//------------------------------// // Episode 62: Bromance Time! // Story: The Life of a Wanted Changeling Season 2: Debt to a Doctor (Comment Driven Story) // by Down with Chrysalis //------------------------------// Theme: Kichi's comment You and Twilight both look at each other in shock for a moment before you say, "What are you doing here? I mean, I didn't think you would like this type of literature." "This type of..." Twilight responds in confusion before realizing what you mean, "Oh, No, I buy those for Spike, the last time he came to the comic store, he wasted all his pay on comics and couldn't afford to buy gems." "Wait, you pay him? I always thought you used him as a personal slave." you comment. Twilight gets a horrified look as she responds, "What?! How could you think that? Spike is like a little brother to me!" "Really? Because every time I see the little guy, he's always working in your library or taking care of you." "That's because he spends most of free time on things like pining after Rarity or buying comic books and junk food..." Twilight responds in annoyance. Deciding to do some recon, you ask, "So Twilight, I heard about what happened to you at the libra-" "Shut up." Twilight bluntly says with a twitch in her eye. "Uhhh...Twilight, are you oka-" "I said shut up! We do not speak of that day okay!?" Twilight snaps. "O... kayyyy..." you say out loud with a sweat drop, but at the same time you're thinking, HAHAHAHAHHA! OH SWEET LUNA THE WAY SHE'S REACTING RIGHT NOW! I GOT HER GOOOD! Snapping back to reality you decide to change the subject by asking, "Oh... So, what comic did you buy this time?" Twilight is about to responds, but suddenly scowls as she says, You give Twilight a confused look before turning towards where she's looking at and you see the latest copy of The Dark Offender "You mean th- I mean, Oh my Luna how did that get here? Heheh..." you say in a fake attempt to convey surprise, but Twilight seems to buy it (or is just too outraged/annoyed to notice) and says, "I know, it surprised me, they made a comic that put the Hooded Offender as a hero..." Twilight comments before going on a rant/lecture on how she can never understand why idolize outlaws and how idolization of villains is detrimental to law-abiding society and blah blah blah, but you don't notice as you notice in the comic the aftermath of the battle with Discord, but it's exactly as you remembers the scene before Discord's mind-wipe. This is most glorious work. Selena comments. "Huh?" you mutter to Selena while ignoring Twilight's rant. It's obvious that nopony is going to believe the truth due to the curse of that accursed draconequus, but graphic literature doesn't show truth. Because of this, Discord's spell won't effect it and thus it can convey the truth without showing it. You're about to comment when Scootaloo enters with a coat and sunglasses and buys a copy of The Dark Offender before leaving. "Strange pony, I wonder who that was..." you comment, oblivious to the obvious disguise. *facehoof* Twilight just sighs in annoyance at the 'strange pony' before she looks over to you and asks, "Anyway, what do you think about this comic?" You look at Twilight in fake confusion as you say, "Well, I can't really say since I haven't read it yet. Give me a second." Twilight nods her head in understanding as you begin to 'read' the comic about yourself. You've already read (and bought) this issue, so you pretend to go over it . You always figured that the Hive Mind was among the few ponies not affected by Discord's spell (or at least those close to you), so you can't help but wonder who's making these comics. You shrug off that thought for now as you put down the comic and say, "Well, it's good from a comic reader's point of view, but I think that there might be a little bit too much fanservice here and there. Plus it's a little more bloodier then from what I reme-I mean the newspapers said about this fight." Twilight glares slightly as she says, "Plus it made him the hero of the Discord incident and me and my friends the villains!" You sweat drop at Twilight's comment as you say, "Oh, yeah that too. Anyway, I think it would be better if Spike didn't read anymore of these, but in that case I'll help you out find a good one for him, okay?" Twilight smiles brightly at this and says, "Thanks!" With that said, you and Twilight begin to look through all the nearby comics. Soon, Twilight decides to start up some small talk as she asks, BrownDog77 comment "But take these coupons for Hayburger Queen." you say as you hoof him a coupon page you found in the mail, but when he accepts it you lean close and whisper-growl, "If you take any embarrassing paparazzi photos of me or my Nightshade, I will burn the heart out of you." Featherweight gulps nervously as he nods rapidly. “So... how have you been Mr. Tennant? We haven’t really heard any antics from you for a few weeks.” she says. “Nothing much, just working on the farm and- wait, are ponies expecting me to do something?” “Well... there may or may not be a bet on how long you last till some misadventure happens that you're directly involved in...” she sheepishly responds. You give her a shocked look before she responds, “Don’t worry, I bet that you would last over a month, only a few more days before Rarity owes me.” “Great...” you say with an annoyed shake of your head. “Sooo... everything alright between you and your... um... admirers?” she asks trying to change the subject. “Kinda, they've all kind of dialed it back after what happened during Hearts and Hooves Day, which I’m thankful for. Hay, the only one I've regularly interacted with was Applejack, and even then it's only because she's technically my boss and landlord.” “Good... good,” Twilight mutters, failing to make conversation, “Sooo... which comic should I get Spike?” “I don’t know, what’s he into?” “Oh all kinds of... Comicy stuff heh heh.” she says causing you to ask, “Why are you here picking up for him? It's pretty obvious you're not exactly a comic pony.” “Well, he’s been doing such a good job recently and I thought I’d get him a treat... also I want to keep him away from Rainbow Dash for awhile.” she answers. “Huh?” "Yeah, Rainbow Dash 'hired' him to be her ghost writer,” she sarcastically answers with air quotes. “Ghost rider? What for?” you ask. “Rainbow Dash has been getting all full of herself recently. She rescued a few ponies and now she won’t stop gloating." “Oh yeah, Nightshade told me about that...” FLASHBACK You were on your way to pick up Nightshade when you see her and the rest of the Cutie Mark Crusaders all have on fedoras and notepads and are with some skinny looking colt who has a camera. You walk over to them in confusion (you aren't even mad that there is a colt here because he's so ridiculously skinny that Nightshade could accidentally break him with a poke) and ask, “What are you all doing?” “We’re gonna be CUTIE MARK CRUSADER JOURNALISTS YAY!” they all shout together, causing your scarf to fly backwards in the wind. “OK... not the craziest idea I’ve ever heard, what made you want to do this?” you ask. “Miss Cheerilee opened up the school paper and now we’re going to be reporters” says Sweetie. “Yeah, she’s had a lot of great ideas since she married Apple Bloom's brother.” Nightshade says. Apple Bloom gets a weird look as she mumbles, “Yeah... they’re technically married, but it's...” “Complicated?” you finish for her. “Yeah...” Big Mac and Cheerilee are still looking for a cheap divorce lawyer (as a result of this, Cheerilee isn't paying as much attention to schoolwork as she usually does). You've had conversations with Big Red since that incident. Apparently, Mr. Waddles doesn't believe in annulments so he and Cheerilee have been looking for a divorce lawyer that won't charge an arm and a leg. This also means that Miss Cheerilee isn't paying as much attention to schoolwork as she usually does (as marked by Nightshade's grades improving even though she's still as book-dumb as you are), but you do see them hanging out occasionally and once you even swore you saw Bug Red come home late at 5 or 6-ish in the morning... “Anyway," Nightshade interrupts, "We’re going to go interview Rainbow Dash!” “Why?” you ask. “Rainbow Dash just saved a filly trapped in a well, a baby carriage running off a cliff, and a bunch of old folks so we’re gonna go interview her with the rest!” shouts Scootaloo. “Oh, well alright then.” you say (you haven’t been glomped by Rainbow in awhile, fortunatly), "But it sounds like this town is more accident-prone than usual-" “This is our camera op, Featherweight,” Nightshade interrupts again as she introduces the skinny colt. “Um... You alright kid? You need a sandwich or something?” you ask him in confused concern. “No, why would you ask that?” he asks in confusion. "No Reason." "Okay... But take these coupons for 'The Hayburger Joint'* anyway." you say as you hoof him a coupon page you found in your junk mail, but when he accepts it you lean close and whisper-growl, "If you take any embarrassing paparazzi photos of me or my Nightshade, I will burn the heart out of you." Featherweight gulps nervously as he nods rapidly causing you to smile as you back up and say, "Good! Now you kids have fun, and don't go causing any rumors to get juicy stories or else the whole town will hate you!" The group of foals nod their heads as they leave and shout, "WE WILL!" When they leave, you suddenly get a intense feeling of irony, but you just shrug it off as you head back to work. BACK TO NOW "She just keeps bragging, posing for cameras, and stroking her ego, we all think it’s getting really annoying...” Twilight huffs. Yeesh, she must REALLY be hamming it up if Twilight and the others are annoyed with her. you think. Attention Whorses usually do. Selena comments “So why don’t you tell her about it?” you suggest to Twilight. “We all tried to, but she just brushes us off... what would you do?” she asks. “Well... I guess I’d give her a taste of her own medicine. Steal her thunder and all that...” you reply offhandedly as you browse through comics. “Hmmm…” Twilight says as she contemplates at your answer while the two of you continue to look for a good comic. As you pick a couple up that look good you ask Twilight... Grey Rebl comment "So, uh... How's Nightshade doing in her magic training?" you asked. Needless to say, you've been quite curious on how her magic training had been going. With the crazy power she has, you were curious about how she'll fare in any given situation... besides Falcon Kicking things in the nards as usual. Twilight smiles as she answers, "You're daughter is doing very well! Even though her control needs work, she has such magical power within her. So far, she can do basic spells without breaking anything. Well, almost anything..." Huh, that probably explains that pile of broken things near the library with the sign that reads "Please fix this Mr. Tennant. 2 Bits for every item repaired" Said bits were put into your savings. Goodness, you really need to be economical, especially with Nightshade's excessive eating habits. Although, you wonder why she's paying you for the the things your own daughter breaks... Wait, did Nightshade have a hoof in this? Breaking things on purpose so I could get more bits patching them? Realizing you were spacing out for a bit, you chuckled forcefully and said, "Ehehehhe, Y-yeah! That's my girl. Always taking every task head on, and... stuff." Jeez, have I been so troubled by recent events that i'm approaching Fluttershy levels of nervousness? "Although... I can't seem to get her into reading. Every time I try to suggest a book to her, she just asks me if there's a movie version of it." Aaand there's the catch. Honestly, you aren't surprised to hear that. "She needs to understand that there is a whole world of knowledge at her hooves, you know? And what better way to access that world than reading books!" Sparkle declares before looking you square into the eye and saying, "You're her father! Surely you can convince her?" "Um... sure?" you say uncertainty Twilight nods at your answer and is about to ask something, but before she can your stomach growls. You look down at your stomach in embarrassment, before you look over to Twilight and chuckle-ask in a joking manner, Jokingly ask Twilight if she has any Lembas bread you can feed Nightshade. She actually responds that her BBBFF is a fantasy geek and as Captain of the Royal Guard, he created a program to try to make Lembas bread real, but all attempts ended in failure (the most "successful" attempt turned a pony into a baguette for a week straight) "Heheheh... So... Got any Lembas bread? Luna knows I could use some with Nightshade's appetite." "Actually, my BBBFF is a big fantasy nerd and he even started a program to try to make Lembas bread a real thing." "And...?" you ask in surprised hopefulness. "Well... Let me put it this way, the most 'successful' attempt turned the pony into a baguette for a week straight" "Oh... Would have been awesome if it worked." you comment. Twilight just laughs slightly while shaking her head before she asks, "Hey, did you find any good comics yet?" You nod your head as you call her over and show her... BrownDog77 A Batmane Comic Book, titled All Star Batmane but before you can even suggest it to Twilight, it's suddenly slapped out of your hooves by a brown earth pony stallion with a purty hat, glasses and tan coat with a behatted burning wall for a cutie mark who yells, “Don't buy that! It’s a bunch of Frank Muler trash!” “Oh, OK,” you agree as the author has gone downhill since his early days. “How about this?” you ask him holding up an issue of New Guardians “No, that one is boring! Snowflame isn’t even in it!” he says while slapping that one out of your hooves as well. “What about this one?” you ask holding up Supermane at Earth’s End which shows Supermane looking like a Hearth's Warming Eve figure. “NO! BURN IT! BURN IT!” he shouts. “OK.” you reply like a dope as you use the Power Glove to burn the comic book in a nearby trash barrel as you watch the pretty flames. “Was that really necessary?!” Twilight asks in alarmed annoyance. “Yes!” both you and the hatted pony shout. “Oh... I just wanted to get a comic book for my loyal assistant!” Twilight exclaims. “Here, he’ll enjoy this” the stallion says as he tosses an issue of Power Ponies to Twilight. “Start em young. I say- Hey, is that the new X-Mares game?" The behatted pony they trots off to the arcade game in the store's corner as Twilight just comments, “Well... that happened.” “Pretty flames...” you say enraptured by the burning trash barrel before Twilight rolls her eyes and puts it out, snapping you out of it. Kersey475 comment "That'll be 1 Bit for the comic you just burned." Comic Joe chimes in with deadpan annoyance. "Oh... Sorry bout that Joe." you say as you toss Joe a bit. He's about to say something when you all hear, "ADAMANTIUM RAGE!" You all see that the behatted pony is now on a "ADAMANTIUM RAGE"-fueled punching spree and is punching everything in the store. "ADAMANTIUM RA-"*thawck* "Tennant! Why did you do that?!" Twilight exclaims in alarm. You look at Twilight in confusion, before you look back at the unconscious pony. Realizing what she's asking, you laugh slightly as you say, "Hahahahha, Sorry Twilight. I'm so used to KOing this guy that I didn't think of how you react." Twilight looks at you strangely as she asks, "Why... do you punch this stallion on a regular basis in the first place?" "Well you see, this guy comes in everyday, he buys a comic, and goes home. Next day he comes in ranting about how much it sucks, and he's usually right about it. When he gets super angry at a comic, he tends to go all cuckoo berserker until KOed." Twilight looks at the unconscious pony in confusion as she ponders, "I wonder what got him extra mad this time then." Comic Joe decides to speak as he says, "He was playing that arcade game. I tried to warn him that it has faulty jump mechanics, but he wouldn't listen." You nod your head in understanding as you say "Ahhh, Poor guy didn't stand a chance. Anyway..." You look back to Twilight as she looks at the Power Ponies comic with suspicion and continue, "He was right. That comic is perfect for Spike. Personally I think he's gonna love th- " "Hey Twilight!" Before you can finish you and Twilight see Flash (still wearing his jacket and shirt while carrying his guitarcase) entering the comic book store. You smile at Flash and wave, to which he returns the gesture. Ever since the whole "Loveopoclyse" incident, Flash has stayed in a motel while doing odds and ends job around Ponyville. His two main part-time jobs were working at Sugarcube Corner as a part-time waiter (you don't understand why a sweets shop/bakery needs a waiter, but then again Pinkie works there...) and playing freelance guitar in the various music club/bars in Ponyville. You've seen him play a few times, and you've once heard him rock out on his guitar while Vinyl was DJing. It's nice to hear Flash play on the guitar, he's really good at it. He's also been keeping an ear and eye out for information on the Crimson Knights, The Horde, and the Hooded Offender in general (using his part-time jobs to better covertly listen in on the town). He doesn't know that you know this, but that's fine considering he's trying to keep the fact that he's undercover a secret after all. You often hung out with him during your free time (going through a Loveopoclyse together and technically-kinda already knowing each other due to the fact you used to foal-sit his little brother tends to bring out the friendship between a pony and a changeling. Plus Selena has somehow managed to silence the annoying voices that normally call for his blood) and you've also seen him talking with Twilight, but you guess he's sharing information with her about any info he's uncovered since she's one of the few ponies he can trust in town (and his boss's little sister). He trots over to Twilight and says, "Hey Miss Twilight. I was just about to- whoa." He points to the unconscious pony, but then recognizes him and deadpan asks, "What was he raging about this time?" "Adamantium Rage" You and Comic Joe say. "Worst. X-Mares game. Ever." Joe adds. "Oh, okay. Anyway," he turns to Twilight before continuing, "I was going to the library next to check if Two Decades Later has arrived yet." "Your book just arrived today. And please, you don't have to call me "Miss" Twilight, just my name is fine. I'm still surprised you asked me for that book as not that many ponies know that Alexandressage Dumas wrote sequels to The Three Musketeers." Twilight responds. "Yeah, even though I'm usually more of a comics stallion, my dad used to read the 'Prench-to-Germaneigh' translations of his swashbuckling stories to me when I was a colt before he..." Flash suddenly gets solemn as he trails off and Twilight looks at him in sympathy, but you obliviously don't notice this as you ask, "Before he wh-ow!" Twilight roughly elbows you before changing the subject, "So... Flash. Should I let my assistant read this comic?" Twilight shows Flash the Power Ponies comic. He looks at it for a second before he smiles and says, "Spike right? If so then defiantly! Power Ponies is a great comic, especially if you're new to comics or not. Trust me, he'll love it!" Twilight smiles brightly at both you and Flash as she goes to buy the comic. When she comes back you get a brilliant idea that'll help the time go by faster (you're on break at the moment) and cure your boredom for now. You smile at both Flash and Twilight as you say, "Hey! I just had a great idea. Why don't the three of us head off to "The Hayburger Joint"?" Twilight and Flash nod their heads at your idea as Twilight says, "Sure, I'd love to. It'll be nice to spend time with you guys. I haven't hang out with either of you in awhile." You give her a deadpanned look as you say, "That's because every time I try to talk to you, you're either insane or... No you're usually out of your mind when we talk." Twilight rubs the back of her head sheepishly, but you just chuckle at this and say, "Hey, don't worry about it. I forgive ya, besides that was a long time ago. Anyway you guys wait outside, I need to talk to Comic Joe over here for... reasons." You receive confused looks from the two ponies, but they just shrug their shoulders and go outside. With that done you go over to Comic Joe, but before you can say anything he jokingly asks, "She your Marefriend Tennant?" Comic Book joe joked. "N-no I-" *Spurt* Bugze suffered the usually nosebleed, thankfully not blasting off into space. "She's just an acquaintance." He said. "Anyway you've got the latest issue of the Dark Offender right?" He then asked. "Of course! Here it is." Joe handed Bugze the latest Comic in the series. The cover showing THO battling against Discord. "Thank you." Bugze put Five bits on the counter and went out the door "She your Marefriend Tennant?" "No. She's just an acquaintance." you answer, "Anyway you've got the latest issue of the Dark Offender right?" "Of course! Here it is." Joe hooves you the latest Comic in the series with the cover showing him/you battling against Discord. "Thanks." you say as you give him the bits and leave, but before you walk out the door, you turn around and ask him, "By the way, why'd you think that me and Twilight were dating anyway?" He chuckles before he says, "Nothing really, it just seem you two had alot of history. Like you two fought together or something. But that's just my comic-filled mind thinking, sorry for jumping to conclusions." You shrug it off while on the inside you're thinking, Yeah we fought alright, but we didn't fight the way your thinking... You say bye to Comic Joe and head outside. When you do, you see that Twilight isn't with Flash anymore. You look at him in confusion and ask, "Hey, where's Twilight?" He chuckles nervously as he says, "She just remembered that she had to reorganized the library again today. But she did say for us to have fun." You smile slightly and say, "Well it sucks that she can't join us, but at least she told us to have fun. Let's get going. I heard they're carrying Butterbeer now." Flash laughs slightly at this, and the both of you head off to The Hayburger Joint... A FEW MINUTES EARLIER, WITH FLASH AND TWILIGHT After you leave, Flash tells Twilight how he may have uncovered more signs of Horde activity in Ponyville and strongly suspects that the recent accidents around Ponyville may have been acts of sabotage... Flash carefully checks around him and Twilight before saying in a low volume to her, "Miss- I mean Twilight, I believe I might have uncovered some... interesting information." "What?" she asks. "I've noticed a recent spike in Horde activity here. Nothing too big, but it looks like they're setting up a meeting for something." "Flash. if it's the Horde then a meeting is big! What if they're planning another Fillydelphia!" Flash makes a shush noise as he says, "I doubt that's the topic of their meeting. Most of the dangerous Horde members left to join the Crimson Knights so they're more of a harmless fanclub now. Also you know all those recent accidents that have been happening around town?" "The pranks or the more serious accidents?" Twilight asks in concern. "The latter. I think those 'accidents' might have actually been sabotage!" "Sabotage! Why would somep-" Flash holds his hoof up and says, "It gets worse. I have reason to believe all the sabotages were attempts to harm B.S. specifically. Quite a few of them occurred near him." "Shouldn't we tell Mister Tennant?!" Twilight gasps in alarm. Flash shakes his head as he says, "No, I don't know for certain if this is true or not so telling him would just make him worry. If B.S. is the target of these accidents, then who knows who could want to hurt him." All around Equestria (let alone Ponyville) quite a few ponies/diamond dogs/dragons/etc. sneeze and mutter "Somepony's talking about me." (including the Mane 6) "Gesundheit." Flash says. "Thank you." Twilight responds as she sniffles, "What about those other incidents far away from Mr. Tennant, like the runaway baby carriage or the old folks home's balcony collapsing?" "While those may not have been aimed specifically at B.S., I think those were still the result of sabotage as well as quite a few ponies seen near the scenes claim they were somewhere else at the time. Not to mention I also found hints of green slime on the ponies in question. Regardless, it was fortunate that Miss Rainbow Dash was there to save them." "Oh yes, let's not forget that the 'great Rainbow Dash' was there to save them." Twilight growls sarcastically as she remembers Rainbow's ego. Flash doesn't seem to notice as he continues, "I mean it's not like I can dress up as him to catch the po-" *ding* Twilight lights up as she says, "Flash, you're a genius! I have to go back to the library, tell Mister Tennant that I wish the both of you to have fun!" With that Twilight zips off, leaving a dust cloud and a confused orange pegasus behind her. BACK TO THE PRESENT, AT THE HAYBURGER JOINT We now find you and Flash at a table with their "Double Inferno Hayburger" (default double cheeseburger with grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, (seitan) bacon, chili, banana peppers (you thought it'd taste like bananas), jalapeno peppers, and hot sauce), chili cheese horseshoe fries (topped with ketchup) and a butterbeer while Flash just got the default cheesehayburger (cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, and secret sauce), basic horseshoe fries (topped with ranch dressing), and a butterbeer you bought for him. You and him have been talking for a while about basic stuff (how's life, new movies, etc.), but now you decide to bring up on a conversation you promised a couple weeks ago. With a frown you ask Flash... BrownDog77 comment "So... why are you so speciesist?" Flash spits out his butterbeer in a coughing fit before defensively saying, "I keep telling you I'm not a speciesist! It's just a few derogatory terms I picked up from my Grandpony on a subconscious level, I don't believe in them. I love all ponies!" "Okay... then why is your Grandpony so speciesist then?" you ask. "Well... he was married to another pegasus, but while he was serving in the Royal Guard, she ran off with an Earth Pony." "Well that's rather extrem-" you say before Flash interrupts. "Oh, and that happened to grandpony five times in a row. The last two ran off with a Griffin and a Diamond Dog!"* "Oh... that's understandable. Kinda..." "I love all ponies! And seriously, why the heck would you even think of having this conversation here of all plac-" "What about other creatures?" you interrupt. "I'm fine with all species alright? I'm not a-" "Diamond Dogs?" "BUCK THOSE FURRY ROTTEN MONGRELS TO TARTARUS!!!" he shouts, causing everyone to look at him in shock, including a nice-looking Diamond Dog family with pups (whom they've covered the ears of). "Dude..." you say to him with a shake of your head. "NO NO! I DIDN'T MEAN IT!" he shouts, "That's my grandpony talking! Plus I had a bad experience with some who kidnapped me and my squad! I'm sure they aren't all bad! I don't judge all because of a few! You believe me right? heh heh heh..." The Dog family gets up and leaves, "Really, in this day and age. You sicken us," they chide causing Flash to slam his head into his hooves and groan, "Everypony's a little bit species-ist you moron." You pat him on the back, "Not me! If anything, my grandbuggy has the opposite problem..." you mutter that last part before you say, "Cheer up pal, we'll break you of your problem soon..." "I swear, I don't have a problem" he mumbles into his hooves. "SPECIESTSAYSWHAT!" you say real fast. "What?" he says with a lift of his head. "Exactly!" you say as you point at him. It takes him a moment to realize what you did, and after he does, he headdesks once more before muttering, "I thought you were my friend..." You laugh at Flash's reaction, so much so that you don't notice the Horde meeting flyer falling out of your pocket. Neither of you notice it as you calm down slightly and your mind wanders... Minds Eye comment I wonder who would win in a fight between the Power Ponies and the Marevengers? Captain Equestria's tactical mind would give them a huge edge against the Power Ponies, but the variety of powers the Masked Matter-Horn and Radiance display could be too much to compute. Iron Mare could just blast them all with a rocket, but that's assuming Fili-second wouldn't catch it in flight. For that matter, how would Black Arachnid's covert skills stack up against Mistress Marevelous's warrior training? Not to mention it all goes up in the air when you pit Saddle Rager and Zapp against Supermane... Another opinion is needed, just so you could pass the time by arguing if nothing else, so you turn to Flash only to see him staring at the Horde meeting flyer. Your eyes widen in panic, but you calm down before Flash can notice as you think, Calm down bug! Panicking will only get him suspicious. He doesn't know that the flyer is yours, if he did he would have jumped you by now. For now just act dumb and he won't notice... It won't be too hard for you to act dumb, heck you don't even need to act. Not now Selena, we can argue about my low intelligence later! With that quick thought to Selena, you're about to ask Flash a fake 'what is that' when he says, "This is a Horde meeting flyer, must have fallen off one of it's member's pocket..." Yeah... mine. He then stares at you intently as he asks, "Don't suppose you know where this is?" "Nope! Not a clue! Why? You want to join?" you defensively say a little too quickly. "You... could say I have a passing interest in them, yes. I've met a few of them in my travels- Because that's what I do. I travel. As a traveling guitar player. Yes. A guitar player and nothing else. Heheh" He clears his throat before continuing, "Anyway, don't you think it's a little... weird? I mean, they put the password right on the sign." "Yeah, but the thing is... huh." You pause as you notice that they did indeed put the password right on the flyer. And you trusted that cowardly strumpet with the secret of my existence... Quiet you. "W-well, the password isn't much good on its own, is it?" you stammer nervously, "A strange pony would still need to find the place. What will they do? Knock on every door in town and say the password to everyone who answers until they get lucky? Heheheh..." "Great idea!" "Huh? Wait-!" Before you could finish, Flash has already bolted out of the place. I would be furious with you if this wasn't so adorable. I... uh... you... well... elaborate, please? You and the unremarkable orange pegasus. This male bond you share that I believe ponies these days refer to as 'bromance'. We do not have a bromance! We only share interests in serials, movies, games, and comics. And we get each others' references. and we totally rocked out together; Twice. And he agreed to hear me out in Fillydelphia and... he helped me out during the Loveocalypse... Oh, sweet Luna, we have a bromance! And now he is going to be there as you address your followers for possibly the last time. Yeah. Maybe. I still need to figure that out, huh? I don't suppose you have anything to more to add? As a matter of fact, I do. This. "GAH!" You exclaim, causing everypony in the restaurant to look at you funny, "Sorry. Didn't see the reveal in this panel coming, you know?" Realizing that you don't have a comic with you and all the strange looks you're getting from the ponies are getting worse, you chuckle nervously before bolting out of the restaura- *thud* Trip on scarf again. ONE PANIC RUN LATER Kersey475 comment We now find you at the shopping district where you just bought groceries; Bag of Sugar 2 Boxes of "Lucky Oats" Cereal (no need to buy milk since you just borrow some from the Apples) 3 Large Bags of "Sour Cream & Onion" Potato Chips (they didn't have yours or Nightshade's favorite flavors) 3 Boxes of Snack cakes 4 Jars of Chocolate Peanut Butter 6 Cans of soup (3 Creamy Tomato, 3 Broccoli Cheese) 7 Boxes of whole-wheat crackers 8 Bags of Gummy Fruits 10 Bottles of cotton-candy flavored Ramune (Neighponese soda) 15 Instant Noodle Bowls (Special version that heats up when unicorn magic is applied) Added to Inventory 21 Bits remaining You put the last of the food in the Inventory and begin to head over to the library to pick up Nightshade. On your way to the library, you come across Rainbow Dash signing a line of autographs. You walk over to her and she spots you first, "Hey Baker! How bout when I'm done here you get the pleasure of hanging out with the most super-ultra-extreme-awesomazing pony in Equestria!" Rolling your eyes at her boasting, you say, "Uh... Rainbow Dash, Don't you think you're letting all this go to your head?" "No way Jose." Rainbow Dash brushes off while posing for a camera while signing an autograph, "It's only bragging if you can't back it up, which I can because I'm super-ultra-extreme-awesomazing!" You're about to say something when you all hear a cry for help as a mare in a popped Hot-air balloon plummets to the ground. "Uh, don't you think you should go and help?" Snips points out. "Yeah, yeah. I've got a good ten seconds to spare. Just a coup-" "RAINBOW!!!" you yell. "FIne..." Rainbow pouts before talking off. ONE BOTCHED-RESCUE-AND-FIRST-APPEARANCE/NAMING-OF-THE-MYSTERIOUS-MARE-DO-WELL-AND-BECAUSE-YOU'VE-ALL-ALREADY-SEEN-THIS-IN-THE-SHOW-WE-DON'T-NEED-TO-REPEAT-IT-HERE LATER When the mayor names this new costumed hero, you snark at "how creative" the Mayor's name is before writing to the Doctor about this new development before heading off to pick up Nightshade. You snicker slightly at the name as you say, "The Mysterious Mare Do Well huh? I can come up with a better name then that..." Says the bug who made up ingenious aliases such as 'El Hunko', 'The Hooded Offender', and 'B.S.T'. You 'urk' slightly at this as you think dejectedly, Touché... but still... BrownDog77 How come Mare-Do-Well gets hailed as a hero for saving ponies, yet when I do it, all I get is a bounty on my head? But then your second thought turns to concern as you scowl while thinking, But... whoever this Mare-Do-Well is is trying to go with the dark cowl-style hero like Batmare or Darkwing Goose or like my own Hooded Offender thing. That just raises my red flags as I know for a fact from personal experience that where there's a vigilante, there's bound to be a archnemesis, and where there's a archnemesis there's cha-I mean death. Whoever that is MMDW is has got to go just like me, otherwise it'll only lead to destruction and death... I'm gonna find you Mysterious-Mare-Do-Well, and we're gonna have a nice little 'chat' about you dropping your mask and turning in your hat... which I want by the way! Unbeknownst to you, Rainbow Dash notices your scowl (body language and eyes, not mouth due to it being covered by face-mask and scarf). Sighing sadly at yet another problem that you have to solve, you jot in the Inter-Dimensional Notebook, Hey Doc. we have a problem. Theres a masked vigilante running around and for ounce it ain't me! I'm gonna have a 'chat' with them so they know it's a bad idea in the first place. You're about to put the notebook away when you have another thought and add, P.S. How do you exist as the main character of a fictional serial AND a real-life figure at the same time? Before heading off to... Kersey475 comment Twilight's library. When you pick up Nightshade, she was just finishing a "Replication Spell" lesson from Twilight. As you both walk back to Sweet Apple Acres, Nightshade shows you a copy of The Foal Free Press and you laugh at the Gabby Gums column; "Snips and Snails and Bubble Gum Fails" causing Selena to comment, "Hahahahaha!" Typical that you'd laugh at this. Back in my time, comedy was held to a much higher Stan-Bwahaha! Sticky sweets on their hindquarters! Hahahaha! After briefly calming down, you ask Nightshade, "This is the truth right? You didn't make this up and twisted the truth to make it funnier? Cause there's nothing lower than a paparazzi." Nightshade shakes her head as she says, "Of course not Daddy! The Cutie Mark Crusaders have more integ-grat-ee than that!" You ruffle Nightshade's mane as you say, "That's my girl, now come on I still have to finish up work at the farm. You can watch if you want." Nightshade laughs as she jumps on your back and says, "Really! Sweet!" You chuckle slightly as you head to the farm... THAT NIGHT After you finish work, eat dinner with Nightshade (3 Instant Noodle bowls (1 for you and 2 for Nightshade), 1 Large Bag of Potato Chips, leftover buttered corn on a cob and grape juice from the Apples, and a Box of Snack cakes for dessert), pack Nightshade's lunch for the next day, and put Nightshade to bed, you go to Horde Meeting where President Fluttershy is late... During work, you managed to practice your airbending a little bit. You can now say that you're almost good! You can't wait to see how it does in a fight (on second thought... yeah, you can wait). Anyway, after dinner (3 Instant Noodle bowls (1 for you and 2 for Nightshade), 1 Large Bag of Potato Chips, leftover buttered corn on a cob and grape juice from the Apples, and a Box of Snack cakes for dessert) we now see you packing Nightshade's saddle bag while she's sleeping in the cot behind you. After you've packed her bag you do a quick check, Nightshade's Saddlebag Inventory: -Jar of Chocolate Peanut Butter -Box of Whole-wheat crackers -2 Apples -2 Bags of Gummy Fruits -2 Bottles of cotton-candy flavored Ramune -Homework ("checked" by yours truly) -2 Pencils -Crayon Pack -Roll of duct tape -Journalist notebook -4 Bits pocket change After that... quick inventory check You decide to do a quick Inventory Check so you open it up and see, Brown pouch with 21 Bits in it Your awesome hooded black coat/Nobody Coat Your favorite Stetson Orange Bandanna"El Hunko" suit Purple Top Hat "How to be A Gentle Colt 101" book "Kung-Fu For Dummies" book All Four Sherclop Holmes Novels and all fifty-six short stories Used History Textbook Patching supplies (Vise-Grips, several rolls of duct tape, and several cans of WD-40. Never leave home without them) List of all your powers and spells Note with your debt to The Doctor Nightshade's crayon drawing of you Magic black staff with a red crystal on top of it Pink "Lover's Jewel" Necklace Knock-out Luna Plushie TARDIS-blue Pen Inter-Dimensional Notebook "Alien" & "Aliens" double feature reel "Coltmmando" film reel "Die Hoof" film reel "Death Notebook" anime (Neighponese animated) serial reels "Full Crystal Alchemist" anime serial reels "Element Manipulation: Vol 4. Air" book "Old Pony Legends" book Ponyville Library Card "2 Toothbrushes" "Container of Floss" "Tube of Toothpaste" "Big Daddy armor" "Power Glove" Bag of Sugar 2 Boxes of "Lucky Oats" Cereal (no need to buy milk since you just borrow some from the Apples) 2 Large Bags of "Sour Cream & Onion" Potato Chips (they didn't have yours or Nightshade's favorite flavors) 2 Boxes of Snack cakes 3 Jars of Chocolate Peanut Butter 6 Cans of soup (3 Creamy Tomato, 3 Broccoli Cheese) 6 Boxes of whole-wheat crackers 6 Bags of Gummy Fruits 8 Bottles of cotton-candy flavored Ramune (Neighponese soda) 12 Instant Noodle Bowls (Special version that heats up when unicorn magic is applied) WOAH! That is ALOT of stuff... I better do some cleaning, With that, you put the dental hygeine tools, serial/movie reels, and books you have (besides the Sherclop books, How to be a Gentle Colt 101, and the Kung-Fu for Dummies book) and put them onto a shelf nearby. "2 Toothbrushes" "Container of Floss" "Tube of Toothpaste" "Alien" & "Aliens" double feature reel "Coltmmando" film reel "Die Hoof" film reel "Death Notebook" anime (Neighponese animated) serial reels "Full Crystal Alchemist" anime serial reels "Element Manipulation: Vol 4. Air" book "Old Pony Legends" book Removed from Inventory You sigh in relief as The Inventory is now less packed. It now looks like this; Current Inventory: Brown pouch with 21 Bits in it Your awesome hooded black coat/Nobody Coat Your favorite Stetson Orange Bandanna"El Hunko" suit Purple Top Hat "How to be A Gentle Colt 101" book "Kung-Fu For Dummies" book All Four Sherclop Holmes Novels and all fifty-six short stories Used History Textbook Patching supplies (Vise-Grips, several rolls of duct tape, and several cans of WD-40. Never leave home without them) List of all your powers and spells Note with your debt to The Doctor Nightshade's crayon drawing of you Magic black staff with a red crystal on top of it Pink "Lover's Jewel" Necklace Knock-out Luna Plushie TARDIS-blue Pen Inter-Dimensional Notebook Ponyville Library Card "Big Daddy armor" "Power Glove" Bag of Sugar 2 Boxes of "Lucky Oats" Cereal (no need to buy milk since you just borrow some from the Apples) 2 Large Bags of "Sour Cream & Onion" Potato Chips (they didn't have yours or Nightshade's favorite flavors) 2 Boxes of Snack cakes 3 Jars of Chocolate Peanut Butter 6 Cans of soup (3 Creamy Tomato, 3 Broccoli Cheese) 6 Boxes of whole-wheat crackers 6 Bags of Gummy Fruits 8 Bottles of cotton-candy flavored Ramune (Neighponese soda) 12 Instant Noodle Bowls (Special version that heats up when unicorn magic is applied) Okay... not much of a improvement, but it's definitely better. I should probably check out my potion sash as well as update my list of spells and powers as well. POTION SASH: -2 Fuse Bombs -3 Molotov Cocktails -3 Healing Potions -4 Transformation potions -5 Stink bombs List of all your powers and spells -Royal Canterlot Voice -"Fus Ro Dah" shout -"No Shadow Kick" attack (Flurry of midair kicks) -"Falcon Punch" attack (Charged-up punch) -"Shoryuken" attack (Rising spinning uppercut) -Stun spell -Force Field spell -Teleport spell (Unreliable as short-range teleport often causes you to fall onto hard objects and long-range teleport randomly places you -anywhere in Equestria) -Advanced Healing (Apparently) -Shape Shifting (Unreliable as it only lasts a short time before failing at the worst moments) -Transformation spell (only works on Nightshade and even then it's not 100% reliable) -"Zoom" (Incantation spell that gives you long-range telescopic vision, but gives you a headache when spell is over) -"Nightmare Cloak" (Midnight-colored smoke that surrounds you and gives you increase abilities and a long smokey fox tail, but only activates when extremely angry or when Nightshade is in danger and the whole "*snap*-followed-by-glowing-orange-eyes" thing has already happened) -Power Glove (plasmid/vigor-channeling glove detached from "Big Daddy armor") -Incinerate!: Sets target on fire -Electro Bolt: Shoots a bolt of electricity -Winter Blast: Freezes target -Telekinesis: Allows you to levitate and move target -Murder of Crows: Unleashes a flock of crows on targets (there has to be crows nearby for this move to work) -"Psycho Crusher" attack (spinning charge forward) Whoa, that was indeed productive and TOTALLY not just some half-flanked attempt at expositional recap... To the meeting! AT BERRY PUNCH'S BAR As you walk down the secret entrance, you quickly hide behind a barrel as you... Later at the meeting, you decide you will give the news as the Offender, donning the cloak, you walk in to the last meeting. Put on your Hooded Offender/Nobody Coat while thinking, If this is gonna be the last meeting, I might as well be the Hooded Offender when it happens. Although considering this place was already raided before, you'd think they'd have this meeting in the "Building that can only be seen by true Horde members". You sigh in annoyance before you continue, Besides, they'll take the news of the disbandment better if it's from the mouth of their 'leader'. Now all I need to do is-Hello... As you approach the door to the meeting room, you spot Spike carrying Vinyl's portable music box. You smile as you get a brilliant idea for a entrance and walk over to the dragon, "Hey Spike." "Gah!" he says in surprise before he turns and sees that it's you, "Oh, sorry bout that." "Don't worry about it. What are you doing with Vinyl's music box?" "Oh, Vinyl asked me to bring it down here." "Do you know how to use it?" you ask. "Kinda, but-" "Cool," you interrupt, "Cause I have an idea for an awesome entrance!" With that, you whisper to him your plan. With a smile he nods his head. With that done you walk over to the door and... ONE NOT-QUITE-SO-AWESOME-ENTRANCE LATER Find out that Horde membership overall has shrunk due to Fillydelphia (Thunderlane has left the Ponyville Horde for example) You look around at the... surprisingly tiny crowd in sadness at the fact that your awesome entrance didn't work. As you look at all the ponies here who are looking at you surprised/happy/scared, you can't help but think, Guess after... that... *shudder* membership declined... You see many members from before (including Octavia, Vinyl, Spike, Hondo "Magnum" Flanks, Lyra, and Raven) are there, but also that Sunshower Raindrops, Thunderlane, and Bon Bon aren't there. Good, less ponies mean less chances of them getting hurt. Even so, I gotta remember to forget all these ponies. I can't risk them being exposed if I ever get caught in a memory projection spell. Anyway, I just need to-wait a minute? You look around in confusion as you don't see the one pony who has to be here for this to work. You look over to a random member and ask, "Hey, where's President Fluttershy?" He looks at you in confusion and is about to say something when you hear, "Right behind you." You make an "eep" sound at just how mad Fluttershy sounds as you slowly turn around and see Fluttershy... glaring at you. But for some reason you don't think it's directed towards you per se. It's almost as if it's more directed towards something inside yo- I think she's glaring at me! I can feel it... Outro: What do you do?