//------------------------------// // Transcript Five: Academy // Story: Discursive Formations: phantoms forever // by The Red Parade //------------------------------// “Okay, Command, we’ve regrouped at Sweet Apple Acres. Since you’re still silent for me, I’m taking the reigns here. We found all the Elements except for the Princess. We found her assistant dragon though, dead as everyone else. We, uh… we didn’t go into the… the school of friendship, or the, uh, schoolhouse. Figured there’s… there’s nothing there. We’re going to head for Wonderbolt Headquarters. Then probably to Canterlot. Keter’s team is going to stay here and get samples, hopefully they can get some intel as to what’s going on here.” “Alright. See you soon. Wonderbolts, let’s… let’s go.” “You guys holding up alright?” “Yeah, I know. Me too.” “Yeah. There’s nothing else up here. Just us and the clouds.” “The Weather Factory? It’ll probably automatically shut down. It’s got failsafes and stuff built in.” “Hey, Fleety, where’d you find Rainbow? I… I want to see her.” “Let’s go.” “Heh. Napping. Of… of course she was. I… Sleep well, Dash. Celestia knows you earned it.” “... I’m fine.” “I… we can’t go home. Not yet, Wave. We need to make sure whatever happened here doesn’t happen to us. Because this isn’t our Equestria. We have to remember that.” “Oh yeah? What’s that?” “... you… you’re kidding.” “Not you guys too.” “Yeah, yeah, we did. Okay, this can’t be a coincidence.” “So, my guys are saying that they found the words ‘Phantoms Forever’ spray painted around Ponyville. Don’t know what it means, or who did it, but… hey, you guys hear any music while you were out there?” “Yeah, I’ve been hearing it too. Stay on guard. Have you guys… seen a pony? Gray coat, black mane?” “I’m not insane. I’m just asking.” “HEY! I am still your commanding officer!” “Look, we all need to take a step back and breathe. We’re going to get nowhere fighting.” “Wave, I mean it. Stop.” “Yeah, I see it. Smoke. Something’s on fire down there.” “It looks like… what was her name? The one pony with the airplane?” “Cherry Berry, yeah. That’s the one. Well… at least she died doing what she loved.” “... that’s what I’ve been saying. It’s weird. There’s so much death, but there’s no rotting, no smell, nothing. It’s… I don’t know." “Hey, heads up, we, uh… we’re probably going to find ourselves in there. If anypony wants to wait outside, I won’t hold it against you.” “Last chance.” “Alright, let’s head in.” “Welcome home, I guess.” “Uh, yeah. Go wherever. I don’t care.”  “Found me, huh? Okay. Let’s… let’s do this.” “No, I’m fine. Look, whoever’s in there is not me, okay? Because I’m me. Just open the door.” “Yeah, that’s… that’s me. And there’s Soarin’ and Fleetfoot. We were having a… meeting or something stupid.” “... I don’t have a record player in my office. And I sure as shit don’t own this song.” “Fucking thing is creeping me out, dude.” “Then wait outside. I’m going to look through the files and shit.” “...” “Looks like… yeah, files are the same as I’ve got. Even the… yep. That’s… yeah.” “... fuck me, it’s hard to remember this isn’t my Equestria. My Equestria is still alive. My friends and family are still alive. This… this isn’t home. It can’t be.” “... Soarin’? That you? Fleety?” “Who’s out the-- Ohfuckme.” “Let me guess, you going to just fucking vanish again? Yeah, that’s what I thought.” “What? No, I just… thought I saw her again.” “No, earth pony. Yeah, I know that’s not possible. I just… fuck. We done here? Where’s Wave and Windy?” “He what? Shit.” “Wave, talk to me. What’s wrong?” “Hey, don’t give me that. Let me help.” “Look, this shit is fucking me up too. But if we don’t figure out what happened here, it could happen to our world too.”  “You’re fine. You’re fine.” “We’re going to get through this, Wave. I promise you that.” “Okay. Let’s… let’s go to Canterlot. If we don’t find anything there we’ll leave.” “I know.” (Unknown) Phantoms Forever.