Master Control Pony
Madame Nightshade's breaths came out in shuddering spurts as she knelt quietly besides Novus' bedside. A pair of soundstones flanking the health monitors played a gentle symphony, recorded years ago. It crackled with antique static, causing the mare's ears to twitch every now and then.
Suddenly, the door to the room opened. A frenzied stallion in a disheveled suit leaned through the doorway. "Uhm... M-Madame Nightshade? Ma'am? Uhm..." Sir Ordo gulped and put on a fractured smile. "We have... uh... something of a pr-problem..."
She looked up, her eyes moist. Rubbing her lids dry, she cleared her throat and stood from Novus' side. "Ordo, I have told you on several occasions..." She swiveled about with an icy frown. "Unless it is a moment of dire emergency, I am not to be disturbed while visiting my brother while he's still—"
"It's the sequencing room, ma'am," Ordo blurted. "It's sealed off. I've... uh... I've ordered a security detachment and an engineering team to try and bypass the outer door." He gulped. "We... uh... we have reason to believe that the ring team has been compromised."
Nightshade stared at him, her eyes steely from beneath the brim of her sunhat. At last, she firmly uttered, "Show me."
After minutes of traversing hallways and offices, Ordo led his superior to the end of the corridor where a busy cluster of ponies were gathered. They were engaged in an intricate operation, taking the wall apart and needling through the crystal mana conduits located within. Stallions and mares in uniforms droned orders to one another as they collectively struggled to open the door from the outside.
"I had to leave briefly in order to gather some files sent in from the think tank. Uhm..." Ordo shifted his weight from his left limbs to his right as he stood nervously besides the mare. "As you well know, we're just two symbols away—possibly three—from ascertaining the last bits of the seal for the zeppelin's energy core. The last I checked on the foals, all twelve of them were dreaming away with the machine operating at peak efficiency."
Nightshade sighed through her nostrils. "Whoever's in there, somepony must have infiltrated from the opposite end of the laboratory."
"But how?!" Ordo made a face. "Madame, there's only two ways to get on this floor! One is the elevator and the other is through a balcony hatch that's sealed from the inside! If I had been given a security team to watch the foals in sequencing from the get-go, then perhaps I could have—"
"A team of stallions and mares with weapons is the last thing the Xonan children need to see," Madame Nightshade droned. "They need to be focused on the sequencing, nothing else. Besides... I only want them to fear one thing."
"Right... uhm... b-but of course, Madame..." Ordo shivered. "I'm sorry, Madame. This is all my fault. If I hadn't been multitasking, then I could have—"
"You have always been loyal to me, Ordo. Do not prepare yourself for the gallows just yet." Pivoting, Madame looked towards the next two doorways. "Is there any sign that the sequencing has been terminated?"
"Uhhh... no, ma'am. Myself and the guards sense all twelve of them inside, still slumbering."
"Right..." Madame marched up to one of the twin doors and pulled open a panel. Using her hoof, she inputted a code, and then the door slid open to reveal an infirmary. Lights flickered to life, casting a pale sheen to the white, white interior. "Tell security to send another team, then shut down all elevators. I don't want them to escape the same way they may have come up."
"Who might 'they' be, Madame?" Ordo asked, nervously stumbling after her. "The Council of Ledo? Xonan agents?"
"I intend to find that out," Nightshade said. She pulled a lever, and a compartment in the wall slid open, revealing a bed with sequencing wires attached to it. "Keep trying to open the door, although I would suspect that I will get to them first."
"And... And what of the foals?" Ordo asked.
Nightshade took off her sunhat, revealing a stubby horn. "They will follow my orders," she said, attaching the first of many wires to her head as she slid onto the bed. "They always do..."
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she has a stubby horn as well? o.0
and she's going to the sequencing world!
dun dun duuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnn~
Awwwwww..... Nightshade is going to ruin the mind connection party. Those foals are going to a place where stars don't shine if she finds them...
Uh oh, are our heroes about to be attacked by a a hoard of mind controlled foals?
Uh oh...
Time for Nightshade to handle things personally.
Boss fight!
We should have known, now Belle gets to meet Nightshade in person (kinda). I wonder what her reaction will be, surely not what we expect.
Dis sounds gooood.
It's never good when the big boss gets into the fray. Though she may have her sequencing-chops put to the test with Belle. It'll be interesting to see how the foals play into this. Will Nightshade be able to control them directly, or will they still have some autonomy? If the latter, they may just choose to face their fears and side with Belle, sensing, as they do, her connection to Austraeoh. One way or another, we're likely to see one heck of a confrontation. It'll be fun to watch.
So that's why she always has a large hat on...
fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
Yeah well, Belle isn't the pathetic loser we started out with. I reckon she's pretty capable of kicking arse and taking numbers. Belle has the most sequencing experience I reckon.
If this turns into a Matrix fight sequence, I would be so happy. I think, though, we're going to get something far trippier.
Nightshade's get-up suddenly reminds me of the Mare-Do-Well costume. She is much less intimidating now.
2720413
I think 'pathetic loser' might be a bit strong.
Dr. Bellesmith is a respected academic. She is an innovator, and possesses a keen mind.
Like many academics, she was unaccustomed to and intimidated by violence and physical confrontation.
Like many academics, she has persevered and pushed herself out of her comfort zone to do what she must, because she can.
There is no sense in dwelling on her past, longing for what once was, and crying over every mistake. She knows she must keep on trying until she runs out of... options, and then take the path of least resistance. She will keep pushing on, for those who are still alive.
Dr. Bellesmith is an academic. Academics can rise to a challenge. Academics can adapt.
Dr. Bellesmith was afraid because she was unaccustomed to situations like the one she found herself in, in Blue Shelf. She was afraid for her beloved. This was not cowardice. Calling her 'pathetic' for being overwhelmed in such a situation is unfair. Naive, perhaps. Sheltered? Quite possibly. She might have been a prodigy. Pathetic? I don't think so. Rainbow Dash does not hang with pathetic ponies.
As for calling her a loser? I'm at a loss. How did you arrive at THAT conclusion?
2720435
Sorry to burst your bubble, but as awesome that would seem I don't think Belle has any experience waking physics while sequencing.
2720667
I've experiments to run.
There is research to be done.
On the ponies who are still alive.
And believe me I am still alive.
I'm doing Science and I'm still alive.
I feel FANTASTIC and I'm still alive.
While you're dying I'll be still alive.
And when you're dead I will be still alive.
STILL ALIVE
Still alive...
I don't imagine having your arse kicked whilst being sequenced is the most pleasant experience.
2720998
YOU PLAY PORTAL?!? 
2721179
I got to, what, chamber 5? Then I got distracted by ponies. But I have seen the walkthroughs of 1 and 2, read up on some plot points I missed on the wikis, read "Lab Rat", Looked at Rattman caves. And listened to a few of the songs. I decided to print out the score for "Still Alive" and "Want you gone" for some reason.
I also thought about how a creative person, using a airless tube with portals at both ends can make a particle accelerator cannon. Oh wait, the Immortal Game taught me that.
Oh, fun! There's a secondary secondary entrance! I'd call it tertiary, but it's probably meant to be on the same level as the one Belle is using. Sounds like Belle's gonna have to worry about Nightshade a lot sooner than she thought she would have to.
2719216
2719912you sure it wasn't a giant hat?
BOSS INCOMING...
That's what I call dedication. Nothing more dangerous than a powerful will and a capable mind, pushing into the wrong direction.
I may very well be wrong, but I get the feeling that something in here foreshadows the foal rebelling. Imagine Nightshade being kicked out of her own dream and waking up like
Wouldn't that be a sight for sore eyes.
2721179 Everyone plays Portal.
Ceterum censeo Searinem delendam esse. There's another thing everyone should do.
I like Nightshade. A lot.
I reckon her and Belle will talk this out rather than resort to RBD tactics of engaging Boss battles.
Ah, crap. Also, now we know why Nighty's so overkill on the sunhat. Stubby Horn Syndrome (or SHS as its more commonly known) is no joke, people.
IIIIIt's Dashie's Eleventh Marathon Evaluation Time!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, nice! This was...oh, wow, this was a good twist. You, sir Imploding, are awesome! I certainly didn't see this one coming. You never cease to amaze me.
Uh...yeah, that's pretty much it. I can only imagine Nightshade's face when she learns that she's got Innavedr and half of Eljunbyro locked up...These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
P.S. Okay, six left. I can totally do this.
Why do I recognize Nightshade's voice?
Why can I hear Nightshade's voice?
What a twist!
-SPirit
Now for some real mind games~
What is this, the Matrix? Holy shit, it is the Matrix!
Ah damn, our second boss fight in the fic is coming up, I can feel it! I don't want to go ahead and call arc climax just yet, given how RD and co haven't caught up yet...
Yet it could just be that Belle will hide behind a shield of foals when Nightshade comes a-knocking...
2788157 heh, no kidding. That spark stuff.....very intrigueing. Im replying to this comment so that i dont accidentally spoil for people on Eljunbyro
Incoming battle of wits in the dreamscape.
I was not expecting this.
Because they did not know they had another choice. They soon will, and you will lose all of your power over them
.
05/14/2017 22:30 UTC
Man, it would have been way easier for them to ambush Ordo instead of locking him out...
Oh shit. Sequence war!
It's like James Cameron's Avatar all over again! Only Matrix style!
I only have one question now: will you take the blue pill or the red pill?