Wait for her reply. Assuming she lets you, go in and try to rest and recover from the horror of fighting zombies and a demonic monster.
Zecora just stares blankly at you as you lay there awkwardly waiting for her to respond to your cry for help. You start to sweat nervously as you think,
Why is Zecora taking so long to respond? Is she asleep standing up or something? Oh no...did I offend her by rhyming to her or something?! Oh please Luna let that not be it! I've had a long enough night as it is! I swear to Luna if I did offend her I'm gonna kick Lady Luck’s flank! *sigh* I guess I'll just wait for her to respond.
With that thought in mind you continue to stare up to Zecora and wait for a response.
And stare...
And stare...
And stare...
And sta-
No! Not again with the bucking staring! I thought I was done with that! Buck it I'm goanna say something!
With that thought and your hatred of long awkward stares aside, you open your mouth and say,
Kichi's Comment
"Sorry for coming this late at night...or early in morning, not so sure about what time it is. Been stuck in the Everfree for awhile. Anyway we need your help."
This seems to snap Zecora outta it as she says,
"Of course my pony friend, just enter and to you, my help I will lend."
She helps you up and leads you into her hut. As you are walked in you chuckle nervously before saying,
"Zecora, it's me, Bugze, your one and only very changeling friend,” you say as you take your hat and mask off.
Zecora's eyes widen in recognition as she says in surprise,
"My changeling friend Bugze? Is that really you or our my eyes deceiving me? For a tragedy I did hear, of how your Tenant persona did disappear.”
You don’t notice a glint in Zecora's eyes as she has you rest against a nearby table as you nod your head and say,
"It's me, really. You are not going to believe what happened t-why are you taking that wooden pole out and walking over to me menacingly?"
Zecora doesn't respond to your question as she continues to walk towards you while smacking the pole into the ground. You gulp nervously and you begin to scout down the table in fear as you say,
"Wait, Zecora please think about what you’re about to d-*Pow* *crash* *Bang* OW!"
You begin to rub your head in pain as a couple of bumps start to form on your head from Zecora's attack.
"Owww...why'd you hit me on the head?! I'm injured enough as it is!" you whine.
Zecora only huff's in annoyance before she says,
"After the news of what happened to you I was worried and sad and in pain, and this is your punishment for making me worry about you again!"
You get a sudden feeling of deja vu as you feel like this happened before...that is until she smacks you again.
"OW! Stop it with the whacking already! I'm sorry, but I didn't plan any of that! There was a fire and then the Doctor showed up and that stupid Nightmare that was coming! I blame magic and wibbly wobbly timey wimey things!"
Zecora gives you a deadpanned look before she huffs,
"Start talking, and your story better be good, And do not lie to me, I am in no mood."
Zecora turns around and is about to say something else, but before she can turn back you start to feel what little adrenaline left leave you.
"Hey Zecora, I'ma pass out now. See ya in the mor-*thud*"
Zecora turns around in shock to see your passed out form on the ground. Zecora shakes her head before she starts to pick up your body.
Meanwhile in The Inventory
Applebloom wakes up and looks around to see that Shadow was sleeping. Another thing she noticed was that not only was the strange inventory very familiar, but also the room of the strange filly and her daddy. She looks over at her and see a blanket wrapped around her. She gasps at the sight because if it was not impossible, the filly was almost an exact replica of Nightshade. Apple Bloom sighs sadly at that thought and is about to go back to sleep when she hears Shadow mutter,
"zZzzzZz Watashi wa anata ga sukina otōsan (I love you Daddy)."
Applebloom's eyes widen in shock as she gapes at Shad-no Nightshade's form in shock. Applebloom's eyes narrow in thought as she thinks,
I-it can’t be... Shadow's really Nightshade?!
“zzzz…buck you lady luck…zzz…”
I-it is her! I don't know how she's still around but she is! Oh I’m so glad she’s not dead, she thinks in happiness as she hugs her sleeping friend, feeling the wings under the blanket.
And she's a Alicorn...so that's a thing...wait, does that mean Diamond Tiara was right? She thinks with a shiver as if Tartarus had just frozen over.
But wait a minute! If Nightshade's here then that means...
Appleblooms eyes widen even more as she whispers out loud,
"That must mean her daddy is really Mista Tennant! I hafta tell Applejack! I’ll have to tell everypony. They’ll all be so happy!"
With that said Applebloom tries to get up and out of The Inventory, only for Nightshade to hug her tightly in her sleep making it impossible to escape without waking her up. Applebloom sighs as she gives up and thinks,
Well I guess I’m in no real hurry. I am still tired, so I’ll just tell them all tomorrow.
And with that Applebloom falls into the land of dreams once again.
AdmiralTigerclaw's Comment
In the Dream Realm
Applebloom’s eyes slowly open as she appears...in sompony's bedroom? Applebloom looks around in confusion until she sees...Nightshade looking over a mare in a bed? Applebloom can't help but gasp as she say's out loud,
"Holy Celestia...it's really you! NIGHTSHA-"
"SHHHH! Momma's very sick," she shushes.
Applebloom looks at Nightshade in confusion then back to the mare in the bed.
She looks like an older, darker colored Nightshade. She’s slightly bigger than Applejack, and her mane is dark blue. She almost looks exactly like Princess Luna.
Applebloom looks from the Alicorn lying in the bed and back to her newly returned friend.
"But we're in the dream realm, right? How can she be your Momma?"
Nightshade sighs in annoyance before she turns around and says,
"I said shush! I can explain a little, but you have to promise me you can't tell a soul. Okay?"
Applebloom nods her head dumbly as Nightshade turns back to the sleeping mare.
“I’ll be back later mommy,” she says as she hugs the prone mare before turning back to Applebloom.
“Let’s not talk here,” she says as she takes Applebloom’s hoof.
The room fades, and the environment changes to that of a junk food island.
“This is one of my happy places,” she says.
Applebloom looks around slackjawed and then back to Nightshade.
“Ok, if I wasn’t sure before, I am now. You are Nightshade aintcha?”
She sighs and says, “Man, I really suck at hiding my identity,” before looking back up to the Apple filly with a smile before saying, “Yeah, it’s me,” she says.
Applebloom rushes forth and hugs her friend.
“I knew it! I just knew it! Oh Nightshade, you’re not dead!” she cries out.
“Yeah, I’m sorry for you all thinking that by the way,” Nightshade apologizes.
The two fillies break the hug and Applebloom asks,
“It’s alright, but seriously, why would you and your daddy pretend to be dead? We thought the changelings got you.”
“Well, Daddy didn’t plan it out, it just kind of happened that way. You know how he is with fire.”
“Oh yeah, but why haven’t you come back? Where have ya’ll been?”
“On the run again…like always,” Nightshade says sadly.
“From who? Who were you…oh wait, does this have something to do with that whole witness protection thingy?”
“Huh?”
“Twilight was talking about how your daddy told her you were under different names for your own protection. During the funeral, she thought it was sad that we never knew your true names.”
“Oh…well yeah, I guess it has something to do with that.”
“But I’m sure that if you come back, my sister and her friends can help protect you and,”
“Sorry, but we can’t go back Applebloom, I’m sorry. I have to stay with daddy and mommy. They need me.”
“Oh…”
“And Bloom, I’m gonna need you to Pinkie Promise me that you won’t tell anypony else that we’re alive.”
“But-.”
“No buts, Daddy says we still have to keep it a secret, and I still trust him. So please Applebloom, promise me you won’t tell?”
The yellow filly looks down in sadness before going through the motions of the promise.
“Thanks AB.”
“Yeah…so you’re an Alicorn now? What’s up with that?”
“I…well...*sigh* I’ve always been an Alicorn, we just hid it so that we wouldn’t get attention,” she explains.
“Oh…and your momma in that bed?”
“She’s an Alicorn too. But again, don’t say anything about that.”
“But I thought you said she had…passed on when we were at school.”
“It’s…complicated,” Nightshade says rubbing the back of her neck.
“But what about…”
“Look Applebloom, maybe one day I can explain this all to you, but right now I’m not allowed to. Once you go home, we’ll be moving on again, so why don’t we just play now while we have the chance?” she asks pointing to the junk food landscape.
Applebloom looks around and then shrugs.
“Alright then,” she says with a smile.
“That’s the spirit,” Nightshade laughs as they go on a chocolate waterfall ride.
For hours within the dreamscape, the two fillies play, having fun and even doing some dream walking where they witness Zecora’s dreams.
She appeared to be singing on stage in a fancy dress, and her hair done up instead of it's normal mohawk.
After leaving said musical performance, Nightshade hugged Applebloom once more.
“It’s almost time to wake up, but it was good seeing you again Applebloom,” she says.
“It was good seeing you too Shade,” cries the yellow filly.
They then part, but Nightshade says one more thing.
“Bloom, do me one more favor when you get back home.”
“Sure, what is it?”
“When Spike gets back from the Crystal Empire, check up on him will ya? He went through some tough stuff…and he kind of saw me”
“What? What were you doing in the Crystal Empire?”
Nightshade’s face takes on a smirk as she says, “Spoilers,” as the dream begins to fade.
The Next Day
SnapeDrake's Comment
For a brief, fleeting moment you see a tiny, shriveled alicorn lying prone on a bed... and something about her isn't right. Then your eyes open, and you bolt upright. You're in Zecora's tree. Forest light streams through a window, casting a warm feel on what'd otherwise be a spooky hollow. You notice that the blanket that was covering you is touching your bare carapace, and that none of your clothes are on. Zecora hears you and turns away from her cauldron, and gives you a smile.
"Ah! My friend! Awake at last! I've brought you medicine, as asked."
The Zebra sets down a cup of red liquid next to your bed. You eagerly grab the cup and drain it... though you instantly regret it as a strong taste sears through your tongue. You choke a little, doing your best to swallow the medicine. When it all goes down, you give a series of whooping coughs.
"Augh! What flavor was that, Zecora, red liquid sorrow?"
"....No. Cherry," the Zebra replies.
"Perhaps now you feel less weary?"
You give a couple more coughs, and then pull yourself to your hooves. Incredible as it sounds, you can feel the exhaustion in your muscles slowly fading away.
"Yeah," you mutter. "That really did the trick." You glance towards your saddlebags. Though faint, you can hear the sound of Nightshade snoozing away in there. "She’s still asleep," you note. "Good." Turning back to your Zebra friend, you say,"Hey, Zecora. I... I need some help. I feel like I'm trapped, like everywhere I turn there's this... big chasm all around me. Would you mind if I just, like... ranted at you for awhile?"
"If it would make a better day," Zecora rhymes,
"Than feel free to rant away."
"Good," you groan, “but you better sit down, this is gonna be long,” you warn.
She sits down on the floor as you start pacing and begin your rant.
"Things have... things have been complicated. A lot has happened since I last saw you. I feel that... I really couldn't explain it in less than 17,347 words, but I can try. I'm... Zecora I think I'm losing it. I went to this alternate dimension and saw just how messed up a bug I am. I saw myself through a cracked mirror, and... it was terrifying. I was always scared of my power, but now it outright disgusts me. I can't control it. I feel that now, everything I do is pointless. I'm just goanna end up a monster, killing everything around me and too far gone to give a buck. I... I'm already turning. Back in the Crystal Empire I... I ate a pony. He wasn't a nice guy, but still... that's inexcusable. I turned into a raving lunatic, a rampaging beast blind to the cries of my own daughter. That scares me. To think that I could do something like that... and even to someone I loved."
Zecora’s face remains neutral at this, so you just continue.
"That chasm I mentioned. It's closing in. All I've got now is me and Nightshade... and you, I guess. Any chance I had, not even at being a hero, but just at redemption in general... it's gone. Wiped away. I don't know what I can do. I can't go to town, I can't stay alone, because trouble always finds me, somehow. And what's more, what about Nightshade? I can't treat her like this. She deserves to grow up in a town, surrounded by friends and a good family. Now I've gone and thoroughly bucked up any chance of her having a future... just another tally on my list of complete failures.”
The Shaman still says nothing, so you continue.
"What haven't I mentioned... oh yeah. There's a terrorist group out there because of me. One that now threatens Equestria at large, and its entire innocent population, and I've made no progress in stopping them. And after the Crystal Empire incident, my mind-wife is on the very brink of death. Here I am supposed to be pulling her away from the abyss, and instead I'm just giving her a shove. Buck, I can't even fix my own mistakes. Is that truly too much to ask of me? To control my anger long enough for her to recover? Buck, I'm useless. Useless!”
You knock over a chair in your frustration and continue.
"I... It feels... It feels like someling has it out for me. Like... up there, there's some all powerful entity... no, a bunch of them, who've just decided to make my life a living Tartarus. They've decided that I deserve to suffer for some arbitrary reason, and now they're determined to kill me. Slowly. Hopelessly. They want me to die piece by piece, mind and body, and pin me down so thoroughly that I know I have no hope left. It's like... millions of creatures on this planet and I'm the one they decide to hate. They're up there, I tell ya. They've got a private club, where they get together and laugh at my misery, revel in my terror, discuss the best ways to leave me completely clueless and without a hope in the world. I can't do anything about it. I'm like a puppet on their orichalcum strings. My mouth is just a speaker- they're the ones doing the talking. I've got no control, no freedom, and there's no escape." Your eyes pass over the jars of exotic medicine lining Zecora's shelves. "Well... almost none."
Before you can say one more thing, Zecora suddenly darts forwards, wrapping you in a sudden hug. Your breath catches in your throat as you feel her hooves wrap around you, and as you feel the affection pouring off of her.
"I won't pretend to know how it feels. But life's in many ways a wagon on wheels. It rolls along the directed path. It can bounce and bump and tumble and crash. Unless you climb above the shelf. And seize control for yourself."
You smile slightly as you hug her back before saying,
"Thanks Zecora...I needed that."
Zecora smiles at you before breaking the hug and saying,
BrownDog's Comment
Also, Zecora has NEVER met Nightshade yet. Don't be rude, introduce her to your daughter.
“Now don’t fret my friend, for a part of you has already been healed. For when I just hugged you, that wound you did not feel.”
She points to the scar on your chest and you look down, and it doesn’t look ragged and disgusting anymore. You give it a poke, and while it’s still tender, it isn’t mind blowingly painful.
"Now your wounds I have healed, but your scar will still be visible and sore, but after that potion you drank, it shall bleed no more."
“Thank you, Thank you, thank you!” you cry out as you hug the striped medicine mare, “You have no idea how much that was hindering me.”
She chuckles before saying,
“Well someone needed to fix it, and who better than me? Certainly not the one who stapled and burned you awfully.”
You look back and see that the staples that Nightshade gave you, and the scorch marks from where you cauterized yourself have been removed and healed away as well.
“Heh heh, yeah…” you chuckle as you rub the back of your neck. Zecora just rolls her eyes as she walks over to a basket.
“Though your wounds are now scars, and scars can be sexy,
I’m pretty sure that you want to be as clothed as much as can be,” she says bringing over your El Hunko clothes. They smell nice and fresh, and even some of the holes have been patched up, but they still don’t look as fancy as they once did.
"I have patched them, and cleaned them of blood, but I really suggest, you get some new duds."
You smile in gratitude before you say,
"I know, and thank you Zecora. For everything."
“It was no problem, my favorite changeling. Now if you could, would you please explain something?”
“Yeah sure, what is it?”
“During your rant and your tale did unwind. You mentioned something about having a wife of the mind?”
“I did? Uh…” you stumble caught off guard.
“I did not understand what you described. Can you please tell me, or will I have to bribe?”
“I…Ok. But you can’t tell anyone else alright?” she nods at this so you continue.
“She’s not really my wife…but at this point I don’t know what to label her. You see…I kind of have…the soul or spirit or shadow of an Alicorn within my mind. She’s the reason I’m so powerful…and why I’m even alive after all I’ve been through. She’s been with me for about 2 and half years now, and somehow, I still don’t know how, she and I created my daughter.”
Zecora looks surprised at this, but you continue.
“Yeah…the thing is back in that other world, I got wounded with Orichalcum, and she nearly died making sure I stayed alive. Now she’s weakened from what she once was, and if I use my powers, I risk hurting her. So yeah…” you look back to the Zebra as she seems to be thinking.
“Okay,” she says.
“Wait? That’s it? Okay?”
“Well what else would you have me say?”
“I don’t know, maybe ask if I’m crazy or where she came from, or something?”
“Nah, tis not necessary for I know you speak true. Everything you’ve said has been emotional and passionate through and through, and it is not the craziest thing I have heard. Out in this forest, crazy is the word.”
“Well, wow,” you say surprised, thankful you don’t have to reveal she was Nightmare Moon. You giver another sigh before you ask,
“But yeah, as I said, she’s in a coma. Do you have anything that could help?
“I’m sorry my friend, but if she’s not a physical being, I am at a lost. I have never treated someone like this by Faust.”
You put your head down at this, “Well what do we do then?”
"Plenty of rest, and a relaxation as far as I can tell. In a situation like this, you just have to hope and pray it will turn out well."
“*Sigh* way ahead of you there, but thanks anyway,” you say as you pick up your saddlebags. You then take a look inside The Inventory to see that only Nightshade is in there asleep. Getting worried about where Applebloom is you ask Zecora,
"Hey Zecora, where's Applebloom. Did she go home already?"
Zecora nods her before says,
“Indeed she has, I took her back this morning. After I heard from your bags the sounds of snoring. I convinced her family she had stayed the night. I told them she was scared by the dying of the light.”
You give a sigh of relief before you say,
“Oh, good thinking. I kind of didn’t want to run into anyling back in Ponyville. Who knows who might be looking for El Hunko.”
Zecora nods her head at this before saying,
“My thoughts exactly, and I hate to be rude, but is that other filly in there your daughter? If I might intrude?”
You smile fondly before saying,
“Yeah, that’s my little Nightshade…who I just realized I’ve never introduced you too,” you realize with a nervous chuckle.
You pull your daughter out and gently wake her up.
“Nightshade, Nightshade, honey wake up,”
“Huh? Whazit?” she groggily says before yawning.
“Honey, I want to introduce you to a friend of mine, this is Zecora, the coolest, and only, Zebra I know.”
Nightshade perks awake and looks at the Zebra.
“Hello, I’m Nightshade. I’ve heard a lot about you Ms. Zecora,” she says as she shakes her hoof.
Zecora smiles fondly at Nightshade before she says,
“And I have heard, though only in passing, of you. My name is Zecora, how do you do?”
“I’m doing fine, a little hungry after fighting all those zombies, you got any food?”
Zecora smiles and points to some biscuits on the kitchen table, which Nightshade runs to immediately.
Zecora smiles at this before looking to you.
Kichi's Comment
"The strange seems to follow you my friend, but you still haven’t explained the state I found you in"
"Oh right, sorry got caught up in the moment. Anyway, Nightshade and I managed to find a strange town full of zombies. Nightshade can explain her version later, but what happened was that Father Time was bucking with me and…" You then tell Zecora everything that happened in that town. Zecora listens in awe, and subconsciously grips her beating stick tighter after hearing about the Zombies.
“And then I dropped on your door step, and here we are,” you summarize.
"Do you have any idea what you’ve done... No?" she asks.
"Uhh, yes... Fought a town full of zombies, put a soul at rest..." you begin before being interrupted.
"You set free a dangerous foe"
"What?" You ask surprised.
"That Pyramid Head you fought was both jailer and punisher, but he too was in that jail. Now that the little spirit is resting, he is free to have his own tale" she points out.
"Are you telling me that..."
"Yes, you set him free and if you find him again. It could be that he will try to finish you then.”
"Buck you Lady Luck! Now I might run into that freak show again! Ahug why can't I just catch a break?!" you groan.
Zecora pats your back in support for awhile before you sigh and say,
"Ah well, if I'm lucky enough Luna can take of that thing while it's in the dream realm. Or better yet Prince Blueball's or one of the Crimson Knight runs into him. Would serve those stupid motherbuckers right to…"
With another sigh you say,
BrownDog's Comment
"Hey Zecora, you wouldn't happen to know any ways I could control my anger do you?"
Zecora puts on a thinking pose before she says,
"The easiest way, to deal with your stress. Is to simply breathe, and you'll avoid a mess. If you can breathe correctly when danger is near. Then there will be no foe that you will show anger or fear."
You nod your head at this information before you ask,
"But can't you, like, teach me some ways or something?"
Zecora sighs as she says,
"Breathing control has taken me years to master. Though I have heard of artificial ways that are faster. Masks and tubes that I don’t have personally on me now. But I believe that you will find one, some day somehow."
You nod your head again, already having a breathing idea in mind, as you say,
"Okay then, thanks.”
“Now, how about some breakfast? These Biscuits are filling and made to last,” she says pointing to Nightshade who holds her stomach and food is still on the table.
“Sweet Hearth’s Warming Eve, you’ve got to give me that recipe,” you say excitedly.
The whole rest of the day, you spent relaxing and catching up more with Zecora. Nothing else big has happened since you’ve been gone, but there have been more and more crackdown measures on Changelings ever since your supposed death.
Nightshade also learns a few Staff fighting moves from Zecora, increasing her fighting abilities.
“Wow child, you have picked up staff fighting techniques in this short time almost professionally, You must be some sort of child prodigy.”
“Really? Hah! Take that Cheerilee! I am more smarter!”
Also, Nightshade let’s you know that Applebloom figured out who you two were, but she made her Pinkie Promise not to tell anyling. Thank goodness for that.
“I kind of wish she could have come with us though Daddy. I don’t know why, but she feels like the sister I never had. Like she’s family,” she says.
“Yeah…” you trail off because more than likely Applebloom is her kin.
After a few more hours, you decide that it’s time to move on. Zecora nods and gives you some supplies.
7 Health Potions
4 Disguise Potions
8 Boxes of Macaroni and Cheese
4 Cans of Spinach
12 Boxes of Cookies
12 Cans of Beans
Recipe for Filling Biscuits
Added to Inventory
“Well Zecora, thanks for your hospitality and saving my life once again. Hopefully next time I see you you won’t have to hit me in the head,” you chuckle.
“One can only hope. You silly silly dope.”
She says, before handing you a piece of paper. You take it and begin to look at it as you ask Zecora in confusion,
“What’s this?”
"Last night, while you slept. Someone gave me this note which I've kept. There was a knock on the door, but no one was there. Save for this note, addressed to The Bug with the Orange Hair."
The parchment is written in the same writing of "Your Friend" and it appears to be a map through the woods, leading to a big red X.
The writing on it says,
You wanted somewhere safe? Well this is the best you'll be getting any time soon. Hope you like what you find,
A Friend.
“Seriously, who the buck are you buddy?” you ask aloud. Then put the map away before hugging Zecora.
“Take head Bugze, for this is not the end. I will hope and pray for your safety my friend.”
You break the head and nod as you put Nightshade in The Inventory and continue on, although with a few tears leaking out. You look back and wave at the Zebra who has patched you up more than anyling else in the past. You then face forward and don't look back. You take out the map and make your way towards this X
Hours of Walking Later
After following the trail, it’s nearly night time, and you can feel many hungry eyes peering at you.
With a tingle running down your spine, you look for whatever it is you’re supposed to find.
“What the buck is supposed to be here? Seriously, how is this safe?!” you shout in frustration before kicking the ground.
*CLANG*
“…OOOOWWWWW!!!!” you yell holding your hoof in pain.
“What was that?” you ask looking down. Using the light of your horn, you see something metal under the dirt.
You get out your Boomstick and slam it down, causing all the dirt to fly away, revealing a big metal hatch door.
“Whoa, things just got more interesting,” you say aloud.
You reach down and pull the hatch up, revealing a ladder that descends into darkness.
“Okay, totally not creepy at all,” you mutter. You feel anxious about going in, but the howl of a timber wolf makes up your mind for you.
You start climbing down the hatch.
At the bottom of the ladder, you come across another door, but it looks much more hi tech than the other one.
As you approach, a ding is heard, followed by a mechanical voice that says.
“Voice Authorization Required…"
“Uhhhh…” you mutter dumbfounded.
“Access Granted,” the voice says, before the door swings open for you. As soon as it does, lights go on and you see an interior that you were not expecting. It looks like a finely furnished Bomb Shelter. There are couches, bookshelves, and monitors around the room, and tables with dusty files on them, and a hallway that leads to other rooms. It’s very spacious.
“Whoa…” you say as you walk into the room, the door closing behind you. As you explore, you find a bed, a bathroom, a kitchen with canned food, and even a film projector.
There is also a closet full of all kinds of different clothing and gear.
“Hello there,” you say with a smirk knowing that those could come in hoofy.
You close the closet back up and explore more, and duct taped to refrigerator is a note.
You take it off, and the words on it cause you to nearly have a heart attack.
It reads,
Dear My No Doubt Troubled Grandson,
If you’re reading this then I must have passed on to the great skies above to be with all the beautiful mares I could ever want hehe! That or I've finally launched myself to the moon or that snob of a Queen finally managed to banish me, or all three. Anyway, you must have followed escape plan 2353-32 after my passing/moon landing/banishment. And if you didn’t, then how in the heck did you find this place?
Anyway I hope none of those killjoys followed ya. I've hidden here enough resources to last you a life time, or untill the heat blows over. And I mean it when I say lifetime. I got a little guardian angel watching over ya boyo, and he’s got all the time in the world. So anyway, feel free to crash here as long as you need. You can even have a mare or two or five stay over hehe. Good luck and don't get caught by that snob of a queen, she’s always been a bad influence on ya.
Love Ya,
Grandbuggy
P.S Get me some Great-Grandkids already!
You sit there staring at the letter for a long time in silence. Eventually Nightshade pops out.
“Daddy? Why are you crying?” she asks.
You wipe your eyes and fold the piece of paper.
“Because Honey, That Old Bug is still looking out for me, even after all these years,” you tell her placing the letter into the inventory.
Grandbuggy Note Added to Inventory
She just shrugs and looks at the room in awe.
You then explore another room, and you quickly realize that this place is ginormous. There’s still a lot of rooms you haven’t explored yet. But this one catches your eye because it has a bulletin board with Wanted Posters on it, and Files that say Fall Back Points, and Pony Aliases, and other Top Secret stuff on them.
“Grandbuggy, what the heck were you involved in?”
What Do You Do?
Well, that was unexpected.
Explore the bunker.
I'd dress up as an American Doughboy from WWI. Hopefully Bugze finds that, or something like it.
For the Mask, I suggest something other than the traditional cloth covering.
How about something awesome?
I suggest: Immortan Joe's Mask from Fury Road, Or Erron Black's Mask from Mortal Kombat X
They look cool, but they also could help with his breathing control.
For the Pants: How about Rowdy Roddy Piper's Kilt? Showing how tough you can be while wearing one.
For the Hat: The Hunter Hat From Bloodborne. Because it's cool and different
For Shirt: Punisher Shirt
For Outer Clothing: Alan Wake's Tweed Jacket with Leather Elbow Patches Because I love that Game.
Saw it coming.
There must be a big red button somewhere in here.
find it
resist pressing it
...
...
...
...buck it *pushes*
Bugzee and Nightshade begin to look around as they separate to look around, the strange bunker is very good and seems to have what anyling could need to survive and hide for a time, even a library with old comics like old versions of Spider-Mare or Batmare, you begin to try some costumes you found in the wardrobe but no one of those seems to be the perfect one, you even find a couple of false papers that have your grandbuggy with strange names and between them, you can even see that your Granbuggy have a house in most cities, Trothingam, Canterlot, even Ponyville.
Checking a door next, Bugzee find a little room full with military rations grade F and tons of shelves that make he question about the reason why the grandbuggy is saving all that.
As you continue to examine the bunker you can see a wardrobe that have some costumes, even one that is very similar to Dareponydevil, some strange gadgets and masks but nothing call your attention until what seems a little black ball inside of a glass bottle that is above the wardrobe and have a note with big letter "Don't touch! Yes, I mean you Grandson!". Bugzee get up in two of his hooves and try to take the jar but fails and the jar falls from the wardrobe hitting Bugzee in the head.
== P.O.W Nightshade ==
Nightshade meanwhile was looking in a strange room that seemed to be the invention room, the room that her greatgrandbuggy used to create strange inventions, but Nightshade was not even sure about the things that she was finding.
First, there was a strange metal thing with two wheels
There was also a strange a strange cage that she didn't want to touch
And also what seemed to be a red TARDIS, but when Nightshade tried to enter it was locked.
She was not even sure about the other objects and was thinking it was better to not touch anything as she tried to explore things, when suddenly she feel a shiver.
"Uuuhh... My "Daddy did something stupid again" sense was activated..." Comment Nightshade as she go back in search of her daddy
After a little distance, Nightshade can find her daddy in the floor, wearing a strange dark and scary costume if it was not because she knew that it could only be his daddy, she could very well think that it was someone else or some strange beast from that strange dark unicorn, as she was looking at that, she was not sure if go to him or not as she was scared.
== P.O.W Bugzee==
Bugzee was in a strange room, in front of Selena, he was not very sure where exactly, when suddenly strange black tentacles appeared around covering everything, just as the tentacles covered Bugzee, he managed to wake up to find Nightshade in front of him, he could feel that she was scared, but he was not even sure about why.
"Nightshade, honey, what happened?" Ask Bugzee, as he notice his voice is not the same, is distorted.
"Wow... What happened?" Asked Bugzee as he begin to wake up and noticed he was feeling great, like if he could do anything. He looked to a mirror that was in the wardrobe and suddenly was scared.
"Gaaah! Monster!" Shout Bugzee at the mirror and tried to hit it, breaking the mirror, the wardrobe and part of a wall from the other side of the wardrobe.
"Uhhh, wait... Is that, me?" Asked Bugzee confused as he begin to understand what happened, and why Nightshade seemed to be scared.
"Thinking about it, this costume is scary, maybe if it was white..." Commented Bugzee and suddenly he could feel the costume changing and becoming full white. as Bugzee looked in awe
"Woow, but... now I look like a ghost, it was best in black" Comment Bugzee and again the strange costume change and return to normal. Surprised, Bugzee try to experiment with that, like a foal with a new toy.
"Uhhh... Baker Silvester Tennant?" Ask Bugzee and the costume change again to reveal his disguise as Tennant, Bugzee very happy try for one last time.
"Uhhh... Bugzee the changeling?" At the moment, Bugzee return to normal.
Meanwhile Nightshade that was looking also surprised asked.
"Is that really you, daddy?" Asked Nightshade
"Uhh, yeah, I think so... I don't know from where I got this costume but is very great... I even sense even better that when I used the Nightmare cloak" Comment Bugzee, making Nightshade worry about that.
"What about mommy? Are you not using her power again?" Asked Nightshade
"Uhh, not sure... It's different, I don't know why, but it's not like that, and somehow I can still feel her, even if she is not waking up, I think something good is happening to her" Answer Bugzee
Nightshade still a little worried accepted the answer even when they didn't know what it was.
------------------
Yeah, My suggestion for the costume is Venom the Symbiote. Like this, Bugzee could be near the Dark side, and at the same time find a way to heal Selena and even when he discover what is Venom, he could need to choose between let it heal Selena or lose it and try to find another way.
Also... I imagine the bunker of Grandbuggy something like This
Joker's outfit inc. mask from the start of The Dark Knight, when they're robbing the bank!
Find a note by Grandbuggy that reminds you that changeling's can increase their own abilities and heal alot faster by either burning through their bodies love reserves or food reserves (takes ALOT more food than love to heal). Seeing how you have a naturally fast-acting healing factor anyway, this point is moot.
Unfortunately, Grandbuggy (or whoever built this bunker) miscalculated and the food pantry section is rendered useless due to a leak/collapse (much to Nightshade's dismay; cue "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!")
FInd a small Spike Spiegel outfit that would fit perfectly on Spike.
Take a page out of Kill Billy and write down the names of those Crimson Knight Lieutenants you learned about from Nightmare Bugze universe;
During your writing, you reflexively write down Flag Burner's name... then sadly cross it off. Your list now reads;
Erised the Ink-Moth
Minds Eye
Solarkness
Kichi
Gray Rebl
Rutherford
Kersey
Brown Dog
Snap Drake Games
Flag Burner
"Crimson Knight Leaders list"
added to Inventory
Speaking of Inventory, time for some serious cleaning cause you have WAY too much crap (and Nightshade unfortunately retrieved the stuff you threw at Sombra in an attempt at multi-tasking);
-"How to be A Gentle Colt 101" book ("El Hunko" disguise is a bust for now)
-"Kung-Fu For Dummies" book (Between the Boomstick, Power Glove, and moves you already know, you're all set on the combat front)
-All Four Sherclop Holmes Novels and all fifty-six short stories (Already read them)
-Fake Beard
-A strange pen from the alternate dimension (You're not using it anytime soon and has no sentimental value; Bye-bye)
-Movie Reels (Already saw them)
removed from Inventory
When you and Nightshade wake up again, your appetites are back in full force (the only reason you didn't devour Zecora's entire food supply is that your stomachs were still getting over being tricked into eating rotten garbage)
-"6 Carrot Cupcakes"
-94 boxes of "Filly Scout Cookies"
-Bag of Sugar
-1 Large Bags of "Sour Cream & Onion" Potato Chips (they didn't have yours or Nightshade's favorite flavors)
-2 Boxes of Snack cakes
-6 Bottles of cotton-candy flavored Ramune (Neighponese soda)
-4 Bags of Gummy Fruits
removed from Inventory
Surprised at your newfound appetite (on top of Nightshade's existing one) you decide you'll DEFINITELY need a source of income... REALLY starting to regret giving away all of Smaug's treasure in the futile hopes of paying off your bount-*ding* IDEA!
=====================
GIven how TLoaWC loves it's references and Bugze's not exactly Rarity when it comes to fashion;
6560424
Oooo, that works. One issue is that a kilt is... well it's basically a large skirt and Bugze does alot of running so perhaps something underneath the kilt to cover the changeling holes in his legs...
Pants: Can't think of any famous pants so maybe something practical like black cargo pants so you can store small items in the pouches for quick access.
Hat: The Monster Hunter Hat (Van Helsing)
Torso: Yellow dress-shirt/black tie combo (Spike Speigel from Cowboy Bebop)
Outer Clothing: Brown leather trenchcoat aka "The Browncoat" (Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds from Firefly/Serenity)
Mask: Skull Balaclava/Ski Mask (Ghost from Call of Duty)
Eyewear: Sunglasses (Blade)
If we're talking about clothing, I would wanna see Alex Mercer's outfit, the one with the hoodie.
Considering Bugze's bumbling nature, knack for getting into trouble, and immense power, a Vash the Stampede outfit would be fitting.
Assassin outfit?
Kindred Wolf-mask (League of Legends) and the hair of the Mad Scientist from Don't Starve instead of a hat.
6560511 What if I told you I saw your comment coming?
6563710 HOW!!!
You should have a costume from one of the fallout games.
So as you and Nightshade go and explore the bunker, you notice strange markings and old plants around the entrance as well as a note that reads:
Grandson,
What ever you do, do not mess with the dried up plants or the markings. These are designed to make this bunker warded against evil spirits and demons. If you find yourself chased by any, getting inside this bunker will save your life. If you think evil spirits and demons do not exist, trust me when I say there is one in this forest. There is a little town in the Everfree called Sunny Town. Every night the inhabitants turn into zombies (we both know those exist, even if our queen did not believe) and get slaughtered by a demon known as Pyramid Head (the same one from those games you liked to play). If he were to come after you, this ward would keep him out. That said, please do not purposely cause demons to chase you into the bunker. I'd hate to come back and find the entrance surrounded by them.
Grandbuggy
Bugze: Well, that is good to know. I guess that also explains the extra salt boxes lying by the door. Would have been nice to know about Before we wound up there though.
Nightshade: Hey Daddy! I found something cool.
Bugze: OK Honey. I'll be there in a little bit.
Later after you start looking, you and your daughter find a door with a "COSTUMES" sign over it. When you open up the door:
You and Nightshade: COOL!
You both see costumes from video games, comics, movies, T.V. shows, and more all along the walls with descriptions of what they are and where they were obtained. Some that stick out to you are:
Agent 47 suit from Hitman.
Assassin robes from Assassin's Creed series .
Darth Vader costume and a Storm Trooper costume that fits Nightshade (possible upcoming Nightmare Night costumes).
The Red, Blue, and Gold shirts from Star Trek and from The Next Generation. There is also a robe designed to be worn by a draconequus (if the mannequin the clothing is on is anything to go by).
The red leather coat worn by Dante from the Devil May Cry series.
Spidermane and other Avengers costumes.
A Deadpool costume (You figure that with your witty lines and your accelerated healing you could probably pull this one off. You are even slightly crazy so it could be fun...especially at a convention, and Blatimare always has the best conventions).
Batmane and the members of the Justice League's costumes, including a Robin outfit Nightshade's size.
A Mare Do Well outfit and a Horde Cloak (These catch your interest and you read the description in front of these two. "These were picked up at Ponyville shortly after an incident concerning some changelings foal napped a Mister Baker S.Tennant's daughter, resulting in them both believed to be killed by a fire in the Everfree. Bought for a bargain from the local fashionista. She still turned down my advances." )
Bugze: Ok, two things, 1: Ewww he is way to old for Rarity so that's just creepy. 2: That means that he was close to me and I never knew. I would have loved to see him and introduce Nightshade to him. Oh well, moving along.
The classic 60's attire of Austin Powers (Groovy Baby Yeah!).
A subject Delta suit from Bioshock 2. You read the description:
"Acquired from the pony who designed the original (unfortunately sold at a costume shop before I could acquire it). This suit was designed to fix the problems the original reportedly had including:
Able to easily breath comfortably in the mask both in and out of water (buyer of the first reportedly had to drill a hole in the top to breath during Nightmare Night)
Fixed the problem of self electrocuting self in the suit. The suit will now prevent the shock power from hitting self while out of the water.
The glove which allowed the first suit to activate Plasmids and Vigors was not installed in this suit. I will have to find the owner of the first to see if I can get both the glove and the suit to complete the set."
Bugze: Cool so this suit fixed the problem I had before. It also looks like I can wear it. This may come in handy later on. I think I'll keep this one with me. Just in case.
Subject Delta Suit Added to Inventory
There is also a Little Sister outfit, complete with ADAM extraction tool. (Nightshade shudders at the sight of the large needle)
Feel free to add or take away from these outfits and please help me with some more outfits for Nightshade . I just wished I could have posted the pictures I found to go with them.
6567846 You forgot to put strange symbols to make sure also no angels could enter. About costumes for Nightshade, why not add the typical ones? Nurse, Bunny (Like the one Apple Bloom used for the Zap Apples) and a filly latex suit that make her seem like a unicorn because it disguise the wings [And have a little danger for alicorns and pegasus because use it too much and could cripple wings making more hard to fly], a changeling disguise , a cheerlader suit, a pyramid head costume, a cardboard box, a big apple costume, a super-mare costume, a bat-mare costume, a chewbacka costume, a mini-celestia disguise and a couple of diguises that Bugze don't want to look and make he think about what his grandbuggy think choosing those for Nightshade...
Let's not say that Grandbuggy don't give things to Nightshade.
6570792 I forgot about the Angels. Good call.
As you look around through Grandbuggy’s files, you find documents and pictures of several high ranking members of the Changeling Hive, and many of their subordinates. You find the locations of several changeling fallback points and the aliases of many field agents. You even find one of your old Regiment…and a picture of “Cinnamon Sugar” and her information.
“This…this is what Sin and the others wanted…” you say as you read through the material. A cringe of guilt strikes through you as you realize this.
Sure they were jerks, sure they had a beating coming, but…why didn’t I just help them? Why did I leave them to die? She was sorry. All they wanted to was to go home…I know how that feels.
You think about Appleloosa and sigh. You look back at the picture of Sin and the description of her Aliases.
“I’m sorry…” you mutter to it as you put the file away.
But with all this information, you now know where any other scattered changelings could be hiding, and what they would look like in disguise. So you start putting the files into your Inventory.
Also among the files, you find a scrapbook of wanted posters with red X’s over the faces of the different creatures in the. Next to each poster is a note in Grandbuggy’s writing.
Next to a mean looking Griffin, a note reads,
“Steel Claw: Thief. 500 Bits. This Bucker sure liked to bite.”
Next to an Earth Pony
“Artful Dodger: Child Thieving Wring: 800 Bits. Jerk broke down crying when I busted his nose.”
Next to a Dragon
“Gronk: Talking too loudly in Movie Theatre: 2,000 bits. Nearly got away when he spoiled Empire Strikes Back to me.”
And the list goes on and on.
“So this is where Grandbuggy got his extra bits from,” you say aloud. You always wondered how he got you your videogames and other contraband, or afforded all his cigars and booze.
You also find a special folder, and it is blue instead of the traditional vanilla. Inside, are 13 different stallions in strange garb, but one of them sticks out to you.
“Doctor?” you say looking at the 11th photograph.
You look to the others and see that they all look like his past incarnations. The two in front of him, you have not seen yet, one is a younger stallion with a fez on, and the other is an older one, with sunglasses and frizzy white hair. Also, the one between the 8th and 9th Incarnation is unfamiliar to you. He too is old, but he is grizzled and wears a bandolier and his eyes hold no joy.
“Wait…did I just spoil the next few seasons of the show for myself?” you wonder aloud.
Next to the pictures are the notes.
“The Doctor: My greatest friend, and my worst enemy. Responsible for my misery, and my happiness. A liar, thief, and scoundrel, but also an honest giving saint. Being his companion comes with his ups and downs as I found out first hoof. I found new meaning to life in our travels, a new perspective. I found the one mare who was my soul mate, and subsequently lost her because of what happened. I never forgave him for how it all went down…but it was for the best. Still, the curse still follows me and mine. He owes it to me, to my family to watch over my Grandson, he promised. The Old Bastard had better follow through.
You look up in thought. This indeed proves, in his own words, that Grandbuggy knew the Doctor, but if anything, this only deepens the mystery.
“What happened? Why did the Doctor owe it to Grandbuggy? Who was that “Soul Mate” he talked about?” you say loud before groaning.
“Grandbuggy…why did you never tell me?” you say while looking down at the file, before adding it to the Inventory.
You then hear a scream come from the kitchen. You rush forth quickly to your daughter’s yells expecting danger…only to realize that she’s pointing at the near empty pantry in the kitchen.
“Most of the food is spoiled Daddy! Grandbuggy said we had a lifetime! A LIFETIME! NOOOOOOOO!!!!” she cries dramatically.
“Calm down honey. We’ll make due,” you comfort.
Also, you find a sparring room, with punching bags and dummies and weights, and even a Kendo Stick to which Nightshade calls dibs on.
“Oh yeah, Granbuggy and his fighting lessons,” you mutter remembering when he tried to teach you to fight when you complained to him of bullies.
“I know how to fight now Old Bug,” you say as you start punching a bag, going through all your moves on it…until the room suddenly goes dark and green and blue scan lines form a grid in the room, removing all the boxing equipment and weights, and replacing them with hologram targets.
“…How in the heck does Grandbuggy have a Holodeck?!” you shout out as the holograms start to attack you.
Later
In the bedroom you find a picture in the desk next to the bed. In it, is a picture of a much younger Grandbuggy in a bowler hat, and next to him is a little changeling filly with dark orange hair, and no holes in her legs.
“M-mom?” you say as you touch her younger image and tear up a little.
Nightshade jumps up and looks at the photo with you.
“That changeling in the hat looks just like you, except without the hair,” she says.
You nod, “That’s Grandbuggy honey. And this little larvae here is my mother…your grandmother,” you say as you hold her close.
She smiles seeing how happy you are then asks, “What happened to her Daddy? You don’t talk about her much?”
“I…I don’t know,” you say as fog still covers those memories.
Dear arthor,
Buck you.
I read all of season one and two, just I could comment here. Took 6 days but I finally did it.
-------------------
While looking around the bunker you find display cases of video and movie props*(mostly weapons), all which are clearly label do not touch. Except for a long black katana, that reads oricuclam blade. You try to open it to try it out but the sheath won't budge. Deciding it would still do good as a whacking stick,You slip it into your inventory.
You find something quite out of place: A dusty journal. Its title reads, "Changeling Out-of-Hive Survival." The author has your grandbuggy's name under it.
"Huh, my grandbuggy actually writes books?"
It can't hurt to read what your grandbuggy seem to have made an effort to create. If nobody else, than it has to be you. Turning and skimming through the pages, you learn a lot interesting tidbits. Inside are notes written in hoof-written ink, giving an aura of age and accomplishment the more detailed it starts to become.
One line says, "Take something and make it better. That's the key to improvisation." It is a nice line, one that makes you smile a bit. After all, you've taken to create many of your own techniques based on what you've already know, starting with using your sucky airbending to enhance your fire attacks, creating many variations of your move set with your plasmids, and even when in the middle of Nightmare Mode.
You think of reading through it more thoroughly later when you have the time. However, a single section, the last section, catches your eye.
"Changeling Combat: The Vibration Method," it says.
Under the title, a forenote of this "method" is written almost meticulously, as if in ponderous thought.
Changelings, as a species, can't really survive and thrive without love, let alone put up a decent fight without it, especially by a soldier drone's standards. Even so, we'd still have our disguises, magic, wings and our resilient chitin to match up our enemies. But, even those things can't help us, not when our enemies have special qualities of their own. Experience outside of the hive has taught me that.
"Admittedly, us changelings, ironically, haven't changed our methods not one bit. We haven't learned to adapt to a changing world. There was so much we could've learned if we opened up, but the current Queen was too stubborn like that. For that, compared to the outside world, the Hive was in the slums, cruel and unforgiving. ...I had to live through that. And unfortunately, so did my daughter and grandson.
"So, I developed this fighting method myself for whenever I run out of love energy. It's an accumulation of my elder experience and knowledge of physics that the world outside of the hive has given me. Really, this is the one gift that I will never take for granted, especially with the many other gifts the outside had given me; True love, a sense of fulfillment, and most importantly, a life to call my own. Heh, it's kinda inspiring, really.
"I developed this style with my grandson's "useless" wings in mind.
"Good non-existent lords, I feel like too much of a nerdy old fart when I wrote that."
Never before you have seen so much emotion from Grandbuggy's words, and they are written words at that! In anticipation, you turn the page. There, written beside a photo of a punching bag with its insides spilling out, is the basis of the technique. You have to rapidly vibrate your wings, enough so that the body ends up moving, too. They don't have to fully extend, so the faulty ligament of yours will not hinder you from being about to learn it. With the vibrations, the instructions say that you must find some sort of "sweet spot" in your body to focus that vibration into a single point.
In the text, it says that it's kinda like "adding mass and velocity to your punches."
"The Infinite Mass Punch...," you whisper in horrific realization. Memories of its destructive power flashes before your eyes. With a jerk, you shut your eyes and scrunch in aggravation. A headache begins to set. "Uggh... I-I need to think over this..." So, you did.
6575708
...Dude, that's like over half a million words of an accumulation of overly referenced memes and other obscure bull. And in about six days no less!
You did all that to join in with us ridiculous folks?
That's pretty awesome, man.
>> Grey Rebel
I know I am.
I've been with Hive Prime since the beginning. I love all the crazy b.s tetant you guys make up and all the misadventures. I would have love to be around you guys and add to the craziness. But having zero wifi is hard...
Author please don't ignore this comment.
P.S. How do do that comment link with the name? The green one.
6578315
Ah! Sorry. Didn't get a notification since your comment didn't register as a "reply".
So, you're still new to this, huh? The reply button, which is the "green name" thing that I finally figured out what you meant, can be found at the top right hand corner of a comment. It's the ">>". Clicking it will direct you to the comment posting space.
The numbers that are automatically there is the serial number for my comment. This means that simply writing down my name to reply will not work. The reason for this is because my name goes under multiple comments, so the number is there to be specific.
Good god, I went educator mode for a minute there.
He should wear Knight Armor, and talk in Ye Olde English!
6578482
Thanks! I can be taught!
oh, as a thank you, have this........
Ummmmm.....
How do you put pictures here....
Or find the url?
mayby the bunker has a armory bugyze needs some new armor