149 - Managing the Situation
Lex had never placed much importance on the past.
While he had no aversion to extracting data from prior events – a pastime that his numerous experiments on social interaction had required him to partake in extensively – the idea of ruminating on what had already happened simply for its own sake held no appeal for him. Quite the opposite, in fact. Even if it hadn’t seemed like a self-indulgent waste of time, looking back over his experiences invariably left him reliving the times he’d failed, or at the very least brooding over how he could have done better.
But as he made his way back to where the ponies he’d brought with him were carrying out the relief efforts, he couldn’t help but think back over everything that had happened that day. Curing the last of the ponies that had been infected by that aboleth. Conducting an experiment in social discourse that, for once, hadn’t been a complete failure. Meeting Garden Gate and her comrades. Going to retrieve Pillowcase. Making love to Sonata. Sentencing Garden. And now arriving here. It had been, by any measure, an exhausting series of events. It was almost enough to make him want to go to sleep, despite knowing the unpleasantness that was waiting for him when he did…which reminded him of another errand that needed to be seen to.
Not bothering to wait for Sonata or any of the other ponies behind him, Lex strode back towards the far end of the camp. Out of his periphery he could see the camp’s occupants pointing at him, a chorus of unintelligible whispers filling the night air as they did so. For an instant he wondered what they were saying about him before he quashed that thought, annoyed that he cared.
Of course you care, came the voiceless taunt from within his shadow. That’s why you’re doing this, after all. Stop pretending that this is some sort of selfless act on your part. Lex set his jaw, almost grinding his teeth as he waited for his silent tormentor to settle back into silence. You can’t lie to yourself, it continued. Every bit of joy you take in what you’re doing proves that you’re not doing it for anyone but you. Refusing to be baited into replying, Lex nevertheless couldn’t help but glance at his shadow, only to regret having done so a moment later. The campfires he was passing on his way back were myriad, causing his shadow to project at numerous angles as he walked by the open flames, and all of them were wrong, making its warped nature abundantly clear to anypony paying the least bit of attention.
Now he knew why everypony was looking at him.
Indulging himself with a moment of bitterly cursing his continued inability to find a way to control that errant fragment of his mind – he was starting to wonder if the Night Mare had deceived him by hinting that such a thing was possible – he kept striding forward, until he caught sight of his destination. Ahead of him, he could just see the makeshift field hospital that the doctors had set up, the supplies everyone had carried piled nearby. And off to the side was Garden Gate’s cage.
Striding toward it, Lex ignored the few ponies lying nearby, even though several turned to regard him as he approached the caged mare. One of them – he recognized it as being Turbo – started to say something, but before he could get a word out Lex reached the cage. Not pausing, he touched a hoof to the lock on it, which immediately undid itself, and flung the door open. “Get out,” he spat, eyeing the unmoving form of Garden Gate.
When she didn’t leap to obey, he pulled his lips back in a snarl. A moment later a roiling purple aura flared to life around his horn – and his eyes immediately turned green and purple – as he telekinetically grabbed her and began to drag her from the cage. That was apparently enough to rouse her, as she gave a sudden shriek and began to thrash, eyes snapping open as she kicked her legs in panic. Lex immediately dropped her, and for a moment Garden flailed weakly before looking around, eyes wide and uncomprehending as she tried to catch her breath. “Wh-, I don’t-, this…”
Turbo was by her side in an instant. “Hey! Hey, it’s okay. It’s okay. You’re safe.”
Her eyes settled on him, and her breathing began to slow. “Turbo?”
He made himself smile, nodding. “That’s right. It’s me.”
Lucidity returned to Garden’s gaze then, and she let out a shudder as she lay on the ground. “I…I dreamed I was back in Vanhoover.” Her voice was filled with anxiety. “I’d gotten you all killed, and you’d come back as those things…”
Turbo made an awkward gesture, like he wanted to reach out to her and had then thought better of it. Instead, he licked his lips, pausing just long enough to shoot Lex a dark glare before returning his eyes to her. “That could never happen,” he replied, forcing confidence into his voice. “It’s because of you that we got out of there. You just had a nightmare, that’s all.”
“The first of many,” interjected Lex coldly, giving Garden a contemptuous look before raising his eyes to Turbo. “Now that we’ve arrived, I don’t need to place her in protective confinement any longer, so I’m releasing her to your custody.”
“Wait, what?” Turbo’s ears flickered at that, instantly suspicious of Lex’s doing something that didn’t seem awful.
Misunderstanding Turbo’s reaction, Lex stepped closer to him, eyes narrowing. “Let me make this exceedingly clear. While we might not be in immediate danger here, the nature of her sentence has left her with a diminished ability to fend for herself. To that end, I’m ordering you to take care of her until such a time as her safety is no longer in jeopardy.”
For a moment Turbo could do nothing but stare, utterly nonplussed by what he was hearing. The sheer level of arrogance Lex was displaying was matched only by his hypocrisy. If he wanted F-, Garden to be safe, then he could just remove those curses from her! And that “order” was nothing less than an insult, the way it implied he wouldn’t protect her otherwise! “Do you actually think-”
“Yes,” snapped Lex, again misreading the situation. “My authority gives me the right to demand compulsory service from members of this community in a time of crisis, presuming that such service is not unduly onerous nor dangerous nor of an unreasonable duration, and I’m exercising that prerogative right now.” He got right in Turbo’s face then, daring him to protest. “Make no mistake. If anything happens to her, you will answer for it. You and yours don’t get to act like a group of thugs anymore.”
When the only answer he received was a hateful glare, Lex turned away, satisfied that he’d made his point. Instead, he marched toward where the food lines had been – pausing just long enough to look at where Severance had been left hovering and telekinetically pull it to him, placing the weapon on his back – and began looking for Cloudbank. It didn’t take him long to find her, returning from where tents had been set up for the ponies that needed shelter the most, Thermal Draft at her side.
“What’s the status of the situation here?” he asked as soon as they were close enough for him not to have to raise his voice. Cloudbank’s frown suggested that he might have violated some sort of social convention in doing so, but at the moment Lex couldn’t have cared less, still smarting over what that rebellious fragment of himself had said earlier.
“The doctors are working in shifts,” answered Drafty. “So they should be able to keep treating ponies through the night.”
Lex nodded perfunctorily. “How are their supplies?”
This time it was Cloudbank that answered. “So far they’re holding up, but they’re not going to last forever.” She glanced back at the line of ponies stumbling toward the field hospital, which seemed unending. The sight made her frown in worry; how many sick and injured ponies did this place have?
“We’ll acquire more when it becomes necessary,” replied Lex, not overly concerned. It was a given that a city as large as Vanhoover had to have a hospital, quite likely more than one. It didn’t seem likely that all of their resources could have been lost in the flooding or depleted since then, and now that he had a large pool of residents to tell him where the hospitals were, it would be a relatively simple task to procure their resources.
“Also,” added Cloudbank, “we’ve run out of the food that we had on-hoof. Other than whatever everypony has here, we’ve got nothing to eat.” She gave him a pointed look as she said that, knowing what his answer would be.
“I’ll create more. Which reminds me, I want you to prepare a statement for when I do.”
Cloudbank blinked. “A statement?”
Lex waved a hoof irritably, thinking she was nitpicking his terminology. “A sermon, then. Just be ready to make a public proclamation about the Night Mare and the strength she grants to those who champion her ideals, as well as how such individuals safeguard their community.”
“Wh-, are you kidding me?!” Cloudbank gave him an incredulous look. “I can’t just come up with something like that on the fly!” Just the thought was enough to make her ears fold back. The nature of her relationship with her new goddess was something she was just beginning to figure out, and it certainly hadn’t reached the point where she felt comfortable recommending her to others.
But Lex only gave her a reproachful look. “I told you earlier to prepare for your role as a religious functionary. This is in accordance with that. You have until tomorrow morning to make ready.” With that, he turned and walked away, not giving her so much as a backwards glance.
Barely hearing as Drafty offered to help Cloudbank come up with something, Lex made a slow circuit around the area, looking for any obvious problems or issues that needed to be attended to. Fortunately, there didn’t seem to be any; no fights were going on, nor was anypony attempting to impede their work or otherwise make a nuisance of themselves. It was enough to let him start to relax just slightly, still not quite ready to believe that everything was finally proceeding as it should.
It was at that moment that he glanced at the edge of the field hospital, near where the supplies had been stacked, that Lex made eye contact with Cozy. She was sitting a short distance from where her husband’s body had been placed, and appeared to be alone. The sight of her made Lex frown; although her husband’s death was a tragedy that she shouldn’t have had to suffer, her healing abilities were enough that she couldn’t be allowed to waste them when there were ponies in need.
He had just started to walk towards her when Aisle stumbled into his field of view, giving Cozy a chagrinned look. “So the doctors say they need all the sleeping bags for the ponies they’re treating, but we can-, um…oh.” His voice trailed off as he followed where she was looking and spotted Lex. He glanced quickly back and forth between them, then trotted toward Lex. “Hey. Is everything okay?”
Lex gave the earth stallion a flat look. “Has Cozy contributed to the doctors’ efforts?”
Aisle paused for a long moment, licking his lips as he tried to formulate a response. “…she’s been through a lot today, and I didn’t want to push her so soon after-”
“There are injured ponies here,” interrupted Lex, his voice dark. “If she still has magic that she can use to provide aid, then she has no acceptable reason not to do so.”
“Lex, please, try to understand.” There was a pleading undertone to Aisle’s voice. “She just lost her husband, and part of the reason for that is because of these ponies refusing to help us when we needed it. I can’t tell her to put that aside and start helping them now that they need us.”
“Then I’ll tell her,” retorted Lex, moving around Aisle and starting toward the crystal mare.
“No!” Aisle rushed to interpose himself between Lex and Cozy, his face panicked.
Lex stopped, but the look he gave Aisle was enough to send cold shivers down the other stallion’s spine. “I’m only going to say this once. Get out of my way immediately.” Lex’s voice was soft, but carried an unmistakable threat.
“Hey, what’s going on?” Aisle almost fainted with relief as he heard Sonata’s voice, spotting her coming up from behind Lex.
Her presence was enough to make Lex glance back at her, though his mood didn’t improve. “What’s going on is-”
“Nothing!” interjected Aisle quickly. Although that made Lex’s head snap back around, he gave him a reassuring look. “Look, forget what I said before. I’ll go talk to her right now, okay? I promise I can fix this.”
“Huh?” Sonata’s brow furrowed as she looked between the two of them, leaning to the side to glance at Cozy, who seemed to have lost interest in the proceedings, glancing at the ground listlessly. “You mean Cozy? Is she doing something?”
“She will be,” nodded Aisle, slowly stepping back. “I’ll make sure of it.”
“See that you do,” replied Lex. “I’ll be checking with the doctors in the morning to confirm her participation.”
He turned away then, and a mystified Sonata went with him. By the time he’d gone a short distance away, he’d managed to bring her up to speed on the situation with Cozy, as well as everything else that he’d checked on. “Wow, so I guess it’s mostly good news for once, huh?” she smiled. “So now what?”
“Now we sleep,” replied Lex, taking a length of rope out of his haversack.
“Ooh, I recognize that! We’re using the magic tree-fort again!” squealed Sonata.
Lex blinked at that. He couldn’t help but remember the last time he’d heard her call it that, just after they’d disembarked from the train and begun making their way to Tall Tale. Although that had been barely two weeks ago, it felt like a lifetime. It was enough to make the corners of his lips turn upward in what was almost a smile.
Maybe some parts of the past were enjoyable to think about after all.
“LEX!”
He sat bolt upright as he heard his name called, immediately registering Sonata doing the same beside him. But whereas she looked confused and panicked, he was already looking around, trying to figure out what was going on. It took the barest fraction of a second to focus on where Cloudbank was poking her head up through the entrance to the dimensional space, a worried look on her features. “What’s going on?” he asked, already climbing to his hooves, mind racing with potential problems and possible solutions.
“It’s Block Party.” Cloudbank’s answer made Lex’s stomach tighten. He’d suspected that pony would be trouble, but he’d hoped he wouldn’t have to focus on him this soon.
“Like, what’s he done?” asked Sonata, frowning as she rubbed her eyes. “Is he causing trouble? Or did he run away in the middle of the night?”
“Neither.” Cloudbank’s face was a mask of tension as she spoke. “He’s dead.”
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Necromancy, huh....
Methinks Block Party is trying to play us for a fool.
No obvious typos.
Very interested in that sermon. Right now Lex sure appears to most of his followers like a LE, will Cloudy dispel that or confirm it with her talk of the Nightmare feeding people. I know Lex doesn't mean for this, but I suspect it will be taken as Souperism. And if everyone else believes the Night Mare is evil, well...
Pragmatic as always, Lex. Moving the ponies guarding Garden to assist elsewhere while putting the 'thugs' that joined her to work. And while Cozy has the ability to assist the doctors, ordering her to do so bluntly would have been problematic. Thankfully Sonata came by just in time before things turn out badly, though it could have ended that way too if it was any other pony in Aisle's place as he could have ratted Lex out to Sonata.
So in a way, Aisle did Lex a huge favor with his relationship with Sonata though it's definitely lost on Lex. Still, I wonder how he'll coax Cozy into helping the doctors. Maybe he could remind her of the lessons from Lashtada(which she likely would have told them about when they were sticking together in that apartment) or appeal to her better nature?
Also, Block Party's death would likely put everyone, especially the ponies from his group in a state of panic and go on a witch hunt...or a wizard hunt. If not, Lex likely try to figure out who committed this crime and given that there were only a few ponies seen near the train station...
On the plus side, Cloudbank has more time to come up with the sermon? Though investigating Block's death would likely take precedence over the sermon.
Still, Block Party's apparent death makes me want to bring up my theory I thought a while back though I believe the other readers might already suspect this already:(Read at your own peril...okay, not really but you get the idea)
Block Party was never alive this whole time.
Block was a corpse possessed by the one responsible for the ghoul infestation and the necromantic magic Lex detected was likely a form of possession magic as well as some preservation magic which could explain why he looks so healthy compared to the others in his group. Their goal was likely to use Block to ensure no news of the infestation reaches the rest of Equestria until it was too late. Doing away with Block is likely a move done to disrupt Lex's recovery efforts and discredit his name(not that Lex has any difficulties doing that himself)
Of course, it's all still a theory and could be completely false. If that's the case, I'm really interested to see where you take this, Alzrius.
Block Party used the only church based action available to him?
The Lich Gate?
Lex back to doing the zero lea way dictatorial micromanagement thing again? Then again, that behavious is self referential.
Needs more tree house play time.
Block Party dead this is a problem how?
a vary good chapter, it looks as if things are shaping up really good for Lex and his plans.
Well there goes all my theories, and now I have a new one. "Block Party" is some sort of incorporeal undead that was possessing the original Block Party...and now he's in Nosey.
8463338 That could be the case. Or perhaps it's something else altogether.
You'll have to keep reading to find out.
8463419 Now that's what I like to
hearread!8463425 It's gratifying that other aspects of the chapter are interesting besides the mystery surrounding Block Party.
It's worth noting that Lex isn't likely going to demand any sort of display of piety in exchange for feeding everypony. Rather, he's essentially telling Cloudbank to treat this as an opportunity to advertise the Night Mare's faith even as he serves a community function, which doesn't really put what he's doing apart from any other religious public work. Given that most ponies don't have any concept of religious faith, it'll be interesting to see how well that goes...though most of that will likely depend on what Cloudbank says.
8463528 You've adroitly summarized what I was trying to make clear in this chapter: that Lex is demonstrating his management and administrative skills, hampered only by his lack of social grace. If we overlook his unpleasantness, he was very capably making sure that everything was proceeding smoothly, assigning tasks and keeping track of what needed to be done. But when we look at the specifics of the various encounters he had, in each and every one of them he was - at best - brusque. He really needs to keep Sonata close at hoof instead of running off without her...
Block Party's sudden death will certainly have an impact on the camp, but exactly what remains to be seen, mostly because we don't yet know the circumstances of his demise. Clearly, there's going to have to be an investigation either way, but that could go in any number of directions. We'll just have to wait until we know more to say for sure (though I love the theories that are being posted).
As for Cloudbank's sermon...I wonder if that will be postponed. Remember, that's planned for when Lex feeds everyone, and mysterious deaths or no, ponies need to eat. I suspect that Cloudbank will be told to go ahead regardless of the circumstances; that, and Lex strikes me as the sort of pony who'd tell everyone that something like this is no reason for them to stop doing what they're supposed to do.
8463702 I'm fairly confident you're making some sly references, but for the life of me I'm not getting them.
Except for that last line. No doubt, more play time would be good for Lex and Sonata (though don't forget, that did that just a few hours ago).
8463749 Thanks for saying so!
Block Party's sudden death might very well be a boon for Lex's future plans...but then again, how much good fortune has he had to date?
8464010 An interesting new theory! But will it match with what happens further on?
We'll just have to wait and see.
8465759
It was a double sided idea. Lich, from Lich King, undead sorcerer. After all, if Party was a Necromancer, what power can he get using himself as a sacrifice?
Lych Gate, is the primary entrance to the sacrocent grounds to a church. The old statement being, you make it through that gate, you could claim sanctuary. It also helped they used to be like actual shelter, with a small roof etc.
Either way, Id be fully expecting something extremely nasty to be on its way, because this is Lex we are talking about.
8466069 Ah, in that case, a very nice pun!
8465739 I assumed Lex was planning it the way you described it. The thing is, that "Souperism" in history was also planned the same way, according to most historical sources. People wanted to give out resources to those in need, and they didn't see anything wrong with informing the beneficiaries of who was responsible for the largess. However, people who were extremely vulnerable felt that it was part of a sinister plot to force them to change religions, which is where the phrase comes from.
Similarly, I suspect that the starving ponies receiving the food, and being told it is from the Nightmare, will perceive it as an implicit quid pro quo. That could either make them resent and distrust Lex, or they could actually go along with it, and start worshipping the Nightmare. But if 98% of the Nightmare's worshippers in Equestria belief she is the sort of deity who only feeds her worshippers and will force beneficiaries to eventually pray to her or starve, as a deity that is going to affect her aspect and church in the future.
8468891 Well, there is the fact that most ponies don't have a native religion to turn away from, so this wouldn't be considered to be (an encouragement towards) apostasy, but overall you make a good point. A lot of this will probably come down to the way it's presented to the public. Of course, that's not exactly Lex's strong suit, but then again that may be why he's tapped Cloudbank to give a sermon, rather than giving one himself.
Lex is only good in a situation like this. In peaceful times he is the worst.
8507901 I think "the worst" is something of an overstatement, but it's true that he's certainly not at his best when the key to resolving a situation is to actually engage with other people.