//------------------------------// // You Cannot Win: Chaos // Story: Imbalanced: New Age // by Nameless Narrator //------------------------------// [Blazing’s Entry] Phew, I’m finally back home, and by home I mean the Silver Sun HQ in Manehattan. So, Harmony’s well-crafted host is gone, and the god will need a new one, because right now he’s too weak to make a corporeal and powerful enough body for himself, I think. Even so, to possess someone, break them, and forge them into an avatar who will be even remotely as dangerous as the unknown mare will take time. However, I can’t lower my guard yet. Nightmare is manipulating things, and she’s on a different level compared to Harmony who has been defeated and his plans ruined multiple times in the recent past. I don’t know how long it takes for the gods to recover, but it isn’t quick. As far as I know, Nightmare’s last defeat was with the death of Crowley while Harmony’s manifested himself twice since then and has been crushed both times. Three times if we count his recent defeat up north. No, I can’t rest easy. Nightmare is far more powerful, and I know she’s involved in everything. The problem is that I don’t have much to do right now. The caravan trip from the Crystal Empire back to Manehattan was boring, although everyone was resting most of the time. Heavy, who had half of his ribs broken and completely shredded lung was thanking his Corrupted body for his pony organs not being as necessary as they pretend to be. Unfortunately, without belonging into any territory, and being more a pony than a Corrupted, he couldn’t just tap into the tainted soil under Manehattan and heal up, so he’s still recovering under the constant supervision of nurse Cross. Cromach didn’t show it much, but he’s hissing in pain even now despite not suffering any overly serious wounds, only heavy bruises. And yes, I do understand that without his muscles empowered by his minor divinity he would have been a smear on the ground. When I wasn’t fighting her, Harmony’s mare had the strength of a dragon on some serious steroids, and simple jabs or glancing blows Crom took would have killed a normal pony outright anyway. Joy and I have been suffering from headaches. Overuse of power does that to unicorns and alicorns. It was a bit easier for me, because I’m used to dealing with the amount of power I needed to stop all Harmony’s tentacles penetrating this reality from wrecking everyone, and because my divinity was directly counteracting his. Joy, however, as she was helping Nightshade and her friends PHYSICALLY stop the massive things, needed me to carry her as she wasn’t even able to move. Anyway, the Corrupted stayed in Rift to clear out the worms and some more annoying threats. Minotaurs will have to deal with the minor pests on their own, but they are well-equipped to do that. It turned out that the devourer worms were the greatest problem, being able to track minotaur movements through the miniscule tremors of solid rock and then collapsing tunnels on any combat expeditions. I’m kinda worried about Nightshade now wanting one as pet under Ponyville territory, but on the scale ranging from ‘minor anxiety’ to ‘my usual eldritch monstrosity slaying day of pant-shitting horror’ it’s a small beer. Now, the bad news. The crystals required to for istrium aren’t here yet, since it’ll take the minotaurs some time to resume mining and ship them here. What’s worse, there’s more we need to forge the third Blade, some mineral able to nullify magic. Bucket has been looking for any references to such thing with no luck yet. Aaaaargh, I don’t want to sit here in my room and watch the lights of Manehattan shining over the outside wall. I could go out or something, but it all feels so small and meaningless. Huh… maybe Crom was right in having to take any moment of peace I can get. I’m not hurting or exhausted anymore, so it might be time to I do something I should have done a long time ago. No, not a bullet through my head, you silly book. [End Entry] “Hi, Blazing. We’re still looking for any entries regarding the required mineral,” says Bucket as he passes by one of the balconies on the third floor of the Silver Sun mansion on which I’m currently sitting with my chin propped against the railing and watching recruits train, “With Starswirl’s guide I’ve identified what kind of rock we need, but it’s extremely rare and we still don’t know any mining location. It’s-” “Bucket, I’m not a geologist. Just point me where I need to go and then tell me who’s going to try to stop me,” I cut him off, tapping my hooves against the metal bars. “Hmm,” Bucket walks over, closing the glass pane door behind him, “What’s wrong?” “Nothing much. I’m just thinking.” “About...?” “About a good place where to go on a date,” I breathe out. I’m not exactly sure if I want to be talking about this to BUCKET of all ‘ponies’. “With sir Cromach?” Heh, funny how that innocent question points out everything wrong I’ve done to get myself into this mess. “No, Bucket, that’s the problem. Whenever I say something about romance or love, everypony assumes I’m thinking about Cromach. That just goes to show how little attention I’ve given Chokey. Makes perfect sense she felt like I didn’t care about her. Makes even more sense how that could have grown into such insecurity after Scream made her be reborn as Joy.” “Blaming yourself again?” “Rightfully so on this one, at least for being the main cause of her going crazy. As Crom said, though, I can’t keep waiting for after all this is over, because it might not be. There is no guarantee I’ll win AND survive. If I want to move forward, I can’t keep waiting for the one right moment. I need to act now, and make this moment as good as possible, even if it’ll be far from perfect.” “Do you want my advice?” “Will you leave if I don’t?” “Yes,” he nods, “I can offer you a list of good places since I know Manehattan of this age an you don’t. However, if you want to go blind on this one as a small adventure and see where it leads, it’s up to you.” “Out with it. I don’t even know what Joy likes. I’ve been sitting here for an hour, and I have no clue. I know nothing about her.” “My list is based on what Choking Darkness used to prefer. I suppose a night club with mixed dancers is out of the question.” “For a first date? Let’s leave that for at least the third one,” I chuckle, “I know it’s hard to believe, but Joy is different. Calmer, more shy and yet sure of herself. I don’t think she’d want that too much, since she gets all the sexy sights she wants at home. Not that she’d mind, but… I don’t feel like that’s what would make her happy. I’m thinking about a nice, peaceful dinner. It just feels trite and boring, though.” Bucket taps his hoof against the floor, looking into the distance. “Then maybe all she might want is your company. It does sound cheap, but there’s always the terrace on the roof. The view of Manehattan lights in the evening is… calming. Anyway, it’s not ĺike you’ll think of the perfect time and place without really knowing her first. If she’s interested, she’ll take a good attempt and you’ll work your way up from there.” I chuckle to myself. Wise pile of nuts and bolts. “Says a lot about my chances when a robot knows more about love and romance than I do.” “Remember, Twilight Sparkle originally built me as a clopbot… and Dawn made good use of that and much more. I doubt I thought about our relationship the same way she used to, but I learned a lot.” “Dawn?” the name does sound familiar, but I can’t quite place it. “My original… caretaker. Later a very good friend.” “With benefits?” “I am very customizable in certain ways, so with clearly huge benefits.” Shaking my head, I stand back up. If he can think this dirty, he might be onto something. “Thanks, Bucket.” “Do you want me to contact Joy?” he stands up as well and slides the door open. “I’ll take care of that. There’s something I’ve wanted to try out for a while. Just keep me informed if you find out something about the rocks we need.” “Will do. Oh!” he shakes his head, “I almost forgot. Are you planning to take Joy out tonight? I’m sure our cooks can whip up something light and delicious.” “If everything goes well, yes.” “Then I’ll arrange matters. In case there’s a change of plans… well, some recruits can always use a richer meal as a reward for good performance.” “You’ve got a plan for every scenario, Bucket.” “I tend to. That’s kind of my job.” With a simple exchange of nods, we split up, and I head off to my room. There, I focus my divinity, feeling around for hers. There is a link between me and Joy, one she can use to appear by my side when I call her. I could straight up summon her later, but I think I should do this properly. Let’s hope this works better than when I asked Chokey out on a date the first time. There’s no feeling of fall, only gradually stronger noises and scents of the everlasting orgy. When I open my eyes, I’m in the familiar cavern. “Blazing?” Joy immediately materializes nearby, clearly surprised. That, in itself, kinda hurts. She wasn’t expecting me to come here on my own, “Is something wrong? Are we going somewhere again?” I smile. “In a matter of speaking,” I clear my throat, “Umm, I really hope it works this time,” I resist everything telling me to look down at the floor rather than into her red eyes, “Joy, will you go out with me tonight?” She stands there, frozen. I open my mouth again: “If you don’t have time that’s-” Shut up, idiot! “-” and I close it immediately. Joy slowly breathes out. “Y-Yes, of c-c-course. When?” “Tonight. Eight, maybe?” “Oh yeah yeah… you already said that, sorry,” she covers her muzzle, muttering, “I’m so dumb… I’m so dumb… I’m so dumb...” I pretend I don’t hear it. “I couldn’t think of anything mind blowing, so if you don’t mind I’d like to start slow. There’s a terrace on the roof of the Silver Sun mansion. We can have dinner there, relax, and just chat.” “I’d love that,” she smiles. “Umm, great!” I look around. I clearly didn’t plan this out properly, “Say, can you drop me off back at the mansion? I kinda found a way to teleport here, but not a way back.” “Of course. Right now?” “Mhm,” I nod, “Can’t waste all my topics for tonight early, or it would be a short dinner.” “Heh heh,” her horn glows, “Alright, see you later.” “See you, Joy.” Aaand I’m back in my room, still processing what happened with my heart beating like crazy. I haven’t been this afraid when facing Harmony. I was calm and in peace with everything, no matter my occasional freakouts. This… the few seconds of waiting for Joy to react were horrifying. Well… there’s not much to do but wait. And shower and stuff… you know. Hoping for any action tonight? No. I actually really don’t want that. Dinner, chat, maybe sitting on the bench leaning on each other, but not more. I want to make her comfortable, that’s all. At this point, I want a relationship, a stable, not needy, one. Crom, Joy, and I. If I have to take it as slow as possible, I will. Evening comes soon… or after eternity, I’m not sure at this point. *Tap tap tap.* “Ehm...” soft cough follows the quiet knocking. When I open the door my jaw drops. Joy is there. Her crimson mane is combed so that it falls down only on one side of her head. She’s wearing matching faint golden lipstick and eye shadow. Her charcoal black coat is slick and reflects light like polished obsidian, accentuating her tight, fit body. What’s absolutely stunning, though, is that both her mane and tail gently sway in a nonexistent wind, their red hues shifting from darker into lighter and back. Kinda wish I could do that. Every real alicorn has awesome mane, but my shabby old self. “Gaaaah...” I choke on my saliva, “You look great.” “Thank you,” she bows, “I hope I’m not late.” No idea, and there’s no chance I’d say anything even if you were. “Let’s see what Bucket cooked up for us, shall we?” We draw some surprises glances from Silver Sun patrols as we pass by. On the third floor, Bucket stops us. “I hate to interrupt you two, but I’ve got news. We’ve discovered the location of the closest mass of the mineral we need.” “Where?” I ask on reflex. Joy tenses up, lowering her head. “The old changeling hive in the Badlands. Queen Chrysalis’s throne, which is great, because we won’t need any mining and refining operation, just somepony to go there and kick a chunk off.” “That’s perfect,” I look at Joy who has a bitter smile on her muzzle an is softly kicking the carpet with her foreleg. Silly alicorn. The rock will be there tomorrow, but if I rush off, you might not, “but it’ll have to wait. I’ve got more important plans now.” Joy’s head snaps towards me, the alicorn staring with wide eyes. Bucket simply nods. “Of course. The refreshments will be ready on the roof in few minutes. Have a nice evening, you two.” He leaves. “Blazing, are you sure about this?” asks Joy, “I mean-” “I am. Anything might happen when I go get the piece of rock, but you’re here right now.” She presses her side against mine as we walk, and wraps her wing around my back. The roof is a little windy, but the summer evening is warm and there’s already a bottle of wine on the square table set for two. The door opens behind us, Cromach rushing through. “Hey, Blaze! Bucket told me we’re going to the Badlands- am I interrupting something?” he stops. Joy grits her teeth, looking away. “Yes, you are,” I say coldly, hoping he gets the message. He doesn’t. “I see. Can I still have just a minute to discuss something?” “Cro, leave!” I raise my voice just a little, narrowing my eyes, “Please.” He stares at me for a second, then smiles and nods. “Enjoy your evening, you two.” Leaving, he quietly closes the door behind himself. Joy is watching me again, head tilted slightly. “Is there anything wrong?” I ask, pouring two glasses of wine. “Hmm?” she smiles, “Nothing. Nothing. I… I just thought you’d want to leave immediately considering what’s at stake.” I levitate one glass to her and sit down on the chair. She takes the other one. I really should have pulled it out for her. Damn! “Joy, I’ve made more mistakes in the past that I can count on the feathers of the wings I by all rights shouldn’t have. I won’t be able to make up for them no matter how long I get to live. All that matters to me is that I don’t make another one right now.” She blushes, making a circle with her hovering drink, and watching the wine swirl. Well, I knew this evening wouldn’t be perfect. However, good enough is… good enough. “Cheers, Joy,” I raise my glass. “Cheers, Blazing.” *** “You’re packing quite a punch, sir,” says Crimson Heart as he comes up to us inside what’s currently serving as the Pine Hills community center, which means the tavern. It’s clear he’s commenting on a huge mallet standing by Cromach’s chair. Crom smiles at him and shoves the fourth, unoccupied chair by the table out with his leg. Heart salutes, “Glad to see you again.” “At ease, Crimson. This is so we can break some rocks later, or maybe legs on the way. What brings you here?” The unicorn sits down. “That’s my question. Don’t take it the wrong way, but I heard you… disappeared, sir, and when Blazing is involved in events, they usually lead to disaster, no offense.” Joy and Crom chuckle while I just frown. I mean it’s true, but… it’s not like I want that to keep happening. “Got some time to kill, Crimson? It’s quite the story,” the griffon takes a bite of bread. “As a matter of fact, I do. Queen Guiding Light is busy learning about paperwork involved in leading this place, which gives me more time to spare. She insisted on wanting to be more than just a strange changeling doing weird changeling things to the villagers. If it makes them take her more seriously, then it’s a good thing.” “Are they giving her hard time?” I ask, “I mean she’s been protecting this place since-” Crimson Heart raises his foreleg. “I know, Blazing, and they do too,” he says calmly, “but there’s a huge difference between their lives and hers. If she involves herself with them more, then… well, she told me you wanted her hive to grow and without others seeing her and One as more than just friendly aliens to whom they’re indebted it won’t work. We can’t have them just abduct a pony and fill him or her with eggs.” “Why?” I give him an innocent look before raising my forelegs in defense, “Just kidding, just kidding. Good thinking, Heart.” “Oh, where are my manners,” Heart suddenly stands up and walks over to Joy, gently taking her hoof with his own, “My name is Crimson Heart, and since you’re a friend of Blazing and sir Cromach, I welcome you to our village,” he lifts her hoof up and kisses it, “lady…?” “Joy,” she answers, standing up, giving Heart a curt bow, and then sitting back down, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Crimson Heart.” “The pleasure is mine,” the unicorn returns to his seat, “Now, Blazing, last time you were here you offered me the full story.” I give Crom a short look, he shrugs and nods, saying: “We’ve got time to kill before Desert Shade arrives, so why not?” I take a sip of water from the metal cup in front of me. “It’s not THAT interesting, but here goes...” Crimson Heart knows a good chunk of the my story since my resurrection, but I explain to him my involvement with Nightmare, ruling brothers of the Griffon Empire, attempts to save Cromach, and in the end I hesitantly admit that I was wrong last time and Nightshade isn’t a total bitch despite her acting to me like that most times we met. “Nightshade is reasonable, Blazing. I’m certain she wanted to make amends for what she caused-” “Holy sunlight, CROMACH?” I hear Des and Lyam’s stunned voices. “Ready for round two of explaining?” Cromach grins at me as Des rushes over to him, giving him a short hug. Lyam salutes, smiling like a madpony… madgriffon. Strong Back and Rolled Scroll shake his talons. “Ooooh, I completely forgot,” heh, time for the bombshell, “Technically, Des, he’s your dad as equally as I am,” everyone gives me shocked looks, most of all Desert Shade herself. “Oh yeah, I almost forgot,” he wiggles his eyebrow. Come to think of it, Crom has gradually regained his old colours, and by now nopony could guess he’s even partially a Corrupted. Well, he still has the tentacle tongues, and other fun bits. Don’t ask how I know. Don’t judge me! I’m taking things slow with Joy, but that doesn’t apply to Crom. Fine, judge me all you want, but she knows and she’s fine with it. “I think I’ll save that one for when we’re walking through the Everfree to the Badlands. Des, quit eating your griffon dad with your eyes, and tell us the plan.” She looks away, blushing. Clearly she’s just been staring at Crom out of sheer surprise, but the reaction is precious nonetheless. I wonder why she didn’t put two and two together after we escaped from Joy’s dimension the first time? On the other hoof, I can’t blame her for being busy trying to solve the situation at the time rather than listen to Joy’s insane and furious rambling. Well, now I get to tease her. “Ehm, well, yes,” Des recovers as we gather our bags and weapons, “The easy part will be getting through the Everfree to the ruins of Dodge Junction. At least I suppose it’ll be easy since you three are around. We usually sneak around Corrupted and take detours whenever just to be safe.” Cromach taps his axe. “Unless we piss off some secret Corrupted Queen, we’ll be alright.” “Great. When we get to Dodge, we need to scan the edge of the Badlands to see which configuration we’ll be dealing with, and then consult our maps and notes.” “Configuration, maps? What?” I tilt my head, “I thought Badlands was just dry, dead flat land.” “It used to,” Des nods, “but not anymore. You’ll see.” We exchange goodbyes with Crimson Heart, and get on our way. The day’s worth of trip on hoof is uneventful. We exchange stories, scare off some more hostile Corrupted, and pass undisturbed through otherwise quiet Everfree forest to deserted ruins of what used to be the small town called Dodge Junction. Afterwards, we leave even those behind us and just over an hour later, we stop on a hill overlooking the desolate, baked landscape of the Badlands, air shimmering above the area. Des takes a long breath, then lets it out. “I wish we could afford hiring you for the longer of our trips. This was the most peaceful Badlands trek I remember.” Shrugging, I watch Lyam and Strong Back drop the group’s luggage, and Rolled Scroll pick up pieces of various electronic devices. “What’s all that for then?” Des opens a smaller bag of her own which proves to be full of… scrap metal? She grabs a coin-sized piece, flips it in her talons, then lobs it forward. It flies and flies… ...until it suddenly stops mid-air and then bursts upwards as if caught by a powerful updraft. It doesn’t fall down again. I turn my tracing spell on and focus. As far as I can see, the Badlands is covered by swirling air, flowing mist, and strange flashing lights. Weird. “What the-?” I try to follow the flying piece of metal in vain, “Where did it go?” “It’s probably still accelerating and flying off into space,” Des explains nothing, “That means pattern A won’t work. Anything on your end, Scroll?” she calls out. “Pattern F looks viable,” answers the unicorn, “We should get to the oasis and see where it branches off from there.” “Alright, pack up, keep the hoof-held devices close. You know the drill.” Everyone starts gathering the equipment again, as if they’ve done it hundred times before, which they likely did. I exchange stares with Cromach watching all this with open curiosity. “Anypony willing to explain?” he walks over to Des and winks at her, “Or do I have to dish out some parental guidance?” Lyam receives a burning glare from Des in response for his burst of snickering. The hippogriff sighs when Lyam doesn’t stop anyway, and says: “Scroll will lead the way. Follow her hoofsteps CAREFULLY if you want to reach the hive and more importantly come back. I don’t know how weird your powers are, but this place is deadly. I’m not kidding or overreacting. One wrong step and… well, stuff happens. Last time I lost a member to this place he got crushed into a small ball and screamed all the way even when he didn’t have a mouth anymore. Reality doesn’t work here properly.” “What do you mean by ‘doesn’t work properly’?” asks Cromach as we form a tight line following Rolled Scroll levitating one beeping device and an electronic map like the one I got from the Black Ops. “Exactly what I said,” she says, randomly tossing a piece of metal to the side. It catches on fire and melts, “Look, I have no clue what’s up, and I’ve been scouring this place for artefacts ever since Corrupted ran Equestria over. The only thing I know is that there’s corrupted vegetation scattered around here and there, weirder than the flytraps you know. In contrast, there are no Corrupted or anything else around. No birds, no insects, nothing, only some plant-based life. That, and the artefacts inside anomalies.” “Artefacts? Wait, wasn’t the Silversmith base that blew up around here?” I ask, putting two and two together. “Whatbase?” asks Cromach. “Later.” “Yeah,” Des nods, “but that’s not what I’m talking about. These anomalies that normally destroy everything that enters the area sometimes ‘crystallize’ into... things. We gather those, and sell them to interested buyers.” “What sort of things?” “Balls, geodes, crystals… stuff like that. Some repel fire, some allow you to breathe under water, some just glow without any source of power. Pretty much any effect you can or can’t imagine.” Cromach whistles. “Sounds useful. Got any around?” “Several, but you have to choose them with extreme caution. They usually have side-effects, and those aren’t pretty. I recall one which repelled anything flying too fast towards it. The downside was that it melted your skin whenever you touched it.” “Can I see one?” I ask, horrible suspicion dawning in me, “Just see it.” Des pulls out a necklace from behind her Silversmith-forged istrium chainmail, holding it in front of her. There’s a red crystal in its center, not polished or worked in any way.. “This is the fireproof one. It only allows me to let’s say quickly grab something from a burning fire pit without damage. The more powerful ones we found brought with then the mentioned side-effects. The only rule I can say with any certainty is that the weaker the artefact is, the safer it is to use.” “Got anything stronger?” I press on, watching the swirling rainbow colours surrounding the necklace. I think I’m getting at least one very important answer here. “Not by much, but I think Lyam’s is the one with the biggest trade-off. Hey, show Blaze yours?” The griffon nods, sitting down, spreading his legs, pulling his armor down, and pointing towards his inner thigh where there’s a long holder looking like a scroll case. He pulls out an elongated, clear, angular crystal. It shimmers with wild divine power, always twisting and changing. “This one allows me to quickly recover from serious wounds, but causes me to get tired faster. I think it’s favorable, since I’ve gotten used to it. It might have something to do with me looking this good at my blessed age,” Lyam grins, hiding the crystal and putting his armor back on. “Have you ever been to the changeling hive itself?” “Multiple times. Often when we needed to rest and recover from any accidents. It’s the only safe place around. Unfortunately, other than changeling resin and chitin there’s nothing valuable there.” “Other than Chrysalis’ throne,” Cromach taps on his mallet, “But don’t worry, we’ll only grab a piece so you’ll still have a safe place around.” All of a sudden, darkness falls, and within seconds we hear deep rumbling coming from all directions. “What’s going on? Did I break something again?” I turn my head, now seeing only flashlights of everyone in Des’ group and Joy’s glowing horn. “FOLLOW SCROLL AND RUN!” screams Des. I follow their mad dash twisting through the apparently empty landscape. By now I can ‘see’ the divinity all around and realize that Scroll has been following a path between spots where Discord’s divine power is the strongest. That has to be it. Discord is near. Wild, chaotic power, random and very deadly effects… but no life. Wait, that’s not it. No sentient life. Plants are supposedly okay. On top of that, It’s not because of me but has been happening for a long time. Discord is around… ...but he doesn’t want to be disturbed? Well, that’s fine with me. It’s not like I want to meet him before we finish the third Blade. After few minutes of me trying not to cough my lungs out, we stop on a ‘clearing’ filled with actual green, lush grass, none of that tainted mess covering all of Equestria. “Phew,” Des drops her bags, “We made it!” “What’s... going... on...?” I choke out. “Wow, you’re out of shape,” she raises an eyebrow, “Alright, tents up, firepit, all the fun stuff.” Now that I’m not galloping, I’m beginning to feel the new creeping chill. “Oh,” Cromach scratches his head, “We didn’t know what to expect. We thought we’d get there and back in one day.” Lyam tosses a backpack to him. “We’ve got a spare, but it’ll be a bit of a squeeze. Do you need help setting it up?” “I think I’ll manage,” he watches everyone else for a moment, then begins fiddling with the metal pipes. It becomes much easier when Joy levitates various pieces around him and he just plucks the right ones from the air as he builds the tent. “What’s going on?” I repeat. “The area is changing,” explains Des over the rumbling and a sudden strike of lightning, “We’ve got a map of the stable spots. That’s where plants can survive long enough to grow.” Oh, that makes sense. Chaos without any rules never lasts long. “How long will this take? Are the tents necessary?” “It can take anywhere from an hour to… I think the longest blackout we got lasted for four days. We need to wait here while the area stabilizes, then find out which configuration we’re dealing with now, and plan a new route.” I nod, looking around. Crom and Joy have the tent under control, and I’m sure I’d only get in the way. Besides, there’s something shiny at the edge of the grass patch, shimmering with colours only I can see. Maybe an artefact? I could bring something to Bucket for research. As I walk towards it, the glowing ball turns into a line, then a… crack? I focus my own divinity, and watch the swirling mists around the clearing get pushed backwards. The crack remains, though. Maybe my power can stop the instability and protect us even if Badlands change and we’re nowhere close to a safe spot? I reach for the crack.