Chapter 9 - Watch your head, that first step's a doozy
A funny thing I've learned about being in any sort of position of leadership:
The things you say get picked up on.
For instance, while I was building a new house and one of the walls collapsed slightly on me, I sagged and said Sol dammit.
The reason I went with Sol is simple: I'm not using Celestia's name in that sort of context. I don't think of her as a goddess, thank you very much.
It wasn't long before I heard stallions also use my inventive curse, and one of the mares had come to me asking if there was another one I knew about that she could use.
Foolishly I shrugged and said Well, Sol is another word for Sun. I used Sol because I'm not using the sun princess' name if I can help it. I was also thinking about using Selene in the place of Moon...
It wasn't long before 'Selene curse you' became yet another de facto swear.
It was probably born of them wanting a new curse besides 'By Celestia' or 'Thank Celestia'. I mean, I hadn't noticed them saying 'everybody' and 'everyone' yet.
Though it would probably only be a matter of time, seeing as how we had a healthy mix of species.
After a few days, Crossed Gears had managed to give us a rough idea of what we would need to make a generator.
He'd also helped by giving us the idea and schematics to make a water tower.
That'd been an all-day project. An unpleasant one, when one of the supports snapped.
There was also a bit of excitement when I got the idea to use Mad Growth on the field instead of a regular Growth.
That had resulted in a plant monster. One that I realized should be defeated via careful application of Wind Slash.
Burning it to the ground would have resulted in a lot of burned produce that the ponies could use, after all.
Slowly cutting it down to size had netted us a sizable stockpile of food that, while the ponies say tasted a bit more bland than they were used to, did the job of keeping their bellies full.
I don't think our generator project would have gotten anywhere if it wasn't for Dreamer, a violet unicorn.
He'd asked that critical question. Not why isn't it working. But rather.
"Why don't you use Quake to mine out the mountain?"
Good head on him, that stallion.
I was also thankful that we had a few good smiths in the town. We managed to make the parts for generator in what Crossed Gears told us was record time. Though we did have someone else to thank for that.
Namely, our first Venus Djinn to earn a name.
We ended up calling him Lodestone, and his particular talent was in magnetism. Creating and manipulating the fields thereof. He ended up shifting only a little bit, to where it looked like his tail was a horseshoe magnet.
Without that happening, I'm pretty sure it would have taken us much longer to get a generator set up.
Naturally, a small celebration was in order for both him and Talos the griffin, the one he'd formed the closest bond with.
True to her word and possibly her talent, Fulminata managed to get electrical lines laid for the town.
We had food, water, electricity. Now all we needed was some sort of unique product to export along with more housing, and the town would not only survive, but thrive.
I had a few ideas on the unique export front, but first and foremost, we needed to get Crossed Gears, along with the backup generator and books we'd borrowed, back to town.
There were a few ways we could do this unnoticed, but first, I needed to meet with the most interesting cross between zebra and pony I'd ever seen for both the export and the primary plan for returning our 'borrowed' items.
With a coat the color of bark, spiky gray hair that darkened towards the tips, a few stripes in her coat here and there, a unicorn horn, a gemstone cutie mark, and red irises, this equine life form definitely stood out from the crowd.
So, Crystal Clear, I had a thought about the town making money, along with us performing 'missions' a lot easier.
She motioned with a hoof for me to continue.
See, in theory, gemstones can be imbued with certain psynergies. Then, even if you're not of the same alignment, you can still use the contained psynergy by channeling a bit of your power into it.
Her eyes danced as she considered the implications. "That...that sounds like it would help us greatly. But how could this help us perform missions easier?"
Because I know of a few that are, shall we say, unaligned. If I can imbue a stone with one of them, it will make sneaking around a lot easier. All I need is a stone, preferably a dark one, like an onyx.
Crystal immediately began rummaging through her bag and procured an onyx. I took it carefully and inspected it. Perfect. Now, I'm not sure about how much backlash there'll be, so...
She backed up a few steps, but continued to watch. I grasped the spherical gem firmly with my right gauntlet and concentrated. I pulled at the essence of myself and forced a bit of it into the stone. I would have smiled as it caught hold in the stone and shifted, going from a piece of me to a small wisp. Then I focused on my memories, bringing forth the very idea of Cloak.
The darkness is the ally of the one that uses this...used properly, none should fear detection...they become one with the shadows...
A flash came from the stone, and I 'felt' the wisp change. Well, I think it worked, Crystal. Mind taking it and standing in the shade of that building over there?
Crystal nodded and took the onyx in her magical grip, going to the nearby (still shared) home. "And now what?"
Channel a bit of your power into the stone.
Crystal nodded, concentrated, and then she and the stone vanished.
Excellent! It works!
"What works?"
Even knowing who it was and where they (approximately) were, I will say this: Hearing a disembodied pony voice is creepy.
Look down at yourself!
There was silence for a beat, and then rapid breathing. Clearly, Crystal wasn't taking it well.
Calm down! Just step into the light.
After a moment, Crystal reappeared at the edge of the shadow, having stuck one hoof out of it.
And that is Cloak in a nutshell. We are going to have so much fun with it, but first, we need to return Gears, the books, and the generator.
-----
(3rd POV - Twilight - Dawn of the next day)
Twilight was pacing in her bedroom.
She couldn't help herself, really.
That giant animated armor had managed to sneak in, take books without a library card, and sneak out.
How was her home supposed to be safe after that?!
How was anypony supposed to be safe after that!
Nonetheless, the note had said there was a possibility the books would be returned, so she waited in her home. Sooner or later the armor would come by, and then she'd-
"Twilight!"
Oh, Spike was back from Rarity's already? That was fast.
"Twilight, there's something going on in Town Square! I think you should be there, somepony mentioned something about books!"
Twilight was gone in an instant, teleporting directly to Town Square to see what all the commotion was about. It didn't take long for her to see it.
Lying near the fountain was the town's backup generator, the passed out Crossed Gears, and a small pile of books.
Affixed to the books was a small note. Twilight plucked it off the pile and began to read.
Dear possibly neurotic pony,
As you can see, the property of the town has been returned. As I stated might happen in my last note.
However, while you were here reading this note, a small group has infiltrated your library and is even now taking a few books on metallurgy, mining, and agriculture.
Same deal as before, we'll return them one day. Probably.
Sincerely,
Dullahan
Everypony present saw Twilight's mane starting to smoke and knew what that meant.
Unfortunately, there were no bomb shelters nearby.
-----
(Dullahan POV)
So wait, you mean to tell me they made more than one season of that show?
Across from me, Solaire nodded. "Indeed. Last count was...I think four? It's been a while."
Longer for me, and I was never into it. Okay, so the whole Discord thing, was that a major plot point?
Solaire nodded again and took a bite of the sandwich I'd set out before summoning him for a chat. "Yes, that was the season two opener. Things are probably going to get off the rails from there, depending how much you interfere. Or they could follow their paths perfectly. Who knows?"
Can you give me a rundown so I know what to avoid?
Solaire sighed. "Oh gosh. Um...Moonbutt's going to become more sociable, there's going to be a thing about sisters and cutie marks, Dash is going to use Ghastly Gorge to try and find a pet..."
At this I interrupted him. Okay, that's not too far from here. What happens then, specifically?
Solaire nodded at me. "Wise precaution. A rock-slide happens."
We'll avoid it until then. Next?
"There'll be a thing in town about Dash's inflated ego, a thing in Canterlot about Rarity hobnobbing, little Spike is going to run amok for a bit, and...I forget a good bit of the rest except for the dragon migration."
That also sounds like a thing we should avoid. Are we on their path?
Solaire shrugged. "I'm uncertain. It's been a thousand years and change since Earth was a thing I was on. Oh! There's also going to be a wedding. You should definitely avoid that."
Aw, I loved weddings!
"Yeah, well, this one takes place in Canterlot, and plays host to an attack by a rival nation."
Actually, that sounds like the perfect excuse.
Solaire tilted his helmeted head at me. "Excuse for what?"
I would have smiled at him. Gatecrashing, what else?
-----
A few days after my meeting with Solaire, I thought Frostfall, the pegasus who'd helped with the raid on the town, was ready to learn the one Jupiter psynergy that had to be passed down from teacher to student. She wanted to have her friends, who I was now dubbing the Newvale Adventuring Troupe, with her, and I agreed. We met near the entrance of the 'mine'. I was seriously considering hollowing out a huge section of it for my own use. It'd give me a place to store my tablets close to the town! But I digress.
Okay, now this will probably sting you a little bit, but I promise, it'll hurt me more. Just put your hoof in my hand.
Carefully, she did so, and I concentrated on myself. I brought forth a piece of me, purged it of its connections to turn it into a wisp, and then forced it into the very notion of the Reveal psynergy.
It was not easy or painless, doing this, but I was getting used to it.
I then forced the wisp out of my gauntleted hand and into Frostfall's hoof to pass the psynergy on to her. Her face lit up in revelation as the knowledge made its way into her head and she, probably by reflex, tried it out.
The world around us for a good ten meters was plunged into a black-and-white version of itself. Color bled away, and it all looked the same.
All except for Moonfire.
His fur peeled away, revealing a black, insectoid form beneath. Once he realized we were staring, his eyes widened, and colorless flames covered him, leaving no trace of any change. He then screamed in an odd voice that was only slightly similar to his own.
"What the buck is that psynergy?!"
I drew my sword and pointed it at him. It's called Reveal, and you get approximately ten seconds to tell me what the hell is going on before I get pissed!
Instantly Talos was between the two of us, snarling at me. "I don't care that you're Dullahan or that he's...not exactly what I thought he was, but you do NOT threaten my friend!"
I 'stared' at the two of them. Five seconds!
That was when Moonfire blurted out "I'm a changeling!" at me.
I turned from Talos to Moonfire, and then to Frostfall and Flare. And did any of you know this?
They shook their heads and I sighed. Well, then let's find out. Moonfire, if you would?
The rest of that day would prove to be...interesting.
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Only give the particularly talented the Cure and Growth stone thing..and set the restrictions of them higher for that group.
Try not to go too overboard on the decked out and magically advanced town and pony army, It's all fun and games until I need to write down everyone's abilities to remember them all, haha. You still have plenty of free space, but looks like you are going to be using a lot of it here soon.
… These chapter titles are killing me…
4008021
Do you need some headache medication?
4008029
Oh, now, don't get ahead of yourself.
ooh that weddings gonna be fun
4008062 you should quit while your ahead
4008076
We're heading down a dangerous road.
4008029 Y'hit the head on the nail, i'mma go get some for my throbbing brain now.
Gate crashing the wedding and you have a changeling in your town?
global3.memecdn.com/plotting_o_1158005.jpg
4008147
'A'?
What is this singular vernacular?
What makes you think Dully won't go around and cast Reveal on everyone to try and see if there are any more changelings in the community?
(There totally are.)
(Probably. I'll have to check)
4008146
Methinks your head might be addled, that is not the correct phrasing for that saying.
Wow, so the Changelings are appearing a little early, huh? And the show still exists on Earth despite this being an alternate world? Ok then.
Also, Crystal Clear is a Unicorn and Zebra mix? Cool. Must've been one of the one's that were PM'd, because I don't remember reading about her.
Also, beware the Twilight Furynuke. She's so going to go full paranoia mode, probably start a militia for personal revenge.
4008163
Sounds like a head case.
4008171
Well yeah.
Like half the changeling OC's I accepted didn't have a 'and after the wedding' bit to their backstory. So now's about when they'll show up. Or rather, when they'll get Revealed.
And the show still existed on Earth, Dully just was never a brony. He was aware of the show and the following, but his reaction could be more summed up as 'meh.'
Solaire, on the other hand, knows more about the show than Dully does, so he figured a bit of a chat might help him catch up on the timeline.
4008108 Wait a Changeling is that MINE??????
4008076 We're heading down to pun hell.
4008195
I can check the document. But unless you name it, I'll not know which one's yours.
(I, uh, might've forgotten to attach creator names to the OC's. Just might've.)
4008199
That puts into heads the notion that we didn't reside here all along.
4008162
There is one confirmed changeling present, I am well aware of the possibility of more but I'm working with the confirmed numbers at the moment.
4008210 Name was secret shadows changeling assassin
oh oh oh, solarie and dully should crash the wedding and smash the door down blasting a guitar singing "DO YOU CHANGELINGS EVEN PRAISE THE SUN"
4008234
Stop giving me ideas!
That takes all the fun out of stealing them with my brain suck o matic 2000!
*Scribble scribble*
4008245 ^_^ oh yeah did you see my OC(ish) i posted last chapter?
4008227
*Click click click*
Flicker...Serafina...Moonfire...
Mmmmnope sorry.
4008163 Pfft, you're such a no-brainer, need a head massage?
4008276
Even now I am getting an idea as to how to use this.
It is glorious.
We won't be seeing it for a bit.
But it will be wonderful.
4008193 There's one Changeling I'm looking forward to in particular, but she won't show up until after the wedding. Speakin of which I wonder what Dully's role will be. Savior? Invader? I'm-here-for-a-completely-different-reason-ignore-me?
4008282 yay, sorry bout the deletion, meant to edit but click delete, anywho feel free to use him in the best possible way
4008286
Shhhhhh.
It'll start as him gate-crashing for the sake of gate-crashing.
Y'know, to let ol' sunbutt know he's still thinking of her.
But there may or may not be things going on by then.
S'all I'm saying.
4008275
The voices in my head tell me yes.
4008304
After reading this chapter I'm starting to have ideas for [REDACTED] (You know what I'm talking about)
4008324
YOU!
Shall we rendezvous at the usual place?
4008333
Not now, have violin lesson. Sorry.
4008342
Ah well. Drop me a line later, then?
4008253
oh well
4008304 You just can't see the head on top, can you?
4008360
Pardon me, I must go get drunk on a heady brew if I am to continue.
4008300 Ooh! Well, eagerly awaiting, as always!
BTW, how many chapters we talking until the wedding? Will it be next or are we talking like three or four down the line?
4008382
At least two. I wanna get the town up and running proper, plus Dully's due for an upgrade in his...
Well, not living accommodations. On account of him not being alive properly.
Plus we need to have the six stumble across the town, and see how Dully handles a dragon migration.
(Hint: with violence)
4008400 Which I look forward to with unhealthy amounts of sadistic glee!
Just kiddin'.
Keep up with the fun work! Best after school activities are readin and gamin so as I've heard it said.... Go ahead, make my day.
4008453
I like to think being confronted with a headless suit of armor shocks Solaire into toning the crazy down a notch.
Along with actually talking to a former human that has no real love of Celly.
4008374 Indeed, but I believe my head is starting to ache from this.
Oh Twilight, I think Dully may break her before too much longer.
Sorry dude Lodestone is taken
Dr. Repulsor stood back and looked over the creation in his laboratory. The golem made from magnetized stone and steel was complete and ready to be brought to life. He watched as Hellbringer completed the ritual to summon forth the demon that would power the construct and bring it to life. The Eldritch runes etched into its frame would hold the creature eternally in place. While it may lack the intelligence of Chronos, the new soldier would be the first of many demon powered war machines.
4008374
Want a head start before I inevitably come chasing you down for the next chapter?
Gatecrashing? Ooh. That oughtta be fun to see... Especially if it turns into a 3-way battle.
So many ponies and other creatures to throw a 'were getting invaded' party for!
