“Are you sure I look okay? Positive?” Sky’s voice was laced with jitters as they stood outside the glorious house on a low rise in Canterlot. The warm sun took away the slight chill in the late morning air as Wyatt and Sky stepped up onto the portico, before the heavy wooden doors that were inlaid with exquisite scrollwork. All around were carefully tended rose bushes, along with daffodils and other blooming vegetation that gave the marble edifice a warm feel.
He looked at his companion, mane done up in a upward sweeping style, a lovely golden chain around the slim neck accenting her colors, along with silver earrings that dangled from ears that flicked nervously.
“It’s just tea, nothing more. Why are you so nervous?” Practiced eyes took in the wide fluted columns, entwined with ivy and jasmine, the scent of flowers wafting through the air to lightly touch the nose with a delicious aroma.
“Just tea? But it’s.. I have to look my best! I’ve never been invited..” Wyatt lay a calming hand on one shoulder, the muscles twitching nervously under the flattened palm.
“Settle down, you look like you’re going to barf on the porch.” He leaned forward and lifted the heavy knocker, rapping the door in a quick succession of three hits.
“Wyatt!!”
He couldn’t help but smile mischievously as the door swung open, Fleur dis Lee’s pretty face leaned out with a questioning look before seeing them, “You made it!” She stepped back, opening the door wider into the spacious entry way, “Please come in!”
The vestibule to the house was carpeted with a woven rug, thick and soft, enveloping their foot and hoof steps to muffle them almost completely. It was large and spacious, the cold stone walls covered with tapestries or hangings that took away the hard feel and made it more of a home.
A short hall led to the main room where Fleur received her guests graciously, inviting them to sit among the comfortable looking couches and cushions, all in a sunken area that surrounded a low-setting fireplace in the middle. An etched pipework chimney ran straight up, taking any smoke away from the wide fire pit and leaving just a glow of warmth that permeated the room.
Earth tones and warm colors covered the house, and the kitchen from what they could see from their vantage point, settling in on a divan that had cushions backed up against the wall of the inset living and gathering area. Plants in finely made pottery dotted the entire room, ferns and large leafed greenery splitting it up into sections that made it all feel more intimate.
Someone had planned this room to the inch, making it all seem closer than it was. A circular staircase in one corner led up to the second story, carpeted as well with a tightly woven runner that snugged the steps easily.
No matter where you sat in the sunken space you could see every area and who you were talking to.
It was all cleverly done in a way that you’d have to study for a long while before you figured out it was on purpose.
Fleurs’ head popped out from the doorway leading into the kitchen to where she had retreated after making sure her guests were settled in, “Be one second!”
They had no chance to answer back before she disappeared once more, hearing the sounds of utensils being put away or used, they weren’t quite sure.
Skys’ eyes were wide with wonder as she peered around the house from her seat on the well-made divan. Seeing shelves with books by the dozen, vases and fine things on stands that were placed in such a way that you’d swear they were hidden on purpose. She found the home a delight and a pleasure to be in, trying to figure out what was, or if there was, something behind a wall hanging or another plant.
A clattering sound made them both look, seeing Fleur trotting out of the kitchen, a large tea set upon a platter held within the grip of an aura as they floated to rest upon the coffee table.
Delicate, and what appeared to Wyatt’s eyes as porcelain, cups and a tea pot were carefully arranged on the silver tray, fluffy cloth napkins beside each cup were folded very precisely to look like swans.
Another tray followed, landing gently beside the tea set, it was covered in a myriad of petit fours set in a pattern that made them all the more enticing.
Small eclairs dripped with chocolate icing, alongside tartlets that looked to have just come out of the oven, fruit filling bubbling slightly as they cooled quickly in the air, the crusts delicate and flaky. Squares of fudge covered cakes and cookies dotted the serving silver as well, the aroma of freshly baked goods filled the air of the room with a scent of home.
Fleur settled with a slight huff in a settee, looking across at them with a smile, “My apologies for not being better prepared. These should have been done a while ago.”
Sky waved a hoof back and forth, “Nonono, this is so wonderful!” Glancing up at Wyatt who still had the slight grin on his face, “We just..well..didn’t expect all this.”
“She was so nervous I thought we’d have to haul her in here by the scruff after she fainted on the porch.”
“Wyatt!”
A gleaming hoof lifted to cover Fleur’s mouth as her eyes went wide, giggling, then laughing out loud at the expression on Sky’s face.
The Crystal mare looked apologetic, “I am so sorry, he’s..sometimes.. Agh!” She threw her hooves in the air and glared at Wyatt who sat as if nothing in the world were wrong.
Her protestations were waved away with a smile, “Never a need to apologize. Please relax, there’s no reason to be nervous.”
“He can be cultured when he wants, except he prefers not to.” The voice came from nowhere, a device on Wyatt’s ear producing it. It was very easy on the ears and spoke Equestrian fluently now.
Fleur’s eyes went wide again, “Is..is that your friend? The one in the Crystal Empire?”
Wyatt nodded, “Oh yes, Calliope is my conscience I’m afraid, keeping me in line.” He winked at both the mares and sighed dramatically.
“You did NOT start without me!” The voice made them all turn, seeing Tropic standing there looking miffed. The burnished gold mare wore her mane in a style that piled it high in curly heaps along her head and neck, a few pieces of platinum jewelry accented the rest.
Fleur shook her head, “We wouldn’t dream of it. Come and sit down.”
The now happy mare trotted down to plop on a low sitting chair that snugged her body gently, her eyes peering at the trays set on the table, “Oh my, those look wonderful!”
“I followed Sweetcakes’ instructions to the letter.” Fleur announced proudly, looking aside at Wyatt and Sky, “I can’t bake for beans, but I can follow directions!”
A magical aura gripped the teapot, pouring the steaming contents into four cups that were arranged in front of each guest with a gentle movement of magical effort.
“Please have something to drink while everything cools down, they’re fresh from the oven and we have a while.”
Wyatt lifted the. what he assumed to be, delicate cup, looking at the thin walls and pressing it slightly with his fingers, strong and light, it outclassed most metal cups he’d used. Something in the fabrication made it so. From what he gathered, it would take a force of many pounds to even chip it.
Taking a sip, the tea was light and fragrant, teasing the palate with a hint of cherry along with the chamomile and other flavors he couldn’t identify that pervaded the rest. It soothed the throat easily and went down like the finest drink.
He noticed Fleur looking at him expectantly, almost nervous, as if his passing judgment on the tea’s quality was important.
He finished his drink and set the cup down, “That was the finest tea I’ve ever had, thank you.” He saw the slim mare’s shoulders unclench, “Though I’m sure you don’t need my approval.”
“Are you kidding?” Tropic was grinning, “She was fretting all day yesterday planning everything out!”
“Don’t tell them that!”
A golden hoof was waved in Fleurs’ direction, “Oh, shush. She was running all over trying to find the perfect tea for today, had it special ordered and brought here by direct express mail!” She put a hoof to the side of her muzzle, leaning towards Wyatt, “That cost a few bits I’ll tell you.”
“Tropic!” Fleur was looking aghast.
Wyatt laughed, leaning back against the soft pillow, “Look, there’s no reason to be uptight. You don’t need my approval,” he pointed at Fleur, “You don’t need to be so nervous.” Moved the finger to point at Sky, who was looking as if she’d fall over again.
He leaned forward, pouring himself another cup of the delicious tea, waving away Fleur’s protestations that she would be more than willing to do that. He sat back and smiled, “Let me tell you a story.”
Calliope was immediately online, “Do not tell them one of your stories!”
This was waved away with a free hand, “Don’t worry.”
For the next hour, he weaved an intricate tale of himself as a young First Lieutenant, newly minted and out to celebrate his promotion. This quickly involved quite a bit of alcohol, some high society ladies, including a few general’s daughters, a pool filled with chocolate mousse; there was whipped cream, a stolen shipment of one hundred pounds of assorted fruit; ending with a large contingent of riot police. Plus the movie offers afterwards.
-----
Athena was talking quietly with Twilight in the Royal Library when her eyes popped wide, tilting her head for a second and laughing out loud. Her hoof slapped the floor as she brayed in merriment, almost tearing up at what she heard through the translation program.
Twilight was trying to get her to quiet down, getting looks from the librarians as Athena continued to laugh so hard she almost fell over.
A hoof was waved weakly at Twilight who was looking confused, “I’ll tell you later.”
“You are so weird.”
-----
“And that, was how I got busted back a rank the first time.” The tall soldier reached out, grabbing a now cooled blueberry tartlet and popping it in his mouth, savoring the flavor and flaky crust.
Tropic had rolled onto her back, kicking hooves in the air and laughing so hard her whole body shook. Tears were streaming down her face as she tried to compose herself and failed.
Fleur was right beside her, head thrown back and almost shrieking in delight, hooves holding her sides as she tried to gasp for breath and not getting enough air. Her eyes squeezed out tears from the effort as her lungs let out more howls, never hearing such a story before.
Sky had lost it completely, blushing deeply under her already red coloring, the Crystal mare joined right in, trying to muffle the sounds of her own merry voice by shoving her muzzle into a pillow. Failing in the attempt as they still filtered through. The whole house filled with the sounds of maniacal glee echoing off the walls.
“You..” Fleur was gasping for breath, “You are such a tale teller!”
A hand was raised with an innocent look, “All true. My hand to.. Uh..who do you guys swear by?”
Sky chuckled, “Celestia, usually.”
Wyatt had been practicing a little Equestrian of his own, “Oh, right. My hand to Celestia’s ass, it’s all true.”
“WYATT!” This time it was all three ponies.
“I swear, if you don’t quit finding ways to dodge the translation filter, I will batter you senseless.” Athena’s voice was very crisp and clear in his ear, not a single doubt in his mind she would not keep that dire promise.
“I have just been advised that I am not to say anything like that any more. Otherwise, bad things will befall me.”
Sky nodded, “Well, that is kind of awful. Can’t believe you said that.”
Wyatt leaned near his friend, “Never take things too seriously, life is short and you never get out of it alive.”
Tropic got the comment immediately, followed by the others with much more merriment.
The topic turned to other things, small talk, a little gossip, enjoying the wonderful repast that had cooled to just the right temperature as they spoke amongst themselves. Wyatt was finding out more about the culture and history of the land, as well as Fleur and Tropic themselves.
Calliope was fully enjoying herself, being interested in everything, except when she was sternly warning the sergeant to behave himself.
A bell tolling outside made everyone pause, seeing the time had flown by. Fleurs’ eyes looked to a clock on the wall, seeing it almost late afternoon, they had talked the entire day away.
“Goodness! It’s almost..” She looked at her guests, “Would you all care to stay for dinner? It would be very nice if you could.”
Tropic looked at her friend suspiciously, “You’re not cooking, are you?”
Pale violet eyes rolled in their sockets with a sigh, “No, I was thinking of having it delivered. Especially after that last disaster.”
Tropic giggled, turning to the questioning looks from Wyatt and Sky, “She tried to make spaghetti one night, it didn’t...quite...work out.”
Fleur slapped a cushion with a fore hoof, “Pasta is not supposed to catch fire!”
“Delivery is fine,” Sky retorted with Wyatt nodding enthusiastically.
“Wonderful!” The slim mares’ hooves clapped together in delight as she got up from her seat, “Let me get a message and order off then. Please, look around the house, enjoy yourselves while I do so.”
Fleur turned and trotted off into a small den while the others got up and stretched a bit.
Tropic was first to suggest something, “Let’s go see the library! She’s got some wonderful books and collectors editions in there!” Her eyes were bright, thinking about rummaging through some of Fleurs’ carefully hoarded treasures.
Sky was hesitant, “Are you sure that would be okay?”
Tropic waved the comment away, “Oh, sure. I’ve been in there dozens of times. It’s a great place to sit and read a good book!”
Reassured, Wyatt and Sky got up and followed the golden mare up the stairs. Wyatt having to stoop just a little as it wasn’t quite made for tall beings like himself.
They ended up in a second story to the mansion, carpeted heavily and only three entryways into room could be seen. One, at the end of the hallway, appeared to be a washroom. The one to the right, taking up most of the side of the house, was the library where Tropic led them to. A door stood open opposite the library as Wyatt couldn’t help and peeked in, seeing Fleurs bedroom. SKy and Tropic already heading into the library, giving him time.
It was probably the most comfortable, and cheerful, room he had ever seen in his life. Standing in the door way looking in, a large, carved wood four poster bed stood in the middle of the back wall. The pillows thick and soft, covered in what looked like silk pillowcases. The canopy was light and lacy, with extensive beadwork dripping off all three sides and the back, giving it an ethereal air. The comforter was all bright colors, again, thick and warm looking for the chilly Canterlot nights.
Heavy shag type carpet would muffle any hoofstep completely, giving a soft bounce to any step. Wall to wall so no hard stone would peek through. Upon the walls were paintings and pictures, not of herself and celebrities, but of landscapes and cities undreamed of. Something out of the imagination brought to life.
A fireplace took up the right side, smoothly done with elegant stonework and carved marble, it fit the wall as if grown in place. Already set for an evening fire, it was large, and would heat the room easily.
Wyatt leaned against the doorframe, his eyes not seeing this room but another, and a cheerful face calling from the floor, surrounded by toys and stuffed animals.
“Wyatt! Come and play!”
His sister. Always looking on the bright side, always keeping him out of trouble some days.
He knew, during those final days, she had been on Earth. He was trapped below the surface, and couldn’t reach her or his family.
A pang of regret felt like an icepick in his chest. Knowing she would have loved this room. She would have been enamored of all the things here.
“I usually have the door closed.” The soft voice brought him out of his reverie, seeing Fleur standing quietly in the hallway.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude.” The tone of his voice caught the mare off-guard as she gently closed the door with a movement of magic and the soft click of a latch.
“Is something wrong?” She was quick.
For one of the few times in his life, he had no quip or comment, just the truth, “My sister. She had a room like this when we were young. Kept all of her precious things in there. Said it was a place where she could escape the world and just be herself.”
He remembered visiting her house one time while on leave. She worked for a large multi-system shipping company as an executive. Everything was just right in the house, but the one room was hers. All the stuffed animals and books, the treasures of childhood and more, were still there to be loved. Added to and expanded over the years, it was a storehouse of warmth.
The slim mare smiled brightly, “She was right, you know. Everypony needs some place to call their own.” The implications didn’t pass her by.
“True, very true.”
For a moment, it all connected between them, an understanding of certain things and the comment came back to him of Crusader telling him not to underestimate ponies. Judging a book by its cover here, could get you into real trouble.
“Hey! What are you standing in the hall for?” Tropics’ head poked out of the opposite doorway, “Come on in!”
He gestured with an outswept arm, “After you, Miss Lee.”
“Why, thank you, kind sir.” She walked past him with a royal air that gave them both a chuckle.
Wyatt stepped into the enormous room that was covered in shelves and stands, holding books and magazines and..were those comics? On the walls and standing free in the room itself. Walls were blanketed with posters from movies, book announcements, and of course the ubiquitous Daring Do pictures in various action poses.
Small stands topped with glass cases held figurines and other collectibles. More examples of Fleurs love of pop culture. The floor was once again carpeted in soft covering, enhancing the quiet by absorbing sounds, making it all so much better.
It was a geek’s paradise, all in one room.
Comfortable chairs were strategically placed, giving privacy and the ability to talk with someone close, for the relaxing and reading of the items contained herein.
Tropic and Sky were marveling at an entire run of a comic called The Power Ponies. Each encased in a sleeve of some transparent material unlike plastic, but different. It held the booklet firmly and without a wrinkle, easily removed for reading and sipped back in, numbered and labeled.
Wyatt could only stand and look around at the airy space, seeing it lit by softly glowing lights that had to be magic, no heat or flame, but enough brilliance to light each corner, no room for shadows.
“Do you like it?”
Wyatt glanced over to see Fleur standing next to him, smiling as he was looking over the library.
He nodded, “I had friends..who would’ve done heinous things to a lot of people for the chance to have something like this.”
The laugh was like chimes in the wind to his ears, “They were fans then? Of things back then?”
“Oh, yes. Rabid, one might say.”
More things popped out to his view, paintings, ensconced on the wall in subdued framing, picturing action characters and more things from some writers’ imagination. Places and ponies that didn’t exist except in the mind.
There was a conspicuous space though, upon a long wall that held quite a few other things. Fleur noticed him looking curiously at it.
“Yes. That is where the painting is going to hang, as soon as the museum releases it in a few days.”
Wyatt could not help but see the look of inestimable glee on the slim mares’ face.
“Looking forward to it I take it?”
Almost prancing in place, she nodded, “Oh, yes. Very much so!”
Tropic was nudging Sky as they stood near, “Excited is not the word. She’s already arranged a formal party for the showing here. The caterer has been working for days on the menu. The invitations have already gone out, you should be getting yours anytime.” Her eyes rested on Fleur once more, seeing the mare blush heavily under her pale coat.
“It’s just a small party!” A hoof stamped lightly on the carpet for emphasis, no sound penetrating the padding.
Tropic grinned mischievously, “Fifty ponies is not small.”
“I had to invite the club!”
“To show off, I’m sure.”
“Tropic!”
“Fleur?”
A huff, then another stamp, “Fine, it’s a blowout. You happy?”
Tropic gave the giggling Sky another nudge, “Absolutely. It’s my job to keep you honest.”
The model mare raised one eyebrow, giving her friend a piqued glance, “Well, since you’re so honest, you wouldn’t mind waiting to see the other latest acquisition until the party.”
The burnished gold face took on a look of surprise, “What acquisition?”
Fleur waved a hoof, turning to peer at a book on one nearby shelf, “Oh, I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise. Don’t worry about it, you’ll see it then.”
Wyatt looked to see Sky giggling up a storm, shaking his own head. He twirled a finger near his temple causing Sky to bark a laugh.
They were blithely ignored, Tropic sidling up near Fleur, “What surprise?” She was ignored as Fleur dusted imaginary specks off a shelf.
“Fleur! C’mon! What surprise?”
“Oh, nothing.” The model mares’ voice was light and dismissive.
“Fleur!” Tropic was nearly bouncing in place, hooves tapping the padded floor in a cadence of nervousness, “Pleeeaaaassseee!”
A dramatic sigh, the flicking of an ear and tail, finally Fleur turned and faced her friend, “No more telling ponies about what I do!”
“But.. It.. I...” Tropics face was frustrated, she’d always been honest. Although to a fault sometimes. “I..could try?”
She was poked by a slim hoof, “No...more....telling.” Each word punctuated by a tap on her chest.
“Fine! No more telling!” Hooves went up in frustration as Tropic really wanted to know about the surprise.
Her friend turned to an unobtrusive cabinet, firing up her magic and opening a simple spell-lock. Those locks made without a key that only a magic user could use. Opening it wide, she brought out an envelope and withdrew the contents, holding it with an aura of more magic in front of Tropics eyes.
“Surprise.”
Tropics’ jaw almost hit the floor as her widened eyes roved over the cover of the slim booklet, her breath came in great gasps, heart speeding up in her chest as she realized what she was looking at.
“No...way. No way.. No...way you have that.”
Fleur smiled slyly, shaking the book in front of Tropics face with a manipulation of her spell, “Yes, way.”
“That is so not real! It’s not due out for a month! Nopony has any idea that it’s even in production! I only found out by accident!”
The reply was soft, “We were shooting an ad in the publishers office when we started talking about comics and he told me about this, gave me an advance issue.”
Tropic calmed herself, placing a gleaming hoof against her own chest and took deep breaths before looking at her friend with a glare, “I so hate you right now.”
The aura split, lifting an exact duplicate from the envelope and presenting it to Tropic, “And another copy for a close friend.” Fleur grinned as she shook the comic in front of the surprised mare.
Sky and Wyatt flinched from the squeal that came from golden mare, cringing slightly from the volume of the voice that before had been pleading.
Tropics’ own spell grabbed the extra copy and snugged it tight to her chest with one hoof as she danced around the room, “Thankyouthankyouthankyou!”
Wyatt was watching the whole exchange while laying a hand on Sky’s shoulder, trying to keep her from falling over with the storm of giggles that enveloped the Crystal mare.
He made an aside to her at the same time, “Had friends just like that.”
Leaning closer he whispered, “Just as crazy too.”
That did it, Sky fell over on the carpet and laughed louder than ever.
Seeing himself left alone for the moment, with Fleur and Tropic celebrating their score, and Sky was braying hard enough to barely breathe, he reached over for the extra copy that had been laid aside for the moment.
‘The Ulti-Mares’
Hmmm..some sort of superhero comic he guessed by the look of gaudily dressed ponies on the cover.
Flipping through it, he saw it was well-drawn, up to standards as high as computer graphics. Detailed and story-filled, glossy pages and bright colors, it was quite the book.
He had no idea what anyone in the story was saying, as reading Equestrian was a lot tougher than just using translation software. Though he could see there was plenty of action and adventure contained therein.
“Gonna have to take a look later.” He mentioned to Calliope softly.
“I can definitely do a translation of it.”
Inside the back cover there was a square with very small printing in it. He squinted and couldn’t make it out.
“Bring it closer to the cam, I’ll enhance.”
He lifted it closer, letting the small utility camera in his commlink take a good look. It was only a brief second before Calliope’s voice said out loud to the room.
“Take a look to this book, find the adventure you seek. Be strong, be brave, protecting the weak!”
Wyatt scratched his head, “Well duh, superheroes are..” A gasp from Sky, then a huge flare of light enveloped the room and them. he felt a tremendous tugging sensation, then all went blank.
The comic fluttered down to the floor, no longer held by hands, it made nary a sound in the room which was now quite empty of beings.
-----
Calliope panicked, seeing the bright flash and then all contact was lost. Trying to access Wyatt’s commlink was not happening as she tried everything to resume communications. After microseconds of no response from even the link itself, she sent the alarm signal.
-----
Two Bolo AI’s immediately responded, going into Battle Reflex and requesting more information, which was scant enough.
Drone bandwidth was turned completely over to testing and resending information to the Sergeant’s commlink. No response, nor even a signal in return, a dead carrier wave. This led the two avatars to rip out of the library in a clatter of papers and books. Passing by guards and their friends in a blur of movement.
It didn’t take them long to reach Miss Dis Lee’s house, Athena leading the way with a kick that slammed the door open, they’d apologize later.
Searching through the house, they ended up in the quiet library where two copies of a comic lay on the floor as if dropped there. Patient eyes looked over the scene, seeing the impressions in the carpet, positioning bodies with prints, based on Calliope’s information.
They had just started talking when Twilight hurried in behind them, huffing and puffing alongside Pinkie and Rainbow Dash.
“What..” The Alicorn heaved a deep breath, “What’s going on?”
Two pairs of very serious eyes turned towards them.
“Sergeant Carpenter and three others who were here, have disappeared.”
“WHAT?”
To be continued.....
It’s alive!!!
Also holy crap, I knew you said you were sitting on updates, but Jesus.
The ride never ends!
-Mis
All units: cease search activities and resume monitoring operations, Unit NFRE of the Line is back on duty!
Welcome back NFIRE! I just got done rereading the chapters up till you published more, impeccable timing!
Wow, uh, wild chapters appear.(x28)
HURRA FOR UPDATES!!
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I was starting to wonder when the next update would happen then this 147,446-word bomb blew away my weekend. and congrats on writing the 17th longest fic on this website........ i just realized this update is longer than a majority of stories i have read.
great googly moogly... thats is a hellluva chapter dump. all 149,727 words worth of it
the average 400 page novel is only about 100k, the average small novel is about 55k... just to put things into perspective.
dear gawd!! welp.. i wasn't really planning to sleep yet.. guess i'll start a pot of coffee, dose myself with high octane caffienation and see how long it takes to binge this!
all said and done, added together all the chapters are about about as long as all of the harry potter books together. (1,084,170 words)
It is now 3:39am where I live.....I have just finished all the chapters since I got the notification
Forgot you could post 1 chap at a time? Lol bro, welcome back.
It's been far to long since we had updates for this story, just power read through all of them and enjoyed myself immensley. I love how Wyatt, Sky, Gleur, and Tropis are in the comic, can't wait to see how it plays out... but I would not mind Wyatt getting hit by something that heals him for good.
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SWEET
DEAR
LORD
I come back to see 27 friggin chapters uploaded. In one day. You were hella busy, weren't you?
27 chapters...Dude, I am so happy right now.
Thank you, and congrats on finding a new job
"This is the story that doesn't end
It just goes on and on my friend
N-Fire started writing it,
Not knowing what it meant
But then he kept on writing it
And on and on it went
This is the story that doesn't end
It just goes on and on my friend..."
MAXIMUM UPDATES
.... wake up. See truck load of new chapters.
Me "YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES."
I am kind of annoyed with them just saying it is magic.
It is not magic, it is an energy that was introduced to earth after the humans died.
Saying it is magic is just like saying fuck it I do not want to understand it.
The ponies can only fight well as a group.
When by themselves they are very weak.
Also when ponies are bunched together without an alpha mare to lead them they act on the first thing that anyone says.
If it is attack they attack and if it is panic they panic.
Ponies are an artificial race.
Holy chapter dump batman! I think this is the largest one yet.
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8962750
That was my email as well.
All of my hate and coffee!
Have you ever thought about splitting up your updates?
8962369
i would not want to be in the same hemisphere as them
I had a feeling we'd see an enchanted comic sooner or later.!!! *WolfGrin*
Does this particular verse include the episode where the mane 6 + spike got sucked into a comic book in the old everfree castle? Cause if it does, then everyone but those that just disappeared already know what to do. That is to say, wait for the trapped ones to complete the comic, and escape.
After his adventures on ComicBook-Verse, I really want to see Wyatt to meet Cutie Mark Crusaders!
Or they already are the Cutie *Marked* Crusaders at this point?
How many chapters long will this story be?
Welcome back, and thank you for the massive update. Please never leave us hanging like that again.
You keep swapping the apostrophe on possessives.
I am sad I got to the end of the chapter dump. :(
At least they were mostly of manageable size this time. :D
Mostly.
Wyatt and his stories! I don't want to know the details of that one. I do wonder how they set it up, though. That's a LOT of mousse. *raises eyebrow (which I wish I could do in real life)*
Sigh. Who keeps enchanting comics? They need to get their cans canned. Not to mention that seems like a high-leveled spell.
I still hope they can find a cure for Wyatt and Calliope. And Crusader...
When do they plan to do a study on magic? It obeys rules, and Twilight is the resident expert and is always hanging around.
That would have to help with a lot of things (and I still can't believe that there isn't something they could fix with applied technology either).
To me, magic is just an offshoot of science that does things indirectly with mental control rather than a crapton of integrated circuits. Admittedly, tech seems a lot like magic, especially when you find out about some of the black magic that goes into modern CPUs, and to some way it is. We have learned so much about the esoteric weirdness of the world that we can call upon its powers and make it play tricks for us. Applying the scientific method to magic seems like a rather obvious and important idea, even in Equestria.
It reminds me of the Wizardry books, really. They had a bunch of wizards who spent long hours learning how to cast spells, since new ones were difficult and often deadly to discover, and hoarded knowledge of what they did know. Then their leader summoned a programmer, at cost of his life, to do what they could not. The guy figured out that certain weak magical spells always worked a certain way (or at least did most of the time) and built himself a compiler to cast new spells out of magical Assembly. I don't think that magic was ever explained or understood, even by him (although, there were some interesting parallels and similarities -- like the fact that many things worked on quantum effects, but on a macro scale), but all you need to know is what works, and you can go on from there.
Meep had a blog post on that recently, actually. It's a bit more grumpy than I would have used, at least for this story, but it's quite enlightening to read, and the video he found is hilarious.
8951404 My apologies for the long wait, so updates are here, please enjoy them :)
8956478 I think that would be quite neat :)
8957439 I am healthy, and now happy in a new job I've hoped for for a long time. Thank you so much for the concern:) And thanks as well for the kind comment, I'm trying to be a better writer, to put more into each chapter for you and others to get more enjoyment out of, I'm just glad you like reading it all :)
8961001 There's always loose ends, but I'll try my best to tie them up :)
8961604 I do apologize, but now, things are looking better and hopefully I can update once a week or more :)
8961617 Thank you so much :) Sleep is overrated anyways :P
8961654 And more too!
8961709 Enjoy!
8961715 I try to at least give you something substantial, hopefully its enough for now :)
8961732 No problem whatsoever :)
8961741 Like a rainboom! :)
8961758 Yes, that was it, preparing, marshaling forces..yes, exactly!..Who am I kidding? I do hope you like them :)
8961765 Done for now, promise :)
8961775 Ta-daaaaa! :P
8961798 Then I do hope it lives up to expectations :)
8961811 Thanks for the kind words, hope you do enjoy the update :)
8961859 I never stop writing, and its not fair, at least to me, to come back after a delay with a piddling few words. Its not fair to you and wonderful folks who wait patiently. So yes, a batch. :)
8961907 Not ever! NFire :)
8961919 Thanks so kindly, its wonderful to be here as always:) Pure accident on timing, but I'll take credit :P
8961922 Let us hope they are good and wonderful memories when all is said and done.
8962033 Done. I will do so. One chapter of pony antics and pranks while blitzed. Just give me time :)
8962044 You are so welcome :)
8962066 I didn't realize it was that many words, wow. And 17th longest? Really? I need to work harder then!:) (Honestly I didn't know that either..wow.)
8962100 Wonderful words.
8962109 No, but something is definitely hinky, doncha think? :)
8962111 Would be an awesome scene, wouldn't it? As for Canterlot..well..there WAS that movie which set the scene... :)
8962122 I'm not like those writers on 'Lost'. :) Never a simple thing :)
8962124 I honestly didn't know all those stats. Truly. I just kinda write.. ALL the HP books? Wow.. I do hope you enjoy it all though :)
8962128 Well..least I hope you enjoyed it all after losing the battle? :)
8962134 You are a brave soul Jerico :)
8962136 Right! I forgot! Yep..thats it :P And thank you :)
8962208 It's going to be...silly..and funny..and slightly gloriously wrong in so many ways...I hope :)
8962153 LOL :)
8962281 I never stop writing, stories to tell, things to make up, and folks like you to make happy :)
8962286 The Melconians attacked the earth, bombarding it intensely. Wasn't the anti-matter, remember? :)
8962289 You are so very welcome:) And thank you so much :)
8962298 Stoppit! stoppit! :P
8962344 You betcha!
8962353 I couldn't resist :)
8962406 It is a little humbling to think it could exist one day.
8962528 You are so very welcome :)
8962568 Very good point!
8962606 One would hope. But its a big universe.....
8962659 Occan's Razor, sometimes the simplest explanation is the best :)
8962673 Please enjoy them :)
8962679 I is! I shall haunt you all for-evah! :P
8962744 Never give up hope :)
8962750
8962756 ^^^^ I'm sorry?
8962790 I did once, then I realized I'd miss all the cool comments :)
8962854 Absolutely...
8962905 Gotta have SOME fun :)
8962911 Warning..horrors ahead....
8962923 It's magic? :P Well...It is Pinkie..:) The evils of good booze :) I am afraid to read that :)
8962980 There are limitations to things, even magic. Though there was that one spell...way back.. I'll try to make corrections as fast as I can, thank you :) It's not the resource shortage, it's that the materials were not of earth, think metals and alloys made under different suns, trans-uranics found in hearts of nebulas far away. Something that would be impossible even for nanotech because you do not know how they were originally formed.
8962994 Not quite the Concordiat Rescue Team he expected :P
8963029 It does reference it with the comic being magic, other than that, time for some crime-fighting! :P
8963040 Actually, yes. That darn thing keeps...popping up! Bwahaha...sorry..I'll stop :P
8963071 Oh yes. A couple of readers suggested it, and as soon as I find their names, they will get credit for the idea :)
8963091 It is strange, how sometimes, the most destructive thing, is quite beautiful..a nova for instance?
8963108 Probably wanted one to show off ? :P
8963124 Now that..is just awful.. Shocked I am at that thought Hydra! Shocked! (Gets to work) :P
8963125 Nope! :P
8963137 That would be a disaster:P And nope, I'm a few seasons behind..so plenty of leeway on things :)
8963154 True!:)
8963171 Makes ya wonder where they come from...huh?:)
8963193 The overall story? The Crystal Empire Arc? Or the Comic book adventure? :)
8963210 Thank you and you are very welcome. I will try not to, I don't see it happening again because of many good things that have happened lately :)
8963214 I think so too. And she's referring to them laughing at the end, she's rummaging around in the crates of stuff. :) As for that thing traveling..maybe its cursed or something? :P
8963236 Oh, not that much, but enough to make a difference I'd think :)
8963257 And thats the truth :)
8963268 Don't like em myself..ugh :P
8963381 Got it, sorry! As for the 'thing'.. The product of a demented mind? Actually, if I remember right, a story I read a long time ago had something similar, but not as in depth or deadly, so I expanded it a little :)
8963422 Yeesh, I'll just write 500 word chapters for you then :P As for the mousse..long story that...:P Study of magic, now that would be interesting, the rules and limitations. And you know darn well it would ignite a firestorm in the comments :) Somebody does need to find that comic shop and have a talk with the employees there :P
8963506 Yep, once again.
8963625 Thank you kindly, and so happy you enjoyed it all :)
enjoy it? i was looking forward to your next chapter... but this? dear gawd! i'm still working my way through. i had even just recently started a reread to get caught up. in case new stuff appeared. i was um... at the 'the-amazing-liquid-double-lizer' when this dropped out of the great beyond. ... i'll get caught up. have no fear. new stuff makes it worth the wait!!! wooohoo!
it just might take me a bit. i thought i could binge it with out sleep. silly me..
8963112
I was being silly, dur. XP
8963700
Moon preserve us. Not only was the chapter dump massive, that reply has to be the largest comment I've ever seen.
if something's worth doing, NFire will find a way to make overdoing it look like child's play.
Keep up the amazing work!
I will not be sleeping tonight it seems.
I'm okay with this.
Curse you NFire! I stayed up till four in the morning reading this because of you broadsiding this story with updates! Good job btw.
8964035
I think that entity is similar to the one that was haunting the Everfree forest.
8963704 Very true, you caught the spirit of the arc nicely. Thank you :)
8963710 Don't lose sleep, they'll be here waiting. So take your time, I'm just glad folks like yourself enjoy it all enough to re-read and everything :)
8963843 Well I try to respond as best I can to folks comments, don't want anyone feeling ignored. Though I probably missed even more through the months, and for that I apologize. Thanks for the kinds comments too, always nice to hear :)
8963862 Sleep..bah..who needs it? :P
8963917 Yeppers! Took a couple hours to post and check :)
8963922 You betcha!
8963925 The best creepy things, I think, are ones that you never fully know..sends chills :) Glad it worked :)
8963934 I'm sure the website hates me after abusing it like that :)
8963954 Perhaps the experiences would be a send-off all by themselves. With wonder and joy, we say farewell :) And glad you enjoy the update :)
8963986 Time in such large numbers can be a little hard to wrap the mind around. :)
8963995 Thank you :) Awful glad you at least enjoyed them enough to read it all :)
8963996 Maybe? :)
8964026 Possibly, for other things, or just reference. :)
8964042 Quite a different entity, I promise :)
8964048 I couldn't resist the comparison, it was just too good :)
8964063 I am, and so glad you are looking forward to reading them :)
8964085 A little bit..not much, but a little :)
8964087 It is, darn thing keeps coming back :P I'm afraid I haven't watched any of that series, though I do hear it is good.
Looks at the number of chapters that updated.... O_O thats alot of reading... guess its sleepless nights again for me
8964245 Just take time, enjoy them with a cold drink and a comfy chair :)
8964263 And that darn thing that keeps showing up :P
I don't have enough words to describe how much I enjoy your story. Thank you for the major update. It was a wonderful, wonderful read. I look forward to your updates which are so worth waiting for, yet are so far apart. Few fanfics are on my list of "must read" when they update. Yours is. I should read them slowly and savor them, but like a ravenous starving dog, I attacked it with abandon. This was a present and I really do thank you for it.
Okay first, a cliffhanger? Really? You are lucky your not in strangling distance.
But seriously I have immensely enjoyed this update, this story. I say again, this is one of the best stories on this site. Be proud of the amazing piece you have created.
Speculation time. Really just an idea that was bugging me while reading. Has anyone brought up the idea of discord and his pony transformations to save both Wyatt and Calliope?
So, just try and see if the disease affects him as a pony and/or is capable of being cured in a pony with their much more magically charged bodies. If it doesn't work then, well, nothing lost as he is 100% dead as it is anyway. May as well take a chance, even if its just a long shot.
With Calliope just try and see if they can have discord dump her in an avatar like he did crusader, sure she will lose a lot of processing power, but she doesn't need it for this new world she has found herself in, not really. If the damage translates into mental damage of some kind, maybe they can help her recover from it. I bet ponies have more experience dealing with mental trauma from dark magic than they have experience with programming damage from it. If it kills her then, well, 100% going to die as it is right now. It should be her choice but seriously it should be raised as a valid option.
8964395 I honestly do not mean to be so far apart on updates. Just the last couple of times life took over and I just couldn't sit and settle enough to post. I always kept writing though :) Thanks so much for the kind words, it really is humbling to hear them, and I try to think of better stories and chapters to post, because of comments like yours. Thank you for reading and enjoying it :)
8964430 But..but cliffhangers! They're great! Don't hurt me :) I'm honestly not sure if it's the best story, but it sure is nice hearing you think so. :)
As for the speculations. Yes, I'm sure when the time comes, there will be suggestions, ideas. Have to explore them at least and see. That could make for a chapter with a ton of feels. Last time I did that..wow..:) I have written them down and will definitely give serious thought to how its all handled. Until then, thank you so much again, and I have another update for ya :) Just a small one :)
finally caught up. can't wait for next year!
Oh great! Looks interesting but now it looks like it will be another arc before we get back to the Crystal Empire and back to what those Crystal ponies hid from Sombra sacrificing themselves
Is the Fear Creature a Lovecraftian version of Guy de Massupassant's "The Horla" or of Ambrose Bierce's "The Damned Thing"?
And why I feel that it could be the End Boss for the story?
hah! the return of the Jumanji comicbooks!
These spells should come with a confirmation clause or something!