Army of Two
"Raaaugh!" Crimson bucked a metal mare hard into the wall, spun, and zapped a stream of telekinetic energy into the bounty hunter's helmet.
Sputtering for breath, the metal mare slipped free of the headpiece, only to experience the less-than-heavenly sensation of the helmet slamming across her skull repeatedly.
Crimson finished the attack by launching the helmet straight into her gut. He spun around and faced the other end of the hallway junction in time to duck the swing of a metal mare brandishing a broad-axe in her teeth. She swung again and again, all the while he backtrotted towards the wall. Just as she prepared to cleave his skull in two, a beam of crystalline energy ricocheted off her spine. She stumbled forward with a cry, reeling from Tweak's shot several yards away. Crimson took a chance and dove head-on, tackling the mare hard and slamming her against the stone floor of the passage.
Standing up, Crimson kicked the axe up off the ground and gripped it in his teeth. He looked over his shoulder as three mares huddled behind an overturned pillar, sheltering themselves from Tweak's manarifle blasts. Glancing up, Crimson saw a sweeping banner, emblazoned with the impressionistic outline of the spirit of Searo. With a singular twirl, he flung the axe from his mouth, launching it ceilingward like a boomerang.
The weapon sliced through the support ropes of the banner, causing the heaping flag to flutter down and cover the three mares entirely. Grunting and growling in frustration, they flailed about, struggling to get out from underneath the banner. As soon as the first mare stuck her head out from the fabric, she swiftly wished she hadn't.
Crimson's intact forelimb flew across her cheek and collided her with a second mare. As both collapsed, the third broke free, making a run for it, only for a blast of manarifle energy to blast into the wall next to her, sending a chunk of rubble exploding into her body and propelling her hard into a nearby pillar, knocking her unconscious.
Tweak exhaled, sending a fresh recharge of crystalline energy into his translucent weapon. "Somehow, this is feeling a little too easy."
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't agree," Crimson said, fighting to catch his breath. The two dashed towards the corner of the battle-strewn hallway, peering around the corner as they made their way deeper into Searo's Hold. "It's almost as if we're running into a bunch of novices."
"Heh... only you would call that last wave of beserker warriors 'novice.'"
"I mean it..." Crimson's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the next length of hallway. "Not even ten of these freakjobs combined could outmatch that bully, Aeterna. I suspect the true, elite warriors have been relocated elsewhere."
"For what purpose?" Tweak remarked, his sparkling eyes narrow as he finally recharged the core of his rifle. "An ambush?"
"Hard to say, but the sooner we figure out where our ponies are, the better."
"Where in this prison is a prison?" Tweak asked with a smirk. "Every other room looks like a detention cell to me. This Rainbow Dash could be anywhere."
"I've been in one or two facilities belonging to enemy forces before," Crimson said. The walls shook as an explosion thundered through the structure of the place. "Even the Xonans—who pretend not to care for technology—possess the need to house a security net that keeps track of everything."
"What do you mean, 'security net?'"
"I mean a monitoring station. If we relocate it, maybe we'll find out where they're keeping Rainbow Dash." He glanced over his shoulder. "And your brother."
Tweak took a deep breath. "I don't think we'll have any problem finding my brother."
"What makes you say that?"
Tweak pointed down the far end of the nearest passageway. "You see that faint, faint glow in the distance?"
Crimson's eyes narrowed. "Yes...? I do believe so."
Tweak grumbled, "Follow the lights. If these bastards are doing what I think they're doing..."
"Say no more," Crimson grumbled, charging ahead into a limping gallop. "Let's just buck heads."
"You didn't have to ask twice..." Tweak dashed speedily after him.
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Oh, you absolute bastards. WE DO NOT USE PEOPLE AS BATTERIES!
Buck heads?
I like it! Forty four-count flutter kicks! Knock 'em out!
Living batteries? Ooooooh...now somepony's gonna suffer...
2475909
*ponies
All I can say?
Fuck Searo.
2475936
"People" in the generic "entity I could possibly carry on a conversation with" sense. No using dragons, griffins, zebras, etc. either.
2475942
Sentient beings.
That is all.
2475954
Cue the sentient/sapient/whatever debate in a different comment thread, and post upon post of minutiae on exactly what each means and where each applies. Ponies Are People Too.
2475967
I'm just referring to the two as different species.
Let's just use 'intelligent beings' and leave it at that.
2475969
Yeah, let's go with that.
Whoa, that didn't take long. Not that I'm complaining.
You know, with Dash in that armour, I have to wonder if she's going to end up mistakenly fighting Crimson... again.
Somehow I get the feeling that all roads lead to the mana core. Or, at the very least, that's where all the characters will end up.
Hey, it's a good place for an epic confrontation, at least.
2475969>>2475976 Actually, the term "people" is politically correct here.
2475996 Agreed.
pony batteries!
2475909 But we do use crystals to keep track of time. That's kinda racist, now that I think of it.
You know what's also racist? Crimson's soft way of fighting! Knocking people unconscious? Where have your days of guts and glory gone old pal? Show us some blood!
Ceterum censeo Searinem delendam esse.
2475997
Whoever said we had to make it politically correct? 'Intelligent beings' seems more broad. It would be immoral to put a hamster in a wheel, then have it generate electricity by forever running, but we wouldn't consider it a 'person'.
Just saying.
2475997
In the "non-offensive" or "Newspeak" sense of PC?
2476009
When they become theoretically capable of asking us to stop, I will. Inert weights and springs still work.
Nightshade want big boom!
2476017 The first one.
2476043
I figured, but, you know, internet.
2475996
I'm with you on this one. Mana core (or mana core adjacent) is a likely spot to end this particular arc. It's been a while, so I think it's time Dash and Eljunbyro started making some serious progress east again.
Here's to hoping Tweak's brother isn't chopped up yet.
Are they executing prisoners? Nice.
2476326 Yeah! Great...
Using ponies as batteries? Why does that sound familiar?
Also, I'm looking forward to Rainbow and Crimson meeting up, what with Rainbow wearing Searonese armor. Oughta be fun. And, on a final note, we learn a tad more about Xonans (specifically, them being wary of technology...unless it's been mentioned before and I'm just spacing out).
2476009 Blood for Searo?
Wait, if they're using ponies as batteries, and RD's suit is powered by the battery of Searo...
2477404
Oh no, I hope not.
Pony batteries. Just another reason why you should not be ruled by an immortal mortal.
This is Australia...
So they use they use the crystal ponies they capture as living conduits for batteries. Interesting but still fucked up
Pony batteries? Hopefully these aren't structured like the ones from 'Last Tears in Tartarus' - the thought of those still gives me the shivers. In a bad way.
Nice to know that all Metal Mares aren't giant hunks of estrogen infused badassery. Don't favor Crimson's chances when he comes across several of the real deal - even with the gun toting night-light at his side.
2475462
He's been at Disney World. Cut the man some slack.
2475919 I have missed the constant yelling and workout drills that you provide. I actually looked for you two days ago in the comments but couldn't find any by you. Glad to finally spot a friendly face!
I've noticed that Dashie hasn't had any of her "episodes" lately, maybe next chapter?
Ponies as batteries, huh? That's not an entirely new concept, Scolon... But you knew that already, didn't you? Seriously, LTiT was messed up.
I eagerly await the next chapter. Good on you for no cliffhangers, by the way.
2477369 Skulls for their throne.
Weighty confrontation in 3, 2, 1...
I really have no idea how this is all going to go down. A giant teamup between all the allies (including Roarke) against Pestiferous, Terra and other elite Searonese? Some sort of confusion (possibly damaging/fatal in nature?) between Crimson, Tweak, Dash and her new metal mare buddies? Or perhaps some more betrayal on Roarke's behalf? Hard to say - onward!
IIIIIt's Dashie's Kentucky Derby Special Evaluation Time!
Huh...I read about that in the comments last chapter, but I didn't really want to believe it. However, Aeterna's actions now make sense. All of those crystal ponies that she captured must be being used as a power source for the city. At least it keeps Tweak's little brother in one place so they won't have trouble finding him. My guess is that, after they've rescued him, Rainbow and Imre will meet up with them. Those two will have come back up, looking for another way out. I imagine that they'll all team up for a massive smackdown of good vs. evil - the evil being Pestiferous and Terra. I can see Imploding writing a scene where the good is just about to lose when Roarke comes in and sacrifices herself, saving the day. Although that last moment she had with Dash seemed very final...These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
P.S. Four left already? Really?
The Crystal Ponies are being used as power?
No.
Go, save them!
Bring terrible vengeance upon Searo!
-Spirit
Man, I love that game. Unfortunately, the second Army of Two was nowhere near as great as the first. On the chapter, I'm looking forward to the punishment of those Searonese that think they can use ponies as batteries.
Crystal pony batteries! But of course!
Definitely channeling our favorite Rainbow
Suspicions confirmed. Crystal pony batteries. Monstrous, but reminiscent of the Matrix.
Dang, as if we needed any more proof that Searo is built on sheer awfulness. Slave pony batteries?
Yeah, I think we all saw this one coming.
Hamster wheel technology but in pony form wow
We'll see what they are doing specifically but it ain't gonna be pretty.
Also love this, they are just using the advantage tech beings but are almost nothing without it