Unity
Chapter Fifteen
"So..." Rarity began as she looked at Twilight over her tea, "What exactly have you heard?"
"I've heard that you've been dating Spike. For weeks now."
"Ahh... Well, weeks is an exaggeration. But yes, I have spent some time with him. Spike is quite the gentledrake you know, not at all like Blueblood or his ilk."
Taking a moment to sip her tea, calming herself, Twilight finally asked "And when were you planning to tell me about this?"
"Spike said he would tell you soon." Rarity answered. "And I wouldn't have felt right breaking his trust for obvious reasons." She paused for a moment, then added "Twilight darling, why don't we just cut to the core of things? What's really bothering you?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Well my dear, I know it's not his age. Young for a dragon or not, he's still mature and legally of age, even if I am a couple of years older. And I know it's not just because we're different species, that's never bothered you before. And you have to know that Spike would never hurt me, nor I him. So what is it?"
"I'm sorry Rarity." Twilight said. "I do have a concern, but I hate to say it when it might hurt you."
Rarity nodded. "Ahh. As I thought. Well then, let me say it for you: I'm high maintenance. I want wealth and glamour and privilege. And those are things which Spike doesn't have to give, so why am I giving him the time of day. And what will happen when somepony who can offer me those things comes along? What of Spike then? Does that about sum it up?"
"I would never!"
"You would never actually accuse me of such a thing, no. Which is why you were so reluctant to come out and express your concerns... But you were thinking it."
"I'm so sorry! I don't really think, I mean, that is..." Twilight tripped over her words, unsure of what to say.
"It's okay darling. I'm not insulted. After all, I really have behaved in a manner that raises the question." Rarity answered. "And I can approve, strongly, of your concern for Spike's welfare. But, to answer your question... I think that I've grown, of late. Certainly wealth and fame and the rest are a part of who I've desired to be. And yet, seeing, over and over again, how those who have it -like Blueblood- behave... It's dawned on me that there is something better to be had. And Spike, well, he's an excellent example of that."
Twilight nodded silently. "I see."
"So...?"
"So, I've got no problem with it." Twilight smiled. "Just... don't hide things like this anymore okay?"
"You've got a deal my dear. And now if you'll excuse me, if I rush I can maybe still make that appointment..."
XXXX
Deep in the forests, the assault team carefully moved towards the alien's base. There were eight humans, mostly armed with assault rifles though a few were carrying explosives as well. Six unicorns were assigned to the gun-toting humans, to cast the explosive ammo spell Twilight had devised. Another four were there to attack directly with magic. Eight earth ponies also accompanied the group, some like Macintosh helping to carry ammo, the rest to help with planting explosives. And a half-dozen pegasai would try to distract the aliens from above.
"How much further?" Someone whispered.
"Not far." Bert answered. "We'll be in sight of the pit over the next rise."
"Everyone know their place?" Sword Breaker asked.
A chorus of voices all confirmed yes.
Atop the hill, the team looked down into the pit. A single tripod stood near the center, standing sentry. Three more were visible further off to the south, still methodically searching the forest for the group that had escaped them the previous day. Bert was relieved to see that they weren't burning the trees, and surprised to see that the machines had, in the growing darkness, switched on ordinary white-light search beams.
"No infrared?" He wondered. "These guys seem to be pretty schizo on their technology levels."
"Different worlds, different needs, different technologies." Lyra whispered back.
"Yeah, I guess so. Okay, so do we attack the base first, or go on around and take out the searchers?"
"Searchers would be easier, since we'd have the cover of the trees." Sword Breaker said. "But, it'd also mean that they'd start setting the forest on fire with those beams."
Virgil said "Attacking camp would bring them back out of the trees, preventing a forest fire... And probably let us tackle them one at a time, if the searchers just plunge headlong back and don't coordinate. But it would give them the high ground along the rim, and cost us the cover we need."
Bethany asked "What if we split up? Some of us run in and take out the guard. Then, when the others come back the rest of us attack them from behind."
"That's not bad." Bert agreed. "I'm wondering though... What other defenses might they have in the camp itself?"
"Only one way to find out." Cloudkicker said. "Let my team fly in, harass them, see what happens."
Sword Breaker thought it over, then said "All right, but be careful... We've already lost one guard to these guys, I'd like to keep any further casualties to a minimum."
With a nod, Cloudkicker led his pegasai into the air and towards the pit. The aliens didn't seem to even notice them coming, until they were in the midst of the pit's airspace, swooping and diving and cartwheeling all around the tripod, which moved in an attempt to catch them mid-flight. It's tentacle arms were fast, but not quite fast enough to catch a pegasus in flight, nor could it aim the heat ray it held quickly enough to blast them.
"Maybe we should just have them drop the explosives?" Bethany wondered.
"Maybe we should."
The tripod suddenly stopped flailing in it's attempts to catch the intruders, and instead let out a deep reverberating call: "ULLA ULLA ULLA!"
"What the hell!?"
"Reinforcements." Bert said, pointing to where the three tripods which had been scattered about searching were now on their way back.
"Damn!" Virgil swore.
"Cuss later, right now it's go time!" Sword Breaker said. "Attack!" At his command, everyone moved into their positions. Ideally, the sentry tripod needed to be down and out of the picture before the others made it back, so the team didn't hesitate but rushed forward, over the rim and down into the pit, half of the team heading in to attack while the rest waited in hiding, for the other machines to arrive.
Distracted as it was by the pegasai, the alien operating the first tripod didn't even notice the attack coming at ground level until it was too late. Three unicorns launched attack spells at the machine's legs, backed up by gunfire from the humans who had accompanied them. The tripod was fast; most of the attacks missed, but one of it's legs crumpled under the assault. At first, it looked as if it would fall over like the one Sword Breaker destroyed had, but then the pilot managed to right the machine on two legs. A swath of ground burst into flames as the tripod's heat-ray fired, it's path arcing directly towards the attackers.
"Incoming! Scatter!" Sword Breaker shouted. Reacting as quickly as they could, everyone tried to run clear of the attack. Some of them didn't quite make it. Two humans and an earth pony stumbled to the ground, alive but burned. As pegasai swooped in to carry them to safety, Bert shouted for everyone still close to the machine to get clear while Lyra, standing at his side, used her magic to levitate a package of explosives directly under one of the remaining legs.
"Perfect! Hold it there!" Bert exclaimed, " In three... two... one..."
The tripod crumpled to the ground as both of it's remaining legs were reduced to scrap. As it fell, it repeated the 'ULLA' call, and fired it's heat-ray on the way down. The burning weapon slashed a trail of molten rock across the ground, but didn't come near anyone.
And then, before anyone could find the time to cheer, the three remaining tripods arrived. Forced to run in every direction, the attackers found themselves disorganized and uncertain of how to proceed. Of course, it got worse when the nearest of the machines launched a canister that landed near the rim of the pit and began to disgorge a thick black smoke.
"Trouble..." Macintosh whispered.
Standing by his side, Bethany nodded. "Is that the poison gas we were warned about?"
"Eeyup, it's gotta be... Good thing the wind's blowin' the other way."
And indeed the wind was blowing away from the hidden team. In fact, they saw as they watched, it seemed that the tripod had done this on purpose. The toxic smoke was covering the very ground that the trio of machines was standing on. It was heavy, and stayed low to the ground, ensuring that the pilots didn't have to worry about being gassed themselves, high up in the cockpits, but also meant that no one could get close enough to attack them, while they could still attack with the greater range of the heat-rays.
"Clever..." Bert mused as he joined Mac and Bethany, Lyra still at his side.
"Eeyup... Though I gotta wonder why they didn't just fire it at us."
"Maybe they don't have very many of them." Bert suggested. "So they put them to the best use under the circumstances."
Flying in low, Cloudkicker joined them. "The injured are being carried home. So, any thoughts on our next move?"
"There's still the bombs dropped by pegasai option." Bethany said.
"Yeah, but it's risky... One inch too low and you're in that smoke..."
"We have a few gas masks." Lyra said.
"Yeah, but for humans. I don't think your muzzles would allow them to fit." Bethany said.
Bert added "Yeah, and besides that, what if that stuff doesn't work just by breathin' it in? It could be a skin-contact poison."
"I'm willing to risk it." Cloudkicker said. "After all, we've already stirred up the hornet's nest now. If we don't stop them, they'll just keep coming."
"You're right... Okay, let's figure out the best way to do this..." Two humans and three ponies put their heads together, plotting...
XXXX
Meanwhile, deep in the forests on the far side of Unity from where the battle was taking place, a small group of humans was making their way along what seemed to be a wide trail. Anita Wallace, her three children, and Angela Riggs with her son were following the lead taken by Angela's husband Thomas. They had been walking all day, and now into the night, hoping to find some sign of civilization. And they were getting tired.
"Can't we stop?" Three year old Amanda pleaded. "I'm sleepy!"
"We're all sleepy sweetie... But we need to keep going."
"Here," Thomas said, "Lemme give you a hand." He knelt down and allowed the girl to climb onto his back. "Hold on now!"
It was perhaps a mile further along the trail when Thomas held up a hand for everyone to stop. "Did you hear that?" Before anyone could ask 'hear what?' the sound came again, a deep rumbling from off in the distance.
"Thunder?" Anita asked.
"I don't think so... Sounds more like bombs going off..."
"So, what, we're wandering around in a war zone?" Angela asked.
"Maybe... Either way, it wasn't directly in our path. Let's keep moving."
Distracted as they were by the sounds of a distant battle, no one noticed the flapping of wings as a pegasus sentry took flight, over the treetops, back towards Unity.
XXXX
In Unity, Sheriff Tucker was doing his best to maintain a sense of calm in the population. To his surprise, the citizens had remained surprisingly cool when the sounds of battle began to reach them. Aside, of course, from a handful of crying children and foals, and more than a few people hiding in their homes, parting curtains to peer nervously out windows.
Standing atop the wall, scanning the horizon with binoculars and watching the occasional flashes of orange and red light from the distance, Tucker was bemused but happy when Rarity arrived with her uniform plans. Just enough of a distraction to take the edge off without keeping him from also remaining vigilant.
They were just about to finish up when the pegasai flew in, bearing the wounded. The three carrying injured comrades flew over the wall and on towards the medical facilities, while a fourth, Sturmwind, fluttered to a landing near the Sheriff.
“What happened?” Tucker demanded.
“Injuries. One pony, two human. Mostly burns to their limbs, they should all be fine with treatment.” Sturmwind replied.
“Damn... What else can you tell me?”
“As we flew away I saw the first tripod-thing fall. But the other three were almost back to the pit. On a positive note, the three injuries are it so far, no deaths.”
“Good.” Tucker nodded.
“Permission to return to the front sir?”
“Go, but wait for your three friends. I don't want you being a lone target.”
“Understood.” Sturmwind flew off to join the other pegasai.
“What I wouldn't give for the Elements of Harmony right now.” Rarity said.
“I hear you there.” Tucker answered. “I'd pay a king's ransom for a couple of RPG's or a fifty-cal.”
“Whatever those are darling.” Rarity said, and they both chuckled.
They returned their attention over the wall, watching and waiting. Several minutes later Sturmwind and his fellows flew overhead, back towards the battle. After a while, Rarity excused herself, begging the need to check in on Sweetie Belle, but Tucker stayed at his post. Midnight Steel joined him later in the evening, and around midnight another pegasus landed and saluted. “Report from the sentry ring sirs.”
“What have you got?” Midnight asked.
“A small group of unknown humans incoming. Three adults, four children.”
“Humans? You're sure?” Tucker asked.
“Yes sir, absolutely. From the direction of the third storm.”
Tucker and Midnight exchanged a look. “Huh... No indications of a new town out that way.” Midnight said. “Could the storm have just snatched up a small group?”
“I suppose it's possible. You say they're heading for town?”
The pegasus nodded. “Yeah. I figure they'll be here not long before sunrise.”
“Okay.” Tucker said. “I think I should talk to them before they see any ponies. Midnight, can you shuffle the guards so the ponies are on the far side of town from where they'll arrive?”
“I'm on it.” Midnight said, as he trotted off to see to the orders.
The Sheriff sighed. “It never rains but it pours...” he grumbled...
XXXX
Shetland Crossing. After determining that nocreature was harmed, the town's inhabitants began to take stock of what might have happened to them. As the town's mayor, the minotaur Steel Forge took charge, directing his people in counting supplies, storing away food, and distributing weapons to those able to handle them. Because of it's location at a major international border, the town already had a strong stone wall with turrets and cannons, though Steel Forge knew full well that would only do so much.
As he stood atop the stairs of the town hall, Steel Forge heard a familiar voice and turned to see Gerolt approaching. “What have you found my friend?” The minotaur asked as the gryphon touched down beside him.
“Forest. Nothing but forest in almost every direction.”
“Almost...?”
Gerolt pointed north. “Up towards the mountains, at the outer limit of my sight range, I think I caught hints of a town. I'm not sure though, might have been a mirage or something. It is getting kind of dark.”
“You're wanting permission to check it out?”
“Well, we'll have to sooner or later.” Gerolt replied. “Be quite a hoot if it turned out to be Ponyville.”
Steel Forge grimaced. “A 'hoot' or not, we could use the allies. Better than being here all alone.”
“So I can go then?”
As Steel Forge was about to answer, he was interrupted by another minotaur who ran up to him, saying “Sir! Sir! Something's happening to the north! You need to come to the wall and see!”
“Come.” Steel said, and both he and Gerolt rushed to the north wall, climbing (or flying) to the top and looking out over the forest. Far off in the distance, there were bright flashed of yellow, orange, and red, followed by the thunderous booms of explosions. “A battle...” The minotaur mused.
Another, even brighter and louder flash and rumble shook the forests. “And a serious one at that.” Gerolt agreed. "Look Steel, I know you won't want me to go under these circumstances, but someone has to. And you know I'm the best flier in town..."
Steel Forge sighed. "Yes, yes of course you're right... But I'm not sending you out alone."
"No?" Gerolt cocked his head to the side. "But who else...?"
"Assuming there is a town up there, it's inhabitants could be anything. And so, what you need is someone who can fit in as anything."
"Changelings!?" Gerolt exclaimed. "You want me to take changelings with me?"
"Just a couple. I know how they freak you out."
"They don't freak me... Well, okay, maybe a little."The gryphon admitted.
"Our locals are free-hive, never affiliated with Chrysalis. You know that."
"Yeah yeah..." Gerolt shook his head. "Anyone specific in mind, or should I just ask for volunteers?"
"Xix-xax and Bzzz are waiting for you at the west gate." Steel Forge said.
Gerolt stared at his friend in surprise. "You were already ready?"
"You have to anticipate if you want to be a good leader." The minotaur chuckled. "In any event, by all means go, but wait until daybreak at this point. And good luck."
Gerolt simply nodded. He suspected he would need every drop of that luck...
XXXX
Cloudkicker struggled to make the human-model gas mask fit over his face. It almost worked, thanks to the extended breathing apparatus, but every time he though it was on securely something would pop loose. "This would be funny if it wasn't deadly serious." Lyra chuckled.
"Laugh it up, I'd like to see you fit!"
"Is that a proposition?" Lyra teased.
"Whot!?!?" Cloudkicker fell over backwards, the mask popping off his face with a loud snapping noise. Laughing even harder now, Lyra offered a hoof to help the pegasus get back on his feet.
"I'm just kidding!" She said.
"Will you two get serious!?" Bert hissed. "They're starting to move again, coming this way!" Across the pit, the tripods were moving apart, resuming a search pattern for the attackers.
"Maybe if they move clear of the gas..." Macintosh said.
"Maybe." Bert agreed. "But I'll be surprised if they actually..." As he spoke, the middle machine dropped another gas canister, which sent black smoke billowing out in a wider circle, keeping all three tripods protected. "See?"
"Well damn." Bethany whispered. "Should we retreat?"
"We may not get another good chance." Cloud Kicker replied. "Just... Somebody help me get this stupid mask to stay on!"
Lyra and Bethany both moved to try to help, but as they were about to try again, everyone was taken by surprise when a massive explosion suddenly erupted underneath the closest tripod. It's legs crumpled, the cockpit falling to the ground and also exploding on impact.
"What the hell!?"
"Who did that? How?"
From above, a voice said "Reinforcements!"
Everyone looked up to see Rainbow Dash descending to join them. "Reinforcements?" Bert asked.
Rainbow nodded, pointed with a hoof. "Yep. Take a look!"
Running away from the site of the destroyed tripod were a pair of strange creatures, clad in thick suits and gas masks. "Goblins." Rainbow said. "When I went to let them know what was happening, Brayflox insisted on coming to help out. Something about live customers being better than dead ones... Turns out they make a mean bomb."
"I know what I wanna trade them for!" Bert laughed.
As the goblins drew close enough to be in earshot, Brayflox could be heard calling to her companion. "Flee! Flee! Heat-Death-Weapon like hellfires of Ifrit!"
"Nice work." Bert said as the Goblins joined them.
Brayflox jumped up and down, saying "Yes! Yes! Brayflox show that 'Alltalks' is just name, not what Brayflox is!"
"Please tell us you've got more of those bombs."
"Plenty more! Gobbie-boom is best weapon of Goblins, carry muchs!"
Bert grinned. "Okay then... Let's finish this up..."
I wonder how the humans will react to the changelings?
I guess we'll see soon enough!
Is this based off of 'Ponyville, U.S.A'?
Glad to see this continue as always, well written and all that. The battle scene's not doing anything for me, but I'm very eager to see how the various incoming groups react to Unity.
I'm loving this. you got me on the edge of my seat for more.
Why did you spontaneously gender switch Cloudkicker?
Hmm, interesting with Shetland Crossing. Two from Equestria and... I guess one and a half from Earth.
Ha! Suck it, War of the Worlds aliens!
5964979
The only thing Ponyville, USA shares with this story is that Ponyville is transported to another world, minus Zecora, and they end up interacting with humans. Almost everything else about the story is different, and even Twilight Sparkle is different.
I have to admit it's a gimmick you don't see often though. Mostly because Equestria on Earth was spoiled by The Conversion Bureau, instead of good stories like Widening The Lens.
5965025
I don't think it was intentional, but yes, Cloud Kicker is a mare. This makes the second story I've seen where an author used the name Cloud Kicker without realizing it was an actual character.
interesting names for the Changelings
You know, I wonder if the goblins have Linkshells and linkpearls.
So, who's up for some extraterrestrial calamari?
Also i really like this version of Rarity, i just had to put that out there.
Just found this story, have now read it in full and found it brilliantly executed thus far.
Just hope whatever force is messing with all these species and worlds gets its comeuppance .
Another good chapter. Lets hope the battle settles soon.
Playing devils advocate ;
Those poor war of the worlds aliens ; just eating a cattle animal like they always do, just getting used to not being on their terrible shitty planet and being abducted by aliens.
Some weird aliens show up, they probably think its them that has abducted them (just like the ponys and humans did when they first saw some aliens) So they fire a warning shot at the ridge they are hiding behind(just like the humans nearly shot at the Ponies). Then one of their only walkers, their only means of defense in this weird place gets shot by a magic beam weapon. Is it so weird they are defending themselves? Now their whole town is under some serious attack. They have not gone out and done anything aggressive, without provocation.
So what if it turns out HG Wells' made up their genocidal qualities, just like how their shields don't seem to exist? They all deserve to die? No bothering trying to communicate with these guys to clear up the initial misunderstanding?
The human town almost did worse shooting a Pony with less provocation on their first meeting. I bet Pinkie would have freaked out just as bad if she saw the local butcher going at some of the human owned livestock.
5965995 your joking...right?
i mean sure the humans and ponies had a rough start, but things got better in the end (the fact that no one killed each other during the whole time was probably the main bonus). But the squids (sorry, but i don't know the name of their race) disintegrated a being without a chance of diplomacy or even a courtesy "lets see if they really are a threat before we start blasting them into ash". The squids proved to be hostile to an unknown variable almost immediately. A threat that cannot be reasoned with and has shown willingness to kill your own and allies can only lead to one logical outcome, their immediate extermination. unless there is a major development that can lead to (neutral at best) communication between the squids and the other inhabitants, my stand does not change.
Either cease hostilities to those neutral to it or be crushed. cooperation seems improbable at this point.
5965995 Uh, you're kidding, right? The tripod kept firing until it killed someone and then fired some more for good measure. That's not a warning shot, that's a clear and deliberate case of shooting to kill. They only destroyed the tripod after it killed one of their people.
The humans on the other hand... One person reacted negatively to what he thought was some kind of mental attack and almost shot, key word being almost, somepony for it. He also turned out to be something of a paranoid nut, unlike the majority of the population.
By comparison, the Mor-tax basically went "Strange alien creatures? KILL THEM DEAD WITH LASERS!" on sight, no provocation whatsoever required. Even if they didn't think the ponies and humans are sapient, that's kind of like hauling out an autocannon and shooting with deadly intent at the local wildlife on the off chance that it may be hostile, or just for the laughs.
I'd call that a lot worse than the human/pony first contact.
This is an interesting idea I haven't seen done before in this fandom, and I think I have only seen it... twice, elsewhere. Both of those stories are dead, as I recall.
Overall, this is looking quite good thus far. Consider it added to my watchlist.
5966110
Nah I'm being totally serious. Devils Advocate is deliberately taking the opposite view even if you don't agree with it to show up some potential faults in the common consensus or to bring up something the majority hasn't considered .The aliens are weird but they are the first real ALIEN aliens they have come across; judging them on very little knowledge of how they work or even how they think is weird.
They might be reasoned with , no one has really tried. Maybe blasting near by cover is how they say hello ; look at how impressive my heat gun is show me yours and we can be friends! Just don't shoot my walkers legs that would be rude and an act of war.
You can be friends with Klingons and they are warlike murderous bastards who shoot at you whilst invisible. And They show friendship in "open" first meetings by powering up all their weapons and aiming them at you so you know what they've got. When to everyone else that's an act of war.
They fired a shot towards the weird aliens who turned up right after they had been abducted. That's not a reason to genocide them. I bet there are a ton of weird alien races that will shoot at weird aliens to scare them off who you could potentially be friends with if you meet them on their terms.
Again the humans very very nearly shot the ponies for practically the same reasons. Seeing weird alien stuff.
Was that thing was an ally? (I thought it was some other weird cattle alien?) If the humans butcher a pig is that killing their own allies ?
5966118
One walker pilot reacted negatively to what he thought was some kind of attack on their home after being abducted and fired once at a hill the aliens where hiding behind.
They only shot directly at a Pony after a magic ray beam hit one of their walkers. They are only shooting at "local wildlife to kill" if your local wildlife regularly shoots at you with magic ray beams after you try and scare it off.
That one human turned out to be a relative nut , but if someone hadn't grabbed his gun and messed up his shot , and he did kill that pony. Would it have been fair to judge every human by his actions ? I bet every human would have defended him and shot back if a bunch of ponies turned up the next day shooing magic lasers and dropping bombs.
5966156
As this point you're all raising valid ways of looking at things. Soon enough we'll get an interview with one of the tripod pilots which will make their motivations clearer and I suspect less sympathetic.
5966288
I've stolen some preview footage
So I got a PM (From a user I'll leave unnamed, save to say they've not actually commented here) accusing Rarity of being a pedophile. Now, if we stick with Spike as a baby, sure. But really appearance aside how young can he be? Twilight is clearly a young adult, I assume around twenty-three. She hatched Spike when she was around five. So he's got to be in the range of eighteen. Of course, dragons could age slower since they live longer but it's also plausible that they age to adulthood at the usual speed, then just age slower as adults all while growing larger very, very slowly. In any case I wanted to clarify that I am not presenting an adult/child relationship. Spike, though still small, is indeed an adult here, if just barely.
5966156 You do not point a weapon at a target you are not willing to destroy. And you do not allow a threat like that to go unanswered if you want to survive.
And if it is a cultural thing to issue a greeting with hot death, then peaceful coexistence wasn't going to happen anyway. Not all cultures have value, not all opinions are worthy of tolerating. It doesn't matter if the aliens have a viewpoint that makes their actions rational. Unity doesn't have such a viewpoint and are under no obligation to risk their lives finding it.
5966340
Twilight calls him a baby dragon in the show and I think in the show he is. I'm all for him being not a baby in this story and you've specifically spelled out that he isn't a baby.
5965157
Yeah, I messed up here. Still, if we want to resolve it...
Cloud Kicker (two words) is a mare.
Cloudkicker (one word) is a stallion.
They are fraternal twins with the laziest, most unimaginative parents in pony history.
(As pointed out by Crow T. Robot while watching the credits of 'The Deadly Mantis,' the
laziest human parents were the ones who named their son 'Leon M. Leon.')
5966341
Totally agree with this personally and the war of the worlds aliens are basically space Hitler. But they deserve some attempt at communication even if it ends up with ;
5966308
5966407 They did have a chance to communicate. They shot lasers. I'd say they have communicated very effectively.
5966340
I'll be honest, the ages in MLP are kinda wonky. Different aging rates would explain a lot, but it is interesting to note that the Mane Six seem to map to teenagers in human years, or at least a certain enchanted mirror 'thought' so.
5966340
This is helpful but could you address the point in story? It would help differentiate it from canon in the show where he is very young. I was trying to place after what episode your story takes place as Twi has not accended yet and Spike's age here has thrown me for a little loop. You can also possibly give the main 6 their ages as well as the CMC their ages?
5978179
Hmmm... I Wouldn't know for sure, I don't drink, like, at all. But I had always heard that there was something about Sake that made it hit a lot harder than it should for it's alcohol content, as in harder than pretty much anything else. Again, given that I don't drink I could have been misinformed. I mostly trusted the information because it came from more than one source independently.
Wow, it's been at least 15 years since I read it, but I still remember that onomatopoeia from the novel.
I get that it's a different Cloudkicker, but that sentence looks so weird.
fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2012/085/8/2/cloud_kicker_by_m99moron-d4tr7ia.png
And thus was the dawn of a beautiful relationship.
I've never read War of the Worlds, like... at all...
i need to.
NICE JOB!
GOBLIN SPLOSVIES! 8D
I think I rather like the goblins.
I imagine the goblin sounds like this orig02.deviantart.net/0091/f/2009/355/4/1/total_drama_divaz__izzy_by_yaoi4evandnevayuri.png
I approve. Acquiring wealth does not necessarily mean being suicidally stupid.
5966442
But... at the same time judging an entire race based on first contact with one or two members. Well let's just hope that a real first contact doesn't happen involving stereotypical rednecks.
Can't they enhance the goblin bombs with magic explosive spells? That would be make them more effective.
6393849
Bert: "Well, we do have some strange green rocks laying around town. Stick them with any explosive, and you get this:
"
I always thought Cloud Kicker was female?
9385280
Yeah, I made a mistake there. Somewhere else in the comments I suggested that there is actually 'Cloudkicker' (One word) and 'Cloud Kicker' (Two words,) fraternal twins, one male one female, with the laziest most unimaginative parents in pony history.
9385547
Ok, that's too funny to let go.
New head-canon approved!