"So just stop by Sugar Cube Corner tomorrow afternoon and we'll get it ready, okay?" Pinkie stated as the group left the bog.
"Okay!" Derpy replied with a smile while shaking her head slowly. "I had a lot of fun today. And it was nice to meet you Caboose, you're really nice and I always like to meet new ponies."
"I am? Hey, I am!" Caboose said. "And I like meeting new ponies too!"
"Bye!" Derpy said as she flew away, zigzagging in the air.
"I should be getting back." Twilight said quietly as she started to trot off.
"What's the hurry smarty pants?" Pinkie asked as she hopped next to her. "Don't you want to walk home with your friends?"
Twilight glanced uneasily at Caboose and hurried her pace, but yelped and slowed her pace when she felt a sharp pain shoot through her side.
"Did that mean manticore do something to you?" Pinkie asked firmly.
"Yeah, it hit me with it's tail." Twilight said weakly.
"That meanie." Pinkie scowled. She shook her head and her features softened as she tapped on Twilight's back. "Do you think we should get a doctor for you?"
"No, I'm fine." Twilight said with a tight lipped smile. "I just need some rest, that's all."
"Alrighty, hurry back home and get some sleep." Pinkie said, parting ways with Twilight. "Let's go Caboose, we need to make sure everything is ready for tomorrow."
"What is tomorrow?" Caboose asked.
"The day after today." Pinkie giggled.
"Oh my gosh, you're right! You are a genie!"
"Do you mean genius?"
"That too!"
"See you tomorrow Twi!" Pinkie yelled before letting out a yawn. "Gee, I'm more tired than I thought."
"Good night Pinkie." Twilight yelled back, smiling.
"Good night Twilight!" Caboose yelled.
"Good night Caboose." Twilight said edgily before starting to trot back home, ignoring the pain in her side.
"What is wrong with her? Is it something she ate?" Caboose asked.
"No, she's acting like she just saw a ghost." Pinkie said. She giggled and started to hop back home. "Oh wait, she did! Church is a ghost!"
Twilight quickly walked up to the door of the library, intent on finding out what happened to Caboose in the bog and how he changed so suddenly and drastically. When she opened the door, Church was sitting at the table before snapping upright.
"Hey Twilight. I'm sorry for storming off like that, I was just stressed out." Church said as he rubbed his neck. He watched Twilight for a few seconds, sensing that she was more deep in thought than usual. "You okay?"
"Yes I am, thank you." Twilight said absently as she walked into her kitchen. "I'm going to make some tea, would you like some?"
"I'm good."
Twilight quickly made a cup of tea and used her magic to take a few books off of the shelves. She sipped the tea as she sat next to the table and opened one of the books.
"What are you reading?"
"Psychology books."
"You're really going to try to make sense of me?" Church chuckled. "Have fun with that."
"Now isn't the time Church." Twilight said harshly. She sighed and rubbed her side where the manticore hit her. "Sorry, I didn't mean to yell, it's just..."
Twilight fell into a silence as her eyes narrowed on the index and began to flip through the book and stopped on a page and began to read it.
"Something on your mind?" Church said as he shifted uncomfortably.
"After you left and we found the last ingredient, we were attacked by a manticore." Twilight said as she flipped the page. She glanced up to see Church giving her a confused look. "A manticore is a creature that has the body of a lion, the wings of a bat and the tail of a scorpion."
"Doesn't sound like it can compare to a fucking dragon with multiple heads..."
"Hydras are not dragons, they're apart of the reptile family."
"Aren't dragons reptiles?" Twilight looked up to Church and laughed weakly before starting to read the book again. "What? How the hell am I supposed to know the difference?" Church muttered. "So why did it attack you? Just for fun or what?"
"No, we were just in its territory. If it wanted to eat us it would have, but then- ah here we go." Twilight said as she began to write on a piece of paper.
Church leaned over and began to read the page she was on. There was no title on the page, but his eyes rested halfway through the page and he let out a small laugh.
"What is it?" Twilight asked.
"You think I have multiple personality disorder?"
"What? No I don't, why would you think that?"
"Well for one, you're reading a medical book and that page is talking about it. Secondly, you look like you're trying to hide something."
"Have you been reading a book on psychology?"
"Maybe." Church shrugged. "Well if you aren't reading up on it for me, then why are you doing it?"
"I..." Twilight trailed off as she recalled the way Caboose changed. "It's hard for me to say. Has Caboose ever acted strange around you?"
"Twilight, are you trying to tell me that Caboose isn't always strange?"
"That's not what I meant. It's just that-"
"Hey you're back!" Spike said as he ran down the stairs. "Church came back about an hour ago without you and told me what happened to him. Did he really get eaten by a hydra?"
"Yes he did." Twilight said.
"So he really did... y'know." Spike said as he scratched his head. "I mean, did you really have to do that to it?"
"Why are you acting like I'm the bad guy here?" Church muttered.
"The girls always solve their problems through talking and stuff..."
"Oh, you still haven't caught on that I'm not a girl yet?" Church replied. "I guess I'll have to try harder."
"I guess you will." Spike laughed as he yawned and rubbed his belly. "Well, I'm going to catch some shut eye."
"I'll be up soon too." Twilight said as she closed the book, just to open another one.
"Alright. Night Twi. Night Church."
"G'night." Church nodded. Once he heard the door shut, Church turned to Twilight and coughed. "So do you need any help with what you're doing, or can I go to sleep too?"
"No, it's okay. I'd say you deserve a good sleep."
"You don't have to tell me twice." Church laughed as he went up the stairs to climb into bed.
Yay new chapter
Twilight should talk to Sarge and AJ see if they know anything.
(hint, hint)
Twilight's gonna try to analyze Caboose's case of multiple personality disorder? HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA That's a good one. She'd have a better chance of trying to get a walnut to recite literature.
Alrighty then
Squee! I knew somepony would do this!
maybe you should give out another chapter today, you know for ... security reasons.
609213
I would if I could write 1000+ words in 6 minutes
609218 then how about 7 minutes
Do ghosts like Church actually sleep anyway?
609267
Ghosts need their beauty sleep too y'know.
609231
i'll give 10 at the most
Finally got caught up with this story. It's quite an epic if you don't mind my saying. However, I do have a couple of issues with it. Setting aside the spelling and grammar problems (and there are a few here and there), there is no delineation for the scene changes. The only way to differentiate one scene from another is often a change of characters. Use the line breaks, my friend. That's what they're there for.
Secondly (and much bigger in my opinion) is that you have the RvB crew showing up the mane 6 just about every time. I get that they're soldiers and everything, and they each have special powers and whatnot, but the mane 6 seem to be suffering from Writer's Convenience Disease. Whenever there's heavy lifting of the action to be done, they seem to be outshined by the reds and blues more often than not. Take the last two antagonists in this story for instance. The hydra would have difficult for any of the mane 6 by themselves, but Twilight is undeniably the most powerful of the cast outside of the princesses, and she has the confidence backing her from facing down Nightmare Moon, Discord, Queen Chrysalis, an Ursa Minor, a DRAGON, and an assortment of other threats. I'm not saying a hydra should have been a cakewalk for her, but she should have had a better idea than hoofing it. A manticore, while nothing to sneeze at, should still have been at most, a minor obstacle for them.
The thing with Dash and Tucker is another example. I get the feeling from your writing that Tucker is holding back to keep from showing up Dash even worse than he is with flying. It's nothing I can really pin down, but the way you have Tucker acting (especially about the weather job, and how easy he keeps saying it is), it feels like he's trying to spare her feelings or something. What I'm getting at is to let the girls have some of the spotlight when it's something other than feelings or talking. In fact, try reversing this trend by giving a big fight scene to one or more of the girls while having a huge heartfelt scene with one of the guys talking about his feelings. Now THERE'S a twist.
There was one other issue I had, but have forgotten it now. Ah, well. Maybe later. All that aside, I have to say you're doing a bang up job with the story. Everyone's pretty much in character, and I can't wait for you to bring in the others. Sister would be a hoot and a half.
609335
1. Yeah I know I need more line breaks.
2. Remember the first manticore encounter? The mane 6 were getting trashed when it was the six of them, so why should i change when there is a third of the people there fighting it.
3. Tucker is just being cocky, as is his character.
4. Next arc the girls are really more of the heroes.
Romance with an idiot like Caboose? Did he get some brains?
609366
He always had brains, he just forgot how to use it.
Finally I did it! I have caught up! It took just three days but I read all the chapters! Wohoo!
Awesume job on the story man I simply can not wait for more.
609125 Something tells me Twilight will figure out Pinkie Pie's Pinkie sense before she cracks that particular case.
You wizard! Your fabled updating skills are well renowned across the land, but I have yet to witness them myself until this very moment. The only logical explanation is wizardry.
Challenge accepted
Twilight was hurt by the manticores tail.... please someone tell me everything is going to be all right please
But... Church DOES have multiple personality disorder...
609703
That isn't true. He just has multiple personalities while being disordered.
609707 ... That too rofl
But he also has the ghosts of all the other personalities. Delta popped out for a while after all.
Twilight dies of internal bleeding. Prepare your Tragedy tags!
Good job so far.
609728
Before the emp that is
609751 I meant him popping out after firing the laser to lock wash out.
Edit: Sorry, I just realized the argumentative tone I'm taking. It's unintentional, I assure you.
609659
Taking into account just what sort of creature the Manticores tail comes from, I wouldn't be all that surprised if it was poisonous. Maybe not deadly, but no doubt painful.
609125 Don't Knock it till you try it.
This was awesome and makes me wonder if Twilight will in fact try and analyze Caboose's brain
Well I believe that Twilight might be able to figure this one out. Oh wait, this is Caboose we're talking about. She has no chance in figuring this out.
Also great chapter!
It would also be great to see the inside of Caboose's head versions of the Mane 6.
MUBWAHAHAHAHA!
Yay another cool chapter keep it up
Keep up the good work! (I have nothing worthwhile to say this time.)
609125 Ohh, I did that yesterday. It gave me a wonderful performance of Macbeth. Also, I got a almond to read some Terry Pratchet.
raincoaster.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/u-jelly.jpg?w=614
609027 Rage quit michael NEEDS to see this... in fact brilliant Idea!
RAGE QUIT: Cupcakes!
609751
AWWW, I just called it an EMP not E.M.P : at first I was like then
609125
Why would a walnut recite me?
809091 I lol'd so hard after seeing your comment
609103 agreed with the hint hint
I know Caboose's real name want to know if you don't?
here is the name: Michel J. Caboose and he hates Taxes grif of to the side says it's Texas you idiot that too replied caboose. that is his entire name
2008433 MY NAME IS MICHEAL J. CABOOSE, AND I. HATE.BABIES!