Meanwhile... (Pt 2)
Meanwhile…
“I swear, you three come here just to give me more work to do,” Spike said with as much responsible authority as he could muster. Which, in reality, wasn’t much since the three fillies he was attempting to scold were about as old as he was.
“We’re sorry, Spike!” Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom apologized in unison. Only Applebloom had the self-consciousness to look guilty at the mess that was now scattered around the library. She was also the only one who offered to ever help clean up. “Do you need any help?”
“No, girls, I think I can handle this myself. It’s past your bedtimes, so you three should head home,” Spike said with a sigh, having no wish to repeat the ‘Cutie Mark Crusaders Librarians’ incident. “Thanks for stopping by!”
The three fillies zoomed out of the library after saying their goodbyes, leaving Spike with the piles of books that they had been plowing through. History of Map Making and Cartography in Equestria, Spike read the title of the first book he saw, and he quickly realized that all of the books were similar in nature. I wonder what it was this week? Explorers? Cartographers? Probably something to do with Daring Do.
The week prior, the three Cutie Mark Crusaders had spent the afternoon in the library to get ‘adventuring’ cutie marks, though Sweetie Belle insisted it was ‘archaeology’. How they intended to do this was by reading every Daring Do book available, and leave them strewn about the library as though they intended to set up a literature scavenger hunt for Spike. The week prior to that they decided they wanted to be authors and were determined to read every book in the library to find out the best ways to write…until they gave up and got started on the Daring Do books.
They know something’s wrong with Twilight. I doubt they know what, but they know something. Spike sighed again as he began to gather up the scattered literature for sorting and replacement on the shelves, but the sigh was a content one. All the girls are trying to help in their own ways.
After the chaotic day where Twilight disappeared and the few tumultuous days afterward, Spike had fallen into a routine. With the librarian gone, it fell to him to keep the library in the condition that Twilight left it. One day turned into two. Two turned into three. Three days turned into a week, and still no sign of Twilight but Spike kept things going as well as he could.
After the first week, the other Elements began to visit the library on a regular basis. Rainbow Dash would spend an entire afternoon sprawled out somewhere while giving a running commentary on the adventures of Daring Do, and Spike would often sit and listen when work permitted a break. Fluttershy visited almost daily to check on Owlicious and to have a cup of tea with Spike. Applejack and Pinkie Pie would also visit to drop off baked goods and snacks for him as well as chat about their respective businesses.
And Rarity, his sweet Rarity had insisted on taking him out on one of the weekend days to try out a new series of clothes she was developing. Spike felt guilty that he didn’t pay more attention to all the fashion and tailoring terms and trends she talked about, but it was so hard to concentrate on anything but basking in her presence. The one time he asked why he was being used as a model (after STRENUOUSLY asserting that it was no problem), Rarity had simply replied, “Pinkie Pie said clothes with your body type would be in high demand soon, and we all know what to do when Pinkie dear gets a feeling!”
They think I’ll be lonely without Twilight, Spike thought absently as he stacked the books and began to lug them over to the shelves. They’re right. I don’t know if I’ve ever been away from Twilight so long. The girls are amazing for going out of their way to visit and spend time with me… but Twilight doesn’t have anypony wherever she is. I hope she’s alright.
The books were lifted one by one to their appropriate slots on the shelf. Every move was careful and precise. Everything had to be perfect if Twilight came back. WHEN she comes back. Spike corrected himself, and he felt a little bit horrified that he would ever consider the possibility that he would never see her again. The little librarian was saved from further thoughts haunting him by a sudden knock at the door.
“Sorry, we’re closed for the night!” Spike yelled, and he hoped whoever was knocking heard. Apparently they didn’t because the knocking continued to hammer. “Jeepers, what’s so important this late?” Spike descended the latter and reached for the door knob to see just who was hammering on the door.
Unfortunately for Spike his timing was terrible, and the door flew open to smash the poor dragon into the wall. “SPIKE! SPIKE! I had an amazing idea!” The intruder shouted, and he knew immediately who the intruder was.
“Pinkie Pie…” Spike tried not to growl as he slid the door closed and gave the pink earth pony a flat stare. “You know it’s past business hours, right? Can’t your amazing idea wait?”
“No it can’t!” Came the immediate response.
“Seriously, Pinkie. Come ba—“ Spike started to say, but was interrupted when a red-frosted cupcake was jammed into his mouth. Sweet Celestia…did she use crushed inferno rubies in the frosting? And with her special sauce, too!? It’s like a party in my mouth, and everyone is on fire.
“Hush now, Spikey! Pinkie Pie has to share her amazing idea!” She smiled widely before turning away to begin her story. “So I was thinking about Twilight and how lonely she might be! After all, we’re her friends and we’re not with her! Not to assume that Twilight can’t make friends wherever she is. That’d be silly! Maybe lonely is the wrong word…. Homesick? That sounds about right. So I thought that maybe it would be nice for us to let Twilight know that we haven’t forgotten about her!”
Spike tried to follow Pinkie Pie’s rambling but he was quite certain he would be breathing literal fire from that cupcake she had given him. Being a fire breathing dragon made him naturally resistant to heat and spicy foods, but whatever Pinkie had given him felt like he’d bitten off a piece of the sun.
“So, that got me thinking! How can we let Twilight know that we’re still thinking about her? Then it hit me! A package! Ditzy was flying overhead while I was daydreaming and dumped her mail bags all over. Then I realized we could send her letters! But we can’t use the regular mail. Ditzy’s good but I don’t think she’s that good. Then I remembered that we have a super special magic dragon who can send letters directly to ponies!”
“You want me to try and dragonfire a letter to her?” Spike said as soon as he had recovered enough feeling in his mouth and tongue to speak. “Well…now I feel dumb for not thinking of that earlier. But you heard from Princess Luna, she isn’t anywhere in Equestria and I don’t know if I can send messages further than that.”
“That’s why I sent a letter to Princess Luna asking for her help! The response should be coming right about…”
BURP
“Now!”
A letter conjured itself from the dragonflame Spike emitted, and it fell to the floor in front of him. He picked it up cautiously but stopped when he read the seal. “Do not open until the Elements are present.” And just as he finished the sentence, a knock came from the door.
“Girls! So glad you could make it!” Pinkie squealed as she threw the door open and invited more visitors inside. Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash all walked in with already-written letters in tow.
“Huh… well that’s rather good timing, Pinkie.” Spike said slowly as he broke the seal on Luna’s letter and began to read to the assembled ponies.
’To my faithful friend Spike,
Pinkie Pie contacted me regarding the possibility of using your dragonfire to send a message to Twilight, wherever she may be. As you are no doubt more aware than any of us, your dragonfire isn’t limited in the same manner as our magics. Your dragonfire sends messages not through mundane magical means that are limited by manipulation of the Field and the abilities of the caster, but purely through your familiarity with the destination and its recipient.
Because of this I feel that Pinkie Pie’s idea holds a great deal of merit. While the Elements and I are close friends to Twilight, she is like a sister to you and if any dragon could send the messages successfully, then it would be you. I am also making all necessary preparations to aid you, with the Elements help. I’ve attached a teleportation enchantment to this letter, and by the time you finish reading it you will all be in my Observatory in Canterlot.’
Spike stopped reading the letter at that point to look up, and Ponyville was gone. The little librarian and the Elements now found themselves on a vast balcony overlooking Canterlot and the crystal clear night’s sky directly above them. Princess Luna was also on the balcony, as were Shining Armor and Cadance. The latter two smiled and waved but Luna kept her emerald eyes on the sky above her.
“I am glad you all could gather on such short notice,” Luna stated warmly, though it was a little disconcerting that she didn’t make eye contact to greet them. “I feel that Pinkie Pie’s plan has merit, and it may hasten our discovery of Twilight if I can follow where the letters travel.” Several cheers came from the Elements, and Luna waited for them to die down before she continued. “I cannot guarantee it will be successful, but I will try. And I know that Pinkie Pie’s original plan included your letters, but I felt it would be wise to inform Shining Armor of the attempt. Both he and Cadance have prepared a letter.. Celestia and I have letters as well.”
Shining Armor levitated a scroll wrapped with a ribbon and clipped tight with a Crystal Heart seal, while Luna levitated a pair of letters clipped with Solar and Lunar seals respectively. The trio of letters floated over to Spike, while the Elements approached to give him their letters as well.
“Wait!” Spike cried as he looked to each of the ponies in the room. “I…I don’t have a letter. I don’t have quills or paper. Can I—“ Before he could even finish the question, Pinkie Pie somehow produced all the necessary writing tools from her curly mane, including an ink well that somehow didn’t dye her mane black in the process. Spike nodded his thanks and began to write. Several minutes passed as he scratched out the message he wanted to share with Twilight before rolling it up and adding it to the stack of letters the others had already written.
“Prepare yourselves,” Luna stated simply and she brought her back hoof to clop down on the stone balcony. Instantly lines began to carve themselves into the stone. The lines resolved into a massive circle with several circles around its perimeter and one in the center. Symbols became apparent in each of the circles, and it became readily apparent that each one corresponded to the ponies assembled. The stone under Luna’s hooves took the shape of the crescent moon, the next five circles showed balloons, butterflies, diamonds, apples, and Rainbow Dash’s lightning bolt. The last two spots were emblazoned with Shining Armor’s sparkle shield and Cadance’s crystal heart. The circle in the center displayed a stylized flame. Each of the assembled ponies took their spots around the perimeter of the array, while Spike carried the letters to the center.
“This array will focus all of your memories to assist Spike. I need each and every one of you to close your eyes and remember Twilight. Remember your most cherished memory of her. Hold onto that memory as tightly as you can!” Luna instructed, and all save the Princess closed their eyes.
Spike closed his eyes as well and tried to dredge up his favorite memory of Twilight. Thousands of memories and moment came to him, little things and big victories for the pair and all the days of hard work at the library. I can’t choose just one memory, they’re all my favorites… So he held onto each and every one and took a deep breath… and blew.
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Good morning folks! Again I'm sorry for not getting this one out sooner. Real-life issues and all that. I've got one more chapter planned before this coming Tuesday. At that point I'm afraid chapters are going to come a wee bit less often. Work is picking back up, and combined with about four new games coming out my time will be at a premium. Sorry!
Heh heh...Spike's first blow-job. Hur hur hur.
2974200
Quiet you. >: |
It's pretty jarring going back to the rather content and silly pony point of view now. Especially focusing on Pinkie's almost cartoonish antics, where a chapter before it's someone''s family dieing. It's going to be interesting to see how you handle the eventual merge.
And the letters arrived.
Cant wait till Twilight gets her hooves on Elerium, I bet one of the XCOMs Labs is going to explode when she overloads that stuff.
Btw, I just closed XCOM:EU mere moments ago.
2974272
Looking back I think my update schedule is a wee bit insane. I've been managing one update per week (approximately) since early May when I first started this little project.
2974283
That is intended. "This is the world Twilight is in now," as opposed to "This is where she came from."
2974344
Yep! The letters arrived! Now the question is, what's in the letters?
2974355 Hopefully some reassuring words from friends and family, and maybe a tracking spell and instructions on how to build an interstellar portal.
If the above is true then the labcoats at XCOM are going to have manic fit.
If Pinkie Pie says clothes with spike's body type would be in high demand soon does that mean equestria and earth are going to be connected by a portal or something because for clothes of spike's body type to be in high demand would mean a lot of humans will be traveling to equestria
2974422 2974449
You'll see!
2974449
Well, you see, the closest things we have seen to Spikes general body shape are actually Sectoids.
Yes, Sectoid spring fashion is IN!
Cutie Mark Archaeologists + Crystal Skull = terror from the stars.
Not gonna lie, this chapter made me shed a few manly tears. Dem feels...
2974523
Drat, you've guessed my evil plot!
2974535
The Crystal Skull does kinda look like a Sectoid skull...
2974610
*watches the dragon fire cross the vast expanses of space... way way out among the stars... to a single... apparently insignificant little yellow star.*
Luna: "Twilight Sparkle has been located... Operation: Returning Dawn will now commence. And any who stand in our way... May the pits of Taratrus have mercy on their souls."
Short but nice chapter
Now I daing to see what's in these letters
Why do I pester you with these errors?
I guess cuz you don't seem to mind.
2975007 Oke, that scares me.
2975007
Also I have no idea why your comment got 3 down votes. I voted you up.
2975206
Thanks for reading!
2975250
I don't mind error spotting so long as its submitted in a constructive manner!
2975394
yep...
Ah, so that is how they did it.
2975007
They'll have to take a number; we're kind of already busy with another invader.
2975630
Rokas, I blame you for delaying this chapter for a day. Finally got around to reading that new chapter of your MW fic.
Also, your response to L2L reminds me of a quote from Lord General Zyvan from the Ciaphas Cain books:
"The more enemies you can have, the better! That way they get in each other's way when they try to come for you."
That's horribly paraphrased so you'll have to forgive me.
2975641
You know, I have the Ciaphas Cain omnibus around here somewhere, I really should read that sometime...
And I'm sure you want to complain to me like everyone else about that chapter, so
And that reminds me of an actual quote from a real general:
"We're surrounded. That simplifies our problem of getting to these people and killing them."
-Lt. Gen. Lewis "Chesty" Puller, most decorated US Marine in history.
Another quote of his that X-Com should take to heart:
"Where do you put the bayonet?" (upon seeing a flamethrower for the first time)
Well then, I'm guessing in some of the future chapters we will get humans having "first" contact with ponies.
If XCOM isn't going ballistic first, because of Twilight receiving those letters. You know, something like: "They know we have one of them! She WAS a spy! Kill her!"
Don't know how I'd feel about that. It would take some miracle to fix that or the story will have a dark ending, which I really don't want it to have.
2975563
Thx for writing really good story
i1.ryjbuk.pl/17b1054080ca91a93c993e97fa57cf6c986b7a1a/piateczka-gif-gif
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2975641
Yay military quotes!
These remind me of this one (although I don't know the name of the guy who said it):
"They've got us surrounded-the poor bastards."
Here's another from "Chesty":
"They are in front of us, behind us, and we are flanked on both sides by an enemy that outnumbers us 29:1. They can't get away from us now!"
2975675
Read Ciaphas Cain! It's time well spent! I also left a comment on your chapter since I did read it and forgot to comment. :|
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I don't think they'd entertain the spy route, since there's been no proof (yet) of her sending messages out, and they still need to evaluate the contents of the letters she has received.
2975754
Always makes me feel good to know folks enjoy my writing!
2975856
So much love for fun quotes.
The more I read, the more I'm liking this story. I don't play XCOM, so I can't attest to the accuracy of those segments, but otherwise it seems a very realistic take on a PoE. I especially like how well you're characterizing all the humans (the Xcommies?)--I get a real feel for them despite my unfamiliarity with the source material, and Twilight's characterization seems about spot-on, too.
I'm interested to see what kind of turn this story takes now that Twilight's friends have got in touch with her, and it's actually kind of exciting now that the X-COM dudes have some evidence which points towards the actual existence of the ponies Twilight has described to them (Celestia, the pink mind control demon, etc.). I wonder how the X-COM dudes will react to the prospect of super-powered alien horses homing in on their supposedly secret location from an entirely different world.
2976614
Isn't she the only one who can read them? Not that she wouldn't translate. I bet Google translate can do Equestrian to Engrish, too.
It is theoretically possible that Equestrian could bear resemblance to the Greek language if there was a period of contact between Equus and Earth. After all, X-COM recognized Twilight as a Unicorn, and presumably knew what hydras, griffins, pegasi, krakens, and so forth were. It would be quite strange if there was no connecting thread than just sheer coincidence. Heck, there is a gate to Tartaurus in Equestria, which is the Greek equivalent of Hell.
Hm. Wonder if there is a secret to Tartaurus that connects Earth and Equus? A bridge between, or is there something...other, trapped behind the gate?
2976614
They might not entertain the spy route, but in the end they have no idea what's written in these letters. The only one able to translate them is Twilight, so she could (in theory) tell them anything without XCOM being able to verify anything of what she said.
Okay I'm starting to get pissed, I'm not getting my email notifications for when my stories update. Has anyone else had this issue recently?
Discord's still freaking everyone out by doing absolutely nothing weird?
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Thanks for reading! It's good to hear the perspective of someone who isn't familiar with the franchise. If it comes up on a Steam Sale I greatly recommend getting it for PC.
2977100
It would certainly raise a certain degree of concern once she explains the known mechanics of Dragonfire and how it differs with Teleportation. After all, they just sent something deep into the heart of a secure XCOM facility. If Twilight IS an infiltrator or, perhaps, a forward observer, she'd be the perfect beacon for, say, a dragonfire-sent balefire bomb to wipe out their base. (to borrow a WMD from FO:E universe)
2977920 2978708
That will be discussed very soon. Remember that in Supplemental Files 1, Twilight provided a translation for a letter she wrote. Using that translation combined with the original, plus all the notes Twilight takes in context with her activities, XCOM may very well be working on a translation algorithm themselves.
2978445
That would be an interesting concept to explore though I think I missed the opportunity to lay the groundwork for such a discussion on her writing.
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I wonder if it's an unintended side effect of the new notification system?
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Perhaps that's his plan all along? Make everyone so paranoid of what he could be doing when they're not looking... to be frightened of what they haven't spotted yet?
2979268
I'd be disappointed if they couldn't crack her language; this is long past the age where something like Navajo should be baffling a concentrated effort to understand it. Especially since she let slip some details about the structure of the language compared to English anyway.
That said, it's WAY harder to translate a bunch of personal correspondences (where misspelled words, slang, and idioms will be found) than it is to find keywords in a document you suspect to be military information.
Arad, I know this is something petty and irrelevant to your so far awesome fic, but I think "Owlicious" should be Olwiscous. I don't know for certain and I typically don't care about typo' s it's just this really pissed my off. (Needs for perfection overtaking, must shut out!)
Besides this- keep up the awesomeness!
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The way I see the translation effort going is Twilight, being ever so helpful, would dictate the letters to one of the research team, who then filters the translated and non-translated text into translation programs for similarities with all previously written material that Twilight has provided. The correlation should pr
2980213
We're both wrong! :D http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Owlowiscious
Apparently. : |
I vote for Owlicious. Easier to say and type.
I'm loving this story so far. Question, will Twilight ever talk more about the Changelings?
I'm also interested in the reaction of Winter Wrap Up.
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It might change, it might stay that way. I don't foresee any further appearances for him but if he does come back I'll see about changing it.
2981373
Maybe!
I have noticed recently that this story has been added to "HiE" grup
Is this some clue about future events in the story???
2979268 I actually kind of feel sorry for the X-COM guys. They're getting bombarded with all this stuff that completely violates the laws of reality. Now they have to read her incomprehensible alien mail for anything naughty. I think that they'd at least be confident that Twilight isn't some sort of sneaky spy pony - she's just too overbearingly awkward and clueless to not be the genuine thing.
2983738 Nah, that was me who added it. I put it in the Ponies on Earth folder in that group.
2982526 Awesome.
After re-reading the chapters, I can see them viewing the letters as a good way to get insights on Celestia and other two Princess.
2983738
News to me! :O Perhaps... perhaps the story has developed to the point where it has begun to write itself and seek out relevant groups to support it's growth. My God, what have I created?
2983975
On the other hand, what better way make a spy than to shotgun so much unbelievable crap along side the spy so that disbelief is so strained that they don't know what to suspect?
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Indeedy!
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Remember that she told them that Discord was the one that sent her there. They already know that he knows where Earth is.
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HORN GROWTH FORMULA - 1 INCH IN JUST 7 DAYS
MEET SEXXXY STALLIONS IN YOUR AREA
INTIMATE SADDLES & BRIDLES CHEAP
/shot
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2995327
Well I'm not surprised. If anything could span the length of the universe to reach Twilight, it's junk mail.
"her main black" should be "her mane black" instead.
My god, the timing in this chapter reached Micheal Carpenter levels levels of convenient.
A short yet sweet chapter. Figures that it would be Pinkie Pie that came up with the idea of sending the letters to Twilight via Spike.
Typos/Suggestions:
descended the latter and got reached - descended the ladder and reached
recovered feeling - recovered enough feeling
Keep up the great work!
Forgot one typo:
her main black - her mane black
Another reviewer noticed it first, so kudos to him.