1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:08,099 Virtue's my first real advice out of the 2 00:00:04,290 --> 00:00:10,259 stable was to find my virtue well no it 3 00:00:08,099 --> 00:00:13,169 was to find a weapon armor and friends 4 00:00:10,259 --> 00:00:15,410 and as daunting a task as that seemed I 5 00:00:13,169 --> 00:00:18,448 believed I had succeeded admirably it 6 00:00:15,410 --> 00:00:20,100 was the advice that followed to find the 7 00:00:18,449 --> 00:00:21,240 defining positive characteristic that 8 00:00:20,100 --> 00:00:22,618 would help me get through the darkest 9 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:24,389 horrors the question wasteland could 10 00:00:22,618 --> 00:00:27,480 throw at me without losing myself that 11 00:00:24,390 --> 00:00:29,689 still eluded me instead I had 12 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:32,219 substituted other goals other quests I 13 00:00:29,689 --> 00:00:34,320 was driven to make this blasted world a 14 00:00:32,219 --> 00:00:37,230 better place a brighter place for the 15 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:40,170 ponies trapped within it I felt all my 16 00:00:37,229 --> 00:00:42,479 efforts had just hit a wall red I was 17 00:00:40,170 --> 00:00:45,300 just too smart too devious and too well 18 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:47,038 organized I underestimated him at every 19 00:00:45,299 --> 00:00:49,919 turn and he used it against me with 20 00:00:47,039 --> 00:00:51,660 skill approaching panache a even his 21 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:53,250 seemingly insane claim to approaching 22 00:00:51,659 --> 00:00:55,799 God who was backed by a crafting 23 00:00:53,250 --> 00:00:58,170 altogether horrifying plan the sheer 24 00:00:55,799 --> 00:00:59,369 cruelty the coldly calculated butchering 25 00:00:58,170 --> 00:01:01,559 of unicorns and an act that would 26 00:00:59,369 --> 00:01:04,649 surpass murder struck a blow to my very 27 00:01:01,558 --> 00:01:07,109 soul and yet I could already envision 28 00:01:04,650 --> 00:01:09,030 his argument what is the suffering death 29 00:01:07,109 --> 00:01:11,069 of a few dozen or possibly even hundred 30 00:01:09,030 --> 00:01:12,510 unicorns today four generations of 31 00:01:11,069 --> 00:01:16,368 safety and peace for millions in the 32 00:01:12,510 --> 00:01:20,630 future I tasted vile 33 00:01:16,368 --> 00:01:22,879 the goddess was insane and yet she was 34 00:01:20,629 --> 00:01:25,489 effectively untouchable immensely 35 00:01:22,879 --> 00:01:27,048 powerful and her army of minions while 36 00:01:25,489 --> 00:01:28,519 considerably smaller in number than red 37 00:01:27,049 --> 00:01:30,289 eyes were amongst the most formidable 38 00:01:28,519 --> 00:01:32,629 opponents in the entire wasteland and 39 00:01:30,289 --> 00:01:35,539 they were completely devoted if not 40 00:01:32,629 --> 00:01:39,199 directly controlled by her whims and her 41 00:01:35,539 --> 00:01:40,909 whims amounted to our extinction and she 42 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:42,799 was such a potent telepath that even if 43 00:01:40,909 --> 00:01:44,329 I could come up with a plan she would 44 00:01:42,799 --> 00:01:47,000 rip it from my mind before I even get 45 00:01:44,328 --> 00:01:49,848 close enough to implement it we were 46 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:52,429 racing apotheosis and we were losing 47 00:01:49,849 --> 00:01:54,859 I felt the darkness closing in 48 00:01:52,429 --> 00:01:58,849 oppressively if ever I needed avert you 49 00:01:54,859 --> 00:02:00,920 to hold on to it was now but even 50 00:01:58,849 --> 00:02:04,340 virtues can turn on you they could go 51 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:05,780 astray began warped a perverted want or 52 00:02:04,340 --> 00:02:09,079 had told me of the six greatest virtues 53 00:02:05,780 --> 00:02:12,378 of ponykind kindness laughter generosity 54 00:02:09,079 --> 00:02:13,340 honesty loyalty and magic although he 55 00:02:12,378 --> 00:02:15,469 made it clear that there were many 56 00:02:13,340 --> 00:02:16,400 others and that my own was likely not on 57 00:02:15,469 --> 00:02:18,560 that sacred list 58 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:20,180 I had quipped that I could possibly 59 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:22,310 collect broken wrecked versions of each 60 00:02:20,180 --> 00:02:24,019 of these I was doing far better at that 61 00:02:22,310 --> 00:02:29,239 it seemed than finding ponies of true 62 00:02:24,019 --> 00:02:31,280 virtue still I had been joking now I had 63 00:02:29,239 --> 00:02:33,469 met the goddess the thing that was 64 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:35,329 Trixie and I knew I had witnessed the 65 00:02:33,469 --> 00:02:37,939 epitome of the corrupted virtue of magic 66 00:02:35,329 --> 00:02:40,390 all I needed to do was find corrupted 67 00:02:37,939 --> 00:02:42,789 kindness and I'd have a set 68 00:02:40,389 --> 00:02:46,000 oh but you have met corrupted kindness 69 00:02:42,789 --> 00:02:48,370 little pip the cruel sweet voice of the 70 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:50,050 goddess blasted through my head swarmed 71 00:02:48,370 --> 00:02:52,360 with a chorus of whispers mostly 72 00:02:50,050 --> 00:02:55,200 agreeing the weight of her thoughts on 73 00:02:52,360 --> 00:03:00,610 my mind was heavy almost suffocating 74 00:02:55,199 --> 00:03:03,219 it's you no no that was not right 75 00:03:00,610 --> 00:03:07,300 she couldn't be right I was better than 76 00:03:03,219 --> 00:03:09,009 that I had to be better than that but 77 00:03:07,300 --> 00:03:11,860 even as I fiercely denied the goddesses 78 00:03:09,009 --> 00:03:13,719 sadistic suggestion my mind conjured up 79 00:03:11,860 --> 00:03:16,810 doubts and demons as if seeking approve 80 00:03:13,719 --> 00:03:18,939 her right I had saved the slaves from 81 00:03:16,810 --> 00:03:20,199 old Appaloosa only to abandon them to 82 00:03:18,939 --> 00:03:22,599 the care of a town that traded with 83 00:03:20,199 --> 00:03:24,099 slavers I had slaughtered the Raiders 84 00:03:22,599 --> 00:03:26,919 who raped and hunted that blue pony of 85 00:03:24,099 --> 00:03:28,329 Manhattan only to walk away leave her to 86 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:31,479 her fate once the immediate threat had 87 00:03:28,330 --> 00:03:33,040 passed how many more how many other 88 00:03:31,479 --> 00:03:35,699 times had I inserted myself into a 89 00:03:33,039 --> 00:03:38,049 situation tried to help and then left 90 00:03:35,699 --> 00:03:41,109 should I count all of Philadelphia as a 91 00:03:38,050 --> 00:03:43,260 victim of my kindness I remembered my 92 00:03:41,110 --> 00:03:45,489 image in that mirror reflecting my soul 93 00:03:43,259 --> 00:03:50,889 was twisted kindness what I had seen 94 00:03:45,489 --> 00:03:53,110 there was it a monster no no this was 95 00:03:50,889 --> 00:03:54,909 sick in poison thinking it was the 96 00:03:53,110 --> 00:03:55,600 goddess mercilessly tormenting me where 97 00:03:54,909 --> 00:03:58,870 I was weak 98 00:03:55,599 --> 00:04:04,199 I had a virtue a good and true one just 99 00:03:58,870 --> 00:04:04,200 waiting for me to discover it I had to 100 00:04:05,818 --> 00:04:09,268 we stepped out of merry ponies most 101 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:11,699 intact structure and into the angry 102 00:04:09,269 --> 00:04:13,230 daylight four of the goddesses alicorns 103 00:04:11,699 --> 00:04:16,139 guiding us back to where the sky bandit 104 00:04:13,229 --> 00:04:18,599 had landed my pipbuck ban to click at me 105 00:04:16,139 --> 00:04:21,449 the balefire bomb had been detonated 106 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:23,009 underground here the radiation bleeding 107 00:04:21,449 --> 00:04:24,509 off of the splendid valley sinkhole was 108 00:04:23,009 --> 00:04:26,970 nowhere near as close to the horror of 109 00:04:24,509 --> 00:04:30,330 the philadelphia crater at least not 110 00:04:26,970 --> 00:04:31,620 above the ground a nearby wall held what 111 00:04:30,329 --> 00:04:33,149 appeared to be a map of the building 112 00:04:31,620 --> 00:04:35,610 above a pair of ruined water fountains 113 00:04:33,149 --> 00:04:37,109 my pit bucks click clicking sped up 114 00:04:35,610 --> 00:04:38,788 ominously as I brought it close to them 115 00:04:37,110 --> 00:04:40,319 but I was more interested in the 116 00:04:38,788 --> 00:04:44,430 scanning of the map for future reference 117 00:04:40,319 --> 00:04:46,379 I suspected I might need it all around 118 00:04:44,430 --> 00:04:48,360 us alicorns watched tightly from behind 119 00:04:46,379 --> 00:04:50,370 crumbled walls or stood amongst broken 120 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:53,569 pillars and collapsed rubble their 121 00:04:50,370 --> 00:04:56,668 silent presence was eerie and sinister 122 00:04:53,569 --> 00:04:59,728 thriving velvet remedy asked in a hushed 123 00:04:56,668 --> 00:05:03,029 voice dipping her head it feels more 124 00:04:59,728 --> 00:05:04,918 like they haunt this place I nodded 125 00:05:03,029 --> 00:05:07,019 lowering my voice to reply almost 126 00:05:04,918 --> 00:05:09,750 instinctually as if the alicorn silence 127 00:05:07,019 --> 00:05:12,448 demanded we speak softly and he knows 128 00:05:09,750 --> 00:05:13,918 how they haven't said anything not one 129 00:05:12,449 --> 00:05:15,478 of them had telepathically spoken a word 130 00:05:13,918 --> 00:05:18,269 since we encountered them in splendid 131 00:05:15,478 --> 00:05:19,408 Valley in previous encounters they had 132 00:05:18,269 --> 00:05:22,019 been boastfully chatty 133 00:05:19,408 --> 00:05:24,089 I think the proximity of the goddess is 134 00:05:22,019 --> 00:05:26,279 overwhelming them their individual minds 135 00:05:24,089 --> 00:05:28,399 are being drowned out by hers this close 136 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:30,359 to become little more than drones 137 00:05:28,399 --> 00:05:32,819 not that I care much for their 138 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:33,210 individual personalities calamity chimed 139 00:05:32,819 --> 00:05:35,189 in 140 00:05:33,209 --> 00:05:37,019 whispering soon as they were all 141 00:05:35,189 --> 00:05:40,379 variations oh the goddess is great rah 142 00:05:37,019 --> 00:05:43,889 rah see Allah insects silence ain't 143 00:05:40,379 --> 00:05:45,790 entirely on golden after a moment of 144 00:05:43,889 --> 00:05:48,340 thought he continued 145 00:05:45,790 --> 00:05:51,550 I reckon it's the taint splendor Valley 146 00:05:48,339 --> 00:05:52,629 is rapt with it he pointed out she seems 147 00:05:51,550 --> 00:05:54,759 to be able to communicate with her 148 00:05:52,629 --> 00:05:56,889 so-called children outside but nothing 149 00:05:54,759 --> 00:05:59,319 like this not with normal folk except in 150 00:05:56,889 --> 00:06:01,180 very special cases like redeye but here 151 00:05:59,319 --> 00:06:03,399 she's in our heads like it won't nothing 152 00:06:01,180 --> 00:06:08,650 I'm betting this whole valleys a massive 153 00:06:03,399 --> 00:06:10,329 amplifier to her wonderful well then 154 00:06:08,649 --> 00:06:11,469 don't any Pony think anything about what 155 00:06:10,329 --> 00:06:14,800 we're gonna do now until we're out of 156 00:06:11,470 --> 00:06:16,420 the SCOTUS is forsaken place calamity 157 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:19,590 barked a laugh at my choice of phrasing 158 00:06:16,420 --> 00:06:21,520 the alicorns of course said nothing 159 00:06:19,589 --> 00:06:23,049 theywill was through the rubble to the 160 00:06:21,519 --> 00:06:25,299 flat of asphalt which had once been a 161 00:06:23,050 --> 00:06:27,790 landing zone for sky chariots the sky 162 00:06:25,300 --> 00:06:30,540 banditz at waiting for us on the roof 163 00:06:27,790 --> 00:06:34,810 pilate danced and hooted our return 164 00:06:30,540 --> 00:06:36,460 velvet remedy stopped calamity hesitated 165 00:06:34,810 --> 00:06:40,209 his ears picking up as he watched the 166 00:06:36,459 --> 00:06:42,729 bird over here he whispered putting a 167 00:06:40,209 --> 00:06:44,379 four leg out to block me the four 168 00:06:42,730 --> 00:06:46,480 alicorns kept walking towards the sky 169 00:06:44,379 --> 00:06:48,659 Bennett either unaware or unconcerned 170 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:53,379 that their charges had stopped following 171 00:06:48,660 --> 00:06:55,090 that sounds like a warnin another 172 00:06:53,379 --> 00:06:58,930 alicorn dropped out of the sky behind us 173 00:06:55,089 --> 00:07:01,750 and raised her shield these velvet 174 00:06:58,930 --> 00:07:03,550 Remini breathed the four alicorns 175 00:07:01,750 --> 00:07:04,899 trotted up to the sky bandit the lead 176 00:07:03,550 --> 00:07:06,759 one beginning to turn towards us 177 00:07:04,899 --> 00:07:09,239 expectantly when the asphalt around them 178 00:07:06,759 --> 00:07:11,709 erupted in blasts of magical energy all 179 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:13,269 four alicorns were killed three 180 00:07:11,709 --> 00:07:15,189 instantly with two of them melting into 181 00:07:13,269 --> 00:07:17,109 goo the fourth collapsing several yards 182 00:07:15,189 --> 00:07:19,689 away missing multiple limbs and bleeding 183 00:07:17,110 --> 00:07:20,860 to death with a pitiful whinny double 184 00:07:19,689 --> 00:07:22,180 remedies horn flared up as her 185 00:07:20,860 --> 00:07:24,660 anaesthetic spell allowed the creature 186 00:07:22,180 --> 00:07:27,069 to spend her last second without pain 187 00:07:24,660 --> 00:07:29,500 the alicorns and the ruins around us 188 00:07:27,069 --> 00:07:30,969 stumbled in unison two more fellows 189 00:07:29,500 --> 00:07:32,100 shafts of colored lights sliced through 190 00:07:30,970 --> 00:07:34,630 the air 191 00:07:32,100 --> 00:07:36,220 velvet Remini muttered something closing 192 00:07:34,629 --> 00:07:38,019 her eyes as her horn flared and five 193 00:07:36,220 --> 00:07:40,750 small flickering orbs of energy shot 194 00:07:38,019 --> 00:07:42,250 from the tip one of the orbs drifted 195 00:07:40,750 --> 00:07:44,800 swiftly over my head and floated there 196 00:07:42,250 --> 00:07:46,689 one state above velvet the other 197 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:49,840 sign-out calamities anathan pilot and 198 00:07:46,689 --> 00:07:51,009 humped over them like tiny Guardians new 199 00:07:49,839 --> 00:07:53,919 spell 200 00:07:51,009 --> 00:07:57,370 Belet remedy nodded saying I'll explain 201 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:58,750 later as she looked for a way to run the 202 00:07:57,370 --> 00:08:01,300 alicorns in the rooms were bringing up 203 00:07:58,750 --> 00:08:05,170 their shields the air was filling with 204 00:08:01,300 --> 00:08:06,759 magical energy blasts a pack of 205 00:08:05,170 --> 00:08:08,319 hellhounds was charging across the tops 206 00:08:06,759 --> 00:08:10,029 of the rubble moving with terrifying 207 00:08:08,319 --> 00:08:11,649 speed to engage the alicorns under the 208 00:08:10,029 --> 00:08:16,179 covering fire of more hellhounds in the 209 00:08:11,649 --> 00:08:18,069 valley they've mined the landing pad my 210 00:08:16,180 --> 00:08:19,449 mind conjured up images of hellhounds 211 00:08:18,069 --> 00:08:21,040 digging up from beneath us until less 212 00:08:19,449 --> 00:08:23,229 than half an inch of asphalt separated 213 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:24,790 their holes from the world above then 214 00:08:23,230 --> 00:08:26,230 Wonder gluing the mines to that thin 215 00:08:24,790 --> 00:08:29,770 barrier and filling the holes behind 216 00:08:26,230 --> 00:08:33,310 them back inside I shouted regroup first 217 00:08:29,769 --> 00:08:34,870 get out of the line of fire I turned 218 00:08:33,309 --> 00:08:36,779 only to find we were blocked by the 219 00:08:34,870 --> 00:08:39,129 shielded alicorn standing behind us 220 00:08:36,779 --> 00:08:41,559 beyond her the doorway back into 221 00:08:39,129 --> 00:08:43,179 maripony stood dark and empty the 222 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:44,769 concrete steps leading up to a tore 223 00:08:43,179 --> 00:08:46,769 apart explosively as the hellhounds 224 00:08:44,769 --> 00:08:48,610 burst out from the ground beneath us 225 00:08:46,769 --> 00:08:50,259 massive claws ripped through the 226 00:08:48,610 --> 00:08:51,490 alicorns shield and tore huge chunks of 227 00:08:50,259 --> 00:08:55,120 meat from her side as she turned to 228 00:08:51,490 --> 00:08:56,379 fight it the alicorn almost got a spell 229 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:57,490 off before the hellhound ripped his 230 00:08:56,379 --> 00:09:03,189 claws through her face 231 00:08:57,490 --> 00:09:04,629 felling her insolent curs a high-pitched 232 00:09:03,190 --> 00:09:05,170 whistle blasted through the air and 233 00:09:04,629 --> 00:09:07,210 through my head 234 00:09:05,169 --> 00:09:08,799 the goddess projecting both mentally and 235 00:09:07,210 --> 00:09:11,259 magically through the ruins of Mara 236 00:09:08,799 --> 00:09:12,099 ponies air-raid sirens I pressed my 237 00:09:11,259 --> 00:09:14,769 hosts to my ears 238 00:09:12,100 --> 00:09:16,860 but it didn't help I was unable to think 239 00:09:14,769 --> 00:09:19,269 unable to move under the assault 240 00:09:16,860 --> 00:09:21,310 calamity velvet remedy and zenithal did 241 00:09:19,269 --> 00:09:23,710 the same only the zebra seeming to get 242 00:09:21,309 --> 00:09:25,599 any respite from the effort the 243 00:09:23,710 --> 00:09:28,780 hellhound immediately fell clutching his 244 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:31,029 ears and howling in pain the others 245 00:09:28,779 --> 00:09:33,850 cringed in pain then turn fleeing 246 00:09:31,029 --> 00:09:35,199 blindly back into the valley one in 247 00:09:33,850 --> 00:09:37,529 front of us did not fare as well 248 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:39,640 three alicorns descended upon him 249 00:09:37,529 --> 00:09:41,679 dropping their shields as they skewered 250 00:09:39,639 --> 00:09:44,740 the ambushing creature driving glowing 251 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:46,329 horns through his thick hide wonder the 252 00:09:44,740 --> 00:09:48,789 three was hit by a Lansing beam of light 253 00:09:46,330 --> 00:09:50,230 blue energy and dissolved a hellhound 254 00:09:48,789 --> 00:09:52,029 sniper who was either far enough away 255 00:09:50,230 --> 00:09:54,580 not to be debilitated by the goddess's 256 00:09:52,029 --> 00:09:57,309 sonic / telepathic attack or who had 257 00:09:54,580 --> 00:09:59,629 protection from it clearly not all of 258 00:09:57,309 --> 00:10:02,149 these creatures are poor shots 259 00:09:59,629 --> 00:10:04,879 an orange beam with light hits calamity 260 00:10:02,149 --> 00:10:06,708 striking him in the wing for a brief 261 00:10:04,879 --> 00:10:09,769 moment his whole body glowed orange 262 00:10:06,708 --> 00:10:11,599 become a calamity shaped lamp the little 263 00:10:09,769 --> 00:10:12,919 orb over his head popped and the glow 264 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:14,899 receded back into his wing before 265 00:10:12,919 --> 00:10:17,599 evaporating leaving a hole in his wing 266 00:10:14,899 --> 00:10:19,009 that I could put my hook through velvet 267 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:21,199 remedy spell had saved him from being 268 00:10:19,009 --> 00:10:23,089 turned to ash my Pegasus friend 269 00:10:21,198 --> 00:10:26,208 collapsed in shock his scream drowned 270 00:10:23,089 --> 00:10:29,810 out by the goddesses attack the siren 271 00:10:26,208 --> 00:10:32,028 stopped the attack continued though 272 00:10:29,809 --> 00:10:33,588 but now the flurry of poorly aimed beams 273 00:10:32,028 --> 00:10:36,500 of magical energy were replaced by a 274 00:10:33,589 --> 00:10:37,910 small number of expertly aimed ones the 275 00:10:36,500 --> 00:10:40,429 attacks flashed uselessly against the 276 00:10:37,909 --> 00:10:42,500 alicorn shields in the wake of the sonic 277 00:10:40,429 --> 00:10:44,979 attack the hellhounds didn't charge the 278 00:10:42,500 --> 00:10:44,980 base again 279 00:10:46,669 --> 00:10:51,229 I really said one my odama calamity 280 00:10:49,700 --> 00:10:53,090 grunted his velvet rabbit he knelt over 281 00:10:51,230 --> 00:10:53,980 him her horn glowing as she tried not to 282 00:10:53,090 --> 00:10:58,129 cry 283 00:10:53,980 --> 00:10:59,750 hey this ain't bleeding outright the 284 00:10:58,129 --> 00:11:00,860 magical energy had warped the flesh of 285 00:10:59,750 --> 00:11:04,220 his wing around the wound and 286 00:11:00,860 --> 00:11:07,310 incinerated the feathers hush now she 287 00:11:04,220 --> 00:11:10,460 worried all right now safest strengthen 288 00:11:07,309 --> 00:11:12,229 let your medical Pony do her work from 289 00:11:10,460 --> 00:11:15,560 her pained expression I could tell it 290 00:11:12,230 --> 00:11:17,259 was bad another bolt of energy struck 291 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:19,489 the rubble we had taken refuge behind 292 00:11:17,259 --> 00:11:20,960 the alicorns had flown out to strike 293 00:11:19,490 --> 00:11:22,850 down the snipers but every time they got 294 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:25,310 close the hellhounds disappeared into 295 00:11:22,850 --> 00:11:26,840 the ground all they were managing to do 296 00:11:25,309 --> 00:11:29,419 is get drawn further from base and 297 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:31,070 increasingly separated the goddess had 298 00:11:29,419 --> 00:11:33,879 begun recalling several either 299 00:11:31,070 --> 00:11:35,930 suspecting or experiencing a trap 300 00:11:33,879 --> 00:11:37,659 did you see how all the creatures 301 00:11:35,929 --> 00:11:39,769 reacted when the first four were killed 302 00:11:37,659 --> 00:11:42,829 zennith asked if she hunted through her 303 00:11:39,769 --> 00:11:44,809 pouch of bottles and ingredients if the 304 00:11:42,830 --> 00:11:46,670 Trixie Monster experiences each Alcorn's 305 00:11:44,809 --> 00:11:49,629 death perhaps the death of so many at 306 00:11:46,669 --> 00:11:52,279 once is painful or disorienting to her I 307 00:11:49,629 --> 00:11:53,509 nodded filing that examination away 308 00:11:52,279 --> 00:11:54,350 until we were safely outside the 309 00:11:53,509 --> 00:11:57,439 goddesses range 310 00:11:54,350 --> 00:12:01,570 I looked to velvet and asked will he be 311 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:03,530 okay and will he be able to fly again 312 00:12:01,570 --> 00:12:06,290 velvet took longer to answer that I 313 00:12:03,529 --> 00:12:07,730 would have preferred I can repair the 314 00:12:06,289 --> 00:12:09,519 structural damage to his wing with my 315 00:12:07,730 --> 00:12:11,659 mending spell but I can't heal the wound 316 00:12:09,519 --> 00:12:13,220 Halon need at least one extra strength 317 00:12:11,659 --> 00:12:15,469 restoration potion to begin the healing 318 00:12:13,220 --> 00:12:18,110 properly more if he wants to fly again 319 00:12:15,470 --> 00:12:21,080 any time this week and right now we 320 00:12:18,110 --> 00:12:23,600 don't even possess a healing potion she 321 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:24,950 looked at me sadly if you remember I 322 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:27,700 used up all of our medical supplies 323 00:12:24,950 --> 00:12:30,649 patching you lot up inside stable too I 324 00:12:27,700 --> 00:12:33,360 felt a pang of guilt 325 00:12:30,649 --> 00:12:35,578 quite a spell you got there Clemmy 326 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:36,089 praised resolutely ignoring his doctor's 327 00:12:35,578 --> 00:12:40,649 orders 328 00:12:36,089 --> 00:12:42,240 you saved my life only the slightest 329 00:12:40,649 --> 00:12:43,190 smile touched velvet remedies frowning 330 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:45,299 expression 331 00:12:43,190 --> 00:12:46,920 yes I'd hoped to borrow from more 332 00:12:45,299 --> 00:12:49,259 medical supplies from doctor helping off 333 00:12:46,919 --> 00:12:51,120 but with tenpony tower surrounded by red 334 00:12:49,259 --> 00:12:52,439 eyes forces he wasn't willing to part 335 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:54,778 with anything more than a few healing 336 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:56,570 bandages so I spent part of my time 337 00:12:54,778 --> 00:12:59,809 there learning a couple new spells a 338 00:12:56,570 --> 00:13:01,950 disintegration war it seemed prudent 339 00:12:59,809 --> 00:13:04,739 zennith pulled out a vial and offered it 340 00:13:01,950 --> 00:13:06,778 to velvet she took it and wrapped it in 341 00:13:04,740 --> 00:13:09,620 a telekinetic sheath keeping it floating 342 00:13:06,778 --> 00:13:11,700 nearby she scowled as she added 343 00:13:09,620 --> 00:13:14,549 unfortunately this wing needs more than 344 00:13:11,700 --> 00:13:16,350 my spells and some bandages to heal I'm 345 00:13:14,549 --> 00:13:17,909 going to need to cut the Warped flesh 346 00:13:16,350 --> 00:13:20,639 away before I can start rebuilding and 347 00:13:17,909 --> 00:13:22,528 mending the bones of your wing velvet 348 00:13:20,639 --> 00:13:26,100 remedy insisted remorsefully addressing 349 00:13:22,528 --> 00:13:27,838 calamity this is magical damage if I 350 00:13:26,100 --> 00:13:29,820 don't remove all the affected flesh your 351 00:13:27,839 --> 00:13:31,589 wing will never heal properly you're 352 00:13:29,820 --> 00:13:32,850 going to bleed a lot when I do it but 353 00:13:31,589 --> 00:13:36,050 zennith has given me something that 354 00:13:32,850 --> 00:13:38,970 should reduce the blood loss she frowned 355 00:13:36,049 --> 00:13:40,338 this would be excruciating so I'm going 356 00:13:38,970 --> 00:13:42,570 to have to use my anesthetic spell 357 00:13:40,339 --> 00:13:46,199 you're not going to be able to move for 358 00:13:42,570 --> 00:13:47,820 the better part of an hour a beam of 359 00:13:46,198 --> 00:13:50,250 pink light struck above the doorway into 360 00:13:47,820 --> 00:13:53,339 maripony a cinder blocks worth of the 361 00:13:50,250 --> 00:13:57,000 wall glowed and dissolved zennith turned 362 00:13:53,339 --> 00:14:00,209 to me you made the wagon fly before you 363 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:02,370 fly us all the way from here I shook my 364 00:14:00,208 --> 00:14:03,919 head I had been asking myself the same 365 00:14:02,370 --> 00:14:06,289 thing 366 00:14:03,919 --> 00:14:08,149 I can but floating myself is incredibly 367 00:14:06,289 --> 00:14:10,490 draining I don't think I'd be able to 368 00:14:08,149 --> 00:14:11,809 get us very far and even if I could I 369 00:14:10,490 --> 00:14:13,700 can't move us very fast 370 00:14:11,809 --> 00:14:16,629 all those hellhound snipers would need 371 00:14:13,700 --> 00:14:18,829 to do is get one good shot to blow us up 372 00:14:16,629 --> 00:14:21,610 then we are trapped here until we find 373 00:14:18,828 --> 00:14:23,719 medical supplies for the winged one 374 00:14:21,610 --> 00:14:24,379 danga have you just not learned our 375 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:28,720 names yet 376 00:14:24,379 --> 00:14:32,539 I'm calamity my apologies 377 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:35,778 calamity I am not used to thinking in 378 00:14:32,539 --> 00:14:37,159 names or to being the ex-slaves zebra 379 00:14:35,778 --> 00:14:39,889 was clearly having difficulty putting 380 00:14:37,159 --> 00:14:41,659 her feeling into words on a level of 381 00:14:39,889 --> 00:14:45,560 familiarity when names are appropriate 382 00:14:41,659 --> 00:14:47,389 for me to utter I could have sworn on 383 00:14:45,559 --> 00:14:49,578 her to refer to at least one of us by 384 00:14:47,389 --> 00:14:52,100 name before but now that I thought about 385 00:14:49,578 --> 00:14:53,719 it I couldn't place an instance the 386 00:14:52,100 --> 00:14:56,480 closest I had come was her questioning 387 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:57,769 how calamity got his name only the 388 00:14:56,480 --> 00:15:00,800 largest figures in her life had been 389 00:14:57,769 --> 00:15:02,899 given names red-eye and Stern who ruled 390 00:15:00,799 --> 00:15:04,370 those who had enslaved her or figures of 391 00:15:02,899 --> 00:15:07,190 legend like doom bunny and Nightmare 392 00:15:04,370 --> 00:15:09,769 Moon she'd kept her silence for how many 393 00:15:07,190 --> 00:15:11,329 years I knew how impossible it had 394 00:15:09,769 --> 00:15:13,220 seemed to form friendships with my peers 395 00:15:11,328 --> 00:15:14,799 and stable to having been the awkward 396 00:15:13,220 --> 00:15:17,300 blank flank with the alcoholic mother 397 00:15:14,799 --> 00:15:18,379 being a zebra in Philadelphia slave pits 398 00:15:17,299 --> 00:15:20,569 would have been even worse 399 00:15:18,379 --> 00:15:22,689 I wondered she ever bothered to learn 400 00:15:20,570 --> 00:15:24,769 the names of most of her tormentors is 401 00:15:22,690 --> 00:15:27,920 this the way she'd come to identify 402 00:15:24,769 --> 00:15:29,810 ponies in her mind do you believe that 403 00:15:27,919 --> 00:15:32,740 maybe medical supplies inside here 404 00:15:29,809 --> 00:15:35,059 zennith asked looking towards maripony I 405 00:15:32,740 --> 00:15:37,610 checked my pit box Auto mapping feature 406 00:15:35,059 --> 00:15:39,768 as well as the scan of the wall map to 407 00:15:37,610 --> 00:15:40,909 my chagrin merry ponies medical clinic 408 00:15:39,769 --> 00:15:43,370 was in the section that had collapsed 409 00:15:40,909 --> 00:15:45,019 into the crater anything that had been 410 00:15:43,370 --> 00:15:46,509 there would be crushed scattered and 411 00:15:45,019 --> 00:15:48,470 probably tainted 412 00:15:46,509 --> 00:15:50,629 there were bathrooms that might have 413 00:15:48,470 --> 00:15:51,740 medical boxes but would they be stocked 414 00:15:50,629 --> 00:15:54,528 with the sort of medical supplies 415 00:15:51,740 --> 00:15:57,259 calamity needed I felt it was doubtful 416 00:15:54,528 --> 00:15:58,939 and I wasn't eager to try the horror of 417 00:15:57,259 --> 00:16:00,318 what lurked in there or what she had 418 00:15:58,940 --> 00:16:03,500 done and curdled my blood 419 00:16:00,318 --> 00:16:05,019 I knew the goddess needed us but what if 420 00:16:03,500 --> 00:16:06,610 she changed her mind 421 00:16:05,019 --> 00:16:10,120 I didn't want us to suffer the same fate 422 00:16:06,610 --> 00:16:11,110 as Twilight Sparkle there's a hospital a 423 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:14,100 few miles from here 424 00:16:11,110 --> 00:16:16,389 calamity announced surprising us all 425 00:16:14,100 --> 00:16:18,580 part of the Jim man in town that served 426 00:16:16,389 --> 00:16:20,379 this place when they shut down the mines 427 00:16:18,580 --> 00:16:21,970 the town was abandoned but they opened 428 00:16:20,379 --> 00:16:23,019 parts of it back up to house the ponies 429 00:16:21,970 --> 00:16:26,200 who worked at maripony and their 430 00:16:23,019 --> 00:16:28,360 families I didn't ask how he knew any of 431 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:29,980 this calamity had been surviving the 432 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:32,440 equestrian wasteland for years before we 433 00:16:29,980 --> 00:16:34,870 had met who knew what rumors and scraps 434 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:36,400 of information he'd learned I was 435 00:16:34,870 --> 00:16:39,429 content to just be thankful for this 436 00:16:36,399 --> 00:16:41,350 change in our luck another shot struck 437 00:16:39,429 --> 00:16:43,539 the wall I was hiding behind causing to 438 00:16:41,350 --> 00:16:45,820 glow and melt I scooted my tail to 439 00:16:43,539 --> 00:16:47,319 another bit of cover we weren't going 440 00:16:45,820 --> 00:16:50,830 anywhere until they stopped taking so 441 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:52,210 many potshots in our direction and there 442 00:16:50,830 --> 00:16:54,340 should probably be plenty of rooftop to 443 00:16:52,210 --> 00:16:56,830 hide out on while I heal calamity 444 00:16:54,340 --> 00:16:58,570 assured us ain't perfect but probably 445 00:16:56,830 --> 00:17:01,750 the safest place from the hellhounds if 446 00:16:58,570 --> 00:17:03,520 we can get there we all knew we were 447 00:17:01,750 --> 00:17:05,470 talking about several miles travel over 448 00:17:03,519 --> 00:17:08,680 hellhound infested irradiated and taint 449 00:17:05,470 --> 00:17:10,990 soaked landscape just point the way 450 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:16,240 calamity I said sounding more sure than 451 00:17:10,990 --> 00:17:19,269 I felt I have a plan he always do clam 452 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:24,220 he grinned just get us to old ohne and 453 00:17:19,269 --> 00:17:26,619 we'll be fine the hellhound seemed to 454 00:17:24,220 --> 00:17:27,970 lose interest after about an hour it 455 00:17:26,619 --> 00:17:29,859 made me wonder if there was a larger 456 00:17:27,970 --> 00:17:31,960 purpose behind the attack or if it just 457 00:17:29,859 --> 00:17:34,119 been sport 458 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:36,429 I stood on the railing ringing Mary Pony 459 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:39,158 short water tower my binoculars floating 460 00:17:36,429 --> 00:17:40,600 in front of my face from here I could 461 00:17:39,159 --> 00:17:42,659 just make out the shapes of old ol neigh 462 00:17:40,599 --> 00:17:45,129 in the distance resting peacefully an 463 00:17:42,659 --> 00:17:47,770 elevated highway passed nearby going 464 00:17:45,130 --> 00:17:49,330 nowhere the highway had collapsed less 465 00:17:47,769 --> 00:17:51,519 than half a mile beyond the off-ramp to 466 00:17:49,329 --> 00:17:53,048 the town leaving a line of rubble and 467 00:17:51,519 --> 00:17:56,259 crushed wagons that time and the valley 468 00:17:53,048 --> 00:17:58,210 had mostly succeeded in racing turning 469 00:17:56,259 --> 00:17:59,759 my gaze towards the horizon I glimpsed a 470 00:17:58,210 --> 00:18:02,590 shatter that may have been Ponyville 471 00:17:59,759 --> 00:18:03,700 beyond that the sky turned hazy and 472 00:18:02,589 --> 00:18:07,058 thick from the smoke of the everfree 473 00:18:03,700 --> 00:18:08,590 fires walking around the rim I realized 474 00:18:07,058 --> 00:18:10,240 I could spot three of those needle-like 475 00:18:08,589 --> 00:18:12,819 towers rising in the cloudy heavens 476 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:14,200 above I was fairly sure that one of them 477 00:18:12,819 --> 00:18:16,240 was the same one I had spotted from the 478 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:18,880 outskirts of Cloudsdale but I hadn't 479 00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:20,890 seen the others before coming full 480 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:22,809 circle I looked back again at old Olney 481 00:18:20,890 --> 00:18:25,028 then traced the path you would travel by 482 00:18:22,808 --> 00:18:26,849 to get there a set of train tracks that 483 00:18:25,028 --> 00:18:29,259 stretched from old Olney to Mary pony 484 00:18:26,849 --> 00:18:31,449 crossing rocky flatland with only minor 485 00:18:29,259 --> 00:18:33,278 undulations save for a Gulch filled with 486 00:18:31,450 --> 00:18:35,649 hints of scraggly vegetation and six 487 00:18:33,278 --> 00:18:37,419 stagnant water I couldn't make out any 488 00:18:35,648 --> 00:18:38,678 details but the plants beneath the 489 00:18:37,419 --> 00:18:40,210 bridge moved as if there was much 490 00:18:38,679 --> 00:18:41,500 stronger wind blowing down the gulch 491 00:18:40,210 --> 00:18:45,220 rather than the faint breeze that 492 00:18:41,500 --> 00:18:46,898 stirred my Mane my view turned black as 493 00:18:45,220 --> 00:18:50,230 an alicorn flew across my narrow scope 494 00:18:46,898 --> 00:18:53,548 of vision obscuring the landscape I put 495 00:18:50,230 --> 00:18:56,069 away the binoculars hurrying back down 496 00:18:53,548 --> 00:18:58,450 more alicorns were beginning to return 497 00:18:56,069 --> 00:19:00,308 the ones already here had returned to 498 00:18:58,450 --> 00:19:02,919 their silent lurking seeming to pay us 499 00:19:00,308 --> 00:19:04,450 no attention I was expecting either the 500 00:19:02,919 --> 00:19:06,429 goddess or her alicorns to attempt 501 00:19:04,450 --> 00:19:09,190 another escort but it was almost as if 502 00:19:06,429 --> 00:19:11,048 they had forgotten we were here yet that 503 00:19:09,190 --> 00:19:12,529 was impossible they kept looking right 504 00:19:11,048 --> 00:19:14,299 at us 505 00:19:12,529 --> 00:19:16,309 maybe the goddess was gauging what we 506 00:19:14,299 --> 00:19:19,039 would do next or maybe she was 507 00:19:16,309 --> 00:19:21,460 recovering she had lost quite a few of 508 00:19:19,039 --> 00:19:23,359 her children over the space of an hour I 509 00:19:21,460 --> 00:19:25,150 wasn't the only one who found this 510 00:19:23,359 --> 00:19:28,609 behavior bizarre 511 00:19:25,150 --> 00:19:29,990 howdy calamity said trotting shakily up 512 00:19:28,609 --> 00:19:33,919 to one of the dark purple alicorns and 513 00:19:29,990 --> 00:19:36,109 waving a hoof in her face remember us 514 00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:36,590 the ponies y'all want to find his stuff 515 00:19:36,109 --> 00:19:39,439 for you 516 00:19:36,589 --> 00:19:40,789 got a hurt wing here if one y'all care 517 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:44,150 to hit yourself up we can all be out of 518 00:19:40,789 --> 00:19:45,769 your Mane that much faster he turned to 519 00:19:44,150 --> 00:19:48,130 me wobbling a little from the last 520 00:19:45,769 --> 00:19:50,680 fading effects of the anesthetic spell 521 00:19:48,130 --> 00:19:53,090 this is weird right 522 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:56,810 maybe the goddess taking a great and 523 00:19:53,089 --> 00:19:59,139 powerful nap Zanna suggested calamity 524 00:19:56,809 --> 00:20:01,970 snorted a laugh that ended in a wince a 525 00:19:59,140 --> 00:20:04,100 Zenith calamity suddenly announced I 526 00:20:01,970 --> 00:20:07,819 never said it but I wanted to tell y'all 527 00:20:04,099 --> 00:20:11,839 I'm glad you're three and all merciful 528 00:20:07,819 --> 00:20:13,579 Celestia calamity awkward much Zenit 529 00:20:11,839 --> 00:20:15,909 looked at him quietly then simply said 530 00:20:13,579 --> 00:20:18,879 thank you 531 00:20:15,910 --> 00:20:23,330 calamity chewed on that then tried again 532 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:25,070 so those potions you brew any of them 533 00:20:23,329 --> 00:20:28,819 good for strength and armor or helping 534 00:20:25,069 --> 00:20:31,159 with equipment maintenance No zennith 535 00:20:28,819 --> 00:20:33,529 answered seeming to understand his 536 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:35,360 intentions she offered politely I do 537 00:20:33,529 --> 00:20:38,428 know many poisonous brews should you be 538 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:41,128 looking to make your bullets more lethal 539 00:20:38,429 --> 00:20:43,559 I felt for him he was trying to connect 540 00:20:41,128 --> 00:20:45,058 with the new member of our group he had 541 00:20:43,558 --> 00:20:48,058 been the most welcoming of her trusting 542 00:20:45,058 --> 00:20:49,740 my judgment but since then they hadn't 543 00:20:48,058 --> 00:20:51,808 really bonded in quite the ways anathan 544 00:20:49,740 --> 00:20:54,298 velvet remedy had or even established 545 00:20:51,808 --> 00:20:57,450 the sort of relationship would rivalry 546 00:20:54,298 --> 00:20:59,908 be the best word grudging respect that 547 00:20:57,450 --> 00:21:01,830 Xenophon steel hooves shared they were 548 00:20:59,909 --> 00:21:03,149 friendly acquaintances and I suspected 549 00:21:01,829 --> 00:21:05,628 calamity was trying to find a better way 550 00:21:03,148 --> 00:21:08,908 to turn that into one true friendship 551 00:21:05,628 --> 00:21:10,378 calamity trotted around the alicorn she 552 00:21:08,909 --> 00:21:13,470 turned lethargically keeping him in her 553 00:21:10,378 --> 00:21:16,339 sight how I'm tempted to stop shooting 554 00:21:13,470 --> 00:21:18,659 them take out as many as we can 555 00:21:16,339 --> 00:21:21,509 velvet shot him a look of alarm and he 556 00:21:18,659 --> 00:21:25,649 backed down with a grin I didn't say I 557 00:21:21,509 --> 00:21:28,230 was gonna Ida said I was tempting XANA 558 00:21:25,648 --> 00:21:29,758 shook her head we should make the most 559 00:21:28,230 --> 00:21:33,329 of this respite to implement the little 560 00:21:29,759 --> 00:21:35,009 ones plan without interference I floated 561 00:21:33,329 --> 00:21:36,990 calamities on clay farmer out of the sky 562 00:21:35,009 --> 00:21:39,990 bedded as well as Spitfires Thunder and 563 00:21:36,990 --> 00:21:41,669 our other vital equipment I didn't want 564 00:21:39,990 --> 00:21:43,019 anyone trotting up to it when the area 565 00:21:41,669 --> 00:21:46,080 around the passenger wagon could still 566 00:21:43,019 --> 00:21:47,819 be mined as I place our equipment in the 567 00:21:46,079 --> 00:21:50,609 center of a large hunk of capsized wall 568 00:21:47,819 --> 00:21:52,288 velvet called us to gather clothes pilot 569 00:21:50,609 --> 00:21:55,349 landed on her back puffing herself up 570 00:21:52,288 --> 00:21:57,148 and looking important as a precaution 571 00:21:55,349 --> 00:21:59,819 velvet was going to cast another Ward 572 00:21:57,148 --> 00:22:01,829 against disintegration upon us I've been 573 00:21:59,819 --> 00:22:03,240 watching calamity when his oar burst but 574 00:22:01,829 --> 00:22:05,778 I hadn't realized the ones over the rest 575 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:08,240 of us had disappeared simultaneously I 576 00:22:05,778 --> 00:22:10,759 can cast the spell over multiple friends 577 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:12,960 velvet explained she recast the spell 578 00:22:10,759 --> 00:22:15,389 but it collapses after any of you were 579 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:18,829 hit so please be dears and try not to 580 00:22:15,388 --> 00:22:21,498 get shot she turned towards me 581 00:22:18,829 --> 00:22:24,898 especially you I really hate this idea 582 00:22:21,499 --> 00:22:26,278 you are too vulnerable why is it that 583 00:22:24,898 --> 00:22:28,269 you're always the one put in the most 584 00:22:26,278 --> 00:22:31,130 danger little pip 585 00:22:28,269 --> 00:22:32,410 but she knew the answer we've been over 586 00:22:31,130 --> 00:22:35,390 this before 587 00:22:32,410 --> 00:22:37,190 all my friends gathered on the slab of 588 00:22:35,390 --> 00:22:39,800 concrete as I wrapped them and it in a 589 00:22:37,190 --> 00:22:41,299 field of levitation velvet turned to 590 00:22:39,799 --> 00:22:42,710 help calamity into the Enclave armor 591 00:22:41,299 --> 00:22:45,259 being extremely careful with his 592 00:22:42,710 --> 00:22:47,090 partially mended wing she was wearing 593 00:22:45,259 --> 00:22:49,240 the zebra Armour again insisting we 594 00:22:47,089 --> 00:22:51,319 minimized the risks as much as possible 595 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:52,880 particularly since little PIP seams 596 00:22:51,319 --> 00:22:56,210 insisted on taking more than her fair 597 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:58,250 share I floated the chunk of Mara pony's 598 00:22:56,210 --> 00:23:00,558 wall upward not stopping until it was at 599 00:22:58,250 --> 00:23:01,970 least four storeys above me I was 600 00:23:00,558 --> 00:23:03,289 counting on the concrete to shield them 601 00:23:01,970 --> 00:23:06,410 from the hellhounds magical energy 602 00:23:03,289 --> 00:23:08,329 weapons I understood velvet remedies 603 00:23:06,410 --> 00:23:10,910 concern but this time it couldn't be 604 00:23:08,329 --> 00:23:12,230 helped my telekinetic magic had grown 605 00:23:10,910 --> 00:23:13,759 powerful enough that I could float this 606 00:23:12,230 --> 00:23:16,099 large section of the wall and all of 607 00:23:13,759 --> 00:23:17,450 them on it easily but adding myself to 608 00:23:16,099 --> 00:23:18,500 the mix would create such a strain that 609 00:23:17,450 --> 00:23:21,590 I would be lucky to make it halfway 610 00:23:18,500 --> 00:23:23,058 without suffering burnout I agreed to 611 00:23:21,589 --> 00:23:24,500 light myself enough to prevent my 612 00:23:23,058 --> 00:23:26,119 hoofsteps from triggering minds or 613 00:23:24,500 --> 00:23:27,259 announcing my presence to any hellhounds 614 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:30,319 who might be lurking just beneath the 615 00:23:27,259 --> 00:23:32,960 surface but that was all in the end 616 00:23:30,319 --> 00:23:37,220 Belle what remedy had to accept it it 617 00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:39,710 had to be me I started forward moving 618 00:23:37,220 --> 00:23:41,240 around the ruins at maripony the slab of 619 00:23:39,710 --> 00:23:44,269 wall with my friends on it floated along 620 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:45,980 high above me while I would not say as 621 00:23:44,269 --> 00:23:48,799 much I was grateful to be able to take 622 00:23:45,980 --> 00:23:51,410 the risk in their place was this 623 00:23:48,799 --> 00:23:53,240 something corrupted kindness would do as 624 00:23:51,410 --> 00:23:55,130 soon as I had the thought I pushed it 625 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:58,370 out of my mind I couldn't afford 626 00:23:55,130 --> 00:24:00,020 self-doubts right now as I reached the 627 00:23:58,369 --> 00:24:02,928 crack edge of the maripony base I 628 00:24:00,019 --> 00:24:05,720 hesitated my pipbuck was click clicking 629 00:24:02,929 --> 00:24:08,330 warning me of the radiation but there 630 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:11,480 was no sound no special display my EFS 631 00:24:08,329 --> 00:24:15,428 designed to warn me of taint old only 632 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:15,429 suddenly felt a very long way away 633 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:22,009 splotches of right on my EFS compass 634 00:24:19,430 --> 00:24:23,420 alerted me to more threats I floated the 635 00:24:22,009 --> 00:24:26,629 zebra rifle closed and slipped into 636 00:24:23,420 --> 00:24:29,090 sacks even as I trotted I was pacing 637 00:24:26,630 --> 00:24:30,680 myself advice from the book the eggheads 638 00:24:29,089 --> 00:24:32,240 guide to running that I perused in 639 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:33,529 Twilight Sparkle's Atheneum during one 640 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:35,089 of the hours were on which was playing 641 00:24:33,529 --> 00:24:35,809 DJ Pony and giving me a chance to catch 642 00:24:35,089 --> 00:24:38,750 my breath 643 00:24:35,809 --> 00:24:39,950 I had several miles to go and I wanted 644 00:24:38,750 --> 00:24:40,549 to make the distance as quickly as 645 00:24:39,950 --> 00:24:42,769 possible 646 00:24:40,549 --> 00:24:46,129 which surprisingly meant not pushing 647 00:24:42,769 --> 00:24:48,109 myself as fast as I could a spiny dart 648 00:24:46,130 --> 00:24:50,540 hit my side bouncing harmlessly off my 649 00:24:48,109 --> 00:24:51,859 armored utility barding my targeting 650 00:24:50,539 --> 00:24:54,710 spell latched onto the first bloat 651 00:24:51,859 --> 00:24:56,779 sprite then the second I fired off a 652 00:24:54,710 --> 00:24:58,309 three round burst at each and attaint 653 00:24:56,779 --> 00:25:01,039 swollen bugs erupted in flame as they 654 00:24:58,309 --> 00:25:03,200 fell to the ground I continued to trot 655 00:25:01,039 --> 00:25:04,849 along the tracks quickening my pace just 656 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:07,190 a little to make up for the seconds lost 657 00:25:04,849 --> 00:25:08,750 while shooting the wall holding my 658 00:25:07,190 --> 00:25:12,950 friend's floating high above me keeping 659 00:25:08,750 --> 00:25:15,339 place we were nearing the gulch my skin 660 00:25:12,950 --> 00:25:18,590 was beating the itch in strange places I 661 00:25:15,339 --> 00:25:21,529 fretted wondering if it was nerves or an 662 00:25:18,589 --> 00:25:24,980 allergic reaction or worse the first 663 00:25:21,529 --> 00:25:27,289 symptoms of taint my EFS compass was 664 00:25:24,980 --> 00:25:30,650 filled with red dozens of little lights 665 00:25:27,289 --> 00:25:34,339 appeared then more the gulch was 666 00:25:30,650 --> 00:25:35,780 swarming with hostile life I trotted on 667 00:25:34,339 --> 00:25:36,349 to the tracks and prepared to break into 668 00:25:35,779 --> 00:25:37,670 a gallop 669 00:25:36,349 --> 00:25:39,730 hoping that the rather rickety wooden 670 00:25:37,670 --> 00:25:41,810 bridge would offer me protection 671 00:25:39,730 --> 00:25:44,630 something bobbed up over the edge of the 672 00:25:41,809 --> 00:25:47,359 gulch I shuddered staring at the taint 673 00:25:44,630 --> 00:25:49,040 mutated thing it looked like a plant its 674 00:25:47,359 --> 00:25:50,959 huge head covered in gas sacks that 675 00:25:49,039 --> 00:25:53,480 allowed it to float the stock drooping 676 00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:54,860 down and dragging behind it a sphincter 677 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:57,410 in the centre of its head tightened and 678 00:25:54,859 --> 00:25:59,149 then spit foul goop at me the spore 679 00:25:57,410 --> 00:26:00,920 Laden effluent splattered in the ground 680 00:25:59,150 --> 00:26:02,229 near my hooves sending up a choking 681 00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:04,639 stink 682 00:26:02,229 --> 00:26:07,278 the equestrian wasteland never seemed to 683 00:26:04,638 --> 00:26:08,718 run out of new vileness several nearly 684 00:26:07,278 --> 00:26:11,769 identical floating spitter plants are 685 00:26:08,719 --> 00:26:14,568 moving up and out the gorge towards me I 686 00:26:11,769 --> 00:26:16,459 slipped into SATs again locking targets 687 00:26:14,568 --> 00:26:17,928 on to the closest - sending - three 688 00:26:16,459 --> 00:26:19,578 round bursts into the sphincter head of 689 00:26:17,929 --> 00:26:22,429 each monster as a third spray its filth 690 00:26:19,578 --> 00:26:24,318 at me I felt the crud splash against my 691 00:26:22,429 --> 00:26:25,759 armor and coat burning where it touched 692 00:26:24,318 --> 00:26:28,969 and causing me to drop my targeting 693 00:26:25,759 --> 00:26:30,858 spells i gagged on the stench the two 694 00:26:28,969 --> 00:26:33,379 floaters I had hit ignited spectacularly 695 00:26:30,858 --> 00:26:34,878 the gas ponds that gave the mobility 696 00:26:33,378 --> 00:26:37,908 rupturing and flame like the miniature 697 00:26:34,878 --> 00:26:39,228 versions of Pinkie Pie balloons three 698 00:26:37,909 --> 00:26:40,999 more of the floating spitter plants 699 00:26:39,229 --> 00:26:42,288 rushed up from the gulch one knitting 700 00:26:40,999 --> 00:26:45,649 the burning form of the first one in 701 00:26:42,288 --> 00:26:47,209 igniting explosively itself the second 702 00:26:45,648 --> 00:26:49,098 Spitz pour sewage at me while a third 703 00:26:47,209 --> 00:26:50,269 charged towards me as if attending to 704 00:26:49,098 --> 00:26:53,178 latch on devour 705 00:26:50,269 --> 00:26:55,548 I can't herd to the side dodging the 706 00:26:53,179 --> 00:26:57,288 spit and bucked SATs back up targeting 707 00:26:55,548 --> 00:27:00,078 the charging one first and then the one 708 00:26:57,288 --> 00:27:01,368 who had successfully hit me bullets 709 00:27:00,078 --> 00:27:03,858 burst from the silenced muzzle of the 710 00:27:01,368 --> 00:27:06,378 zebra rifle the two targeted plants 711 00:27:03,858 --> 00:27:07,428 became flailing columns of fire but the 712 00:27:06,378 --> 00:27:10,068 floaters kept coming 713 00:27:07,429 --> 00:27:11,959 I dropped the targeting spell and 714 00:27:10,068 --> 00:27:14,868 brought it back up immediately targeting 715 00:27:11,959 --> 00:27:15,259 two more one of the burning plants spit 716 00:27:14,868 --> 00:27:18,468 at me 717 00:27:15,259 --> 00:27:20,149 its spores sewage now on fire mercifully 718 00:27:18,469 --> 00:27:23,179 the burning crud splashed across the 719 00:27:20,148 --> 00:27:24,678 tract behind me missing by a yard my 720 00:27:23,179 --> 00:27:27,229 skin was really beginning to hurt where 721 00:27:24,679 --> 00:27:29,528 I'd been hit I dropped out of SATs again 722 00:27:27,229 --> 00:27:31,818 and shook flinging the goop away from me 723 00:27:29,528 --> 00:27:33,618 then lifted the rifle and brought up the 724 00:27:31,818 --> 00:27:36,578 target spell firing again at the 725 00:27:33,618 --> 00:27:38,688 advancing half burning herd of plants 726 00:27:36,578 --> 00:27:40,999 one of the burning floater plants 727 00:27:38,689 --> 00:27:42,619 tumbled back into the gulch I could hear 728 00:27:40,999 --> 00:27:44,149 more gas bladders catching fire and 729 00:27:42,618 --> 00:27:45,769 bursting as a rapid chain reaction 730 00:27:44,148 --> 00:27:47,729 quickly set several hundred yards of the 731 00:27:45,769 --> 00:27:50,250 gulch ablaze 732 00:27:47,730 --> 00:27:51,870 I sprinted galloping across the wooden 733 00:27:50,250 --> 00:27:54,480 bridge is flames from the gulch begin to 734 00:27:51,869 --> 00:27:56,609 lick at it fierce heat in a choking reek 735 00:27:54,480 --> 00:27:59,250 buffeted me as i forced myself across my 736 00:27:56,609 --> 00:28:01,019 eyes stinging several the plants in the 737 00:27:59,250 --> 00:28:03,809 conflagration below spit burning spores 738 00:28:01,019 --> 00:28:06,569 sewage it me most hit the bridge setting 739 00:28:03,809 --> 00:28:08,519 it properly ablaze burning effluent 740 00:28:06,569 --> 00:28:11,490 struck my left flank my hind lake in 741 00:28:08,519 --> 00:28:13,259 saddlebags catching on fire I bit down 742 00:28:11,490 --> 00:28:13,980 knowing that a scream could bring 743 00:28:13,259 --> 00:28:16,859 hellhounds 744 00:28:13,980 --> 00:28:19,440 I pushed running as hard as I could my 745 00:28:16,859 --> 00:28:21,299 leg in searing pain I was pouring 746 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:23,190 concentration - levitating the wall now 747 00:28:21,299 --> 00:28:25,980 the physical agony threatening to break 748 00:28:23,190 --> 00:28:30,240 my spell the fire was spreading up my 749 00:28:25,980 --> 00:28:33,120 side and it hurt to breathe flames 750 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:36,120 licked at my hooves burning them I did 751 00:28:33,119 --> 00:28:38,339 scream I was almost across the burning 752 00:28:36,119 --> 00:28:39,989 bridge the Gulch below a writhing river 753 00:28:38,339 --> 00:28:43,139 of fire when the hellhound tore out the 754 00:28:39,990 --> 00:28:44,250 ground alerted by my scream but he was 755 00:28:43,140 --> 00:28:46,009 far enough ahead of me that calamity 756 00:28:44,250 --> 00:28:48,720 could target him from the platform above 757 00:28:46,009 --> 00:28:50,670 for blasts of magical energy knifed down 758 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:53,759 from above melting the hellhound into a 759 00:28:50,670 --> 00:28:55,529 coloured sludge I began to lower the 760 00:28:53,759 --> 00:28:57,420 wall choking on the smoke and the stench 761 00:28:55,529 --> 00:28:58,230 of my own burning coat knowing I 762 00:28:57,420 --> 00:29:01,019 wouldn't be able to hold it much longer 763 00:28:58,230 --> 00:29:03,349 it was three yards above the ground when 764 00:29:01,019 --> 00:29:05,549 the pain overwhelmed me I dropped it I 765 00:29:03,349 --> 00:29:07,740 made it to the end of the bridge in a 766 00:29:05,549 --> 00:29:09,299 stumble gallop and collapsed rolling on 767 00:29:07,740 --> 00:29:13,130 the ground squirming as I put out the 768 00:29:09,299 --> 00:29:13,129 fire on my left flank screaming 769 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:17,630 just get too old own a and everything 770 00:29:17,099 --> 00:29:20,519 will be fine 771 00:29:17,630 --> 00:29:21,870 zennith Chand her exotic voice taking on 772 00:29:20,519 --> 00:29:25,529 a mocking tone and she peered at the 773 00:29:21,869 --> 00:29:27,149 town below through my binoculars we had 774 00:29:25,529 --> 00:29:29,269 made it to the top of the overpass and 775 00:29:27,150 --> 00:29:32,070 we're looking down old ohne from above 776 00:29:29,269 --> 00:29:33,769 from here we could see dozens of 777 00:29:32,069 --> 00:29:38,639 hellhounds lurking about the town a 778 00:29:33,769 --> 00:29:40,440 couple were even on rooftops y'all dang 779 00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:43,680 it why do you ponies ever listen to me 780 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:46,789 calamity asked i ain't little pip y'all 781 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:49,620 know all my plans ain't worth shit i 782 00:29:46,789 --> 00:29:52,379 flopped over telekinetically floating to 783 00:29:49,619 --> 00:29:53,009 monoculars to my eyes I still couldn't 784 00:29:52,380 --> 00:29:54,960 feel anything 785 00:29:53,009 --> 00:29:56,970 Delacroix meets anesthetics Belle doing 786 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:59,610 it to work but that didn't prevent me 787 00:29:56,970 --> 00:30:02,970 from using my levitation spell in fact 788 00:29:59,609 --> 00:30:04,619 it almost made it easier I'd spent the 789 00:30:02,970 --> 00:30:06,180 second half making myself light enough 790 00:30:04,619 --> 00:30:10,049 for Pilate to carry while I floated the 791 00:30:06,180 --> 00:30:11,730 others in the wall behind us the older 792 00:30:10,049 --> 00:30:13,200 unicorn had wasted no time in wrapping 793 00:30:11,730 --> 00:30:14,579 me with the rest of our medical bandages 794 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:17,340 as she scolded me on taking yet another 795 00:30:14,579 --> 00:30:19,139 gruesome attack for the team but with 796 00:30:17,339 --> 00:30:21,179 the pain gone and out of the choking 797 00:30:19,140 --> 00:30:23,640 smoke I felt assured I had done the 798 00:30:21,180 --> 00:30:25,529 right thing there was something wrong 799 00:30:23,640 --> 00:30:27,780 with me I could feel it where the spit 800 00:30:25,529 --> 00:30:29,369 hit me something crawling beneath my 801 00:30:27,779 --> 00:30:32,160 skin that even velvet spell couldn't 802 00:30:29,369 --> 00:30:34,049 cover i had floated my own fortress so i 803 00:30:32,160 --> 00:30:36,570 could check my pit box medical diagnosis 804 00:30:34,049 --> 00:30:39,659 spell it confirmed that i was suffering 805 00:30:36,569 --> 00:30:42,990 from something but it couldn't determine 806 00:30:39,660 --> 00:30:46,620 what something was it wasn't poison and 807 00:30:42,990 --> 00:30:48,690 I checked clean for spore infestation no 808 00:30:46,619 --> 00:30:51,209 the spore sewage of those floating 809 00:30:48,690 --> 00:30:53,308 plants have been laced with taint 810 00:30:51,210 --> 00:30:55,829 I had never believed I could make the 811 00:30:53,308 --> 00:30:58,798 distance without exposure to taint I had 812 00:30:55,829 --> 00:31:00,538 never been that lucky rather it would be 813 00:30:58,798 --> 00:31:03,298 a matter of how much exposure and how 814 00:31:00,538 --> 00:31:05,009 quickly taint took its toll I knew that 815 00:31:03,298 --> 00:31:06,569 the society keeping tempo knees towers 816 00:31:05,009 --> 00:31:08,609 secrets possessed the spell Tuukka purge 817 00:31:06,569 --> 00:31:10,398 taint itself although I didn't know if 818 00:31:08,609 --> 00:31:15,089 it could reverse the damage caused by it 819 00:31:10,398 --> 00:31:16,859 that would be my hope the ruins of old 820 00:31:15,089 --> 00:31:19,250 Olney included several nearly intact 821 00:31:16,859 --> 00:31:21,418 buildings one of which was the hospital 822 00:31:19,250 --> 00:31:22,470 sitting on the roof was a contraption I 823 00:31:21,419 --> 00:31:24,299 had never seen before 824 00:31:22,470 --> 00:31:25,769 colored like a pink and yellow candy 825 00:31:24,298 --> 00:31:28,500 came with periwinkle propeller blades 826 00:31:25,769 --> 00:31:33,028 affixed to the top what's that 827 00:31:28,500 --> 00:31:36,140 I asked pointing it out I believe that's 828 00:31:33,028 --> 00:31:38,308 an earth pony sky wagon calamity said 829 00:31:36,140 --> 00:31:41,520 trusted to an earth pony to find a way 830 00:31:38,308 --> 00:31:43,408 to fly I could use that 831 00:31:41,519 --> 00:31:46,440 no more running on the ground as I 832 00:31:43,409 --> 00:31:47,039 levitated others and safety do you think 833 00:31:46,440 --> 00:31:51,980 it still works 834 00:31:47,038 --> 00:31:53,970 I asked hopefully nope Calamity said 835 00:31:51,980 --> 00:31:55,259 deflating my daydream of floating 836 00:31:53,970 --> 00:31:56,909 everyone behind while I was keeping 837 00:31:55,259 --> 00:32:00,569 safely off the ground in the earth pony 838 00:31:56,909 --> 00:32:03,659 contraption but then he added but I'll 839 00:32:00,569 --> 00:32:06,720 bet I can fix her up so she will hope 840 00:32:03,659 --> 00:32:10,169 resurrected perfect because that's our 841 00:32:06,720 --> 00:32:12,390 plan B I looked over the rest of the 842 00:32:10,169 --> 00:32:13,919 town noting a strange glowing antenna 843 00:32:12,390 --> 00:32:15,299 array amongst multiple crates and 844 00:32:13,919 --> 00:32:17,159 barricades on a roof across the street 845 00:32:15,298 --> 00:32:19,918 from the hospital and a scattering of 846 00:32:17,159 --> 00:32:21,659 old military vehicles on the road there 847 00:32:19,919 --> 00:32:23,788 was a capsized wagon with metal boxes 848 00:32:21,659 --> 00:32:26,490 scattered around it and a heavy tank 849 00:32:23,788 --> 00:32:27,929 half sunken into the ground instead of a 850 00:32:26,490 --> 00:32:30,000 normal earth tone or camouflage 851 00:32:27,929 --> 00:32:32,669 coloration the tank had been painted in 852 00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:34,648 bright multicolored stripes the paint 853 00:32:32,669 --> 00:32:36,509 job was old and faded but still added a 854 00:32:34,648 --> 00:32:41,169 surprising splash of color to the town 855 00:32:36,509 --> 00:32:43,210 I laughed that tank looks like rainbow 856 00:32:41,170 --> 00:32:46,630 I can think of no logical reason for it 857 00:32:43,210 --> 00:32:47,289 to be colored that way really is that 858 00:32:46,630 --> 00:32:50,380 what they look like 859 00:32:47,289 --> 00:32:54,690 zennith asked at my question she 860 00:32:50,380 --> 00:32:57,370 explained I have never seen a rainbow at 861 00:32:54,690 --> 00:32:59,559 first I found the Zebras assertion 862 00:32:57,369 --> 00:33:02,949 impossible then tragically sad 863 00:32:59,559 --> 00:33:05,649 and finally curious I looked up with the 864 00:33:02,950 --> 00:33:07,720 clouds that sealed off the sky I'd seen 865 00:33:05,650 --> 00:33:10,509 a rain here I'd seen it rain a lot in 866 00:33:07,720 --> 00:33:12,880 fact but I had never seen a rainbow 867 00:33:10,509 --> 00:33:16,059 outside except in posters and 868 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:17,590 illustrations that is in fact the only 869 00:33:16,059 --> 00:33:19,659 real rainbows I'd ever seen weren't 870 00:33:17,589 --> 00:33:22,269 stable - when the apple orchard sprayers 871 00:33:19,660 --> 00:33:23,620 were on the overmare's artificial 872 00:33:22,269 --> 00:33:25,539 sunlight would stream through the mist 873 00:33:23,619 --> 00:33:27,969 creating shimmering arcs of beautiful 874 00:33:25,539 --> 00:33:30,129 color I used to beg my mother to let me 875 00:33:27,970 --> 00:33:34,660 play in them when I was younger she even 876 00:33:30,130 --> 00:33:36,970 let me once the hip calamity said an 877 00:33:34,660 --> 00:33:39,400 answer to my thoughts to get a real 878 00:33:36,970 --> 00:33:42,039 rainbow you needed a magic or direct 879 00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:45,190 sunlight ain't been a proper rainbow in 880 00:33:42,039 --> 00:33:47,529 the question wastelands probably ever he 881 00:33:45,190 --> 00:33:49,450 thought a moment - then added except 882 00:33:47,529 --> 00:33:52,259 maybe never free forced since the cloud 883 00:33:49,450 --> 00:33:54,460 cover gets might have fragmented there I 884 00:33:52,259 --> 00:33:56,859 exchanged looks with velvet remedy as a 885 00:33:54,460 --> 00:33:58,929 knife slipped into my heart 886 00:33:56,859 --> 00:34:00,279 I had never thought to miss them until I 887 00:33:58,929 --> 00:34:03,059 realized we were living in a world 888 00:34:00,279 --> 00:34:03,058 without rainbows 889 00:34:03,420 --> 00:34:09,070 I'm the shoot'em clearly announced 890 00:34:07,450 --> 00:34:10,179 before picking up Spitfires Thunder and 891 00:34:09,070 --> 00:34:12,340 his teeth and aim me at over the 892 00:34:10,179 --> 00:34:13,570 concrete railing of the overpass taking 893 00:34:12,340 --> 00:34:17,530 aim for one of the hellhounds in the 894 00:34:13,570 --> 00:34:19,990 town below no his zenith pushing 895 00:34:17,530 --> 00:34:21,879 Spitfires Thunder with her hoof he feels 896 00:34:19,989 --> 00:34:23,368 em then you would let them know where we 897 00:34:21,878 --> 00:34:26,289 are 898 00:34:23,369 --> 00:34:28,419 wait velvet Remini started to suggest 899 00:34:26,289 --> 00:34:31,469 but my focus was on calamity and Zenith 900 00:34:28,418 --> 00:34:33,039 and their focus was on each other 901 00:34:31,469 --> 00:34:34,959 calamity started to say something 902 00:34:33,039 --> 00:34:39,070 through the gun 'but then put the weapon 903 00:34:34,960 --> 00:34:40,750 down to properly argue Yip I think I can 904 00:34:39,070 --> 00:34:42,580 pick a couple that realized where the 905 00:34:40,750 --> 00:34:43,599 shots are coming from then more they 906 00:34:42,579 --> 00:34:45,819 come out of those buildings to 907 00:34:43,599 --> 00:34:48,339 investigate let him come running towards 908 00:34:45,820 --> 00:34:51,280 us we got plenty of space when here and 909 00:34:48,340 --> 00:34:53,039 there snipe him off in I was already 910 00:34:51,280 --> 00:34:55,450 pulling out my own sniper rifle 911 00:34:53,039 --> 00:34:59,099 levitating my anesthetized body into an 912 00:34:55,449 --> 00:35:01,629 optimal sniping position little pip wait 913 00:34:59,099 --> 00:35:05,279 velvet said but her words were cut off 914 00:35:01,630 --> 00:35:08,829 by our zebra companion are you fools 915 00:35:05,280 --> 00:35:11,320 zennith trotted in place this is not how 916 00:35:08,829 --> 00:35:13,420 you behave in enemy territory our enemy 917 00:35:11,320 --> 00:35:16,180 outnumbers us and these are not stupid 918 00:35:13,420 --> 00:35:19,599 Raiders but clever opponents you do not 919 00:35:16,179 --> 00:35:22,750 engage them wantonly calamity cocked his 920 00:35:19,599 --> 00:35:25,059 head and what would you have us do hide 921 00:35:22,750 --> 00:35:28,989 and sneak yes 922 00:35:25,059 --> 00:35:31,840 zennith nodded firmly be alert move fast 923 00:35:28,989 --> 00:35:34,029 keep downwind into the shadows avoid 924 00:35:31,840 --> 00:35:36,160 them whenever possible kill only those 925 00:35:34,030 --> 00:35:38,249 we cannot avoid and do so swiftly and 926 00:35:36,159 --> 00:35:42,460 silently 927 00:35:38,248 --> 00:35:44,048 Calamity look to me I say take out what 928 00:35:42,460 --> 00:35:46,480 we can while we can do so from a 929 00:35:44,048 --> 00:35:49,869 distance lesser then means less to worry 930 00:35:46,480 --> 00:35:52,239 about fighting up-close Xenocide 931 00:35:49,869 --> 00:35:56,318 stepping between calamity and me facing 932 00:35:52,239 --> 00:35:59,440 him listen to me I have watched you you 933 00:35:56,318 --> 00:36:02,920 are a hunter you know how to hunt but do 934 00:35:59,440 --> 00:36:04,809 you know how to be the prey clam he took 935 00:36:02,920 --> 00:36:06,400 a step back lifting the bug-eyed visor 936 00:36:04,809 --> 00:36:09,579 of his Enclave armor to stare back at 937 00:36:06,400 --> 00:36:13,389 her directly I ain't got no interest in 938 00:36:09,579 --> 00:36:15,910 being prey well I have spent most of my 939 00:36:13,389 --> 00:36:17,558 life as prey and I know how to survive 940 00:36:15,909 --> 00:36:20,739 when you're outnumbered and chased 941 00:36:17,559 --> 00:36:22,470 zennith informed him perhaps you should 942 00:36:20,739 --> 00:36:25,139 listen 943 00:36:22,469 --> 00:36:30,429 calamity again looked past her to me 944 00:36:25,139 --> 00:36:33,730 little pip see a cow zennith turned 945 00:36:30,429 --> 00:36:36,778 towards me too I weighed the options but 946 00:36:33,730 --> 00:36:39,460 ultimately the tactics I knew one out I 947 00:36:36,778 --> 00:36:42,789 agree with calamity we pick up what we 948 00:36:39,460 --> 00:36:44,619 can now before heading in and floated up 949 00:36:42,789 --> 00:36:47,349 the sniper rifle loading armor-piercing 950 00:36:44,619 --> 00:36:48,789 rounds and taking aim from this distance 951 00:36:47,349 --> 00:36:51,099 I couldn't use my targeting spell to 952 00:36:48,789 --> 00:36:54,160 help me but I had no trouble lining up a 953 00:36:51,099 --> 00:36:55,980 headshot just through the scope Zanna 954 00:36:54,159 --> 00:36:58,179 snickered shaking her head 955 00:36:55,980 --> 00:36:59,650 calamity picked up Spitfire Slender off 956 00:36:58,179 --> 00:37:02,308 the asphalt of the overpass and took 957 00:36:59,650 --> 00:37:05,880 position twenty yards away from me 958 00:37:02,309 --> 00:37:09,700 dammit wait I heard velvet remedy shout 959 00:37:05,880 --> 00:37:12,088 but I'd already pulled the trigger blam 960 00:37:09,699 --> 00:37:14,199 blam 961 00:37:12,088 --> 00:37:15,578 the air filled with the sound of 962 00:37:14,199 --> 00:37:18,399 ear-splitting thunder as we began to 963 00:37:15,579 --> 00:37:19,568 fire down on old Olney I watched as the 964 00:37:18,400 --> 00:37:22,119 head of the hellhound at my side to 965 00:37:19,568 --> 00:37:24,548 burst into a bloody spray I moved to 966 00:37:22,119 --> 00:37:26,048 acquire my next target the hellhounds 967 00:37:24,548 --> 00:37:29,139 were all looking up now turning 968 00:37:26,048 --> 00:37:31,440 beginning to move I found a second and 969 00:37:29,139 --> 00:37:34,179 fired but the creature moved too fast I 970 00:37:31,440 --> 00:37:37,028 aimed ahead of him firing a second shot 971 00:37:34,179 --> 00:37:38,528 and then a third I was no longer able to 972 00:37:37,028 --> 00:37:41,500 aim for a specific part of the body I 973 00:37:38,528 --> 00:37:43,739 was just hoping to hit them at all my 974 00:37:41,500 --> 00:37:49,108 second shot did but only slowed him down 975 00:37:43,739 --> 00:37:51,969 the third missed entirely I kept trying 976 00:37:49,108 --> 00:37:53,828 several shot back beams of magical 977 00:37:51,969 --> 00:37:55,509 energy cutting through the air but we 978 00:37:53,829 --> 00:37:56,710 were too far away and to will protect by 979 00:37:55,510 --> 00:37:59,400 the overpass to be in danger from 980 00:37:56,710 --> 00:38:01,470 anything other than a dedicated sniper 981 00:37:59,400 --> 00:38:04,059 calamity was having far better luck 982 00:38:01,469 --> 00:38:06,669 every shot hit his target crippling or 983 00:38:04,059 --> 00:38:08,230 killing he started picking off the ones 984 00:38:06,670 --> 00:38:09,579 in the street as I turned my focus to 985 00:38:08,230 --> 00:38:13,539 those just coming out of the doorways 986 00:38:09,579 --> 00:38:16,650 that worked better I felt a second and a 987 00:38:13,539 --> 00:38:18,819 third oh crap 988 00:38:16,650 --> 00:38:20,440 Clemmy hissed as the hellhound he had 989 00:38:18,818 --> 00:38:22,028 turned his aimed on Dovan to the ground 990 00:38:20,440 --> 00:38:23,608 digging through the street like it was 991 00:38:22,028 --> 00:38:25,989 wet toilet paper 992 00:38:23,608 --> 00:38:29,108 calamity fired blowing the creatures 993 00:38:25,989 --> 00:38:31,298 tail off as it disappeared they weren't 994 00:38:29,108 --> 00:38:33,038 coming out of the doors anymore and as I 995 00:38:31,298 --> 00:38:34,480 looked up I saw the last of the 996 00:38:33,039 --> 00:38:37,950 hellhounds on the street disappear into 997 00:38:34,480 --> 00:38:42,240 a hole we'd killed ten of them 998 00:38:37,949 --> 00:38:45,879 well brilliant velvet remedy facehoofed 999 00:38:42,239 --> 00:38:48,969 both of you now they know we're here 1000 00:38:45,880 --> 00:38:52,289 and we've attacked them first she looked 1001 00:38:48,969 --> 00:38:55,299 across calamity wiggled his wounded wing 1002 00:38:52,289 --> 00:38:59,320 my wing disagrees 1003 00:38:55,300 --> 00:39:02,740 Velva remedies ears drooped now zennith 1004 00:38:59,320 --> 00:39:05,280 told calamity you are prey we are all 1005 00:39:02,739 --> 00:39:05,279 prey 1006 00:39:06,949 --> 00:39:10,578 they came for us on the overpass while I 1007 00:39:08,929 --> 00:39:12,949 was still paralyzed by the anesthetic 1008 00:39:10,579 --> 00:39:14,210 spell the hellhounds weren't foolish 1009 00:39:12,949 --> 00:39:16,250 enough to come running up on the ramp 1010 00:39:14,210 --> 00:39:17,838 like we hoped instead 1011 00:39:16,250 --> 00:39:20,630 they dug their powerful claws into the 1012 00:39:17,838 --> 00:39:21,769 pier beneath us and began to climb the 1013 00:39:20,630 --> 00:39:23,440 first one clawed its way over the 1014 00:39:21,769 --> 00:39:26,239 railing almost on top of us 1015 00:39:23,440 --> 00:39:27,769 pilot was the fastest to react filling 1016 00:39:26,239 --> 00:39:32,269 it with a face full of radioactive green 1017 00:39:27,769 --> 00:39:33,769 flame calamity recovered quickly firing 1018 00:39:32,269 --> 00:39:35,119 two of the nova surge rifles and his 1019 00:39:33,769 --> 00:39:36,710 Enclave armor directly into the 1020 00:39:35,119 --> 00:39:38,720 hellhounds torso as it lashed out with 1021 00:39:36,710 --> 00:39:41,088 its claws barely missing the balefire 1022 00:39:38,719 --> 00:39:44,299 Phoenix the monster tilted back 1023 00:39:41,088 --> 00:39:46,608 dissolving there coming up from beneath 1024 00:39:44,300 --> 00:39:49,460 us zennith warned before turning to dig 1025 00:39:46,608 --> 00:39:51,920 in her satchel velvet Remnick ood to 1026 00:39:49,460 --> 00:39:55,220 pyre light would you please burn them 1027 00:39:51,920 --> 00:39:57,559 off of the pier pilot who did happily 1028 00:39:55,219 --> 00:40:01,848 and left over the edge I could hear the 1029 00:39:57,559 --> 00:40:03,320 roar flames beneath pyre light was able 1030 00:40:01,849 --> 00:40:04,700 to take out two of them before more on 1031 00:40:03,320 --> 00:40:06,980 the ground abandoned climbing and 1032 00:40:04,699 --> 00:40:08,809 started shooting at her she appeared 1033 00:40:06,980 --> 00:40:10,429 dodging and weaving between shots as a 1034 00:40:08,809 --> 00:40:12,019 magical energy attacks drove her away 1035 00:40:10,429 --> 00:40:15,318 from the overpass in the Pony she was 1036 00:40:12,019 --> 00:40:17,599 protecting zennith produced a bottle and 1037 00:40:15,318 --> 00:40:19,849 passed a development remedy dip your 1038 00:40:17,599 --> 00:40:22,068 slugs into this before you load them she 1039 00:40:19,849 --> 00:40:23,510 instructed the poison will cripple the 1040 00:40:22,068 --> 00:40:26,750 creatures if your shot isn't enough to 1041 00:40:23,510 --> 00:40:28,670 kill them velvet Remini opened her 1042 00:40:26,750 --> 00:40:30,469 combat shotgun floating out the slugs 1043 00:40:28,670 --> 00:40:33,559 and dipping them as instructed a grim 1044 00:40:30,469 --> 00:40:34,129 look on her face two more crawled over 1045 00:40:33,559 --> 00:40:36,619 the railing 1046 00:40:34,130 --> 00:40:38,088 I was ready this time floating up little 1047 00:40:36,619 --> 00:40:40,730 McIntosh as I slipped into SATs and 1048 00:40:38,088 --> 00:40:43,029 fired into their heads the hellhounds 1049 00:40:40,730 --> 00:40:44,990 brain splashed out of the exit wounds 1050 00:40:43,030 --> 00:40:48,260 three more replaced the two I just 1051 00:40:44,989 --> 00:40:49,399 killed and the sound of rending concrete 1052 00:40:48,260 --> 00:40:50,869 warned me that more were digging 1053 00:40:49,400 --> 00:40:53,630 directly up through the overpass from 1054 00:40:50,869 --> 00:40:54,680 the top of the pier velvet remedies an 1055 00:40:53,630 --> 00:40:56,530 aesthetic spell hit one of the 1056 00:40:54,679 --> 00:40:58,759 hellhounds causing the creature to fall 1057 00:40:56,530 --> 00:41:01,560 she lifted her shotgun towards another 1058 00:40:58,760 --> 00:41:03,720 and hesitated 1059 00:41:01,559 --> 00:41:05,369 the hellhound lashed out at her his 1060 00:41:03,719 --> 00:41:06,779 claws slashing shallow lines of red 1061 00:41:05,369 --> 00:41:08,539 across her breasts and throat as I tell 1062 00:41:06,780 --> 00:41:09,720 it connect leash shoved her back 1063 00:41:08,539 --> 00:41:12,329 surrender 1064 00:41:09,719 --> 00:41:13,579 she offered to the creature don't make 1065 00:41:12,329 --> 00:41:17,009 me hurt you 1066 00:41:13,579 --> 00:41:18,420 goddangit clam he shouted firing a bevy 1067 00:41:17,010 --> 00:41:20,850 of magical energy bolts into the 1068 00:41:18,420 --> 00:41:23,280 hellhound the creature collapsed into a 1069 00:41:20,849 --> 00:41:24,360 steaming puddle leaving velvet remedy 1070 00:41:23,280 --> 00:41:27,120 and calamity staring at each other 1071 00:41:24,360 --> 00:41:27,570 through the rising smoke don't reason 1072 00:41:27,119 --> 00:41:30,869 with him 1073 00:41:27,570 --> 00:41:33,590 they ain't interested they're people she 1074 00:41:30,869 --> 00:41:36,690 shouted back they have a right to live 1075 00:41:33,590 --> 00:41:38,460 y'all heard the zebra clam he shouted 1076 00:41:36,690 --> 00:41:40,250 turning to fire another hellhound as he 1077 00:41:38,460 --> 00:41:43,980 dug up through the overpass asphalt 1078 00:41:40,250 --> 00:41:44,400 they're huntin us and whose fault is 1079 00:41:43,980 --> 00:41:47,010 that 1080 00:41:44,400 --> 00:41:49,650 she quipped back loudly throwing a 1081 00:41:47,010 --> 00:41:51,090 protective shield around zeniff the 1082 00:41:49,650 --> 00:41:53,030 hellhounds claws tore through velvet 1083 00:41:51,090 --> 00:41:55,440 shield like it was made of coloured air 1084 00:41:53,030 --> 00:41:57,480 the zebra stepped inside the attack 1085 00:41:55,440 --> 00:41:59,190 rising on her hind legs and throwing up 1086 00:41:57,480 --> 00:42:00,929 one hope to stop the monster swinging 1087 00:41:59,190 --> 00:42:03,000 arm while driving another hoof against 1088 00:42:00,929 --> 00:42:06,419 the thick hide of his throat the 1089 00:42:03,000 --> 00:42:09,000 hellhound collapsed choking has anypony 1090 00:42:06,420 --> 00:42:11,900 ever tried just talking to them 1091 00:42:09,000 --> 00:42:14,280 velvet cried out in exasperation I 1092 00:42:11,900 --> 00:42:14,780 reloaded little McIntosh as quickly as I 1093 00:42:14,280 --> 00:42:17,700 could 1094 00:42:14,780 --> 00:42:18,930 they were coming faster now it was 1095 00:42:17,699 --> 00:42:21,329 getting harder to put them down as 1096 00:42:18,929 --> 00:42:25,259 quickly as they surfaced one good swipe 1097 00:42:21,329 --> 00:42:27,059 from their claws but kill any of us they 1098 00:42:25,260 --> 00:42:29,370 were bloody hell on corpses and piles of 1099 00:42:27,059 --> 00:42:31,380 sludge all around us we'd killed nearly 1100 00:42:29,369 --> 00:42:32,299 ten more miraculously without being 1101 00:42:31,380 --> 00:42:35,130 crippled or killed 1102 00:42:32,300 --> 00:42:37,769 even if velvet remedy had a point it was 1103 00:42:35,130 --> 00:42:39,240 far too late now I told her so as I 1104 00:42:37,769 --> 00:42:41,579 fired point-blank at a hellhound and 1105 00:42:39,239 --> 00:42:43,719 somehow missed the creature bore down on 1106 00:42:41,579 --> 00:42:46,779 me with its claws 1107 00:42:43,719 --> 00:42:49,239 velvet remedy sang a single high-pitched 1108 00:42:46,780 --> 00:42:51,630 note the hellhound immediately backed 1109 00:42:49,239 --> 00:42:54,009 away its clawed paws covering its ears 1110 00:42:51,630 --> 00:42:55,510 it turned and fled down the hole had 1111 00:42:54,010 --> 00:42:57,130 just come out of so fast I didn't have 1112 00:42:55,510 --> 00:42:58,920 time to bring up my targeting spell and 1113 00:42:57,130 --> 00:43:01,450 shoot at its back 1114 00:42:58,920 --> 00:43:04,090 velvet continued to hold the note clear 1115 00:43:01,449 --> 00:43:06,069 and strong I looked around and the other 1116 00:43:04,090 --> 00:43:08,858 hellhounds were disappearing fleeing the 1117 00:43:06,070 --> 00:43:12,309 overpass once they were all gone 1118 00:43:08,858 --> 00:43:15,460 Velvets voice finally broke panting she 1119 00:43:12,309 --> 00:43:17,858 fixed us all with a glower savage 1120 00:43:15,460 --> 00:43:19,599 animals and monsters are one thing that 1121 00:43:17,858 --> 00:43:24,219 with people there's usually a way that 1122 00:43:19,599 --> 00:43:25,960 doesn't require killing each other we 1123 00:43:24,219 --> 00:43:28,659 moved cautiously into old ol May 1124 00:43:25,960 --> 00:43:30,070 the Sun was beginning to set and I 1125 00:43:28,659 --> 00:43:31,659 wanted to get into the hospital and out 1126 00:43:30,070 --> 00:43:34,869 again before the coming darkness put us 1127 00:43:31,659 --> 00:43:37,230 at an even greater disadvantage we were 1128 00:43:34,869 --> 00:43:40,599 taking ZENIT's advice now not engaging 1129 00:43:37,230 --> 00:43:42,820 moving swiftly and quietly of the group 1130 00:43:40,599 --> 00:43:44,710 of us only velvet remedy was unskilled 1131 00:43:42,820 --> 00:43:45,930 at stealth so I floated her along with 1132 00:43:44,710 --> 00:43:48,338 us 1133 00:43:45,929 --> 00:43:50,889 the faint glow coming up from my horn 1134 00:43:48,338 --> 00:43:53,170 and shining around her worried me it was 1135 00:43:50,889 --> 00:43:54,819 like I was painting her as a target but 1136 00:43:53,170 --> 00:43:56,139 from our experiences it seemed the 1137 00:43:54,820 --> 00:43:59,050 hellhounds hunted by sound more than 1138 00:43:56,139 --> 00:44:00,309 sight possibly by scent as well so it 1139 00:43:59,050 --> 00:44:03,250 felt more important to keep our hooves 1140 00:44:00,309 --> 00:44:05,049 off the ground as we pushed through the 1141 00:44:03,250 --> 00:44:06,730 remains of a building I spotted several 1142 00:44:05,050 --> 00:44:08,140 Pony shaped figures laying on a floor 1143 00:44:06,730 --> 00:44:08,650 above us through a collapsed section of 1144 00:44:08,139 --> 00:44:12,098 ceiling 1145 00:44:08,650 --> 00:44:14,889 I waved a hoof at the others hold up I 1146 00:44:12,099 --> 00:44:17,230 want to take a look 1147 00:44:14,889 --> 00:44:19,078 I floated myself upwards sweating with 1148 00:44:17,230 --> 00:44:21,429 the effort my horn glowing brighter 1149 00:44:19,079 --> 00:44:23,740 there were no red marks on my EFS 1150 00:44:21,429 --> 00:44:26,078 compass no sign of life on the floor 1151 00:44:23,739 --> 00:44:29,739 above at all so I felt momentarily safe 1152 00:44:26,079 --> 00:44:31,690 and pushing myself as I levitated 1153 00:44:29,739 --> 00:44:33,699 through the hole I could see the bodies 1154 00:44:31,690 --> 00:44:35,429 were of Steel Rangers three of them clad 1155 00:44:33,699 --> 00:44:39,308 in metal armor and a fourth who was not 1156 00:44:35,429 --> 00:44:41,199 the fourth sparked my curiosity a yellow 1157 00:44:39,309 --> 00:44:42,910 unicorn mare wearing thickly armored red 1158 00:44:41,199 --> 00:44:44,739 robes with the sparks and gears symbol 1159 00:44:42,909 --> 00:44:47,108 of the steel Rangers embroider onto it I 1160 00:44:44,739 --> 00:44:48,969 had not seen a ranger wearing anything 1161 00:44:47,108 --> 00:44:51,489 other than the steel ranger armor save 1162 00:44:48,969 --> 00:44:52,838 for elder blueberry saber all four of 1163 00:44:51,489 --> 00:44:55,538 them had died from terrible wounds 1164 00:44:52,838 --> 00:44:57,308 inflicted by hellhound claws the bodies 1165 00:44:55,539 --> 00:45:00,460 were desiccated they had been here for 1166 00:44:57,309 --> 00:45:03,099 quite some time the hellhounds had mined 1167 00:45:00,460 --> 00:45:07,028 the floor around the bodies one by one I 1168 00:45:03,099 --> 00:45:09,490 disarmed them I began scavenging the 1169 00:45:07,028 --> 00:45:11,048 bodies searching for any clues as to 1170 00:45:09,489 --> 00:45:12,848 what brought these four told only as 1171 00:45:11,048 --> 00:45:16,389 well as any supplies or ammo that might 1172 00:45:12,849 --> 00:45:18,278 benefit us I was in luck the robed Pony 1173 00:45:16,389 --> 00:45:20,528 had to stealth bucks and a memory orb 1174 00:45:18,278 --> 00:45:21,940 one of the other Rangers had magically 1175 00:45:20,528 --> 00:45:23,798 enchanted ammunition that was of the 1176 00:45:21,940 --> 00:45:24,130 same caliber as calamities normal battle 1177 00:45:23,798 --> 00:45:26,288 saddle 1178 00:45:24,130 --> 00:45:30,009 I brought my treasures back to the 1179 00:45:26,289 --> 00:45:32,190 others you ain't planning on looking 1180 00:45:30,009 --> 00:45:34,230 into that oil ball here an old old a rat 1181 00:45:32,190 --> 00:45:36,639 calamity said with a gentle warning 1182 00:45:34,230 --> 00:45:41,960 y'all remember our little talk don't you 1183 00:45:36,639 --> 00:45:45,230 I nodded solemnly I Pinkie Pie swear 1184 00:45:41,960 --> 00:45:45,470 you work now never mind I'll tell you 1185 00:45:45,230 --> 00:45:49,940 later 1186 00:45:45,469 --> 00:45:51,919 and yes I promise as we move to the edge 1187 00:45:49,940 --> 00:45:53,300 of the street my EFS warned me that 1188 00:45:51,920 --> 00:45:57,139 there were at least four hellhounds 1189 00:45:53,300 --> 00:45:58,760 around the corner I halted everyone we 1190 00:45:57,139 --> 00:46:01,819 might be able to take them we had 1191 00:45:58,760 --> 00:46:03,560 surprise but it would only take one good 1192 00:46:01,820 --> 00:46:06,769 swipe from them to behead one of us and 1193 00:46:03,559 --> 00:46:08,570 the fight would draw others No 1194 00:46:06,769 --> 00:46:11,030 we would continue to follow the Senate's 1195 00:46:08,570 --> 00:46:13,670 advice I motioned everyone back the 1196 00:46:11,030 --> 00:46:16,820 other way I hate this 1197 00:46:13,670 --> 00:46:18,440 Clemmy muttered in a whisper I want to 1198 00:46:16,820 --> 00:46:22,580 hunt the hunters not play these 1199 00:46:18,440 --> 00:46:25,400 scurrying games I ain't a rabbit zennith 1200 00:46:22,579 --> 00:46:27,219 gave a wry smile humility does not come 1201 00:46:25,400 --> 00:46:30,320 easy to you does it 1202 00:46:27,219 --> 00:46:34,669 calamity turned to her was that supposed 1203 00:46:30,320 --> 00:46:36,410 to mean you say I must show off she 1204 00:46:34,670 --> 00:46:38,690 wouldn't be entirely wrong would she 1205 00:46:36,409 --> 00:46:42,519 velvet Remy purred with just the right 1206 00:46:38,690 --> 00:46:42,519 tone to soothe and embarrass the pegasus 1207 00:46:42,789 --> 00:46:47,480 the bar sleek elapsed firehouse tilted 1208 00:46:45,440 --> 00:46:50,420 at an insane angle making the entire 1209 00:46:47,480 --> 00:46:52,190 world seem alien and threatening clammy 1210 00:46:50,420 --> 00:46:54,950 velvet knife scrambled across the maze a 1211 00:46:52,190 --> 00:46:56,289 broken floor and leaning columns higher 1212 00:46:54,949 --> 00:46:58,279 light sweep between the floors 1213 00:46:56,289 --> 00:47:00,019 occasionally diving down to the bright 1214 00:46:58,280 --> 00:47:01,820 red firehouse wagons that lay crushed 1215 00:47:00,019 --> 00:47:04,880 and partially buried under the swaths of 1216 00:47:01,820 --> 00:47:07,550 flooring a hellhound lurched on the 1217 00:47:04,880 --> 00:47:10,940 doorway behind us only to find Zenith 1218 00:47:07,550 --> 00:47:12,260 waiting for it a swift blow beneath the 1219 00:47:10,940 --> 00:47:15,950 ribs froze the creature in place 1220 00:47:12,260 --> 00:47:17,570 paralyzing it as it fell a bolt of 1221 00:47:15,949 --> 00:47:20,868 magical energy shot through the doorway 1222 00:47:17,570 --> 00:47:22,338 striking the zebra in the throat she 1223 00:47:20,869 --> 00:47:23,108 glowed brightly in the orbs over our 1224 00:47:22,338 --> 00:47:25,670 heads burst 1225 00:47:23,108 --> 00:47:27,819 zennith foul bleeding from a wound in 1226 00:47:25,670 --> 00:47:30,019 her throat the size of a memory or be' 1227 00:47:27,820 --> 00:47:31,970 velvet remedy struck the monster with an 1228 00:47:30,019 --> 00:47:33,800 anesthetic spell then rushed to zenith 1229 00:47:31,969 --> 00:47:35,589 floating out her dress and using it to 1230 00:47:33,800 --> 00:47:37,539 apply pressure to the wound 1231 00:47:35,590 --> 00:47:40,930 the dress was quickly ruined as it 1232 00:47:37,539 --> 00:47:43,809 soaked with blood can I please kill him 1233 00:47:40,929 --> 00:47:45,000 calamity huffed delat frown and not 1234 00:47:43,809 --> 00:47:50,170 saying anything 1235 00:47:45,000 --> 00:47:54,760 XANA thoracic yes silently and cut them 1236 00:47:50,170 --> 00:47:55,389 open the blood smell the hellhounds were 1237 00:47:54,760 --> 00:47:57,900 hunting us 1238 00:47:55,389 --> 00:48:00,429 tracking us now clearly by scent I 1239 00:47:57,900 --> 00:48:03,190 understood what Zenith intended as did 1240 00:48:00,429 --> 00:48:05,529 calamity velvet Remmy turned away 1241 00:48:03,190 --> 00:48:07,769 unwilling or unable to watch as we slew 1242 00:48:05,530 --> 00:48:10,810 the two hellhounds we made it quick 1243 00:48:07,769 --> 00:48:12,340 merciful it was the least we could do 1244 00:48:10,809 --> 00:48:16,420 considering that we were about to defile 1245 00:48:12,340 --> 00:48:20,289 their bodies this ends any chance of 1246 00:48:16,420 --> 00:48:22,059 diplomacy velvet moaned I hesitated 1247 00:48:20,289 --> 00:48:23,529 floating a jagged piece of sheet metal 1248 00:48:22,059 --> 00:48:26,139 out of the debris and positioning it 1249 00:48:23,530 --> 00:48:29,140 over the Dell hounds body I had to 1250 00:48:26,139 --> 00:48:32,710 disembowel him spread his stink cover 1251 00:48:29,139 --> 00:48:34,719 our path the stench of his death it was 1252 00:48:32,710 --> 00:48:37,059 vile 1253 00:48:34,719 --> 00:48:39,539 slowly I lowered the jagged metal 1254 00:48:37,059 --> 00:48:43,328 slashing at the hellhounds armored hide 1255 00:48:39,539 --> 00:48:45,279 slowly sawing into him it was incredibly 1256 00:48:43,329 --> 00:48:47,829 hard and the reek was unbearable 1257 00:48:45,280 --> 00:48:49,390 I took what little comfort I could in at 1258 00:48:47,829 --> 00:48:52,990 least knowing he had died quickly and 1259 00:48:49,389 --> 00:48:54,368 without pain corrupted kindness the 1260 00:48:52,989 --> 00:49:00,549 little pony my head whispered in the 1261 00:48:54,369 --> 00:49:02,588 voices of the goddess please know by the 1262 00:49:00,550 --> 00:49:03,099 time I was done I felt sick to my 1263 00:49:02,588 --> 00:49:05,949 stomach 1264 00:49:03,099 --> 00:49:08,410 I'd killed plenty but this made me feel 1265 00:49:05,949 --> 00:49:09,250 like a Raider my mind conjured up the 1266 00:49:08,409 --> 00:49:12,460 image of myself 1267 00:49:09,250 --> 00:49:18,099 bleeding wearing Raider armor the image 1268 00:49:12,460 --> 00:49:20,289 for the magical mirror there were 1269 00:49:18,099 --> 00:49:22,690 bathrooms on the floor above and medical 1270 00:49:20,289 --> 00:49:24,099 boxes in each of them cracked mirrors 1271 00:49:22,690 --> 00:49:26,349 and shattered toilets lean to crazy 1272 00:49:24,099 --> 00:49:28,990 angles the whole tilt of the building 1273 00:49:26,349 --> 00:49:32,680 was making me nauseous even more than I 1274 00:49:28,989 --> 00:49:34,149 already was in the grisly work before my 1275 00:49:32,679 --> 00:49:36,098 pipbuck complained as I got close enough 1276 00:49:34,150 --> 00:49:37,829 to the sink for to scan the contents of 1277 00:49:36,099 --> 00:49:40,119 what little plumbing remained functional 1278 00:49:37,829 --> 00:49:41,769 the levels of radiation in the water 1279 00:49:40,119 --> 00:49:45,608 here rivaled and usually exceeded the 1280 00:49:41,769 --> 00:49:47,050 levels in Philadelphia I sat back braced 1281 00:49:45,608 --> 00:49:48,630 against the wall picked the lock on the 1282 00:49:47,050 --> 00:49:53,200 medical box in the little mayor's room 1283 00:49:48,630 --> 00:49:54,849 the lock clicked open with ease I opened 1284 00:49:53,199 --> 00:49:56,889 it emptying the box of its meager 1285 00:49:54,849 --> 00:49:58,450 medical supplies and adding them to the 1286 00:49:56,889 --> 00:50:00,879 supplies from the medical box in the 1287 00:49:58,449 --> 00:50:02,858 little box room nothing that would help 1288 00:50:00,880 --> 00:50:04,269 with calamities wing but the small 1289 00:50:02,858 --> 00:50:07,150 healing poultice would close and heals 1290 00:50:04,269 --> 00:50:09,570 and its wound the wasteland sometimes 1291 00:50:07,150 --> 00:50:12,269 gave small favors 1292 00:50:09,570 --> 00:50:13,980 I pushed myself up feeling unsteady on 1293 00:50:12,269 --> 00:50:16,710 the canted floor and hurried back to the 1294 00:50:13,980 --> 00:50:20,760 others they were gathered what had once 1295 00:50:16,710 --> 00:50:22,530 been the firehouse kitchen velvet remedy 1296 00:50:20,760 --> 00:50:24,120 took the poultice and applied it then 1297 00:50:22,530 --> 00:50:26,940 borrowed a needle and thread from clam 1298 00:50:24,119 --> 00:50:28,380 bee's clothing repair kit a cabinet to 1299 00:50:26,940 --> 00:50:30,470 buildings back and offered up an old 1300 00:50:28,380 --> 00:50:32,550 bottle of apple whiskey half empty I 1301 00:50:30,469 --> 00:50:35,159 whimpered inside as the drink went to 1302 00:50:32,550 --> 00:50:37,560 sterilizing the needle I could use a sip 1303 00:50:35,159 --> 00:50:40,230 i contented myself with a drought from 1304 00:50:37,559 --> 00:50:46,019 my last canteen it was nearly empty 1305 00:50:40,230 --> 00:50:47,429 i edged in ways i shouldn't eat the 1306 00:50:46,019 --> 00:50:49,349 poultice had stopped the bleeding and 1307 00:50:47,429 --> 00:50:52,079 partially closed the gaping wound and 1308 00:50:49,349 --> 00:50:54,929 zenith's neck velvet began to sew the 1309 00:50:52,079 --> 00:50:56,789 wound closed completely even with velvet 1310 00:50:54,929 --> 00:50:58,289 sexpert attentions the wound was going 1311 00:50:56,789 --> 00:51:01,230 to remain an ugly scar for the rest of 1312 00:50:58,289 --> 00:51:03,300 her life I realized not for the first 1313 00:51:01,230 --> 00:51:04,889 time that the zebra would be dead if the 1314 00:51:03,300 --> 00:51:08,610 magical voltage struck her just changed 1315 00:51:04,889 --> 00:51:11,579 differently now you wait here and rest 1316 00:51:08,610 --> 00:51:14,190 velvet ordered the zebra mare and little 1317 00:51:11,579 --> 00:51:15,809 pip you watch her I'm taking calamity to 1318 00:51:14,190 --> 00:51:19,079 find something to use as rags to clean 1319 00:51:15,809 --> 00:51:22,049 you butchers off velvet stuck her nose 1320 00:51:19,079 --> 00:51:24,210 in the air and trotted out calamity 1321 00:51:22,050 --> 00:51:25,670 scowled but followed pausing next to me 1322 00:51:24,210 --> 00:51:30,389 long enough to remind me 1323 00:51:25,670 --> 00:51:34,139 remember no orbs I watched him walk out 1324 00:51:30,389 --> 00:51:37,210 after her rags sounded more like an 1325 00:51:34,139 --> 00:51:44,799 excuse to talk to calamity alone 1326 00:51:37,210 --> 00:51:47,079 I let her long sigh worst day ever it 1327 00:51:44,800 --> 00:51:49,420 wasn't but ever since we entered 1328 00:51:47,079 --> 00:51:51,789 splendid Valley the day had been working 1329 00:51:49,420 --> 00:51:55,030 very hard at becoming so reaching a luna 1330 00:51:51,789 --> 00:51:56,409 tier rating of badness the zenith lay 1331 00:51:55,030 --> 00:51:58,470 still for almost a full minute before 1332 00:51:56,409 --> 00:52:00,730 getting up and moving about the kitchen 1333 00:51:58,469 --> 00:52:01,989 she had to brace herself on sloping 1334 00:52:00,730 --> 00:52:05,530 counters as she rifled through the 1335 00:52:01,989 --> 00:52:07,000 cabinets well at least you're as good as 1336 00:52:05,530 --> 00:52:09,190 following doctor orders as the rest of 1337 00:52:07,000 --> 00:52:10,510 us I chuckled as the zebra started 1338 00:52:09,190 --> 00:52:13,150 pulling pots out and setting them on the 1339 00:52:10,510 --> 00:52:15,130 table one of them slid down the incline 1340 00:52:13,150 --> 00:52:19,690 I caught it magically before it hit the 1341 00:52:15,130 --> 00:52:22,510 floor zennith I asked a worry from the 1342 00:52:19,690 --> 00:52:26,170 days before flooding back do you trust 1343 00:52:22,510 --> 00:52:29,010 me without turning from her task she 1344 00:52:26,170 --> 00:52:33,389 replied by asking trust you about what 1345 00:52:29,010 --> 00:52:39,250 it was a Dodge but sill a fair question 1346 00:52:33,389 --> 00:52:42,170 do you trust me as a person no she said 1347 00:52:39,250 --> 00:52:44,510 simply should I 1348 00:52:42,170 --> 00:52:48,130 I was taken back by the cool honest 1349 00:52:44,510 --> 00:52:50,560 answer why not 1350 00:52:48,130 --> 00:52:52,720 you are impulsive and have difficulty 1351 00:52:50,559 --> 00:52:54,159 controlling your urges she said that she 1352 00:52:52,719 --> 00:52:55,239 opened the refrigerator door and pulled 1353 00:52:54,159 --> 00:52:58,089 out a hunk of something covering 1354 00:52:55,239 --> 00:52:59,409 grotesquely mutated mold she set it on 1355 00:52:58,090 --> 00:53:02,280 the table and I caught it as it tried to 1356 00:52:59,409 --> 00:53:05,049 slide away recoiling from the side of it 1357 00:53:02,280 --> 00:53:05,920 you are a very quick thinker an equally 1358 00:53:05,050 --> 00:53:08,350 swift to act 1359 00:53:05,920 --> 00:53:11,349 she continued crouching to check the 1360 00:53:08,349 --> 00:53:13,509 lower drawers this makes you adaptable 1361 00:53:11,349 --> 00:53:14,079 perhaps more than any pony or zebra I 1362 00:53:13,510 --> 00:53:16,210 have ever known 1363 00:53:14,079 --> 00:53:18,819 it allows you to improvise where others 1364 00:53:16,210 --> 00:53:20,740 would be paralyzed but it also leads you 1365 00:53:18,820 --> 00:53:22,600 to rash actions from hasty decisions and 1366 00:53:20,739 --> 00:53:25,719 gets you in trouble as often as it gets 1367 00:53:22,599 --> 00:53:28,000 you out of it she finally pulled a knife 1368 00:53:25,719 --> 00:53:28,599 from one of the drawers she set it on 1369 00:53:28,000 --> 00:53:31,679 the counter 1370 00:53:28,599 --> 00:53:34,150 I caught it too she turned to look at me 1371 00:53:31,679 --> 00:53:36,149 although these are just my observations 1372 00:53:34,150 --> 00:53:41,670 and I have not known you for very long 1373 00:53:36,150 --> 00:53:44,680 she looked me over why do you ask I 1374 00:53:41,670 --> 00:53:46,690 wasn't sure what to feel I wanted to 1375 00:53:44,679 --> 00:53:48,549 argue with her but a large part of my 1376 00:53:46,690 --> 00:53:51,940 suspect that she was right and I cursed 1377 00:53:48,550 --> 00:53:54,220 her for being so observant do you think 1378 00:53:51,940 --> 00:53:57,639 I'm evil 1379 00:53:54,219 --> 00:54:01,119 zaz stopped looking at me oddly then 1380 00:53:57,639 --> 00:54:02,889 laughed and no little one you are one of 1381 00:54:01,119 --> 00:54:07,299 the most caring Souls I have ever met 1382 00:54:02,889 --> 00:54:09,460 pony or otherwise again the little pony 1383 00:54:07,300 --> 00:54:13,180 my head whispered corrupted kindness in 1384 00:54:09,460 --> 00:54:16,480 the voices of the goddess do you think 1385 00:54:13,179 --> 00:54:20,579 I'm cursed then and her odd expression I 1386 00:54:16,480 --> 00:54:23,050 clarified I have been touched by homage 1387 00:54:20,579 --> 00:54:24,789 the zebra turned back to scouring the 1388 00:54:23,050 --> 00:54:26,320 kitchen pulling pans out of a lower 1389 00:54:24,789 --> 00:54:30,690 drawer to get at a spark battery-powered 1390 00:54:26,320 --> 00:54:35,230 hot plate oh of that time quite aware I 1391 00:54:30,690 --> 00:54:37,019 felt myself flushed nervously well what 1392 00:54:35,230 --> 00:54:39,730 do you mean by that 1393 00:54:37,019 --> 00:54:42,880 there are lovers who are quiet and there 1394 00:54:39,730 --> 00:54:44,530 are ones who are not as Ennis stated you 1395 00:54:42,880 --> 00:54:49,930 are not one of the quiet ones 1396 00:54:44,530 --> 00:54:53,620 oh no dear sweet Celestia you are what 1397 00:54:49,929 --> 00:54:56,440 my tribe called a wynia I felt myself 1398 00:54:53,619 --> 00:54:58,150 blushing hotly I wanted to throw myself 1399 00:54:56,440 --> 00:55:02,460 into the splendid Valley sinkhole out of 1400 00:54:58,150 --> 00:55:06,700 sheer embarrassment you mean all those 1401 00:55:02,460 --> 00:55:10,289 each I squeaked yes 1402 00:55:06,699 --> 00:55:12,268 zennith confirmed each 1403 00:55:10,289 --> 00:55:13,859 it took me several minutes and an old 1404 00:55:12,268 --> 00:55:16,948 sack that the zebra had given me before 1405 00:55:13,858 --> 00:55:17,728 I stopped hyperventilating can you 1406 00:55:16,949 --> 00:55:24,079 breathe now 1407 00:55:17,728 --> 00:55:26,278 zennith asked gently I nodded I think so 1408 00:55:24,079 --> 00:55:29,339 the medical Pony is right 1409 00:55:26,278 --> 00:55:32,818 XANA said with a soft smile you acute 1410 00:55:29,338 --> 00:55:35,659 when you're that color I felt faint my 1411 00:55:32,818 --> 00:55:38,219 breathing threatening to quicken again I 1412 00:55:35,659 --> 00:55:39,528 took a moment and composed myself as the 1413 00:55:38,219 --> 00:55:45,059 best as I could 1414 00:55:39,528 --> 00:55:48,539 so am I cursed because I love homage she 1415 00:55:45,059 --> 00:55:51,028 paused then turned away I waited for her 1416 00:55:48,539 --> 00:55:55,140 to answer the answer I received was not 1417 00:55:51,028 --> 00:55:56,998 what I had expected the Zebras may have 1418 00:55:55,139 --> 00:55:59,368 been wrong about Nightmare Moon she 1419 00:55:56,998 --> 00:56:01,528 admitted you ponies may have been right 1420 00:55:59,369 --> 00:56:03,269 the wielders of the elements of harmony 1421 00:56:01,528 --> 00:56:05,728 may have broken whatever hold the Stars 1422 00:56:03,268 --> 00:56:09,688 had over Nightmare Moon Luna may have 1423 00:56:05,728 --> 00:56:11,129 been different she turned to me but that 1424 00:56:09,688 --> 00:56:13,618 does not mean that the touch of the 1425 00:56:11,130 --> 00:56:15,949 stars was not still upon her that it did 1426 00:56:13,619 --> 00:56:19,380 not influence her in more subtle ways 1427 00:56:15,949 --> 00:56:21,509 she looked to me I am open to your 1428 00:56:19,380 --> 00:56:25,500 beliefs but I asked that you be open to 1429 00:56:21,509 --> 00:56:27,990 mine perhaps there is truth in both 1430 00:56:25,500 --> 00:56:30,568 i frowned I didn't want there to be any 1431 00:56:27,989 --> 00:56:33,239 truth in her beliefs but I had seen 1432 00:56:30,568 --> 00:56:34,889 things that suggested otherwise things 1433 00:56:33,239 --> 00:56:36,479 that suggested maybe there was something 1434 00:56:34,889 --> 00:56:39,469 dark and terrible up there and the vast 1435 00:56:36,480 --> 00:56:42,750 emptiness that stretched beyond the moon 1436 00:56:39,469 --> 00:56:46,309 but homage isn't evil she's not twisted 1437 00:56:42,750 --> 00:56:50,989 she is no Nightmare Moon I insisted in 1438 00:56:46,309 --> 00:56:54,838 fact she saved our lives she saved yours 1439 00:56:50,989 --> 00:56:57,769 zennith nodded with a sad smile and you 1440 00:56:54,838 --> 00:57:02,608 would say it was quite an amazing shot 1441 00:56:57,769 --> 00:57:04,980 absolutely it was in what the weapon 1442 00:57:02,608 --> 00:57:10,559 from the stars wants to kill Zenith said 1443 00:57:04,980 --> 00:57:14,460 it yearns to kill okay now that was just 1444 00:57:10,559 --> 00:57:17,940 creepy I will accept it homages a good 1445 00:57:14,460 --> 00:57:18,900 kind pony and that she's not cursed but 1446 00:57:17,940 --> 00:57:21,929 you asked me to 1447 00:57:18,900 --> 00:57:23,940 zennith conceded even though I did not 1448 00:57:21,929 --> 00:57:26,848 trust your judgment I believe you speak 1449 00:57:23,940 --> 00:57:28,349 truthfully in this and I suspect you a 1450 00:57:26,849 --> 00:57:31,500 better experience that matters of the 1451 00:57:28,349 --> 00:57:34,650 heart and I am I smiled 1452 00:57:31,500 --> 00:57:36,559 feeling a touch of relief thank yous 1453 00:57:34,650 --> 00:57:40,130 Anitha 1454 00:57:36,559 --> 00:57:41,809 the zebra shook her head but I ask in 1455 00:57:40,130 --> 00:57:44,150 return that you keep an open mind to the 1456 00:57:41,809 --> 00:57:46,549 things I believe and a watchful eyes for 1457 00:57:44,150 --> 00:57:48,050 warning signs the stars take the 1458 00:57:46,550 --> 00:57:50,600 greatest delight in giving us the means 1459 00:57:48,050 --> 00:57:52,100 to destroy ourselves and each other do 1460 00:57:50,599 --> 00:57:53,719 you truly think that your relationship 1461 00:57:52,099 --> 00:57:58,309 has not changed now that she has taken a 1462 00:57:53,719 --> 00:58:01,669 life for you I felt a chill I had not 1463 00:57:58,309 --> 00:58:03,320 considered that before or if I had I had 1464 00:58:01,670 --> 00:58:06,680 seen the consequences of being entirely 1465 00:58:03,320 --> 00:58:10,250 beneficial she'd saved my life how would 1466 00:58:06,679 --> 00:58:12,230 that not bring us closer but had I not 1467 00:58:10,250 --> 00:58:15,860 that very night wept in front of her for 1468 00:58:12,230 --> 00:58:17,389 having killed a steel ranger regardless 1469 00:58:15,860 --> 00:58:19,340 of whether Zenoss superstitious fears 1470 00:58:17,389 --> 00:58:20,839 were justified she had led me to 1471 00:58:19,340 --> 00:58:23,630 re-examine what had happened in less 1472 00:58:20,840 --> 00:58:27,880 self-centered way I looked up into the 1473 00:58:23,630 --> 00:58:27,880 Zebras eyes thank you 1474 00:58:28,800 --> 00:58:33,840 I floated the whole array of pots and 1475 00:58:30,690 --> 00:58:35,490 pans zennith had quickly discovered that 1476 00:58:33,840 --> 00:58:36,990 no surface in the room was flat enough 1477 00:58:35,489 --> 00:58:40,799 to safely cook on after a mishap with 1478 00:58:36,989 --> 00:58:43,199 the hot plate not far outside calamity 1479 00:58:40,800 --> 00:58:44,760 and velvet Remini had started arguing we 1480 00:58:43,199 --> 00:58:47,189 could hear from inside the kitchen but 1481 00:58:44,760 --> 00:58:48,260 could not make out the words not that I 1482 00:58:47,190 --> 00:58:50,820 wanted to 1483 00:58:48,260 --> 00:58:52,350 zennith fretted worried that their 1484 00:58:50,820 --> 00:58:54,059 discussion would attract more hellhounds 1485 00:58:52,349 --> 00:58:57,239 but so far they were keeping their 1486 00:58:54,059 --> 00:59:00,269 voices low enough still it added in 1487 00:58:57,239 --> 00:59:01,799 unpleasantness to the air I distracted 1488 00:59:00,269 --> 00:59:05,190 myself by returning to an earlier part 1489 00:59:01,800 --> 00:59:08,490 of my conversation with zennith do you 1490 00:59:05,190 --> 00:59:10,740 trust me to tell you the truth yes 1491 00:59:08,489 --> 00:59:15,629 little one unless you believe it is in 1492 00:59:10,739 --> 00:59:17,299 my best interest to lie crap I hated to 1493 00:59:15,630 --> 00:59:19,230 think she might be right about that I 1494 00:59:17,300 --> 00:59:22,080 would have preferred to be more like 1495 00:59:19,230 --> 00:59:24,599 homage but if it came to telling the 1496 00:59:22,079 --> 00:59:26,360 truth or protecting my friends I had a 1497 00:59:24,599 --> 00:59:29,009 track record of choosing the latter and 1498 00:59:26,360 --> 00:59:31,800 while I regretted the necessity it was 1499 00:59:29,010 --> 00:59:33,150 rare for me to consider the choices did 1500 00:59:31,800 --> 00:59:36,200 this mean that was playing steel hooves 1501 00:59:33,150 --> 00:59:36,200 to homages Applejack 1502 00:59:36,320 --> 00:59:41,580 well would you trust me with your life I 1503 00:59:39,590 --> 00:59:43,260 asked as zennith took the knife and 1504 00:59:41,579 --> 00:59:45,989 started scraping chunks of mold into one 1505 00:59:43,260 --> 00:59:46,410 of the pots she finished then put the 1506 00:59:45,989 --> 00:59:49,429 knife down 1507 00:59:46,409 --> 00:59:52,489 I caught it again 1508 00:59:49,429 --> 00:59:54,980 it is not a matter of trust you saved my 1509 00:59:52,489 --> 01:00:00,199 life you are responsible for it 1510 00:59:54,980 --> 01:00:02,240 aah more insane zebra logic all the 1511 01:00:00,199 --> 01:00:05,480 worst since it was insane understandable 1512 01:00:02,239 --> 01:00:10,029 zebra logic I have not chosen to release 1513 01:00:05,480 --> 01:00:12,440 you from that frustrated I asked why not 1514 01:00:10,030 --> 01:00:15,290 look we're following me has gotten you 1515 01:00:12,440 --> 01:00:19,010 he nearly died I've taken you from one 1516 01:00:15,289 --> 01:00:20,750 hellhole straight into another the zebra 1517 01:00:19,010 --> 01:00:24,740 looked at me a touch of sadness in her 1518 01:00:20,750 --> 01:00:26,659 eyes then turned away she filled a pot 1519 01:00:24,739 --> 01:00:28,189 with horribly irradiated water then 1520 01:00:26,659 --> 01:00:31,848 began to mix the mold into it not 1521 01:00:28,190 --> 01:00:34,809 answering me i sat and watched and the 1522 01:00:31,849 --> 01:00:37,460 very least maybe I would learn something 1523 01:00:34,809 --> 01:00:40,970 one by one she added more ingredients 1524 01:00:37,460 --> 01:00:42,440 none of which looked healthy I hope this 1525 01:00:40,969 --> 01:00:47,568 wasn't anything we were intended to 1526 01:00:42,440 --> 01:00:49,150 consume don't talk she said although I 1527 01:00:47,568 --> 01:00:54,650 wasn't talking at all anymore 1528 01:00:49,150 --> 01:00:58,670 be quiet run hide her voice was low 1529 01:00:54,650 --> 01:01:02,088 heavy get you a food and hide or a pony 1530 01:00:58,670 --> 01:01:04,940 will take it from you don't talk when 1531 01:01:02,088 --> 01:01:07,969 they come for you relax let them do what 1532 01:01:04,940 --> 01:01:12,318 they will do don't fight don't scream 1533 01:01:07,969 --> 01:01:16,308 don't talk she looked up at the canted 1534 01:01:12,318 --> 01:01:20,480 ceiling when they hurt you grunt whimper 1535 01:01:16,309 --> 01:01:24,559 don't talk always the same until they 1536 01:01:20,480 --> 01:01:26,389 get bored then hide he'll prepare for 1537 01:01:24,559 --> 01:01:29,660 the next time 1538 01:01:26,389 --> 01:01:33,500 she looked to me if they move to kill 1539 01:01:29,659 --> 01:01:36,139 you kill them then hide the body hide it 1540 01:01:33,500 --> 01:01:39,289 well find another place to be 1541 01:01:36,139 --> 01:01:45,289 don't let them suspect you be meek don't 1542 01:01:39,289 --> 01:01:47,769 talk hide a cold shiver passed through 1543 01:01:45,289 --> 01:01:50,750 me as I stare at the scarred zebra mare 1544 01:01:47,769 --> 01:01:53,869 it was only after truly exceptional hor 1545 01:01:50,750 --> 01:01:55,340 that I dared join the fights I did not 1546 01:01:53,869 --> 01:01:58,819 wish for them to see that I could fight 1547 01:01:55,340 --> 01:02:00,680 but I could no longer bear it she 1548 01:01:58,820 --> 01:02:04,400 lowered her head looking to me with 1549 01:02:00,679 --> 01:02:07,909 tears in her eyes before you the slavers 1550 01:02:04,400 --> 01:02:11,300 before the slavers my husband before him 1551 01:02:07,909 --> 01:02:14,089 my parents I have never owned myself I'm 1552 01:02:11,300 --> 01:02:18,230 not comfortable with the idea I know 1553 01:02:14,090 --> 01:02:19,840 this role I can survive it I shook my 1554 01:02:18,230 --> 01:02:22,380 Mane 1555 01:02:19,840 --> 01:02:24,490 I may be responsible for you as you say 1556 01:02:22,380 --> 01:02:29,349 but I am NOT a slaver 1557 01:02:24,489 --> 01:02:31,509 I do not own you and for that you are 1558 01:02:29,349 --> 01:02:34,150 better than all the others zennith 1559 01:02:31,510 --> 01:02:35,590 admitted but still the fact remains that 1560 01:02:34,150 --> 01:02:40,539 I do not know how to live being 1561 01:02:35,590 --> 01:02:44,370 responsible for myself I think I told 1562 01:02:40,539 --> 01:02:44,369 her you do just fine 1563 01:02:45,570 --> 01:02:49,019 the hallway tilted at such a knowledge 1564 01:02:47,460 --> 01:02:51,750 gating angle that I was walking as much 1565 01:02:49,019 --> 01:02:53,519 on the wall as the floor I followed 1566 01:02:51,750 --> 01:02:56,190 close to calamity keeping an eye on my 1567 01:02:53,519 --> 01:02:58,730 eyes forward spargle four hellhounds we 1568 01:02:56,190 --> 01:03:01,590 were hunters again at xanthe request 1569 01:02:58,730 --> 01:03:03,110 another one at our six I whispered to 1570 01:03:01,590 --> 01:03:06,530 him as the light appeared on my compass 1571 01:03:03,110 --> 01:03:09,000 supply room I think I see it 1572 01:03:06,530 --> 01:03:10,890 Calamity nodded reminded me that the 1573 01:03:09,000 --> 01:03:14,699 bug-eyed style visor in his armor had an 1574 01:03:10,889 --> 01:03:16,259 EFS of its own crouching low the Pegasus 1575 01:03:14,699 --> 01:03:17,669 moved stealthily forward until he was in 1576 01:03:16,260 --> 01:03:19,860 position directly in front of the door 1577 01:03:17,670 --> 01:03:22,590 his four magical energy rifles pulsing 1578 01:03:19,860 --> 01:03:24,480 eagerly I telekinetically pushed open 1579 01:03:22,590 --> 01:03:28,289 the door holding it so gravity wouldn't 1580 01:03:24,480 --> 01:03:30,329 swing it back shot a skewering dart shot 1581 01:03:28,289 --> 01:03:31,739 out the supply room bouncing harmlessly 1582 01:03:30,329 --> 01:03:36,210 off the forehead of calamities black 1583 01:03:31,739 --> 01:03:37,469 armor carapace hmm he chuckled raising 1584 01:03:36,210 --> 01:03:38,699 on his haunches and striking at the 1585 01:03:37,469 --> 01:03:41,459 bloat sprite with a stinger of his 1586 01:03:38,699 --> 01:03:45,569 armors segmented scorpion tail the 1587 01:03:41,460 --> 01:03:48,210 impaired creature squealed as it died he 1588 01:03:45,570 --> 01:03:49,530 said chuckling never wish these things 1589 01:03:48,210 --> 01:03:50,159 could detect threat level instead of 1590 01:03:49,530 --> 01:03:53,120 just threats 1591 01:03:50,159 --> 01:03:56,750 I almost wasted a lot of ammo on a bug I 1592 01:03:53,119 --> 01:03:58,940 smirked often 1593 01:03:56,750 --> 01:04:01,579 I turned back to our friends motioning 1594 01:03:58,940 --> 01:04:03,320 them forward velvet nodded in nudge to 1595 01:04:01,579 --> 01:04:03,799 Zenith who is crouched and facing the 1596 01:04:03,320 --> 01:04:07,430 other way 1597 01:04:03,800 --> 01:04:09,110 guarding our flank my eyes forward 1598 01:04:07,429 --> 01:04:10,909 Sparkle attract a friendly spot of light 1599 01:04:09,110 --> 01:04:14,450 as pilot swooped in and out of rooms 1600 01:04:10,909 --> 01:04:17,989 searching for enemies to burn or rodents 1601 01:04:14,449 --> 01:04:19,460 to eat the balefire Phoenix returned to 1602 01:04:17,989 --> 01:04:22,729 drop the charred corpse of a small 1603 01:04:19,460 --> 01:04:25,610 animal of velvet Rama's hooves oh thank 1604 01:04:22,730 --> 01:04:28,460 you velvet sang lusciously stroking the 1605 01:04:25,610 --> 01:04:29,900 birds plumage with a gentle hoof pilot 1606 01:04:28,460 --> 01:04:33,010 hooted and stretched out her wings 1607 01:04:29,900 --> 01:04:35,329 fluttering off again it boggled my mind 1608 01:04:33,010 --> 01:04:38,150 you know you just encouraged her to keep 1609 01:04:35,329 --> 01:04:41,150 doing that right and why wouldn't I 1610 01:04:38,150 --> 01:04:43,130 velvet said sweetly my little pie light 1611 01:04:41,150 --> 01:04:46,519 is a wonderful hunter just like she 1612 01:04:43,130 --> 01:04:49,250 should be calamity gave a grumpy look in 1613 01:04:46,519 --> 01:04:51,590 Xena's direction at least I assumed it 1614 01:04:49,250 --> 01:04:53,320 was a grumpy look with my friend hidden 1615 01:04:51,590 --> 01:04:56,769 inside that armor I couldn't really tell 1616 01:04:53,320 --> 01:04:59,030 but his posture struck me as grumpy I 1617 01:04:56,769 --> 01:05:01,309 decided I preferred my friend out of 1618 01:04:59,030 --> 01:05:03,890 that armor it made him look mysterious 1619 01:05:01,309 --> 01:05:05,799 and rather evil and it put up a barrier 1620 01:05:03,889 --> 01:05:08,239 between us that I didn't care for I 1621 01:05:05,800 --> 01:05:09,890 gotten used to it with Steel's but not 1622 01:05:08,239 --> 01:05:13,250 being able to see Calamity's face just 1623 01:05:09,889 --> 01:05:15,879 thought wrong she is a bird of prey 1624 01:05:13,250 --> 01:05:17,900 after all it's over reminded us 1625 01:05:15,880 --> 01:05:19,789 zennith eyed the charred corpse and 1626 01:05:17,900 --> 01:05:21,619 shook her head then cantered towards us 1627 01:05:19,789 --> 01:05:25,429 moving with surprising ease down the 1628 01:05:21,619 --> 01:05:27,199 off-kilter hallway calamity flexed his 1629 01:05:25,429 --> 01:05:31,730 injured wing and I thought I heard him 1630 01:05:27,199 --> 01:05:34,069 mutter so was I not so long ago so 1631 01:05:31,730 --> 01:05:36,619 calamity I piped up pulling his 1632 01:05:34,070 --> 01:05:39,160 attention away I had a question that 1633 01:05:36,619 --> 01:05:41,949 needs a Pegasus expertise 1634 01:05:39,159 --> 01:05:45,940 shoot little PIP he said seeming to 1635 01:05:41,949 --> 01:05:48,459 cheer me up if I wanted to clear a large 1636 01:05:45,940 --> 01:05:51,608 area of clouds say the area over 1637 01:05:48,458 --> 01:05:53,379 Manhattan say just as a totally random 1638 01:05:51,608 --> 01:05:54,728 example the area above a mega spell 1639 01:05:53,380 --> 01:05:57,430 chamber which requires sunlight to 1640 01:05:54,728 --> 01:06:00,939 function how could I do so without 1641 01:05:57,429 --> 01:06:04,448 having the enclave all over me Clemmy 1642 01:06:00,940 --> 01:06:10,389 niggard oh no what you plan an a little 1643 01:06:04,449 --> 01:06:12,959 pip just theoretical a Yip sure it is he 1644 01:06:10,389 --> 01:06:14,889 said clearly not buying a word of it 1645 01:06:12,958 --> 01:06:17,919 zennith moved up to the body of the 1646 01:06:14,889 --> 01:06:20,739 bloat sprite perfect Sheehan toned 1647 01:06:17,920 --> 01:06:22,209 opening her satchel leaning down she 1648 01:06:20,739 --> 01:06:24,880 tore off its wings and spat them into 1649 01:06:22,208 --> 01:06:27,759 the satchel now I must find a room to 1650 01:06:24,880 --> 01:06:31,059 complete the brew zennith moved ahead 1651 01:06:27,759 --> 01:06:34,989 taking the lead again do I even wanna 1652 01:06:31,059 --> 01:06:37,739 know clam he said from what I've seen 1653 01:06:34,989 --> 01:06:40,208 going to it I prefer not to 1654 01:06:37,739 --> 01:06:42,759 returning to my question calamity 1655 01:06:40,208 --> 01:06:45,219 informed me well there's only one way to 1656 01:06:42,759 --> 01:06:48,400 clear a that big that fast and that's 1657 01:06:45,219 --> 01:06:51,159 with a Sonic Rainboom the gears in my 1658 01:06:48,400 --> 01:06:52,749 head started turning of course the 1659 01:06:51,159 --> 01:06:54,219 enclaves response to that be swift and 1660 01:06:52,748 --> 01:06:57,268 deadly but you might have clear skies 1661 01:06:54,219 --> 01:06:59,889 for over an hour he chuckled ruefully 1662 01:06:57,268 --> 01:07:02,318 which had to say requires a pegasus 1663 01:06:59,889 --> 01:07:06,009 capable o performing one of which the 1664 01:07:02,318 --> 01:07:09,798 question wasteland has exactly zero the 1665 01:07:06,009 --> 01:07:12,739 gears ground to a stop damn 1666 01:07:09,798 --> 01:07:15,108 sigh littlepip showoff a knot that's one 1667 01:07:12,739 --> 01:07:17,478 trick I ain't never been able to do very 1668 01:07:15,108 --> 01:07:23,598 very few pegasi can and the Enclave 1669 01:07:17,478 --> 01:07:25,608 keeps him real close when the firehouse 1670 01:07:23,599 --> 01:07:27,170 had started to topple the building came 1671 01:07:25,608 --> 01:07:29,598 to rest against the maripony mining 1672 01:07:27,170 --> 01:07:31,338 administration building a cancered 1673 01:07:29,599 --> 01:07:32,479 firehouse window hung open about five 1674 01:07:31,338 --> 01:07:35,748 feet from the opening of a shattered 1675 01:07:32,478 --> 01:07:36,798 window on the opposite building just a 1676 01:07:35,748 --> 01:07:38,978 hop skip and a jump 1677 01:07:36,798 --> 01:07:40,969 I told calamity with a smile I 1678 01:07:38,978 --> 01:07:43,338 remembered wearing Enclave armor from 1679 01:07:40,969 --> 01:07:45,079 riding Rainbow Dash's memory it might 1680 01:07:43,338 --> 01:07:47,389 look fearsomely heavy but it was 1681 01:07:45,079 --> 01:07:49,630 amazingly light there was no recent 1682 01:07:47,389 --> 01:07:51,618 calamity couldn't do this easily 1683 01:07:49,630 --> 01:07:54,920 calamity braced against the sloping 1684 01:07:51,619 --> 01:07:55,969 floor eases say for Yahoo ain't never 1685 01:07:54,920 --> 01:07:59,719 had to do something like this without 1686 01:07:55,969 --> 01:08:03,469 your wings he looked to me if I fall 1687 01:07:59,719 --> 01:08:04,150 y'all ready to catch me rat just float 1688 01:08:03,469 --> 01:08:06,289 him across 1689 01:08:04,150 --> 01:08:07,699 zennith suggested from the opposite 1690 01:08:06,289 --> 01:08:10,099 window where she in velvet remedy were 1691 01:08:07,699 --> 01:08:13,869 waiting yeah 1692 01:08:10,099 --> 01:08:17,509 clammy agreed I like that plan better I 1693 01:08:13,869 --> 01:08:19,099 rolled my eyes then whispered to him but 1694 01:08:17,509 --> 01:08:22,849 which do you think will impress velvet 1695 01:08:19,099 --> 01:08:25,789 more clammy straightened up shook his 1696 01:08:22,849 --> 01:08:31,000 fears often galloped and left he made it 1697 01:08:25,789 --> 01:08:33,259 with five he despair show off my turn I 1698 01:08:31,000 --> 01:08:35,920 looked down the sloping floor and across 1699 01:08:33,259 --> 01:08:38,599 the gap to the opposite windowsill it 1700 01:08:35,920 --> 01:08:42,559 wasn't even with this window maybe two 1701 01:08:38,599 --> 01:08:44,389 feet higher I swallowed in clam B's 1702 01:08:42,559 --> 01:08:45,960 defense to the tilted floor was throwing 1703 01:08:44,389 --> 01:08:48,569 me off too 1704 01:08:45,960 --> 01:08:50,520 I count forward lightning myself at the 1705 01:08:48,569 --> 01:08:53,370 last moment after I had all the momentum 1706 01:08:50,520 --> 01:08:57,180 I needed I sailed across smacking into 1707 01:08:53,369 --> 01:08:58,858 calamities armored tail see he joked I 1708 01:08:57,180 --> 01:09:03,029 told you nothing to it 1709 01:08:58,859 --> 01:09:04,410 i snickered and shook my head the room 1710 01:09:03,029 --> 01:09:06,299 was an open office space filled with 1711 01:09:04,409 --> 01:09:10,048 desks and terminals none of which had 1712 01:09:06,298 --> 01:09:12,119 survived well I checked my EFS and found 1713 01:09:10,048 --> 01:09:14,519 red lights moving around us probably on 1714 01:09:12,119 --> 01:09:16,710 the floors below I motioned the others 1715 01:09:14,520 --> 01:09:20,100 to be quiet and once again I levitated 1716 01:09:16,710 --> 01:09:22,170 velvet remedy as we moved as we passed 1717 01:09:20,100 --> 01:09:23,850 the last of the desks I noticed an 1718 01:09:22,170 --> 01:09:26,430 orange and yellow book laying in an open 1719 01:09:23,850 --> 01:09:29,069 waste bin I floated the doubt looking 1720 01:09:26,430 --> 01:09:31,588 the book over the big book of boo m-- 1721 01:09:29,069 --> 01:09:34,339 announced the cover adding beneath the 1722 01:09:31,588 --> 01:09:36,359 dynamite guide to handling explosives 1723 01:09:34,338 --> 01:09:39,059 below that was a picture of the author 1724 01:09:36,359 --> 01:09:41,100 read 3 hos runner with a cartoon balloon 1725 01:09:39,060 --> 01:09:44,009 sing he a better handler right the first 1726 01:09:41,100 --> 01:09:45,270 time because she won't explode twice the 1727 01:09:44,009 --> 01:09:47,939 book was crammed full of notes and 1728 01:09:45,270 --> 01:09:50,339 papers I tucked it away to look over 1729 01:09:47,939 --> 01:09:53,519 later underneath it was an audio 1730 01:09:50,338 --> 01:09:55,469 recording I downloaded it unto my 1731 01:09:53,520 --> 01:09:58,190 pipbuck and slipped my ear bloom into an 1732 01:09:55,469 --> 01:10:00,270 ear surely calamity wouldn't mind this 1733 01:09:58,189 --> 01:10:04,199 listening to the recording would remove 1734 01:10:00,270 --> 01:10:06,170 me from my surroundings mining officer 1735 01:10:04,199 --> 01:10:08,880 Torchwood to all concerned personnel 1736 01:10:06,170 --> 01:10:10,789 first order of business we will be 1737 01:10:08,880 --> 01:10:13,170 having a surprise inspection in two days 1738 01:10:10,789 --> 01:10:15,300 everypony needs to be well-rested and at 1739 01:10:13,170 --> 01:10:17,100 the top of their game maripony 1740 01:10:15,300 --> 01:10:18,719 operations over mayor sunny days has 1741 01:10:17,100 --> 01:10:20,370 authorized how half-day tomorrow so that 1742 01:10:18,719 --> 01:10:22,340 everypony can get plenty of rest and 1743 01:10:20,369 --> 01:10:24,479 have their uniforms cleaned and starched 1744 01:10:22,340 --> 01:10:25,500 anypony uses this time to go to 1745 01:10:24,479 --> 01:10:27,119 Ponyville and get drunk 1746 01:10:25,500 --> 01:10:29,219 will not be allowed back into the 1747 01:10:27,119 --> 01:10:30,960 maripony facility or any operations 1748 01:10:29,219 --> 01:10:34,079 building within old Olney and will be 1749 01:10:30,960 --> 01:10:35,969 docked one week's pay baskets 1750 01:10:34,079 --> 01:10:38,159 make sure you have proper headgear this 1751 01:10:35,969 --> 01:10:40,340 time or you will find yourself no longer 1752 01:10:38,159 --> 01:10:43,229 employed by maripony mining company 1753 01:10:40,340 --> 01:10:44,489 second order of business maripony mining 1754 01:10:43,229 --> 01:10:46,889 company has increased demand for 1755 01:10:44,488 --> 01:10:49,169 productivity this means you can expect 1756 01:10:46,890 --> 01:10:51,030 an increase in work hours of 20% with 1757 01:10:49,170 --> 01:10:53,760 the corresponding 15% increase in your 1758 01:10:51,029 --> 01:10:55,769 paychecks officers whose teams exceed 1759 01:10:53,760 --> 01:10:58,739 the new quota will receive a bonus 1760 01:10:55,770 --> 01:11:00,330 I cannot say what the bonus is but I can 1761 01:10:58,739 --> 01:11:03,149 let you know that the bonus will include 1762 01:11:00,329 --> 01:11:04,859 ice cream likewise we will be opening up 1763 01:11:03,149 --> 01:11:07,139 several previously restricted tunnels to 1764 01:11:04,859 --> 01:11:08,339 mining operations the maripony mining 1765 01:11:07,140 --> 01:11:09,960 company assures you that these tunnels 1766 01:11:08,340 --> 01:11:13,380 meet and exceed our minimum safety 1767 01:11:09,960 --> 01:11:15,029 standards third order of business there 1768 01:11:13,380 --> 01:11:18,359 have been increased reports of trespass 1769 01:11:15,029 --> 01:11:20,250 by relocated Diamond Dogs now I don't 1770 01:11:18,359 --> 01:11:22,469 know if this is a territorial pact mine 1771 01:11:20,250 --> 01:11:24,060 thing or if they're just stupid but if 1772 01:11:22,470 --> 01:11:26,039 you find a diamond dog on merit on your 1773 01:11:24,060 --> 01:11:29,160 property you are to instruct the dog to 1774 01:11:26,039 --> 01:11:31,409 leave if the diamond dog refuses use of 1775 01:11:29,159 --> 01:11:33,269 sonic deterrents are permitted ask your 1776 01:11:31,409 --> 01:11:35,639 team officers for the newest line and d4 1777 01:11:33,270 --> 01:11:38,600 diamond dog deterrent device whistles 1778 01:11:35,640 --> 01:11:40,530 now with convenient neck wrapping loops 1779 01:11:38,600 --> 01:11:42,600 fourth order of business 1780 01:11:40,529 --> 01:11:44,279 thanks to brick Bane we have had to 1781 01:11:42,600 --> 01:11:47,280 reset our days without serious injury 1782 01:11:44,279 --> 01:11:48,689 board back to zero thankfully brick Bane 1783 01:11:47,279 --> 01:11:51,719 will recover the use of most of her 1784 01:11:48,689 --> 01:11:52,859 limbs remember D for neck wrapping loops 1785 01:11:51,720 --> 01:11:54,300 should be kept short so that your 1786 01:11:52,859 --> 01:11:56,429 whistle cannot dangle into mining 1787 01:11:54,300 --> 01:12:01,170 machinery keep up the good work every 1788 01:11:56,430 --> 01:12:03,150 pony I turned off the ear bloom we'd 1789 01:12:01,170 --> 01:12:05,819 reached the stairwell and my EFS had lit 1790 01:12:03,149 --> 01:12:07,049 up with more hostels two hellhounds 1791 01:12:05,819 --> 01:12:09,449 lurked visibly at the bottom of the 1792 01:12:07,050 --> 01:12:11,220 stairs below they were wearing makeshift 1793 01:12:09,449 --> 01:12:13,649 armor and one of them carried a magical 1794 01:12:11,220 --> 01:12:17,240 energy mini Ghana there were more around 1795 01:12:13,649 --> 01:12:19,229 the corner one of them started sniffing 1796 01:12:17,239 --> 01:12:21,840 emotion the others back and looked as 1797 01:12:19,229 --> 01:12:23,819 Enif in theory the potion she had brewed 1798 01:12:21,840 --> 01:12:26,088 was altering our scent making us smell 1799 01:12:23,819 --> 01:12:28,759 like mold and bloat sprites 1800 01:12:26,088 --> 01:12:30,229 still going down to street level was out 1801 01:12:28,760 --> 01:12:33,260 unless zennith thought now was the time 1802 01:12:30,229 --> 01:12:35,479 to go on the offensive the zebra shook 1803 01:12:33,260 --> 01:12:37,969 her head she slipped forward and started 1804 01:12:35,479 --> 01:12:39,439 up the stairs towards the roof if I 1805 01:12:37,969 --> 01:12:40,849 remembered correctly this would put us 1806 01:12:39,439 --> 01:12:43,159 across the street from the hospital 1807 01:12:40,849 --> 01:12:44,719 I didn't think even calamity could clear 1808 01:12:43,158 --> 01:12:50,808 old ol days Main Street with just a hop 1809 01:12:44,719 --> 01:12:52,788 skip and a jump what am I looking at it 1810 01:12:50,809 --> 01:12:55,909 was not the first time those words had 1811 01:12:52,788 --> 01:12:57,708 come out of my mouth a late evening wind 1812 01:12:55,908 --> 01:13:00,948 moaned through old only pulling in our 1813 01:12:57,708 --> 01:13:02,898 Mane's and Tails a yard from my hooves 1814 01:13:00,948 --> 01:13:04,038 was the lumpy puddle of sludge which had 1815 01:13:02,899 --> 01:13:05,359 once been the hellhound sniper 1816 01:13:04,038 --> 01:13:07,688 positioned on the rooftop of the 1817 01:13:05,359 --> 01:13:09,949 maripony mining administration building 1818 01:13:07,689 --> 01:13:11,628 calamity had fired on him the moment we 1819 01:13:09,948 --> 01:13:14,648 burst out of the roof liquefying 1820 01:13:11,628 --> 01:13:17,059 creature before could attack or Hal a 1821 01:13:14,649 --> 01:13:18,829 strange antenna sat in the center of the 1822 01:13:17,059 --> 01:13:20,779 sagging rooftop humming softly 1823 01:13:18,828 --> 01:13:23,568 surrounded by magical gemstones that 1824 01:13:20,779 --> 01:13:25,488 radiated a soft blue light around the 1825 01:13:23,569 --> 01:13:26,809 antenna were several tables one of which 1826 01:13:25,488 --> 01:13:28,998 was still intact and held a glowing 1827 01:13:26,809 --> 01:13:30,969 terminal that faced away from us the 1828 01:13:28,998 --> 01:13:34,248 others have been clawed to shreds 1829 01:13:30,969 --> 01:13:37,128 strange silvery boxes sat nearby all but 1830 01:13:34,248 --> 01:13:38,779 one of them similarly shredded hellhound 1831 01:13:37,128 --> 01:13:41,448 claw marks sliced into the barricades 1832 01:13:38,779 --> 01:13:44,029 that ringed the roof there were several 1833 01:13:41,448 --> 01:13:46,518 dead ponies up here all of them pegasi 1834 01:13:44,029 --> 01:13:49,668 all wearing the same black carapace 1835 01:13:46,519 --> 01:13:52,639 armored enclave scouting party 1836 01:13:49,668 --> 01:13:55,550 I asked calamity our Pegasus walked 1837 01:13:52,639 --> 01:13:57,260 amongst the corpses they were old just 1838 01:13:55,550 --> 01:14:01,939 dried and rotting flesh hanging on the 1839 01:13:57,260 --> 01:14:04,130 bone no he said looking up this was a 1840 01:14:01,939 --> 01:14:06,360 science team 1841 01:14:04,130 --> 01:14:08,730 calamity trotted round the other side of 1842 01:14:06,359 --> 01:14:10,949 the terminal I have no idea what they'd 1843 01:14:08,729 --> 01:14:11,759 be doing an old old man or down at all 1844 01:14:10,949 --> 01:14:15,449 for that matter 1845 01:14:11,760 --> 01:14:19,289 his voice was grim but I aim to find out 1846 01:14:15,449 --> 01:14:20,609 I recalled what Alma had told me about 1847 01:14:19,289 --> 01:14:23,579 the night she found the weapon from the 1848 01:14:20,609 --> 01:14:26,059 stars Joe blue had suspected it was part 1849 01:14:23,579 --> 01:14:28,469 of a Grand Pegasus Enclave experiment 1850 01:14:26,060 --> 01:14:32,400 perhaps she had not been so wrong after 1851 01:14:28,469 --> 01:14:34,409 all maybe I should try hacking it I've 1852 01:14:32,399 --> 01:14:38,399 lured it out wanting to see the secrets 1853 01:14:34,409 --> 01:14:40,289 the terminal held calamities armored 1854 01:14:38,399 --> 01:14:43,920 head looked up and he lifted the armors 1855 01:14:40,289 --> 01:14:45,988 visor he chuckled be my guest 1856 01:14:43,920 --> 01:14:47,250 he said stepping away and welcoming me 1857 01:14:45,988 --> 01:14:49,769 to the terminal with a swing of a 1858 01:14:47,250 --> 01:14:51,409 scorpion-like tail but I don't think 1859 01:14:49,770 --> 01:14:54,180 you'll be able to hack this one 1860 01:14:51,409 --> 01:14:56,849 come on calamity I laughed 1861 01:14:54,180 --> 01:15:00,000 good-naturedly I haven't met a terminal 1862 01:14:56,850 --> 01:15:03,120 yet that I can't hack I buffed myself up 1863 01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:05,670 taking that as a challenge he all I'd 1864 01:15:03,119 --> 01:15:08,729 never met an enclave terminal calamity 1865 01:15:05,670 --> 01:15:11,760 said knowingly I stuck out my tongue as 1866 01:15:08,729 --> 01:15:14,369 I trotted over technologies all the same 1867 01:15:11,760 --> 01:15:16,409 this is me remember the little mayor 1868 01:15:14,369 --> 01:15:16,559 with the pit buck on her flank let me at 1869 01:15:16,409 --> 01:15:19,889 it 1870 01:15:16,560 --> 01:15:22,530 I stopped as I caught sight of the 1871 01:15:19,890 --> 01:15:24,030 terminal interface it was made of a 1872 01:15:22,529 --> 01:15:26,819 strange white substance that I couldn't 1873 01:15:24,029 --> 01:15:28,409 identify I reached out to touch it and 1874 01:15:26,819 --> 01:15:34,039 my hoof went right through it like there 1875 01:15:28,409 --> 01:15:38,569 was nothing there it was made of clouds 1876 01:15:34,039 --> 01:15:41,539 what the fuck Calamity laughed I looked 1877 01:15:38,569 --> 01:15:42,739 around the enclave supply boxes all had 1878 01:15:41,539 --> 01:15:45,050 locks on them that were made of the same 1879 01:15:42,739 --> 01:15:47,960 material either white or a light shade 1880 01:15:45,050 --> 01:15:49,730 of pink I looked to him demanding an 1881 01:15:47,960 --> 01:15:53,020 explanation as the podium I had ranted 1882 01:15:49,729 --> 01:15:55,609 that this was not how things should be 1883 01:15:53,020 --> 01:15:58,070 well what did y'all expect pegasi built 1884 01:15:55,609 --> 01:16:00,250 stuff out of their whole cities up there 1885 01:15:58,069 --> 01:16:02,630 built um was entirely out of clouds I 1886 01:16:00,250 --> 01:16:06,319 could feel him grinning behind that damn 1887 01:16:02,630 --> 01:16:08,029 helmet what did you believe only unicorn 1888 01:16:06,319 --> 01:16:13,130 ponies had any magic of their own 1889 01:16:08,029 --> 01:16:14,869 I stopped frustrated the very idea of 1890 01:16:13,130 --> 01:16:16,190 terminals and locks that I couldn't get 1891 01:16:14,869 --> 01:16:20,500 into just because they were made of 1892 01:16:16,189 --> 01:16:22,909 clouds was just just wrong and unfair 1893 01:16:20,500 --> 01:16:25,130 the words of the goddess floated back to 1894 01:16:22,909 --> 01:16:29,960 me with controls which can only be 1895 01:16:25,130 --> 01:16:31,699 operated by a Pegasus fuck the ministry 1896 01:16:29,960 --> 01:16:34,369 Fossum had built key control systems out 1897 01:16:31,699 --> 01:16:35,869 of fucking clouds anypony other than a 1898 01:16:34,369 --> 01:16:37,189 Pegasus who attempted to operate the 1899 01:16:35,869 --> 01:16:40,340 controls would find themselves clutching 1900 01:16:37,189 --> 01:16:43,429 slightly damp air a thought occurred to 1901 01:16:40,340 --> 01:16:44,779 me is there anyone other than a Pegasus 1902 01:16:43,430 --> 01:16:47,420 who can operate a system with a cloud 1903 01:16:44,779 --> 01:16:50,300 interface nope 1904 01:16:47,420 --> 01:16:54,730 clammy said proudly then swiftly took it 1905 01:16:50,300 --> 01:16:56,680 back the yep Griffin's cane 1906 01:16:54,729 --> 01:16:59,619 so that's a read I was planning to get 1907 01:16:56,680 --> 01:17:01,990 past that obstacle and I knew how he was 1908 01:16:59,619 --> 01:17:06,340 trying to get past the second we were on 1909 01:17:01,989 --> 01:17:08,409 the clock again I sighed tossing up my 1910 01:17:06,340 --> 01:17:09,100 hoofs in exasperation and trotted back 1911 01:17:08,409 --> 01:17:10,539 to the others 1912 01:17:09,100 --> 01:17:13,510 letting calamity work on hacking the 1913 01:17:10,539 --> 01:17:15,760 terminal instead I moved to the edge of 1914 01:17:13,510 --> 01:17:17,079 the building I floated out my binoculars 1915 01:17:15,760 --> 01:17:19,930 and looked across the street at the 1916 01:17:17,079 --> 01:17:21,460 hospital it looked shaken there were 1917 01:17:19,930 --> 01:17:23,950 massive cracks running up the walls and 1918 01:17:21,460 --> 01:17:26,050 one of the corners had collapsed a sign 1919 01:17:23,949 --> 01:17:27,699 a yellow cross with a pink butterfly on 1920 01:17:26,050 --> 01:17:30,100 the center had started to pull free from 1921 01:17:27,699 --> 01:17:31,479 the wall two stories up the upper bolts 1922 01:17:30,100 --> 01:17:33,220 had torn from the wall and the whole 1923 01:17:31,479 --> 01:17:36,250 sign hung precariously over the street 1924 01:17:33,220 --> 01:17:38,320 below most of the windows were shattered 1925 01:17:36,250 --> 01:17:41,949 and the winds of old Olney whipped it 1926 01:17:38,319 --> 01:17:43,689 stained hospital curtains even still it 1927 01:17:41,949 --> 01:17:46,239 was one of the most intact buildings in 1928 01:17:43,689 --> 01:17:47,679 olam a and it was our best hope for the 1929 01:17:46,239 --> 01:17:50,619 medical supplies we needed to fix 1930 01:17:47,680 --> 01:17:53,079 calamities wing I looked across the 1931 01:17:50,619 --> 01:17:54,880 rooftop I could see the earth pony 1932 01:17:53,079 --> 01:17:56,350 flying contraption clearly with its 1933 01:17:54,880 --> 01:17:58,659 candy colored paint job lit up by the 1934 01:17:56,350 --> 01:18:01,690 Setting Sun the name Griffin chaser - 1935 01:17:58,659 --> 01:18:03,609 emblazoned on the side it looked in sore 1936 01:18:01,689 --> 01:18:07,269 disrepair but I trusted calamities 1937 01:18:03,609 --> 01:18:09,609 expertise I looked down the main road of 1938 01:18:07,270 --> 01:18:11,550 old old a a Main Street with a set of 1939 01:18:09,609 --> 01:18:13,869 train tracks running down the center 1940 01:18:11,550 --> 01:18:16,180 hellhounds scampered about moving from 1941 01:18:13,869 --> 01:18:19,488 one building to another impacts hunting 1942 01:18:16,180 --> 01:18:24,409 us and night was falling 1943 01:18:19,488 --> 01:18:26,868 I was staring at the spikes that adorned 1944 01:18:24,408 --> 01:18:30,198 the top of a wrought iron gate they were 1945 01:18:26,868 --> 01:18:32,058 ugly things painful looking I nodded my 1946 01:18:30,198 --> 01:18:33,428 horn towards one of them and the metal 1947 01:18:32,059 --> 01:18:35,420 globe with my beautiful blue magic 1948 01:18:33,429 --> 01:18:38,599 reshaping itself instantly into a 1949 01:18:35,420 --> 01:18:40,998 happily prancing mayor I sent a prayer 1950 01:18:38,599 --> 01:18:44,529 of thanks to Celestia and Luna I was in 1951 01:18:40,998 --> 01:18:47,260 a unicorn mare it felt good and right 1952 01:18:44,529 --> 01:18:49,639 even better I was in sunlight 1953 01:18:47,260 --> 01:18:52,510 perhaps the brightest cleanest sunlight 1954 01:18:49,639 --> 01:18:54,828 yet the air was dusty but clean 1955 01:18:52,510 --> 01:18:58,039 reminding me yet again how odd the air 1956 01:18:54,828 --> 01:18:59,689 of the real world was I turned my eyes 1957 01:18:58,038 --> 01:19:02,389 to the next one and wove my magical 1958 01:18:59,689 --> 01:19:05,058 spell over it this became a prancing 1959 01:19:02,389 --> 01:19:07,550 unicorn stallion I was struck by how 1960 01:19:05,059 --> 01:19:10,730 much a resemble Prince blueblood almost 1961 01:19:07,550 --> 01:19:13,159 a perfect likeness the next light glowed 1962 01:19:10,729 --> 01:19:15,018 and transformed into a unicorn mare head 1963 01:19:13,158 --> 01:19:16,429 bent as she was in mid charge her horn 1964 01:19:15,019 --> 01:19:18,099 aimed dangerously close to Prince 1965 01:19:16,429 --> 01:19:21,139 bluebloods 1966 01:19:18,099 --> 01:19:23,960 behave yourself rarity I heard myself 1967 01:19:21,139 --> 01:19:25,489 whispering rarities lovely voice the 1968 01:19:23,960 --> 01:19:27,408 blue glow of magic surround the two 1969 01:19:25,488 --> 01:19:29,209 figures again and they were transformed 1970 01:19:27,408 --> 01:19:32,420 into two entirely different happy and 1971 01:19:29,210 --> 01:19:35,090 generic pegasi I felt a strange thrill 1972 01:19:32,420 --> 01:19:38,328 as I realized who I was followed by a 1973 01:19:35,090 --> 01:19:41,050 flash of guilt that old spell huh 1974 01:19:38,328 --> 01:19:43,368 came a voice from directly behind me I 1975 01:19:41,050 --> 01:19:45,019 turn the blue Pegasus with the 1976 01:19:43,368 --> 01:19:47,808 shockingly rainbow colored mane moving 1977 01:19:45,019 --> 01:19:50,960 into view it's not polite to sneak up on 1978 01:19:47,809 --> 01:19:53,659 ponies Rainbow Dash I wasn't sneaking 1979 01:19:50,960 --> 01:19:57,099 the Pegasus said defensively I was 1980 01:19:53,658 --> 01:19:59,268 flying it's not my fault flying is quiet 1981 01:19:57,099 --> 01:20:03,019 Rainbow Dash was wearing the purple and 1982 01:19:59,269 --> 01:20:04,460 black uniform I'd seen her in before so 1983 01:20:03,019 --> 01:20:08,360 what if they got you all the way out in 1984 01:20:04,460 --> 01:20:10,219 this dust bin for rarity looked around 1985 01:20:08,359 --> 01:20:12,558 and I was treated to the site of old 1986 01:20:10,219 --> 01:20:15,349 Olay intact and well maintained and 1987 01:20:12,559 --> 01:20:16,550 bustling with ponies I was able to see 1988 01:20:15,349 --> 01:20:18,529 the shops and homes that I had only 1989 01:20:16,550 --> 01:20:21,409 known as ruins 1990 01:20:18,529 --> 01:20:23,509 and yet as glorious as this look into 1991 01:20:21,408 --> 01:20:26,179 the past was I was clearly not seeing 1992 01:20:23,510 --> 01:20:28,400 old only its heyday most of the shops 1993 01:20:26,179 --> 01:20:30,319 were boarded up there was a sense of 1994 01:20:28,399 --> 01:20:32,388 disuse hanging over much of the town and 1995 01:20:30,319 --> 01:20:34,158 the bulk of the ponies were clearly 1996 01:20:32,389 --> 01:20:37,609 either military or associated with the 1997 01:20:34,158 --> 01:20:40,069 Ministry of arcane sciences apparently 1998 01:20:37,609 --> 01:20:42,279 rarity said ruefully they're having 1999 01:20:40,069 --> 01:20:44,658 trouble with the Diamond Dogs again 2000 01:20:42,279 --> 01:20:47,149 Fluttershy has tried to talk to them but 2001 01:20:44,658 --> 01:20:48,679 he didn't work so somepony thought they 2002 01:20:47,149 --> 01:20:52,279 might pay more attention if I were to 2003 01:20:48,679 --> 01:20:58,190 talk to them instead gee Rainbow Dash 2004 01:20:52,279 --> 01:20:59,479 snickered I wonder why why indeed did 2005 01:20:58,189 --> 01:21:00,049 Fluttershy tell him this wasn't their 2006 01:20:59,479 --> 01:21:02,509 home anymore 2007 01:21:00,050 --> 01:21:04,760 Rainbow Dash asked hovering in the air 2008 01:21:02,510 --> 01:21:09,489 in front of me or you know that it's 2009 01:21:04,760 --> 01:21:12,489 dangerous of course she did rarity said 2010 01:21:09,488 --> 01:21:14,229 Fluttershy even tried to compromise oh 2011 01:21:12,488 --> 01:21:17,109 brother 2012 01:21:14,229 --> 01:21:18,968 Rainbow Dash face soft 2013 01:21:17,109 --> 01:21:22,299 but that was when they discover the 2014 01:21:18,969 --> 01:21:25,448 twilights magical my host search for the 2015 01:21:22,300 --> 01:21:28,150 best word byproducts shall we say have 2016 01:21:25,448 --> 01:21:29,738 started eating through the barrels sunny 2017 01:21:28,149 --> 01:21:31,179 lost the pony trying to move them when 2018 01:21:29,738 --> 01:21:32,559 several tore open like they were made of 2019 01:21:31,179 --> 01:21:35,560 nothing but the covering paint 2020 01:21:32,560 --> 01:21:38,170 I watched just look Rainbow Dash up and 2021 01:21:35,560 --> 01:21:41,560 down you know I still can't believe 2022 01:21:38,170 --> 01:21:43,658 you're wearing that hey we're Lunas lead 2023 01:21:41,560 --> 01:21:46,780 aerial force what else really call 2024 01:21:43,658 --> 01:21:50,519 ourselves how about anything other than 2025 01:21:46,779 --> 01:21:52,929 the shadow bolts rarity suggested primly 2026 01:21:50,520 --> 01:21:55,480 way I see it why not play into the 2027 01:21:52,929 --> 01:21:56,739 zebras crazy nightmare moon phobia the 2028 01:21:55,479 --> 01:21:59,439 original shadow bolts were all this 2029 01:21:56,738 --> 01:22:02,649 Nightmare Moon right Rainbow Dash 2030 01:21:59,439 --> 01:22:03,488 grinned conspiratorial e why not use 2031 01:22:02,649 --> 01:22:06,009 that to our advantage 2032 01:22:03,488 --> 01:22:07,448 every zebra sees us coming and flees the 2033 01:22:06,010 --> 01:22:11,050 battlefield as one less zebra will have 2034 01:22:07,448 --> 01:22:12,669 to kill or one that might kill us still 2035 01:22:11,050 --> 01:22:15,510 I can never get used to seeing you like 2036 01:22:12,670 --> 01:22:17,649 that actually 2037 01:22:15,510 --> 01:22:20,230 Rainbow Dash put a hoof behind her head 2038 01:22:17,649 --> 01:22:22,569 brushing her mane I had an idea about 2039 01:22:20,229 --> 01:22:25,149 that do you think your old dress making 2040 01:22:22,569 --> 01:22:28,840 skills are up to working with armor the 2041 01:22:25,149 --> 01:22:32,349 Pegasus ribbed Rainbow Dash you wound me 2042 01:22:28,840 --> 01:22:35,860 oh can we shout from somewhere on my 2043 01:22:32,350 --> 01:22:37,750 hosts left a moment later a dusty pony 2044 01:22:35,859 --> 01:22:39,689 in a military uniform galloped to a stop 2045 01:22:37,750 --> 01:22:44,380 and offered a salute to Rainbow Dash 2046 01:22:39,689 --> 01:22:46,569 rarity stepped back at ease a dashed 2047 01:22:44,380 --> 01:22:47,639 looked at the ponies uniform tank 2048 01:22:46,569 --> 01:22:50,439 commander 2049 01:22:47,639 --> 01:22:52,760 Torchwood ma'am big fan followed your 2050 01:22:50,439 --> 01:22:55,969 career since the Wonderbolts 2051 01:22:52,760 --> 01:22:58,900 Rainbow Dash's face brightened oh really 2052 01:22:55,970 --> 01:23:02,480 did you see with the gallops last year 2053 01:22:58,899 --> 01:23:04,609 my host shook her head I see you're 2054 01:23:02,479 --> 01:23:05,509 going to be busy for a while - I'll 2055 01:23:04,609 --> 01:23:08,029 catch up with you later 2056 01:23:05,510 --> 01:23:10,430 she said graciously even though it was 2057 01:23:08,029 --> 01:23:12,460 the pegasus who had sought her out do 2058 01:23:10,430 --> 01:23:15,560 you think you'll be free by dinner 2059 01:23:12,460 --> 01:23:16,100 Rainbow Dash turned back oh yeah no 2060 01:23:15,560 --> 01:23:18,489 problem 2061 01:23:16,100 --> 01:23:23,329 I just want throw some ideas past you I 2062 01:23:18,488 --> 01:23:24,919 could feel rarity smiling also Rainbow 2063 01:23:23,329 --> 01:23:27,319 Dash added swooping clothes and 2064 01:23:24,920 --> 01:23:28,880 whispering I heard a rumor that you're 2065 01:23:27,319 --> 01:23:31,099 working on a new spell with the Ministry 2066 01:23:28,880 --> 01:23:34,010 of peace something about keeping a pony 2067 01:23:31,100 --> 01:23:36,289 alive and awake indefinitely suspended 2068 01:23:34,010 --> 01:23:39,320 animation yes although that's a very 2069 01:23:36,289 --> 01:23:42,800 poor description of it rarity replied 2070 01:23:39,319 --> 01:23:46,039 nodding and I'm working on it for them 2071 01:23:42,800 --> 01:23:47,510 not with them part of a private line of 2072 01:23:46,039 --> 01:23:49,279 research that has finally borne some 2073 01:23:47,510 --> 01:23:50,380 fruit but it still needs some 2074 01:23:49,279 --> 01:23:53,809 fine-tuning 2075 01:23:50,380 --> 01:23:56,989 - grinned great cuz that sounds like 2076 01:23:53,810 --> 01:24:01,700 just what I've been looking for rarity 2077 01:23:56,988 --> 01:24:05,029 raised an eyebrow dare I ask just part 2078 01:24:01,699 --> 01:24:08,300 of the single Pegasus project I could 2079 01:24:05,029 --> 01:24:09,920 feel rarity frown you mean that thing 2080 01:24:08,300 --> 01:24:12,560 that has you putting those dreadful eye 2081 01:24:09,920 --> 01:24:15,289 sores all over our lovely Equestria she 2082 01:24:12,560 --> 01:24:16,340 snorted older look better when they're 2083 01:24:15,289 --> 01:24:20,420 done I promise 2084 01:24:16,340 --> 01:24:24,020 Apple Bloom says the Li elegant you like 2085 01:24:20,420 --> 01:24:27,050 elegant right indeed I do but I'll wait 2086 01:24:24,020 --> 01:24:30,260 until I've seen them Rainbow Dash's 2087 01:24:27,050 --> 01:24:32,779 muzzle broke into a big grin just wait 2088 01:24:30,260 --> 01:24:33,980 till you see the main hub actually can 2089 01:24:32,779 --> 01:24:35,210 glimpse a construction of it if you 2090 01:24:33,979 --> 01:24:37,219 stand high enough on the roof of the 2091 01:24:35,210 --> 01:24:38,750 hospital just face towards the water 2092 01:24:37,220 --> 01:24:43,730 tower and look about a hundred miles up 2093 01:24:38,750 --> 01:24:47,720 and out Rainbow Dash paused you uh might 2094 01:24:43,729 --> 01:24:49,549 need binoculars or a telescope rarity 2095 01:24:47,720 --> 01:24:52,280 retorted yeah 2096 01:24:49,550 --> 01:24:53,630 yeah anyway it's not named yet they 2097 01:24:52,279 --> 01:24:55,729 wouldn't let me name it what I wanted to 2098 01:24:53,630 --> 01:25:00,079 even though is my dam project and my 2099 01:24:55,729 --> 01:25:01,939 ministry so you wanted to name it the 2100 01:25:00,079 --> 01:25:04,550 Rainbow Dash's mega cool center of 2101 01:25:01,939 --> 01:25:09,199 awesomeness didn't you rarity asked 2102 01:25:04,550 --> 01:25:12,409 ribbing back no no no Rainbow Dash 2103 01:25:09,199 --> 01:25:16,729 hovered indignantly that admitted not 2104 01:25:12,409 --> 01:25:19,849 exactly rarity laugh - charming and 2105 01:25:16,729 --> 01:25:21,968 happy laugh go tend to you a fan - I'll 2106 01:25:19,850 --> 01:25:24,800 meet you later 2107 01:25:21,969 --> 01:25:26,649 Rainbow Dash grinned waved and swooped 2108 01:25:24,800 --> 01:25:29,210 back to tank commander Torchwood in 2109 01:25:26,649 --> 01:25:31,389 seconds they were deep into gushing over 2110 01:25:29,210 --> 01:25:33,560 the aerial acrobatics of Rainbow Dash a 2111 01:25:31,390 --> 01:25:36,650 pegasus who could apparently do a Sonic 2112 01:25:33,560 --> 01:25:40,210 Rainboom in her sleep rarity turned and 2113 01:25:36,649 --> 01:25:40,210 trotted away humming a joyful tune 2114 01:25:42,569 --> 01:25:47,549 what did you do is that it was demanding 2115 01:25:45,880 --> 01:25:51,220 of calamity as I came out of the memory 2116 01:25:47,550 --> 01:25:54,159 the Pegasus cantered nervously I don't 2117 01:25:51,220 --> 01:25:56,199 know it just started doing that my ears 2118 01:25:54,159 --> 01:25:57,670 perked up picking up on a high whine 2119 01:25:56,199 --> 01:26:00,609 coming from the antenna array 2120 01:25:57,670 --> 01:26:03,130 I looked to calamity who was staring at 2121 01:26:00,609 --> 01:26:05,829 the terminal as if it betrayed him with 2122 01:26:03,130 --> 01:26:08,800 a sinking feeling I asked did you 2123 01:26:05,829 --> 01:26:11,890 trigger a lockdown calamity shook his 2124 01:26:08,800 --> 01:26:15,100 head nah I got in just fine weren't that 2125 01:26:11,890 --> 01:26:18,270 hard he looked up at me his eyes wide 2126 01:26:15,100 --> 01:26:20,950 inside the bug like nightmare helmet and 2127 01:26:18,270 --> 01:26:25,260 what is it then what is this place what 2128 01:26:20,949 --> 01:26:27,789 is it he thought calamity swallowed 2129 01:26:25,260 --> 01:26:30,070 it's an enclave experiment all right 2130 01:26:27,789 --> 01:26:32,199 under orders of Harbinger one of the 2131 01:26:30,069 --> 01:26:34,059 enclave High Council they're playing 2132 01:26:32,199 --> 01:26:37,599 with magic lay Sonics hoping to control 2133 01:26:34,060 --> 01:26:38,980 the hellhounds they were trying to make 2134 01:26:37,600 --> 01:26:42,550 these creatures into slaves 2135 01:26:38,979 --> 01:26:44,409 XANA said in a low voice I looked around 2136 01:26:42,550 --> 01:26:47,590 drinking in the sight of the rooftop 2137 01:26:44,409 --> 01:26:49,479 with my new eyes I'm guessing it didn't 2138 01:26:47,590 --> 01:26:51,550 work 2139 01:26:49,479 --> 01:26:53,439 what do you think the chances are that 2140 01:26:51,550 --> 01:26:55,260 we're really lucky and Calamity just 2141 01:26:53,439 --> 01:26:58,029 triggered he leave us alone signal 2142 01:26:55,260 --> 01:26:59,440 velvet remedy quipped grimly trying to 2143 01:26:58,029 --> 01:27:02,349 the roofs edge and looking down to the 2144 01:26:59,439 --> 01:27:04,689 street she immediately backed up eyes 2145 01:27:02,350 --> 01:27:09,210 widened frightened her face going pale 2146 01:27:04,689 --> 01:27:12,669 under her charcoal coat I dared a peek 2147 01:27:09,210 --> 01:27:15,390 Celestia solar-heated libido the street 2148 01:27:12,670 --> 01:27:17,890 was full of hellhounds scores of them 2149 01:27:15,390 --> 01:27:21,000 more moving out of doorways or climbing 2150 01:27:17,890 --> 01:27:24,600 over buildings all moving towards us and 2151 01:27:21,000 --> 01:27:24,600 they looked pissed