Uh oh.
Checklist;
1; get yourself out of the ropes.
2; Stop the revolution (by enforcing the facts upon FB if necessary)
3; Get yourself something to eat. Who knows how long it's been since you last had the chance to eat (and how long it's been since these guys knocked you out)?
You still feel really drugged and weak, and your muscles seem lax. All you can really do is look at his guy as he takes a seat in front of you. The mare stands by his side with a wide smile on her face. Flag Burner smirks but his eyes seem serious as he sits across from you.
As you sit in the dark room tied to the chair, your muscles feel lax and your vision is still a bit blurry, so all you can really do is look at this guy in black as he takes a seat in front of you. The mare stands by his side with a wide smile on her face and Flag Burner smirks too, but his eyes seem serious as he sits across from you. It's a rather unsettling combination overall...
Meanwhile, you're thinking,
Wh-How- What do I do? Whatdoido- FOCUS BUG! For now, just breathe and make a checklis- Oh Luna, that bookworm's OCD is rubbing off on m- GAH! FOCUS BUG!
With that you take a deep breathe and think,
1. Get yourself out of the ropes.
2. Stop the revolution even if it means Falcon
3. Get something to eat. Sure, I ate before going sleepy-bye, but who knows how long it's been?
4; Check out surroundings for escape route.
Mentally nodding at your mental checklist, you move your eyes around the room since you still feel weak from the drugging, and your eyes widen in shock slightly as you see,
Notice that the Inventory's in a corner of the room being held by one of the beefy stallion from the train.
The Inventory in the corner of the room being held by one of...
What's his name again? Blag Barter? Fart Farter? Time Turner? Flag... Burner! Yeah, That's this idiots name!
Right, Flag's henchmen from the train. But you start to growl as you see something you really don't like...
The Inventory is bucking open!
You glare hatefully (well, as hateful as you can in your current state) at the henchmen holding your Inventory as you think,
That motherbucker better not have touched anything in it or there will be pain! Noling touches The Inventory!
That, and your other persona's clothes are in there. If these fools discover that you have a connection with the Elements with those clothes...
That too... you mentally ad uncertainly.
You hear what sounds like a hoof colliding with a face as Selena says,
You are such a idiot...
Your about to retort to her comment, but stop when you see Flag Anarchist and the other mare looking at you strangely. Thinking quickly you say (but still weak from the drugs)...
You begin to speak, even though you still are dazed.
“An honor? You drugged me…tied me up…”'
"Well, of course I did," he says with a smirk, "We're mighty cautious around here, if you hadn't noticed."
"Well as I'm clearly The Hooded Offender, I guess that makes me your boss, so off with the ropes" you growl.
"Ah ah ah," he says with a hoof wave, "That would be pretty reckless wouldn't it?"
"What?"
"Well, I can't just release someone who claims to be the Offender. Heck, you were brought in passed out."
"What? Then what was that whole 'honor to meet you thing?' all about?"
"Well if you are the True Offender, then it's my true greeting to you, if not, well...I like being theatrical to my enemies," he says with a scary glint in his eyes.
"So...show me the light, how do I know you're really him?" he asks.
“An horer? You ragged me and tayed me alp…”'
"Well, of course I did," he says with a smirk, "We're mighty cautious around here, if you hadn't noticed."
"Wal asi" you quickly shake your head clear of the drugs before continuing, "Well I'm clearly The Hooded Offender, so I guess that makes me your boss, so off with the ropes!" you growl.
"Ah ah ah," he says with a hoof wave, "That would be pretty reckless wouldn't it?"
"What?"
"Well, I can't just release someone who claims to be the Offender. Heck, you were brought in passed out."
"What? Then what was that whole 'honor to meet you thing?' all about?"
"Well if you are the True Offender, then it's my true greeting to you, if not, well... I like being theatrical to my enemies," he says with a scary glint in his eyes before continuing,
"So... show me the light, how do I know you're really him?" he asks as he leans forward on the table.
You look him dead in the eye and say,
"I'm the real Offender, you know why? Cause I say so. I was the monster at the Gala. I was the one who fought Discord to the almost death. I'm the one who went to Appleloosa and stopped the war between the Buffaloes and Ponies. And I'm the one who's gonna paint your fancy black clothes red if you don't untie me now!"
You started to release killer intent during your rant, enough that all the ponies in the room are looking at you in fear or awe and are shaking like crazy. All the ponies... except Flag Burner. He's just giving you a amused smile. A smug, unaffected amused smile. You glare at him and think,
I both hate this guys guts and I am also terrified of how he's shrugging off my killer intent like it's nothing!
Bugze, stay on thy guard. I sense I very... off darkness in him. Do not take him lightly. You hear Selena warn cautiously.
Wasn't planing on it.
After that thought, you hear Flag say in a deadly tone,
"Good show, but that doesn't answer my question..."
He then leans in dangerously towards you and says,
"How... do I know... that you're the real Offender?"
You gulp slightly at his tone, before you get an idea...
Flag Burner asks that you prove that you're the true Hooded Offender. You're about to when you decide to try that "reverse interrogation" trick you've seen in spy movies (a.k.a. trick the interrogator into asking questions that reveal details you didn't know about)
This seems to work at first with Flag Burner saying about his plans to... turn everypony into toy zombies?! But then he reveals he was being sarcastic as he's figured out what game you're trying to play.
Realizing that your cover's blown *snap*, forcibly knock the chair you're tied to (and yourself) on to it side and quickly "Psycho Crusher" into the stallion in the corner to break the chair and get your Inventory back. Once you've got the Power Glove in hoof, you whirl around ready to incinerate the first pony charging at you... only to see Flag Burner and the others bowing?
It turns out to be a test by Flag Burner to see if you're the true Hooded Offender and you pass...
"Well oh shoot!" you say in an (un)convincing manner, "Guess you done and figured me out."
What are you doing! Selena exclaims.
This guy is clearly as unstable as the final round of Jenga so maybe I can trick some info out of him using that "reverse interrogation" thing I've seen in Spy flicks
I'd advise against this game...
Why? This is a ingeniously witty idea!
In a battle of wits, you are obviously and pathetically unarmed...
Can it Nimmy.
*grumble*
During your mental arguing, Flag Burner, the mare, and even the beefy stallion all look at you in confusion before
"Yeah, I'm a spy for her most glorious highness and devourer of cakes, Princess Celestia."
Flag Burner just smirks as he says,
"In that case, you must be one pretty lousy spy."
"It's... my first day." you shrug.
"So, how did Solar Flanks find me then?"
"I see nothing. I know nothing!" you say defiantly,
This causes the beefy stallion to come over and whack you on the head with the Inventory.
Is getting beaten part of your plan? Selena deadpan says,
If I just gave in right away, they wouldn't believe me. you mentally tell Selena before Flag Burner asks,
"I'll ask this again, what do you know?"
"Fine fine, I already know all about your plan... to... rob the Equestrian... golden cake icing reserves... with a spirit vine cannon... and a talking obnoxious overly-helpful paperclip! Yeah, that was your diabolical plan! " you hesitantly make up.
"You do know nothing then." Flag Burner scoffs, "Our real plan is to release a long lost spell on this city."
Everypony in the room looks at Flag Burner in confusion as you exclaim in disbelief,
"Say WHAT?!!!"
"Yes, the spell of 'Makus-Uppus' that will turn everypony in Fillydelphia into toy zombies." he says in a deadpan tone which causes everypony else in the room to stop being confused but you miss this as you think,
Luna, this guy is NUTS!!! before asking,
"Really?"
"No you idiot!" he barks as he slams his hooves on the table, "Did you honestly believe I would spill the beans about my plans like some weekend animated serial villain just like that? You think you're the first spy we've caught? Quite a few of them tried that 'reverse interrogation' tactic too, but yours was by far the worst."
"Well I- It- I can't fail all tho- Ah to hay with it."
*snap*
As your eyes glow orange you throw your body weight to the side causing the chair (and you) to fall on it's side with your head pointing towards the beefy stallion holding the Inventory.
"Psycho Crusher!" you exclaim causing you to spin in orange flames towards the beefy stallion like a torpedo while breaking your bonds. Stunned by this suddenly action, the beefy stallion can only watch in shock as you smash him hard into the wall with enough force to leave a dent and leave him unconscious and embedded.
You then quickly try to calm down as you desperately dig through the Inventory,
"Come on, come on... YES!"
You manage to grab and put on the Big Daddy glove and you whirl around yelling,
"BACK THE BUCK OFF! I HAVE A POWER GLOVE AND I KNOW HOW TO... use... it?"
You stare in confusion as all the remaining conscious ponies in the room (Flag Burner and the mare) suddenly start bowing, but before you can asks what's going on, you hear an annoyed voice in your head say,
The Power Glove... really? You named this power weapon out of the stupidest controller in video game history?
What? I love the Power Glove! It's so bad... that it's good!
...Idiot
Before you can respond, Flag chuckles and says,
-Flag Burner chuckles at your surprise. "I'm apologize, my lord, but I had to be sure you were truly the real Offender. Luna knows we've had enough of Solar Flank's impostors come our way."
"He's the real thing," the pony you hit moans from the floor. "None of the others hit that hard."
Flag Burner looks down at the poor sap. "Coco," he addresses the mare. "You probably want to get him medical attention."
-"I must say, my Lord, I'm a huge fan," Flag Burner praises. "As a former member of the guard, detective division, I must say, I investigated you thoroughly and realized that you have really done some incredible things. I am, shamelessly, a huge fancolt."
"Um... thanks. I think," you reply.
"I apologize, my lord, but I had to be sure you were truly the real Offender. Luna knows we've had enough of Solar Flank's impostors come our way."
"He's the real thing," the pony you hit moans from the wall. "None of the others hit anywhere near half that hard..."
Flag Burner looks down at the poor sap,
"Coco," he addresses the mare, "You probably want to get him medical attention. Anyway, I must say, my Lord," Flag Burner says as he turns his attention back to you while Coco leaves, "I'm a huge fan," Flag Burner praises,
"I followed your action closely and realized that you have really done some incredible things. I am, shameless to say, a huge fancolt."
"Um... thanks. I think," you reply uncertainly as you cautiously move out of combat stance, but then you realize something,
"Wait... you used your own men as bait to tell if I'm the real me! Why you little-" you say as your eyes continue to glow orange.
Flag then holds his hoof up as he smiles and points at your eyes while saying,
“And there it is…all the proof I needed” he smirks.
“Huh?” you ask bewilderingly.
“Had to see for myself the eyes, and from what I've heard, they only appear when you’re enraged.”
“Ummm… you were doing this on purpose?” you ask.
“Sorry If I was being a might infuriating, I justhad to know for sure. You never can be too careful with Solar Flanks’ spies everywhere. But now I know, and as any good strategist knows; knowing is half the battle…”
You really wanted to shout “GI Jane!” at that moment, but you barely restrain yourself.
“Oh… OK…” you stutter.
Flag Burner sits down back down at the table before offering with a smile,
"Please sir, have a seat, I have much to tell you."
"What? I can actually have a seat and normal conversation without being treated like a freaking criminal? How shocking." you snark as you put the downed chair back up and have a seat.
A look of shame comes over his face as he answers.
“Again, I’m awfully sorry about all this, this is not how I intended this momentous occasion occurring. If it helps any, we also tied you up to keep you from hurting yourself since you kept thrashing in your sleep,” he says with a smile, “As for the whole drugging thing, I deeply apologize for my subordinates, Gun Jumper always acts without thinking and well…” he gestures towards you. “But don’t worry,” he continues “He is being punished for his recklessness.”
“Punished?” you ask.
Burner nods and then whistles,
“Jumper, bring me the Bottle and two glasses.”
You see the stallion in the maid uniform from before grimace and nod before walking over and setting an unlabeled bottle of... whisky? down on the table.
“Thank you Jumper… and isn't there something you would like to say to our guest?”
The stallion turns towards you and says “I’m sorry sir for my reckless actions, please forgive me.”
“Umm…ya…sure…” You say uncertainly as you can tell this stallion is not liking his garb.
Burner nods at this and then says,
“Thank you Gunny, you're dismissed now. Leave that garb in Coco’s lounge, I don’t think she was quite finished with it.”
“Ya, it still needs a few more frills and buttons before I send it out,” says the, now-named, Mare.
As the stallion walks away you only have one thing on your mind.
“What… the…buck… was that all about?” you ask still confused.
“I find that embarrassment is a very effective means of discipline when it comes to your own. It leaves a lasting message far longer than any verbal or physical lashing would. Besides, we’re all one big happy family here, there’s no need for violence over one mistake.”
“Still, kind of messed up.” you counter.
“Well of course it is, his mistake was assaulting YOU of all ponies. Had it been some other mishap, I would have only had him wear a funny hat, we got plenty of those.”
Coco nudges his arm after that declaration and pouts,
“I keep telling you Burny, that’s the new style going around.”
“That still don’t stop them from looking funny now does it?” he says with a chuckle.
This causes her to pout more, before he stops laughing,
“Ah come on I was just teasing” he says as he gives her a reassuring arm pat which causes her to smile. He then looks back to you.
“Oh, forgive me sir, this cutie pie here is Coco Pommel, personal tailor to The Fillydelphia Horde and my Second in Command.” he introduces.
“Hello,” she nervously says to you with a slight wave. “I-it’s s-s-such an h-h-HONOR to meet you Mr. Offender… I-I REALLY like your cloak and…”
“You alright Co? You look like you need a breather.” Burner asks with a confused look on his face.
She takes a few deep breaths before looking at you again,
“No I'm fine... Sorry… It’s an honor to meet you sir, if you don’t mind, after we’ve all had a chat, I would like to inspect your cloak more thoroughly, I’ve had to base my designs on blurry photos… if that’s alright with you...” she says with a smile while blinking her eyes sweetly.
Dear Luna, it’s as if someone combined the best qualities of Fluttershy and TackyMcStabFlank. The smile, the voice, those eyes, and who knows what kind of body she’s rocking under that cloak… she’s… she’s…TOO... BUCKING... CUTE…
“Hrgh…” you exclaim as you feel your heart trying to jump against your chest.
“Oh my goodness!!! Are you alright?” Coco exclaims
“Too…cute…” you mumble out.
Coco blushes while Flag Burner simply laughs.
“Hehehehe, here step out for a few Co, give him time to recover.”
She nods and walks off to where Gun Jumper walked off to.
“Yeesh…” you pant, “Warn a guy next time” you scold.
“Sorry, forgot that she has that effect on stallions, although she's normally not so... skittish. But I guess anyone would have jitters meeting you though.” he laughs.
“Tell me about it,” you exclaim, still clutching your chest, "It should be illegal to be that cute..."
BACK IN PONYVILLE
Back in Ponyville
Fluttershy sneezes all of a sudden and gets a sudden feeling of dread.
“What’s wrong Darling?” asks Rarity.
“I don’t know, but it feels as if I was suddenly replaced as a waifu by thousands upon thousands of voices…”
Fluttershy sneezes all of a sudden and gets a sudden feeling of dread,
“What’s wrong Darling?” asks Rarity.
“I don’t know, but it feels as if I was suddenly replaced as a waifu by thousands upon thousands of voices…”
"Uh Darling... your glaring at the wall."
Fluttershy looks at Rarity confused, unknowingly shifting the angry glare to her which causes Rarity to freeze up slightly as Fluttershy says in a innocent voice,
"I am? Oh, I'm so sorry. It's just I feel really mad for some reason. I don't know how to describe it... but I think It feels like somepony is taking away my chances of having an adorable bunny that I really want to be around all the time..."
Rarity, ignoring the glare, looks at Fluttershy in confusion before saying,
"Darling, I think we need to take a emergency spa trip, that'll calm you down."
Fluttershy sighs and says,
"Yes... that'll be nice. Oh! And we should bring Nightshade too!"
Unbeknownst to them, a certain spa pony is in the process of destroying a spa room with mud bending while yelling,
"SOMEPONY'S TRYING TO STEAL SOMETHING FROM ME! I JUST KNOW IT! I CAN FEEL IT IN MY LOINS!"
Sadly, Caramel is stuck in said room, hugging the wall for dear life as he shouts,
"I JUST WANTED A GIFT CARD FOR MY SPECIAL SOMEPONY!!!"
MEANWHILE IN OCTAVIA AND VINYL'S HOUSE
Octavia is staring intently at her cello before Vinyl walks. She notices this and asks Octavia in confusion,
"Uh... Tavi, why are you staring at your cello so intently? Did it steal your lunch or something?"
Octavia just shakes her head before she says calmly,
"No, just thinking if it's possible to kill a stallion-stealing mare after having a gut feeling a mare is stealing your stallion."
Vinyl nods her head and says,
"Oh, okay."
She begins to walk away, before spinning around towards Octavia and shouting,
"WAIT, WHAT!?"
MEANWHILE IN THE APPLEFIELD
We see that both Rainbow Dash and Applejack are (yet again) arguing over Tennant and poor Nightshade is standing on the sidelines, having no clue as to what the mares are yelling about,
"HE LIKES ME!"
"NO HE LIKES ME!"
"HE LIKES MY WELL-TONED LEGS!"
"NO, HE THINKS YOU'RE A HILLBILLY FROM DOWN UNDER!"
"YOU WANNA WRASSLE YA FILLYFOOLER!"
"HA! I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY!"
Suddenly, the argument between the two ends as they both shiver a feeling of dread. They look at each other and Rainbow asks,
"Did you feel that?"
"If I reckon that by "that" you mean the feeling that somepony is stealing mah stallion?"
"Truce so we can pound whoever is stealing my stallion?"
Applejack rolls her eyes before saying,
"Truce to be whoever is stealing my stallion."
Rainbow huffs before she flies away, while Applejack heads back towards the farm shouting to Nightshade,
"Come on sugarcube, time to head home!"
Nightshade runs after Applejack saying,
"Yes Miss Applejack" While she's thinking,
Daddy's right. These two mares are really weird...
As Nightshade walks away, she hears disappointed groans coming from a nearby bush. She turns around in confusion before sneaking over to investigate and sees four stallions mumbling in defeat. One says,
"Man, I was hoping they would go into another mud brawl..."
Another stallion pats him on the back and says,
"Next time dude, next time."
Another, bigger stallion says in jealousy,
"Man! That Tennant dude is so lucky. He's got two hot mares fighting over him, and he doesn't even notice!"
Deciding she heard enough, Nightshade clears her throat and says,
"Excuse me."
The stallions slowly turn around and look at Nightshade in confusion. Nightshade then put on a innocent smile and she says,
"Sorry sirs, but it appears you are trespassing on private property, so I'm gonna have to teach you all a lesson..."
That day, various cries of "FALCON KICK!" would echo across Ponyville followed by,
"MY NADS!"
"OHHH... MY MUMMY-DADDY BUTTON!"
"NOT THERE! IN NEED THAT FOR CHILDREN!"
"AHHHHH! THEY ONLY JUST STARTED TO RECOVER AFTER THAT BATH HOUSE INCIDENT!"
BACK AT... WHEREVER YOU ARE IN FILLYDELPHIA
“Getting back on track, I’d like to know what you're plan-” you begin.
“Hold up,” he interrupts, “I've just realized something.”
“What?" you ask.
He gives a drum rhythm on the table before holding up his arms with a strange smile on his face.
“We've Got Whiskey,” he says cheerfully.
You just look at him confusedly as he pours himself a glass of the stuff and then pours another glass and sets it in front of you.
“Jonny Trotter Green Label 15 Trottingham Highland malt whisky to be exact. A nature aroma that gives way to honey notes and a crisp saltiness. Normally I'd get plain whisky, but only the good stuff for you sir. Very rare, but soon we’ll all have the good stuff…” he says cryptically with a smile as he takes a drink.
"I don't really feel like a drink, thank you. And can you do something about the lights? It feels like I'm stuck in a black hole."
"Oh, right." He motions to someone behind you and then the warehouse is flooded with light and... it's actually pretty nice looking. Quite a few couches, boards, and even a air of pool tables.
"Whoa... I was kind of expecting this place to be all run down and supervillain-lair looking," you mutter.
“Well, that's the sense we want to instill in nonbelievers. Sorry for the theatrics, but once you call out one of the Tyrant’s watchdogs, you have to be prepared for anything, and that includes false Offenders.”
“Watchdogs?” you ask.
“The 'Reformers', 'Elements of Harmony' or whatever you wanna call them, we all know what they really are, and that Butterfly-flanked tart thinks she knows what’s best…”
Your eyes glow as you realize he’s talking about the rude letter he sent Fluttershy,
“Actually, that’s what I came here to talk to you about...” you say with barely-restrained anger.
“Of course!” he perks up “On to business!”
“Yeah… business… So what are you planning?”
“Well sir, it’s quite simple really, we are going to send a message that no one in this country will soon forget.”
“A message?” you ask.
“Eyup, your message, the message we've all come to follow,” he says as he raises his glass to you.
“Which is?”
“Why, the need to fight the unjust rulers of course, to go against the grain of society and build your own, where all the forgotten little ponies will have their chance to shine… to fix what’s broken…”
“And to do that, you think you need to start a revolution?”
He just gives you a confused look,
“Well of course, the part about fighting the unjust rulers kind of makes the use of violence obvious.”
“So you think that’s my true message is?”
“Well how couldn't it be?” he says with a chuckle, “Each and every one of us here in the Horde were a doormat for the Princess's society in some way. Gun Jumper was an overzealous guard who got in trouble and was fired for trying to do what’s right, Test Tube was an inventor whose devices couldn't revolutionized Equestria, but got ignored by the immortal prom queen dooming his work to forgetfulness, Coco's designs were put down just because she's an Earth Pony, the list goes on and on,” he says as he points to a few ponies in the room.
“That sucks and everything but…” you try to interject.
“Even I had my fair share of abuse…” he scowls before shaking his head and continuing, “We've all been put through the laundry by this so-called 'peaceful and unified society,'" he says mockingly before continuing, "When in actuality, it’s a cruel flimsy world, where those who go against it are labeled villains.”
He looks at you as he says this.
“This is a country run by a mare who not only imprisoned her own sister on the moon for a millennia, but when she came back for rightful vengeance, she was 'Reformed' by her newest weapon” He rants, “Weapons that just so happened to be called the 'Elements of Harmony.' Forcing Harmony and Peace on another is just another word for indoctrination… and wouldn't you know it, immediately after this brainwashing, Princess Luna is allowed to rule again,” he puckers his lips and spits.
“It’s all one big hypocrisy…”
That's what I've been saying this whole time, Finally someone understands me! Selena says.
We're here to stop this, remember? you chide.
I know, but you have to admit he raises several valid points.
Okay, yes some of the stuff he says sounds true, but still… I don't want a war started!
She sighs,
Yes Yes, I know, I know… then you best reign him in.
“I’m sorry about all you've been through but-” you begin but get interrupted by Burner continuing,
“And then you came along…” Burner continues.
Uh-Oh. you think.
“Someone who not only just defied the Solar Tyrant and her Harmony goons, but actually got away with it… multiple times,” he says with a smile. “I read about your exploits, and it moved me. It showed that somepony could take the fight to the higher ups and that they weren't invincible. That even so-called gods can bleed...”
“Well, most of the time I was just kind of trying to run away and…” you try to justify, but he keeps going.
“We all were inspired… and I brought us all together in your name… and soon, everyone else will know this truth, that a New Equestria will dawn! And this dawn will be baptized in the blood of-”
“BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I WANT!” you roar in the Royal Canterlot Voice as you slam your hooves into the table..
It becomes quiet in the room after you yell that. Flag Burner has a very confused look on his face,
“What?” he asks in disbelief.
“I don’t want a Revolution!” you insist.
“B-But…”
“Look, I'm grateful that you all look up to me and stuff, but come on, a Bucking War? Are you serious?”
“…” Flag looks speechless.
“A lot of ponies will get hurt if that happens, that is not what I want!”
“Y-you hurt ponies all the time…” Flag Burner rationalizes.
“Well yeah, but they usually start it, and I only do it because I literally have no other choice at the time.”
“I… you…” Flag Burner continues to stammer.
“Look, just call the whole thing off, whatever spectacle or event you have planned, don’t go through with it. A lot of ponies will lose their lives and I don’t want their blood on my hooves… you got it?”
“B-bu… sir, you must still be suffering from the effects of the drug, maybe you should sit down and think before…”
“I don’t need to, this is what needs to happen.” you firmly say.
He just stares at you now as if you're a puzzle.
“Sir… have a drink, I think you need to calm down,” he says as he inches your glass closer to you.
“I don’t need a drink I need you to…”
“Please sir, just drink it…”
“I…”
“Please!”
“Grr!!! Alright fine,” you roar as you slam back the liquid just to shut him up, and it burns, a lot.
“Ugh… There! Are... you…” you stop mid sentence as suddenly you are really tired and your head slams into the table. You try to speak, but everything is coming out in gurgles,
Oh my me, are you serious? Selena says.
“Flag! What’s going on?” you hear someling ask.
“Somethings not right here, the Offender is speaking nonsense…” you hear him reply back.
“So you drugged him… again?”
“I didn't but it seems he can't hold his liquor too well… Anyway, something fishy is going on here and I don’t like it. He said he didn't want the Revolution to occur”
“Umm… what if that’s really what he wants Burny?” asks Coco
“Impossible! That can’t be it! Here, take him down to the holding cell… I’m going to get to the bottom of this…”
You see him pick up your Inventory and start rummaging through it as you're carried away.
“Don… touch... stuff….” You drugged-ly say.
Flag Burner pulls out your "Baker Sylvester Tennant" outfit and the beefy stallion from the train says something to him you can't hear in your drugged state, but you guess that it has to do with you meeting the Deadly Six on the train. Before you pass out completely, you say loud enough for Flag to hear (who walked over to you in surprised of seeing your Doctor Outfit),
"You... you just bucked with the wrong... the wrong bug... Ohhhh pretty stars...ZzzzZZzzz."
IN LA LA LAND
You look around the horrid shade of pink that is La La land, and you see Selena looking at you with a blank look before saying,
"You... You are just..."
She then walks over to you and bonks you on the head ("Ow.") while saying in a monotone voice,
"Imbecilic."
You rub your head in pain as you say,
"Well, next time we get captured by crazy cultists, I'll be sure to not drink anything by force... so got any games around here?"
Before she could answer...
WHEN YOU WAKE UP
When you awaken again, you are lying on a cot, and in a dark room, and your limbs are shackled.
You look around scared, only to see Coco who is sitting next to you with a damp rag and wiping your forehead.
You wake up and find that your limbs are shackled to a cot in a dark cell. You look around only to see Coco sitting next to you and wiping your (still fortunately cloaked) forehead with a damp rag. Noticing that you're awake, Coco gives you a sad smile and says,
"Oh, nice to see that you're awake my lord, how are you doing?"
You stare at her for a few minutes as you think,
Lady Luck... Buck you. Just buck you. Now how am I supposed to get outta this mess? Maybe... maybe I can try to talk her into saving me? She didn't look like she liked what Flag was doing, so maybe I can reform her. Or get her to see how crazy this is and help me escape. That works too. Well... better try it out.
With that thought, you open your mouth and say...
What do you do?
Die hoard arc...pun on die hard? Lol
Hopefully the Hoard will not cause as much damage as the namesake movie, Die Hard.
I remember that selen, could do that thing when she tunred into the shadow bolts, so it gave me an idea.
B:Its times like this that I really wish there was a second me around to get me out of these situtations...
S:I may have a solution to that, something I hvent used since my first encounter with the Elements...
B:Go on, you have my undivided attention...
S:I was able to create and control multiple bodies, and if my theory is right, you may have inherited that ability. although...
B:Although?
S:You're mind might not be able to handle the strain...
B:So, why don't you drive it then?
*Cue pinkie pie in bugzes mind, somehow, and coompleately ignoring the fact that selene is NMM.
P: The idiot has a point.
B:...what
P: PINKUS EX MACHINA!
*Pinkie vanishes
S:for both our sanitys, let us pertend that didn't happen
B:agreed... now I really wish I could cross my hooves right now...
S:why?
B:Oh nothing, just my... "KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!"
*Cue a second bugsy forming, albit with Selenes eyes.
S: "I don't even..."
*Cue selene getting bugsy free, and an epic escape sequence.
a though accured in The bugs head ''Maybe i should get a swiss army knife!'' you know it has To a Comb to a chainsaw and stuff... and maybe it is magical? like it is compact and has alot tools in one compact thing
Well, that could have gone better. Although FB has a number of points, they aren't good enough whatsoever to justify war, especially not one that you don't even want in the first place. The trick will be to stop the war by enforcing sense on FB. Through any means short of killing him.
"Arrg, I need to do something..." Say Bugzee as he begin to think
Just then Coco open the door
"Are you okay my lord?" Ask Coco
"Errr... It could be better if I could get my limbs free" Say Bugzee
"You really think she is going to free you?" Ask Selena
"Of course my lord, IM sorry... Flag Burner must put them as a prank" Say Coco
"Of course..." Say Bugzee rolling his eyes
"And I was thinking that Pink Pony was stupid" Comment Selena in your head
MEANWHILE IN SWEET APPLE ACRES
Just then, Pinkie Pie that was talking with Rarity that was calming Rainbow Dash and Applejack, begin to sneeze
"Upsss... I think somepony talk about me... You know what that means?" Say Pinkie smiling
The other girls look to Pinkie
"A party!!! A Congratulations, I sneeze because someone talk about me Party" Shout Pinkie as she banish
RETURN TO BUGZEE
"I still feel a little Doozy..." Say Bugzee
"In a little time you will be okay my lord" Say Coco as she look to the hooded
"So... It's true that you don't want a revolution?" Ask Coco
"Of course not, if I wanted to punish the Princesses, I could do by other means, with a riot everypony lose, Flag Burner don't understand that" Say Bugzee
"Too bad that we cannot tell it to Princess Luna, she seemed to be good, not like Celestia" Say Coco
"Yeah... Of course" Answer Bugzee and then he got a idea
"Maybe I can..." Mutter Bugzee
"Coco, check outside, I will try something" Say Bugzee
Coco leaves and Selene ask in the head of the Bugzee
"What do you plan?" Ask Selene
"Dream walk... If we have luck, We can tell Luna by going to her dream" Comment Bugzee in his head
"You mean, I enter in her dream, the only site that she have all weapons and expose myself? Ask Selene
"Or just connect our dreams or something like that, and I tell her" Say Bugzee in the head
"Great, but first you need to sleep, what are you going to do?" Ask Selene
"MMM... I know... Tell me the history of your battle with Celestia"
"Well, If you want... All begin in... Begin to tell Selene but in the first five seconds Bugzee was sleeping.
Does this story happen before or after the nightmare rarity arc?
Seeing as you just woke up in a room after being a sleep for an unspecified length of time, do one of two things:
1)Humm this tune, http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2vyFUKB_b3s
2) Start panicking about being under for 9999999999999... Before coco reminds you she was there before you went sleepy byes.
And thus coco's gamer nature is revealed, and she admits she gets your references. But finds them awful.
5405112 Nightmare Rarity will not happen because Nightmare is with Baker Sylvester Tenant/The Hooded Offender.
This one kind of got away from me. Cut it up how you see fit.
---
Nothing. A needle is jabbed into your neck as soon as you make a sound.
"Stop it!" Coco shouts. "What are you doing?!"
"Flag Burner's orders," a deep voice says. "No one talks to the prisoner until he does."
"A necessary precaution, my dear Coco," Flag Burner says as he steps into the cell. "Who knows how many more lies the Solar Tyrant has implanted in his head? Leave us."
Coco chews her lip in hesitation.
"NOW!"
She flinches, and she and the stallion leave.
You try to speak, but the drug has you in a stupor.
Flag Burner grins with a malicious glint in his eye. "It will wear off soon enough. Don't worry, I'll send Coco back in when I'm through."
Oh my Me, this is that moment, isn't it? You're tied and mute. This is his monologue.
Aghgblurgh... tchalal... batuset
That... is quite the drug they have.
Euth
Flag Burner begins to pace beside your cot.
"You are the true Offender. I can't deny that. I also don't actually think you're brainwashed. From my experience, those guys usually have a resistance for drugs."
He stops by your head.
"So how do I explain what I just saw? What I just heard? The lapdogs think of you as a friend. They were willing to drop their business in Ponyville and follow you here on a whim."
The malice in his eyes grows into a fire.
"Are you their friend? Have you betrayed yourself? Maybe you're just tricking them. Maybe they don't know your true name. I am familiar with deception. But that doesn't change what you said! YOU DON'T WANT REVOLUTION! Do you understand what that means? I don't think you do!"
He grabs your head and glares into your face.
"You don't understand what this means! You don't understand what's at stake! I need you! I can't back out now!"
His face cracks into a smile, and he gives a joyless laugh.
"You think I'm insane, don't you? That's why you came here. That's why you thought you could stop me. You know what I know. Flag Burner is a dangerous fool. Flag Burner is nothing but a terrorist. Flag Burner is a nobody."
He shakes his head.
"I was going to become you. That's why I brought Coco into the fold. She was going to make me an identical cloak, and the Hooded Offender would make his glorious return to make Equestria bleed. And now here you are."
He grins maniacally.
"You might think I'm nothing but a warmongering anarchist, but I assure you, I am an exceptional warmongering anarchist! A revolution needs a symbol. I am giving you a chance to be that symbol. If you refuse, I will leave you stripped and forgotten here while I wear that cloak in your place!"
He leans in and growls through clenched teeth, "Do. Not. Doubt me."
5406442 Well if the hole nightmare rarity arc was going to happen, the nightmare spirits could of gave Selena her own body. I think
If you were going to get rid of them you need at least your own city so people know your not part of the the sun butts tryany and then croqn bugze king of that city and with that if the princess see him amd his horde building the city she will intigate a fight which then will be her fault and knowing that some horde members could be anyome some could be great influence to biuld your own nation or city against her. That would be me start from the grouns up take somw time but has good benefita
5405112
Joeyjumper is right although we did include a nod to Nightmare Rarity by having Selena comment that Rarity would have made for a decent host in a previous chapter
To the question... I don't have any plans.
To the next chapter...
I won't say my ideas, because all ideas I have, suck.
To this comment... it's useless
5406442 You forgot his true identity: BUGZE!
i See what you did there
While talking with Coco, you tell her
“I can break these cuffs!”
“You can’t break those cuffs” she tells you.
You then begin squirming around, even as your eyes glow and groaning
“Grrrraaaaagghhhh!!!!”
And nothing happens, aside from your limbs hurting.
“Hey, give me some help here, I need some nightmare fuel to get out!” you shout to Selena
“OK” she says before an image of Granny Smith and your Grandbuggy making out appears in your mind.
“OH DEAR LUNA WHY!!!” you shout out loud, startling Coco.
“You said you wanted Nightmare fuel, so I obliged.”
“Not like that! I need the cloak and tails!”
“I know what you meant, but I am being suppressed at the moment, I cannot unleash it.”
“What? Then why did you…”
“I’m still punishing you for being so stupid as to get us into this mess!”
“OK, I’m sorry! Yeesh, can we move on! We’re kind of in danger here!”
“No, we are in distress, if they wanted you dead, they would have killed you already. Stand ready, and wait your opportunity, and stop thrashing around, you will dislocate your shoulder” she chides.
You stop thrashing and catch your breath.
“I told you you couldn’t. These are reinforced, magic dampening manacles, only the key can open them.” Coco says matter of factly.
After Talking with CoCo, and trying to get her to join your side, Flag comes in with a neutral look on his face.
“Co, could you please leave us for a second?” he asks her.
“But Burny, I really think we should listen to what he has to s…”
“Coco…” he growls “I said leave…”
A look of fear comes across her features as she nods and leaves the room, but not before looking back at you in confliction.
Flag walks over to your bedside and sits down in the chair beside you. He looks at you with a hint of hope.
“Please…” he begins, “please just tell me that you weren’t thinking clearly, that the drugs were still affecting your mind…that you haven’t betrayed yourself…”
You’ve had enough of this kind of talk, so you decide to lay into him.
“Betrayed Myself?! What kind of idiot are you? I never wanted a freaking war, NEVER! So what you’re really asking me to say is that I haven’t betrayed YOU and your stupid cause. Well guess what, I’m not on your side. Now get me out of here and stop all this nonsense before I make you pay!”
Your eyes glow in anger as you finish that statement.
He looks at you in what looks like loss, before his features grow grim.
“That’s not what I wanted you to say…” he says flatly.
“Well too bad Burny, but that’s what I got to sa-gragh!!!” you are cut short when he places his arm across your throat and presses down.
His facial expression hasn’t changed, but his eyes are furious as he looks into yours, and it is terrifying.
“This is not how it was supposed to go…” he says again in his monotone.
You can’t reply back as he is choking you. You can’t speak, but you can still breathe, so you guess he’s making a point.
“You were supposed to lead us…to stand with us as we changed the world…” he then scowls at you, “you weren’t supposed to grow weak.”
“mm…nah…wea…” you stutter
“You’ve been indoctrinated…I don’t know how or why, but the Watchdogs have gotten to you. The Mares who have done nothing but bring you hell, and you embrace them as friends…”
“Bu…”
“You’re still labeled as Public Enemy Number One, but I guess that’s for show…to root The Horde out…because we don’t know you’ve been Harmonized…” he leans closer to you “But it won’t work…we’re still going to carry on…with or without you.”
He begins applying a little more pressure on your throat causing you to gag more.
“Originally, I was going to impersonate you as we carried out our plan…then you would come to us and I would relinquish control to you…” he then leans forward, to the point where his snout is almost touching yours, “but it seems I have to take up the mantle now.”
Your eyes grow orange as you begin to pass out but then he releases you. You gasp in much needed air and cough as he sits back.
“The Hooded Offender must carry on his message, The False Goddess must not win!” he proclaims to you. “So I’ll carry on your work, in honor of who you once were.”
“You…bucking…idiot…” you growl, “I’m not indoctrinated, I’m myself…and If you carry on, the blood that’s going to be shed is yours,” you growl at him as your eyes glow.
“Your orange eyes aren’t so horrifying once you’ve seen blue behind them” he says causing you to look at him in surprise.
“I don’t know what the rest of you looks like, and for the sake of who you were, I won’t pry,” he continues, “but your true blue eyes show how weak you’ve grown…and there’s no room for weakness on the battlefield.”
He then stands up.
“I have work to do…and I’m sorry, but for the sake of us all, you must be left behind…”
He walks over to the door.
“Goodbye Offender…your legacy will live on.”
“You can’t just leave me here!” you shout.
“We both know that I must…” he says, “by the end of tonight, the message will have spread, and The Horde will grow stronger, and those who stand in our way will be dealt with…even if that means pruning our own weak…”
You imagine the rest of the Horde in Ponyville, in Canterlot, and everywhere else that aren’t radical…what he would do to them.
“I’m going stop you you Bucking Psychopath! I swear it!” you shout.
“You can’t stop the future my dear Fallen Offender…this is what needs to happen” he monotones, “I’ve seen the writing on the wall, there is no other way…THE NIGHTMARE IS COMING…”
“What…y-you’ve seen it too?” you ask in surprise.
He ignores you, “And when it comes, it won’t face a weak pathetic Equestria, but the full might of The Horde Nation…”
He then dons a cloak, that looks exactly like yours, you can’t even see his face.
“And the Hooded Offender himself.”
He then walks out the door leaving you alone in the darkness.
“WAIT! DON’T GO! WHAT DO THE WORDS MEAN?! WHAT DO THEY MEAN?!” you shout in the RCV.
You begin thrashing over and over again, in anger. You shout every obscenity you know, and swear vengeance upon all those who have wronged you. You then tire yourself out and weep as you fear you’ll never see Nightshade again. You then pass out.
In the Dreamscape, you see Selena, but now she is wearing her amour.
“Do not give up…we can’t let him win” Selena says.
“It’s no use…I’ve lost…” you say downtrodden.
She slaps you upside the head.
“You Cannot give up…this fool will surely lead to the deaths of countless innocents. He will not stop!”
“Sounds like everything you’ve ever wanted, your great revolution is coming true…” you mumble.
She looks aghast at that, “I…well…” she sighs “Look, if I ever succeed, it won’t be because of some radical notions of belief, it will be because I have personal issues with the False Godesses who have wronged me…Innocent lives need not be harmed.”
“Oh, so now you care about innocents?”
“I told you I’m trying…and also, if this fool ever fights the Element Bearers, there is a chance Night Shade will be around, and I will not have her harmed in your name.”
“But I can’t do much strapped to this bed now can I?”
“No…but perhaps there is something I can do…”
“What?”
“That Mare you were speaking to, she was conflicted, perhaps she will ally with us.”
“Coco? How are we going to get her here?”
“I sense she is near…and asleep…we can call for her to help.”
“Wait, how?”
“Through Dream Walking,” she replies.
“Wait, you can do that now?”
“Ever since Night Shade and Luna showed up, I began meditating upon my own abilities. It appears I can do it as well, but only over a short distance since I have no body of my own.”
"Wait, I thought your power was being suppressed?" you ask in confusion
"For the physical world it is, but not from within here" she replies.
“Well hurry up then!”
“Be patient and still…this will require concentration…also, as she is still conflicted, I am going to convince her the only way I know how.”
“And what’s that?” you ask.
“With a Nightmare…” she says as she closes her eyes.
Selena enters into Coco’s dreamscape and you can see through her eyes. You see it is a happy place full of clothing and runways.
The landscape warps into fire and brimstone and death, scaring Coco as signs saying “Long Live the Horde” and “Down with the Tyrant” blanket the ground.
“Change your ways Coco Pommel, or this is what will come to pass” Selena says in your voice.
You are then pulled back into your own dreamscape as you guess she’s woken up.
“That was brutal…” you say
“Yes, I know, twas the point.”
“Now what?’
“We wait and see if it worked.”
You are then shook awake in the real world by said Mare who has freed you with the key…she looks really nervous and scared.
I-I-I’m…s-s-s-s-sorry…” she says.
Coco blushes as she said Flag Burner told her to watch over you and do anything necessary to help regain your memory. She then takes her cloak off and starts snuggling against you...
*spurt*
Convince Coco to follow you instead of Flag Burner (technically the Horde is your fan club, not Flag Burner's). She lets you out of the shackles and guides you to your Inventory. You also ask Coco what FB's plan is, but she says this building was merely a "Diversion Base" that is meant to distract the Royal Guard and that not even she knows Flag Burner's true plans, but she does know that Flag Burner orchestrated the "accident" of the Fillydelphia Royal Guard captain...
When you want to leave, she insists on staying behind so to make sure she won't get into any trouble with the rest of the Horde, you two go back to the cell and stage the scene to make it look like you literally broke out by breaking the shackles, cot, and door hinges and then laying Coco in a corner in the room before knocking her out with the Luna Plushie
Luckily, you still have your Potion Sash on, so you plant a fuse bomb on the locked main door to blast it open (2 Fuse Bombs remaining)... only for that to be the distraction as you "Psycho Crusher" out a window and find that you are in/at...
===========
Title is a reference to the greatest Christmas movie of all time;
And now for my cookie...
My plans is to watch Gremlins, have Christmas dinner with family and neighbors, and my gift for my family is to buy them all tickets to the new Disney movie;
It's not solar-flanks, it's Sunbutt.
Give flag burner the option of seceding from equestria, with Rapture from Bioshock's set of ideals.
This time it will actually work, as no-one is going insane with splicing.
For Me I will spend Christmas working on board the Naval vessel I'm assigned to. Duty never stops. Even for Christmas.
The arc reference is Die Hard. one of my favorite Christmas movies.
So you are once again tied down. You start trying to get out when you hear a strange voice in your head. Bugze used Struggle....It's not very effective. Choosing to ignore that, you start to think rationally.
Ok. let's see here. I'm tied up... again.... *sigh* why do I keep having this happen to me? It's almost as bad as winding up in the Everfree....Almost.
Selena: Why don't you get that mare to get you out?
Bugze: Oh yeah. How could I forget she was here? She's right in front of me.
(A scene where you finially get free...I cannot think of a good way to explain how he gets out.)
Well now that i got free and got my stuff back (Thank you Coco), i will now teleport to the outside and alert the guards of Flag Burner's demented plans.
Selena: Are you sure you should do that? You have a pretty bad habit of winding up in the wrong place. Plus you are still in the Offender's cloak.
Bugze: Too late now!
As you look around to see where you ended up you notice that you are in Canterlot...In Princess Luna's room to be exact...Where she was playing her games until you arrived.
Bugze: Ummmmm.....This is not the Fillydelphia Guard Station. I apologize Princess, however since I'm here, I wish to report that the leader of the Fillydelphia Hoard Flag Burner wishes to start a revolution in which he is willing to use lethal force to achieve his goals. I traveled there to try and prevent this but all diplomatic attempts of peace have failed. I need help to stop him since he has gone off the deep end. Please help me as I have sworn by your name to do good and I realize I cannot do this alone as I once hoped. I believed that if we can stop him, the other member of that faction will stop as well. I saw a lot of uncertainty in their faces when he spoke of the violent plan he has.
You stop to take a few breaths after that speech you just gave. You look up to see Luna with her jaw hanging open.
Selena: Hahahahahahaha she looks utterly ridiculous. If her mouth were open any more, I think the Friendship Express would mistake it for a tunnel.
Bugze: Stop that Selly, You're going to make me laugh and piss her off. We need her to work with us, not kill us in a fit of rage.
My holiday plans? Video games...
Hope yours is nice.