//------------------------------// // Transcript One: Everfree // Story: Discursive Formations: phantoms forever // by The Red Parade //------------------------------// “Everypony ready?” “Alright, let’s rock and roll. Cleared for insertion.” “Ladies first. So Soarin’, you’re up.” “Quit your whining and get your ass through the portal.” The Wonderbolt Unit passes through the portal. “We still in one piece?” “Well, speak for yourself.” “Copy that. Looks clear. We’re still in the Everfree. Looks pretty much the same as it did before. Hey, Keter, your guys are clear to enter.” “Huh? Oh, yeah, you’re right. Something’s up with the trees here. It’s like all the leaves rotted off and died or something.” “Well I don’t know, do I look like a botanist to you?” “Hey, Keter, you read me? Command, I’m not reading Keter.” “Command, you copy? Well, this is going spectacularly. Brand new technology my ass.” Captain Keter is informed that there appears to be a technical issue with Captain Maverick’s equipment. The Wasteland Explorers unit crosses through the portal. “Hey, Keter. About time. You picking me up?” “No, I can’t hear Command. Were they reading me at all or…” “Okay. Hey Command, Keter’s trying to reach you but it doesn’t look like his stuff is working either. He says you can still hear me, but I can’t hear you. (To Keter) Did they want us to go back and try to get it fixed?” “No, just continue. Got it. What’s up, Soarin’?” “...Shit, you’re right. Keter, look at this. All the plant life is dead. Even the grass.”  “I don’t… right. Okay, keep your suits on everypony. We don’t know what we’re dealing with here.” “What are you thinking? Some sort of magical spell? Bioweapon of some kind?” “Yeah.” “Okay, let’s assume that this place is the same as our Equestria. That means there’s that one zebra’s hut nearby, right?” “Yeah, Zecora. That’s the one.” “Alright, lead on then. Command, we’re going to try and locate any inhabitants and get information on what exactly this place is.”  “No, you’re right. It’s really, really quiet. Shouldn’t there be bugs or birds or something?” “What’d you find?” “A bird? Is it alive?” “Huh. Wonder how it died.” “Hey, Windy, get a picture of this.” “Am I in the frame? Oh. Am I blocking anything important? Just Soarin’? Alright, cool.” “Woah, more birds. Geez. This is weird. It’s like the whole flock just fell out of the sky or something.” “Right. Command, it’s looking like all plant and animal life here is dead. Don’t know why yet. We’re going to keep moving towards the-- woah.” “Yeah. That’s a timberwolf. One of the big ones too. Timberwolf King, is it?” “It’s dead, Fleetfoot. Stop being such a pansy.” “Question is, what killed it?” “Let’s not stick around and find out. Keter, you want to take samples?” “Right.” “Hey, you holding up alright, Wave?” “Me too. Never liked this place, but it’s just… weird. It’s never this quiet.” “That’s the hut right there.” “So? Knock on the door. What, do I have to tell you how to do everything?” “Body.” “I don’t know, I’ve never met her, but I’m pretty sure she’s the only Zebra living in Ponyville.” “Pretty confident that’s, uh, her.” “Uh, Command, we located Zecora. She’s, uh, gone. No signs of any struggle, no wounds on the body, nothing. It’s like she’s just keeled over and died.” “Yeah, see? Eyes still open and everything. It’s… ugh. Weird. Like, I’ve seen bodies before, but they’re never like this.” “Hey, Soarin’. Come here. Look at the date on this newspaper. Today’s the 25th, right? This paper’s dated the 15th. Assuming time hasn’t been screwed up, she’s been dead ten days.” “Right, but why hasn’t it decomposed yet? Nothing has. It doesn’t make any sense. Only post-mortem discharge, that’s it.” “Yeah. Well, at least her record player’s still going… wonder what song this is. Huh. No labels or anything on it.” “Bag it? I mean… sure, why not.” “No, the record, not the body. Dumbass.” “Take samples, do whatever. I… I’m going to wait outside.” “...” “Huh? Oh, hey Wave. What’s up?” “You holding up okay?” “Oh, first body. Yeah, first one’s always rough.” “Mine? Uh, walked into a recurit’s room to find them... hanging from the ceiling. Yeah. Still don’t know why.” “Shit’s fucked.” “... no, it doesn’t get easier. Trust me.” “Heh. Yeah, I know.” “I want to go home too. But hey, we got a job to do.” “Stay strong, Wave. We’ll get through this.” “Keter, you done?” “Alright. Looks like we’re on our own out here, and we still don’t know what’s going on. Let’s head into Ponyville, see if anypony there can shine some light on what’s happening. Hopefully whatever this is is localized in the Everfree.” “Yeah, wishful thinking, I know. Let’s just… let’s just keep moving.”