Gawd damnit. Every time I think it's going to turn out well for him....
Curse you for giving me so much feels.

:D Moved to fimfic? Wooot!

Oh, Murky Number Seven has been moved to Fim Fic. Well, now I will be able to read it much easi-OH GOD 30K WORDS A CHAPTER!
Well, I'm going to have to clear my schedule to read this, but I hear it is worth it.

Fuzzy,

This story is fantastic. It's incredible in every way. Kudos sir, kudos.

- V

Oh, so it's on FiMFiction now? Crap, I really have to get around to reading this...

I knew Sixty Minutes in Hell was the longest chapter. I could just tell as I was reading it. Still, I'm completely shocked how close Morality of Escape is—only three thousand words short? Really? It didn't seem that long...

Oh yeah, this is supposed to be a review. Ahem: this fic is bloody fantastic.

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Dude, finally this gets put up! I've been reading this on Google Docs like, forever!

I never understood why you used Google Docs, cause you can never get feedback. I think.

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GDocs is still the primary place to get the chapters as early as possible, but FiMFic is now an option for those who prefer it too. A few of us thought it'd be best to give people options.

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Haha! They say a chapter should only be as long as it needs to be. I just have a much more drifting pace to my writing style than more concise writers. I like to think it's for a good reason though. :p

It's still using GDocs as the primary source for it, but FiMFic will not be far behind each upload for those who prefer it here!

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Oh I got plenty of feedback through DevArt, tumblr, reddit, email and GDoc chat. No worries about that, although it did catch me by surprise! FiMFic just feels like the next natural addition to ways people can read and offer their views upon the story. Personally, I find GDocs much more user friendly for the author and when I read things, I prefer to read in GDocs too. But as I said, options! That's why it's here. :)

Thanks so much for sticking with it though, even if GDocs wasn't your preferred one. That means a lot to me.

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Much easier to keep up with the story on FimFic, as it sends you notifications, and you can also comment on the story.
Gdocs is easier to write on, but fimfic is better to read on in my opinion.

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That's absolutely fine! It's why I brought it here after all. My personal opinions aren't nessesarily my readers' too. Choices choices. :)

I'm really happy now
It used to be such a hassle to read in Gdocs because my computer sucks
So THANK YOU

~Reggie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJKWYF0sEOM
My reaction to this hitting fimfiction

good chapter

Your chapters are at minimum 20 - 30 thousand words... Holy shit!

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Brings a smile to my face. Absolutely true in my mind when I was writing. ^^

i cant stress enough about how good of a story this is. the characters are fantastic but each have their own flaws that make them personal and feel more alive which you rarely see in a fanfic. another thing that is bloody genius are how the constant failings of murky really make the reader themselves want him to win even more. by the end of the story i think well be shouting at the computer for him to succeed.

i @$#$@$$@
cdn.derpiboo.ru/media/BAhbBlsHOgZmSSJ7MjAxMi8wOS8xOS8xMV80Nl8wMV85NThfMTAxNzczX19VTk9QVF9fc2FmZV9hbmltYXRlZF9zY29vdGFsb29fYXBwbGVfYmxvb21fc3dlZXRpZV9iZWxsZV9jdXRpZV9tYXJrX2NydXNhZGVyc19tZW1lX2dpZgY6BkVU/101773__safe_animated_scootaloo_apple-bloom_sweetie-belle_cutie-mark-crusaders_meme_gif_i-came.gif

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That's the sort of attitude I always long and hope people may feel. The be on Murky's side and really wanting to spur him on. I'm really glad you love it as much as you do. :)

My face when The Mare's name is revealed
Five seconds later when I remembered the prophetic implications of Equestrian naming
When that prophecy was realized
And what's this? Murky isn't being kicked around the entire chapter and actually ends it on the loose? Hell yeah!

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Now, more than ever, Murky's gotta Galvanize!

Oh, finally you are here. Very exсiting story. Always waiting for new chapters)) And I have a little request. Can you give me detailed description(or rough sketch) of Murkies battle saddle? Wanna draw it, but it's hard to get description from the story.

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Sure man. It was a little difficult in the chapter he got it, given I couple pause too long between the lines. :p
The saddle is actually a utility saddle normally used for tools, hence why its lighter and smaller. Murky would never fit a full battle saddle, hence his saddle can only mount tools and pistol scale weapons.

It's mostly leather straps going around his torso and chest, with a little bit going around his left leg. As said, it's like leather strapping, but with a little bit of metal going through it as though it's embedded in between strips of leather. It's a little system of thin metal really. The mouthpiece folds back along his shoulder/back, ready to flip out when the strapped leg kicks out. The mouthpiece itself is very thin and only extends from one side.

Really, it's actually quite a subtle design, I didn't want to overblow it on him, as Murky relies on being a small looking pony both for dramatic design and for sneaking around. It forms around his body rather than over it. The leather is likely a dark brown, so that it does still stand out a little against his black fleece.
If you need anything else about it, feel free to ask for clarification or individual details, I'm always willing to answer. Thanks for considering putting together a pic of it. Your last picture was so awesome that I do kinda go "eee" at the thought. :)

Umm... you are a terrible person.... just thought you should know... just when poor little Murky is at his lowest, a wild Arbu appears. I'm.... this story makes me so sad...

Please tell me that at some point in time, Murky gets a lucky break? I mean... I know it's labelled tragedy, but every single tragedy I know of has a long build up, and then a disastrous something at the End of the book... not every hour... I mean seriously... You're gonna break me at this rate...

Unity's buck was sent to "Unity"? Either I missed this from previous chapters, or it's something from the original FoE, which I've never read.

Took me a while to read this chapter on just my breaks so forgive me if my comments are a bit disjointed.
Stuff continues to go down!
We got some inside info from Coral about Glimmer's betrayal. Can't wait to see what REALLY happened, I'm sure it was old man jenkins in a pirate costume!
Still loving the running gag about how useless screwdrivers are to lock-picking and the continually developing theme of memory and Snips and Snails managed to even pop back up for some Bulk and Skull level antics.
Nameless Mare now has a name! Also, I laughed at the whole Unity thing. That's a wonderful cosmic pun.
But Unity the character kinda makes me sleepy. She gives purple prose at the drop of hat and is just kinda super nice while going on and on about her boyfriend who may or may not exist. But now she's dead forever. Surely.
Also Murky being kind of jokey about smooshing a dood kinda made me
But really, there was a lot of interesting developments in this chapter and I like that Filly is being shown to be a bit more fleshed out with more morally grey characters and Murky now being a valuable political tool. I really feel that with Murky we're on the outside of the real story looking in and only catching glimpses, and I don't mean the story of FoE.
SPEAKING OF!
Good ol' Arbu, I look forward to seeing how Murky deals with Littlepip's wholesome slaughter.

I just saw the words Arbu and yelled "GOD DAMN IT!!!"

...share and care...okay, you win this round, Pinkie...

yes. yes she did.

Murky really needs to learn how to read. I lost count of how many times it held him back in this chapter.
but knowing his luck, he'd try, then discover he has severe dyslexia and will never be able to read.

I've noticed, not for the first time that Murky's story occasionally stops for questions by a third person (or pony). Probably connected to the questions at the start of every chapter.
I've got a couple of theories about it now;

The first is that it's in the future and Murky has survived Fillydephia long enough to see the fall of Red Eye and Velvet Remedy arrive with the alicorns and the newly formed Followers of the Apocalypse. In that case I think he's talking to a therapist about his experiences. Probably Velvet herself, as another nice link to Fallout Equestria.

The second is also in the future and that Murky and friends have managed to escape Fillydelphia, as they're planning to do. In this case Murky has managed his ambition of reaching Tenpony Tower to find Littlepip. There he's being interviewed by Homage about his experiences.

Either theory would be great as an ending, but if there is something else planned then that'll be all the better. I love it when I can't see it coming.

I would have added a third theory that Murky has been reunited with his mother and is talking about his experiences, but since the first question in the first chapter is "What's it like to be born a slave?" I don't think it's her. She knows what it's like to be a slave.

And just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, Arbu. Fucking Arbu. I hope you burn in the deepest pits of Tartarus for creating such a spectacularly beautiful piece of art.

That one word...one beautiful word...
Unity.
Her name...was Unity.

OH FUCK YOU BITCH, YOU AINT GONNA TAKE ME. NUH-UH NO WAY

All immediate reactions asside I fear that Unity is a part of Unity . I will see as I read on

(End of chapter)
I WAS HORIBLY ALMOST RIGHT

Unity. I liked her character so much... now she's gonna die (or at least have something close enough to it). I actually have a small headcanon about her. That buck in that pod thingy in the Ministry of Arcane Science, I believe that's her buck. That she's actually from the past, and was given false memories of her past was like. I do believe that her and her buck are from Old Equestria. Now then, that end of the chapter had me nearly in tears on the whole "Unity is going to Unity" (wow that was redundant) part. I really do think that she's going to survive. That Unity is going to fall before she is sent out there. I also believe that Murky is going to open up that pod with that buck in it before the story is over. I know he is. Now then, onward to the next chapter! Huzzah!

Epic so far FuzzyVeeVee!

The next chapter had better have something really good happen to him after this one!
I absolutely love this story, but you are killing me with the feels.

I couldn't really stand with Murky in his desperation to see Protege, from the description of his unstable condition I expected him to be unconscious and attached to dozens of tubes and wires so it was no surprise when that's exactly what he was. And trying to, what? Sneak him out through a daring escape under gunfire along with all his medical equipment? Or worse, detach him from his medical equipment so he dies? Probably a good thing Murky couldn't get in the room.

"He was stroking his stringy beard, before glancing across to me standing meekly in the doorway."

I thought he was by the bed?

Stopping short of a main bypass toward the FunFarm's 'Foal Land',

It's unintentional but . . . the thought of a slave city with an area called "Foal Land" is now accidentally disturbing.

  “But...it came out with your name so...

How does Murky know that when he can't read? I'm I not understanding this part right?

“You idiot ponies...her name! The transfer, stated that this 'buck' was to be returned to her. To Unity. To be sent to Unity.”

I actually found this part darkly funny and laughed out loud.

Why would old Grizzly have a slave be sent to the name of another slave. Nobody reading the order's gonna know who "Unity" is. You send people to *locations*, like the Fun Farm. You only send someone to a person of their a big name like "Red Eye".

Old Grizzly sounds like one of the slavers Red Eye would be most proud of for acting like he really believes in better ideals instead of treating his job as a chance to be a bully, he's a great slaver and all, but really, he dun fucked up.

This is actually good though. Just as if Shackles watched Murky squeal to Protege, he no longer has reason to NOT hurt Unity. This gets her out of his reach.

Unity will be fine. The creepy Pinkie prophesy says so.

one of the old timers that held power in Fillydelphia before Red Eye came along. Do not trifle with him, Murk. I don't want you to get involved in the madness of a pony forged in the fires of what this nightmare city used to be.

That's actually a frightening thought to dwell upon . . . That Fillydelphia was worse than this before and when Red Eye came . . . it was an *improvement*, and Shackles is like a slaver Cthulhu . . . One of the last of the old gods.

Anyway, typos, missing words and etc.

"it goes against everything am as a doctor" - *I am
"my limbs locking up and growing stuff" *stiff, though his limbs growing stuff does sound interesting
"Frozen the spot in shock" - *in the spot
"trying to keep what courage I had been lent by proving myself against Barb not falter now " *let my courage or *from faltering might make more sense. Not sure how an English teacher would describe it but this sentence seems wrong.
"A little mutual matching of eyes and nod. " - *and a nod, I think
"Mould grotted around the edges of tiles " - *Mold
"The medical station held several windows in the far wall that looked in one more secure rooms" - one of the more
"Old Grizzly's a nice guy who'll want somepony as good as you say in" - *You's say?/You to give your say? I *think* that's what this sentence is trying to say.
"I realised that was had landed on the giant Pinkie head I'd seen" *Realized, *we had landed on.
"I immediately darted out from under the wagon toward the nearest set of covered scaffold"/"Scaffold lay around us with many tools, " - I believe the plural is *scaffolds.
"amidst a cube farm of desk areas and research tables." - I think it's a *cubicle* farm, but I could be wrong. My word document also corrects "amidst" to "midst" but I'm uncertain of that to.

I'm not English major, I'm just pointing out the sentences that through me off with a missing word or something when I read them.

Murky gets a party soon? This oughta be good ~

Reading this for the second time, it's way darker than the first. Not gonna spoil, just knowing what happens provides a completely different reading experience

I’m not sure if it’s this chapter or the previous but

go east on me

I think you meant “go easy on me”

Ok ive just read through all the comments. Am I the only one that finds it painfuly obvious that Unity's buck is Protege? At first I thought the mare and buck Murky saves in the Parasprite Pits were going to be them, but then he finds Unity and her cutie mark and story perfectly line up with Protege's cutie mark (without the Red Eye brand) and story and the narrative went to such pains to point out that Unity never got a look at him in the medical wing.
Then Grindstone, the garbage mule that is experimenting with MEMORIES comes up with this cock n bull red haring story about Unity's buck getting sent to be turned into an Alicorn.

Well i guess it could go either way. The writing is has not exactly been coherent so far, especially with Murky's character growth, or lack there of.

Oh Unity, you poor thing.  Unity is a weird one. I didn't come to like her as much  as most of the others; since we barely know anything about her, just that she's really nice and says really inspirational things, has a lot of problems with her memory, and has a cryptic name and cutie mark. When she introduced herself, I just knew there would be a dark meaning to Unity's name. Maybe it goes even deeper, I didn't quite reach the end of the story last time.

It looks like it's Arbu time. Poor Murky, he just lost the one pony he's been looking for all this time, and now the one who inspired him more than any another is revealed to have a darker side. Even after the nail-biting previous chapter, this one still stands out as especially tragic. The horror is there too. There is hardly anything scarier that I can imagine than having your memories drained and forgetting about everyone that matters to you.

a brief tussle at the Manehattan blockade force. The alicorns...um...'took care' of it, was all he'd say.

Yeah, there is no way they'd admit what actually happened there.

Sigh. This chapter was heavy with information.

I've been dreading Arbu coming up, I knew it would come up >.< This is going to shatter me, isn't it?

I saw ponies hanging from some sections on utility saddles similar to my own with grapple hooks and tools,

Sooo Attack on Titan then?

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“where Blackjack busts into Fillydelphia instead of Pip, maybe rescuing this poor thing in the process. I doubt she'd mind his more salacious illustrations.”

You doubt she’d mind? She’d probably commission Murky to draw more!

“Can you pick it?”

“Yes! They took my lockpick rod, but I still have a bobby pin from my mane! Can you find anything in here to work with it?”

I began digging through them, feeling the panic rise. Hammer? No. Spanner? No. Screwdriver? Damn it, no!

Dang it, Murky.

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*wince* Oof. Went off the mark there, I'm afraid.

I want to take this moment and talk about our two other Free Minds: Coral Eve and, as properly introduced here, Unity.

These two seem like the moral compasses to help balance out the group: Coral for Brim and Glim, and Unity for Murky. Though I think Unity doesn't utilize guilt as much as Coral. They're both kind and loving in their own unique ways, with Coral being more like a mother figure than a friend.

Personality-wise, I'd say Coral has a bit more bite to her. She's very bitter towards Glimmer and vengeful towards Brim, which raises a question of how they might have any hope of working together to escape.

Unity, on the other hand, is not entirely interesting at this point. Granted, I know what she means to Murky, especially on this re-read, but as it stands right now... is it bad to say she feels like a watered-down Littlepip? Lockpicking, hacking, dry humor, it all feels very familiar, and having all the context kind of exacerbates things. I'll probably go further into that at a later date, so I'll leave that be for now.