A sparkling mana torch ate and ate away at the purple links of the cuffs. At last, the energy field binding them together shorted out. Josho's and Eagle Eye's legcuffs fell, rattling loudly atop the Steel Wing's deck. Captain Filta's hooves shuffled to a stop beside them.
"Prime Enforcer Shell has personally taken on a mission to scout out Blue Nova ahead of us."
Josho looked up, rubbing his aching forelimb from where the metal had been rubbing into it for hours on end.
"Has he now? The one eyed bugger..."
"Indeed..." The captain nodded with a furrowed brow. "We're presently en route to join him there at the maretropolitan city. It would appear that Nightshade Industries may be harboring fugitives... not to mention dire secrets."
"Dire secrets, you say..." Josho gulped.
He watched as two crew members took the handcuffs and manatorch, trotting towards a compartment below the northbound airship's deck. As his head turned, he caught sight of Eagle Eye seated beside him. The petite unicorn was forced to stretched his forelimbs out, allowing two enforcers to re-bind the legs that had just recently been relieved of the Killas' manacles.
Josho clenched his jaw. He fidgeted before saying, "But what about that pegasus? Y'know, the rainbow jackass that started this whole glittery parade?" He looked up at Filta again, squinting in the sunlight. "Aren't we trying to find her?"
"She's proven time and time again to be far too elusive for normal capture."
"You can say that again, air legs." Josho stood up, winced, and smirked awkwardly. "No offense."
Filta merely sighed.
Josho paced, stretching his unbound forelimbs. "So, what then? We're chasing after bright paint buckets and hanging them from the ship's bow in hopes they'd attract her out from hiding?"
"This is why I do so hate giving you briefings, Mr. Josho. You're rarely ever sober."
"Prime Enforcer Josho, bucko. And I'm not even remotely drunk."
"Then why is it that you were found with this traitor clinging to you?" Filta raised an eyebrow. "There's not a Spark's chance he would have overpowered you. Obviously you kept him alive."
"Of course I did..." Josho said, his tone sharp and to the point. He looked at Filta with a perpetual glare. "He's a prisoner of war. His fate is up to the Council, not the whim of one Enforcer..." He stifled a burp and waved his forelimb around. "No matter how pissed off he may have gotten at the little grape stain from time to time."
"It's refreshing to see you function by protocol for once," Filta said in a neutral voice. "Even if it's the wrong one."
"The flippin' heck are you going on about?"
"Shell has made it clear, time and time again, that the danger these renegades pose is not to be tolerated." Filta motioned in the direction of Eagle Eye. "The target is to be acquired at all costs, otherwise any and all of her allies' lives are forfeit."
Josho slowly, slowly nodded. "Right. Well... I guess I was off my A-game."
"It matters little. Your contributions, however meager, will be of aid to our search, I'm sure."
"Hey..." Josho smirked bitterly. "I'm not dead. That's gotta count for more than 'meager,' don't you think?"
"Shell's plan continues, undaunted, with or without the part that you have played."
"Yeah, well, it was Shell who personally decided to toss me into a canyon to my not-so-sexy death," Josho grumbled. "Or did he neglect to mention that?"
Filta turned to stare at Josho evenly. "Did you give him a reason to?"
Josho blinked. "Pffft... Did I?" He almost chuckled, but then blinked. Slowly, he pivoted his head aside.
Over a dozen crew ponies had stopped what they were doing to stare at him.
Biting his lip, Josho turned back to Filta, only to see that the Captain's emotionless expression had not changed.
"Ahem..." Josho shifted his weight from one leg to the other. "I... uh... I was really close to the target, and there was this horrible scuffle on the cliff side." He winced, avoiding the Captain's gaze. "I guess, in all of the craziness, I... I-I must have... uh... mistakenly thought that the Prime Enforcer had tossed me into the ravine deliberately..."
Eagle Eye glanced over, his lips pursed as his ears twitched upon hearing that.
Filta took a breath before saying, "Well, we all make mistakes. Some more than others. Alas, a day that one less soldier is dead is always a good one. I suspect you'll want to get some rest in your cabin?"
"You can friggin' say that again..." Josho wearily rubbed his temple.
"Right. I do suggest we converse later once you're well-rested." Filta paced across the deck towards the port side. "We'll need every available hoof at the battlestations. If Shell indeed finds the zebra hiding in Blue Nova, then we're only bound to summon the target by whatever bizarre energy binds her to such a companion."
Eagle Eye gasped, his purple eyes twitching. "Zebra...?"
"Wait..." Josho squinted. "Huh?"
"Hmmm?" Filta turned calmly about. "Oh, my apologies..." He sighed before saying, "It's come to our attention that the blind zebra companion who was with the target has survived his last encounter with the Steel Wing. He was last seen with another fugitive, in flight to Blue Nova, along with his manatechnology. That's why Shell went to investigate. Once we've acquired the suspect, we'll begin our search west for his beloved and mercenary last seen due west—"
Josho barked, "Yeesh, you melon fudges have been dropping suspects left and right! What gives?"
But Eagle Eye was jumping up, shouting, "Pilate's alive?! And Belle?!" He seethed through clenched teeth. "No! You leave them alone! Haven't you done enough?!" Two stallions gripped him from behind. "Nnngh!" He shook and struggled. "Don't hurt them!"
"Soldiers..." Filta grunted aside.
A stallion trotted up and slammed his hoof hard in Eagle Eye's chest.
"Ooommmf!" Eagle Eye wheezed, slumping over with tearing eyes.
"Hey!" Josho grunted. "That's enough!"
Filta stepped closer to the obese stallion. "Are you... speaking to the traitor or to my crew, Prime Enforcer?"
Josho sweated, saying nothing.
As Eagle Eye was hauled downstairs towards teh bridge, he hissed and sobbed, "Josho! Please! Don't let them do this! Don't let them get Belle and her beloved! They'll torture them! Josho—" His voice was cut off as he was flung into the shadows below deck.
Josho stood, panting heavily.
"You've been through a lot, Josho," Filta said, daring to rest a hoof on the burly pony's shoulder. "Get some sleep. Clear your mind. If nothing else, I'm going to need your experience to lend Shell some aid." He trotted towards the bow of the ship.
"My... experience..." Josho gulped, standing alone as the whipping winds of the high altitude kicked at his graying mane. "Right... for what it's worth..."
Josho's gonna go full badass while most of the crew is asleep and hijack the zeppelin.
He's certainly rising in my estimation
Well then, the amount of shit about to be thrown into that fan is only piling up.
*Light Side Points Gained*
*Influence Gained: Eagle Eye*
Josho may soon have a moment that complements Phoenix's Foxtaur betrayal...
I do wonder,why did Josho have to change his wording about shell throwing him off the cliff?
I really hope Josho doesn't turn back to the dark side.
I'm thinking that Josho is gonna kick Shell's ass when he gets the chance.
Hmmm...a future change of sides for dear Josho?...
2777635
Considering he was preventing his comrade from killing 2 traitors when he was tossed off the cliff,if he revealed that he'd have been arrested and locked in the brig for treason like Eagle Eye.
Wow. Josho is becoming what I thought Shell was going to be: the lost soul who finds his way again.
Thirty-five four count flutter kicks, ):(. Knock 'em out!
2777663
Be honest with yourself. Josho is incapable of that, as much as Shell would deserve it. Heroic sacrifice, perhaps, but not full-out ass-kicking. Shell's too much of a high-speed operator.
Hey Colon, are you off your game?
was hauled downstairs towards teh bridge,: That should be "the", bro.
You were on such a good streak...
Try to get some rest okay?
Also, I'm ready for some future asskicking.
Alignment Change: Lawful Evil to Lawful Neutral
Josho could be the death of Shell given the proper opportunity.
2778458 No, it's Lawful Drunk. It's been that way from the begining.
Badass, righteous, change-of-allegiance, stick-it-to-the-man, do-the-right-thing Josho: ACTIVATE.
Presumably. Pffft. Like I've ever been right.
howzyerteeth.beacondeacon.com/illusion/escalator.gif
2767402 You have just named all of my favorite n64 games exept donkey kong 64 which by the way is epic.
And that's a cool fun fact( boo's laugh)
2757231 a marithon is always in order and when I catch up, I couldent possibly pass you up because then I couldent read you evaluations
2778788
Man, Lawful Drunk sounds like it would take some doing. Chaotic Drunk seems a lot more copasetic.
I'm no man of honour
Myself is my true king
But somewhere deep within me
The bells of conscience ring.
2777848
well good sir, who's to say that Josho won't get lucky next time? he maybe fat, but he can sure surprise us.
2779995
Okay, so, Josho happens upon Rainbow Dash and Prime Enforcer Shell duking it out, trips, and falls on Shell's head. Tried-n'-true methods do work, after all.
If not, he trips, falls, and knocks over a piano. Onto Shell's head.
2779995
heheheh... I'm sure Eagle Eye can help him with that one
Well, it seems Eagle Eye has bitch-slapped Josho in the face with companionship and heroism, and left quite a mark.
Josho doesn't sound like a happy man right now. He's stuck between sympathizing with the pony he's been chained to and had save his life several times, and the country he's been loyal to for his entire life. Even worse is the fact that no matter which one he chooses, he's in mortal danger. Mostly from Shell, regardless of which side he chooses, now that I think about it.
I think Josho's been pretty alright so far, sticking to the right rules at the right times, and throwing the others out the window. I just wonder how far his friendship with EE's gonna drag him.
2780357
gee, can you come up with another scenario involving Josho tripping?
I wanna give EE a muffin... Muffins always make things better.
Josho is a trained snipet...
"I was a Prime Enforcer, once... then I took a mana-bolt to the hock."
2782204
Josho trips, brings down a small mountain, Shell turns his head, Rainbow knocks Shell into yesterday.
C'mon, Josho, do the right thing. I honestly don't think his conscience (booze-addled or not) would allow him to let EE or any of the others die, especially after what Shell proved he was capable of (kicking his own men to their dooms). This is going to lead to a really interesting kerfuffle once everyone meets up again. Onward!
A Message from MASH-
Good news - we've got wi-fi. Bad news - I'm about to pass out...
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
So I like Josho's development in this chapter. I especially like that Imploding mentions Josho's graying mane after mentioning his experience. After experiencing EE's tale of woe, Josho must be questioning what he was taught to believe in as an Enforcer. Push through it, Josho! We believe in you. These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
And so ends the shackling of a good guy and a slightly-less good guy. You seem to be pretty fond of using this as a means of character development!
Anywho, Eagle Eye needs to learn to shut that trap of his. Heroic exclamations and bloody stupid actions are going to get both himself and Josho killed at this rate.
Time for Josho to perform the brave hijacking of the Steel Wing! I think.
-SPirit
Poor EE.
Finally back to these guys. I actually forgot this chapter from when I first read the series.
Poor Josho. Having sworn fealty, must he spend his life in blind servitude?
4789957 it isn't that blind for Josho anymore. "ignorance is bliss" If Josho didn't have a first clue about the ugly side of this turn of events, he wouldve left Eagle eye for dead, if not killed him himself. Josho has seen the light.
Servitude is a whoooole lot uglier when you see past your chains.
Entry
XIXII:I have no idea where that last entry came from, nor what happened.
One second I am writing and trying to think of a way inside the city, next thing I know I'm waking up in an alley inside it's walls with a strange message written in my journal.
I am deeply bothered by the message for some reason. It seems... alien, in some way.
At least I am now inside the city.
Come on Josho... you've got a friend for the first time in years, you dense sack of ethanol, don't blow it now!
Whelp, this is gonna suck.
Well, Josho and EE are in yet another pickle. But it may end up being useful in the end.
Well, it looks like they're going to have to drop a bunch of ponies off that ship.
8068007
I'm imagining some more literally then others