“There it is!” Spike tapped Athena on the shoulder as they came abreast of a shop front, the windows decorated with games and magazines that drew the eye.
“Xtreme Comics and Games! Home of Ogres and Oubliettes!” The banner almost screamed out in neon colors. It was quite crowded, brisk business being done as ponies walked out loaded down with bags of swag.
The little dragon jumped off Athena’s back, proudly announcing, “One of my favorite places in Canterlot!”
Twlight chuckled, “And they make a lot of bits off him.”
“But it’s so cool inside too!” He grabbed the sable pegasus’ hoof, tugging her inside, the rest following.
The inside of the shop was everything a comic/gamer/collector/avid reader would want.
Books and magazines lined shelves that almost hit the ceiling. Unicorn employees using spells to retrieve whatever the customers wanted, quickly moving on to the next request.
Games of all sorts were on more wooden supports in the middle of the open space. Board games of all shapes, sizes, ages decorated the store everywhere. Stuffed animals dominated one row, posters and movie memorabilia dotted others, packed full of fan-pony goodness, this store was the end all-be all of fun.
They lost Pinkie after she set foot in the door, zooming off toward the snack stand that happened to be by the ‘Movie set party supplies.”
Rarity peeled off when seeing the costuming section, exclaiming about something being definitely beyond good taste and she just had to do something about it.
Fluttershy immediately headed towards the stuffed animals, murmuring something about completing a collection.
Casualties were mounting fast, most of the group were gone, lost in action as they tried mightily to make their way to the counter. It was so close, yet so far! They could see smiling employees behind the polished marble top, happily helping gamers and collectors alike.
They just had to make it!
Rainbow was history, no one saw her after passing the ‘Daring Do’ section. An entire quadrant dedicated to everypony’s favorite action heroine, Daring Do. They could hear her exclamations of delight, seeing things she had never known existed in the catalog.
Twilight was still there, though her eyes were wandering. Staunch ally Applejack by her side as they waded through the crowded aisles. Athena and Crusader were still forging forward, determined to find out about the mysterious comics.
Alas, Spike was gone early in the quest, a poster announcing new O&O modules released just yesterday caught his eye and he was lost in the swirl of the mob.
Twilight turned to make a comment to her stalwart companion, but Applejack was gone. The sight of a blonde tail disappearing in the ‘Outdoor Games’ section of the store was the last seen of her.
Troops were dwindling fast. Losses were causing consternation as they made their way down the twisting path to salvation at the counter. The clink and ring of bits so close they could hear the coins rolling in payment for the treasures found within.
Athena reached out, grabbing onto Twilight’s tail as something caught her eye, dragging her back into line with an irresistible tugging that would make sure she had no chance of escaping. Both faux ponies took a stance on either side, making sure she had no route but to the counter to ask for the manager.
At last! Over the walls we have climbed, through the trenches we have fought and arrived at our destination. Here the battle will be fought, here we will find the answers we seek, we are indomitable, we...
"Running an internal monologue is getting a little weird even for you, Crusader.” Athena was chuckling over the warbands.
“Applejack reminded me earlier that it is my turn to tell a story to Applebloom for tonight, I am practicing.” The little filly had one of the coveted commlinks and stayed in touch with Applejack through them. The older Apple sister had been telling her bedtime stories from afar while visiting the Crystal Empire.
“You’re hamming it up.”
“Of course. After being told my beloved Shakespeare was not wanted for a bedtime story, I have had to search other avenues.”
Athena laughed out loud, getting a few looks but muffling it fast enough to just get the evil eye from Twilight who knew that she and he were talking over the internal commlinks.
Finally though, they made it to the counter, standing before a happy looking employee.
“Hi! Welcome to Xtreme Comics and Games! How can I help you?”
Twilight had to be nudged, rubbernecking at all the cool stuff around her, to talk to the counter pony.
“Oh! Uhm, may we please speak to the owner?”
“Of course, Princess! One second, please!” The Earth Pony trotted off into the back, returning quickly with a Unicorn that had a mane of frizzy hair sticking out in all directions, happily chattering the ear off the employee as they walked back to the Princess.
He stopped and blinked, seeing a Princess in his shop for the very first time, almost gobbling in surprise as he tried to form words.
“Please, calm down, sir.” Twilight rolled her eyes, used to dealing with things like this, “We’d just like to chat for a minute, if you would?”
“Chat? Me? Here?” The frazzled looking Unicorn shook his head to clear it, “Why, of course! Come in, come in! Come right this way where the magic happens!” He opened the counter, ushering in the small group who got envious looks from all the other ponies waiting to pay for their purchases.
“I’m Dice Cup, as you can tell my passion is games and other things that make life so much more fun!” He had an infectious laugh, his voice easy on the ears. If only he didn’t look like some crazed wizard.
Leading them back into his workshop, he swatted a switch, lighting more of the area up and revealing pieces and parts of games under construction, things being built for current games, and parts being made to replace those lost. It was a wonderland of fun.
“Oh, you’ll love this! For the fillies and colts!” He held up a game, “You chase a mouse around the board and build a trap to catch him at the end. “And! It changes between games, so it’s never the same thing twice!” He cackled in glee, making them all smile.
“I do so love building and creating things, it makes my heart warm. I remember when I first created Ogres and Oubliettes, such fun, and seeing others enjoy it makes me happier every day.”
“Wait a second.” Twilight stopped dead, “You created Ogres and Oubliettes? One of the most popular games in Equestria? You?”
“I did indeedy!”
“But it was created by a pony named Gygax. Not Dice Cup.”
A belly laugh and a wink from the jolly pony, “Oh, that’s me. Gygax. Get Your Games At Xtreme! Gygax! Pretty sweet, huh? I thought it was cool and fun!”
Twilight couldn’t help but giggle, this pony was too much, he had all the enthusiasm of a colt, “Wait until Spike finds out, he’ll flip, that we met the creator of his favorite game.”
“Oh ho! Nono, musn’t tell a soul! Can’t have anypony finding out, it’d destroy all the mystery. Please, Princess, don’t say anything?”
Twilight immediately agreed, “I promise. Not a word.” She saw Athena and Crusader nodding as well, knowing they’d keep the secret.
“Then I shall give you a copy of the latest module, it’s truly a fun time! I’ll even sign it, you can say it was a special sale.” He gave the alicorn another wink, causing her to grin in return.
“So, what may I do for you, Princess?”
“Twilight, please.” She saw him nod, “We came about some magical comic books, that put you into the story?”
“Oh my, yes! I invented that spell! It’s truly special if I do say so myself!” He raised his bushy eyebrows, “And I do!”
You could not help but like this pony, enthusiasm flowed off him and brought everyone along for the ride.
“Well, maybe you ought to put a disclaimer on it? Telling ponies that they could get whisked into an adventure?” Athena was watching him closely, seeing delight in his eyes suddenly turn to dismay.
“You mean they didn’t?” The pony paced the floor, “Oh no. Nonono. They were supposed to tell ponies, make sure they wanted to go on an adventure!”
“I’m afraid I was drawn into one of them, with the Power Ponies, and now friends of ours are in one called ‘The Ulti-Mares’.”
“Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. I am so very sorry, I did not mean to cause trouble, just fun. Oh my stars and comets. This isn’t a good thing!” He turned and faced them, stopping his walking back and forth, “I will contact the publisher and demand they place a special warning, so ponies know!”
“That would be wonderful,” She smiled at him warmly, “You are not in any trouble, we just want to know if there’s any way to stop the adventure and get somepony out again?”
Dice Cups’ face turned thoughtful, brows narrowing together and forming one large caterpillar resting upon his forehead as he tried to think of some way.
“No. I’m sorry. The adventure has to end first, tampering with it may cause problems.” He tapped a hoof on the floor, thinking, “I’ve tried many variations of the spell, but it only works the one way. I’m so very sorry.”
He produced a scroll from under a pile of board games, giving it to Twilight, “I trust you with it, please take a look. You are the Element of Magic, perhaps you can figure something out?”
Twilight took it solemnly, “I promise nopony will ever see it, or know about it. I’ll have it sent back to you by Royal Courier.”
“You’re a Princess, I would expect nothing less.” Dice Cup chortled, “Now, let’s see.” He rummaged around, coming up with a booklet that was shiny and new, “Here it is, the latest book for O&O.” He produced a quill, signing it with a flourish, “I hope your friend enjoys it as much as I did making it.”
“He will, that’s the truth. He is a O&O fanatic.”
“Wonderful!” The Unicorn clapped his hooves together, “Wonderful and full of wonder, yes! Is there anything else I may help with? Maybe design a game for you?” He perked up, “I have it, ‘Adventures of a Pony Princess’! Oh, the fillies will love that!”
He stopped gushing, looking a bit abashed, “Only with your permission of course, Your Highness.”
Twilight was fast on her hooves, “As long as any profits go to providing games to colts and fillies who can’t afford any.”
“I already do that, Your Highness!” A hoof waved in the air, “Oh, so many things for the little ones! I make enough to keep the store open, create fun things, and pay my dutiful employees, that is more than I need.” He bowed before her, “I will donate even more then, Princess Twilight, you have my word.”
“Good enough, Dice Cup.”
“Now, is there anything else I can help with?”
---
They left with lighter hearts and a possible solution, along with a new friend who was as personable a pony as they ever met. Twilight didn’t even mention the spell when they found the rest of the group waiting for them, laden with packages that various excuses were given for.
“I can’t believe you mares, and you too, Spike!”
“Darling, trust me, that Daring Do costume was atrocious, the shirt was totally wrong for the set.”
Twilight sighed, giving up, “Forget it, let’s head back.” She rolled her eyes at Athena, glancing her way with a sly grin. No matter what, they were her friends forever.
-----
“Come in! Come in! I know you’re there! Come to see my powers come fully into their own have you? I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine!” The male voice boomed across the warehouse floor, echoing off the walls and into their ears.
“He sounds like a loon.” Wyatt quipped, getting a snigger from Tropic and the others.
“Are you there? I know you’re here someplace, but I seem to have a problem pinning you down. Oh, well. No matter.” Another flash of light, and all the exits were suddenly sealed tight.
Fleur whispered, “What should we do?”
Wyatt was not one for sitting around, “Let’s kick his butt and get the gem. He’s a nutcase.”
Tropic agreed, “He is, let’s hit him hard!”
“Once I drop the invisibility spell, he’ll definitely know where we are.” The slim mare was sounding nervous.
“Just stay behind me. You’re the ranged weapons, stay tight, hit him and move. I’ll close in on him and knock his brains even more loose than they already are.”
Sky couldn’t help it and giggled so hard she almost fell over, “Will you stop saying that stuff!?”
A fist clenched with one powerful movement, unseen and unfelt except by Wyatt, “Can’t help it, maniacs bring out the best in me.”
“Wyatt!”
Fleur tapped him on the arm, “Are you ready?”
“I am, let’s get this over with.” He was having trouble understanding words now, it seemed the spell was starting to break down. He’d have to get Tropic to renew it or whatever it was ponies who used magic did.
He could, however, understand enough to know there was going to be some action. That didn’t take anything special to comprehend, just a willingness to fight, and he definitely had plenty of that.
An armored hand reached out, touching each of his teammates, “Let’s go.”
He stepped out from behind the pile of crates, looking through the blinding light that was coming from a raised dais, upon which was standing a single form. The blazing glare was an omnipresent thing that seemed to be an all around aura.
He couldn’t see whoever was speaking too well, but he had enough vision to spot the shadowed form. It, or he, judging by the voice, seemed to be wearing some sort of odd hat. Didn’t matter, he was going to flatten it and the head wearing it.
“Let’s do this.”
-----
“Twilight, perhaps messing with this is not something you want to do. They are inside the book, or the spell, and I believe we should wait.” Crusader was watching the alicorn mumbling and making notations in a notebook.
“I think I’ve figured out what he’s done,” She said out loud to no one in particular, “It’s just a matter of bringing the whole thing to an end and making sure they arrive back safe.”
“Do you think, or do you know?”
“Well, I can’t ever be absolutely sure without plenty of testing. Magical theory is sometimes hit or miss..” She stopped, seeing the look on the umber pony’s face.
“Then leave it alone.” His voice brooked no argument. He wanted Wyatt back badly. He had missed humanity and the thought of the only representative of it here and now being injured or possible killed because of a spell malfunction, would not sit well with him at all.
“But if I could bring them out, maybe..”
“Think, and maybe. I would advise you not proceed, Twilight.” He stood up, turning to leave, “I am on watch, please be careful.”
He left without a further word, leaving a frustrated alicorn behind him and Athena still there.
“He’s just worried for Wyatt, Twilight. He wants his safe return more than anyone.”
“I know, I know.” The Princess was staring at the original spell and her voluminous notes, “But all I have to do is end the spell, trigger it to think the adventure ended and they’ll pop right back in.” She eyed the comic books, brought here for study.
Athena noticed the looks, when Twilight was working on a problem, she tended to blot out anything else, “Maybe it’s best to wait. Wyatt is very skilled and he would never let the others come to harm.”
Twilight paced for a few seconds, “He’s got Sky with him, and Fleur Dis Lee and Tropical Sun.” They’d found out the names after a little research and questioning witnesses. “Hope he can keep them all together.”
“All I need to do is..” She trailed off, mumbling again, quill held in powerful magic and making more notations, “Just fool the spell into thinking it’s over, that’s all.” She smiled up at the quiet pegasus, “Simple!”
“Twilight, please, don’t do anything.” She was trying to keep Twilight from doing anything that would exacerbate the problem, and trying to help. It was a delicate balance sometimes.
“Don’t you trust me?” Violet eyes searched lavender ones.
“I.. I do, always. You know that.”
“I can do this. It’s not simple, but with enough power..” She’s determined to try, her horn lights up, drawing on the power of being a Princess, magic fills the room.
“Twilight! Don’t!”
In a flash the spell is worked, a golden twister forms in the middle of the room as the force works its way into the comic book, delving into it as if seeking the lost ponies. It hesitates, then dissolves in a shower of sparkles and crackling power.
Athena had averted her eyes, waiting until the brilliance died down and looked back at the book, it was scorched and not in very good condition.
“Oh, Twilight,” She looked at the dismayed Princess staring at the book, “What did you do?”
-----
Wyatt slipped out of the crates, the others following him, he hoped, clenching his fists and heading for the one pony that would end all this and get them back home. Not that he didn’t like a good adventure, a tale well told. But he was getting tired of situations not of his making.
Athena and Crusader had warned him that strange occurrences happened in Equestria, but this was one for the books, literally.
Now, he was going to get everyone out safe, period. Nothing, and no one would be standing in his way. If they did, they wouldn’t be upright for very long.
Fists clenched, he walked right towards the odd dais the pony stood on, trying to get a closer look at it, see who he was dealing with. The light shining from around it made it very difficult, even with his visor, to see.
Fleur, Sky and Tropic spread out in a fan behind him. Fleur’s horn lit up, dropping the invisibility on Wyatt so he could be the focus of attention. She was whispering instructions to the others, readying the most powerful spells she could think of, Tropic muttering trigger phrases and words, her bangles and bracelets ready at the merest nudge.
Sky had had time to figure out a few things on her equipment belts, getting a thin rope out with a bola on the end, twirling it silently and waiting to tangle the target, the rope and bola wrapping around and knocking them out hopefully. She wasn’t too sure, but she was willing to try.
“Well...well...well..” The loud voice announced once more, “Is it..Anvil of the Ulti-Mares? Looking a bit different these days aren’t you?”
Wyatt had enough, flipping up his faceplate, “Listen up nutball, give us the gem and I won’t hurt you too badly.”
“No, ohhhh no. I have power finally, power enough to do whatever I like!” The shadow was getting clearer as he took careful steps forward.
Wyatt cracked the knuckles of one hand, clenching it tightly. He’d always despised people like this, bullies, power-mad, those that thought a little rank gave them the ability to say and do anything. This was getting his goat, strangling it, and then spitting it for a barbecue.
“Really, now?”
The floor shifted, almost knocking him off his feet, a rumbling sound tore through the warehouse at such volume he had to look around quickly, even seeing the demented shadow stumbling in the aura of magic. Something changed, something imperceptible, but enough that it made him wonder. He felt nauseous, as if magic had been used on him.
Fleur and the others faded into view, the invisibility spell knocked right out by the whirlwind of sound that ripped through the crates and stacked barrels. They spread out even farther, giving Wyatt room ro move as well as themselves.
“Give it up, whoever you are!” Fleur’s voice was magnified, “We won’t hurt you, just come along quietly!”
None of them could penetrate the globe of light surrounding the mysterious figure. It’s as if the magic was infusing him with more levels of might as the moments dragged on.
“All the Ulti-Mares! Once I rule the world, perhaps you, Prism, can be my consort! I do have your poster you know.”
Tropic rolled her eyes, “Not a chance you..you..whoever you are!” She fired off a spell that created a wide beam of force that slammed into the glowing orb surrounding the shadowed pony. It splattered against the outside and sprayed off in different directions, crushing a few poor innocent crates in the way as the entire spell was deflected away.
Sky whipped her hoof around, tossing her whirling bolas, seeing them ricochet and end up in the rafters after being burnt to a crisp from touching the strange aura.
“Oh, Celestia..this might be a bit tough.” She was rummaging for something else off her belts.
"Goldbeam, Goldbeam... Trying so hard to be magical, yet all you can do is flirt with stallions and wear clothing so tight its a travesty!” The voice kept teasing them, knowing perhaps he couldn’t be touched.
“I... Will show you MAGIC!”
The aura grew intense, blinding them for a moment as neon colored waves of power ripped outwards in a circle towards them. Walls blasted outward in splinters and shards, crates and barrels disintegrated at its touch.
Fleur gasped, throwing a shield, thick and tall, surrounding them fully, in front of all of them, barely holding on until the wave passed, watching the destruction as the roof fell in around them. Beams on fire smashed into the floor, unidentifiable contents of containers flew everywhere, the sky lighting up as if a fireworks show went off.
All throughout they heard maniacal laughter, such as those typical of any comic book villain. But this one had the might to back it up now, thanks to the Eye of Argon!
“Celestia’s name, that was too close!” Fleur was gasping for breath after holding the spell so long against so much magic.
Wyatt growled, seeing sweat running down the pretty mares’ face and leaping forward, the armor took him into the air as he cocked a fist back, his whole body throwing itself into a punch that would have demolished entire buildings.
“Wyatt! No!” Tropic was aiming her foreleg, a bracelet letting loose another terrible beam of magic that surrounded him in a glowing shield to help boost his resistance. She was fumbling for another when he started falling from the arc.
He could see nothing but a shadow right now, eyes tearing up from the actinic glow, the fist coming down right on top of the globe surrounding the looney pony.
Such was the power and the fury behind the punch, it actually pushed the hardened orb into the floor a foot or more, the shock-wave making Fleur and Tropic erect another shield to keep their feet as he put everything he had into one small area the size of his fist.
Thunder cracked as the globe was driven into the stone, cracking and rumbling through the remains of the warehouse in a rippling wave that centered on him, throwing the debris outward in a tsunami of further destruction.
He landed on his feet slamming another flurry of hits into the globe, tossing it backwards to the laughter of the pony contained within. The suit surrounding him multiplied the force by hundreds, close to thousands of times when pushed to the limit. He could crack boulders with a tap, but could not penetrate this stupid wall of magic!
Runnels of sweat ran down his face and neck as he slowed, then stopped. The suit still needed something directing it and providing the initial force to feed back, so he tired quickly. Kneeling on the ground as a warmth surrounded him, yanking him back to the group inside the shield Tropic was maintaining with her powers.
“Are you okay?” Sky and Fleur wore worried looks.
“I can’t get through. Seriously, it’s like a Bolo force screen, I gave it all I had.” He gasped for more breath, inhaling cool sweet air filtered by their own magic around them.
Smoke was gathering, and then whipped away by the magics being thrown around like candy at a parade, Fleur was slamming the shadow pony with spell after spell, pushing herself to the limit as Prism. Her armor glowed with it’s own light, bringing more and more energy to the fight.
Tropic had activated a few bracelets, using their spells to bolster the shield around them, protecting them all while Fleur took the offensive.
Sky was tossing small round things, containers of smoke and explosives that rattled their teeth, blowing more crushed materials around and away from them, actually clearing a space. Her ammunition ran out as she tossed the last few at the strange pony.
More laughter, high-pitched as if hysterical. They couldn’t do anymore but hold their own now, trying to figure out a way to get that gem.
“Wyatt, what can we do?”
He was at a loss, this was something he had no clue. A rifle, a few grenades, some trained troops. Would have been tough, but we’d triumph. This was a total unknown.
“Sky, I don’t know..honestly.”
They watched the globe suck itself inward, the power flowing to its end into the pony who stood there wearing a strange hat.
The laughter was maniacal, definitely. This pony had a screw loose as far as they were all concerned.
“Oh, you will bow to me Ulti-Mares, all of you will! The Power Ponies will be swept away by my might!”
They could see him coming closer now, the wide grin, the strange hat a helmet with curling horns on it.
“I am your new god, the god of mischief, of terrible fates for those who do not obey my will!”
He was a strange color, a reddish all over, nothing else, no cutie mark at all.
“You will all bow to me! I will rule this world!”
His mane was straight up and cut as if from a single block. Pure black, it ran down from the top of his head to the shoulders.
He kept getting closer and closer, ending up near their shield of magics, barely holding on against the spells he was tossing around as if nothing. The booms and crackles of lightning and fireballs wrecked the remains of the warehouse even more, nothing but dust and splinters now.
Wyatt couldn’t help it, even now, “Who the hell are you anyways?” His voice was translated, brokenly, but it came through.
“Me?” Laughter again as the strange pony reared in the air.
“ME?”
“Yes, you, dumbass.”
This made the pony stumble, ruining his monologue by Wyatt being himself. He shook his head and growled, throwing a few more powerful spells against their shield.
“Your new god has a name, you’ll need it to worship me properly.”
“You can call me...”
“Pokey!”
To be continued....
ORAORAORAORAORAORAORA!
...wait... MAGAW IT'S AN EARTHBOUND REFERENCE!
You know, given how knowledge of the Bolos has percolated into general pony society somewhat (Yes, the details are still a secret, but after dramatic clashes in several major cities as well as all of Canterlot banding into a search party when Crusader was mortal and missing, most ponies must have some idea), I'm surprised that Dice Cup hasn't started work on sort of vaguely sci-fi Bolo-inspired product. Sercondhoof accounts and misinformation filtered through the rumor mill about mechanical ponies and giant metal vessels could easily result in inspirations like Gundam ponies or Bolohammer 20K or Transformares. His opportunities are quite expansive.
8982454
The game would probably be Ogre with proper modifications.
8982416 You tend to have the most expressive comments :)
8982454 Those, are quite the awesome ideas. Oh definitely, I would think Dice Cup would take advantage:)
8982589 Of course! Must have the classic sci-fi references:) Helium Hooters..wow..okay :P
8982653 You have joined a most elite group of commenters, readers and analysts ever. They are a crowd that has entertained for a long time now:) Welcome to the story and be advised, it gets strange :)
8982666
8982653
Adding onto Meynbuhdei's comment, I'd also never heard of this series until this fic, but through reading various things here and there on the internet including "Humanity, Fuck Yeah" posts I'd stumbled on a few other people who made reference to this series. I really want to try and track down the books -- it's just a shame most are out of print and don't seem to have e-book forms.
NFire, your story has cemented Bolos and their stories into my heart as "a thing that everyone should know about" and I'm delighted to find references to them on the web, even if I've not read any official stories in the verse; considering the length of your fic at present though, Legacy may just outpace the word count of the entire bolo series.
If you do happen to know where I could get the books online I would be quite thankful.
8982681 I do! Amazon has most of them, and I know a third hand bookseller, I'll find the link. For used books called..oh! thriftbooks.com try that too. I do NOT recommend 'Road To Damascus'. It's a terrible Bolo book and I do not consider it part of the collection. Trust me, awful :)
I don't know if it out counts the Bolo series, but Drider, (TheDriderPony) a wonderful commenter, recently said it has now grown bigger than all the Harry Potter books put together :)
8982701
Looking that site up now -- crosschecking with wikipedia reveals I can buy most/all the books. These really should be made available for ebook/digital purchase, but alas, it's too niche for that I'd imagine.
I'm sorely tempted to purchase every book in the series, even 'road to damascus' just so I can read them in order. I'm not interested in beating my bank account to a pulp atm so I'm just going to have to pray for no one else knowing these books exist. I'm tempted to buy all the books and scan/transcript them to a digital format just to throw them out in a torrent. It's unlikely I'll do this though. Thanks for the links.
8982721 You are quite welcome. And folks are always looking for Bolo books as they seem to not be coming out anymore.Baen owns the rights I believe, and they want 'collections of short stories' instead of good long books..so who knows. Glad you found them and the site, some books are kinda beat up, but readable :)
Twilight, you were given several warnings and refused. Now to figure out what changed...
Keep going! 'n
8982721
You can find most of them in .epub or .mobi formats for ebook readers. I have most of the Bolo series (including Road to Damascus) on my ipad.
Given the amount of magical power rather than finesse that Twilight just threw at that book, Im going to assume for the time being that that magical power was used to create teh pocket universe that the story now exists in, while closing down the transition portal back to Equestria Real.
The trick now gets to Crusader analysing the operational stry, and using magic of equivalents and extreme energies to bridge between universes before the now isolated story evapourates away through Hawking radiation being a very small pocket universe?
Course, Im waiting to see what actually occurs. I can only offer suggestions that follow reality as I somewhat understand it.
8982267
ty, and it DOES feel like something he would say.
“I... Will show you MAGIC!”
Feel the power of my...mmMMAgggGggGIiiICCcCcc!!
8982245
Let me know
dais
And expected spell failure was expected.
It does say something that that particular emoticon is of Twilight...
I eagerly await a puny god scene where Wyatt picks up Pokey throws him around a bit then says "Puny god."
8982629
Om my gawd, yes! Ogre... I remember frittering away so many Summer days playing that with friends when we weren't in the mood for AD&D. Granted, a microgame like that wouldn't hold a candle to the wargames Crusader let the girls play on the command deck-- quite a few chapters ago if I recall.
On a side note, I never was terribly good at Ogre as I'd die from a thousand cuts on my way to the home base as the Ogre or my forces wouldn't be fast enough to cut off the Ogre from squashing my base. (I blame cursed dice)
8982876
There are two comics. Which one did Twilight accidently fry to a golden brown?
8982666
I believe I spotted glitch in the Matrix. When the comic store owner, Dice, is walked out to meet Twilight, he is first described as a unicorn. The next time he's described a few lines later, he's now an Earth pony. Luckily, he returns to a unicorn state when they go into the back room.
8982789 Its that quick, 'do it now' type plan..just do it :)
8982800 Ohhhh...those things.. Yeah..Forest Foals and the thing in the Everfree :P
8982822 I'mma writing! :)
8982876 You always come up with some seriously thoughtful ideas:)
8983169 Done! Thanks! And yep..we all know its gonna happen :)
8982966 Shall do!
8983283 Sure wish you'd trust me. I gots a plan :)
8983366 Oh!..well pits... I'm writing!! :P
8984019 Don't you think I'd get tons of "You didn't!" Comments for doing that? :)
8984365 I died SO much playing that game..stupid tanks :P
8984365 Oh pits. Lemme do an edit then! Thanks Morphy!
8986230 I honestly wish I could animate that chapter too, the hijinks would be awesome :)
8985311 Clues have been planted throughout the chapters :)
8980317
And I pray it never does.
8983283
Let’s hope it stays that way.
8989323 It surely does make you wonder if anything's there. Always more stories to come :) And yeah, that deja vu hit kinda hard..not sure where..but seemed kinda familiar :P
8989449
The Square Cube Law is just that, The area available to support a given object if all it is is scaled in all dimensions equally increases as the square of the scale size, and the mass of the object increases as the Cube of the scale, therefore the ratio between them increases Linearly with scale.
Even Black Holes get less dense with size, you can achieve an event horizone with a ball of water, hydrogen gas or even the vaccuum of space if you go large enough, but for planetary stuff, Crusader as given is only Three times the mass of Bagger 266, while having a Lot more tread area and power available.
Then again, while at University in the 80s I was asking round the Fusion department if they had any details on high density compression ignition fusion reactor designs, as I was looking at the idea of stable variability in dynamic plasma systems, such as the Sun breathes and then theres Cephid variables, so I was trying to find out what the smallest confined plasma structure could be with a 20 millisecond cycle, that is, a double acting fusion pulse reactor that ran at main frequency. Problems were the diesel equivalent sizes, detonations, of 50 metre lengths, and power outputs of approx 120 Terrawatts. Or double current global supply in a single design. How to cool it even with 95% plus direct EM extraction, metres of cryogenic hydrogen shielding and coolant etc then again, the vehicle this reactor was being designed to power, was a 2 kilometer long Habbakuk weighing 120 million tons. Approx.
If you dont have much space available, then a foot of tungsten or 20 metres of soil gives excelent radiation protection. If you have plenty of room, then 20 kilometers of atmosphere does a similar job. Plasma based forcefields can handle both material and energy interactions, plasmas having a cut off energy related to temperature I beleive. For the EE Doc Smith Wall Shield, consider MITs Optical Lattice, and there was one research article in the 80s where they were using evanecent waves from a laser pumped fibreoptic net, to generate electric field strength so high as to induce dipoles in neutrons, so as to capture and contain cryogenic neutron gas in an attempt to form stable neutronium. Strangely, I havent seen anything else of this research since, especially the bit where they were looking to make the effect thousands of times more powerful with certain coatings. Enabling them to attempt to catch and contain thermal neutrons. Think of that like Brains shielding in the Thunderbirds, Handwavery Unobtanium.
Currently the only thing stopping anyone making test items out of diamond and cast sapphire structures is cost and time.
Personally, Id consider a Bolo to be capable if being dropped from orbit meant it didnt have to bother slowing down because thres a nice soft planet to let it do lithobraking on arrival. Landing on water is only problematical due to hypercavitation letting it pretty much hit the ocean floor and have to climb back out again.
well, finally finished reading through all currently posted chapters... only took me about a week and a half...
And once again, Twilight has managed to turn a relatively benign situation, into a possible catastrophe, because she couldn't help but tamper with a complicated and delicate spell. We can only hope that she has not just doomed four lives. Also, i can scarcely imagine how angry Crusader is going to be...
finally caught upp after an unknow amount off chapters dumping
8989570
Well, that's quite a mouthful, and a lot of it seems like random tangents...
You're understanding of the Square-Cubed Law seems a bit rusty... Yes, as the object gets larger, it's potential surface area increases; but the ground loading per square inch is still increasing faster than the ground contact area can increase, unless you restrict the objects height and make it only spread out in width and length. This presents a problem for a machine that is meant to be able to move under it's own power... or at all.
Consider this example: take a one foot cubed block of steel; it's surface area touching the ground is one foot squared. If the cubes proportions are doubled so that it goes from being one foot long on each side, to two feet long on each side, it's ground surface contact area is multiplied by four, while the cubes total volume and weight are multiplied by eight. The enlarged cube is now pressing down on the ground with double the weight per square inch that the original cube did.
the rate of increase looks a bit like this when simplified:
ground contact - volume/weight
1 - 1
4 - 8
9 - 27
16 - 64
25 - 125
36 - 216
49 - 343
64 - 512
81 - 729
100 - 1000
121 - 1331
144 - 1728
The ground loading will continue to increase the bigger you make the cube, until it reaches a point where the cube's ground loading will begin to displace the ground, and the cube will begin to sink. How far the cube will sink, depends on the weight of the cube, and what the ground is made of.
Now, if you followed all of that; a cube object is your best case scenario for ground loading; unfortunately, Bolo's are not built like cubes, they ride above the ground on treads like any tank, and so their ground weight distribution is similar to a tank, but on an entirely different order of magnitude. the entire weight of their hull is focused on the ground contact area of the tracks, and if that weight loading exceeds what the ground will support, the tracks will sink in.
There is also the matter of structural load bearing strength, Bolo's are not a solid cube of material, they have passages, weapon mounts, machinery bays, ammo magazines, cargo holds, reactors, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc... Any very large structure, needs to be built of appropriate materials, and in an appropriate way, that the passive strain of gravity does not exceed the structural strength of the structure, and any additional strain on the structure, such as say rumbling across a plain at combat speeds, pulling hard maneuvers, and firing weapons with titanic recoil forces, will pile on top of the normal gravity loading.
If the combined strain becomes too much for any part of the structure to tolerate, that part of the structure will sheer apart, which can lead to more structural members failing in a runaway domino effect, until the whole structure, folds like a house of cards, beneath it's own weight.
Now, for those other points.
Black Holes do not get less dense, under any circumstances that i know of; the entire point of them is that mathematics and physics best guess on their nature, predicts that the mass of the entire black hole is compressed into a point of infinite density. I am not a physicist, i have only a loose grasp of the basic theory; but as i understand it, the event horizon of the black whole has no mass of it's own, it is simply the perceivable cutoff line where the gravitational distortion of space by the Singularity, becomes so intense not even light can escape.
I followed maybe half of what you talked about regarding fusion pulse power supplies; but what i did follow, has given me some interesting food for thought.
The other reason we don't make artificial diamond or sapphire structures, is that they have terrible mechanical properties. Diamond and Sapphire are nearly impossible to scratch because they are some of the hardest substances known; but they are not unbreakable, and their tolerance to flexing and torsion is lousy, the moment you apply enough force to bend them, they shatter. This is why sheets of artificial sapphire are used in applications like outer protective lenses on military optical systems; because things like sand abrasion won't scratch them, but if that sheet of sapphire gets hit by a bullet, it will shatter.
Litho braking is great and all if the hull can take it; but a Bolo dropping directly into the atmosphere without any kind of landing equipment, is still going to slam into the surface at terminal velocity... hitting Water is actually much worse, because at least dirt and stone can compress under impact. This is why diving into water at terminal velocity is likened to hitting concrete; the water does not compress, so it can only be shoved aside, which at those velocities, it cannot do fast enough. At the moment of impact the water acts like a hardened surface, comparable to reinforced concrete; once the velocity of your fall is arrested, then you can sink into the water, but this is little comfort if you've already flattened yourself like a bug against a windshield on impact.
8989919 I can only hope they were enjoyable :)
8989812 Hopefully with lots of popcorn. I love popcorn, best thing ever :)
8989988 Reading through the comments sometimes, I am amazed and constantly enthralled with some of the discussions and how intricate they get. Amazing, honestly. Sometimes I have to hit the net to fully understand them, but very cool :) Also, in the Bolo stories, Bolos usually used aerobraking shells for in atmosphere drops. Until they got a little silly with the null-grav thing. :)
8989988
If you like to think of Sci Tech at what is magical levels, have a read of Days Of Wasp And Spider. Crusaders nanites can build to the atomic level. So do the Dogs.
8990461
o.O
...
Well, now you've just lost me completely; what do molecular construction nanites have to do with any of what we previously discussed?
8990504
Current real world used materials are a percentage the useable strength of their atomically perfect forms due to not being bulk perfect, and surface crazed, damaged, deformed etc which gives stress concentrations and greatly increased fault propagation etc. Best example Ive seen so far this year, is the demonstration of diamond nanoneedles that had elastic deformations in the percentage points. Combinin a slurry of those with waterbased hydrogel, and the shere impact to thermal convertion capabilities, theoretically, was reaching the equivalent of a continous hit from an M60 heavy cannon, 50 cal machine gun, against something equivalent to present day personal bullet resistant vest.
Big structures also get lighter due to the design, Theres an excelent Open University range of videos many years ago for engineering, showing Power Pylons being Tested To Destruction, and making crane jibs out of wood slivers. For a given stick, the space frame jib was a lot stronger etc because teh forces were spread more through the available material, not because the material itself was any better formed itself.
A nanotech manufactured pure iron sheet will be an awful lot stronger than a cast, or hammered slab of iron, even though they are exactly the same atoms in the same macro form.
8990031
wouln't read yuor story thne if they wherent XD got litel minf blown whne i sudenly notise like bam 26 new chapters on an story you haven't red in an good while
8990580 Yeah, got a bad habit of doing that :) I'll be posting once a week or more now as time permits. Have time to write now and words are just flowing:)
Cliffhangers?! Why?!
8990540
I see. well, future composites, and meta-materials, are frankly a big unknown; but using them to compensate for an ultra large structure's mechanical strain loading so it does not collapse, is still just that, compensating. The sheer bulk and weight of something as big as a Bolo, is still going to eat up a hefty chunk of the material's mechanical strength just stopping everything from collapsing.
As for that example of the diamond Nano needle; all materials start to behave weirdly once taken down to the nano scale, the effect tends to disappear once you scale them back up to macro scale.
As for the structure designs you speak of, i am familiar with the concept, even if i don't know the name for them offhand. Such constructions rely on being set just right; near perfect arrangements of materials creating a structure that naturally balances itself against gravity loading, and some amount of external forces. However, such constructions tend to rely on balanced tension forces in the construction, and will usually fail catastrophically, if any major component to the arrangement gets broken or knocked out of place. Also i note all the examples you sited where stationary buildings, not vehicles.
8991182 Because it keeps me from taking too much time to write 10-20k word arcs that folks politely let me know would have been better broken up :)
8991197
If/when the day comes, it shall be an honour to bear witness to it. (Also immense delight)
8991200 I shall remember that and do my very best :)
8990852
that's nice keep the hard work upp man it's apreciated!
8991337 Shall do!
8992133
Thanks.
Horns? Black Hair....? Oh Bollocks How did-
"Call me POKEY!"
....PFFFT. Well alright then... Do a little dance and then maybe we'll talk.
8993012 Almost got all the in-jokes, think about it a little more :)
8994197 Glad you enjoy all the little side jokes, they're a lot of fun to write :)
8994482
It’d probably be even funnier if the tank turned the turret slightly towards Wyatt.
8969023
You’re welcome.
8978480
I know he is.
8996528
OMNOM NOM NOM NOM!
8997091
I do not believe so. I would think the bolos do not have the specifications of nanite to build this kind of thing.
8997582 True, but he was behind the turret, and turning in battle wouldn't be good, even if it was a bit miffed :P