Chapter 16: Casino del Twilight
“So, are we going to launch right into this,” I asked. “Or are we going to have dialogue to make it more suspenseful?”
“Don’t be stupid,” Replied George. “Of course we’re going to have dialogue. How else can we ensure you don’t get a bunch more upvotes?”
“I only partially agree,” Said Sam. “Just have what you two just said, then what I’m saying now, then launch right into it.” We couldn’t argue with that idea, and thus more crap was written by me, because I didn’t see Sam putting this in here.
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“I said I have a proposition for you,” Twilight repeated. “What’s the matter? Alicorn had your tongue cut out?”
“Ha,” laughed Golden Shield “Only our mighty queen’s predecessor would do such a thing. How you could wish for her return, I have no clue,”
“Come now, you two,” Said the Doctor, intervening to prevent them goring each other. “Twilight, I believe you mentioned a proposition?”
Looking away from Shield to look at the doctor, she spoke again. “I can give back your hostage, but it’s going to cost you, big time. I happen to know he has a fair bit of info I’d like to get my hooves on, and he also has some you’d probably like to know about my friends and I.”
“Oh,” Golden Shield feigned surprise and sarcastically summarised. “So you’re telling me that he’s gone up in value because of a few minutes to learn about a secret society? Gee, I wonder how he came to know anything from a mare who keeps silence in a secure facility.”
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“Jay,” Said George, glaring. “What did I tell you about alliterating?”
“I know,” I sighed. “But I thought it was clever. And besides, it’s catching on!” His glare told me to shut up about his accidental alliteration. I coughed while looking away, and then flicked my eyes back to him. “Eheheh, sorry.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Doctor stepped in again, before Twilight could retort. “I daren’t think that you are all he has new information on. What else did he discover, and how did he do so when properly restrained I wonder?” He brought a hoof to his muzzle in contemplation.
“Perhaps if you agree to my terms he’ll live long enough to tell you.”
“Oh hoh,” chuckled Golden Shield, pushing the Doctor aside. “Threatening him now, are you? Neither of us has any magic, though if I hadn’t any qualms about harming a mare I should very much like to rend you with my sword. It wouldn’t be hard.”
“Come now,” Pleaded the doctor. “If you’ll excuse us for a moment, Miss Sparkle, it appears our diplomatic skills are somewhat lacking in the communication department.” He accompanied this statement with a healthy glare at Golden Shield. They turned and quickly trotted halfway back to their side’s congregation. Placing a foreleg over each other’s shoulders, they began to whisper furiously.
Twilight couldn’t hear, and didn’t try to; instead trying to turn her ears to hear if anything was happening inside the tree. There wasn’t a noise. All of the tree’s occupants were waiting with bated breath. George could, however, hear most of the conversation.
“Shield, you fool,” hissed the doctor. “Don’t you see she’s trying to get you annoyed, to find your weaknesses? Don’t give in; just imagine that it’s George talking. Speaking of, she knows about him. Don’t you get that? She knows. How much I can’t say, but she is very well aware of a sentient species that does not belong in this universe.”
“What?” He replied, drinking in all of this new information. “How can she know anything? Surely Anonymous Pegasus #3 hasn’t talked this soon? If he were of my ranks, I’d-“
“No,” Dismissed the Doctor calmly. “I won’t say more, but I think if we bend, but not completely fold easily, we may discover more; perhaps from Twilight herself!” Golden Shield nodded assent, and motioned for him to continue. “I can’t speak of what I am unsure, but the longer I wait the more likely it seems. Try to keep silent, this time around, please?”
They removed their hooves from one another, turned 180° to look at Twilight, and then moved their heads to face each other. They made the customary synchronised nod, and turned forwards again. In unison, they began to move forwards.
“So I take it you’ve come to a decision?” Twilight asked. She was somewhat surprised when Golden Shield stepped back to allow the doctor to speak.
“No,” Said the Doctor simply. “We wish to make an informed decision, and so wish to know more before we do so.”
“Tsk, tsk,” Scolded Twilight. “You can’t expect to get through life without taking a few risks. Come on, gamble just this once.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Okay guys seriously,” I said in a serious tone. “Why did you tell me to call it ‘Twilight’s Proposition’ if it’s mostly just them tossing insults and arguing back and forth?”
“Because,” George joked, “We were attacked by zombies.” Unbeknownst to him, I still can’t tell a joke when people say it. Calling bull is different, I’m good at that, but I’m utterly oblivious on sarcasm and joking.
“George,” Sam stated, “If you say that, he’s going to write story about us in Equestria being attacked by zombies. No matter how long you leave for; a couple of weeks or over a year; Jay will always be his oblivious self.”
“Hey,” I responded indignantly. “I have changed a lot in the past few years. I haven’t been in anything I consider a fight since I got to high school. A split lip and trade of blows does not constitute a fight.”
“…When did you get a split lip?”
“One of my favourite sayings from you,” Interrupted George, “Is ‘I’ll fight back if I perceive a threat’.”
“Yes,” I replied. “And if they give me a piss-poor smack in the jaw, I’ll do the same, and it becomes a game.”
“Did that rhyme intentionally?”
“Yes, Sam, yes it did.” And then I almost changed back to 1000 word chapters because I’m writing this at 7:00PM on Monday, while listening to Winter Wrap-Up.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Meanwhile, on the game that I waste valuable writing time on…
“My god, if I fire the cannon just right it times really well with the pony songs!” I exclaimed, ignoring my writings for the moment.
“Okay, just do a multiplayer with me sometime and we’ll make a WWII PMV,” Replied George, barely concealing his laughter over the Skype call.
“I think technically for it to be a PMV it has to be a regular song with a pony video,” I said dispiritedly. “So we’ll be doing Pinkie-Werfer, Pinkie-Shreck, Twi-ger, RD-12, what else?”
“Maybe you should stop putting spoilers in the story, so people are more surprised.” I followed that advice, because it was smart. And I didn’t notice this either, because I was making Nazis smile.
Note: The song I use could be anything. In fact, I may do several, like September (Katyusha FTW!), Smile, WWU, This Day Aria, I honestly don’t know yet.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Know what? Screw it; I’m up to 1200 already, might as well get to 1500. Possibly 2000 if I’m still awake. And the TV doesn’t call me. Why are you still reading this mid-chapter author’s note? Sam is best text ninja. I’m probably going to re-name this chapter to ‘Casino del Twilight’. Simply because it isn’t a place where you hear a proposition, it is where you go to gamble.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
“My dear Twilight,” Responded the doctor, “if only you knew the gambles I’d already made today. On the advice of a sound individual, mind you. Though in hindsight, his sanity may in fact be questionable.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Oi!” Exclaimed George. “He didn’t say that, and we all know you’re the crazy one of this group.”
“Sam,” I asked, “Did he say that?”
“Normally I’d say no, but on this occasion, it’s too funny to pass up.”
“Wait, you’re siding with him?”
“Hey,” I said nonchalantly, as if Phillip didn’t disappear for the time I knew George. “I’m siding with Phillip, and you know how little we get along.”
“Who the-“
“Phillip is the supposed voice in Jay’s head,” Sam answered. “See, if this were fictional, Phillip would show up in Equestria.”
‘What bearing does this have on the story?’
“Phillip makes a fair point. George, you are of questionable sanity, let’s move this along.” I could practically hear him glare over Skype. “Hold on, I’m going to go outside and stare at stars for a while, in naught but a t-shirt and shorts, and then I’ll go watch the fire inside, then continue if it isn’t time to sleep.” I paused Windows Media player, and left the last 500 words on the same die upon which the Doctor’s choice rested.
(Authors notes) Well this morning I did a bit of rehearsing for a song on the game, and so far am doing well. May need a few people to help out for it to work at all, though. Also, I'm going to begin writing up lyrics for the song I promised. I may record it, but no upload until I hit 25 tracks...Might wait a couple of days(Weeks?) before I do it, because right now my voice sounds like I've been swallowing gravel. I'm getting really behind on chapters, so as soon as I'm off school, I'm going to write as many as possible in as short a time as possible. My god my self-esteem is lacking, so go tell your friends about this and get them to up-thumb it. I've already lost a bet based on a lack of favs, and do not intend to lose another one. Or if you want to ignore that, then as always, GOODBYE, PEOPLEZ!