Intermission Three
Well, folks, it's getting late again. As usual, going to bring us back to forty years ago for a brief segment before you all head to bed.
But even if it's brief, by no means is it unimportant.
* * *
I looked over the crowd gathered at the Social Sciences Lecture Hall at Stalliongrad Community College, breathing out a weary sigh.
“That's enough for today,” I said. “More tomorrow. Just remember what I asked of you before I started- to withhold all judgment until everything's said and done. I won't be taking any questions tonight. We'll begin again tomorrow. Farewell.”
I eased a little deeper into the wheelchair as everyone started filing out of the lecture hall, chattering amongst themselves. There were a few that had concerned, even angry expressions as they bickered with one another. Not many, though. I was relieved that going those extra couple of installments past revealing my relationship with Luna stemmed the raging waters... or at least it seemed to. One particular stallion caught my eye as he headed for the exit, his face laced with an expression of contempt.
“Xamuros,” I called to him, and he paused, looking back to me as if irritated. “Think on what I told you- all of you- about Luna. She wasn't Nightmare Moon. She wasn't a vassal of the stars. She wasn't some tyrant bent on securing ponykind's superiority in the world with herself at the pinnacle. She was a person, an equine being just like any of us, confused and lost in a world that long changed from the one she knew.” I let out a sigh. “Think on that.”
He frowned and glanced away, letting out his own sigh before wordlessly leaving me behind. Only Rig and Soraya remained behind now. The earthen-brown unicorn mare stood and moved to face me.
“You... you were in love with Luna...” she said to me, not out of disbelief but as if letting it sink in. Her gaze was turned downward as if speaking about me, not to me. “You weren't smitten, it wasn't a crush... you were really in love with her.”
I said nothing.
“So that's why you became a Lunar Guard, then.” Rig continued. “All the secrets, everything...” Eyes on me. Indigo eyes so bright and shining. “Say something, Frost. Just... say something to us.”
I let out a weary sigh as I wrapped the loose bandage around my mouth once more. “What is there to say that can't wait for everyone else?”
“There has to be something.” Her eyes were searching for something. “I mean... all that, was it worth killing to keep secret?”
I glanced at Soraya. She glanced right back. “I guess there is something,” I said. “I'm two-hundred-seventeen years old, Rig. I've only gone through thirty-five of those years. The war drums have only just started to beat. And though war, war never changes... war changes everything. There's always more to the story, Rig. You just have to let it be told.”
“... how bad is it?”
“Worse than Miranda and Wendy,” I answered without pause.
Rig glanced away and flattened her lips. She said no more.
“Don't take this the wrong way, but I'd like to be alone again for tonight,” I said.
The cloud-maned mare looked back at me. “You want to see her again, don't you?”
I sighed softly. “Yeah.”
She glanced away momentarily, then asked, “How do you do it? It can't have been easy losing somepony like her...”
I huffed softly, “Understatement of the year.” Then I sighed. “You already know part of the answer to that, Rig. You'll find out the rest... just... later. Don't make it harder for me.”
She rubbed her shoulder- her natural shoulder- and turned away, nodding.
“Happy birthday again, by the way,” I nickered.
That got a smile from her, even if a small one. “Gotta admit your story's one hell of a gift.” I cracked a thin smile in turn. It probably didn't show up past the bandages. “Let's go, Soraya. Sly and Xamuros are probably at the Rusty Steed. Take care of yourself... alright, Frost?”
“You too,” I said with a stout nod as she started off. Soraya stood and followed, but not before resting a claw on my shoulder. To me, that comforting gesture did more for me than anything she could have said.
And then I was alone again.
I let out a deep sigh and closed my eyes. “Are you there, Nightingale?” I could sense her behind me now, draping a wing across my back.
“Always,” she whispered.
“Reaction went as expected,” I murmured.
“I know.”
I opened my eyes. She was hovering just out of view. But I could feel her close to me. That's all I cared about. “It's getting close to the moment.”
“I know.”
“Are you nervous?”
“Are you?”
I sighed softly. “Very.”
“Very.” She paused. “Do you feel any better, finally getting it off your chest?”
I snorted and cracked a smile- and my lips with it. “Heh... no, same as ever. 'The truth sets you free.'” I shook my head. “Never has.”
She didn't protest, didn't argue. She merely wrapped that wing tighter across my back. I suddenly felt the great weight hanging onto my heart drag it deeper, and I shuddered, shivered.
I longed to feel those feathers again...
Such a simple thing. Such a simple thing. And it led to so much more longing.
I longed for the lights of Manehattan.
I longed for the sunny, smiling town and the sunny, smiling ponies of Ponyville again.
I longed to feel the cool night breeze.
I longed to feel the sun again.
I longed for those olden days, golden days.
And I longed to see her alive again.
The storyteller glanced downward, lips creased in a frown, his expression pained, stained. It was as if he was holding back the tears. It was as if he'd held them back far too many times.
Then he let out a sigh and continued.
But I'd soon be feeling those feathers again, at least, after I recovered. That is, if Luna was right about what she told me. Can't break down. Just focus on the good. Focus on the good.
What little good there was.
I inhaled and turned to face her. “L-” I started, then stopped as she edged out of my vision faster than I could track. “Love? What's wrong?”
“You shouldn't see me right now,” she said quickly.
“Why?”
“Just... trust me.”
“... is it bad?” I asked quietly, slowly facing forward again to give her enough time.
“It's... better for you this way,” she answered.
“Better how?”
“Just trust me, Frost.”
I sighed softly, mistily. “I've grown to hate that phrase.”
“Me too.”
I only nickered in response.
“Frost. Someone's coming.” And then she was gone.
I let out a sigh and grimaced. I did not wish to be interrupted in the middle of this. “Well?” I called out to the lecture hall. “I know you’re here.” The door near the top of the hall creaked open, and in stepped the last person I wanted to see.
Grimm.
The former cosmonaut visibly winced as the door creaked again on its way back. “You know, for your age, you've got good hearing,” he remarked in his greasy, slithery tone.
“How did you get here?” I asked, scowling. “More importantly, why are you here?”
“Well, just look at me,” he said with a grin, descending the aisle stairs. “No feathers to rustle in the wind, black-on-black suit design, and I can fly, unlike Malcom- as he insists on me calling him. Oh, that brings me to why! I'm! Here!” He clapped his hands together- quietly. “I've got some good news aaaaaand... some bad ne-”
“Bad news first,” I grunted.
Grimm slumped and went slack-jawed. “Seriously? Just... deadbeat 'bad news first?' Jeez, you're more depressing than Malcom, you know that? You need a little vitality- oh, yes, that's good- so, good news first!” He clapped his hands together again- quietly. “So! Good! News! Is! I'm not here to kill you! Now, doesn't that comfort you? Doesn't that make you breathe a bit easier, hm?”
“So what's the bad news?”
“Guess not,” he said with a grimace. “Bad newsssss... Yagmarth is coming. Which is really, really bad news for you guys.”
I stared at him. “And he would be your top leader.”
“YYYYeah.” Grimm nodded slowly.
“Who even you are afraid of.”
“No!” he protested. “... yes.”
I did not need this. We did not need this. “Why is he coming?” I asked, a demanding edge to my tone.
“Yeah, see, he's wondering why we're taking so long because, well, you know, we're on a schedule,” the griffin ghoul said, grimacing and rapping his talons together. “Then he heard about the fighting, the ceasefire, aaaand he's... kinda pissed. Malcom just wanted me to let you know that, soooo, that's it for me! Toodles!”
“Stay put,” I ordered as he started off.
He then proceeded to stick a partly rotted tongue back at me. “Make me.”
Maintaining a straight face, I fired up my horn and procured his crimson balisong.
“... dammit,” he grunted, sitting on his haunches. “Alright, what do you want?”
“So he's coming to Stalliongrad,” I said, slipping his balisong away and sublimating my arm. I let out a cool breath, mind and heart racing. “If that's 'bad news,' am I to take it he's not going to uphold the ceasefire?”
“Nope,” Grimm grunted. “He's definitely coming in force. What, you're going to hold my baby ransom for a game of Twenty Questions?”
“You'd like it to be that simple, wouldn't you?” I huffed. “No, this...” I procured his balisong once more, an idea- a crazy idea- starting to form in my head. “Would you say that the memories it represents are important to you?” I asked, building steam.
“Mm-hm...” he nodded slowly, pursing his beak childishly.
“Just like your suit,” I said, motioning to him.
“Yes...” he answered, the childishness turning into confusion and leeriness. “Where are you going with this?”
“Say, if I were to destroy either, it would-”
“Don't you dare!” he snapped, the pilot light popping to life on his flamethrower.
Even if that action alone caused my heart to skip a beat, I grinned behind the bandages. “Interesting. Riddle me this, then- what’s so special about it? Huh?”
He snorted, “Well I’m not going to tell you.”
I waited five seconds.
“Okay, it’s just… you know? Piece of… you know. I mean, what am I gonna use it for?” He motioned to his wrist-mounted flamethrower. “It’s dull for Aldasake! It’s just…”
“A memento,” I finished.
He shrugged, then inched his lit flamethrower toward me, glaring. “So don’t you dare think about destroying it,” he rasped.
I inhaled slowly, the gears turning in my head. “So, Grimm Asher, alias Javahl, God of Vitality and Atrophy, one of the many leaders of the Dead Boys... if what Malcom told me about you is correct, that name is not yours. You took it from the original Dead Boys that defended and retook Stalliongrad. You took it to inspire that same valiance and defiance against impossible odds and incredible losses. You took it to send a message to the Enclave and make their blood turn to ice upon the mere mention of that name.”
The pilot light went out, and he turned his head slightly to look at me with only one eye. He was searching me now, that rage replaced with something else.
“Do you want to see Stalliongrad burn, Grimm?” I asked, returning the gesture. “Is all that meaning lost on you? Are you as much a 'Callow Elder' as you claim to be?”
He faced me.
I faced him. “Life is meaningless if we make nothing of it.”
“Meaning is lifeless if we take nothing from it,” he completed. “Teachings of the Callow Elder.” He leaned back, searching me once more. “Who are you? I thought I knew who you were once, that equinpologist with bright and curious eyes who stopped in my shop. Then we met again, you in armor of the Lunar Guard, hiding. Who are you?”
I maintained my straight posture and my straight face. “We all have names we choose or borrow. Mine’s the Sentinel.” I fired up my horn, sprouted an arm, held up his balisong. “And this is going to be your advance payment.”
He turned his head more. “Advance payment?”
“You're a leader of a paramilitary organization for hire. And I want to hire you.”
Grimm faced me fully, beak slightly ajar. “What?”
“I want you to return to Malcom,” I instructed. “Then I want you both to send my message to your troops. Then I want you to go contact Argus- that's his real name, isn't it?- and tell him just what he's doing by choosing to strike Stalliongrad yet again over something as simple as 'retribution.'”
“Hm... you're thinking dangerous.” The griffin ghoul grinned. “I like dangerous.” He pointed at his balisong. “So that's the advance payment. How much for completing the job?”
“Well Stalliongrad's still producing,” I answered. “I'd imagine your flamethrower's suffered some wear and tear. And they're not commonplace. Same with your suit. I'd say a proper refit and repair would cover it.” I lifted his balisong. “Personal first.” Then tilted it toward him. “Monetary second.”
Grimm pursed his beak and nodded slowly. “And the message?” he asked, reaching out with a claw.
I answered, “Tell him exactly what you all stand to lose by attacking Stalliongrad again.” We clasped hands, his balisong between them. “And tell him that it comes from Frostbane Hokkaido Windchill, former paladin of the Lunar Guard, formerly private first class of Sierra squad of Delta Brigade, also known as the Dead Boys.”
* * *
“Holy crap, you actually got him to work for you?” Rig remarked in disbelief the next morning. She and Soraya came early with breakfast- and biscuits. Thank Lorn for them...
“Still got it,” I said with a slight grin.
“Nevertheless, if what we've heard of Yagmarth is any indication, I doubt Grimm or Malcom would be able to convince him to cancel plans for an attack,” Soraya stated.
“And can we even trust him in the first place?” Rig added.
“Fair points on both accounts,” I said, “but it’s not like we have many options on the table. Even if we got all working equipment in combat-ready condition, Stalliongrad’s lost too much of her militia between the last two attacks. If the Dead Boys come in force, it’s a battle we can’t win, especially if those currently stationed here turn out to be more afraid of Yagmarth than loyal to Malcom. If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight, even at the ruler’s bidding. And right now, it seems like the Dead Boys are looking for a fight and they have their ruler’s bidding.”
“So what’s the plan, then?” Rig asked.
“We don’t fight,” I answered, “but we sabotage all production infrastructure here. If the Dead Boys are going to take this city without a fight, we won’t let them enjoy the spoils.”
“Just like during The Great War,” Soraya remarked.
“Just like during The Great War,” I echoed. “We have our mission. We’ll evacuate the city, then we head for Stable Seventy-Two once I’ve recovered enough. We still need to get you that water talisman.”
Rig scowled. “Dammit…this is just like the those ponies chased by those raiders. Are we seriously turning away from this again?”
“It’s not the same, Rig,” the ebony giant said, turning to her. “We have the opportunity to avoid a confrontation entirely with no loss of life. Would you rather we lose still more good people to a fight we can’t win?”
“So what, we’re gonna pull out of the city?” she retorted. “Where are they gonna go? Most of them can’t fly, so they’ll have to traverse the Divide to get to any place they can live. Do the people here even have provisions for that? The Dead Boys have been restricting travel to Stalliongrad for over a week, which means we’ve already lost that week’s worth of supplies. Even if there’s fewer mouths to feed after the attack, you saw how many wounded there are. They won’t survive the journey south!”
“There’s always the Stable just outside city limits,” I said. “They can take shelter there.”
“For how long?” Rig asked. “Do they even have a proper food supply?”
I sighed, “No… it was ransacked by the raiders when they took over the city. If it isn’t spoiled through improper storage, then it’s already been eaten.”
“So if Grimm of Malcom can’t convince Yagmarth to cancel his attack plan, we have to break the deadlock,” she said, crossing her forelegs. “We fight back and push the Dead Boys out. Then we re-establish contact and trade with the Capital Wastes, we get the water talisman to Stable Three, then we head to Tenpony to tell Treble Clef what the Dead Boys are up to.”
Soraya and I shared a look. “Rig… that’s provided we actually survive,” I said. “If anything, we risk losing more than if we evacuate the city.”
“And the people of Stalliongrad risk either running into Yagmarth on the way down and get slaughtered, or they try to bypass the long way around and die of starvation or infection,” Rig said, scowl intensifying as she leaned closer. “Meanwhile, we run away and try to do our job. You say it’s not like the time with the raiders. I say it’s pretty damn close. And this time, we can help. We flee or hide, we all lose. Fighting’s the only sure way to result in victory.” She teleported out a cigarette and lit the tip, popping it into her mouth. “So we’re fucking fighting.”
Soraya and I shared a look once more. “What’re your thoughts?” I asked.
The griffin hybrid inhaled deeply. “She’s right.”
“Right how?” I frowned. “Even if we win, unless we give them an uncontested smackdown, we risk them regrouping for another attack.”
“Well I doubt Yagmarth’s going to let us slip away in any case,” Rig snorted. “He’ll want to hunt them down if he’s already vengeful enough to strike the city again.”
I let out a sharp breath and hung my head, letting out a soft, short chuckle in spite of myself. “You know, Rig, this is breaking every single damn rule I set before we started traveling together.”
“And those rules have let people die, and they’re gonna let even more die,” Rig huffed.
I looked her in the eye. “This is on you, then, understand?”
She looked me right back with those bright indigo eyes. “You got it, boss.”
I glanced down at that. “Looks like I’m not your boss anymore.” I inhaled deeply and let it out sharply. “Can’t do much as is right now, so I’ll have to ask you to do it for me. Soraya, with Snowbourne dead, Keperskaiya is the acting militia leader. Find her, tell her we need to enact the contingency plan, and if she objects, tell her Rig’s arguments. She won’t like having her hoof forced, but like Rig said, our options are limited. Rig,” I turned to her, “head to the Hammer and Horns. If you run into Xamuros- and I hope you do- tell him to get a well-equipped team ready and get to scouring the ruins for medical supplies. I also need you to tell Chief Thunderhooves we need to ramp production up. We need everyone properly equipped and armed. And tell him we’re going to need all the gas and the best catalyst gems we can get.”
“Fuel?” Rig asked. “For what?”
“Tell him it’s for Little Kate and the Black Cats. He’ll know what I mean.”
Rig had a lovely smirk. And then she galloped off.
I inhaled slowly. “When did she learn to talk like that?”
“To be fair, you did leave your copies of Lying, Parliamentary Style and How to Win Friends and Influence People out for everyone, plus your personal annotations,” Soraya said.
I blinked, then growled, “Fucking dammit.”
“She’s right though. This is a fight we can’t surely avoid.”
“Should Grimm fail,” I noted.
“Should Grimm fail,” she echoed.
“I totally failed,” Grimm said.
“Twilight bucking Sparkle!” I growled, turning to him. “When did you get here?”
“Like… five seconds ago?” The griffin ghoul shrugged. “Sup, Soraya.”
“Shut up, Grimm,” she said flatly.
“Ouch… first kisser I get in decades and she gives me the cold shoulder,” he said with a pout. “So, uh, Frost.” He shrugged. “Sorry, bud. Didn’t cut it. Hell, even Malcom pitched in, and the big guy couldn’t be moved. Sorry to say, but in four, five days, uh, you guys are fucked.”
“Well if it’s a fight he’s looking for, then it’s a fight he’s gonna get,” I said.
Grimm blinked. “Well good luck. Now, about my payment…”
I sighed, “Soraya, on your way, stop by Benson’s. Clear him.”
“Understood,” she said.
“You haven’t left yet,” I noted.
“Neither has Grimm.”
He looked between the both of us before getting her message. “Ohhhh! Right, right, gotcha.” He gave a thumbs-up before sneaking his way out.
Soraya sighed, “We’re going to have to fight him again, won’t we?”
“Well he knows we’re going to fight back,” I said, “yet he didn’t try to burn us to a crisp at our most vulnerable time.”
She grimaced. “Don’t tell me you see a potential ally in him after what he did to you. To us. To Alhambronco, no less.”
“I don’t,” I answered. “I see one less potential thorn in our sides.”
She huffed softly. “So we have our orders. What about you?”
“Well we’re going to have to wind down and relax eventually,” I said to her. “And I still intend to tell my story.”
* * *
That should be it for tonight, folks. Junction R-Seven needs its usual night patrol back in the saddle. Until next time, everyone.
Steel yourselves. War is approaching- then, and further back.
* * *
Footnote: Frost- Maximum Level
Rig- DLC bonus XP acquired! Level Up! Level 18 reached!
Soraya- Maximum Level
Unlockables added: Soundtrack- Olden Days, Golden Days
Well, there's a lot going on, obviously Frost's military tactics and logic are beginning to fail in this situation and they now need to improvise. I'm really looking forward to the next chapter, I'm kinda surprised but I also kinda expected that he was originally in the Dead Boys or somehow affiliated with them, but it just kinda slipped into the back of my mind. At least we know he joined the army before the Night Guard. I'm interested in what Luna looks like, is it what he would appear as if he suffered the full extent of the burns?
Hmmm.
I like the way Rig's trying to break through Frost's cold logic, he wants to help, but he does it for betterment or to live by his "protect and serve" code, but he won't sign everyone up for a suicide mission. Personally I find it hard to describes Frost's current morals, closest I can think is "Give them the tools and let them make the bridge" still though, my favourite FO:E sidestory.
3493943 This first part sort of ties into the "Frost's moral code" bit. I could talk all about that now, but that wouldn't be any fun, now would it? Only time will tell to see how Frost became the stallion he is today.
And that time is approaching quickly...
As for Luna... well, we'll see.
And even now, you don't fully know Frost. Again, we'll have to wait for his story to be told. Sadly, I can't write as fast as he can tell his story. :\ HOPEFULLY NEXT ONE SOOOOOOOON!
Also, why so much focus on Frost? What about Rig?
3494582 We've been hearing so much about Frost lately and his past my mind seems more geared towards it, but truthfully? I don't think Rig has changed her morals too much, she wants to do good and save ponies but this time I really appreciate how she makes her defense and stops Frost from abandoning Stalliongrad. Good work on her behalf, I don't think we really get much from Soraya this chapter, but that's okay due to the fact these are only intermission chapters.
Will Frost finish his story and then fight Argus, or will it be a mix? I'm liking the immersion with jolts of wasteland, but I feel we're getting slightly disconnected with Rig and Soraya, even though Rig is getting some development going on.
I am pleased with this chapter and as always look forward to the next one, Frost's past can really engage the reader
Also, I take it your basing the history of Stalliongrad on Leningrad and not Stalingrad then?
YUSH! Must read immediately!
3494607 Unfortunately... you're right about this being more focused on Frost for the time being. That'll change, hopefully, when we return to the chapters. I do plan to keep going until the Reflections are over, however. There are pros and cons with both ways, but I've decided to stick with them until the end.
As for Stalliongrad... it will borrow elements of the Battle of Stalingrad, but I still want it to retain my own flavor. Rest assured, I'll try to make it interesting.
Is it just me or was this chapter unusually short. <.<
Kinda overread it was just an intermission. Alright then...
3494874 Well, uh... yeah. Intermissions are short. Which is why I thought this one would've been out a lot quicker.
Unfortunately, four straight weeks of midterms.
After all that time commenting shortly after you update, and the three back-to-back reviews I got from you, I finally slink over to make my appearance. Tofu=huge butt.
I'm not quite sure if my memory is foggy on the subject, as it tends to be when it's been a while since I've read something, but what's Xamuros's deal? Is it just as simple as the zebras' fear of Luna/Nightmare Moon and the stars, and now that he knows she and Frost were an item, he feels like he can't trust Frost? Will Frost grill him about it later, or will this come to pass?
Argus is on the way, eh? Frost's story is going to have to kick it into high gear if he wants to finish by the time he and his forces arrive. You did say that the reflections would finish before we came back to the present, so an artsy-fartsy interruption for a large-scale battle mid-telling is out of the question.
I like that Rig is starting to become more outspoken here. She's come a ways since Frost met her as a timid little captive, fresh out of the stable and ignorant of the Wasteland's ways. She's rapidly gained combat experience as we've seen, but only now do we see that she's also moving out from beneath Frost's wing and gaining a sort of fierce independence. I like where you're going with her- she's proving to be a good foil for Frost's calloused, surgical way of behaving/thinking.
I shall definitely be more prompt next time. Until then.
3497936 Dude, don't worry about it. You freakin' pre-read for me. XD
It's a lot simpler than you think, and it's actually not really something I've expounded upon. It will, however, be brought to light, as will the whole issue that Frost had to "apologize" for upon meeting Xamuros again back in chapter four.
Pretty much, yeah. Thing is, it'll take only a few more days for him to finish. It'll take months for me to. XD Ahhhh... dammit. :c
Yep. Rig's starting to step up, and although sadly this won't be coming back up again until later, it won't be the last time we see her start to take charge.
*snugs*
What I like most about this intermission is that it really drives the wasteland plot forwards. I was expecting it to be left alone while we went through the reflections and I'm pleasantly surprised that isn't the case.
Music wise, this was much harder to go over than I thought it would be, especially since there are only three songs. Olden Days, Golden Days does a really good job of capturing what I feel is the saddest thing in this story which is the sense of longing for what was that grips Frost. You continue your streak of flawless piano music. A Deal with the Devil sounds like thought. You can hear the synapses, or at least, that's what I hear. If there was a theme song for that reactionary problem solving and execution, this would be it as it. The only issue I have is at 21 seconds in there is that jarring noise. I'm sure it has context within the movie and overall doesn't detract enough for it to be of any concern.
So what could have taken so long? Quiet Preparations. Personally, I like Suicide Mission... a lot. Its title even fits. This is what made it difficult to find out why it wasn't clicking for me. Ultimately, I found that I associate the song with something far more grandiose than what is occurring in the scene though that could be my prior context speaking. To me, the songs would be better suited if she was speaking in more dire circumstances such as on the precipice of battle and to a larger audience. It feels like she be about to charge into battle and is in the process of inspiring others to do the same, not in quiet preparation, talking to a select few who are privy to the information. I tried to find the music that plays during Shepard's speech to his crew, which is a more subdued version while still capturing a similar idea, but no one seemed to have that particular version uploaded at least without the speech.
Hopefully this was helpful. I'd recommend seeing if anyone else agrees before changing it as I am sure that my existing associations with the song are influencing how I interpret it.
3500570 As always, I appreciate the feedback on the music for the installment, and I'm also listening to your suggestion for the "Quiet Preparations" segment. Listening to the background and comparing it to what I have, you're right. Less grandoise, more subdued while still retaining the idea I had in mind. Found the best version that fits it, hopefully. Still a bit of a buildup at the end, but... hopefully better.
3500696 I think that this fits much better. The build up is fine as I think it plays well with Rig building up the evidence that fighting will be the only way and the conclusion of her speech and the music are both quick and simple.
3502480 Woo! Alternatively, and I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner considering I'm addicted to the game, but howsabout this?
3508451 I would say this is a better fit by length alone. Unless I read as fast as I can, 1 minute doesn't cut it. As for the song itself, I'm feeling the long drawn out stings that start at 1:56 more than the rapid strings in the beginning. Both contribute though as the rapid feels more desperate while the long feels more forlorn. I don't think desperate is as relevant here though since the battle is a far off problem. Here is the video cut to long only. The problem I see with this is that it loses its intro. Either way you prefer, I think it would be better than Attack Plan. If the exact song that played during the Shepard's speech was available, it would be a much closer comparison but in this case, Log In Theme 5 would be the way to go in my opinion.
3509920 Moved it slightly down and changed the soundtrack name to "If Fighting is Sure to Result in Victory..." Hopefully, bit more fitting now. Thanks for the input, Shattered Skies.
The build up and drama. Adder, you do it so well. Keep up the good work buddy
3540366 Hey, no worries. I'm still incredibly late on Tofu's story. >.>
Still, what was that quote again? "There is a method to his madness." Now, I know I'm not considering anything past the end of season 2 to be canon, but just look at the recent season 4 openers. I would argue it's not so far-fetched.
Plus, I really needed a reason why The Great War went on so long and so poorly for Equestria without bringing international treaties into it. Flamethrowers, dude.
Yus, Littlehorn... well. Enjoy it while it lasts. And glad you liked Almarinia. Won't be the last we see of the place.
Feels like forever since we've had one of these to remind us of what's going on in the original story arc, its almost to the point I've forgotten what's actually going on with the Dead Boys.
*sigh* I'll admit that Frost brings up both good, and depressing point, that he's only managed to get through the first thirty five years of a two century background, and we're only just now getting to the part where we get to the meat of what he actually did during the war; hell the war even starting. Not complaining, per se, I get that knowing where Frost came from can give context to what he becomes and all that... but bloody hell you'd think the guy could learn to paraphrase a bit. This is where I get both anxious and engaged, however, as this is basically where my interest in Frost's story actually focuses... what in the name of Celestia's flaming teats did he do either during or after the war that made killing Miranda and Wendy worth it in his mind? I mean, it can't be simply the committing of atrocities. At this point I'm expecting everything from wholesale mass murder, genocide, butchery of close friends, mass torture, just about every conceivable war crime or just flat out depraved act that could be foisted upon one person... and none of what I can come up with remotely comes close to:
Really? I mean, seriously? Seriously? Some part of me feels like Frost is missing the point of his own story. Its not whether or not his past actions are worse than his present ones that matter. Its whether or not anything about his past needed to be kept secret at the price of innocent lives. He's got to justify his actions, otherwise the story itself loses all meaning, at least to me. I'm not listening to him drone on to know how bad the war was, or how horrible his actions were. I know how bad the war was, and I know how bad his actions could be. Nations do horrible things, and have their soldiers do horrible things, all in the name of victory. What I'm listening to this guy for is to see if there's even a single, small, tiny, minuscule kernel of potential justification for the murder of a woman and her child to keep a secret. That's it. That's the singular reason this guy's story is worth listening to, at least from my perspective.
Now don't get me wrong, this is just me harping on Frost as a person. As a character he's interesting, and the story from a pure story perspective is a good read, you really keep the characters breathing with life with every piece of dialogue. But Frost as a person just wears me out sometimes, and can do so with a remarkably small amount of words spoken.
Now, Frost aside, I liked Rig stepping up a bit in this intermission, though a part of me wonders if the gal isn't biting off more than she can chew, or at the very least I'm wondering how much she's thought this through. I mean, I'm all for sticking it out for a fight if the cause is right, but I'm hoping Rig's got a plan for compensating for Stalliongrad basically being outnumbered and outgunned. Going to need some way to close the gap in enemy advantages. Be interesting to see what she comes up with, even if it'll be awhile before we get to that part. Not much else to say, keep going man, and hope all the school stuff goes smooth for you.
3589489 Yeahhh, it was a concern mentioned by several commentators, and the recent installment, I hope, addresses that somewhat.
We'll get to that. Things are going to be moving real fast already with the upcoming installment WHICH IS SO BEHIND SCHEDULE BECAUSE PRESENTATIONS AND FINALS GRAAH. It's like I can't have an installment come early anymore!
Mm. Yeah. That might have been bad writing there. @_@ I don't know if/how I should change it though...
Mrg... it's probably the worldbuilding. I'm trying to think of places where it could be paraphrased, but I'm feeling like I've built Chekov an armory at this point. A lot of this stuff is actually going to come back- characters included.
Well, we'll find out how things go then, won't we? (Hint: It's freaking Yagmarth.)
3682532 I think I probably stated this before, but while TLS is grounded in FoE as it is a sidestory, I'm definitely going in my own direction. More than likely, you'll see that with the upcoming Reflection where we finally head to Zebrica.
I'm surprised nobody commented on that earlier. Hell, even Lazer missed that during his pre-read of this. >.>
A lot of the nitpicks about the ellipses regarding capitalization are actually grammar rules. Yes, as weird as it is, words following ellipses are not capitalized unless they're names or something similar. It's a weird rule, I agree, but apparently it's a rule. Thank you for pointing out the others, though. I'll be fixing those.
This is my only real comment about war and how it never changes
3720519 Okay. You got a grin from me from that.