//------------------------------// // Episode 29: Applewood Exploring Time! (Applewood Arc Part 1) // Story: Life of a Wanted Changeling Season 3: Tyrants, Terrorists, and Tiaras, Oh My! // by Down with Chrysalis //------------------------------// Opening Theme: As you and Aqua walk through Applewood (after repeatedly telling the gaurds at the city entrance that you are not some famous movie actor) Aqua asks you, BrownDog's Comment “So what exactly did Kichi tell you?” asks Aqua. “That the knight supplying all the movie props and stuff is named Solarkness. His name is on my list.” “OK, but did he say anything specific? Like what he looks like, what the movie he’s working on is, or what studio it’s being made under?” “Well…not exactly. I kind of went Roboguard on him and he passed out before I could get anything else,” you say as you rub the back of your head. “Great, so what are we supposed to do, search every single studio in Applewood?” “Not EVERY single one. I’d figure that a nutjob Knight leader wouldn’t be making anything kid friendly, comedic, or romantic,” you explain. “And how do you figure that?” she asks. “All those props from the makeup to the bones and robots means it’s obviously going to be a BlockBuster of some kind, with lots of violence and destruction.” She pauses as she contemplates this. “That’s…not actually a bad deduction. I mean, if he had enough to lend to his buddy Kichi, this Solarkness guy must be working on something with big bucks.” “Exactly, so all we have to do is find all the big box office movies being made, and look for any mysterious figures in cloaks.” “And how many of those are being made?” “Well, as much as I hate him, the fact that Michael Beigh is making another Transformares…GRRRR…means that we should look at blockbusters whose release schedule coincides with his. From what Silver Strange slipped before I knocked him out, they feel the same way towards him. Wherever Solarkness is, my guess is that he wants audiences to watch his movie instead of Beigh’s so that he has the satisfaction of making him lose money.” “You think that’s their overall goal? To screw over Beigh?” “*Sigh* Probably not, but I wouldn’t put it past them to do it as an added benefit.” “Alright, it’s as good a plan as any. I say we visit an information kiosk or something to find out the schedules,” she agrees. You nod your head at this as you say, "Good idea. Once we get to the studio district we'll split up and search around." Aqua nods her head and the two of you continue to walk, however as you walk Aqua asks you another question, Kichi's Comment "What if they are protected?" "Uhhh, what?" you respond. "Well, what if these guys have aliases or something? I mean, these guys are wanted and yet they're making a movie, what if these different personas have legal public backing that we can't disprove? Do you have a plan for that?" "Of course I do," you say confidently. "I find them, ignore their threats, and make fire rain in their heads... Fiiiireeee" you moan happily as you think of that mighty red flower. "Seriously, I think you have a problem with that, and I'm not just saying that because my deal is water," she says in a worried manner. "I don't have a problem... The fire is good, things not on fire are evil..." you groan as your eyes take on a hint of green. BUGZE!!! Selena shouts, knocking you out of your loop. "Eh? Uh? What? What happened" you ask looking around as your eyes return to normal. "You were being creepy with the fire thing again, and your eyes were getting a bit green," Aqua explains. Green eyes? Creepy? Crap! I can't channel him like that, he'd get more power over me! you mentally panic as you shake your head. Selena, is he still jailed? He is, but I did sense a glow about him just now, be careful, Selena comments, clearly more reasonable now that the drugs are gone. Okay Good, now...Aqua is looking at me funny again, better change the subject, you think as you see Aqua giving you a questioning look. "Um...just ignore the eye thing and let's talk about the plan for Solarkness," you say. "Yeah, alright..." she says still looking at you funny, "So what is the plan after we figure out where he is?" "I say we confront him, then beat the snot out of him," you declare. "Just like that? Nothing else specific?" she deadpans. "Well yeah, it worked for Kichi right?" you say. "We went in blind without even finding out what species he was, and look how that turned out, you sure you don't want to find out more than nothing at all before we jump him?" "Well...ya I see your point. Though I suspect that even if we don't he'll give a villain monologue and explaining everything like the last guy. Man, was he a windbag..." "Yeah, after what you told me you went through to get those keys, I'd rather stay cautious," "Keys..." you mutter as the ordeals you went through Flash in your mind in a blast of green. "Puzzles... Too many Puzzles..." you whisper. You shake your head to rid your thoughts of keys, but now you can't help but think, Great, now I have a phobia of keys! I wonder if anyling else is having as bad a realization as me. MEANWHILE: AT A STUDIO SOMEWHERE IN APPLEWOOD Solarkness the cloaked Timber Wolf, and Rutherford the cloaked Wyvern sit in their studio trailer. After a full day of filming yesterday, today is a day for relaxation. Unfortunately, "Holy Crap!" shouts the dragon. The Timberwolf looks up from his papers and asks, "What? What is it?" "Kichi's been captured!" Rutherford says showing his friend the paper. "What?!" They then both read over the article. "Well...crap. Sucks for him," responds Solarkness. "Yeah, but what about us? What if he spills the beans and they start looking for us?" "Calm down, all he knew was that I was somewhere out here in Applewood, I never gave him an address or anything, only you. This city is huge so the chances of us being found are astronomical." Solarkness's Comment TheRutherford's Comment The two cloaked figures suddenly feel a shiver of dread run down their spines. The tall one looks over to the short one as it he asks, "Sol, did you also just get overcome with a severe feeling of dread like the one we had earlier?" The wolf figure nods his head as he says, "Eyup" MEANWHILE IN PONYVILLE A big red stallion sitting in a divorce counselor's office with a light purple mare suddenly sneezes. "Bless you Mac, you coming down with a cold?" "No...Somepony is using my catchphrase..." he responds cryptically. BACK WITH THE TWO KNIGHTS Rutherford shakes his head before he takes a deep breath and says, "Alright that does it. I feel like today is a good day to leave town. We are running low on "special" supplies and I didn't pay for the carnivorous Generals' and the more competent underlings' Hunting Licenses to look pretty. Let's take your two henchmen and go get some dinner. Some REAL dinner. It's deer season, we should take a hunting day trip to the Redwoods and be back tomorrow afternoon, in time to film." Solarkness mulls this over it, before responding, "Your plan sounds efficient. Besides, it's not as if they'd crash us while we are away, is it?" The dragon begins to respond, before the wooden wolf finishes. "And yes, I have heard of the so called "Laws of Murphy" before. No need to remind me." "Alright cool, then is that the plan? We all go hunting today to forget about this whole Kichi thing?" "Yeah I guess...except for Fluorite...," Solar sighs at that, "Yeah. He can stay watch here for all I care." "Um...is something wrong?" asks the dragon. The wolf gets up and starts pacing, obviously agitated. "Do you know these people that you immediately like, and then develop an apathy for?" "What, like Kersey?" "Yeah, exactly. Both of them are people like that. I mean, sure, Fluorite and I have some similarities, we both have the same underlying principles, but the more I see about how he applies them... Ugh, seriously? Instead of just trying to freeze me in our mock battles, he does things like destabilize the building so it falls onto me. Or, that one time, where he targeted my replacement-wood first..." Solar sighs before turning back to Rutherford. He looks down, almost defeated before he says, "And the worst part? He's more efficient. Like, sure, I may do more harm in shorter time, but he does more harm in total. He does not let any enemies escape, because he makes it so they can't split off or something... I mean, I feel as if I have it in me to do that, but everytime I see prey I just... snap. It's like... it's like I'm mentally disabled or something," he sighed at that, "Heck, I wouldn't even blame you if you didn't listen to any of that... I told you how many times already, five?" Rutherford gains a blank stare before he says, "No I heard you, each time. I just don't have anything helpful to say about it, however you are right. While you act as more of a shock trooper, causing more damage in a short time-span, he goes for the long-term damage. When he removes your backup wood *chuckle* he is preventing you from healing quickly making his attacks more severe. And while you two represent two ends of the predator hunting spectrum, you are both still pack-oriented predators, which is why you likely seemed drawn to him, but as you said he is not like you in his attack style." "Yeah...but still..." the timberwolf pouts, to which the dragon comforts. "We both know that your health and stamina is greater than his. That's why you are his Alpha and why he goes for the crippling blows during your mock-battles, to slow you down. However, if you are both going after a common enemy, then I think you two will likely be a force to be reckoned with. You causing major damage at the beginning and him doing small, crippling damage throughout the fight. You would wind up being the main focus as his attacks start to drain the enemy's stamina." At this Rutherford begins to pace around the room as he says, "And even if bounty hunters did find us then we should have nothing to worry about. Especially if I come in during the fight, since I'm pretty efficient at my healing and water breath." "I don't know, Kichi may have been a bit mad, but he did have a pretty elaborate set up. For all we know, these bounty hunters could be some strategic warriors." Rutherford stops his pacing as he gains a thinking look before saying, "Maybe...but still, I think that if we all stick together and have our subordinates around, we'll be fine." The timberwolf looks up to the dragon and seems more relaxed. "Thank you Rutherford. I do in fact feel more reassured. But speaking of subordinates I couldn't help but notice yours' are absent. I assume they are busy with something, yes?" Rutherford shakes his head at this before saying, "They all asked for transfers. Most of them went to either Kersey or Grey Rebl." "They did?" "Yeah, right after I went to the Crystal Empire to withdraw some crystals from the account my father set up for me there. Nice amount of foresight on his part and apparently being away for a thousand years did not stop the crystals from growing or earning interest. Makes funding this movie all the much easier, but I digress, I think that either they are afraid that them failing me will result in me eating them, stereotypical xenophobes, or they did not like me having them operate legally to amass bits and resources." "Maybe they feared you would be tied back through your expenses," suggest Solarkness. Rutherford shakes his head and sighs before saying, "I try to do a majority of things legally, but I don't use any of my personal stuff directly for the Knights. That way there's less of a chance they can pin anything on me." "Yeah, look how well that worked out for Kichi," the wolf says pointing to the paper. "Right...So lets go ahead and get out of here and get you away from Fluorite, shall we?" "Yeah... alright. But when we get back to film tomorrow, don't forget that we need to get the "special" supplies as well" Solarkness agrees. "Will do..." As the two Knights begin to leave, Rutherford asks, "Hey, do you feel like we just shoved out a lot of exposition for our backgrounds for some invisible beings we can't see?" Solar gives Rutherford a strange look before saying, "Nope, must just be your imagination." Rutherford quirks his eyebrow up before saying, "Hmmmm....I guess so." BACK TO YOU After walking for a long couple of blocks, you and Aqua near the studio district and begin to see a bunch of ponies and other beings in costumes. "Well good luck finding cloaked figures in all this mess." As you walk, you hear some boisterous laughter. It sounds quite masculine and manly, too. You and Aqua turn to the source, with raised brows. Grey Rebl's Comment On the other side of the street, there are some buff ponies and—well what do you know!—they have weapons on their person. They have Knives, a lance, and a sword for that matter as well! The weapons are wrapped in cloth just in case so that noling will get hurt. The both of you stare for a moment. ...after that moment, you just proceed to move on, effectively forgetting the whole thing. “Hey. Hey!” Aqua calls out to you. You tune back to face her. “Huh?” “Are we seriously going to ignore the ponies who have WEAPONS in broad daylight?” “Well...yeah?” You then hear a resounding face hoof in your mindscape, of which you decide to ignore just this once for the sake of the conversation. “I mean, they’re cool and all, but they’re actors we don't even know. So we’ll just leave them be.” Aqua just stares at you incredulously. “...what? B-but—!” You didn't quite hear, so you continue. “Why? You know them and want an autograph?” “Just—wait a minute! Actors? What do you mean?” “What do I mean—oh. Oooh.” You say in realization. Of course, not everyling can be like you. It’s not like it’s common knowledge either, even if you sometimes wish it was. “You don't watch many movies, do you? Or know about Applewood for that matter.” At this point, the rather masculine ponies are long gone, so the only thing to note is Aqua’s ignorance of the subject. “Well I know movies get made here...but yeah, I’m not much of a movie-goer, but I’m not the only one left out in the dark without a clue.” Looks like she’s the type to never like not knowing some things. Anyway, by the benevolence bestowed onto you by your expansive knowledge of serial flicks, you answer the call to this lost soul! No need to be so dramatic... Selena dryly says. Oh, come on! Just let me have this! you think. “You know how Applewood is the place for making movies, right? Well, that includes the action movies. You gotta have all these stunts to make everything look cool and stuff, but there's gotta be some ponies who do that sort of thing, especially the extreme and dangerous ones." At this, Aqua nods in understanding. You continue. "Back in the days before Applewood was, well, Applewood, the ponies were the toughest around! When they got the idea to do something cool and dangerous, they decided to do it because they actually could. Whatever they made was a hit! But now, they got too many weenies who can't do dangerous stuff, so Applewood hires all kinds of stunt actors whom you've never heard of. Also it's cheaper than setting up all the stuff to fake it, so doing the real thing saves money. Sort of. They still use the smoke and screens to make everything cooler." Aqua nods again, this time absentmindedly. “Yeah…” You’re not even sure if she’s actually paying attention! Still, you continue on. “That’s why Applewood is known for housing some of the most toughest and strongest ponies and non-ponies in the world! You’ve got martial artists, magic users, and all kinds of fighters! Hay, you can even have grandmasters of Hoof Fu in the mix!” You say excitedly. However, you then frown by the next words, “But with all these kinds of strong, battle-hardened folks, there tends to be a it of a power hierarchy. ...it’s kinda also why some of the movie directors can be kinda...monstrous. Like Michael Hay and Shingading-a-long something-something. Buuut that’s just rumors! I’m sure that they can’t be...that...bad…?” You trail off when you see that Aqua begins to have a rather thoughtful expression. She’s frowning, a hoof under her chin. Just what is she thinking about? “I wonder if sensei is here…,” you hear her mutter, but barely. With a head tilt, you ask, “Um, Aqua?” She easily snaps out of it by the call of her name. “O-oh! It’s nothing. Forget that I said anything!” “Right…” You doubt it, and it’s a gut feeling. And your gut feeling tend to mean “impending doom.” Or maybe it’s just your imagination. Although, you decide to respect her privacy, as long as it doesn't effect what you’re doing right now. Still, you’re curious. Just who might this ‘sensei’ be? Is he/she also an elemental bender? A water bender like Aqua maybe? With a nervous cough, Aqua gets back on track, “...Anyway, you’re surprisingly knowledgeable about this sort of thing.” You rub a hoof to your neck, flattered. “Aww, geez, it’s a part of my pride!” You get a happy feeling, being able to show off some of your knowledge without feeling like a— “But it’s almost kinda sad when you think about it,” she then interjects. ...and there’s the bucking punch line. “H-hey!” In your head, Selena chuckles and adds to the humiliation, She’s right you know Ugh! Not you, too! Leave my hobby alone! “Well! Now that I know, let’s get going.” Shrugging it off, she then says, “C’mon,” and the water bender then starts to move ahead of you. “Wait up!” you cry out. A FEW MOMENTS LATER You and Aqua finally arrive at the studio district and you both begin to split up. As Aqua starts to head to the east you call out to her, BrownDog's Comment “Oh wait and one more thing,” you call out causing her to turn back. “Kichi said that Solarkness’s closest ally is TheRutherford. Now whether that means he’s here or not is to be seen, but keep that info in mind while snooping.” She nods and says, “Gotcha CV, see ya here around Dinner Time, you’re buying," and heads East. You being the brilliant tactician head West. You know, it would be a favorable fortune if this Rutherford Knight was also here. That’s two names at once, says Selena, who is a much better conversationalist when sober. Yeah, but if they are together that just means there’s more of their underlings hanging around probably. True, but you did hold your own from what I remember… Barely, despite your random druggy mood swings, I think I did alright, you chuckle. Hmmph! I can hardly be blamed for drugged me, that mare is an idiot, Your words, not mine… You chuckle as you hear Selena facehoof before she says with a annoyed tone, …Anyway, I would not have been in that situation had you not foolishly eaten random food left in the den of our enemies! I had a rumbly in my tumbly, don’t judge me. She gives off a sigh, Bugze, I will always keep toxins from infecting you, but for the love of me, don’t make a habit of taking the hard stuff. The ones that effect your brain, especially in high doses, are the ones that are most dangerous. Alright alright, I’m sorry I got you high again…thanks again for keeping me sober. One of us has to be, though I’m thankful even Drugged Me had the foresight to keep Nightshade from entering during that whole ordeal. Oh so that’s what she was huffing about when that new…pet of hers showed up. I still can’t believe she took that thing in. It tried to kill me. Well at least it’s not something she has to feed or clean up after. Yeah… you contemplate as you see a bunch of joggers running with their panting hairy dogs. Anyway, how’s Zambini doing? I have not heard anything else since that incident earlier. But since I had not shared the antidote endorphins that pumped through your body, he has been pretty docile these last 2 days, spouting off his nonsensical yet threatening sounding philosophies. Well yeah, I know that much already. Still at least it allowed Nightshade to gain some headway with him…although… LAST NIGHT You and Selena stood behind Nightshade (who somehow brought the Mangle Plush with her) while stoned Sombra sat in his cage. They each had a board piece for Battle Boat. “A7” Nightshade declares. “You have sunken my watery war vessel. All the lives on it ended as you mercilessly bombarded it into oblivion…This game is enjoyable…”he spouts. “Ummm…right…uh, G4?” Nightshade continues. “You have hit the troop carrier…had I succeeded, the Umbra controlled Crystal Ponies would have marched upon the land…but sadly, you have taken out a fourth of their numbers child…you are indeed a mighty warlord...” “Thanks,” Nightshade beamed with a smile. BACK TO NOW Yeah, next time let’s try Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders…you contemplate. If he still remains docile perhaps, but the last time you were drugged without antidote it took three days before I recovered, meaning he may already be slipping back to his garish self. “*Sigh* Well let’s cross that bridge when we come to it…besides, I got till the evening, might as well enjoy this weather will Nightshade.” You then take Nightshade and her Robot Fox Pet out. You may be on the job, but this is Applewood, she hasn't seen it before. And maybe you will go to Whinnyland after you've captured the bounty. You've got enough to actually get a resort suite there. LATER You treat Nightshade to a lunch of ice cream and more ice cream. "YA! Buck my diet! We're rich now!" she shouts causing you to get the stink eye from other parents. Avoiding eye contact, you look at the people out the window. Anyone of them could be who you're looking for. If Solarkness and The Rutherford ARE both here it could be more difficult. Hopefully there aren’t any more in this town. Meanwhile: On the Far Side of Town In a Celebrity Residential Neighborhood. Two cloaked figures knock on a door that say Shamalamadingdong. After a few moments a dark brown earth pony with a curly mane opens up the door. “Yes, may I help you?” he asks to the figures. “Hi, are you M. Night Shamalamadingdong?” asks the shorter one. “Why yes I am,” he says proudly as he poses. “Director of such classic films as The Seventh Sense, Unhurtable, Messages, and The Last Spellbender!” The larger figure grits his teeth and growls under his breath, “That last one is not a classic you hack…kill you, burn you, destroy you… “What was that?” he asks. “I said, that last one is not a classic you hack…kill you, burn you, destroy you…,” the figure says plainly. “Oh…well nice catch there, because even I’ll admit I don’t like that movie!” he says happily before turning to the audience (Yes US) and shouting “What a twist!” Both figures just facehoof/paw at this. “Ha ha, but anyway, what can I do for you gentleman?” The shorter pony figure asks, “What is your opinion of Michael Beigh?” “Eh, he’s alright. I’d give anything to make the money he makes for movies the critics say are as bad as mine.” “Well guess what, he says he hates all of your movies, including the 2 and a half good ones!” the larger fur covered figure says. The director just shrugs and says. “Well them’s the breaks here in Applewood. You can’t make everyone happy.” The pony and diamond dog look at each other and back before the pony asks, “Y-you’re not mad?” “Nope, I’ve come to accept that not everypony will love my movies, and that’s OK. It’s nothing to get upset over.” “R-really?” the Diamond Dog asks, “You don’t mind that the hack that ruined one of the best toy and cartoon franchises hates your movies?” “Nah, some things you just have to let go,” he says with a smile. “Umm…he also said that he thinks your hair is stupid,” the pony adds. “HE SAID WHAT?!!!” the director yells as a blast of hot air escapes him, sending the two Crimson Knights flying off into the neighbor’s hedges. “Nopony insults my hair, NOPONY!!!” shouts M. Night. “Oh just you wait Beigh, I’ll get you for this! You reckoning is NIGH!!!” The two knights smile widely at this declaration in the bushes… “Let’s see you make your next movie when Meighgan Fox and Shia LaHoof are working for me! BWUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!” he laughs as he uses his wind powers to hover in the air. “What?!” Brown Dog and SnapDrake declare. The director looks in their direction, which is also ours DEAR LORD LOOK AT HIS SOULESS EYES!!! And says “What a Twist,” with a wink before he blasts off laughing as he does so. After that insanity, the knights dust the leaves off themselves. “Well that isn’t what we wanted…” Brown Dog moans. “No this could still work, Beigh is a hot head, I’m sure he’ll go after Shamalamadingdong when he loses his actors,” Snap Drake reasons. “Hmmm…good point…So, do you think we should visit Solarkness while we’re here?” “Eh, we could, but you know how temperamental that wooden mutt gets when doing “Serious Work,” Snap Drake points out. “First of all, I’m a mutt, he’s just some weird spiritual swamp wolf creature, and yeah, I see your point. He’s not exactly into our idea of fun.” “Exactly. So I say we get some drinks and go to Whinny Land,” “Liking the drinks part, but not the Whinny Land. If we’re going to a theme park, let’s go to one with better rides.” “But Magic Mountain is like 2 hours North of here.” “It will be worth it dude. Let’s catch a cab.” “Eh…alright then, plus there’ll probably be more hot mares there our age” Snap Drake says happily. “Exactly, and then we can…Wait What?! I’mnotattractedtofemalesoutsideofmyownrace!!!, Who told you that?! Because they’re lying! Yeah…lying…” Brown Dog stammers as he looks around shiftily causing Snap drake to laugh at his expense. As they walk on, the pony asks the Diamond Dog, “So, you think Silver and Kichi are getting along at his awesome base?” “Oh heck yeah. Why else would he have asked to borrow him? Changelings love sticking together. Plus they get to play videogames all day.” MEANWHILE WITH KICHI: LOCATION UNKNOWN The former Crimson Knight Leader sits in a featureless white room in solitary confinement. Nothing aside from a cot and a toilet and sink. And it is booooring. "Stupid bucking gag order from Shining Armor. What, just because I was part of a "Terrorist Organization," I get supermax prison conditions? Bullspit!" he yells at the walls. He then looks down sadly. "What I wouldn't give for one video game...just one..." "Yeah, preach it brother!" comes the faded voice in the next cell. "Shut up Silver Strange! This is all your fault! You didn't stop that bounty hunter!" "Well neither did you!" comes the muffled angry cry of the changeling next door. "Shut up! I wish Brown Dog and Snap Drake never loaned you to me!" "Well they're a hell of a lot funner than you!" "Whatever! I just hope that at least Solarkness or Rutherford read the paper. I kind of sold them up the creek!" "I'm sure everyone's seen the news at this point, so they'll all be prepared..." Back with Drake and Dog "...And until they bring back the Far Side, I will not read the paper anymore," explains Brown Dog as they keep walking. "Wow, never knew you felt so strongly about the funny pages," remarks Drake. "I have a limited amount of bucks to give, comics are one of them." "How'd we get on this topic again?" "Well we were talking about Kichi and Strange, and then that led to changelings, then to bugs, then to smacking bugs with newspapers, and voila!" “Oh yeah...speaking of Kichi, he makes me wish we had a cool supervillain lair like him.” “Yeah, but to do that we would have had to build a criminal syndicate or ask Kersey for more money, and either option is not appealing…” "Yeah...." "But yeah, let's stop talking about work, let's go ride roller coasters!" "Buck Ya!" With that said the two cloak figures walk off, not knowing the chaos they just sparked.... BACK WITH YOU You gain a sense of dread, but you shake it off and decide to focus on looking for the Knight's studio. So far all you've found is that the biggest blockbusters coming out are either super secret projects with codenames, or the next few Superhero movies. "Hmm...I wonder...what if this Solarkness is making the next Marvel movie...how would I feel...?" you contemplate aloud. You feel a tug at your side as you look and see Nightshade giving you a questioning look, "Who are you talking about daddy?" You chuckle slightly at how you were thinking out loud...again, and are about to respond when... Kersey's Comment You see a poster for an upcoming movie, on it is art that takes your breath away. A large hooded figure with glowing eyes and wings. When you turn your head you briefly see the APPLEWOOD sign, and you suddenly freeze up as you start to flashback to that vision of Las Pegasus in that other world. Dead dragons and smashed buildings everywhere, the most notable being a massive dragon with large horns and grayish-arctic scales lying dead with each of the letters of the APPLEWOOD sign having been jammed into each of his major organs. "Oh Luna No...not again..." you moan. Suddenly there's a bit of purplish mist on the edges of the vision and as quickly as the flashback happened, it disappears in a flash of green, snapping you out of it and making you shake your head. "What the buck?" "Daddy? What is it?" Nightshade asks. "It's...it's nothing Shade, um...say, why don't you head back into your room for a bit huh?" "But you said we were going to dinner..." she whines. "I promise I'll let you know when we do eat, but please get in honey, I just got a real bad feeling." "Ugh...fine, come on Mangle," she says to her fox hopping into the bag. The fox looks and gives you a disapproving shake of the head before hopping in too. Oh like I care what you think tinker toy!...Selena, did you see that? I did indeed. It has been awhile since you've had one of these episodes. Yeah...they're still not pleasant. But still that ending flash. Indeed, Sombra's magic. Hey! Did you do this Smokey?! you growl. I do many things...your repression is delicious...but not applicable to the waking world...I take them for myself...he philosophizes. Oh great, still drugged I hear. What does that even mean? Your waking nightmares of guilt...they do you no good in one regard...forgetting them makes you stronger...I take them for you... Oh...um...thanks I guess? You are welcome...you are welcome...ahahahahahaaaa... he chuckles to himself. Bugze...I know it's how he normally sounds, but that sounded extremely suspicious and ominous... Well the way I see it, this guy is saving all my nightmares for his own pleasure, and the less I see of them, the better. I guess...but... Hey look, we can talk about it later, right now I have to focus. I think I've found my movie, you say as you look at the poster again. The monster on the picture looks like Nightmare You, and who else would be so crazy to make a movie about you? Deciding to scope it out a little early you head for Studio 101 where this movie is being filmed. Unfortunately when you get there, you find the set closed to the public, and some stallion arguing with a security guard. "What do you mean they went out for a personal day?" asks the stallion...who looks very familiar from the back. "Exactly what I said buddy, movie makers got lives too ya know?" says the security guard. Well great, guess I won't be finding any clues today... 'Ugh, but do you know when they'll be back?" "Buddy, it ain't my job to keep track of their schedules, so take your little wings and buzz off!" "Fine! You snobbish horn..." the stallion strains as the Unicorn Guard gives him a look. "BAH!" the stallion shouts and turns around...right into you. CRASH "Ooof!" "Hey watch where you're going you...you...," you start but then your tongue seizes up as you see who exactly who just crashed into you. Lord Sergal's Comment Flash Bucking Sentry. Your brother from another mother and your most persistent enemy outside the Evil 6. Almost immediately, you are assaulted by dozens of voices shouting to kill him and, oddly enough, three shouting 'FLASH AHHH-AHH, SAVIOR OF THE UNIVERSE!' Must be a weird Applewood thing. "Oh, sorry about that miste-WHOAH! What's up with the mask and clothes?" he asks as he looks you over. You are so shocked to see Flash, and trying to block out the voices, that you blurt out the first thing hat comes to mind. "It's a... A skin condition." You say, although it ends up sounding more like a question. "A skin condition?" he asks back. You then think, Well, buck. Might as well run with it. "Yeah, I can't be out in the sunlight without full body coverings. Heck, I even need this mask just to breathe in sunlight..." You see Flash's face take on a sad look when you explain that. "Oh, well I'm sorry for prying. I had a great friend that had the same condition, except he didn't need a respirator..." Oh geeze, look at his face. He's still sad that BST "died." If only I could tell him... Don't even think about it Bugze! Selena chides. I'm not going to tell him! you shout back. But at the same time I don't want him still feeling down. He is my bro after all...Wait a minute...Bro... "Don't worry about it buddy, it's not a very common disease, but it does run in my family. My brother would always dress in some of his Doctor Whooves costumes, good thing his daughter didn't catch it." "Wait...Wha..." says Flash as he looks at you in surprise. "But of course that's before he went into hiding and took on a different name," you add and you see the shock on his face. "You mean Baker Sylvester Tennant was your brother?!" he says. You put on a face of fake shock and say, "How did you know his alias?" "I...I knew him...he was my friend...H-he was your brother..." he says as he can't quite comprehend it. "What do you mean 'was'? He still is. I just got a letter from them last week," you say going in for the kill. "He...wha...HUH? But he and his daughter died in a fire..." Flash says as he tries to register your words. "No no, he told me SOMETHING about losing his scarf in a fire, but he felt the place he was at wasn't safe anymore...he talked about Buglings or something? But yeah, he moved, and if the stamp on his letter is anything to go by, he's somewhere in Neighsia," you lie on the spot. "I...I..." Flash sputters as his world comes crashing down. Congratulations Bugze; you are now your own brother. Well don't say it like that, it sounds wrong... "BST...is alive?!? He's bucking alive..." You eyes widen in surprise as you see Flash's eyes start to water. He then starts bawling right on the spot. Thinking quickly to avoid causing even more of a scene and blowing your cover you say... WHAT DO YOU DO? Outro: