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I don't want to give away too much, but you'll be getting a few answers soon as the situation resolves rather quickly. However the full truth of the situation won't be revealed until much much later. Like near the end of the story.

Also, please keep in mind, the clockworks of this story aren't exactly the same as the ones in the Ponyfinder-verse. But you are definitely getting close with how some spells will have rather unique / more dangerous consequences for a clockwork than for a normal flesh and blood pony.

Another excellent chapter! I like how this chapter gave some insight of things but it also raised some questions. Firstly, did Gearing get knocked out by the same spell that Pharynx used on him only a few chapters ago? If it is, where did Pharynx learn it from? When it comes to Gearing, I can understand how he would think that it was better to find out while they were in this situation compared to being behind enemy lines. I like how Gearing is able to at least get some pleasure through taste because I can only imagine how much it would suck to have to go through something like that. I also really got a kick out of how he was unresponsive to everything else until Dash needed him and that crazy buck tried to go to get to her! Very well done!