"The world as we know it is dying," Onyxxus' recorded image spoke. The deep booming voice echoed through the halls of Darkreach. "Ages ago, we set out to plant a garden of harmony and peace—but that garden is starting to wither away. There are very few of my kind left who first cultivated this living, growing world. The tools that we used may yet be restored. The key to this is accessing the Harmonic Prism located within Midnight Armory, situated on the Dark Side. But we cannot venture there as we are right now. There are far too many hazards and unknown dangers acting as impenetrable blockades. To confront this, we have established Darkreach... our first bastion of harmony on the Dark Side. With the combined efforts of mortal and immortal kind, we may just yet mount up a crusade to acquire the relic of life-giving harmony and restore this world to what it was originally blessed to be..."
"Hrmmmff..." Logan folded his forelimbs. "Poor ideological god-sap. Shit didn't work the way he expected it to, did it?"
"Shhhh!" Ariel frowned, glaring aside. "Have some respect!"
"Hey—his heart was in the right place! But take a look around us!" Logan exhaled. "I'm just saying... Mortuana had a waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better track record! And even that was sketchy as buck."
Kepler sighed. "Therre is grrave trruth to ourr brrotherr's rrambling, sadly."
"Onyxxus' bloodline was dying," Ariel muttered, staring at the speaking hologram. "Darkreach was the best thing he could manage, given the circumstances."
"Yeah, well..." Logan's nostrils flared. "Maybe he should have given it the ol' college try a lot sooner... instead of heaping it onto the shoulders of so many unlucky mortals."
Wildcard gestured something with his right talon.
"The prrevailing patterrn of things as of late," Kepler translated.
"Uh huh..."
Scampering hoofsteps. Flynn bounded up into the room, panting. "We're at over eighty percent juice! How's it looking!"
"We're being talked to by a long dead Emeraldinian god-king," Ariel said. "You did good."
"Whew! Awesome!" Flynn grinned. "You know, sometimes I even amaze myself—"
"Shut up and take notes, Baldy," Logan grunted.
Flynn jumped in place. Floundering, he levitated a pad of paper and began scribbling on it with black ink. "It's... it's a repeatable message, Big Show. All I gotta do is just switch a lever now and he'll give his lecture all over again."
"I know. I just don't want to hear your self-righteous ego-stroking. Now take notes."
"Mrmmmmm..." Flynn did just that, begrudgingly.
While the rest of the Herald paid attention to the message, Rainbow Dash shuffled numbly into a corner of the common room and sat down.
"... ... ...?" Rarity and the others looked over. "Weak in the knees, darling?"
"It's not stadium seating in here, Dashie!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "Stand up if you wanna see the climax!"
Rainbow was hardly in the mood. She trembled as she glanced up at the turned heads of the Herald. "You've heard one rambling alicorn, you've heard them all."
"Indeed." Rarity rubbed her dainty chin. "They do appear to be quite prone to... self-indulgent monologues."
"What's botherin' you, sugarcube?" Applejack asked.
Rainbow swallowed a lump down her throat. "What m-makes you think that something's bothering me?"
"Because I'm me and you're you." Applejack frowned. "Now spill it."
Rainbow bit her lip.
Twilight Sparkle floated closer. "It's... it's Discord again, isn't it?"
Rainbow hung her head with a sigh.
"Rainbow..." Applejack sighed. "We ain't gonna get anywhere if you dun level with us. Haven't you learned—?"
"He was trying to talk me into shooting up all my friends," Rainbow Dash said.
Applejack blinked. "... ... ...whelp."
Rainbow grimaced. "Yeah... ... ..."
"Was..." Twilight Sparkle squirmed. "...he serious?"
Rainbow frowned. "No, Twilight, he just likes to spit out suggestions of spontaneous homicide for kicks!"
"Well, Rainbow, he is Discord," Rarity said glibly.
Rainbow raised a hoof... faltered... then relented with a sigh. "True enough."
"If you ask me, he's just tryin' to get under yer skin," Applejack said.
"Well he's doing a dang good job of it," Rainbow grunted.
"I'm sorry, Rainbow," Twilight said. "The girls and I—we aren't doing a good enough job of shielding you from him. Maybe if... if we all concentrated or meditated or—"
"He does whatever he wants whenever he wants, Twi," Rainbow droned. "I can't expect you guys to keep tabs on him twenty-four-hours a day..." She rolled her eyes. "Heh... as if 'days' matter here on the Dark Side."
"We get it, Dashie," Pinkie Pie said, her ears folded. "It's just tough when we can't sense or hear him like you can."
"Why would he want you to off yer buddies and pals?" Applejack remarked.
Rainbow frowned. "Does it matter?"
"I think it does." Applejack tilted her head back. "From what little we knew of Discord... it seemed obvious that he enjoyed tormentin' ponies."
"Or just trolling them!" Pinkie said.
Twilight squinted at her. "'Trolling...'?"
Pinkie bore a smug grin. "You really should have spent more time on the World Wide Whinny."
"Pinkie, there is no such thing."
"Well maybe there should be!"
"From the sound of it, I think not."
"Point is..." Applejack cleared her throat. "Discord seems to have the most fun with everypony bein' alive for him to rule over all chaotic-like." She squinted at Rainbow. "So why would he want all yer friends dead?"
"It's... it's just the notion that chills me to the bone," Rainbow muttered. "I'm getting the impression that Discord has... more or less witnessed most of the stuff I've been through... that we've been through." She clenched her teeth. "I think his sense of humor has darkened from all that."
"He's simply trying to harass you!" Rarity upturned her nose. "Nothing more! Nothing less!"
"That's just it, Rarity," Rainbow Dash muttered. She gazed at Seraphimus—her charcoal brown eyes reflecting Onyxxus' translucent glowing figure. "I can't afford to settle for more or less. I need to know what I'm dealing with. Concretely and exactly."
Silence—save for the regal tone of the deceased alicorn.
Twilight looked over at the fairest of the ghostly mares. "Fluttershy? You've been silent for a while. What are your thoughts on the matter?"
"Wuh oh..." Pinkie Pie flinched. "It's never a good thing when Flutters has been quiet for a while."
"Don't be silly, darling!" Rarity waved a hoof. "Our beloved Fluttershy is just being her usual meek self!" She looked over. "Isn't that right, Fluttershy—oh goodness!"
Fluttershy's pupils had shrunken to pinpricks. She shivered all over and her wings drooped. "Uhm... girls...?"
Rainbow stared at her, heart skipping. "What's the matter, Fluttershy?"
"I... I think I'm sensing something all of a sudden..."
"What?" Pinkie leaned forward. "A flock of midnighters?"
"Chaos varmints stampedin' our way?" Applejack asked.
Rainbow gulped. "Is... is it Discord?"
Fluttershy shook her head, trembling some more. "I... I'm not sure what it is. But... but this is now lit up and so bright and active..." She grimaced, glancing at Rainbow. "... ... ...something hidden deep in Darkreach has awoken."
There is no fourth wall
I totally called it! Ha!
I hope it's not more Smooze, otherwise they're all doomed. They don't have the Sword of Solstice, and I doubt the enchantment would have lasted in the Dark Side anyways.
Well, it is about that time for some conflict.
God, the 56neigh connection would be adorable.
I'm just about to go to sleep and then all of a sudden BAM! Update!
RIP the Fourth Wall
Fuckin' KNEW it!
Don't worry Fluttershy, that's just the midboss for this dungeon.
And if the Light Side trek darkened Discord's sense of humor, dudes gonna be downright macabre before we get even halfway through this Dark Side bullshit.
Of course there had to be a hibernating monster of some kind where they established base camp, that is just narrative rules. Question is, friendly or hostile?
8304810
It's a Balrog.
Man if Discords sense of humor really has darkened over everything that happened this is very bad. He's far more dangerous than I thought he might be.
Whelp let's hope it's friendly! It's not gonna be friendly
Technically and practically, Darkreach is a cave. We all know what happens to the Austraeoh in caves.
Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat's not good.
...is this what we get for me sayin there's no way that another abomination would happen to be in a massive, long abandoned place outfitted with a hologram projector of a long dead equine?
8304817
If it is I could easily see Flynn or Kepler pulling a Gandalf. Whatever it is, it has to be at least partially organic for Fluttershy to be sensing it, so that scraps my original theory that there were automated defenses in Darkreach that would activate with the power back on.
Actually....never mind.
Well here it comes.
Uh oh....
8304884
Understatement of the week, right there.
I'm honestly surprised that Dash hasn't tried just reacting to Discord whenever he says something, I think Logan would have gotten a kick out of hearing her sarcastically agree with Discord.
If nothing else, it'd be a way to let the Herald know when he's messing with her.
She really needs to tell them when he does that.
-Through the path long forgotten, into the darkness long begotten. Ofolrodi.
Well that's ominous. Maybe it's something awesome, like some kind of artificial intelligence cyborg pony. Another more decked out Roarke.
Dun! Dun!! Dunn!!!
Too deep, greedily; etc.
Did they try to create it so they could fight their way to the Armory, or is it something, or someOne they captured.
To rule is to govern.
But to Queen, is Divine?
Oh shit, looks like we got new friends incoming. This'll be fun.
8304830
Plot twist, It's EPCOT : P
As near as I can figure, there are two possibilities:
1.) It's some kind of beastie, very possibly the same one responsible for Darkreach being abandoned. Seems obvious enough.
2.) Some unexpected lone survivor of Darkreach, potentially even an ally. Though if that's the case, it's unlikely that it's a pony, assuming that it's been some time since Dark Reach was inhabited. It would have to be something very long-lived. An out-there part of me wonders if it's Onyxxus himself. I don't know why he would be hanging around there after all this time, but to my memory we don't actually know what happened to him. I also recall that the last time the gondola was used before Rainbow was to take someone to the Dark Side.
I dunno. I'm shooting in the dark. And they might be too, soon enough.
Yep. Chalk up another one for Dashie's terrible spelunking adventures. Also, inb4 it's a face-hugger.
Somebodies not leaving Darkreach alive. Who will wear the shroud, and who's tears will be shed?
I am not surprised. When you fire up a system, you get the whole package. Whatever it is that woke up, it can be either good or bad.
Here are some of my more plausible theories:
1) The base has a flock of automatons which needed the system reboot to get new instructions (could be both good and/or bad, depending on their condition and instructions)
2) The lower levels are infested with chaos creatures that were contained by the shutdown of certain areas (obviously bad)
3) There are still some ponies left who could give intel on the situation and help Rainbow along her journey (I am thinking about something like cryopods; good option)
Given that Fluttershy reacted to the awakening rather than Twilight, it's more likely to expect scenario 2 or 3, as they both include actual living creatures instead of animated magical metal boxes.
Seraphimus is going to have another meltdown, isn't she?
Obligatory Cliffhanger Stinger
Oh goody, it had been quite a lot of consecutive chapters with no physical combat.
Hmm, it's strange that Fluttershy is so terrified of whatever she sensed. You would think she would be excited to finally be of use to Rainbow with her talent, so if she is so worried I'm guessing whatever is out there is either very large or very unfriendly.
It's also nice to see Seraphimus slowly working her way back to some semblance of sanity, though I still can't see her being an actual member of the team for some time yet. Perhaps this new situation will give her a chance/choice to join the Herald. The enemy of my enemy, and all that.
Stasis pods that held the most friendly of Darkreach.......right?
Whatever it is, it is organic, not notably magical and it stirred when power was turned back on. Stasis pods are a possible option indeed - though my mind is still with SOMA, though less like the Construct and more like the last human...
On another note, it is remarkable how much the Dark Side is influencing everyone already, even though none of its inhabitants, none of its obvious dangers have gotten anywhere near them yet. Magically assisted or not, the sheer knowledge of where they are has created a level of tension that is bound to blow up in their faces at some point.
8305334
I hope you're right. We need more EPCOT in our lives, lol.
Oh crap oh crap oh crap oh crap!
One hundred-chapter action scene incoming in 3...2...1...
Cheers for the dungeon boss coming up, maybe we'll get to see Sera joining in, since she saw what the edgy dark Alicorn had to say
Woo cliffhangers.
Who doesn't enjoy cliffhangers.
Not me
8304810
Maybe it will be even more yhen his bloodthrist humor can handle? Just push him so far he comes out the oyher end?
Something has awoken...
Speaking of trolling, since the dark side was first described I have been wanting to see certain creatures from a previous Skirts story that thrived in the twilight.
8306160
with massive reverb.
Looks like the Emeraldinians dug too greedily and too deep.
durandal.dnsalias.net/imgur/KXPPv7h.jpg
Can't give him a prolonged meal of distress and anxiety if the bugger downstairs* wants you as a quick snack.
*Well, unless it ends up being Discord's basement dwelling cousin.
And now, it is time to enter battle with the malevolence behind the end of Darkreach....
i.imgur.com/ZXeDoqI.gif
We had 45 chapters and not a single fight scene. IC couldn't wait anymore, here it comes !
8304817
This foe is beyond any of you...
8305496
Replicators.
Stargate SG1, if you're curious. Little self-building, self-directing modules that cannibalize metal and semiconductors to make more of themselves. Basic self-replicating nanite swarm, but scaled up to a chip level instead of a Death Swarm or Black Tide. They typically assemble into a drone form that looks like a small, metal hexapod, are as vulnerable as their scavenged material, and tend to wreak havoc everywhere they go. They once ate a sunken Soviet nuclear missile sub and paid the price for foolishly using corroded metal, but other than that, they have a nasty track record for eating ALL of the important, mechanical stuff.
Not as deadly as the Smooze, and maybe a tier or two below it on the large-scale threat meter, but easily something I can see happening in a base with holographic message tech.
Crossbow powers, activate!
8304801
For a good few months now, I thought your profile picture was a trio of submarines. I wasn't just skimming it, either. I just now saw the plane.
8307380
It has been a while since I have seen SG1. The basic models should not become a true threat to the party, given that they don't have to rely on ranged ballistic weapons only like SG1 does (they can fly, use magic etc.), yet the more advanced version could be interesting. Imagine a replicator-esque machine imitating Rainbow's form. Not like changeling, who would try to take the place of the original, but like a machine hive queen with the intend to take control of everything.
i hope it's not a balrog.