"Why you traitorous mountain of spoiled oats," Grinder hissed at Dalton, sliding a hoof forward.
The air heated up with a dozen tasers pointed straight at his horns.
The ram froze in place, glaring at the whole group of Enforcers with flaring nostrils. "I knew you were dirty from the moment I saw your mustache. I don't care if they have your grandchildren's grandchildren and their grandchildren's granchildren's kittens held captive somewhere. You're a no good snake in the grass!"
"He's a dedicated, loyal stallion of the Ledomaritan Confederacy," Shell said, strolling by and planting a hoof on Dalton's shivering shoulder. "Which is the least I can say about the whole lot of you." He took a breath. "But it matters little." Reaching over to Pilate, he once again jostled the glistening shape of the sphere dangling from the zebra's wincing neck. "You have all performed admirably for our Queen, whether or not all of you were anywhere as dedicated as my associate here. And now I have far better means of accessing the door than the subject could ever have given me. However, a stubborn zebra is hardly any better than a comatose pegasus, but I'm sure he'll become cooperative. We'll just have to come to an agreement between here and the door."
Shell whistled. Four of the Enforcers marched up at attention while the others remained trained on Belle and Grinder.
"Take them to Delta Wing," Shell ordered, motioning with his horn towards the far side of the facility. "Wait for me there, and we'll all take the express lift to Black Level and finish this experiment once and for all."
"If you think for one second that I'm going to help you open up that giant, metal mess—" Pilate started to hiss.
"You can and you will open the door for us with O.A.S.I.S.," Shell said, his cold eye narrowing on him. "Or would you rather be wearing your beloved instead of burying her tomorrow?"
Pilate gasped. Tears sprang from his eyes as he was carted away, along with Dalton. He tilted his head towards Belle and stammered, "Belle... Oh, darling, I-I'm so sorry..."
"Don't h-help them with anything, Pilate!" Belle whimpered, her eyes moist as she trembled under the weight of the unconscious pegasus. "Don't give in—"
"Don't hurt her!" Pilate sobbed, struggling weakly with the uniformed stallions carrying him and the glowing orb away. "Please! I beg you—"
"Pilate, I love you!" Belle managed, seething through chattering teeth. Her eyes twitched upon the glow of several tasers lining up in front of her. Looking up, she caught Shell's gaze from afar.
"You've always been a clever pony, Doctor Bellesmith," Shell said as he stood behind his line of glaring soldiers. "You should know that the swiftest experiments are always the least painful." His horn glowed, and he buffed the vibrancy of the deadly tasers in his stallions' telekinetic grips. "Do not resist, and it will all be over."
Belle breathed her last breath—
A cold schwish emanated behind them.
Belle looked over her shoulder. The elevator had arrived, and its door was wide open.
All of the soldiers' eyes flinched to look at it.
And that was precisely when—
"Nnngh!" Grinder jumped in front of Belle and bucked her back with his rear legs.
"Ooof!" Belle tumbled back. Her and Rainbow Dash's bodies went toppling loosely into the elevator car.
"Go!" Grinder snarled, for he was already bounding forward and goring his horns hard into a screaming guard. "Nnnnngh—Time for some good ol' fashion pain, ya beret wearin' spitjobs!"
Belle's eyes twitched. She reached up with her rear hoof—struggling under the limp body of Rainbow Dash to reach an elevator button, any button. She finally struck a node pointing "down" and slapped her hoof against a crystal lever. "Unngh!" The car filled with the resonating hum of mana.
"Raaaaugh!" Grinder slammed his way through two more guards. A taser swung at his woolly side, spilling blood. "Gghhh—Haugh!" He slammed into the stallion's side. Two Enforcers tackled his body. He shrugged them off, snarted, and galloped down the hallway and straight at Shell with a blood-curdling yell.
Shell didn't flinch. Breathing still, he calmly unolstered a metal weapon from his side. Red crystals lit the air as he unfolded the barrel of a levitating gun and cocked it.
"And you!" Grinder's eyes hardened as he performed a bounding leap. "Biggest waste of spit of all!"
"Duly noted." Shell aimed the gun forward and shot a bolt of magic into it. A clap of thunder filled the corridor as a crystal shard sailed out the barrel and flew through Grinder's forehead.
The last thing Belle saw as the doors closed was the ram's body sliding to the ground in front of the Prime Enforcer's hooves. Her ears ached from a loud ringing noise; the crystal had embedded into the wall of the car above her stubby horn. Blood dripped liberally from the soaked shard as it vibrated to a stop.
The unicorn's mouth hung open.
With a cold hum, the closed car slid icily down the shaft.
ouch
Ouch.
Ooh.
That seems considerably more powerful than the Darkstinian manarifles
Damn. I was really hoping Grinder would be able to Hulk his way through the Enforcers long enough to at least give Shell something to think about. But his sacrifice allowed Belle, Pilate, and RD to escape, so at least it wasn't in vain.
Whoa.
1805367
As far as I can tell, Pilate didn't make it to the elevator. He was carried off.
Subject: Grinder
Suffix Title Obtained: "The Hero"
Preview: "Grinder, the Hero"
-Minty
(How could you kill Grinder...?)
1805367
1805408
Just Belle and RD, hence "Beloveds Apart."
The imagery in that last part of the scene, phew, that's crazy. So I guess it's a race then, yeah? Who can get to the door first?
I love scenes like this one where you can totally envision it happening in a cinemeatic landscape.
This is why you never trust a man with a mustache.
Grinder...
Shit just hit the fan. Again.
1805428 I found that hilarious on two points: one, because of the story. Two: because I am a man with a mustache
Four updates in one day. When I saw, I lost my mind
This sure beats random Chinese tv. 4 chapters in a day, Woohoo!
----
Noooo grinder!
Whyyyyyyyy?
He died as the ram he was, a kind, helpful, loyal ram.
So with their main source of protection gone, and the entire force of enforcers awake of them, and looking for them, and Pilate may or may not be with them. Ummm. Yeah, I think shit hit the fan.
Onwards!
Oh, Grinder.
I could definitely see this chapter as being a scene from a movie: it had great action, was fast paced, and even had the bad guy giving a bad-ass one-liner. I feel pretty bad for Grinder, but his death was pretty obviously going to happen
Aw, damn. R.I.P. Grinder - he alone knew the true power of Dalton's wily stache. Even though I knew it was going to happen, I wish the poor guy had made it out somehow. Belle/Dash will avenge you! Well this was a multiple chapter update, so you know what that means? Onward!
I...l...NO
GRINDYKINS
Well. I predict imminent shitstorm within the next few chapters. Prisonbreak one and all.
Of course Shell carries a hand cannon. That appears to also use gems... hmm. Feels just the slightest bit EoP, but might just be me.
Well, RD, ya better wake up soon.
a cat help to think what CC did about the cut off... he wasn't one to leave things at "oh well, i tried". wonder if the unicorns of darkstine will make a reappearance.
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
Well, I guess Grinder is now dead. He was such a brave and loyal ram...but it unnerved me how nonchalant Shell was about killing him. It was like he didn't care that Belle got away because he knew that he would get her back. It really tells a lot about Shell's character. Everything has already been said by Pilate,( the user, not the zebra,) so...yeah. These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
At least it was painless......I hope
Getting real tired of your shit Shell.
>he calmly unolstered a metal weapon
I'll un-'olster you, ya gay sack o' crap!
No! Grinder! Why? Why? So sad...
Damn it Grinder! Your a god damned hero, and a fool!
3686828
Holster mah dick. It'll make you feel better.
Unfortunate end to a hero.
1945365 Shell has killed hundreds of lives. in cluding his dearest love. It doesnt matter what reasoning one gives for doing so. After youve killed so many times, ESPECIALLY torturing and killing your wife, killing will become easy. Shell is a rock hard, stone cold killer. 'nuff said.
Started up with "More".
And holy shit, GRINDER! Dammit, you were the only one with true fire in your spirit
Goodnight, dumb prince ;_;
1805416 more like "Grinder, An Hero"
Well there goes the only oc I genuinely liked.
Well, Grinder was certainly a hardheaded old goat.
...but not thick-skulled.
Grinder, noooooooo!
In Soviet Equestria...
Oh, Grinder. You were gone too soon. And only a few days before retirement, too...
Man, Shell has just plain devolved into cruel, heartless murderer.
Dash, you might wanna wake up now.
...Any second now would be great.
...Aaaaaaaany second now...
I liked Grinder, but we all saw this coming. That doesn't mean I'm not saddened by it, though.
1805428
Yeah that Mario guy was a real fucker.
meanwhile, Hitler is angry someone is living up to his cruelness
Raaaciiist~
『Grinder』 has been slain...
All we can hope to do is make his sacrifice worth it. I wonder if Rainbow will ever get to talk to him on the other side.
08/27/2019
03:10 UTC
nO
wHAT-
O7
Damn, rest in peace Grinder, the best side character in this series... after Steelteeth. And Cold Canter. And Gold Petals.