As the ship entered Planet Kortog's atmosphere, on approach to Stratus City, Ratchet, Clank, and Twilight began quizzing Blue Shift regarding details of the local situation.
"So...the Polaris Galaxy...Tachyon owns all of it?" Ratchet clarified.
"Yup," Blue Shift confirmed. "Ironic, ain't it? The one Cragmite they didn't vaporize comes back to oppress the galaxy."
"Who is they?" Clank asked.
"You're talking about the Lombaxes, aren't you?" Twilight asked. "That's why Tachyon's after Daddy, isn't it-oops!" She quickly covered her mouth with her hooves.
"No need to fret, little lady," Blue Shift reassured her. "You're dead on the money...though that Cazar disguise might work on most of Polaris. The idea of doing anything like that with their tails was unthinkable to most Lombaxes, so any native of Polaris - including Tachyon - will assume that the lack of tail prominence means he ain't a Lombax."
"AWK!" Red Shift shouted out. "All hail the Lombaxes! AWK! Saviors of the Universe!"
At that point, the communicator beeped. "Attention transport vessel. A bioscan reveals a Lombax lifeform aboard your vessel. Stand by for immediate disintegration."
"Then again, bioscanners don't judge..." Blue Shift admitted. The ship suddenly lurched forward at increased velocity. "What the-" Turning back, he saw the cargo hold was empty...save a note.
Thanks for the lift. Sorry for not saying goodbye, but if we stayed onboard, we'd all get zapped. So I blinked us and all the cargo out. See you later!
Twilight
"Heh. Thoughtful little lady," Blue Shift chuckled.
"AWK! Too young for you!"
"I know that!" Blue Shift took a swing at his parrot as he steered the ship out of weapons range.
The free fall into the city proved no more difficult than any other such free fall, and the trio landed safely. Once they landed, they each purchased a Predator Launcher - and fully upgraded it - from the nearby vendor hologram. They then proceeded to carve their way through the enemy units being dropped in to attack them, their weapons proving quite effective. Some of the enemies carried shields that blocked most weapons fire, but Twilight had no interest in fair play, and used her magic aura to crush the robotic hands clutching the shields before ripping them away, and then destroying them.
They ignored Tachyon's announcements that slandered Ratchet's character, since he wasn't even as good at it as Gleeman Vox had been, and continued their trek into the city. Not long after, they found the Shock Ravager, an electric whip based weapon. Twilight was able to use her magic to duplicate it, and they then backtracked to the vendor to upgrade them. After all, a weapon designed to disable enemy shields was bound to be useful.
At one point, Ratchet was forced to latch his Swing Shot onto a sky tram in order to progress onward. Twilight, for her part, took flight. At the next skydock, the pair tried out their new Predator Launchers, firing multiple lock on missiles at once. Twilight found herself missing some of her more powerful weapon tweaks, and even her RYNO IV.
Not long after that, the group encountered a gel tank from which they could fill up the Gelanator. A brief bouncy detour brought them to a chest full of more Raritanium before they returned to their journey through the city.
At one point, Clank paused. "Ratchet...Twilight...those creatures are telling us to go inside that building."
"Creatures?" Ratchet asked, turning. "What creatures?" Gazing in the direction Clank was staring, he saw nothing.
Twilight turned to look. "...wait...you mean the floaty glowing tiny robots that seem sort of translucent and I can only see clearly if I squint while focusing my magic?" she clarified.
"They...do not seem translucent to me," Clank stated.
"Whee?" one of the robots offered, confused.
Twilight gasped as a memory surged to the fore, a sound she'd barely heard and never considered. "They're tooth fairies!" she gasped happily.
"They're what?" Ratchet demanded in confusion.
"It was a creature like these that took my tooth and left the ticking egg behind way back on Veldin!" Twilight crowed happily. "They are real!"
The robots in question floated over to Clank, and he felt energy flowing into him. The flight pack erupted out of him, energizing as the wings turned crystalline rather than metallic.
"And...the invisible magic robots just upgraded you," Ratchet muttered.
"What makes you think they're magic?" Clank asked.
"Because Twilight can see them but I can't," Ratchet explained.
"Alternatively, they might use a form of energy unrelated to magic that I've somehow been heavily exposed to," Twilight hypothesized as she examined her scanner readouts. "Given the high levels of chronitons left behind from their manipulation of Mommy's tech, they probably utilize time energy. It's entirely possible that my arrival on Veldin involved quantum displacement."
"In which case these tiny time bots are the only clue we have for where you come from," Ratchet concluded with a sigh. "Great. Guess we do what the fairy bots tell us, then."
The new Robo-Wings proved to be only a minor improvement over the original flight pack, negating the need for the anti-grav suit. Twilight couldn't help but giggle at the idea that the improvements that 'magic time fairy bots' were so slight as compared to one of her Daddy's first inventions for personal use.
At the end of the flight, the trio reached a building dubbed 'The Hall of Knowledge'. Twilight visibly squealed at the mere idea of a building filled with all the knowledge of an entire galaxy. Then an automated announcement played.
"Attention citizen. You have entered the Hall of Knowledge without authorization. Knowledge has been declared contraband by Emperor Tachyon. Any attempt to learn while on these premises will result in permanent confinement in Zordoom Prison."
Ratchet took one look at the look on Twilight's face and rapidly backed up to the opposite end of the room. However, Twilight apparently had better self control than he'd thought. "Daddy?" she asked, her voice almost sickeningly sweet.
"Yes Twilight?" Ratchet asked worriedly.
"When we have the chance at Tachyon...can I perform an...experiment?"
"What sort?" Ratchet asked in concern.
"I want to cut open his belly, throw a loop of his guts over a thorny tree at the edge of a cliff, and kick him over the edge," Twilight replied sweetly. "Ever since I read about that hunchbacked sorcerer discussing the experiment, I've been idly curious about whether or not the tensile strength of intestines was enough to bounce at a height like that...and I've finally found someone I hate enough to want to try it."
"...I'd really rather you didn't, Twilight," Ratchet said carefully. "I...don't think that sort of behavior is good for you. Remember Otto?"
Twilight shuddered as the mad grin left her face. "Right...I should just incinerate him..." She shivered again.
"In the meantime, you can give his rules a giant middle finger-"
"I don't have any fingers," Twilight pointed out.
"Middle feather, perhaps?" Clank offered.
"-and read everything in this entire hall," Ratchet concluded.
The high pitch squeal shattered the gelatinous domes around the fishlike creatures piloting the nearby enemy robots, disabling them completely.
A large portion of the Hall of Knowledge had underwater passages. Thankfully, Twilight had used the Shrink Ray technology to miniaturize the submersible pod that Derek Tovid had helped her build for a movie stunt, and installed it in her basic armor unit so it would deploy whenever she needed to go underwater. That way, she wouldn't have to worry about getting her wings wet.
Eventually, after a few detours for Twilight to download various bits of information into an intergalactic Cloud account, they reached the map room. In the Map Room itself, Clank was able to get coordinates for Planet Fastoon...a Lombax planet.
Since enemy units were about to break in after them, the trio quickly escaped in the escape pod, programming it with Planet Fastoon's coordinates. Unfortunately, Clank didn't have time to tell Ratchet...that Planet Fastoon was registered as 'deserted'.
i could have sworn Twilight already bought the upgraded weapons in a previous chapter?
6536434
But now she got new weapons and upgraded them.
6536434 well not all the weapons were available at the start.
If i remember right...
Sorry to nitpick, but I think the prison's name is "Zordoom" and not "Zordoon".
6536479
Hard to tell when listening to a playthrough without subtitles.
So it seems you've decided to do away with Twilight's incompatibility with underwater zones. Not a bad idea.
You've reminded me of a meme pic featuring a screencap of New Fluttershy shaking her hoof with the caption "If I had fingers, I would so be flipping you off right now!" Good times.
6536486
Fair enough
I'll bet Fastoon is some sorta wasteland.
Tirek is going to be greeted by the fully upgraded Ryno IV, isn't he? Just to hammer in just how unfair this Twilight is. Because it doesn't use magic, just high explosives. The only downside being it will leave behind a comparable level of destruction to if Twilight just straight up fought him without it.
6536525 Personally, I'm hoping she just turns him into a chicken. While it wouldn't be as destructive, would be funnier to see his reactions.
6536726 You know, I don't think they ever bought that gun. If they did, then Twilight has rendered it out of date and obsolete for most things.
... and strangely, he also didn't have time to tell him on the long trip there.
6536750 They did, and Twi created a spell to do the same thing from her analysis of how it works. It's how they beat Drek in less than ten seconds.
Nice reference to Beldin there.
Twilight's gonna be so disappointed... As was ratchet in the game.
6536865 I'm expecting another cryo sleep situation really
That was fun, may I have another? Looking forward to more.
Keep up the good work. Deus tecum.
6537303 The reason for why Tirek is so durable to most attacks in the show is because the attacks are MAGIC, what do you think would happen when Twilight brings with her a huge quantity of non-magical weapons that Tirek cannot absorb? Simple, he's going to get slaughtered as he probably has absolutely zero experience with even basic things such as bullets traveling REALLY fast, how do you think he would handle non-magical plasma, explosives, electricity, ect? Probably not very well.
whatever happened to that ticking egg...?
6537656
I would say she keeps it in a shoe box under her bed, but none of the cast even wear shoes. Boots on their armor, yes. Shoes, not so much.
another enjoyable chapter. Good job.
6537656
6537679
She keeps it on her person at all times as a mystery she needs to solve.
Oddly enough, no matter what situation she's in, no one's aware of its presence except her...not even when she's kidnapped, unconscious, or being experimented on.
How strange.
She's got guts, thinking of such a painful thing to perform on Tachyon. But when it comes to science, the best things are done intestine. Don't you agree?
That tranquil fury, though
6536525 well we have another 2.5 Rachet games after this and 2 more versions of the RYNO
6536962 Ah, then they probably have it somewhere in storage. Which is unfortunate because the magic eater is theoretically immune to it as a spell due to consuming the energy for it.
6537303 The fully upgraded Ryno IV got its plan split into four and scattered across the galaxy and the only one that was made was turned into a solid metal paperweight. They leveled half an invasion force by firing it once in Metropolis. They didn't even see most of what they hit. Think that's enough to quantify it as a one being invasion weapon.
6538005 The Ryno IV all but beat Nefarious with one shot. It is classifiable as a one being invasion force. They scattered the plans for it across the universe. They haven't done that for any other weapon since.
6539277
You're missing something there.
If the sun and moon are moved to create day and night, then they aren't the sun/moon/planet system we have. In all likelihood, you've got two quasi-stars that are much closer to the planet and much smaller, generating both the warmth and light needed for life and the gravitational effects through magic, and both orbit the planet, guided by magic.
If that's the case, it wouldn't need anywhere near the power you imply.
6539320
Assuming that magic is bound by the same conservation of energy laws that science as we know it is.
Considering we've seen things created easily out of pure magic, I have my doubts there.
Then again, there's also the possibility that alicorn magic is simply fundamentally different from unicorn magic (supported by Zecora in "Princess Twilight Sparkle") and enables the manipulation of the Celestial bodies in a different way.
And I'm not so sure about the size, either. It's entirely possible that Equestria and the whole world is actually inside a Dyson Sphere, with gravity completely independent of the 'sun and moon', which are actually magically manipulated light sources designed to mimic a traditional planetary system. This theory's supported by the fact that - save the Everfree - nature doesn't function without ponies.
6539277 A fight with magic energy didn't hurt the magic eater. I wonder why. The Ryno doesn't use magic. What do you think explosive kinetic force will do to something solid and fleshy? Here's a hint, butcher shops don't use cannons because of completely destroying the meat.
6539920 Hence why the scale of the kinetic energy is important. Plus, I wouldn't put it past Twilight to boost its damage with a focusing enchantment applied to each missile it fires for that extra bit of screw you. Also, Shining Armor's shield was broken by a swarm of maybe a thousand changelings hitting it at speed, and the thing he is best at is shields of magical nature. Hell, Cadance was probably pumping her magic through one of her husbands spells during the return of the Crystal Empire. The Ryno IV fired a few more missiles than that. After all, a planetary invasion is just a bit bigger than a Capitol city invasion.
6537788 Indeed, Twilight may be approaching Our levels of dark ideas. Heh. Hehe. Hahahahaha
You know... I think I liked tools of Destruction BEST by far. It was the best game for a few reasons- but one of it's benefacting reasons, was Cronk and Zephyr.... And Miss Apogee of course. XD I can honestly see it now- just how this would go.
6540096
Other than the fact Clank would say "I have nothing" rather than "I've got nothing", that' perfect! XP
6540133
XD Small edits my friend- where you see one flaw- I see 5. >_< But- anyway. X3 Feel free to use it if you want. XD I see you do it all the time in your other ones- and I said at the very beginning that I knew this scene would be coming along eventually.
Also- The Apogee Space station was a PAIN to fight through for me- EVERY time. I hated the lasers- and how close quarters it was. It was extremely easy to fight- don't get me wrong. But.... It was just so annoying really- and it kinda kept going on almost. >_< I dunno. Maybe that's just me. XD I thought Twilight might find that annoying, like I did.
6540056 Magic/friendship are both technically abstract concepts as well, but anyway. A focus enchantment would mean the explosive part would be that much more directed and condensed. The missiles impact doesn't matter beyond hitting the target with the payload. She could put a one on it now and boost its power with a compression enchantment on the explosive compartment of every missile, and a sort of guided tracking system augmented by magic, but that just leaves a single Alicorns strength unharnessed by it. So, she would of course turn its speed up to as close to light speed as she could manage, and then fire once from the top of the mountain with Canterlot on its side. For a moment he would just see a pillar of smoke and fire headed to him. He might de power the enchantments, but suddenly he has to deal with over stuffed missiles.
And Beldin's teachings have passed to a new generation. Only this one is armed to the fucking teeth with high tech weapons AND magic. Still think Belgarion would have the edge. It's rather hard to best the Sword of the Rivian King. The little blue stone cheats after all.
6540742 So, same thing I said, only less technical?
6542156 So, essentially, you would change the type of explosive to something more dense and reactive? Yeah, I can see that working. Maybe turn it partially radioactive and make it do fusion instead of fission. Is it worrying that between us we scienced an upgrade to the fully upgraded Ryno IV?
So... When the Ratchet & Clank Movie comes out, you should do something like "a holo-film is made for Ratchet, Clank, and Twilight" and it's the plot of the movie. that's just a little suggestion
6542183
6542156
I read through your comment chain, and about the OPness required to do the things the Alicorns and Discord do, I've always though of it as a technique thing, hence why Tirek didn't instantly annihilate everything once he took Discord's magic, and then Twilight's. Like, they know their specific magic, and how to use it properly, and transfused into another, it loses most of it's potency.
6545835 That would actually explain the difficulty Twilight had with moving the sun and moon.
So, time to go back home.
6540133 After reading the beginning of your mlp god of war crossover I have to ask. Are the rest of your ponies being raised by other characters going to tie in with each other?
6547852
It will connect over time.
6547908 ok. Oh! Quick question, will Grogar the reprimanded goat be involved in the plot in any point in any of the stories? Oh! And will their be a story about gilda, discord, sunset shimmer, the dazzlings, king sombra, celestia , and luna get their own stories?
Well, Tachyon just managed to have all of Twilight's Rage pointed at him by denying her access to books.
Ah Beldin, I love his intimidation tactics. But remember, after that experiment, see if he can discover the means of flight while plummetting to the ground without anything to pull him back up.
Nice chapter, can't wait to see how things go on this new planet as Ratchet's hopes might come crashing down soon.
6537393 Seeing Twilight unload her arsenal of hi tech weaponry on Tirek will be awesome!
Middle finger? Dude, w-t-buck? She's ten, not twenty five, middle finger means 'buck' in pony curse words
6936473
No, you see, she's fourteen, and that makes it 'okay'.
6936473 Reminds me of a story I read on the site. A human lead 1000 ponies to victory over their enemies where I think Twilight or Lyra mentioned that ponies sucked at giving hoof gestors (which lead to wars instead of peace) and that the human-leader could "flip the hoof" better than anypony.