Yo what's up. Just letting you know now, the next update isn't gonna be until next Monday, in fact all updates are gonna be on Mondays from now on. Why? Well look forward to an answer to that this coming week.
Jason, for the time until the party, there are three things you need to do.
One, make sure you know exactly where you need to go.
Two, make sure you're ready to go there. This includes hygiene, wardrobe, etc.
Three, RELAX. Don't take a nap or anything like that, but make sure you're completely relaxed when you make it to the party. You don't know what might happen there, and the last thing you need is accidentally blowing something up because you overreact to a harmless prank or unexpected guest.
Well, Jason.
You can't search for stuff about Risen Flagg. You already explained everything you needed to to everypony. You've trained your powers. You've braced yourself for what's coming. There really isn't too much left to do.So chill. This will probably be the last time for a while that you can truly rest. So take this time to think about what's happened, all the crazy ponies you've met, and all the experiences you've had here. Maybe chat with Lyra and Bon Bon, if they're up for it. I mean, Jesus. What all's happened in just the past few days alone? You got attacked from demon clown pony thing, fell unconscious, and nearly immediately after waking up, you test out magical powers that you SUDDENLY got. After that, you talked to others about some REALLY heavy stuff, found out that an outer god wants you dead, had a suitably major panic attack, and talked to MORE ponies about MORE heavy stuff... I think you've earned a bit of downtime, my man. Use it well.
Also, while you're at it, slap yourself in the face for speaking of the Holy Pink Mother in such a way as to make it seem as if she was undeserving of your worship. It is by her hoof that you were given life, child. You must remember this, and never speak of her that way again. You are fortunate that her forgiveness is ever-present, my child. Now... Let us pray.
Well, since you've got some time to kill before the party. You do the one thing that since waking up in the hospital, you haven't been able to even remotely come close to doing.
You relax.
You let yourself fall back into the couch, let out a very long, very pain relieving breath that you didn't even realize you'd been holding in, and let all your muscles go limp. You even feel your head clear up completely for once. You're not thinking of Risen, or your powers, or anything that's happened in the past 24 hours. No, you're head is completely cleared and you don't even feel like you need to move even an inch.
It almost feels like you're high, but not actually high. You would know if you were, but Lyra and Bon Bon didn't break out the bong so you definitely didn't do anything with them.
You just feel relaxed.
Sub-Authors Note:
Oops. Forgot about that.Anyway:
Jason, you've got two beautiful mares and a couple free hours. Isn't what you should do obvious?SCRABBLE! Everypony loves scrabble!
The thought does occur to you to play some scrabble. By God how long as it been since you've played scrabble. Unfortunately, you're pretty sure that Lyra and Bon Bon don't own a copy of scrabble. Hell, you're pretty sure that scrabble doesn't exist in this world, and if it does it probably goes by a different name, and even then, you're still pretty certain that Lyra and Bon Bon don't own it.
Still, you do strike up some conversation with Lyra and Bon Bon though. You talk about mundane things like what they did during the day, whether Lyra got her license renewed or not (you're pretty sure she didn't), and the crazy thing Pinkie Pie did when she spoke to Lyra and Bon Bon just after you left for the library. God she's crazy.
Bon Bon even baked some cookies and Lyra brought out her lyre for a moment to show you two a song she's been working on. You get the feeling though that they're doing that for their own peace of mind rather than yours. You're not an idiot. You can tell what they're really feeling behind their cheerfulness and smiles. You can't really blame them at all. You did lay some pretty heavy stuff on them.
Use your inner Batman to try to come up with any possible plans and outcomes. It is always best to be as many moves ahead of your opponent as possible.
Alright lets start off with getting yourself ready for tonight, you might as well look as fashionable as hell when you go there. Try to get an equal level of swagger and classiness in your outfit alright? But you should also prepare a mental plan if for some reason you meet Risen Flagg since the invitation to Pinkie's party also includes new ponies of Ponyville as well so that is already a big red flag stating that Risen may just attend the party as well. So just be on your toes for when you do go to the party and try to keep a level head about things and you should be fine. However if he starts projecting mental images of the number of ways he could kill you it would be best to just ignore them... to the best of your ability.
Make sure you are ready for the party both physically and mentally. Shower, change, and calm yourself, you don't need to bring the party down even if you are serious inside.
Meditate like a monk (Batman knows how to do this) and calm yourself inside and out. Allow your serious thoughts to be present, but at the back of your mind. Allow yourself the mindset to enjoy this party, because it may just be one of the last happy moments you have from here on out.
Eventually, after around 45 minutes or so, you decide that it's probably about time to get ready for the party. So first thing first, you get in the shower, because you definitely DO NOT want to get there smelling like ash like you did (and really still do) when you arrived back at the library. At this point you're not even sure why you decided to set all those trees on fire or whether or not it was even worth it. Your gut is telling you that it was though so you're just gonna go with that.
While you're in the shower, you take a few moments to draw your mind back to what's going on, and indeed what you're getting yourself into later tonight. Yes, Pinkie Pie is throwing a party for you at Sugarcube Corner in a little while. However, the invitation also said that the party was also for some new ponies who arrived in town just recently. That... that has to be Risen Flagg and the other two ponies that arrived with him. Who else could it be? She might as well have just said it was for you and Risen Flagg.
You do your best to try and not let it bother you though, even though your best is barely helping. Your inner Batman is already working as hard as Batman possibly can thinking of possible plans and outcomes, and possibly even escape routes and plans as well should they be needed. Really as helpful as this is, it doesn't make you feel any easier.
Your inner Batman however, seems to realize this too, and with it's help, while still standing, you start meditating like a monk while the water falls over you. This helps clear your head again vastly.... No, really, it helps a lot. You could do this for a while if you could. However, as much as you want to, you have to stop cause well, you're crunched for time right now.
Still, with your thoughts cleared, you come to the conclusion that really, right now, you should keep a level head. Don't worry about a damn thing just yet. If something is going to happen, just be ready when it does.
Once you're out of the shower, you quickly get changed back into the swag suit that Rarity made for you a while ago. God, it feels like forever since you've worn this, but every time you do it makes you feel like a bawler boss again. God it's been ages since you've felt like a true bawler boss. If you are going to show up to this party, you definitely are gonna do it with some swag.
You look over at the time once you're done with this and notice that it's 7:15. It's time to go. You head back downstairs to see Lyra and Bon Bon talking with each other about.... something, you can't really hear what, but they stop when they see you coming down.
"You ready to go?" you ask the both of them. Neither one of them responds to you at first, and they're both giving you looks that you really can't quite place. After a moment though, you see them both smile, and unlike earlier, you can tell it's genuine.
"Yeah," Bon Bon says as she looks over to Lyra, who just looks back to her. "I guess we're ready to go."
"What about you?" Lyra asks. "You ready to go?"
Stutter the word "yeah."
"Y-...y-yeah," you stutter a bit back to them. Truth be told, you're actually kind of.... a little bit.... absolutely god damned terrified right now. Despite that though, the more you thought about everything that was coming while you were in the shower, the more you realize that what's happening is going to happen, regardless of whether or not you are there. So you might as well just go for it. "Yeah, lets go." At that, they both just smile at you.
-One short walk to Sugarcube Corner later-
One short walk to Sugarcube Corner later, you, Lyra and Bon Bon arrive at the front door to Sugarcube Corner right at 7:30 and 10 seconds sharp. The three of you stop before walking in, and Lyra and Bon Bon just look up at you for a moment. You just look back down at them and smile yourself.
"What," you say to them. "No fancy intro like last time?" Both of them couldn't help but giggle at that, especially Lyra.
"Did you want one?" Lyra asks you.
"No, not really," you reply.
"Well too bad," Lyra says as she walks up to the door and stands right next to it. "Because you're getting on anyway. Ahem!" she coughs for a moment before she... well, she tries, to stand up on her rear hooves, kind of like how you stand, closes her eyes, and holds her hoof to the door. "Shall monsieur Jason enter his par-tay?" she says in the fakest French accent EVER! Seriously, even Rarity could learn a bit from her. Both you and Bon Bon just laugh for a moment while Lyra falls back onto all four of her hooves.
"Thank you," you reply politely to Lyra. "I think I-" before you can even finish that sentence, you push open the door and...
SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!
Everypony shouts as just like last time, the lights turn on, confettit shoots out of nowhere, and EVERYPONY in Ponyville appears at once appears to shout a pointless surprise to you (which is pointless since if this is a surprise party why did she send YOU an invitation?). The only thing that is different this time is that the seemingly exact second every pony finishes yelling surprise, Pinkie Pie suddenly appears... seemingly from beneath the floor and blows a blower in your face, which under normal circumstances would cause you to fall over, but miraculously you don't.
"SURPRISE!!!" Pinkie Pie shouts at you with her usual enthusiasm. "Welcome to your 'Hope this Event Doesn't Traumatize you For Life Party' Jason!" Then at that, she.... surprisingly cuts herself off. Odd.... you kind of expected her to go on on some random topic like she usually does, but she doesn't.
From her, you look around at everypony again, they're all smiling at you, as if expecting you to say something. Then you look back at Pinkie Pie.
You gain the sudden urge to shout out "May the night last forever and the light fall into unending darkness, the republic shall not fall to the solar tyrant!!!" in Latin while in the presence of Princess Luna, glorious beholder of the night.
And also "May day fall into unending night, may our republic last for millennia, vivat nocte! VIVAT NOCTE NIGHT FOREVER! NIGHT FOREVER!!!"
'Well fine,' you think to yourself. 'If that's how you wanna play it.' Then at that, you spin around disco style, point your finger towards the ceiling and shout at the top of your lungs. "May the night last forever and the light fall into unending darkness, the republic shall not fall to the solar tyrant!!!" You honest to god have no idea why you shouted that, but why the hell not.
Everypony seems to take it in stride though as they all cheer for you. Then, again, seemingly out of nowhere, Pinkie reaches to her left, and pulls out three cups of punch, which she hands to you, Lyra, and Bon Bon before she zips back out into the party.
You, Lyra and Bon Bon walk out into the crowd of ponies and chat for a little bit. Many of them congratulate you on getting out of the hospital and things like that, which you politely thank for. You try to act inconspicuous, well, as inconspicuous as a human in a room full of talking ponies can, but they have none of that. This is your party after all. Still, you do start to wonder where Pinkie Pie went. During all of this, you get separated from Lyra and Bon Bon again, only to run into Applejack again.
"Oh, hey Applejack," you say to her.
"Howdy, Jason," she replies as she raises her cup of punch to you, and you take your cup against hers for cheers before you both take a drink.
"Hey um," you begin. "Sorry about-" you're about to say more, but your words suddenly die in your mouth when you look to her left and notice... two ponies you've never seen before in your life. Well, since you were here, anyway. Well, to be even more accurate, only one of them was a pony. He was definitely a stallion, you could tell that by looking at him, and the color of his coat was a creme color, but not the same creme color as Fluttershy's coat. What was odd about him though, was that he was wearing a brown leather best and a cowboy hat. Other than Applejack, you don't think you've seen anypony remotely dress like this. The other one with him was... not a pony at all, she was, and you could tell it was a she..... you guessed some kind of buffalo. Her coat was orange and she was wearing some kind of bandanna with a feather in it on her head. Like an American Indian would.
The two of them just kept staring at you with an expression like they couldn't believe what they were looking at, as if someone had just dropped an alien in the middle of the room..... oh wait.
"Oh, sorry," Applejack says as she laughs to herself a bit. "Sorry, Ah guess we're all just so used to seein yah around now Jason Ah ferget that some ponies don't even know what you are." Then at that, she walks over and puts her hoof around the stallion in the cowboy hat. "Braeburn, Little Strongheart, this here's mah friend Jason. He's a human. Think somethin kind of similar to a monkey." You don't really take any offense to that. She is right in a way. "Jason," she then says to you. "Ah'd like yah to meet my cousin Braeburn and his buffalo friend Little Strongheart." So you were right about the buffalo bit. Wait, now you remember Applejack mentioning these two earlier. You mentally slap yourself in the head for forgetting them.
"Um..." Braeburn says as he holds out his hoof. "Mighty nice to meet to make yer acquaintance."
"You too," you reply as you politely shake his hoof. While you can tell he's definitely surprised to see something like you here, and kind of nervous around you as most new ponies are, something seems different about him.
"Pleased to meet you," Little Strongheart then says as she bows her head a little bit. You can't help but smile at that.
You open your mouth to say something to them, if only to make them not so nervous around you, but before you can say anything.
"EVERYPONY QUIET!!!!" You suddenly hear Pinkie Pie as she jumps up from the crowd. Something seems... off about her. "They're coming! Quick! Places everypony!!!" Then at that, she suddenly disappears into the crowd again and everypony backs away from the front door. Just as suddenly, the lights go out. You can't help but wonder if this happened moments before you arrived.
All right! Jason, here's the plan for the party,
BE EXPECTING ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING! (is that possible?)
Pinkie's invitation said that it was a party for newcomers.
Who's to say Risen will be at the party as well?Extra tip: When in the party, try your best to look inconspicuous, blend in with the crowd, don't draw as much attention as needed.
And then at that thought, it dawns on you just what is happening. They must have done this before you came through the door to welcome you, and there are other ponies that Pinkie is throwing this party for. They all must be getting ready to welcome them.
This is it. Any moment now, Risen Flagg is gonna walk through that front door. You've been mentally preparing all day for this (well, not really), no falling back now. You know what you're gonna do. You're just gonna keep cool, yell surprise with the other ponies, and try to keep calm and cool while they're here. If they want to start something, then you'll be ready for it.
"SHHHHH!!!!! HERE THEY COME!!!" You hear Pinkie 'quietly' shout. This is it... the moment of truth.
Right.....
N-
SURPRISE!!!!
You and everypony else shout as the lights come on to reveal............. five ponies you have never seen in your life.
They aren't Risen Flagg.... or the other two with him.... they don't even look anything remotely like them.
They're all earth ponies. One of them is yellow and had a darkish brown mane. Two of them were blue and both had really dark colored manes (one was black), and you could tell that one was obviously taller than the other. Another one of them was orange, and was the only one who had facial hair. He was also the only one whose cutiemark you could see, it was of a crowbar. Well, the only one you could see and could make out what it was. The last one of them was a zebra... and at this point you just realized that you've never even seen a zebra in this place. So this is a first for you. She wore a lot of gold jewelry and had some kind of mowhawk. She was also the only female of the group, much to your surprise. You could see her cutie mark too, but you couldn't quite make out what it was supposed to represent. It looked like some kind of sun. The other three, you couldn't see their cutie marks, but you could see the tip of one of them. It looked like some kind of triangle.
The yellow and two blue ones all had equally surprised looks on their faces, and again, Pinkie Pie appeared (from the ceiling this time) and blew the same blower in the yellow one's face as she threw more confetti out.
"SURPRISE!!!!" she shouted.
Not a one of them said anything for a few moments.... then the orange one spoke up.
"Thank you," he said to Pinkie. "It's very nice to meet you all." Then at that, the party went back into full swing, well, at the very least, full swing of what it was before.
Something was off. Where was Risen Flagg?
What do you do?
-Ponyville-
-Ponyville Market, around 6:00 pm, one and a half hours before the party-
-Gordon Freebrony's group-
GF: I suddenly have the feeling that secure files are going to be hacked.McCoy: What?
GF: Nevermind. *turns to look around the market place* So, anyone see anything unusual.
Zecora: If you would bother to listen, numbskull, you would hear the news from the horses mouth fall.
GF: Seriously, what is wrong with you and your cryp- *gibs'd by McCoy*
McCoy: What she means is shut up!
*the group is silent for a moment, listening to the conversations around them*
McCoy: Sounds like some new politician came to town. Someone by the name of 'Risen Flagg'
GF: *shivers* Huh. I don't like the sound of him for some reason. Though everyone says he's a great guy.
McCoy: I don't know. Let's keep searching.
As is.
-Just outside Sugarcube Corner, around 6:00 pm, one and a half hours before the party-
-Kirk's group-
*walking towards Sugar Cube Corner*Kirk: So, how are you holding up with all these... ponies?
Spock: I don't understand what you mean.
Kirk: Well, if you look at that one there, you'll see she's literally levitating the newspaper she's reading.
Spock: Telekinesis is an ability that some known species have mastered through evolution. It is highly logical that this is the case.
Kirk: What about the teleportation incident we saw? For a species this... primitive?
Spock: It is simply a matter of using their telekinetic principles to transmit their bodies into streams of particles in the same way as we do through our transporters.
Kirk: Or what about this... buffalo? Alright, how do you explain a buffalo standing right here in a town populated by ponies, huh?
Strongheart: EXCUSE me?
Kirk: Uhh... I mean....
As is.
Quick Authors Note to Both Gordon Freebrony and Grey Rebl: Since the action from this point on is taking place AT the party, if the two of you want to continue this scene, then you're going to have to do it via flashback. Otherwise, try to keep the action at the present time. Aka, at the party, since that is where your characters are right now. So yeah... just letting you know.
-The Enterprise-
-Bridge-
-Bridge-
Sulu: .... Everyone stand down and step back from your posts. Let them work, but watch them. Set phasers to stun and feel free to fire the moment they do something they'll regret.Oh, and make sure to hyper-encrypt those files, Johnson *said to random bridge officer*
Slim: Glad to see that you are seeing it our way Mr. Sulu. *sits in the chair and begins working on the systems*
Jim: And don't worry we'll avoid accidentally hacking any folders that are loaded with porn!
*all the other hackers whisper back and forth to one another still baffled by the fact that Slim and Jim are women*
*R.A. in the meantime began looking at just about every single screen, button, and doo-dad that was on the bridge to keep from being bored*
Slim: Also Sulu could you please keep and eye on R.A. He can be a bit destructive at times when around important equipment.
*continues going through the systems*
*Sulu just looks at Slim and Jim for a moment.*
Sulu: All right. Everyone stand down and step back from your posts. Let them work, but watch them. Set phasers to stun and feel free to fire the moment they do something they'll regret.
*Everyone except for the essentials, aka those flying the ship, step back from their consoles.*
Sulu: Oh, and make sure to hyper-encrypt those files, Johnson.
Johnson: Aye sir.
Slim: Glad to see that you are seeing it our way Mr. Sulu.
*Slim and Jim take seats in two consoles right next to each other.*
Jim: And don't worry we'll avoid accidentally hacking any folders that are loaded with porn.
*all the other hackers whisper back and forth to one another still baffled by the fact that Slim and Jim are women. R.A. in the meantime began looking at just about every single screen, button, and doo-dad that was on the bridge to keep from being bored*
Slim: All right, no more bullshit. Ramirez. Get back to work on getting a line to BRP and Bronze Statue. They're heading into some hot water and are gonna need our help.
Ramirez: Yes, sir... I mean, mam... I mean.
Jim: Just do it Ramirez!
*Ramiez shuts up and gets to work.*
Slim: Steve!
Steve: Yeah.
Slim: Do you think you can open up a line to the AIA. We've been out of contact with them for too long, they're gonna wanna know what's going on up here.
Jim: And since you're the one who always talks to them, they're probably gonna feel more comfortable hearing it from you.
Steve: All right, sure.
Slim: Calvin, Tommy, Janitor.
Cal, Tommy, and Janitor: Keep and eye on RA.
Tommy: What!?
Janitor: Why us?
Jim: Because the rest of us are busy.
Slim: Do it, or we'll tell your mothers what you all have in your porn folders.
Tommy:.... My mother is dead......
Slim: Then we'll show everyone whose watching TV right now what's in your porn folder.
Tommy: On it!
*They all get to work. Sulu walks up to Slim and Jim.*
Sulu: Do you really think you can get through the buzzer field?
Slim: Hard to say, but as my old man used to say. If you have a shot, take it.
Jim: And we've gotten through some pretty f*cked up locks before, it's not like we're banging bricks together or anything. Hacker type stuff. I wouldn't expect you to understand.
Sulu: But you're confident that you can do it?
Slim: If we weren't we wouldn't have asked any of you to even do this.
*They're all silent for a few moments.*
Sulu: Touche.
Slim: All right.
*Slim cracks her fingers for a moment and stretches out her wrists for a moment.*
Slim: *To Jim* You ready for this?
Jim: Do you really need to ask?
Slim: I guess not.
Jim: Well then, stop talking and lets do this.
Slim: Right.
*At that, the of them get to work. They both start typing so fast that even on the advanced consoles of the Enterprise it looks like someone hit the fast forward button on the movements of their hands. All kinds of screens pop up on their consoles, but they're gone as fast as they appear. Meanwhile, everyone else is getting to work. All kinds of computer action is going on here.*
-The Dalek Flagship, The Caesar-
-Hallways (Still)-
Bronze Statue: Are we there yet?
BRP: No.
BS: Are we there yet?
Hugh: No.
BS: Are we there yet?
Nana: No.
BS: Are we there yet?
BRP: No.
BS: Are we there yet?