Sorry :( I'll try to write less. It's difficult when the story is so good! :D
Oh, and yes please for the meeting! Can we do it at Canterlot? I have relatives there, so can go without problem. Manehattan I'm not sure.
Anyway, here I go!
Midnight Castle: Everhere, Vol 7, Chapter 2, The Shatterstone - Part 2
The Cerberus triplets take Danny and Molly to the banquet hall, while Eric (who's secretly given the crown) leaves the temple (?) to try and figure out a way to get back. He takes out his handphone to compare the city with the pictures he's made before and discovers that the city is owned by the Atlas corporation (and their CEO is a titan).
Jump back to Megan in the Zeus reality. Cassandra's plan is for them to break into the vault and try and use one of the forbidden artifacts in the hopes it would destroy the crown. That would ensure that the Everprince is never restored. While they set up a complicated set of events to help them get there Blazen starts acting on his own. Taking a piece of black chalk he's been hiding in his ear (gross!) he draws some weird symbols on the ground that transform into a nightmare beast, which sets him, Caprice, and Karl free. Rushing off, they coincidentally bump into Megan and Cassandra on their way to the vault. No one says a word, but Cassandra notices the traces of chalk on Blazen's fingers. Fearing that the CEO might arrive at any moment the group rushes into the vault room. Arriving there, however, they find that someone is already there. A man identifying himself as the director shows them a blue glowing rock and asks if that's what they are searching for.
Meanwhile, Euryala has finally convinced the butler she isn't a member of Bellucio's staff. It also becomes clear that Bellucio is extremely rich, mostly because he's one of the dreamwaters (anyone who can hear Poseidon when they dream). Euryala insists they should flee out of town, but Bellucio refuses. Omni, who as always goes over Bellucio's things finds a photo of Bellucio and eleven unknown boys, all in strange uniforms. A step in front of them is a tall pale man with blue hair, who Euryala identifies as Poseidon. Everyone ransacks Bellucio's room and find more information of him being something of a known secret agent (?) who does whatever Poseidon tells him. Omni comments it's like Danny in the real reality, but then they find a picture of Bellucio standing next to a display case with a strange rock in it, and a plaque reading The Shatterstone.
(Reality Hades). Danny and Molly have a weird time talking with deities (everyone at the banquet is a titan or deity! Heck, the Cerberus triplets are just servants!) and starts getting a sense that they are forming an alliance against something. Before he could say more he starts choking uncontrollably and Molly rushes to help him.
(Reality Zeus) The Director says he's the Felina CEO's boss, then just hands them the stone. Blazen tries to use his chalk monster to attack him, but the mister disintegrates into dust. The Director pretty much says that the crown cannot be destroyed, at least not while separated. To achieve that they must find the roost and knowledge to do so. (It's explained that the Stone has the power, like the crown, to shatter and reunite realities.) He says Megan can use it to merge the realities in one, but in doing so will leave a piece of herself to each of them. That is the price and her choice to make.
(Reality Poseidon) Euryala finally convinces Bellucio they must get out of his house. (Oh, and Omni finds a stash of daggers and other concealable weapons Bellucio must have used in his missions :)) As they try to leave, all the water in the room attacks them, then transforms into a water warrior with ice gear (wicked armored surfer humie! I hope that miniature is for sale! :) Euryala takes out a fancy staff and says "I told you so".
(Reality Hades) Everyone has surrounded Danny as he lurches on the floor, gasping for air. Cerberus figures something's not right so he transformed into his three-headed self. There are whispers that Danny is tainted. Molly tries to remain close, but some titan (Prometheus) takes her away. Hades then orders that Cerberus "eliminate the plague".
Megan keeps hesitating, but in the end uses the shatterstone. Suddenly everyone is back where they found the crown. Omni's still holding it, yet this time nothing weird happens. Euryala tries to take it, but both Bellucio and Megan say she shouldn't even think about it. Euryala huffs and puffs, then leaves. A bit later everyone else does as well, with only Megan remaining. Concerned, Karl asks what's going on. Then Megan tells him she can't see with her right eye, almost as if it isn't there anymore.
That was incredible! So wild that I don't know what to think! I'll reread everything just to make sense of it all! There are so many threads, so many questions! I'm going insane! :D
Oh, next chapter will be "The Equestrian Convict" Can't wait! :)
PrinceEric
@PrinceEric: usually when you try to write less you don't use more words ;). We still love you, though.
And yes, this was quite the brain exercise. As much as I like it, though, I'm worried about the readership. I know this is a horrible thing to say, but these types of books aren't aimed at a thinking audience. It's better suited for ponies in middle school and older. At least, in my opinion.
Another interesting thing I've notices: female characters so far have a much larger role than all stories before. I understand that Karl is pretty much a background character, but Megan pretty much stole the show (Euryala, and even Molly had strong appearances as well.) Maybe it's because of the sudden shift? I was expecting Danny to carry the story on his back, provided his words at the end of the previous scroll. Maybe it's just me?
PaintDrop
Each time there's a new Midnight Castle series I tell myself they can't possibly be as good as that, and each time I'm wrong! Everhere is... I don't know! Daring Do can eat her wings off! Really, this is so much better! And the characters are developed so well! We couldn't see from PrinceEric's review, but they aren't anywhere as flat as the previous series. (Volume 4 did have this problem a lot.)
@PaintDrop: I did notice, yes, and that's not all. Caprice is nearly a main character. Also the next chapter is the first that has the word Equestria in the title. This means it'll be involved much more. I love it!
LyraHands
@LyraHands: I don't know. :/ I like my humans human. There's nothing worse in suddenly sticking ponies in there. If I wanted to read pony adventure books, I'd do that! There are hundreds of series to choose from. What makes Midnight Castle special is precisely the humans.
I don't care if you hate me for it, but i want it to become a human only series.
MixaMax
Sorry, but I'm completely lost :(
If there was one reality and then it's split into three, does that mean the merge reality is a different reality than the other three? In that case must they get the crown in all four realities? And if everyone is on reality is in the others how come there are things missing in the shattered realities?
I liked the way it was written (and I love Molly <3) but this is really confusing :(
SweetStuff
@SweetStuff: The way I see it is like one of those huge pictures you make, but you don't have enough paper so you put three next to each other. The three realities are the pieces, and the big one is the picture.
And yes, Molly is magnificent! Cerberus also has me intrigued, as do the Director, and Prometheus. Based on past books, when there's a name mentioned that character usually has some important role. Just like Euryala.
DannyFan
I still don't get it, but I'll keep reading! Thanks :)
SweetStuff
Molly can go buck a tree!
Brush
They're pulling no punches with the mythological stuff. Atlas and Prometheus are in fact ancient beings that inhabited Tartarus. I wonder if we'll get to see other creatures. Hydra anyone? :)
This was a pretty solid opening for any series. As was said there are so many directions this could continue. The fact that we have a breather (based on next chapter's title) means we'll have a mix of story arcs and unrelated chapters.
@CEOWitch: can you say if next chapter is related?
Bob
@Bob: She can't and it isn't. ;)
Luna
@Bob: apparently, I can't and it isn't.
If everyone okay with the meetup being in Canterlot? There are a few ponies I can ask about hotels and convention centers.
CEOWitch
I have a place that can easily hold up to 50 ponies. (No, it isn't the Palace proper ;)) It'll be free of charge, so only thing participants need to cover are travel and food.
Luna
I'll see if I can get Fleetfoot to go. (No guarantees, though.)
@Luna: any chance of you dragging any of the writers?
CEOWitch
@CEOWitch: Ha! Hahaha! Hahahahahahaha ha! Sure, why not :)
Luna
I think I fainted... :) RIP!
LyraHands