Cultists 5: Inception
Dash and Twilight hung off the edge of the Cinderbird as their conversation with Starlight weighed on their minds. Dash had a bit of a plan cobbled together already, but there were so many variables. She felt her head spinning on some of the points.
Starlight said she was perfectly fine with them asking Sunset Shimmer about this directly. Her main plan was for them to ask Sunset about it, as her taking it out would be the easiest way to make it appear.
However, she warned things could go south fast from there. She insisted on being nearby when it happened.
There could be little doubt Sunset would show it to them, if those were the rules. Trixie made it sound as though the moment Sunset learned Twilight was a master witch, Sunset would be at her beck and call.
It couldn’t possibly be as easy as sneaking into her house at night, though. Starlight wasn’t stupid enough to just let that happen. Starlight would be carefully waiting for this conversation and whatever she expected to happen afterward. She’d have her followers waiting day and night.
There was always the chance Starlight did simply want them to witness it and truly believed they’d want it destroyed. There were plenty of evil artifacts in the world that deserved as much.
There was still so much Dash didn’t know about Starlight. You’d think finding out about her origin story, even if only the fake one she gave to the public, would be easy. But now. Her followers wouldn’t normally tell you about it, merely telling you to ‘read her books’.
And then when you went to hit said books…
“Did you ever get to read that book Nightglider gave us?” Dash asked. “About Starlight?”
“The main thing I learned is that Starlight is the most prolific author in history,” said Twilight. “She has an entire section at that bookstore dedicated to her. She’s written nearly four hundred books and has just as many tape recordings. I’ve read the first five of them already, but I got nothing important.”
“I tried skipping ahead twenty books and that didn’t work either,” said Dash. “By then, it’s full of so much jargon that it’s like I’m reading a foreign language. I didn’t even get passed the first page with all the SBRs, Tik-Ms, and MNNs and crud. There isn’t even a guide to what all this means.”
Dash tried this once before when she was a teenager. When she’d first gotten curious about Starlight’s religion, some years ago, she tried to figure out what this religion was about only to find herself stunned by mountains of books. There was no clear starting point. Her ‘easy’ books had nothing to do with the outer realm or gods.
Starlight had written a book or lecture on every conceivable topic from history to gardening, in addition to some forty works of fiction in every genre. Reading any of these gently funneled you into her sequence of ‘philosophy’ books. That web of over a hundred manuscripts then slowly led you into her religion, each one more technical and obscured by jargon than the last.
Only during this most recent attempt did Dash realize how intentional and insidious the whole network was. She drew ponies in from every corner with her more innocent books, slowly indoctrinating them like a lobster in a gradually boiling pot. She hid the truth under that mountain of information, making sure only ponies already indoctrinated could understand her overtly religious texts or see her more imposing opinions.
The one part that still didn’t make sense was how Starlight managed to crank out all these books! Dash nearly died trying to write a ten-page essay and here was Starlight allegedly cranking out entire novels in under a week.
That and what an ‘SBR’ was.
“An SBR is a serial brain rejection.”
Dash lifted a hind leg as Nightglider trotted up behind them. She needed a moment to reassure herself she’d said that part out loud.
“It’s when your serial, or subconscious, mind rejects something that’s too true for you to accept in your current state by making you think it’s ridiculous,” Nightglider explained this all with both excitement and smugness. “Kinda like when you see SBR for the first time and you dismiss it instead of doing the logical thing by taking one of Starlight’s courses.”
Dash barely followed even that much, mostly because she was focused on Nightglider herself rather than her words.
Nightglider may very well be an unwitting pawn in the end, but she knew as much as Starlight would reveal to the public. Dash could go straight to Starlight, but that pony was just a little too slick. Getting it from that horse’s mouth would be a highly curated experience that came with complimentary gaslighting.
“Nightglider!” Dash spun around and grabbed her. “You know about your religion! Tell me how Starlight became so… enlightened or whatever.”
“I dunno.” Nightglider tilted her head. “There’s a reason we don’t normally go straight into that with the uneducated. Last time I tried to explain it you were pretty obstinate and close-minded. The blind can’t understand color.”
“I was–” Dash’s eye twitched, but she clenched her jaw to keep from saying more. “I was. Sorry about that. But after reading a little of her work we’re willing to listen now. Right?”
Dash shot Twilight a look. Twilight went from a flash of surprise to an unsteady nod.
“Er. Yes!” Twilight looked like she was trying to match Nightglider’s awkwardly large smile. “I must admit! That book was far more… philosophical than I gave her credit for.”
Nightglider hummed, tilting her head to the side as she smiled as always.
“Well, I do want to convert the two of you! It’d be the best thing ever if you joined our religion!” Nightglider opened her wings just a little and pushed up on her forelegs. “So I guess if you promise to be more open, I can try again.”
“Uh. Sure.”
“It all started in the seventh grade when Starlight got a B- on her philosophy paper. That’s what prompted her to start her school club. Because her teacher was so ignorant, she had to teach the other students philosophy herself.”
“What?!”
Was that seriously her backstory? She started a cult over a B-?! Dash would have killed for a B-! She was about to say as much when she noticed Nightglider’s smile twitch just a little. She couldn’t let Nightglider shut down on her again.
“I mean, for somepony as great at philosophy as Starlight,” Dash corrected herself. “I can hardly believe she’d ever get a B.”
“I know! Can you believe her teacher was that horrible?” Nightglider laughed and relaxed again. “Eventually, she realized the only explanation was that everypony else’s fundamental understanding of metaphysics was wrong. There had to be something beyond us that we simply didn’t comprehend or else how could she be ‘wrong’? Obviously, the outer realm is where knowledge beyond our simple world lies, so she sought the answers there.”
“You mean she’s a mad scientist?” Dash blinked. “Then why does she give Rarity and the others crap for doing the same thing?”
“Oh, it’s completely different. First, you wouldn’t let a little filly drink alcohol or drive a train but it’s fine for an adult to do those things. Rarity is an irresponsible child doing things she’s not supposed to do. Starlight is the one true adult, so it’s okay for her to do stuff the rest of us can’t. Second, Starlight didn’t just stick her head inside, she went all the way in for months.”
Twilight opened her mouth to make one of the more obvious objections, but Dash cut her off.
“Hold up!” Dash opened one wing to stop Twilight. “You’re saying she went all the way into the outer realm?”
“Yeah!”
“But that kills you!” Dash shook her head. “Er. Doesn’t it? I’m, uh, ignorant about that subject.”
“Don’t worry. Everypony is ignorant at your stage of development.” Nightglider gave her a little nod. “Most ponies do become permanently braindead if they spend more than ten seconds in the outer realm. But Starlight is so incredible and smart that she managed to hold onto her sanity and explore the paradise the alicorns are trying to keep from the rest of us.”
Dash and Twilight shared a look. If there was any truth to this, there was no way ‘sheer incredibleness’ was what protected Starlight.
“I always heard it was a swirling pit of madness.” Dash tilted her head.
“No. Think about it. Ponies who gaze upon the outer realm are overcome with an incredible burst of creativity and inspiration. I’ve seen it personally. Starlight can just sit down and crank out a fifty-thousand-word book in a single eight-hour session. She writes non-stop, just like a pony who does a micro-dive but without the side effects.”
This ‘basking in the outer realm’ thing would explain how a pony in her thirties could have already produced hundreds of books and lectures.
Dash had heard as much. Though it was called ‘mad science’ ponies could use smaller ‘doses’ for artistic purposes as well. But those ponies only peeked into the outer realm for a few milliseconds. Doing it for even one second would leave you able to build advanced robotics but leave you incomprehensible to anypony else for the duration.
“And that’s where Starlight met Cosmos who told her that the alicorns are trying to keep us from obtaining true glory. They want us to remain like little children, so we’ll be at their mercy forever. But Starlight is different. She wants all her followers to become like her, to become true adults like she is! Through her teachings and guidance, we’ll be able to enter the outer realm and grow to be as great as Starlight.”
Nightglider sat down to raise her forehooves to the sky, looking up as if to embrace the sun.
“That’s why I laugh whenever somepony tries to tell me I’m brainwashed or that Starlight is ‘using’ her children. Like any parent, she just wants us to grow to become equal to her. She and Cosmos see a future where all of us ascend to godhood! Then there will be millions of us and barely ten of the old alicorns. We’ll be able to beat them up and take their paradise for ourselves.”
Was that what Starlight wanted? A world where everypony became their own gods? Maybe if you took that at face value it wasn’t the worst-case scenario. In some religions, you were doing it for the ‘reward’ of a swift death.
Not that Dash could ever believe such a thing. There was no way Starlight saw the ponies she manipulated as her equals or ever wanted them to become as powerful as herself. But saying that out loud would only make Nightglider shut up again.
“And that includes the two of you!” Nightglider put a hoof on a wither of either of the ponies. “Starlight will convert you because she said she will and she’s always right. You’ll both become gods beyond even where Starlight is now and join us in paradise. I can’t wait for you to see the light. You can’t possibly imagine the love a higher being like Starlight has for lower beings like us.”
“And everypony else?” Dash asked. “You said they’d be left behind?”
“Starlight isn’t going to force anything on anypony. Anypony can choose to turn away from her teachings. Just like you could also blow your brains out or feed yourself to a manticore. It’d be stupid, but you can do it. All they’ll get is a horrible death from old age.”
But of course, the joke was on her as Dash already had a method of obtaining eternal youth.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come take one of her mental training courses with me?” Nightglider asked. “They helped me so much!”
“Er.” Dash knocked her hoof off and took a step back. “We’re busy.”
“Even after hearing all that?” Nightglider tilter her head. Her smile faded but quickly rebounded. “Well, I suppose the blind can’t understand color, right?”
And just like that, the conversation was over.
Rarity returned to Oaken Field, once more in Moondancer’s enormous stronghold carved into a weeping willow. The great hall looked entirely different now. Ponies still crowded it, but these were not mere refugees seeking shelter. They were the leaders of the Everfree, everypony whose opinions held any weight in the coming conflict.
Rarity walked between the three rows of tables, as though coming before a tribunal. She could see the leaders of the Mad Science Institute and Association, and a representative from the Mad Science Cartel. There was a dozen of the most prominent cult leaders, a chief of the diamond dogs… and, of course, Moondancer.
Sitting not among the other leaders but standing in the opening of the U was the representative of the Bloodstorm Cartel. Screwball had sent Batton Pass, her second in command, to argue their case.
Screwball required anypony who wanted to be in her upper ranks to undergo dangerous body modifications. She had a spider pony and Rarity knew a snake pony was lurking about somewhere. A bat pony was par for the course.
The same body modification technology had been used by the cartel, in the days Bloodstorm still lived, to create a race of ponies like Batton Pass– bat-winged, fuzzy ears and slitted eyes. Rarity didn’t want to say they all looked the same, but all her kind had the same grey fur and blue hair. They were all partial clones or something along those lines. Really, this could have merely been a double of the real Batton Pass and Rarity might have missed it.
If Rarity wasn’t mistaken, Batton Pass was the second generation of these ponies. That incident happened long ago now, and her people were scattered in pockets throughout the world.
Coming here in person was a risky move, but a necessary one, even with Moondancer’s assurance of protection until the meeting was over. She had to show confidence if she wanted anypony to side with her. Had she sent only a robot, it would have shown too much fear on her part.
Her first show of ‘confidence’, sadly, came from Blueblood, head of the Mad Science Association, in the form of a wink. Rarity rolled her eyes at him, knowing full well how madly in love with her he was.
She supposed he was even more her rival now than before. But at the end of the day, they were rivals rather than enemies. Blueblood would want to be free of the Bloodstorm Cartel more than anything else. She could count on his support.
“Is Radiant Blade not coming?” Moondancer asked one of the elders.
“He hasn’t been seen in months,” she replied. “He vanishes now and then.”
“I see. Then we’ll begin now.” Moondancer stood. “There’s been a great deal of discord sown recently. Two groups granted sanctuary by our confederation are now at odds. The Bloodstorm Cartel has effectively declared war on MSL. We must decide if we will permit this through inaction or not.”
“I’d like to announce!” An unfamiliar pony stood up. “That the Mad Science Cartel takes no sides in petty politics. We will remain neutral, and willing to sell to anypony, in this coming excitement.”
The representative of the Mad Science Cartel wore a garish yellow jumpsuit, their uniform, which clashed horribly with his purple fur. Even worse was that gas mask making all manner of hissing noises. They always wore those, given their fondness for poison gas and handling toxic materials. If they never removed them, you could never be tipped off when they were about to gas an area.
He was not the leader of the Mad Science Cartel, but merely a sales pony. Dr. Von Bolt, their true leader, was a brain in a jar these days.
Rarity’s only interaction with him had been the time she begged him to share that brain-in-a-jar technology with her. He responded by sending her five pages that merely read ‘hahaha’ over and over. It wasn’t even carbon copies. He’d written the word out in pen by hoof for five pages. And he didn’t even have hooves!
“Neutral?” Rarity turned to the representative of the Mad Science Cartel. “Didn’t you send a giant monster to try and kill me recently?”
“Hardly!” His gas mask hissed in imitation of a huff. “I merely sold that giant monster to somepony who then tried to kill you with it. Completely different. And if you don’t like it, why not buy your own giant monster, hm? Why don’t we all buy giant monsters? I know I’d feel safer with one!”
The sales pony threw his forelegs and wings wide in offer.
“There’s only so much mutagen back at our base! Buying now will ensure your enemies don’t get any! Why we have one hundred cockroaches forty feet in length each.” He ran his hoof across the table, tracing out their size. “And we’ll sell them at a mere two hundred thousand bits a piece.”
“Ha!” Blueblood scoffed. “As if anypony would want an army of such foul creatures. Sounds like somepony spilled mutagen on cockroaches and must sell them all before he gets in trouble.”
“Why you!” He muttered but didn’t deny it. “Don’t come crying to me when everything you care about is devoured by massive cockroaches! They can fight even without heads! Surely somepony here sees that–”
He scanned the room to find not one pony remotely interested. That finally shut him up and he slunk back down into his chair.
“Hmph!” With a second scoff, Blueblood turned to Rarity. “Well, I for one, welcome the ascendancy of our dear Rarity! And not just because she’s madly in love with me and will beg me to marry her once she’s on top. No! You ponies have hardly ever been anything rude and uncouth to me.”
Even through all the reassurance, Rarity had to flick her tail. Blueblood was the one madly in love with her, not the other way around. He’d be the one begging to marry her in the end.
“Rarity’s ace is higher than yours from the looks of things.” Blueblood ran a comb through his handsome mane. “Even your little stunt suggests Screwball doesn’t think she can defeat those two. I’m not the sort to be intimidated by the second strongest in the room. That was the only reason I’ve put up with you thugs to begin with.”
“He has a point,” said Moondancer. “Screwball’s used her incredible strength to force us to make concessions up until now. If her sister has sided with Rarity, and Equestria’s army is against yours, you can’t throw your weight around much.”
Batton Pass let out a small hiss before stepping forward.
“There is more to war than who has the strongest fighter,” Batton Pass said. “Our logistics are vastly beyond any of you, let alone Rarity. I believe our little ‘stunt’ as you called it showed just how weak they truly are. The Rainbow Dash pony isn’t half as strong as the mainstream media would have you believe. Half the ponies in this room could kill her one on one, I assure you.”
Yes. Though as the old story went, which mouse would be the one to put the bell on the cat? Nopony looked eager to be the one to confirm this claim.
“Silverstorm is emotionally unstable and will break once she sees her precious friends die. She cannot be everywhere. We will destroy each of them one at a time from the shadows. We are too decentralized for her to defeat us by destroying even Paradise Island. Even her defeating Screwball won’t be enough to end this.”
“If,” Moondancer cut her off, “we agree to shelter you. My control over ‘the shadows’ is not unsubstantial.”
“There are plenty under you who would help us with or without your permission. I wouldn’t feel safe even under your ‘protection’, for no one who stands against Queen Screwball this day shall be no matter what you decide.” Batton Pass made a pointed look at Rarity. “And let us not forget that there will be consequences for those who turn their backs on us. Even you Rarity will be finding it hard to feed whatever meager following you have before long. You may think we’re the bad guys, but we’re only threatening to do what Equestria has been doing all along! You can side with them if you want, but they’ll never care about any of you. They were trying to starve you out long before we were.”
Rarity bit her lip. This was the real trump card. Maybe Rarity had some slight influence on the government via Dash, but not enough to overturn those asinine trade restrictions so easily.
“Everypony!” Rarity addressed them all. “The Bloodstorm Cartel is no better than the government that banished us. They’re merely a different form of oppression. Is there anypony here who wouldn’t welcome the chance to be free from their influence? Who doesn’t want to be forced to pay their extortion any longer? I know throwing them off won’t be easy, but this is your best chance to do so. Between the appearance of my new allies and Equestria now gearing up for war with them, there’s never been a better opportunity.”
“And even if you do win, what then?” Batton Pass asked. “Will the Everfree magically become suitable for producing sugar? Or do you think Equestria will grant you some of our islands if they manage to conquer us?”
“I have connections. To an extent,” said Rarity. “Rainbow Dash is rank S and she’ll listen to me. Perhaps we can negotiate with them. In exchange for siding with them over the cartel.”
Batton Pass was about to scoff at the idea and Rarity couldn’t blame her. Her suggestion wouldn’t be an easy path. At least Rarity did have, through Rainbow Dash, some means of reaching those in power.
But just then a messenger pegasus came rushing into the room.
“Urgent news!” She announced. “President Starlight Glimmer has just announced her plans to rescind all food-related trade restrictions with the Everfree! It was shortly after meeting with Rainbow Dash.”
That sent waves through the crowd of ponies so that none could truly speak for a few moments.
Even Rarity found herself stunned by the news.
Was Dash that much of a political genius? To get this done in a single day?
Probably not. She probably agreed to something stupid in exchange if this was at all related to her. But whatever the truth, Rarity had to play on this.
“Ahem.” Rarity cleared her throat. “Well, the negotiations seem to have gone faster than I expected.”
There were a few chuckles, infuriating Batton Pass.
“Keh!” Batton Pass hissed in her direction. “I don’t know what happened here, but you cannot possibly expect this to last! Equestria still views all of you as deplorables! In ten years, Flash Bang or somepony like her will become president and throw all these mercies on the fire. This will not last.”
“Not necessarily! Rainbow Dash has already gotten this much done.” Rarity turned to face the other leaders, not bothering to look at Batton Pass. “She’s rid us of two witches, soon to be three, and is removed the sanctions. With her on our side, we have our first real chance at reform in decades. Why would any of you stand against her now?”
“Rainbow Dash will die within a month!” Batton Pass hissed. “Our reconnaissance showed that she is the weakest of them all. She is nothing but a charlatan who has conned her way this far!”
“Even if that’s true, she’s conned her way much farther than anypony else has in such a short time,” Rarity reminded him. “I would have expected the likes to you to appreciate the value of having the ultimate con artist on your side.”
Moondancer motioned for the two of them to calm down.
“I believe I have enough to make my decision now. Either move I make will be risky.” Moondancer closed her eyes, considering it only a moment longer. “I suppose the rest of you will wish for me to speak first before making your own decisions. Very well.”
Moondancer stood up, all eyes falling upon her. This was it! Nearly all the rest would follow her lead and those that didn’t would have difficulty moving through the Everfree.
Rarity didn’t doubt she’d be leaving here alive either way, but this decision would radically alter the course of her actions moving forward. Every single pony in the room had a similar weight hanging about their necks, waiting for Moondancer to remove them for better or worse.
“Whoever we side with, the other will view us as an enemy. Equestria and Rarity’s faction are the greater threat between the two. The latter is not hostile to this city by any stretch. Siding with them presents us with more opportunity moving forward. For these reasons I am putting my trust in them.”
A rush not unlike the one she’d gotten upon reviving Sweetie Belle shot through Rarity. She lifted her head higher than she even knew it could go and smiled, basking in her momentary victory.
Batton Pass let out only a subdued hiss as commotion went through the room. More cheers than boos, thankfully.
Rarity did her best to scan the room, seeing who was relieved and who was seething at the decision. She could tell most were at least neutral to the announcement. But she spotted resentment on at least a few faces. And for every resentful face you saw, there were two you didn’t.
“Anypony circulating materials from the Bloodstorm Cartel will be imprisoned. Anypony who goes after the marks on that list will be tried for murder,” Moondancer continued. “I will ask everypony working for the Bloodstorm Cartel to leave the city until further notice.”
Mere seconds passed before one well-dressed pony in a suit stood up, indignant.
“I will not stand against the Cartel!” He declared. “I would rather be banished from the city than give up my ties to them.”
A few of the others started to agree, but it was Batton Pass of all ponies who hushed them.
“Those who wish to remain loyal to us, I ask you to remain silent for now,” said Batton Pass. “Screwball is the only hope many of you have. I’ll assume any not now swearing allegiance to her are doing so as part of some underhanded ploy to sabotage our enemies. You can prove your allegiance through actions rather than words. We will welcome any who betray the confederacy or Rarity or–”
“I just said I wouldn’t tolerate any further threats from you.” Moondancer stood. “I would like you to leave.”
“Don’t think everypony I have here is leaving.” Batton Pass gave a slight smirk before turning to leave, doing her best to act as though she’d won.
Though Rarity was the clear winner of this exchange, Batton Pass’s final strategy had dampened any enthusiasm that may have brought. Already, the leaders of this loose confederation were looking over the room, gauging the others to see who might side with her.
Whatever alliance they had wouldn’t survive any serious stress tests. Many would splinter off all but immediately. But at least Rarity could know they wouldn’t be united against her. For now, she’d dodged the most immediate threat.
Or perhaps Rainbow Dash had dodged it for her. She’d need to learn the story behind all that later.
For now, there was one important figure who’d yet to speak… the leader of the Mad Science Institute. Rarity had been a bit surprised to see her down here at all. Their headquarters was so far to the north they could have easily ignored this conflict. It wasn’t like MSI had any love for either Rarity or Batton Pass’s faction.
And she remained a pensive observer through all those theatrics.
Rarity could feel a literal chill as she approached the mare. Her body may as well have been made of ice, her icy blue fur helping that analogy along. You didn’t need to get overly close to tell how low her body temperature was. Every breath, even in this warm room, came out as mist. Her eyes had a sheen to them as if the moisture in them had turned to frost.
She had a whole apparatus attached to her. Metal cufflinks with vents on her forelegs, and a tank of some red liquid on her back. The latter attached directly to her neck, pumping that blood-like fluid into her veins. Rarity always assumed that was to keep her from freezing over completely.
“I’m assuming you came down here for a reason?” Rarity asked. “I don’t suppose you could be persuaded to side with us?”
With some effort, Sunny Flare, the leader of the Mad Science Institute, opened her eyes.
Hers was one of the more powerful factions here, outnumbering the other three mad science organizations combined. They were also the most distant, however. MSI’s stronghold stood thousands of miles north from here, in the frozen wastelands of the far reaches.
She had undergone the same sort of body modification Arachnado and presumably Batton Pass had, though to more questionable ends. Her body had been modified only to resist the cold. No amount of cold could kill her, simply make her more lethargic.
Apparently, this was to the end of studying ghosts. She’d had a fascination with understanding them in her youth, even convincing some specter to let her live among their ‘fraid’ for perhaps five years or so. Rarity couldn’t help but think she regretted that impulsive decision, as she turned her attention instead toward studying the outer realm some time later.
The cold, at least, kept her preserved. She must have been in her forties but looked no older than Rarity. Perhaps that would have been worthy of some jealousy, but it did have some drawbacks. Sunny Flare still aged, albeit differently. Every year her body got colder, and she now required that whole apparatus on her back to keep from freezing.
What would it be like in another twenty years?
But so was the fate of any leader of a mad scientist organization. Rarity couldn’t imagine herself aging normally, either. No, she would never be an old lady. Either she would die young or implant her brain in a robot long before it came to that.
“I already have enough weighing on my mind without bothering with this war nonsense,” said Sunny Flare. “I certainly have no sympathy with the cartel, but MSL has historically been at odds with us.”
“The leaders who started the feuds between us are gone now,” said Rarity. “Perhaps this is a chance to repair our relationships?”
“Perhaps.” Sunny let out a long stream of mist. “I’m merely repositioning myself for now. I suspect your battle with the Bloodstorm Cartel, even a full-on invasion from Equestria, isn’t the worst of what’s to come. I have been interested in you since–”
It looked as though there was something more she wanted to say. Yet a suspicious glance to the side was all the information Rarity got.
“There are rumors your friend is a witch herself, you know,” her voice became hushed. Rarity felt once again she was in the hot seat.
“You just heard Batton Pass on her way out,” Rarity responded a little too hastily for her own liking. She knew it would be impossible to keep the truth about Twilight a secret for much longer, but every day, every hour, Rarity could buy was priceless. “They’re going to spread rumors and discord among us all. I wouldn’t believe anything I hear in whispers for some time.”
“True. But things are moving, and ponies will be swayed by even false rumors,” said Sunny Flare. “I would urge everypony present to prepare as they would for a coming storm. Now isn’t the time for us to be making overly bold moves, but to be preparing for catastrophe and even greater chaos than even this conflict. That is all I wanted to say for now.”
Sunny Flare bowed her head, but afterward, kept a close watch on Rarity for a long time.
Unfortunately, she was very likely correct in her assessment. That may have been good advice to the rest of them. Though, for Rarity, there was nothing but ‘overly bold’ courses of action from here on out.
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You forgot to move the appendix up a chapter.
God, do I love this story.
Nice
Wow, for only the low price of 20,000,000 you too could have your base infested with 40ft cockroaches.
WOAH-
I was NOT expecting Sunny Flare to end up the LEADER of the MSI.
This is a awesome story but I swear to God if rarity doesn't make some sort of iron Man armor for herself I will be highly disappointed it will still be a great story though but still
and rainbow dash needs a hyperbolic Time chamber or something to make her stronger quickly because war is on the horizon
Poor Rainbow. Still gets no respect
My immediate thought on hearing Sunny Flare's description was that somehow Snowdrop was entering the story as a major player. Absolutely bizarre sensation. Glad it was Sunny instead. Very excited to see how she got from Ghost of a Chance to here.
11310585
It's her superpower. Maybe Twilight can make her an Element of Underestimation
11310769
I see... and how would you feel if it turned out Nyx was the ghost of Crater Cemetery? You know... hypothetically of course.
derpicdn.net/img/2022/5/13/2864490/full.jpg
I can't help but think Sunny showing up is going to be important. I'm guessing that Ghost of a Chance is going to end with the shadowbolts going into hibernation with the threat of crater cemetary looming (presumably after learning something important about the ghost in charge). Sunny seems like a good way for twilight to get some allies and information when it comes time to tackle that problem.
Looks like there's some pattern here
Ah, another glorious chapter of this story. Nightglider continues to be a creepy cultist.
Starlight has apparently been making deals with Powers in Outer Realm? There is something going on with her. Also, I am going to laugh if her real reason for going evil was a B- on a paper.
Exciting times ahead with this story.
It seems like Sunny Flare gave up her interest in ghosts, maybe due to a lack of progress. Here's my prediction: Rarity wins her over by introducing her to Fluttershy, who is possibly a unique individual in being a friendly, vegan, spectre not under the control of Big Spooky Cemetary. I am sure Fluttershy would have plenty of light to shed in ghostology.
Sunny Flare is a scientist at heart, and nothing gets a scientist's heartstrings thrumming like answers to a mystery.
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And the deaf can never hear the opinions of other
Says someone who's completely closed
Yeah, but that break would probably lead to the complete annihilation of the Bloodstorm Cartel... and much more depending on how badly she'd take it
Honestly, it would be hilarious, and not entirely surprising, if this was the reason for everything Starlight has done
Nightglider annoys me too much.... *Alondro rips open the dimensional fabric and shoots Nightglider IN THE FACE!!* I feel better now.
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Perhaps she’s allied with discord somehow how that would be creepy
“You’d think finding out about her origin story, even if only the fake one she gave to the public, would be easy. But now.”
‘But no.’
“She’s rid us of two witches, soon to be three, and is removed the sanctions.”
‘and has’
“gauging the others to see who might”
Might what?
Das Pony aus a-ghost-of-a-chance die geschichten fereinen sich !
So far it seems like Sunset is to be trusted over Starlight, but considering how Sunset's pre-redemption personality is like, I can't be too sure. The appearance of Sunny Flare and the little exposition of what happens to her from Ghost Of A Chance is interesting!
Is it true? For once, something not a cliffhanger? Huzzah! No longer shall I have this story in my mind while I wait for more chapters to binge!
Again an amazing chapter, making political debates be engaging! Also still love how playfully creepy Nightglider is! Cant wait for more dynamics between dash and twi~
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To be fair, the reason canon gave for her installing an oppressive communist regime was because her childhood friend moved away.
11320823 You're right, it is entirely in character. She is the poster pony for disproportionate reactions.
I’m not sure I trust this backstory for Starlight, but all of it starting with a B- is undeniably in character.
Oh dear. I knew Ghost of a Chance didn’t have much hope of a happy ending, but… Well, we’ll see just how bad it gets.
In any case, glad I’m caught up. As Sunny warned, everything’s coming to a head. We’ll see how it all shakes out soon enough.
Missing a few words here.
First time commenting on this story, so I'd like to say I've enjoyed it! ^,^
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and the symbol is nick little red dragon?
great chapter!!!