicky then looks to Mongo, as they both nod and touch their horns together, creating a bright green light.
POV CHANGE: Bugze
You take Sin by the Shoulder’s and Shake her,
“No, this can’t be it! There still might be time to stop this!” you yell. She resolutely looks you in the eye.
“No there’s not. I’ve already received word, the town is all but assimilated.”
You think back on all your friends. Of Braeburn, Little Strongheart, and many many more. All of them in green pods being fed upon.
SNAP
“THE DEAL’S OFF!” you yell as you push her hard, causing her to hit the sofa, before yelling.
“Would you Kindly Freeze?!” freezing her to the seat.
“I’m not going to let this stand!”
“But this was necessary! We needed the power to-“
“Quit with your excuses! You kept this from me because you knew I wouldn’t agree to it! Well Buck your technicalities!” you yell at her. You then start stomping towards the Bunker Door.
“Where are you going?!” Sin calls out in shock.
“Appleloosa! I don’t care if I have to run the whole way there, I am going to undo what you’ve done!”
“NOOO!!!” she yells as all of a sudden you are pelted by ice that explodes off of her.
You turn around and see Electricity pulsing up her arms.
“You can’t throw this away! We can still work this out! It’s just a tool to,”
“THOSE WERE MY FRIENDS IN THAT TOWN!!!” you yell as your eyes glow causing Sin to recoil.
“I may be wanted, I may be a monster, but Appleloosa was always a safe place for me, and you’ve bucked it up!” you yell as wisps of your cloak start to form. “So now I’m going to buck up your plans!”
Sin’s eyes are full of panic, until they glow green, and her voice comes out with an echo.
“I can’t allow that…please…will you not reconsider?” comes her combined voice with Chrysalis.
You just glare back at her.
She then lets out a sigh.
“So be it…”
Sin then shocks you in the horn, causing you to cry out.
“AAAHHH!!!” before she runs up to you and slaps a black stone disk to your chest, and suddenly, you feel drained and weak.
BUGZE! Selena yells out in panic.
“Hrk,” you declare as your heart gives a weird thump and you fall backward onto the ground, your cloak dissipating.
You stare confusedly up at the ceiling on your back as Sin walks into your view with her glowing green eyes, a look of disappointment on her face.
“What did you do to me?” you ask as you try to take the disk off of you.
“It’s my insurance. I wasn’t taking any chances when facing you again, not after last time,” Sin admits. “That right there is a piece of the old throne, maybe the last actual magical piece until the Queen can build a new one.”
Your eyes widen at that. The throne was a powerful deterrent that would cancel out all magic besides changeling magic for miles to come. With the invasion and imprisonment of the Queen, it would have fallen into dust. Well, save for this piece you guess.
Bugze, all channels to my power have been blocked! We can’t access the cloak.
Frowning, you immediately try to pry the stone off of you, but it won’t budge.
Sin/Chrysalis just sighs and shakes her head.
“Only I can take it off. It is bound to me, and through the Queen’s blood.”
“Take it off Sin! Please! You don’t have to do this!”
“Yes I do! I told you, I will do anything to save our kind. And…” she hesitates a moment, “And we can’t have you interfering if you won’t help.”
“I was going to help! I was!” you yell, tugging uselessly at the disk. “But you two lied to me, even if it was by omission. I’ll still help, I swear it, just please, let Appleloosa go.”
“It’s too late for that. It’s already done. We can’t go back now,” she says in determination.
Gritting your teeth, you yell,
“Would you kindl-“
She shocks your horn again midsentence causing you to spasm. She then rapidly goops your limbs and lower half to the floor.
“Ew, Ew Ew!” you gag as you try and fail to move your limbs. You then glare at Sin. “Let me out! I won’t let you get away with this!”
“Please! Just help us! We need only this town’s love to succeed,” she pleads.
“At the cost of their health, magic and freedom!” you growl.
Sin gives you yet another weary look.
“Why? Why can’t you do what is necessary to save our kind?” both Chrysalis and Sin ask.
“Because I’ve been doing what’s “necessary” for so long, the justifications become less and less convincing…” you say in melancholy.
Sin closes her eyes for a moment and breathes, before saying,
“Yes Ma’am.”
When she opens them again, they are their normal blue.
“I…I wish you would have seen the light. I’m going now. The Queen has decreed your fate,” she says as lightning crackles up her arms. You begin to panic and start squirming, but she then turns around and shoots out her lightening towards the Bunker door, as she welds it shut. When she is done, she looks back to you with a weary look.
“You aren’t going to stop us, but that doesn’t mean you must die. We will carry out our plan while you will be trapped here powerless. With you, our success would have been guaranteed,” she bemoans. She then walks up to your trapped form and looks you right in the eye.
“If we succeed…If we are able to lead our forces and rescue them, then perhaps the Queen will come back for you…”
“But what if you fail? Are you going to just leave me here? I can’t teleport on Changeling Magic and I’m trapped!”
She clenches her eyes and turns away from you.
“You’ll…You’ll have a better chance than what we had in that cave…” she trails off before looking back to you.
“Sin, please…” you beg.
“I forgive you,” she declares as her hoof collides with your face, and all goes black.
Later
“Daddy? Daddy can you hear me?” Nightshade’s voice comes from a mile away as you feel like you’re floating.
“Mommy? Are you there? Anyling?”
You had best wake up, I don’t know how much time has passed, comes the voice of Selena.
Selly? What’s going on? You ask to the black surroundings.
You were punched out by that Changeling after she placed that stone upon you. I still can’t manifest our power.
Oh right. Sin was linked with Chrysalis, I was going to help them but then…
Your eyes shoot open in the outside world as you sit up in bed.
“Appleloosa!!!” you declare in panic.
“Oh thank Goodness you’re awake!” Nightshade yells as she hugs you around your chest.
“Yes I’m awake. Now hurry Nightshade, we have to get to Ap…What the?” you declare as you look at your surroundings. You are not in your bunker, you’re in....
“The TARDIS?” you yelp as you look around. You are in the same bed you were in nearly one year ago after your injury from the Otherworld.
“Yeah Dad. We got picked up after that Changeling lady left. I couldn’t get out of the Inventory because it was gooped up, and you were passed out,” Nightshade explains hugging you tighter. “And I couldn’t reach mom either.”
You look back down at your chest and see the Stone Disk still stuck there.
“She’s fine honey, I’m just glad you’re safe.” You say as you hug her. After awhile you scowl and say,
“Now, where’s the Doctor?! I have to give that bum a piece of my mind. We don’t hear from him in Months, he dumps Derpy, and he decides to show up NOW?!”
“Well actually,” Nightshade starts, but you cut her off.
“Well he’d better get us to Appleloosa, and if he so much as says he can’t I’ll-“
“The Doctor didn’t pick us up Daddy,” Nightshade interrupts causing you to do a double take.
“Say what now?”
“Yeah, someling else did, and there’s all these other ponies on board too. There’s this Stallion named Jack, some mare that looks like a re-colored Cousin Cadence without wings, and Ms. Aqua,” she explains.
Your eyes widen.
“Aqua’s here?” you ask in surprise.
The Water Bender? Selena asks in her own surprise.
“Mmhmm,” she nods. “They all cut that green stuff off of you and brought you in here, but none of them could get that rock off of your chest.”
You look around but see no signs of them.
“They’re in the other room, going over plans or something. But the Jack guy told me it was OK to watch over you.”
“Jack? As in Captain Jack? Torchwood is here?” you ask flabbergasted.
She nods and you run your hoof through your hair.
“OK, wow. Well I’ll geek later. Maybe with their help we can get to Appleloosa on time. Where’s the Doctor?”
To this, Nightshade shrugs.
“I don’t know Dad. He’s not here,” she says with a shrug.
“What? What happened to him?”
A new voice then interrupts the two of you.
“What happened? I kicked his secret keeping thousand year old arse out the door and jacked this beautiful blue box months ago.”
Or rather, an old voice. A voice that you would know anywhere. It shocks you to be hearing it again.
“Although I guess technically by the time we pick him up, it will only have been minutes for him, but who’s counting am I right?” the voice punctuates with a chuckle.
You slowly turn your head to the speaker and your breath is taken from your lungs.
Impossible…You said he…Selena trails off.
“I always told you boyo, hanging around with Prissy Chryssy was never going to work out for you. Though it’s not too late to fix things.”
“Who is he Daddy? He’s the one who drove the TARDIS to rescue you, and he told me you knew him,” Nightshade asks.
And you do know him. You know him very well. The wrinkled cheeks, the unlit cigar in his teeth, and the ever present bowler hat sit upon the Changeling who raised you.
“G-Gr-Grandbuggy?” you gasp out as your whole body suddenly feels lighter than air and Nightshade’s jaw drops.
The old bug gives you a toothy grin.
“That’s right boyo. In the chitin.”
“I-I-I…” you try to speak, but words escape you.
He holds up his hoof.
“Now $#%^&, I know you have a million questions, and I’ll answer them. We literally have all the time in the world to help your town. But before all of that, I just have to say one thing aloud I’ve been holding onto for months.”
He then takes a deep breath, before his hooves come up to his cheeks and he squees.
“Oh My Gosh, My Great Granddaughter is so adorable and kickflank. Great job on nailing the Mare in the Moon before I could boy! I’m so proud of you!!!”
The old bug who you thought died years ago continues to gush to you two as you try to get your wits about you.
OK, Grandbuggy is alive and well, we’re in the stolen TARDIS with Torchwood on our way to pick up The Doctor, I’m still powerless, and it sounds like we’re going to save Appleloosa.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
Special Outro:
Grandbuggy hugs Nightshade and continues to gush much to her annoyance/confusion.
Seeing how you haven't seen Grandbuggy in a LONG time, there is only one appropriate initial response;
=========
You notice that Sombra's been suspiciously absent for a while. Selena comments that Sombra has largely just been sulking in his cage.
=========
Grandbuggy calls Jack "a filthy bet-cheater"
"Hey, I won that bet fair and square!" Jack protests
"Those were stallions!"
"Hey, the bet was who could get more flank by the end of the night and stallions have flanks. Ergo, I win." Jack responds smugly.
"Wh-ba-GRAAAAAH!" Grandbuggy yells in frustration before he drives a nearby ax into Jack's skull
"That's your granddad alright CV." Aqua snarks.
"GREAT-GRANDBUGGY! WHAT THE BUCK?!" Nightshade exclaims in horror.
"Wait for it." Everypony in the TARDIS says deadpan simultaneously.
After a few moments, Jack gets right back up and takes the ax out of his head.
"I guess some things never change." Jack comments in annoyance while wiping the blood off his head.
"Wha- but- he..." Nightshade stammers in confusion.
"Long story, but basically he can't die." you explain to Nightshade.
"Yeah, so feel free to bash him on the head if he gets too annoying." Grandbuggy states.
The most emotional moment in this season was probably when Selena decided to reveal herself to the Deadly Six and Princess Celestia.
oh my God we finally meet Grand Buggie!!!!!!! well on to the fight in Appleloosa.
we're going to need a rundown on who we have at our disposal that are in the TARDIS as well as their strangths and weaknesses. I know Captain Jack can't die, and the alternate derision Cadence is still the alacorn of love (probably a double edged sword to bring into a fight against changelings). We have already seen that Aqua is a great water bender and skilled fighter, and it sounds as if we will be picking up the Doctor shortly, so who else are we bringing to the party.
"I... I..." Begin to say Bugze
"I know boya, I also missed you..." Say Grandbuggy smiling
"I..." Just then Bugzee hit his Grandbuggy with a punch (Or the equivalent with the right hoof)
"How could you? You just leave me in there, and when I needed you, and not only that... What exactly did you do to granny smith?! Did you know that she is still waiting for you?" Ask Bugze to his Grandbuggy as tears come out.
"You... I... I missed you, and granny too, why did you dissapeared?" Ask Bugze
"I'm sorry @%#!" Say Grandbuggy
"No... That not my name right now, my name is Bugze" Say Bugze
"I understand... Bugze... I have many things to talk with you, please calm yourself" Comment the Grandbuggy
"what about Appleloosa? We need to save them!" Shout Bugze as he look around for a exit
"Calm down @%... Bugze... We have time, but you need first to calm" Say the Grandbuggy as he try to calm him.
Aqua runs up to you in concern and relief. "CV, you're awake!" She says happily.
"Just got up minutes ago." You tell her. "How have you been? How's your new job?"
"It's... interesting." She says while rubbing the back of her head, before looking at you with stern look. "So, Nightmare Moon, huh?" She asks with a raised brow.
"Her name's Selena. Nightmare Moon is her and Princess Luna combined. We came up with the name after realizing that." You correct. "And yes, she's within me and the source of my power." You say with a frown.
"So you two are that close to each other to figure out a different name for her, after all these years with her inside your head I can't doubt that. They explained some things to me, like how she's... not evil anymore."
"Well... would you believe it if two more equins told you that?" You ask.
"Two... oh yeah, your daughter. How does she correlate with Selena though?"
"Don't ask it's a long and... yeah, long story." You were about to say unsettling but you didn't want Nightshade or Aqua to hear that.
THIS IS SO AWSOME!!!!!
when is Bugze going to get to Appleloosa and help the crimson knights take down the changeling invasion?
For the most emotional moment I would have to say leaving Ponyville for the second time overall.
We had great friends as BST and Nightshade.
We just got found alive about a month ago.
Then we were forced to leave because we were wanted and couldn't stay in risking being caught.
Then we were forced to stay because of Trixie.
The battle against Trixie and our rage against her.
Her attempt of suicide and Nightmare Moon being exposed.
And Bugze's mind breaking because of it.
Most emotional has to be when Bugze had gone catatonic after Trixie "killed" herself.
First of all, need some emotional music. Here's my offer:
Now ON TO THE COMMENT:
Now we all need to keep in mind Bugze's mental state at the moment. All the grief he's been feeling, all that angst. And now he sees his long lost Grandbuggy that he thought was dead. So it is understandable that his reaction would be...to completely shut down.
"Uh...I think you broke my Daddy."
"Nonsense! He looks perfectly fine, his legs are all in tact, his wings are still there, still has the badass scars, he has a blank look on hi-oh."
Que Grandbuggy hoof-palming as he mutters,
"I told them sending me out first would be a bad idea. But noooooo...we needed the emotional family reconnection."
With a roll of his eyes he says,
"Welp, only one way to fix this."
With a deep breath he suddenly shouts while pointing behind you,
"LOOK IT'S SAPPHIRE SHORES IN A TANK TOP!"
If it was even possible, Bugze's face seemed to become even more blank.
"Huh...that usually works. Maybe I shou-"
Hello Kersey's comment
--------------------------------------------------------------
When meeting Jack:
"Hello, names Jack Harkness."
You just look at him for a second before saying,
"Stop it."
Jack frowns slightly before saying,
"Ah don't do this to me bud. Bad enough the Doc is always doing that. Besides..."
He suddenly leans in and says,
"{Some flirty comment here}"
Before you can say anything Jack suddenly finds his head in the ground thanks to Grandbuggy, who angrily yells,
"WHAT I TELL YA ABOUT HITTING ON MY GRANDBUG! HE'S OFF LIMITS!"
{insert comment here}
------------------------------------------------------------
I would put in a comment about Altworld Cadence, but I feel like someone who's better at writing deep stuff should handle it *cough*GreyRebl*cough*
Anyway, the most emotional scene for me was probably when Selena reveled her original plan for Nightshade. The intenseness of that scene left a huge impact, and it really set the tone for how serious it was. Plus Selena's regret about ever thinking about it is very believable.
After punching him
tears leaking out of your eyes.
You keep “punching” Grandbuggy in the chest as you weep, but he envelops you in a hug.
“You stupid old bug…I missed you so much,” you cry into his shoulder.
“There there now, Grandbuggy’s here for you,” he soothingly says as he rubs your mane.
“But you weren’t. You were gone for years…I thought you were dead,” you bawl as he tightens the hug.
“I know boy, and I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…”
You cry into his shoulder for so long, but surprisingly, it does help. Just like it did in the past.
After you’re done, he pulls back from you and asks,
“Better?”
You sniffle and say, “Yeah, Yeah I’m better.”
“Good. I don’t want no more tears on my shoulder,” he chuckles.
You are about to start asking questions, but he beats you to it.
“So, I take it you got my note?”
“Y-Yes. You said you were launching yourself to the moon. I saw the rockets blast off in the distance.”
“Yeah, well I didn’t make it to the moon. The Doc saw to that,” Grandbuggy shakes his head.
“And I guess the last item on my bucket list can be deleted because you beat me to the punch you dog you,” he gives you a smirk and bops your elbow causing you to blush.
“That’s not quite…the situation is…” you stammer.
What is he insinuating Bugze? Why did he even launch himself to the moon in the first place?
He told me that if he was going to die, he was going to try and bang the mare in the moon.
…What?!
Yeah…ergo why I thought he was dead.
“Oh it’s not eh? I’ve seen the mare’s giving ya the googly eyes. I’m proud of ya. Though I guess it would only take a freaking Goddess to carry your almighty child,” he insinuates with a wink.
…I don’t think I like him all that much, Selena deadpans.
Somewhere in the Conversation
“Look boy, I’m sorry if you thought I was dead, I had…reasons besides the one you’re thinking right now. I even thought I’d left you with a Guardian Angel, but I guess each Regeneration makes him more of a secret keeping arse.” He the shakes his head again, “But look, because of the Doc that situation was only months ago for me, even if it’s been years for you.”
“If it’s only been months, why didn’t you come back?” you ask.
“Because that bastard kept going on and on about the dangers of interfering with fixed points in time that came about because of my absence and blah blah blah,” he explains with a roll of his eyes. “No matter how many times his face changes, the techno speak is always jibber jabber. But he’s usually right.”
“But you still kicked him out and stole the TARDIS?”
He smirks and says, “Tartarus yes. The Doc plucks me off my rocket, takes me years into the future, and tells me that I have to show up to help on the day of the Apploosan Invasion. He then gives me a rundown on your life and well…I guess I kind of snapped over hearing how hard you’ve had it…”
You look down and think of all the hardships you’ve been through.
“Yeah…”
He sighs and says, “Lady Luck cursed us my boy. I’m sorry that she’s had her eye set on you.”
You nod at that, still looking down.
“But yeah, after taking the TARDIS, the only place I knew where you would be in the last few months of Ponyville…so I decided to check up on ya, and my Great Granddaughter as well,” he smiles.
You look up at him at that declaration.
“Was…was that you who pulled me out of the river?” He chuckles at that.
“You bet yer keister. Don’t try to make a habit of going over waterfalls, you nearly gave me a heart attack. And that wasn’t the only time I helped you out.”
You think back on your latest stint in Ponyville.
“You were the one who gave me all the desserts during the reunion weren’t ya?”
“That’s right,” he then flashes green and appears as an Apple Mare, “My name’s Candy Apple, nice to meetcha,” he puts on a different voice.
“I knew I’d met that mare twice in a row,” you say in understanding.
He then changes back.
“That was pretty epic with the bats flying around,” he then lets out a wistful sigh. “Glad to see Smithy happy with all her relatives.”
You then ask, “You mean MY Grandmother?”
He seems surprised at this, before he snarls.
“Oh damnit. Did the Doc let that secret out?”
“No, actually she did, though she doesn’t know I’m her grandson,” you reply.
He sighs and says, “Good. I’d hate for her to find out so harshly,” he then looks to you and says, “And for Pete’s sake, if you knew what you were to them, why were you getting all close with her Granddaughter? Yer cousin’s ya know?”
“I know! But I can’t explain that to her and she won’t leave me alone!” you moan.
Later in the Conversation
“I wanted so bad to tell ya, but even if I don’t like the rules, there’s some things in time I can’t mess with.”
“So…you couldn’t have stopped…Trixie?” you ask in hesitation.
His face loses it’s smirk as he places a hoof on your shoulder.
“I’m sorry boy. I had no clue that was going to happen. I…I know it must have been hard for you…”
You look down as the guilt crawls back up.
“But she’ll get better. There’s always another chance to make things right.”
“What?” you ask in shock. “What do you mean? Trixie’s dead, I killed her.”
He looks confused at this.
“Now wait just a moment, did you think this whole time that she…” your shocked face answers him.
“N-No son, that mare survived.”
“She…she’s alive?” you ask in hope as more tears come to your eyes and you hear Selena sigh in relief.
“Oh boy,” Grandbuggy says as he hugs you again.
After another emotional moment.
“I…I still feel guilt. Even if she didn’t die, I drove her to the point where she tried to kill herself. That’s on me.”
You then look to Grandbuggy. “I can’t forget that guilt, or the lesson’s it’s taught. My actions, my words, and even my inactions have consequences. And I still don’t want anyling else to die…”
“Alright boyo. And I’ll be here to help…if you’ll have me,” Grandbuggy asks.
“I…OK. I don’t care if you were gone for years, just so long as you’re here now,” you say in determination.
“That’s the spirit,” he says as he claps your shoulder. He then looks you over more, nodding in approval at the muscle and scars you’ve gathered.
You’ve changed, but it’s like he hasn’t at all.
“Now, can I please meet my Great Granddaughter properly?”
When Nightshade and Grandbuggy Meet.
“So, you’re my Great Grandbuggy huh?”
“That’s right. But you can call me Grandbuggy if you want, or Quick Fix. Whatever suits ya.”
“Alright. You…you can call me Nightshade,” she says as she reaches a hoof out nervously.
“Oh to heck with that,” he declares as she scoops her up into a bone breaking hug, and it’s really something to see HER on the receiving end of one for a change. She quickly changes the table by returning the hug tenfold
“Oof, watch the old bones. By the way, how goes that throat punching technique I taught ya?”
“That was you?” Nightshade asks in wonder remembering the old stallion at the dessert table.
“Yup. Unlike your dad, I can change like it’s noling’s business.”
When Meeting the OtherWorld Cadence,
Panic rushes to both you and Selena, but Jack explains.
“I know it’s hard seeing her again, but she’s alright. She doesn’t remember the otherworld. She has all of her memories of her life in her village, but she has no idea she ascended. She goes by Mia now.”
You “Meet” her, and she says,
“It’s strange. I feel like that maybe in a past life, you and I knew each other…” she then shakes her head. “Sorry, I get weird ideas sometime. It’s a pleasure to meet you Bugze, and you too Nightmare Moon.”
During The Attack on Canterlot
Brown Dog stares out of a window, mouth wide open. "Did they get fucking xenomorphs on us?!" He says, stumbling back and thinking of any way to kill around ten xenomorphs.
Snap Drake taps his shoulder and points at Erised when Brown Dog turns. "What if we used him to get a few on our side?" He whispers. Brown Dog thinks for a moment, and then nods; it should be much easier to take down those things if some were with them.
Back to the TARDIS
Bugze stares at 'Mia' awkwardly. "Uh... yeah, it's nice to meet you too, Cada-" He quickly corrects himself, seemingly hurrying himself along so he can get away from the alicorn that nearly killed him and Selena. "-Mia, I mean. By the way, her name is Selena..."
Cadance stares at him, tilting her head to the side. "Really? Huh. Well, anyway, what were you gonna say? I think you must've gotten my name confused with someone else." She giggles. "A lot of ponies and changelings get my name confused with that alicorn princesses, so it's okay if it was her."
Bugze slowly nods his head. "Yes. Her. You are not her." Bugze, you are not good at this. I'm trying my best!
With Nightshade
Nightshade stares up at her new 'Grandbuggy'. "...so... what do you do for fun in the TARDIS?" She says nervously.
Grandbuggy chuckles to himself. "Go on adventures, watch movies from the future, eat food-" He lets out an 'oof' as Nightshade tackles him to the ground, muzzle pressed against his.
"HAVE THEY RELEASED THE NEXT DIE HARD YET?!" She shouts, excited. "AND WHAT FOOD DO YOU HAVE I'M STARVING!"
Grandbuggy blinks in confusion. "...I, uh... well, yeah, they have, and we have pretty much everything you could imagine." In his mind he thinks, My grandson gave me the best great granddaughter ever.
With Cadance and Bugze Again, Alternate Version
Bugze stares at Cadance fearfully, not wanting to say anything in front of the alicorn that nearly caused his own death and Selena's.
Cadance stares back, smiling at him happily. Just like- and he sees a crying Cadance standing in front of him, holding an Orichalum sword, ready to attempt cold-blooded murder again. Bodies surrounded her, any happily with Bugze. In the back of his head he can hear, It's not real, Bugze! But it's too late. The memories flood back, all of them, his own DAUGHTER dead by the hands of himself. He collapses to the ground, staring at the floor as tears drop slowly from his eyes to the ground.
Cadance, meanwhile, has no idea what's going on and attempts to get Jack or Grandbuggy for help.
8088455
Dito.
You attempt everything to get the stone circle off your chest, including the use of a sledgehammer...
AFTER PUNCHING YOUR GRANDBUGGY
"THAT'S FOR LEAVING ME!!" you yell with tears in your eyes. He smiles in understanding and proceeds to get back up... your about to help him when-
Bugze, kick that perverts nuts for saying such things!!! Selena says in fury after your grandbuggy said you 'nailed' the mare in the moon.
What, why?! Why don't you do it? you say
That black stone is preventing me from controlling your body, so, would you kindly KICK HIM IN THE NUTS!!!
"Alright son I had that one com-- AHHHH MA' D!&K!!!" your grandbuggy shouts as he holds his favourite body parts. "...why~?" he says as he looks up at you tears in his eyes.
"And that's for Selena!" you say as you hear a satisfied 'hum' from in your head.
8089475
I see my reputation proceeds me. Well, my ego is now tickled pink. Buuut it’s getting tiresome for me to write so much sad stuff. I’m downtrodden, not a sadist! Besides, it's not like I have much to work with about Mia. Here we are:
--------
Childhood
"Grandbuggy, what were me and Chryssalis like?"
---------
Belonging
As the conversation goes on, things are looking up. However, at the corner of your vision, you see Aqua suddenly looking at Mia. Eying the shaded alicorn, she gestures towards you. Mia’s eyes widens, and visibly shakes her head. An audible sigh comes out of the waterbender, earning the attention of everyone else.
“Mia, don’t you have something to say?”
“Aqua, please---”
Then, Aqua suddenly pushes her towards you, startling the alicorn into flaring her wings to keep herself balanced.
“Come on,” Aqua urges, “It’s not like you’ll have much of chance later. You’ve been antsy about it since the mission detail.” Then, she gives a glance at you and smirks. “Besides, I’d like my partners to get along.”
Partners, huh? Even after getting a new job, she still counts her trust on you beyond it. At that, you smile back. You then look towards Mia, who composes herself before you.
Pony eyes meet your changeling ones, and the memories came streaming forth. Tears, fire, explosions, pain, falling and darkness; You barely clench your jaw in time to prevent a gasp. Nervously, you smile.
“H-hello,” you lamely say. “You wanted something?”
“No, I just wished to meet you, Bugze,” Mia says, smiling lightly.
“Oh! Uh, you did?” you sputter, not expecting her to sound so pleasantly happy to meet you. “Might I ask why?”
Although you ask, you fear the answer. Even after everything that happened, you still haven’t come to terms with your near-death experience. The blade, Selena’s sacrifice...you were too focused on finding the Crimson Knights. After the alternative Cadence did to you and what your alternative did to her, the feeling in your gut churls at the thought. In all that time, you’ve been trying to convince yourself that you aren’t that monster, that you can do better.
What good that did now.
Contrary to her shaded coloring, she beams, princess-like. It seems that losing her memories doesn’t detract from who she was subconsciously. “I wanted to meet the one who Aqua knew is all,” she says, almost as though she found an old friend.
You gulp. “Yeah. That’s me.” You remember. But she doesn’t. That fact is clear as day. “You doing good?” you suddenly say.
She nods. “Yes. Life in Torchwood leaves much to be desired, but I wish for nothing more. Why?”
“No reason. Kinda wondered what living in a super secret organization is like,” you doggedly excuse.
“She helped me out adjusting to my new position,” Aqua says, ”but she wouldn’t leave me alone.” Then, she smiles, slyly. “Almost as though she’s bored.”
“Now see here, Aqua, I wasn’t that bad!”
“Ha!” Aqua rolls her eyes with a laugh. “When we first met, you pinned me down for my preferences for a lover!”
Captain Jack pipes in, “She got my technique down perfectly, too! I’ve never been so proud.” Like a doting mentor, he pats the now pinker than normal alicorn on the back. “Shame she only does it to hook up members of Torchwood.”
“I-I,” Mia looks away, a wing over her face in shame. “Is it wrong to ship my friends?”
Aqua shows mercy by concluding her tale. “But I couldn’t answer everything for her. That would’ve been telling. After a while, I bragged about you, she starts taking an interest, and here we are.”
“A-anyways, I hope it wouldn’t burden you if we can get to know each other,“ Mia finally says.
You nod, blinking dumbly. To see her so happy after the literal end of her world… Maybe things aren’t so bad after all? But even so, you don’t know where stand. After Trixie and after Sin, you want closure. Proper closure. No more shoddy conclusions.
Aqua, the only mare you’ve been able to get right with; Mia, the amnesiac alicorn princess who finds a new and content life in Torchwood; and, finally, your Grandbuggy, who is alive and well and has become your emotional pillar once more. They are happy, and you feel that you could belong.
You smile.
“Actually, yeah. I also want to talk.” You look towards Grandbuggy. “If that isn’t too much trouble.”
The implication behind the old bug’s grin isn’t lost to you. He likely has different thoughts in mind. “By all means. Do so.”
To that, you can’t help but smile nostalgically while mentally facehoofing in embarrassment. You’re not sure if you can get back to the rhythm of Grandbuggy’s antics quickly enough before physically doing the deed.
“Grandbuggy, it’s not going to be something weird!”
“Eh, I’ll just let you catch up with your friends for now,” he says, blatantly ignoring what you are saying. “Meanwhile, I’ll just catch up with my great granddaughter! Come on!”
“Wait! I still have more to talk about with you, too!”
“It’s okay! Just nail your ladies first and then we’ll talk all about it!”
“Grandbuggy!” you roar, annoyed.
The bold old bug just laughs it off and wents along, Nightshade in tow, who has a look of wonder and puzzlement as she stares her at supposed great grandfather.
Mia glances between Aqua and you. "Are you two an item?" she suddenly blurts.
"Mia," Aqua says tersely, "You are really bad at this."
"Sorry," she squeaks.
At this, you chuckle.
------------
8091907
This line. This line. THIS LINE!
...
It made me laugh for two god dang minutes. I watch and read too many anime fanfiction, seriously. But still...good job man, good job.
(Not sure what I should be adding, if anything. If this isn't the time for this, please disregard.)
---
This is it. You've got a team, you've got a plan, and you're all geared up and ready to save Appleoosa. But as you stand about to throw the switch that will bring you to the perfect time and place to make a dramatic entrance like the Big Celestia-damned Heroes you are... something stirs to the forefront of your mind.
It's a memory of another time, another place, full of darkness and death. Amid the countless bodies lays one in particular that makes you clench your eyes shut as the pain of seeing it returns, a little filly's corpse: Nightshade's.
"Hold it!" you shout, bringing everyone else's heroic bravado to a screeching halt. "Nightshade, you need to stay in the TARDIS, sweetie."
The parallels are too convenient: Appleoosa, a big fight that the Elements and Princesses are no doubt going to show up to at some point. It's not enough to just keep her tucked away in your Inventory this time, you need to keep Nightshade as far away from the fighting as possible, where she'll be safe, so there's no chance in Tartarus you'll become the Nightmare of your own world.
"But Daaaaaad." Nightshade drones in that indignant way you're becoming all too accustomed to.
"No buts, honey. It's going to be way to dangerous down there for you to-"
"When are you going to stop treating me like a little filly!" she stomps. "I've handled myself just fine in all the other fights I've been in! Heck, I made a dragon my personal nemesis for buck's sake!"
"But you might get- ...hurt." you argue.
"I'm tough." she shoots back.
"But what if-"
"I can take care of myself!"
The two of you argue back and forth like this for some time, until finally Nightshade can't take it anymore. "What aren't you telling me Daddy?!" and the room goes silent.
"Bugze?"
"Jack, you said we have all the time in the world, right?" you ask.
"All the time in every possible world, to be exact." he tells you.
You nod. "Then would all of you kindly give us a minute? I... I need to tell Nightshade a story."
Your group of family, friends and allies throw questioning looks to each other as you and Nightshade walk away.
"Well," Aqua shrugs, "I guess we'll play another round of Mare-io Kart."
"Dibs on Bowser!" Grandbuggy shouts.
===
"So what is this all about, Daddy?" Nightshade asks as the two of you sit opposite one another.
You take a deep breath. You knew you were going to have to tell Nightshade about what happened in the other world someday, but even so, you hadn't prepared for how you were going to do it. So, you start from the beginning.
"Well, this all started when I started seeing the message 'The Nightmare Comes'..."
And so, over what feel like days and weeks, you tell Nightshade about how the Nightmare came to be. There's no room for paraphrasing, or leaving out gory details, just pure, visceral truth. At first Nightshade is in a state of shock, but soon enough her face pales over as she continues to listen. There are questions, more than you thought there would be, but you answer as best you can. In the process of the story, you can't avoid revealing the true identity of 'Mia', and why you're so jumpy around her.
With the last moments of the Nightmare falling to eternal sleep with the Luna Plushie in it's arms, Cadence stabbing you with the orichalcum sword, Selena's desperate attempt to save you by sacrificing her own power, and the tragic fate of the other world that could never be undone, you finally finish the story that, if written out would have probably taken thirteen whole chapters to tell.
"And that's what happened." you tell Nightshade. "That's why I have this scar, and why Mommy was sick for so long. And that's why I'm begging you to stay behind."
"Daddy, I..." Nightshade begins, but shakes her head. "But you're not the Nightmare! You're different! You wouldn't destroy the whole world just because you lost me! Would you?" she asks unsurely.
"I don't know Nightshade." you answer, unsure yourself. "But what I do know is that I love you, Nightshade, Selena loves you too. You're our little filly. I don't know what would happen if we lost you. But I'm afraid." You think back on the horrors you witnessed in the alt-world, terrified that it might be you that commits those atrocities this time. "I don't ever want to be so angry every again, and I never want to take another life. Please Nightshade, I'm begging you... stay here where it's safe, where you can't d- where you won't..."
Your breath hitches, and Nightshade scoots over to hug you, and you hug her back like she might slip away at any moment. Maybe you have been overprotective of her, stupidly overprotective at times, but she's your daughter. What kind of parent wants to see their child killed? What kind of parent could bare that?
You need to save Appleoosa, the one place that truly accepted you, and the one place you feel you can call home. But you've got all the time in the world. Ten more minutes can't hurt.
8092752
I second this, as much as I want to see Nightshade fight.
"Plus I'm stronger now!" Nightshade also states with pride. "In that other world, I didn't have... the opportunity to meet, fight, and train with other ponies and creatures! I fought Discord King Sombra and zombies, trained with mommy, Zecora and some of the deadly six and Spike, and even won a magic duel against Trixie who had the power of an alicorn!" You're about to question the deadly six and Spike training her but she cuts you off by saying, "But... I never got to see for myself what happened in the other world... I don't know what it felt like to witness something like that."
You reach forward and hug her again. "I'm so glad you understand, sweetie. You're a very smart filly for having such a stupid careless father."
She punches you in the gut right there. Hard. "Don't say that! You're not careless or stupid!" She says with a tear in both of her eyes. "And daddy, if I ever see you in trouble somehow, I'm coming straight to save you, and noling or pony will stop me."
I also don't know what to put here. Don't know much about Bugze's grandbuggy or any of the crew members other than the doctor.
8089475
I don't care if he's immortal, if he hits on Nightshade, castrate and geld him. Selena tells you.
8091030
Grandbuggy decides to talk with you one-on-one (Nightshade sent to chat with Aqua).
Bad at speech dialogue, but he basically gives you a "Nut up" speech with the following points;
-He knows about the Nightmare Bugze world (it's what made him snap and kick the Doctor out of the TARDIS)
-He tells you that it's ultimately ones choices that define a pony, pointing out that it was ultimately Trixie's choice to take her own life and Sin's choice to foalnap your daughter (and family comes first and you need to do whatever necessary to protect them)
-Main Part of the Speech: He ultimately points out that while your temper may have gotten you into trouble, your wallowing in your guilt is also just as bad if not worse. At least acting out of anger is still action while freezing up in guilt is unhelpful hesitation. He ultimately states you need to find a balance; Use your anger without being blinded, learn from your mistakes without being frozen by guilt.
You can't help but focus on his words.
"You tried to get it on with Selene!"
"Who?"
"The Mare in the Moon!"
Wait. I just realized something.
Aqua is now with a playcolt, a changeling playcolt, an oblivious changeling playcolt, a former princess of love from another universe, and a filly who probably has reverse harem in Ponyville.
...Well, shit.
oh grandbuggy. it's like a stan lee cameo except far better.
I feel like he should be asking the important questions, like:
where have you been all this time?
how are you alive?
when did you make the bunker?
how did you know where I was?
how did you steal the TARDIS?
and more on their past relationship.
- also talk about what they're going to do now that Bugze has that stone on his chest and see if he can't get it removed somehow TARDIS style >:D
The most emotional moment for me was when trixie stabbed herself and everyone mistook it wrongly again. I just hope Discord gets actually fucked up for what he said to Celestia when Trixie wakes up and tells the truth. Discord despite being 'reformed' is a massive dick towards Bugze still and deserves something in return.
Just remembered something, had to put it in!
---
"By the way Bugzy, I found something interesting in your bags. Besides my great granddaughter I mean!" Grandbuggy says with a hearty laugh before pulling out the item in question: Jetstream Sam's High-frequency Blade. "I also see it hasn't been unlocked yet. Ya haven't just been bashin' ponies on the head with the sheath, have ya?"
You rub your hoof into the floor innocently. "Maybe once..?"
Grandbuggy laughs again and tussles your mane. "Ha-HA! You're my grandson alright! How's about I finally take the trainin' wheels off fer ya?"
"Wait, you mean like... actually unlock it?" you ask, to which your Grandbuggy nods excitedly. You feel strangely conflicted. You couldn't help geeking out when you first picked up that iconic blade, but a lot has happened since then. You realize that, like the rest of the gear you obtained from the bunker, that sword is no mere replica. High-frequency blades can cut through nearly anything... or anyone.
"Grandbuggy, thanks... but no thanks. I want to be done with taking lives, and having a weapon like that isn't going to help. I think it's best for a weapon that can only kill to remain in its scabbard." you explain, but for some reason your Grandbuggy's cheeky smirk is just getting wider and wider.
"Blade lock verification: Rurouni." he says into a tiny speaker near the blade's handle. He then effortlessly draws the bright crimson blade and casually tosses it to you.
You fumble trying to catch it without cutting yourself, but when you do manage, you find something odd about the sword. "The buck? The blade is on the wrong side."
Grandbuggy gives another hearty laugh. "Clever isn't it? I designed that modified blade based on your wings. If you thrum your wings during a swing, the vibrations travel through the sword giving the blunt edge gains a higher impact. And when things get serious, that's when you reverse the blade to the cutting edge for a finishing blow."
You suddenly think back to the Nightmare in the Other-world, and imagine an Infinite Mass Punch honed to the edge of a blade. You shudder slightly at the thought, causing a low metallic to travel across the sword.
"Man, I really hope I never have to use this." you say, carefully resheathing the blade.
Grandbuggy just stares at you for a moment before asking, "Boyo, what happened to you?"
You're about to once again break into an explanation about your guilt and your shame and your want to never kill again, but the old bug just holds up a hoof. "That was rhetorical. I know all about what you've been through; been watching it all. Some moments have never made me more proud..." he pauses with a tear of pride in his eye as he remembers you piecing together your harem. "But for crying out loud, stop being such a sissy!"
From there it's an easy transition to the 'Nut up' speech from 8095911
After everything happen, Bugzee follow his grandbuggy to what seems the control room of the TARDIS.
"Okay, now that we are ready, let's do the honor... Bugzee!" Say Grandbuggy smiling and waiting as he look to his grandson
"Pull the lever! Bugzee!" Say Grandbuggy as he stand behind him.
Bugzee look at the button and many levers and pull one of them, making a trap door open under grandbuggy as he fall in.
"Wrong lever Boya! Gah! When was the last time we cleaned here, I don't want to know what is this jelly thing, we need to take care of the mouses and since when do we have that many traps?" Can be heard from the hole as it seems the grandbuggy try to return
After Grandbuggy return, Nightshade appear and look at them
"UUhhh Many pretty switchs and levers... Can I press one?" Ask Nightshade
"Err... Not sure if..." Begin to say Bugzee when he is interrupted by his grandbuggy
"Of course! anything for my grandniece!" Say smiling Grandbuggy
Nightshade go to the console and press a button, just then a voice is heard
"The self destruction had been activated... Repeat! the self destruction had been activated, all personnel proceed to the emergency exits!" Begin to say a automatic voice that seems very similar to Luna
Grandbuggy and Bugzee both facehoof as he begin to press buttons to cancel the self-destruction.
"Okay, We need to go to Ponyville and Canterlot, get the Elements and the prin-"
"Bad idea." everyone on the TARDIS interrupts
"WHAT?!" you and Nightshade yell.
"We got a bucking army attacking Appleloosa! We need all the firepower we can bucking get!" you add.
"Celestia and the Elements have their own event going o-" Jack adds.
"Unless it's something 'Fixed Point in Time', I'm pretty sure A BUCKING ARMY DEVOURING MY HOME TAKES PRIORITY!" you interrupt in the Royal Canterlot Voice.
"Actually it is-" Jack tries to say before Grandbuggy interrupts.
"%&$%, think about it! You're the most Wanted fugitive in Equestria and that was BEFORE it made the front page that you got Nightmare Moon living in your head. They'll blast you on sight with the Elements before ya could get one syllable out!"
=====================
Realize that Discord surprisingly hasn't popped in and grabbed you yet. Grandbuggy and Jack explain that Chrysalis's influence through upgraded Sin and the TARDIS's cloaking tech in currently keeping you invisible from Discord's magic.
8102449
One of the levers Nightshade presses in a panic dumps a pile of jelly babies on your head.
8102781
"Believe me boya, if there was a way we could do it, but it's for the greater good" Say Grandbuggy
"I don't care about the greater good, we need to help somehow!" Say Bugzee
"I can think a way... But I don't like it" Say Selena taking control of Bugzee mouth
"What? Surely anything could be better" Comment Bugzee
"They want a enemy, they want us... Let's give them us in silver plate, those mares followed me to the everfree forest, surely they could not worry to follow us to Appleloosa" Say Selena
"Are you suggesting that we use you and my grandson as bait?" Ask Grandbuggy
"No! Mommy! surely there is another way... Maybe we can contact The Doctor, or send a note to miss Cadence with the magical mailbox, you don't need to be a bait!" Say Nightshade as she hug Bugzee
"She is true, there must be another way" Say Bugzee
Forget the last answer in my last comment about the most sad or emotional thing in season 3, the saddest moment, for me, was the minor realization of Nightshade's immortality when Trixie tried to use the age spell on her.
We're not sure, as of yet, but Bugze doesn't seem to be immortal unlike Selena and Nightshade. And she could lose him in the future. Not to mention the CMC and other foals and adults she made friends with.
The only one she'll truly have for a long time will be Spike, and Selena if she lives on.
Unlike Trixie's suicide and Selena's confession of Nightshade being born, this will permanently damage Nightshade's mind once she realizes this for herself, and it'll be in the back of her head while the ones she loves live their lives.
I may be thinking too hard on this, but it came to my mind when the Magic Duel chapter first came out.