Treating the poison joke-afflicted ponies and griffons was easy once Zecora got started. Twilight, Chrys and the others pitched in to help heal the injured in the ship's medical deck and Dan learned he was not a gifted nurse. After trying to reset a griffon's fractured rear talon with a hammer, he was asked to offer bandages and get food and drinks to the patients. He was a lot better at that form of healing, an important procedure in its own right.
Rainbow Dash helped as well, being one of the first that was treated. Spike found out about her sudden "hair-raising moment" but he didn't berate his friend with it.
"Number twenty-five's a good one," Spike said, stroking an imaginary stache.
Rainbow hovered up to Dan, looking innocent. "So... are we going up against the zebras again? Because if we are, we're gonna need more medical supplies. And ammo. And bombs!"
Dan folded his arms. "I ALMOST solved that problem, Rainbow. Almost!"
"Why almost?"
"Hmph. Because apparently, it's "highly illegal" and "a crime against Equestria" to try and set the hippies on fire and launch them at the zebras," Dan said, using air quotes. "And I'm a "violent sociopath" and "unethical" and "probably mentally unstable" for suggesting it. All you have to do is say it's a bad idea, I'll get the picture!"
"Who called you all that stuff?"
"Freaking Sharp Winter. His leftover gas canisters were all we had left that burns."
"So now the Flutterbirds are outta gas?"
"Among other things," Dan said. "We'll come up with something, though. Something that's more... "humane" I guess, whatever that means."
Rainbow put a hoof on Dan's shoulder. "I'm sure you guy's will think of something."
"We kind of have to, or we're all screwed," Phoenix said. "We will, though. Thanks for your support, Rainbow."
She grinned sheepishly at him, blushing just slightly. "Aw, right back at ya, Nix." Rainbow was fiercely loyal to her friends, especially those that stood up for her, so it made since she bonded with Phoenix.
Someone, or something new approached Dan and the others. No one saw him enter the room or noticed any of the doors open, yet here he was.
He grabbed Dan's arm. "I need you to come with me."
"What the- woah," Dan turned, coming face-to-face with a shiny, gold-armored figure. He bore a resemblance to a griffon but was more upright, not unlike one of Spike's statues. But the dragon was with Twilight. "Who... what the hell are you?" They all turned to face the newcomer, surprised on all their faces to say the least.
The golden stranger took a step back. "I am... a friend," he said, sounding a little nervous. "Dan, I need you to come with me. Now."
"I don't remember making friends with a golden goose," Dan said. "These chicken-lions, maybe but not... whatever you are." The golden figure was imposing, but not intimidating. The armor on its face and eyes did not move, like the suit he was wearing was some kind of golden full-body mask. It reminded Phoenix of an Egyptian sarcophagus if it had been combined with a medieval knight's suit of armor.
"Who I am is not important. I assure you, however, that I am an ally of yours and Twilight's and I have come here to bring you information," he said. "Please, it is imperative that you follow me. It's just down the hall."
"What's your name?" Phoenix asked. "Are you... this is a disguise of some kind, you're wearing?"
"Uh-um, I'd rather not say."
"That's not really much to go on, buddy," Dan said, arms folded. "How did you even get aboard our doughnut ship anyway?"
"I, uh, well..." the stranger paused, considering his words.
The doors opened to the room and Twilight rushed in. "Guys! We captured a-oh!" Twilight stopped. "You're here already."
"Yes, I- I wanted to check on Rainbow Dash," the golden one explained. He then turned to Rainbow and asked, "You are okay, aren't you?"
"Yeah, hey," the pegasus rose an eyebrow at him, "where have I seen you before?"
"I've... been around. I'm on your side, as always."
"As always?" Phoenix repeated.
"Dan, listen. Edge and Derpy captured one of the zebras," Twilight said. "You need to come see this."
"Oooooh, is it interrogation time?"
Gust, on one of the hospital beds recovering, raised a talon to offer his own advice. "Please don't try waterboarding again."
"There won't be a need for that," Twilight assured them. "Not this time, anyway. C'mon, hurry!"
"Alright, fine," Dan said, following along with the others. "Gust, you're in charge here while I'm gone. Help Zecora treat the rest of our fliers!"
"No."
Twilight led Dan and the others to the ship's brig, which was located directly under the bridge. To griffons, prisoners were also valuable because they could be ransomed back to whoever they belonged to, so it made sense to keep them close and take good care of them. The cells were designed like mini-birdcages but had plenty of comforts for different species. Rogue Squadron was gathered around one of the ones in the back, some of them inside and others outside watching while Wes kept the door closed.
"Yub yub guys, good to see ya again," the yellow pony greeted. "You must be here to see our new recruit."
"New recruit?" Dan and Phoenix asked. "I don't like where this is going."
Wes opened the door. "See for yourself."
They entered. Edge Antares, Derpy and Daring Do stood on either side of the zebra. Derpy held the zebra's spear and Daring held the zebra's shield while the orange stallion examined him.
"I still can't see anything. Bioscans aren't picking up anything unusual."
"What are you guys looking for?" Phoenix asked.
"Transceiver, a receiver or relay of some kind that could pick up or amplify signals," Edge answered.
"Basically, like a walkie talkie or something," Derpy clarified, looking at the spear again.
"Why would he have one of those?" Dan asked. "Is he trying to tell the rest of the horde our location?!"
"I do not understand," the zebra said. "I am sorry, but I do not know who any of you are." He looked around the room, confused. "Where are we?"
Dan shrugged. "I don't get it. He has amnesia or something?"
"We should show him," Daring said. "Derpy, get ready gain."
"Okay..."
Twilight stepped up. Her magic encircled the zebra, lifting him up off the chair.
"What is... what are you doing?"
"Okay, carefully... now." Derpy and Daring lifted up the shield and spear.
"What's going on? Is this magic or-" And then they touched them to his hooves. "I'LL KILL YOU ALL, LET ME DOWN YOU ARCANIST FILTH! I'LL RIP YOUR LIMBS OFF IF YOU DON-" He snarled angrily, eyes red and practically bulging out of his sockets.
"Heh, that's a pretty good impression of me. As a zebra," Dan remarked, chuckling.
The two pegasi removed the items. "TAKE YOUR BONES AND- hey, what are you doing with those?"
"You see what's happening?" Twilight asked. "It's some kind of reaction; the same thing happened with the hippies. Certain items, like the hippies' clothes puts them under a spell. They can then be controlled through rhythmic vibrations that resonate through these items when music or something is played. This is probably how Zen Zeal controls his army."
Dan touched both the spear and the shield to the zebra again. "RARRRRRRAAAGGGARRRRRRAAA!!" He then removed them. "Is there something wrong?" the zebra asked.
"Fascinating. It's like a homicidal rage button," he said, touching them to him again. "Murder mode on!" He touched him with them again.
"RARRR!"
"Murder mode off!" He removed the them. "On!"
"RARRR!!"
"Off!"
"Dan..."
"On!"
"HAAARRRRAARREEEG!"
"Off!"
"Dan!"
"On!"
"GLLLLRRRRLLLRAAAARRRSSSAAAA Pauly Shore!"
"Off!" Twilight declared. She grabbed the weapons with her magic. "Stop triggering the zebra!"
"Awwww," Dan said. "Okay, yeah, sorry, but that was too much fun."
"This coming from the king of being triggered?" Phoenix asked. (Not that I'm asking for trouble, just that... I'm asking.)
But Dan expressed no hostility at the question. "It is a privilege to be enraged, Nicky. Not like, well, whatever the hell magic that was but I mean like to be really, really angry. It's a gift to feel such anger, to be so mad about something your hands feel like claws, that you could use them to rip the throat out of whoever's pissing you off, to use their own ribcage to gouge out their eyes and-"
"I get the idea," Phoenix said, patting Dan's arms back down. Even as Dan was going into detail of the enraging process, he was beginning to get more and more worked up. "I understand what you mean, though. Having that much anger means you have a lot of passion within you that can motivate you when you need it."
"But yeah, whatever this is isn't that. This is like, unnatural brainwashing rage. Hypnorage," Dan explained.
Twilight set the zebra and the items down. The group then walked out of the brig. "We need to work on some kind of counter-signal, a way to block Zen Zeal's orders," Twilight said. "If we can do that, we could force them to retreat, maybe even make peace with them. Even if we're only able to break the control on some of them, we could make them fight each other and we might beat them that way."
"This is astounding," Chrys commented. "It's almost like Zen Zeal's forcing all the zebras under him to fight. I know magic like that, but I've never really used any myself."
Phoenix rubbed his chin. "We can't jump to any conclusions. I think what we need to do is investigate more about the zebras, see how they work and try to see if separating them from the horde works the same way."
"Yes!" Dan raised his fists. "We get to fight the zebras again!" He immediately ran down the hallway, laughing maniacally.
"I was just going to suggest we try capturing another one!" Phoenix shouted after him. A few moments later, the intercom crackled harshly.
"This is CAPTAIN Dan to all able-forces! If you can walk, get your butts, flanks, tail feathers and whatever else up to the bridge for immediate tactical briefing!"
"You heard him, everypony," Twilight announced. "Back to war." Most of them groaned, Chrys did not. She merrily began skipping up to see Dan on the bridge.
For some reason I have this image of Flufflepuff and Chryssy trying to set up a snack bar by the Zebras camp so they can try picking the weapons off one by one? The alternative being the classic Kyber Pass and Toll Booth single file method.
Heheheh, Doughnut ship... that's a funny image.
Hmm... I ponder who this Golden Stranger is I do wonder...
Nicely done man! We're learning about what's making these dudes tick... hypnorage or something. interesting... I wonder what he's doing.
7959447 He's he Gold Baron from the scene where Springer and Raptor Wing attempted to destroy what was left of Cloudsdale. And he's secretly... someone else.
Iiiiiiinteresting.
... I imagine a collective gasp of relief when it was decided that Dan would NOT be helping with medical stuff, followed by someone in the background yelling 'OH THANK GOD!'
Hmm, still betting on Gilda being the gold baron, though I dunno how she can get around so fast.
... Stop triggering the zebra, Dan.
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Oooohohoho really now? Interesting... I forgot that apparently, but I look forward to uncovering the secret~
Darn it, late to the party again! No time to lose:
You just know things are bad (or really good depending on the situation) when Phoenix starts talking like Dan, minus the creative threats of violence. I like this side of you Phoenix! Give in to the anger and embrace the Dan side!
Okay, so imprisoned Zebra-*needle scratches*What-what-what?! It's the darned shields and pointy sticks that make the Zebras crazy?! There has to be (just a bit) more to it than that, when the Blasties went 'Super Pony Bomb' on the Zebras I refuse to believe the Stripers all managed to hold on to their rhythm sticks (sorry, sorry I had to!)! Maybe proximity to Zen Zeal plays a factor too? I'll also accept the Zebras having the spears stuck to their hooves with Manticore Glue!
Aww you're no fun Winter! Shouldn't have stayed on the ship if you couldn't be useful .... Does this mean Mr Mumbles and Opal can have Kentucky Fried Griffon now?
Hehe this could be the next big thing:
"Tired of being pushed around? Need extra motivation for your vengeful mechanations? Here's Hypnorage! (Not to be taken in combination with any other prescription feels, by pregnant women or anyone without a spine, actual results may vary. if you use this stuff we're not liable for any broken crap or personal injuries suckers!
Haha one of my better fantasies (still nothing compared to Mr Mumbles and Opal, nothing ever will compare to that!) and Dan' right! Being angry is a privilege that I will exercise every single time Vice, Zeal and the (brain washed) Zebras) and the-Urgh!-Sea Ponies make an appearance!
A fun chapter, even without a Bonfire of the Hippies (pretty sure the pony-hemp makes them the way they are and the shirts/bongos just let Queen Hippy make them violent)!
Awesome as always and see you ~next time~
Your Eternal Fan ^_^
Shadow: And now, thanks to Dan's explanation, I understand exactly how I feel when my little *squee* of a phone turns itself off while I'm reading a new chapter of a story.
Random: Ooh, maybe give Dan a magnet for wood to take the zebras' weapons! Sounds nice. Indeed, I'm a genius.
It sounds a lot like you're describing Azir from LoL.
... ... ...
Are we going to get any toxic playerbase references?
7957778 You're welcome, as always. Sorry it took me so long to reply, but I hope you had a happy birthday and yes this was for you Had to accelerate a few things but it was worth it. If I made a Hollywood feature-length film, it would contain everything the fans requested. Nothing but an entire movie of references, pandering and fan service crammed into a two-hour thinly-veiled overarching narrative. Even if people hated it, a lot of them would also love it, at least small parts that each one of them asked for and everybody who wants it gets one.
7974138 Do you want any references to League of Legends' notoriously toxic player base? This story has never been a question of "if" it's been a question of "when" and "do you want it now or later?" We added those Marvel Vs. Capcom references for the fans and even made the events of the third game canon.
7974197
And again it was a privilege reading it (and re-reading it)! I noticed the nod to Owlowiscious (I'm sure I butchered his name) Opal made without actually naming him, Cats never admit to needing help especially from an Avian! Knowing the animal companions on both worlds are helping behind the scenes is so cute (and adorably evil given Opal's antics)!
If you ever did make it to Hollywood I'd be there cheering you on among my fellow Dansciples (I'd have to livestream it cos I get bad travel sick but I'd be there in spirit)! Anyone watching would have to be a fan of Dan, Fluffle, Danalis or any other character here. No sane person watches a movie without characters they'd like or know they would hate!
A thousand thanks again and see you ~next time~
Your Eternal Fan ^_^