1 00:00:00,230 --> 00:00:06,930 darkness everything had gone black even 2 00:00:05,429 --> 00:00:08,240 the junction terminal was completely 3 00:00:06,929 --> 00:00:14,058 dead 4 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:16,048 well fuck okay not entirely unexpected 5 00:00:14,058 --> 00:00:17,519 message left for shadow horn bye 6 00:00:16,048 --> 00:00:19,050 Scootaloo warned that shutting down the 7 00:00:17,519 --> 00:00:21,419 Crusader mainframe would shut off all of 8 00:00:19,050 --> 00:00:23,039 the automated systems and since the 9 00:00:21,420 --> 00:00:24,779 Crusader mainframe ran virtually 10 00:00:23,039 --> 00:00:27,779 everything that meant all the systems 11 00:00:24,778 --> 00:00:30,509 are automated but I had stopped elder 12 00:00:27,778 --> 00:00:32,159 cottage-cheese I just hope that I hadn't 13 00:00:30,510 --> 00:00:35,730 cost the outcasts their based in the 14 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:38,640 process I turned on the lamp of my 15 00:00:35,729 --> 00:00:41,909 pipbuck it's light seems somehow ghostly 16 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:43,980 in the raining quiet checking my pipbuck 17 00:00:41,909 --> 00:00:45,299 automap i was pleased to find that 18 00:00:43,979 --> 00:00:46,769 interfacing with the junction had 19 00:00:45,299 --> 00:00:49,799 revealed the entrance into the crusader 20 00:00:46,770 --> 00:00:52,800 mainframe secured room I pushed myself 21 00:00:49,799 --> 00:00:54,780 up and started towards the entrance with 22 00:00:52,799 --> 00:00:56,279 speed I could get there and reboot the 23 00:00:54,780 --> 00:00:57,870 spell matrix and strawberry lemonade's 24 00:00:56,280 --> 00:01:00,750 power armor before steel hose finished 25 00:00:57,869 --> 00:01:03,179 cutting his way in I felt a niggling 26 00:01:00,750 --> 00:01:05,069 sense of panic if I just broke the 27 00:01:03,179 --> 00:01:06,590 stable I was going to be in so much 28 00:01:05,069 --> 00:01:09,048 trouble 29 00:01:06,590 --> 00:01:12,510 the quiet didn't last very long 30 00:01:09,049 --> 00:01:14,460 shouts echo down the hallways as I 31 00:01:12,510 --> 00:01:15,930 trotted into the atrium I passed the two 32 00:01:14,459 --> 00:01:18,239 knights I'd overheard talking earlier 33 00:01:15,930 --> 00:01:19,799 they were galloping towards the security 34 00:01:18,239 --> 00:01:21,899 station the spotlights on their helmets 35 00:01:19,799 --> 00:01:23,310 cutting swaths of illumination one of 36 00:01:21,900 --> 00:01:26,280 them still pulling a trash bin behind 37 00:01:23,310 --> 00:01:28,049 her emergency lights came on throughout 38 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:32,340 the stable bathing the halls with pale 39 00:01:28,049 --> 00:01:36,140 orange I exhaled in relief Thank You 40 00:01:32,340 --> 00:01:36,140 Abba bloom for thinking of everything 41 00:01:36,590 --> 00:01:42,200 hello residents of staple 29 the 42 00:01:40,700 --> 00:01:44,019 sweet-sounding mayor's voice called out 43 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:47,600 over the stable loudspeakers 44 00:01:44,019 --> 00:01:49,250 my name is Sweetie Belle and I am was 45 00:01:47,599 --> 00:01:52,759 one of the founding ponies a stable tech 46 00:01:49,250 --> 00:01:57,618 I cast a look at one of the speakers as 47 00:01:52,759 --> 00:01:59,060 I passed by what was this if you're 48 00:01:57,618 --> 00:02:00,500 hearing this it means that the Crusader 49 00:01:59,060 --> 00:02:02,060 mainframe that has been running stable 50 00:02:00,500 --> 00:02:03,769 29 since it was sealed was shut down 51 00:02:02,060 --> 00:02:06,799 moments ago because it posed a threat to 52 00:02:03,769 --> 00:02:09,049 the ponies under its care Sweetie 53 00:02:06,799 --> 00:02:10,900 Belle's voice was calming I slowed to a 54 00:02:09,049 --> 00:02:13,129 walk 55 00:02:10,900 --> 00:02:14,599 emergency subsystems have been activated 56 00:02:13,129 --> 00:02:17,239 to take care of vital life-sustaining 57 00:02:14,599 --> 00:02:19,689 and security-related systems the voice 58 00:02:17,239 --> 00:02:21,620 of Sweetie Belle informed us 59 00:02:19,689 --> 00:02:23,209 unfortunately these subsystems have a 60 00:02:21,620 --> 00:02:27,560 limited lifespan that will only function 61 00:02:23,209 --> 00:02:29,330 for five years for ponies trapped in a 62 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:31,009 stable beneath an irradiated hellscape 63 00:02:29,330 --> 00:02:34,310 five years would have been a major 64 00:02:31,009 --> 00:02:37,548 problem for us it was virtually a gift 65 00:02:34,310 --> 00:02:38,930 from heaven I'm afraid you'll have to 66 00:02:37,549 --> 00:02:42,109 figure out what to do from here on out 67 00:02:38,930 --> 00:02:43,670 on your own but don't panic you're good 68 00:02:42,109 --> 00:02:45,260 ponies and you can do more than you 69 00:02:43,669 --> 00:02:47,379 think if you just put your mind to it I 70 00:02:45,259 --> 00:02:51,250 know you'll do just fine 71 00:02:47,379 --> 00:02:51,250 good luck my little ponies 72 00:02:53,340 --> 00:02:56,789 I rounded the corner into the 73 00:02:54,930 --> 00:02:58,469 maintenance way only to see machine gun 74 00:02:56,789 --> 00:03:00,719 turret lowering out of a sliding ceiling 75 00:02:58,469 --> 00:03:03,810 panel silhouetted hellishly by an orange 76 00:03:00,719 --> 00:03:06,810 virgin seal a behind it I slid to a stop 77 00:03:03,810 --> 00:03:08,370 eyeing the turret clammy had shut down 78 00:03:06,810 --> 00:03:08,939 all the security systems the last time 79 00:03:08,370 --> 00:03:10,799 we were here 80 00:03:08,939 --> 00:03:14,098 but the subsystems must have brought 81 00:03:10,799 --> 00:03:15,510 them back online still without the 82 00:03:14,098 --> 00:03:17,128 Crusader trying to wipe out the stables 83 00:03:15,509 --> 00:03:21,989 population they shouldn't be hostile 84 00:03:17,128 --> 00:03:25,769 right the turret clicked beeped and spun 85 00:03:21,989 --> 00:03:27,360 towards me a barrage of bullets answered 86 00:03:25,769 --> 00:03:27,870 the question as I drove back around the 87 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:30,079 corner 88 00:03:27,870 --> 00:03:35,099 the bullets sparking off of the walls 89 00:03:30,079 --> 00:03:37,319 what the fuck a new automated voice came 90 00:03:35,098 --> 00:03:40,979 over the speakers this time an anonymous 91 00:03:37,318 --> 00:03:43,560 mayor Crusader mainframe emergency 92 00:03:40,979 --> 00:03:45,000 shutdown successful security subsystems 93 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:48,360 attempting to discern the nature of the 94 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:50,959 emergency and provide assistance I heard 95 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:54,360 more gunfire from deeper in the stable 96 00:03:50,959 --> 00:03:57,449 analysis dead water talisman Celestia 97 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:58,769 tier emergency contacting nearest stable 98 00:03:57,449 --> 00:04:01,349 tech supply house for delivery of 99 00:03:58,769 --> 00:04:03,930 replacement talisman contact failed 100 00:04:01,349 --> 00:04:06,090 supply house not responding or no longer 101 00:04:03,930 --> 00:04:08,489 exists attempting to connect his 102 00:04:06,090 --> 00:04:11,450 secondary supply house contact failed 103 00:04:08,489 --> 00:04:13,680 secondary supply house unreachable I 104 00:04:11,449 --> 00:04:18,418 floated out little Macintosh and check 105 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:20,848 the load analysis hostile takeover Luna 106 00:04:18,418 --> 00:04:22,949 tier emergency anti-intruder measures 107 00:04:20,848 --> 00:04:24,418 have been engaged all residents of the 108 00:04:22,949 --> 00:04:27,539 stable should retreat to one of the safe 109 00:04:24,418 --> 00:04:29,699 rooms until the threat has passed 110 00:04:27,540 --> 00:04:32,250 I slid in the SATs as I jumped back into 111 00:04:29,699 --> 00:04:34,110 the Hall my targeting spell locked on to 112 00:04:32,250 --> 00:04:36,689 the turret and I fired four shots into 113 00:04:34,110 --> 00:04:40,110 its Hall the turret exploded in shower 114 00:04:36,689 --> 00:04:41,459 of sparks with a third hit I broke into 115 00:04:40,110 --> 00:04:44,639 a gallop sure that the crusader 116 00:04:41,459 --> 00:04:45,750 mainframe was in a safe room I wanted to 117 00:04:44,639 --> 00:04:47,279 get in there and get strawberry 118 00:04:45,750 --> 00:04:48,379 lemon-aid back on her hooves before the 119 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:50,219 room sealed off 120 00:04:48,379 --> 00:04:51,420 fortunately the secret entrance that 121 00:04:50,220 --> 00:04:55,110 connage had used was on the maintenance 122 00:04:51,420 --> 00:04:56,520 level just around the next i skidded to 123 00:04:55,110 --> 00:04:58,790 a halt as I turned the corner and found 124 00:04:56,519 --> 00:05:00,990 myself staring at two more sentry guns I 125 00:04:58,790 --> 00:05:03,260 scrambled back the way I came as bullets 126 00:05:00,990 --> 00:05:05,310 tore into the air behind me 127 00:05:03,259 --> 00:05:07,889 identifying resident locations via 128 00:05:05,310 --> 00:05:10,920 pipbuck tags number of stable 29 129 00:05:07,889 --> 00:05:14,129 residents zero the voice said 130 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:15,689 dispassionately number of stable 29 131 00:05:14,129 --> 00:05:21,860 residents still outside of safe rooms 132 00:05:15,689 --> 00:05:23,850 zero safe rooms ceiling now crap I 133 00:05:21,860 --> 00:05:26,759 didn't have time to reload little 134 00:05:23,850 --> 00:05:29,490 McIntosh instead I drew out both the 135 00:05:26,759 --> 00:05:30,870 zebra rifle and the sniper rifle I hoped 136 00:05:29,490 --> 00:05:32,430 my skills and marksmanship had improved 137 00:05:30,870 --> 00:05:33,590 enough to target multiple stationary 138 00:05:32,430 --> 00:05:36,090 targets on my own 139 00:05:33,589 --> 00:05:38,099 SATs was not designed to aid with multi 140 00:05:36,089 --> 00:05:40,799 weapon telekinesis especially with such 141 00:05:38,100 --> 00:05:43,350 different weapons I spun around the 142 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:44,759 corner aiming as swiftly as I could the 143 00:05:43,350 --> 00:05:45,330 hall filled with bullets flying in each 144 00:05:44,759 --> 00:05:48,089 direction 145 00:05:45,329 --> 00:05:51,149 I felt the impacts of several shots hit 146 00:05:48,089 --> 00:05:53,159 my armor but did not penetrate I felt a 147 00:05:51,149 --> 00:05:54,659 burning graze on my left cheek and a 148 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:58,020 much more serious pain as a bullet 149 00:05:54,660 --> 00:06:00,360 punctured my right hind leg the sniper 150 00:05:58,019 --> 00:06:02,939 rifle fired twice punching holes through 151 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:04,680 the hull plating of the first turret the 152 00:06:02,939 --> 00:06:07,110 zebra rifle tore the second one is it 153 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:09,000 set the turret on fire the turret 154 00:06:07,110 --> 00:06:12,540 exploded taking its wounded twin out 155 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:16,170 with it i wobble dit pain Lansing up my 156 00:06:12,540 --> 00:06:18,180 hind leg I wasn't gonna make it now not 157 00:06:16,170 --> 00:06:21,340 one I couldn't run 158 00:06:18,180 --> 00:06:23,110 safe rooms sealed the mayor's voice 159 00:06:21,339 --> 00:06:25,418 announced informing me that it wouldn't 160 00:06:23,110 --> 00:06:28,750 have mattered anyway there had never 161 00:06:25,418 --> 00:06:30,149 been enough time deploying neurotoxin 162 00:06:28,750 --> 00:06:33,939 gas 163 00:06:30,149 --> 00:06:36,069 wait what 164 00:06:33,939 --> 00:06:37,569 I remembered night strawberry lemon-aid 165 00:06:36,069 --> 00:06:39,759 calling for me to take out cottage by 166 00:06:37,569 --> 00:06:43,089 gassing the room but I didn't realize 167 00:06:39,759 --> 00:06:44,740 that was actually possible but stables 168 00:06:43,089 --> 00:06:47,289 tend to be dangerous Stern had warned us 169 00:06:44,740 --> 00:06:49,150 in Philadelphia they often have their 170 00:06:47,290 --> 00:06:53,290 own security or their own unique dangers 171 00:06:49,149 --> 00:06:56,439 I turned frantically looking around I 172 00:06:53,290 --> 00:06:58,480 needed to get out of the hall but where 173 00:06:56,439 --> 00:07:01,360 can I go that would be safe the safe 174 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:06,100 rooms were already sealed I suddenly 175 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:07,569 felt very tired having no better choice 176 00:07:06,100 --> 00:07:09,670 I started hobbling back down the 177 00:07:07,569 --> 00:07:12,040 maintenance wing I wanted to get to the 178 00:07:09,670 --> 00:07:15,009 pipbuck technician stall there was no 179 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:16,620 logic behind the choice they just felt 180 00:07:15,009 --> 00:07:18,670 like the best place for me to be I 181 00:07:16,620 --> 00:07:24,970 probably wasn't thinking straight at the 182 00:07:18,670 --> 00:07:28,120 time I felt so tired tired and heavy 183 00:07:24,970 --> 00:07:31,630 I wondered what kind of gas was going to 184 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:33,759 be released well I hear it would I be 185 00:07:31,629 --> 00:07:37,659 able to smell it would it burn my eyes 186 00:07:33,759 --> 00:07:40,629 and lungs so far there was nothing not 187 00:07:37,660 --> 00:07:43,720 even a haziness to the air a flutter of 188 00:07:40,629 --> 00:07:45,459 hope moved in my heart maybe after 200 189 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:49,570 years the intruder countermeasures no 190 00:07:45,459 --> 00:07:51,189 longer worked maybe there was no gas the 191 00:07:49,569 --> 00:07:56,469 idea made me feel better but also a 192 00:07:51,189 --> 00:08:01,120 little dizzy dizzy and tired and heavy 193 00:07:56,470 --> 00:08:03,910 Oh No and then I was falling back into 194 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:06,689 the darkness again I didn't even feel my 195 00:08:03,910 --> 00:08:06,689 body hit the floor 196 00:08:08,579 --> 00:08:12,899 I woke up in the stable twenty nine 197 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:15,918 clinic not my favorite room in the 198 00:08:12,899 --> 00:08:19,288 stable and particularly not on this one 199 00:08:15,918 --> 00:08:22,139 welcome back little pip steelo's deep 200 00:08:19,288 --> 00:08:25,978 voice rumbled we're situated to leave 201 00:08:22,139 --> 00:08:28,860 for Buckland cross whenever you are my 202 00:08:25,978 --> 00:08:34,078 mouth felt dry in cottony my voice rasp 203 00:08:28,860 --> 00:08:35,550 as I asked why my dead I could feel a 204 00:08:34,078 --> 00:08:37,559 throbbing pain in my right hind leg 205 00:08:35,549 --> 00:08:41,639 beneath the compressive rap of healing 206 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:46,018 bandages that toxin was designed to 207 00:08:41,639 --> 00:08:47,789 incapacitate not kill the voice was 208 00:08:46,019 --> 00:08:50,899 velvet remedies but I barely recognized 209 00:08:47,789 --> 00:08:53,399 it she sounded to the bat as I did 210 00:08:50,899 --> 00:08:54,899 either stable tech didn't want to trust 211 00:08:53,399 --> 00:08:55,980 the threat analysis of their subsystem 212 00:08:54,899 --> 00:08:58,528 was something that could wipe out the 213 00:08:55,980 --> 00:09:02,190 stable or they expected the inhabitants 214 00:08:58,528 --> 00:09:03,689 to want prisoners she sounded like she 215 00:09:02,190 --> 00:09:07,200 was quickly reaching the same level of 216 00:09:03,690 --> 00:09:12,019 dislike for stables that I had I can't 217 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:14,879 believe they gassed the clinic well I 218 00:09:12,019 --> 00:09:16,409 grunted unsurprised at velvet remedies 219 00:09:14,879 --> 00:09:18,360 response to the power shutdown had been 220 00:09:16,409 --> 00:09:20,539 to push her way to the clinic the place 221 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:24,060 where ponies would come to for help 222 00:09:20,539 --> 00:09:25,409 maybe they'd gas the atrium after all 223 00:09:24,059 --> 00:09:29,250 there is a big hole where the window 224 00:09:25,409 --> 00:09:31,679 used to be I pushed myself upright a 225 00:09:29,250 --> 00:09:32,909 nauseating wave of dizziness nearly 226 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:39,269 knocked me off the gurney I had been 227 00:09:32,909 --> 00:09:41,110 laying on ah I looked develop remedy he 228 00:09:39,269 --> 00:09:43,850 okay 229 00:09:41,110 --> 00:09:47,240 well I won't be singing again for a few 230 00:09:43,850 --> 00:09:48,769 days though what's our dourly she looked 231 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:52,820 a little Haggard but thankfully 232 00:09:48,769 --> 00:09:56,379 uninjured but otherwise fine yes 233 00:09:52,820 --> 00:10:02,330 everypony else is fine too she added and 234 00:09:56,379 --> 00:10:04,850 zebra and the Rangers environmentally 235 00:10:02,330 --> 00:10:06,770 sealed armor with rebreathers steel said 236 00:10:04,850 --> 00:10:10,670 something just a touch proud of Apple 237 00:10:06,769 --> 00:10:15,009 Jacks technology yes never got us well 238 00:10:10,669 --> 00:10:20,299 those of us in our suit studies cross I 239 00:10:15,009 --> 00:10:22,669 asked my throat hurting strawberry both 240 00:10:20,299 --> 00:10:24,620 fine they were in stable safe rooms i 241 00:10:22,669 --> 00:10:29,509 rebooted night strawberry lemon-aid 242 00:10:24,620 --> 00:10:31,940 armor myself I nodded made sense 243 00:10:29,509 --> 00:10:34,879 security would qualify or at least the 244 00:10:31,940 --> 00:10:36,110 armory and star power and crossroads 245 00:10:34,879 --> 00:10:38,659 would have had plenty of time to step 246 00:10:36,110 --> 00:10:40,550 into a before it sealed from the tone of 247 00:10:38,659 --> 00:10:41,959 Steel's voice I guess that strawberry 248 00:10:40,549 --> 00:10:44,269 lemon-aid had shown more thanks and he 249 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:49,720 was comfortable with I wished I could 250 00:10:44,269 --> 00:10:52,960 have seen it was anypony shot 251 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:56,610 well you were velvet REM near ASP 252 00:10:52,960 --> 00:11:00,129 snarkily then with a more somber tone 253 00:10:56,610 --> 00:11:01,840 yes a few others mercifully no 254 00:11:00,129 --> 00:11:03,250 fatalities but there are some ponies 255 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:06,430 here who won't be walking around again 256 00:11:03,250 --> 00:11:10,090 for a few weeks in one case I'm afraid 257 00:11:06,429 --> 00:11:11,620 the damage was permanent the weight of 258 00:11:10,090 --> 00:11:14,080 the damage I had caused pushed me back 259 00:11:11,620 --> 00:11:15,909 down onto the gurney I stared at the 260 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:17,590 ceiling wondering how many ponies have 261 00:11:15,909 --> 00:11:22,149 been hurt and how long they would be in 262 00:11:17,590 --> 00:11:23,620 pain good work with garage steelo's told 263 00:11:22,149 --> 00:11:27,250 me although I certainly didn't feel like 264 00:11:23,620 --> 00:11:30,549 I deserved any congratulations the elder 265 00:11:27,250 --> 00:11:33,159 is alive but comatose his fault not 266 00:11:30,549 --> 00:11:36,089 yours we have him in his life-support 267 00:11:33,159 --> 00:11:39,279 pod ready for delivery 268 00:11:36,090 --> 00:11:40,720 comatose I whispered as a dull pain 269 00:11:39,279 --> 00:11:45,490 settled over me that had nothing to do 270 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:49,509 with my injuries will he ever probably 271 00:11:45,490 --> 00:11:52,980 not Steel's replied bluntly he made that 272 00:11:49,509 --> 00:11:52,980 sound like a good thing 273 00:11:55,149 --> 00:12:01,179 I I'm sorry 274 00:11:58,179 --> 00:12:02,500 a lump caught in my throat as I stared 275 00:12:01,179 --> 00:12:05,139 up to the night's Diane laying on a 276 00:12:02,500 --> 00:12:06,549 gurney he'd been shot up pretty badly by 277 00:12:05,139 --> 00:12:09,610 one of the suddenly active turrets in 278 00:12:06,549 --> 00:12:11,799 the men's dormitory he hadn't been in 279 00:12:09,610 --> 00:12:14,379 his armor he'd been off shift and had 280 00:12:11,799 --> 00:12:16,539 curled out to sleep only to wake up his 281 00:12:14,379 --> 00:12:18,159 bullets tore into his back screaming his 282 00:12:16,539 --> 00:12:21,219 pain his two of his fellow Rangers left 283 00:12:18,159 --> 00:12:23,620 to destroy the turret I imagined myself 284 00:12:21,220 --> 00:12:27,460 in his place and I wondered if he'd 285 00:12:23,620 --> 00:12:31,000 never be able to sleep easily again for 286 00:12:27,460 --> 00:12:32,410 what the stallion asked bitterly hey 287 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:37,289 ain't your fault 288 00:12:32,409 --> 00:12:39,490 I blame cottage if anypony ididn't 289 00:12:37,289 --> 00:12:43,209 blinking back a tear I put a hoof on his 290 00:12:39,490 --> 00:12:49,539 shoulder is there anything I can do for 291 00:12:43,210 --> 00:12:51,670 you no no I think you've done enough he 292 00:12:49,539 --> 00:12:56,069 retorted then looked apologetic as I 293 00:12:51,669 --> 00:12:57,969 winced I nodded and turned to go 294 00:12:56,070 --> 00:12:59,050 calamity and Zenith were trotting down 295 00:12:57,970 --> 00:13:01,600 the hallway towards me 296 00:12:59,049 --> 00:13:04,569 I stopped in shock as I saw his Anna's 297 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:06,269 horn for a moment I thought the zebra 298 00:13:04,570 --> 00:13:10,270 had been transformed into a unicorn 299 00:13:06,269 --> 00:13:11,559 badly but I quickly saw the straps 300 00:13:10,269 --> 00:13:13,929 holding the metal plate to her forehead 301 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:18,279 the curving wicked horn jutting out of 302 00:13:13,929 --> 00:13:19,689 it I chuckled despite my melancholy so 303 00:13:18,279 --> 00:13:22,209 you finally got a chance to build that 304 00:13:19,690 --> 00:13:23,860 hellhound helmet I see I said to 305 00:13:22,210 --> 00:13:26,400 calamity as the rust coated pegasus paws 306 00:13:23,860 --> 00:13:28,389 to tip open a trash bin with a wing I 307 00:13:26,399 --> 00:13:29,500 recognized now the product of the 308 00:13:28,389 --> 00:13:31,590 schematics we discovered at the 309 00:13:29,500 --> 00:13:33,759 hippocampus energy plant number 12 310 00:13:31,590 --> 00:13:35,230 several hellhound claws were wonder 311 00:13:33,759 --> 00:13:37,990 glued together to form an exceptionally 312 00:13:35,230 --> 00:13:40,120 lethal horn yep 313 00:13:37,990 --> 00:13:42,180 clam Lee said proudly as he fished up an 314 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:45,778 old pack of cigarettes out of the trash 315 00:13:42,179 --> 00:13:48,519 zennith looked mildly less thrilled 316 00:13:45,778 --> 00:13:51,399 using such a weapon is not proper fallen 317 00:13:48,519 --> 00:13:54,429 kaiser style she commented her exotic 318 00:13:51,399 --> 00:13:56,230 voice take me on a dour tone but the 319 00:13:54,429 --> 00:13:59,099 pegasus is argued well that hooves alone 320 00:13:56,230 --> 00:14:04,089 are no match for an alicorn shield i 321 00:13:59,100 --> 00:14:07,500 blinked are we expecting more trouble 322 00:14:04,089 --> 00:14:09,550 from the alicorns i asked hesitantly I 323 00:14:07,500 --> 00:14:11,379 seemed to remember a warning about 324 00:14:09,549 --> 00:14:14,019 alicorns in the Canterlot ruins 325 00:14:11,379 --> 00:14:17,519 I thought we'd run a mission from the 326 00:14:14,019 --> 00:14:19,509 goddess surely they'd let us pass 327 00:14:17,519 --> 00:14:21,759 slipping the cigarette packs into a 328 00:14:19,509 --> 00:14:25,809 saddlebags calamity frown with a look of 329 00:14:21,759 --> 00:14:28,860 grim discomfort well let's just say we 330 00:14:25,809 --> 00:14:28,859 ain't taking any chances 331 00:14:30,100 --> 00:14:33,399 the storm from the night before had 332 00:14:31,690 --> 00:14:34,900 given way to a light drizzle as calamity 333 00:14:33,399 --> 00:14:36,639 wove this guy bandit between the dark 334 00:14:34,899 --> 00:14:39,370 skeletal husks that had once been Mane 335 00:14:36,639 --> 00:14:40,840 hat and skyscrapers we were headed to 336 00:14:39,370 --> 00:14:44,110 buckling cross in a part of the city 337 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:45,790 that I had not seen yet velvet remedy 338 00:14:44,110 --> 00:14:47,289 stirred coming out of the Fluttershy orb 339 00:14:45,789 --> 00:14:50,139 for what was the second time since we 340 00:14:47,289 --> 00:14:51,879 left stable 29 this morning I looked 341 00:14:50,139 --> 00:14:54,730 away not meeting the gaze coming from 342 00:14:51,879 --> 00:14:58,179 steal hopes helmet everypony deserved 343 00:14:54,730 --> 00:15:01,060 their own little retreats there's 344 00:14:58,179 --> 00:15:03,189 something I just don't understand fella 345 00:15:01,059 --> 00:15:05,949 tremon admitted looking to me she put 346 00:15:03,190 --> 00:15:07,570 the memory orb away her voice was still 347 00:15:05,950 --> 00:15:10,840 raspy but not as bad as it was a few 348 00:15:07,570 --> 00:15:13,720 hours ago I wasn't in the mood for 349 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:15,220 conversation at my insistence I had been 350 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:16,690 led around to all the outcast who had 351 00:15:15,220 --> 00:15:17,200 been hurt when the security systems 352 00:15:16,690 --> 00:15:21,250 activated 353 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:23,020 I apologized each one most were polite 354 00:15:21,250 --> 00:15:24,370 some even thanked me for dealing with 355 00:15:23,019 --> 00:15:26,110 cottage and possibly revealing two 356 00:15:24,370 --> 00:15:28,570 locations for backup water talismans to 357 00:15:26,110 --> 00:15:34,419 boot only one of them snapped at me over 358 00:15:28,570 --> 00:15:35,770 it more should have little PIP you said 359 00:15:34,419 --> 00:15:37,990 that redeye talked about controlling the 360 00:15:35,769 --> 00:15:39,490 Sun the moon and the weather but not 361 00:15:37,990 --> 00:15:40,690 even the goddess Celestia was able to 362 00:15:39,490 --> 00:15:41,440 control the weather across all of 363 00:15:40,690 --> 00:15:43,660 Equestria 364 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:44,980 does he really expect that mimicking 365 00:15:43,659 --> 00:15:48,819 what Trixie has become will make him 366 00:15:44,980 --> 00:15:52,210 more powerful and Celestia I shrugged 367 00:15:48,820 --> 00:15:54,450 not feeling like speaking and honestly I 368 00:15:52,210 --> 00:15:57,160 really had no idea 369 00:15:54,450 --> 00:15:59,590 double remedy shook her head 370 00:15:57,159 --> 00:16:01,899 for that matter why focus on the Sun and 371 00:15:59,590 --> 00:16:03,340 the moon ether Celestia and Luna out 372 00:16:01,899 --> 00:16:06,100 there somewhere guiding them like they 373 00:16:03,340 --> 00:16:08,019 always have velvet glanced towards 374 00:16:06,100 --> 00:16:09,129 calamity rise meeting with his as he 375 00:16:08,019 --> 00:16:13,059 looked back over his shoulder at the 376 00:16:09,129 --> 00:16:15,129 conversation or calamity is right the 377 00:16:13,059 --> 00:16:16,359 goddesses are simply dead and the Sun in 378 00:16:15,129 --> 00:16:19,840 the moon are just doing fine on their 379 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:22,680 own which would mean the Odysseys were 380 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:25,180 never really needed in the first place 381 00:16:22,679 --> 00:16:28,989 sure being their guide would be a status 382 00:16:25,179 --> 00:16:31,409 symbol velvet said but redeye seems 383 00:16:28,990 --> 00:16:33,580 practical why turn himself into 384 00:16:31,409 --> 00:16:35,909 something like her to do something that 385 00:16:33,580 --> 00:16:37,960 doesn't need to be done 386 00:16:35,909 --> 00:16:39,399 calamity veered away from the black and 387 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:41,769 hot skillet building as dozens of 388 00:16:39,399 --> 00:16:43,449 pigeons burst out I slipped off my 389 00:16:41,769 --> 00:16:45,250 benches the passenger wagon tilted 390 00:16:43,450 --> 00:16:48,460 thumping my right hind leg hard enough 391 00:16:45,250 --> 00:16:50,559 to bring tears to my eyes higher light 392 00:16:48,460 --> 00:16:52,000 let from Velvets side swarm out of one 393 00:16:50,559 --> 00:16:54,699 of the windows into the open air and 394 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:56,700 giving chase blinking 395 00:16:54,700 --> 00:16:59,020 I considered crawling back to the bench 396 00:16:56,700 --> 00:17:02,259 the bench was far more comfortable but 397 00:16:59,019 --> 00:17:05,859 laying on a risk another spill I decided 398 00:17:02,259 --> 00:17:06,430 to just stay on the floor is it not 399 00:17:05,859 --> 00:17:08,879 obvious 400 00:17:06,430 --> 00:17:11,600 zennith said 401 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:14,220 he wishes to be worshipped like a God 402 00:17:11,599 --> 00:17:17,788 how better to become one that to take on 403 00:17:14,220 --> 00:17:22,470 the role of your goddesses I shook my 404 00:17:17,788 --> 00:17:23,939 head no I don't think that's it read I 405 00:17:22,470 --> 00:17:26,429 had talked as if he was removing himself 406 00:17:23,939 --> 00:17:30,090 from the equation like doing this was 407 00:17:26,429 --> 00:17:33,750 akin to dying he was many things but not 408 00:17:30,089 --> 00:17:36,329 a megalomaniac he Allah making an 409 00:17:33,750 --> 00:17:39,240 assumption that just ain't so calamity 410 00:17:36,329 --> 00:17:43,589 called back we all turned towards him 411 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:44,759 and what would that assumption be velvet 412 00:17:43,589 --> 00:17:46,349 asked in a voice that would have been a 413 00:17:44,759 --> 00:17:49,798 purr if not for the after-effects of the 414 00:17:46,349 --> 00:17:51,480 gasps y'all talked like the Sun and the 415 00:17:49,798 --> 00:17:53,908 moon are doing what they're supposed to 416 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:55,470 calamity replied swooping beneath the 417 00:17:53,909 --> 00:17:57,799 crumbling and dangerously canted walk 418 00:17:55,470 --> 00:17:59,700 wit stretched between two tilting towers 419 00:17:57,798 --> 00:18:02,490 several blood wings are resting 420 00:17:59,700 --> 00:18:04,080 underneath way I heard it 421 00:18:02,490 --> 00:18:05,819 Celestia raised up the Sun at the 422 00:18:04,079 --> 00:18:06,240 beginning of the day then lowered at 423 00:18:05,819 --> 00:18:08,428 night 424 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:10,589 Luna bring out the moon and then put it 425 00:18:08,429 --> 00:18:14,630 weigh it down that was supposed to be 426 00:18:10,589 --> 00:18:18,389 the older things right well yes 427 00:18:14,630 --> 00:18:20,640 velvet Remini replied of course but 428 00:18:18,390 --> 00:18:23,280 clearly that's still happening it was 429 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:27,169 night before and it's day now and will 430 00:18:23,279 --> 00:18:29,700 be night again just like clockwork 431 00:18:27,169 --> 00:18:32,100 always happening but it ain't nothing 432 00:18:29,700 --> 00:18:33,779 like clockwork I can't tell you how many 433 00:18:32,099 --> 00:18:35,369 times when I was grown up that I saw the 434 00:18:33,779 --> 00:18:39,720 Sun in the moon in the sky at the same 435 00:18:35,369 --> 00:18:43,769 time velvet and Zenta the gasped I 436 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:46,740 reeled the very notion was like 437 00:18:43,769 --> 00:18:49,440 something out of a doomsday prophecy the 438 00:18:46,740 --> 00:18:54,230 Sun in the moon never shared the sky it 439 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:54,230 was unnatural blasphemous 440 00:18:54,509 --> 00:18:58,329 usually was in the morning like they 441 00:18:57,069 --> 00:19:00,639 couldn't decide what was supposed to be 442 00:18:58,329 --> 00:19:04,299 out right then they've gone wild I 443 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:05,830 reckon just like the weather calamity 444 00:19:04,299 --> 00:19:07,809 began a graceful turn that tilted the 445 00:19:05,829 --> 00:19:09,519 sky bandit giving us all of you the 446 00:19:07,809 --> 00:19:12,220 slate blue expanse of the ocean beyond 447 00:19:09,519 --> 00:19:13,420 main Hatton's Harbor I could see a few 448 00:19:12,220 --> 00:19:14,890 lights shining from the pony of 449 00:19:13,420 --> 00:19:17,740 friendship on her little island out on 450 00:19:14,890 --> 00:19:19,570 the bay the storm clouds darken as they 451 00:19:17,740 --> 00:19:21,220 stretched out across the sea and the 452 00:19:19,569 --> 00:19:25,569 horizon was obscured by the heavy gray 453 00:19:21,220 --> 00:19:27,220 of rain don't happen that often 454 00:19:25,569 --> 00:19:29,019 but happen is enough that no Pegasus 455 00:19:27,220 --> 00:19:30,000 ever forgets there ain't no Pony guiding 456 00:19:29,019 --> 00:19:33,759 him anymore 457 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:36,640 Clemmy snorted and it ain't always in 458 00:19:33,759 --> 00:19:39,220 the morning once middle of the day about 459 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:40,690 a generation after the war the Sun and 460 00:19:39,220 --> 00:19:42,900 the moon weren't only both in the sky at 461 00:19:40,690 --> 00:19:46,620 the same time they were in the same spot 462 00:19:42,900 --> 00:19:49,900 it was like that collided or something I 463 00:19:46,619 --> 00:19:52,629 was in shock horrified by what calamity 464 00:19:49,900 --> 00:19:54,880 was describing the pony in my head tried 465 00:19:52,630 --> 00:19:56,620 to come up with some sort of epitaph but 466 00:19:54,880 --> 00:20:00,220 no lewd reference the goddesses could 467 00:19:56,619 --> 00:20:03,000 match the profanity of that event now I 468 00:20:00,220 --> 00:20:06,430 wasn't there of course calamity told us 469 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:08,559 but I've seen pictures son turned into a 470 00:20:06,430 --> 00:20:11,019 big black disc pulling out reddish light 471 00:20:08,559 --> 00:20:13,299 like it was the end of the world plenty 472 00:20:11,019 --> 00:20:16,359 of Pegasus folks thought it was there 473 00:20:13,299 --> 00:20:19,059 was riding ponies got killed Enclave 474 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:22,079 stepped in restore the peace I think 475 00:20:19,059 --> 00:20:22,079 that was when they really took control 476 00:20:23,548 --> 00:20:28,950 it was late evening when I finally laid 477 00:20:25,919 --> 00:20:30,778 eyes on Buckland cross the skyscrapers 478 00:20:28,950 --> 00:20:32,460 had fallen behind us in the main Hatton 479 00:20:30,778 --> 00:20:33,509 ruins become a gray maze of crumbling 480 00:20:32,460 --> 00:20:35,340 structures and flattened buildings 481 00:20:33,509 --> 00:20:37,950 radiating out from the main Hatton blast 482 00:20:35,339 --> 00:20:41,220 zone we could clearly see where the 483 00:20:37,950 --> 00:20:42,808 balefire bomb had gone off what had once 484 00:20:41,220 --> 00:20:44,368 been mein hatun city centre had been 485 00:20:42,808 --> 00:20:47,128 scoured to the foundations in a huge 486 00:20:44,368 --> 00:20:49,558 radius the blast zone was almost 487 00:20:47,128 --> 00:20:50,788 uniformly smooth save for odd lines were 488 00:20:49,558 --> 00:20:55,739 underground tunnels had channeled the 489 00:20:50,788 --> 00:20:58,079 blast it glistened like glass beyond the 490 00:20:55,739 --> 00:21:00,358 main Hatton blast zone beyond miles of 491 00:20:58,079 --> 00:21:03,239 shattered city a murky River cut through 492 00:21:00,358 --> 00:21:05,220 the land its shores marked the boundary 493 00:21:03,239 --> 00:21:08,278 between Manhattan and Buckland one of 494 00:21:05,220 --> 00:21:11,489 Manhattan's largest suburbs the Buckland 495 00:21:08,278 --> 00:21:12,839 bridge had once spanned the river it has 496 00:21:11,489 --> 00:21:15,149 been one of Manhattan's crowning 497 00:21:12,839 --> 00:21:16,618 landmarks a massive multi-tiered 498 00:21:15,148 --> 00:21:18,118 suspension bridge with huge brickwork 499 00:21:16,618 --> 00:21:20,878 piers that included rentable living 500 00:21:18,118 --> 00:21:22,738 spaces the Buckland bridge had collapsed 501 00:21:20,878 --> 00:21:24,058 from both ends leaving only a single 502 00:21:22,739 --> 00:21:26,399 free-standing pier in the middle of the 503 00:21:24,058 --> 00:21:28,858 river a stretch of roadway hanging out 504 00:21:26,398 --> 00:21:30,508 over the water in each direction when 505 00:21:28,858 --> 00:21:33,480 viewed from the right angle it did 506 00:21:30,509 --> 00:21:35,009 indeed look like a giant cross little 507 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:36,989 rivets of water were pouring off each 508 00:21:35,009 --> 00:21:40,499 and the wind catching the water and 509 00:21:36,989 --> 00:21:41,970 misty sprays the meeting point for our 510 00:21:40,499 --> 00:21:44,339 exchange with the steel ranges was on 511 00:21:41,970 --> 00:21:46,499 that side of the river so I was alarmed 512 00:21:44,339 --> 00:21:51,959 when calamity flew past it swooping out 513 00:21:46,499 --> 00:21:53,639 over the water hang on what I asked 514 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:56,190 crawling up onto a bench and floating 515 00:21:53,638 --> 00:21:57,959 out my binoculars I looked first 516 00:21:56,190 --> 00:21:59,519 downwards towards the cracked remains of 517 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:01,269 a wagon hitching lot I believed was our 518 00:21:59,519 --> 00:22:03,490 destination 519 00:22:01,269 --> 00:22:04,900 and indeed there were several paladin's 520 00:22:03,490 --> 00:22:07,930 looking back up through the rain at me 521 00:22:04,900 --> 00:22:10,660 with upturned visors and more waiting 522 00:22:07,930 --> 00:22:15,310 the ruins beyond I spotted at least a 523 00:22:10,660 --> 00:22:16,960 dozen were they planning to ambush us or 524 00:22:15,309 --> 00:22:19,599 were they protecting themselves should 525 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:22,960 we try to double-cross them I pointed 526 00:22:19,599 --> 00:22:25,089 out what I spotted to steal those make 527 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:28,870 sure your guns are loaded he replied 528 00:22:25,089 --> 00:22:32,769 then turned to calamity where are you 529 00:22:28,869 --> 00:22:34,779 going I turned my gaze to Buckland cross 530 00:22:32,769 --> 00:22:36,279 noting more steel Rangers moving between 531 00:22:34,779 --> 00:22:38,670 the wreckage of wagons and defensive 532 00:22:36,279 --> 00:22:40,569 barricades there were multiple turrets 533 00:22:38,670 --> 00:22:42,370 including several mounted on the bottom 534 00:22:40,569 --> 00:22:44,529 of the bridge which clearly kept it free 535 00:22:42,369 --> 00:22:46,299 of blood wings and I noted a few 536 00:22:44,529 --> 00:22:48,700 tank-like Sentinel BOTS rolling about on 537 00:22:46,299 --> 00:22:50,500 patrol structures have been built 538 00:22:48,700 --> 00:22:52,450 between tiers and between the columns of 539 00:22:50,500 --> 00:22:55,180 the pier supplementing the living space 540 00:22:52,450 --> 00:22:56,890 is already inside the pier a line of 541 00:22:55,180 --> 00:22:59,529 cranes held several small boats over the 542 00:22:56,890 --> 00:23:01,540 edge of the bridge railing all in all 543 00:22:59,529 --> 00:23:03,430 the steel rangers main hatton citadel 544 00:23:01,539 --> 00:23:06,250 looked cramped but ridiculously secure 545 00:23:03,430 --> 00:23:08,140 it would take them considerable time to 546 00:23:06,250 --> 00:23:09,039 send reinforcements they would have to 547 00:23:08,140 --> 00:23:12,970 do so by boat 548 00:23:09,039 --> 00:23:14,740 I noticed other boats in the river small 549 00:23:12,970 --> 00:23:18,190 light craft pushed over the water by 550 00:23:14,740 --> 00:23:19,720 huge fans a hoof full of them skimmed 551 00:23:18,190 --> 00:23:21,340 about like insects near a small 552 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:24,670 settlement huddled along the shore in 553 00:23:21,339 --> 00:23:26,589 the dim shadow of Buckland cross once in 554 00:23:24,670 --> 00:23:28,690 the old Equestria the buildings had been 555 00:23:26,589 --> 00:23:31,869 a strip mall apparently dominated by two 556 00:23:28,690 --> 00:23:33,340 competing coffee shops the two shops had 557 00:23:31,869 --> 00:23:35,079 fought out advertised each other 558 00:23:33,339 --> 00:23:36,579 accumulating in each building a giant 559 00:23:35,079 --> 00:23:39,849 billboard over their respective corners 560 00:23:36,579 --> 00:23:41,679 of the mall the Billboard for Jawas cup 561 00:23:39,849 --> 00:23:43,619 had collapsed crushing through the roof 562 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:45,820 of the adjacent sunny sun's laundromat 563 00:23:43,619 --> 00:23:47,919 the opposite billboard had suffered 564 00:23:45,819 --> 00:23:49,359 severe damage from smoke and age leaving 565 00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:52,220 only four letters of the sign clearly 566 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:54,408 legible are boo 567 00:23:52,220 --> 00:23:55,850 the residents of our B would ring you 568 00:23:54,409 --> 00:23:57,200 the asphalt field that it once been the 569 00:23:55,849 --> 00:23:59,388 most complimentary parking with 570 00:23:57,200 --> 00:24:00,860 passenger and delivery wagons using 571 00:23:59,388 --> 00:24:03,648 scavenged plates of scrap metal to 572 00:24:00,859 --> 00:24:05,628 fortify the barricade it was a passable 573 00:24:03,648 --> 00:24:07,788 defense but in comparison to the 574 00:24:05,628 --> 00:24:09,908 fortifications of Buckland's cross the 575 00:24:07,788 --> 00:24:12,200 little village looked like a target 576 00:24:09,909 --> 00:24:13,909 several design boards from above the 577 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:15,379 strip mall shops included a sign for 578 00:24:13,909 --> 00:24:17,360 java's cup the size of a schoolroom 579 00:24:15,378 --> 00:24:18,678 chalkboard had been cobbled together to 580 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:20,000 create a gate which could be opened and 581 00:24:18,679 --> 00:24:23,090 closed through a system of chains and 582 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:25,909 pulleys above the ponies had fashioned a 583 00:24:23,089 --> 00:24:29,209 sign our boo friendliest town in the 584 00:24:25,909 --> 00:24:31,070 wasteland the gate was being slowly 585 00:24:29,210 --> 00:24:34,519 drawn upward to allow merchants caravan 586 00:24:31,069 --> 00:24:36,558 to exit the town I knew what had drawn 587 00:24:34,519 --> 00:24:40,128 Calamity's attention even before I saw 588 00:24:36,558 --> 00:24:41,388 them the rain-soaked ponies I saw moving 589 00:24:40,128 --> 00:24:43,339 between the rubble setting up an ambush 590 00:24:41,388 --> 00:24:46,128 for the caravan didn't look like Raider 591 00:24:43,339 --> 00:24:49,099 ponies they lacked the fucked up scourge 592 00:24:46,128 --> 00:24:50,569 as a pony kind motif no necklaces of 593 00:24:49,099 --> 00:24:52,699 pony bones who are cutie marks of 594 00:24:50,569 --> 00:24:56,538 bloodied weapons they just looked like 595 00:24:52,700 --> 00:24:59,120 bandits um calamity maybe we should just 596 00:24:56,538 --> 00:25:00,769 scare them off what 597 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:03,709 so they can just attack the next Caravan 598 00:25:00,769 --> 00:25:07,159 instead calamity asked gruffly kicking 599 00:25:03,710 --> 00:25:09,110 the reload bar of his battle saddle plan 600 00:25:07,159 --> 00:25:12,649 to go around apologizing to everypony 601 00:25:09,109 --> 00:25:15,209 that kill after we let him go that's 602 00:25:12,648 --> 00:25:17,729 stung I shut up 603 00:25:15,210 --> 00:25:19,470 there were nine of them I watched 604 00:25:17,730 --> 00:25:22,798 several taking aim down rifles pointed 605 00:25:19,470 --> 00:25:24,149 towards our boo won a slate blue unicorn 606 00:25:22,798 --> 00:25:26,548 mare floated the heavy assault rifle 607 00:25:24,148 --> 00:25:30,178 into position if we didn't intervene 608 00:25:26,548 --> 00:25:31,648 this would be a slaughter calamity lined 609 00:25:30,179 --> 00:25:34,259 up the first of the bandits and opened 610 00:25:31,648 --> 00:25:36,239 fire one double shot from his battle 611 00:25:34,259 --> 00:25:37,308 saddle and the pony fowl missing part of 612 00:25:36,240 --> 00:25:40,079 his head 613 00:25:37,308 --> 00:25:42,480 the bandits all turned about looking for 614 00:25:40,079 --> 00:25:44,538 where the shot had come from only one of 615 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:47,250 them thought to look up to the sky 616 00:25:44,538 --> 00:25:48,720 calamity fired again just as the Pony 617 00:25:47,250 --> 00:25:51,599 pointed upwards and cried out a warning 618 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:53,130 to her companions one of calamities 619 00:25:51,599 --> 00:25:55,889 Bulls torn to the bottom of her pointing 620 00:25:53,130 --> 00:25:58,230 hoof wrecking her fore leg the other hit 621 00:25:55,890 --> 00:26:02,250 her thick leather armor she fell back 622 00:25:58,230 --> 00:26:04,370 badly wounded pilot swooped in front of 623 00:26:02,250 --> 00:26:06,509 us diving down towards the Bandit the 624 00:26:04,369 --> 00:26:08,308 Magnificent Huntress led on a blast of 625 00:26:06,509 --> 00:26:11,308 green flame setting the wounded bandit 626 00:26:08,308 --> 00:26:14,609 ablaze I could hear her screams as she 627 00:26:11,308 --> 00:26:16,558 burned to death the remaining bandits 628 00:26:14,609 --> 00:26:19,589 seven of them though for better cover 629 00:26:16,558 --> 00:26:20,668 turning the weapons skyward one black 630 00:26:19,589 --> 00:26:22,379 coated earth bunny with a sawed-off 631 00:26:20,669 --> 00:26:27,630 shotgun swung his weapon towards fire 632 00:26:22,380 --> 00:26:29,278 light blue Elma the beautiful balefire 633 00:26:27,630 --> 00:26:31,200 Phoenix let out a squawk of pain and 634 00:26:29,278 --> 00:26:32,519 fell from the sky bouncing off a 635 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:35,399 free-standing wall and landing in a 636 00:26:32,519 --> 00:26:38,879 trash bin velvet Remini cried out in 637 00:26:35,398 --> 00:26:42,658 dismay calamity get us down there now 638 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:44,460 she screamed dozens of bullets sparked 639 00:26:42,659 --> 00:26:47,549 off the sky Bennett echoing metallically 640 00:26:44,460 --> 00:26:50,220 I floated up the zebra rifle and peered 641 00:26:47,548 --> 00:26:51,690 down the scope the other ponies were 642 00:26:50,220 --> 00:26:53,690 shooting back at us but the black 643 00:26:51,690 --> 00:26:56,278 Stein's shotgun didn't have the range 644 00:26:53,690 --> 00:26:59,070 instead he was crouched behind a mailbox 645 00:26:56,278 --> 00:27:02,159 looking for better cover I brought up my 646 00:26:59,069 --> 00:27:04,619 targeting spell and took aim his cover 647 00:27:02,159 --> 00:27:05,770 was good it would be a tricky shot to 648 00:27:04,619 --> 00:27:07,989 get him 649 00:27:05,769 --> 00:27:09,759 I paused and slipped away the zebra 650 00:27:07,990 --> 00:27:12,279 rifle bringing out the sniper rifle 651 00:27:09,759 --> 00:27:13,509 instead I reasoned that an 652 00:27:12,279 --> 00:27:15,879 armor-piercing shot would go right 653 00:27:13,509 --> 00:27:17,049 through the mailbox but the real reason 654 00:27:15,880 --> 00:27:19,810 is that I didn't want to set those 655 00:27:17,049 --> 00:27:22,869 ponies on fire it felt wrong to just 656 00:27:19,809 --> 00:27:25,509 kill them like that but I was still 657 00:27:22,869 --> 00:27:28,229 going to kill them did that make me 658 00:27:25,509 --> 00:27:31,599 corrupted kindness after all 659 00:27:28,230 --> 00:27:32,890 Clementi banked firing again one of the 660 00:27:31,599 --> 00:27:34,980 manda ponies learned the hard way that 661 00:27:32,890 --> 00:27:36,970 her cover was just not quite good enough 662 00:27:34,980 --> 00:27:38,380 she screamed is one of the bullets 663 00:27:36,970 --> 00:27:39,640 clipped her in the flank the other 664 00:27:38,380 --> 00:27:43,060 pinging off the concrete she was hiding 665 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:45,540 behind with a shower of white dust damn 666 00:27:43,059 --> 00:27:48,389 it move whack and SIA 667 00:27:45,539 --> 00:27:52,329 steals deep voice wryly commented I 668 00:27:48,390 --> 00:27:53,860 don't think she's looking to oblige he 669 00:27:52,329 --> 00:27:56,339 moved up to one of the passenger wagons 670 00:27:53,859 --> 00:27:58,389 broken windows warning us to get back 671 00:27:56,339 --> 00:28:00,879 the missile launcher built into his 672 00:27:58,390 --> 00:28:02,980 battle saddle opened up to Rockets 673 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:04,950 whoosh tout the backwash of their launch 674 00:28:02,980 --> 00:28:07,690 filling the wagon with choking smoke I 675 00:28:04,950 --> 00:28:09,759 threw myself to a window more to breathe 676 00:28:07,690 --> 00:28:11,230 than to see and watch that the missile 677 00:28:09,759 --> 00:28:14,379 struck home on one of the Bandit mares 678 00:28:11,230 --> 00:28:15,849 concrete shields blasting it apart the 679 00:28:14,380 --> 00:28:18,630 mayor's body was blood elite ormd two 680 00:28:15,849 --> 00:28:21,909 chunks by the blast propelled concrete 681 00:28:18,630 --> 00:28:25,300 more shots this time neither from the 682 00:28:21,910 --> 00:28:27,279 bandits nor us several armed ponies were 683 00:28:25,299 --> 00:28:29,619 charging out of our boo firing pistols 684 00:28:27,279 --> 00:28:32,200 and rifles at the bandits others were 685 00:28:29,619 --> 00:28:33,609 moving to protect the merchant the 686 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:35,920 remaining bandits were forced to split 687 00:28:33,609 --> 00:28:37,539 their attention the slate blue unicorn 688 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:38,890 bandit turned her assault rifle towards 689 00:28:37,539 --> 00:28:42,490 the incoming ponies of our boo and 690 00:28:38,890 --> 00:28:44,170 opened fire spraying wildly the town's 691 00:28:42,490 --> 00:28:45,640 ponies dopher cover amongst the Hulk's 692 00:28:44,170 --> 00:28:47,410 of old chariots and the crumbled walls 693 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:49,990 of what once been a dentistry office at 694 00:28:47,410 --> 00:28:51,640 the gate one of the ponies knocked the 695 00:28:49,990 --> 00:28:54,079 merchant out of the line of fire taking 696 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:56,300 several bullets in the side 697 00:28:54,079 --> 00:28:58,099 more rounds struck the merchants heavily 698 00:28:56,299 --> 00:29:01,190 Ladin two headed cattle who mood and 699 00:28:58,099 --> 00:29:03,799 frightened pain that broke my battle 700 00:29:01,190 --> 00:29:04,340 stupor I floated the sniper rifle out in 701 00:29:03,799 --> 00:29:06,109 front of me 702 00:29:04,339 --> 00:29:07,250 peering down the scope and sending three 703 00:29:06,109 --> 00:29:10,069 armor-piercing bullets through the 704 00:29:07,250 --> 00:29:12,440 mailbox the black stallion toppled 705 00:29:10,069 --> 00:29:13,879 laying on his side his sides heaving 706 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:17,900 with each breath as he slowly bled out 707 00:29:13,880 --> 00:29:19,490 onto the ground clamming a maneuver 708 00:29:17,900 --> 00:29:20,960 close enough in his efforts to land for 709 00:29:19,490 --> 00:29:22,400 velvet that I could hear the cry of the 710 00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:28,210 Colt who suddenly galloped out from a 711 00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:32,269 pile boxes daddy oh shit 712 00:29:28,210 --> 00:29:36,500 no no Celestia raped me with a solar 713 00:29:32,269 --> 00:29:38,359 flare no the Colt ran right up to the 714 00:29:36,500 --> 00:29:41,359 Fallen stallion throwing himself on his 715 00:29:38,359 --> 00:29:46,089 dying father and right into the line of 716 00:29:41,359 --> 00:29:48,529 fire what had I done 717 00:29:46,089 --> 00:29:50,259 velvet remedies shield spell flashed up 718 00:29:48,529 --> 00:29:52,759 over the coat and his fallen father I 719 00:29:50,259 --> 00:29:55,519 slipped my weapon away feeling an icy 720 00:29:52,759 --> 00:29:58,759 numbness passed through me they're 721 00:29:55,519 --> 00:30:01,509 bandits I tried to tell myself but I 722 00:29:58,759 --> 00:30:05,299 wasn't ready for bandits with family 723 00:30:01,509 --> 00:30:07,549 please I prayed to Celestia don't let 724 00:30:05,299 --> 00:30:11,359 the father die the father 725 00:30:07,549 --> 00:30:12,829 I just put three bullets through below a 726 00:30:11,359 --> 00:30:14,179 rifle shot from one of the bandits 727 00:30:12,829 --> 00:30:17,089 caught in our blue mare square in the 728 00:30:14,180 --> 00:30:22,250 chest she fell coughing up blood once 729 00:30:17,089 --> 00:30:24,139 twice then never coughed again steal his 730 00:30:22,250 --> 00:30:25,759 grenade machine gun tore my eardrums as 731 00:30:24,140 --> 00:30:27,890 a swath of explosions ripped through the 732 00:30:25,759 --> 00:30:30,500 bandhas defenses killing two of them and 733 00:30:27,890 --> 00:30:32,030 sending the other scattering him another 734 00:30:30,500 --> 00:30:34,099 twin shot from calamity felled one of 735 00:30:32,029 --> 00:30:36,769 the bandits as he ran blood painting the 736 00:30:34,099 --> 00:30:38,619 broken wall beside him another took 737 00:30:36,769 --> 00:30:40,910 several shots from the Arbutin ponies 738 00:30:38,619 --> 00:30:43,099 most of the bullets impacted the bandits 739 00:30:40,910 --> 00:30:45,860 armor with little effect but a lucky 740 00:30:43,099 --> 00:30:47,659 shot pierced her eye the shot knocked 741 00:30:45,859 --> 00:30:49,069 her head back the black socket of her 742 00:30:47,660 --> 00:30:51,340 eye ring with blood stared vacantly 743 00:30:49,069 --> 00:30:53,839 upwards towards us 744 00:30:51,339 --> 00:30:55,970 unbidden the nightmarish vision of the 745 00:30:53,839 --> 00:30:57,889 Sun and the moon sharing sky becoming a 746 00:30:55,970 --> 00:31:03,170 black disc ringed with fire blossomed in 747 00:30:57,890 --> 00:31:03,890 my mind I shuddered uncomfortably as the 748 00:31:03,170 --> 00:31:05,570 mayor fell 749 00:31:03,890 --> 00:31:08,180 the last bandit turned and fled into the 750 00:31:05,569 --> 00:31:08,750 ruins two of the are boo ponies gave 751 00:31:08,180 --> 00:31:11,600 chase 752 00:31:08,750 --> 00:31:13,670 I could tell calamity wanted to as well 753 00:31:11,599 --> 00:31:17,000 but devil was desperate to get to pyar 754 00:31:13,670 --> 00:31:19,940 light the passenger wagon wobbled in the 755 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:21,710 air as calamity made his decision then 756 00:31:19,940 --> 00:31:25,190 we turn dropping down in the nearest 757 00:31:21,710 --> 00:31:26,390 stretch of road fell but remedy left out 758 00:31:25,190 --> 00:31:29,059 through one of the windows before we 759 00:31:26,390 --> 00:31:29,800 touched down she too had a decision to 760 00:31:29,059 --> 00:31:32,269 make 761 00:31:29,799 --> 00:31:35,930 both the father and pilot might already 762 00:31:32,269 --> 00:31:37,460 be dead but if either lived it was 763 00:31:35,930 --> 00:31:40,700 unlikely they would live long enough er 764 00:31:37,460 --> 00:31:43,370 to care for the other first she paused 765 00:31:40,700 --> 00:31:45,980 looking in the direction of one than the 766 00:31:43,369 --> 00:31:49,009 other I could see the tremble passed 767 00:31:45,980 --> 00:31:51,289 through her legs with a tormented cry 768 00:31:49,009 --> 00:31:53,559 she made her decision and galloped 769 00:31:51,289 --> 00:31:56,569 towards pilot as fast as she could as 770 00:31:53,559 --> 00:31:59,269 she ran her horn glowed opening one of 771 00:31:56,569 --> 00:32:01,000 her medical boxes healing bandages and 772 00:31:59,269 --> 00:32:05,269 potions and drug spilled out 773 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:06,650 santé Philip please help him she begged 774 00:32:05,269 --> 00:32:09,829 us at the top of her voice so she left 775 00:32:06,650 --> 00:32:11,750 us behind telekinetically scooping up 776 00:32:09,829 --> 00:32:13,819 the dropped medical supplies I ran 777 00:32:11,750 --> 00:32:16,690 towards the father and his cult zennith 778 00:32:13,819 --> 00:32:16,689 galloping at my side 779 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:25,419 you can't to have my son the black Stein 780 00:32:23,710 --> 00:32:27,480 rasped weekly as two of the our boot 781 00:32:25,419 --> 00:32:29,980 ounce ponies pulled the Colt off of him 782 00:32:27,480 --> 00:32:31,990 the boys wet mang hung in front of his 783 00:32:29,980 --> 00:32:33,519 eyes the water dripping from it mixed 784 00:32:31,990 --> 00:32:37,329 with his tears as he struggled to be 785 00:32:33,519 --> 00:32:39,519 reunited with the stallion we'll take 786 00:32:37,329 --> 00:32:41,980 good care of him one of the RB mares 787 00:32:39,519 --> 00:32:43,769 promised kindly treating like one of our 788 00:32:41,980 --> 00:32:45,990 own 789 00:32:43,769 --> 00:32:48,369 zennith and i were doing what we could 790 00:32:45,990 --> 00:32:51,399 but the two of us did not equal one 791 00:32:48,369 --> 00:32:52,898 velvet remedy and seeing the extent of 792 00:32:51,398 --> 00:32:54,189 the damage I had wrought made me think 793 00:32:52,898 --> 00:32:57,759 that not even she could save him without 794 00:32:54,190 --> 00:32:59,850 the full aid of a clinic instead the 795 00:32:57,759 --> 00:33:03,099 painkiller was at least dulling his pain 796 00:32:59,849 --> 00:33:06,879 his last breaths were shallow his eyes 797 00:33:03,099 --> 00:33:08,139 glazed and not truly seeing I could 798 00:33:06,880 --> 00:33:15,539 barely see him through the tears in my 799 00:33:08,140 --> 00:33:15,538 own eyes I won't let 800 00:33:15,539 --> 00:33:22,039 the rest of his sentence was lost in a 801 00:33:17,490 --> 00:33:23,460 final exhalation the stallion was dead I 802 00:33:22,039 --> 00:33:25,409 stumbled away 803 00:33:23,460 --> 00:33:29,940 breathing heavily tears falling from my 804 00:33:25,410 --> 00:33:33,029 eyes I'd killed him I'd kill a Colts 805 00:33:29,940 --> 00:33:36,420 father I was having a hard time 806 00:33:33,029 --> 00:33:38,240 breathing I tried to think of anything I 807 00:33:36,420 --> 00:33:42,240 could do to make this right 808 00:33:38,240 --> 00:33:43,740 but you couldn't fix dead there was no 809 00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:47,700 way I could make this up to either the 810 00:33:43,740 --> 00:33:48,660 father or his cult I knew it and it felt 811 00:33:47,700 --> 00:33:53,430 like it was killing me 812 00:33:48,660 --> 00:33:54,870 I deserved it my ears caught the sound 813 00:33:53,430 --> 00:33:57,390 of creaking wheels and hooves clopping 814 00:33:54,869 --> 00:33:58,979 through puddles I turned his a pony 815 00:33:57,390 --> 00:34:02,100 approached from our boo hitched to a 816 00:33:58,980 --> 00:34:03,900 wagon she was a stout apricot unicorn 817 00:34:02,099 --> 00:34:06,659 with a wagon for a cutie mark and a scar 818 00:34:03,900 --> 00:34:08,329 just underneath of it her coach showed 819 00:34:06,660 --> 00:34:10,590 signs of radiation poisoning 820 00:34:08,329 --> 00:34:13,409 she waved a friendly hello that I half 821 00:34:10,590 --> 00:34:14,760 returned her horn glowed with a soft 822 00:34:13,409 --> 00:34:16,349 brown light that developed the father 823 00:34:14,760 --> 00:34:18,600 and floated his body upwards and onto 824 00:34:16,349 --> 00:34:20,750 the cart placing the black coated corpse 825 00:34:18,599 --> 00:34:23,579 on top of several other Pony bodies our 826 00:34:20,750 --> 00:34:26,719 boo was collecting the dead their own 827 00:34:23,579 --> 00:34:26,719 and bandits alike 828 00:34:27,360 --> 00:34:35,220 what are you doing I asked weekly well 829 00:34:32,130 --> 00:34:37,200 some ponies got a barium reply - Green 830 00:34:35,219 --> 00:34:40,230 coded our boomer with shockingly orange 831 00:34:37,199 --> 00:34:41,639 hair I felt another shot of pain as I 832 00:34:40,230 --> 00:34:43,289 realized the good ponies of our boo 833 00:34:41,639 --> 00:34:44,789 treated the dead of their enemies better 834 00:34:43,289 --> 00:34:47,429 than I tended to treat the bodies of 835 00:34:44,789 --> 00:34:49,019 ponies I had grown to care about the 836 00:34:47,429 --> 00:34:50,639 images of pinkie pie's skeleton and 837 00:34:49,019 --> 00:34:54,000 apple bloom's both float in front of my 838 00:34:50,639 --> 00:34:56,779 mind's eye I realized how utterly 839 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:59,599 unworthy I was of homages affections I 840 00:34:56,780 --> 00:35:01,590 didn't deserve the friends I had found I 841 00:34:59,599 --> 00:35:05,460 couldn't keep going like this 842 00:35:01,590 --> 00:35:06,090 I couldn't keep doing this I needed to 843 00:35:05,460 --> 00:35:11,519 do better 844 00:35:06,090 --> 00:35:15,210 I needed to be better that remedy 845 00:35:11,519 --> 00:35:19,050 appeared tears in her eyes connaissez no 846 00:35:15,210 --> 00:35:22,980 not pyre light - but this time my 847 00:35:19,050 --> 00:35:26,160 worries were in vain she'll live Velvet 848 00:35:22,980 --> 00:35:29,340 announced if the shotgun wasn't better 849 00:35:26,159 --> 00:35:31,980 repair it would be another story but 850 00:35:29,340 --> 00:35:33,539 she's in bad shape we should get her to 851 00:35:31,980 --> 00:35:36,289 someplace radioactive in the next few 852 00:35:33,539 --> 00:35:38,539 hours so she'll begin to heal properly 853 00:35:36,289 --> 00:35:41,579 well if you're looking for radiation 854 00:35:38,539 --> 00:35:43,440 said one of the are boo ponies a milk 855 00:35:41,579 --> 00:35:44,909 colored mare with a stringy tan mane and 856 00:35:43,440 --> 00:35:47,579 a birth defect that left her with only 857 00:35:44,909 --> 00:35:50,819 one I said as she trotted up shaking 858 00:35:47,579 --> 00:35:52,319 velvet sofa nor friendly greeting you 859 00:35:50,820 --> 00:35:54,570 can look to the ger Haas breeding 860 00:35:52,320 --> 00:35:56,820 facility just up the river mind the 861 00:35:54,570 --> 00:35:57,950 Radig aiders and don't go killing any of 862 00:35:56,820 --> 00:36:01,289 them 863 00:35:57,949 --> 00:36:04,199 grrrrrr Hoss I wondered quizzically only 864 00:36:01,289 --> 00:36:05,309 to be answered with a sharp nod my eyes 865 00:36:04,199 --> 00:36:07,558 strayed to her flank 866 00:36:05,309 --> 00:36:10,710 a cutie mark looked like several sharp 867 00:36:07,559 --> 00:36:12,180 teeth Raticate ur teeth perhaps she too 868 00:36:10,710 --> 00:36:16,199 had a little scar beneath her cutie mark 869 00:36:12,179 --> 00:36:17,190 a small brand it looked like reminding 870 00:36:16,199 --> 00:36:20,460 me of the brand that had obliterated 871 00:36:17,190 --> 00:36:24,358 calamities cutie mark breeding 872 00:36:20,460 --> 00:36:28,048 facilities Velva remedy asked breeding 873 00:36:24,358 --> 00:36:28,619 what why rata gators of course weren't 874 00:36:28,048 --> 00:36:33,748 you listening 875 00:36:28,619 --> 00:36:36,838 the mayor replied Oh replied velvet 876 00:36:33,748 --> 00:36:40,828 remedy politely little PIP we should go 877 00:36:36,838 --> 00:36:43,318 I nodded numb Lee ambling towards the 878 00:36:40,829 --> 00:36:44,818 sky bandit stealers was still there 879 00:36:43,318 --> 00:36:47,759 keeping an eye on the life-support 880 00:36:44,818 --> 00:36:50,239 cocoon strapped to the roof the status 881 00:36:47,759 --> 00:36:52,409 of elder cottage cheese had not changed 882 00:36:50,239 --> 00:36:55,409 calamity was pulling an old suitcase out 883 00:36:52,409 --> 00:36:58,348 of the rusty husk of a chariot my little 884 00:36:55,409 --> 00:37:00,509 scavenger now you come back now you hear 885 00:36:58,349 --> 00:37:04,068 the green mare with the orange mane 886 00:37:00,509 --> 00:37:04,068 called out we'll have dinner 887 00:37:06,800 --> 00:37:12,560 okay this is just getting ridiculous 888 00:37:10,239 --> 00:37:14,209 third time this month I've had to break 889 00:37:12,559 --> 00:37:17,389 up a yelling match between mr. Bean's 890 00:37:14,210 --> 00:37:19,010 and a mocha Joe ever since Joe open that 891 00:37:17,389 --> 00:37:21,829 new Starbucks across from mr. beans 892 00:37:19,010 --> 00:37:23,120 Javas cup first it was just the two of 893 00:37:21,829 --> 00:37:25,400 them trying to undercut each other's 894 00:37:23,119 --> 00:37:26,989 prices then that shipment of coffee 895 00:37:25,400 --> 00:37:29,079 beans went missing and jamocha Joe 896 00:37:26,989 --> 00:37:31,239 started throwing some nasty accusations 897 00:37:29,079 --> 00:37:33,199 totally groundless as it turned out 898 00:37:31,239 --> 00:37:34,729 Shipman just got rerouted to 899 00:37:33,199 --> 00:37:37,159 Philadelphia because some glitch in the 900 00:37:34,730 --> 00:37:39,349 Starbucks terminal system can't stand 901 00:37:37,159 --> 00:37:41,899 those things they seemed downright on 902 00:37:39,349 --> 00:37:44,150 pony anyhow 903 00:37:41,900 --> 00:37:45,829 yesterday jamocha Joe unveiled a new ad 904 00:37:44,150 --> 00:37:48,740 for the Starbuck to see me coffee and 905 00:37:45,829 --> 00:37:50,480 whole way never felt more like buying a 906 00:37:48,739 --> 00:37:53,329 cup of coffee in my life just to show my 907 00:37:50,480 --> 00:37:54,650 appreciation now I don't know what makes 908 00:37:53,329 --> 00:37:56,809 steamed coffee so different from any 909 00:37:54,650 --> 00:37:59,240 other type but mr. beans was just 910 00:37:56,809 --> 00:38:01,849 steamed about the ads called it blatant 911 00:37:59,239 --> 00:38:03,579 use of sex to sell coffee and now reckon 912 00:38:01,849 --> 00:38:05,929 he was pretty on the knows about that 913 00:38:03,579 --> 00:38:07,610 mr. beans rallied together a flock of 914 00:38:05,929 --> 00:38:10,159 local ponies to stay in front of Joe's 915 00:38:07,610 --> 00:38:12,019 place decrying the poor guys immoral and 916 00:38:10,159 --> 00:38:14,000 degenerate the whole think of the 917 00:38:12,019 --> 00:38:16,400 children routine and harassing his 918 00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:17,719 customers when I arrived to break it up 919 00:38:16,400 --> 00:38:20,420 one of the old man's hit me with a 920 00:38:17,719 --> 00:38:22,189 protest sign jamocha Joe came at the 921 00:38:20,420 --> 00:38:23,720 help and before I knew it mr. beans and 922 00:38:22,190 --> 00:38:25,099 jamocha Joe were in each other's muzzles 923 00:38:23,719 --> 00:38:28,009 and it looked like it was about to come 924 00:38:25,099 --> 00:38:29,960 two bucks didn't help the missus whether 925 00:38:28,010 --> 00:38:31,520 stupid yeah people got loose and was 926 00:38:29,960 --> 00:38:34,429 adding its own head splitting noise to 927 00:38:31,519 --> 00:38:35,809 the ruckus managed to get him settled 928 00:38:34,429 --> 00:38:38,179 and went right to quick care for some 929 00:38:35,809 --> 00:38:41,590 stitches I can't believe I quit my job 930 00:38:38,179 --> 00:38:41,589 and main hatton for this crap 931 00:38:41,739 --> 00:38:46,879 Clemmy suitcase have been locked opening 932 00:38:45,018 --> 00:38:49,939 it I found an old security guard uniform 933 00:38:46,880 --> 00:38:52,430 a cattle prod a four star as months pass 934 00:38:49,940 --> 00:38:55,039 in the Luna Line and a comic book sword 935 00:38:52,429 --> 00:38:56,598 mares the cover featuring a mare who was 936 00:38:55,039 --> 00:38:58,460 rendered to be ridiculously hot to the 937 00:38:56,599 --> 00:39:00,230 point of deformed wearing equally 938 00:38:58,460 --> 00:39:01,608 ridiculously flank baring Armour and 939 00:39:00,230 --> 00:39:02,960 holding a sword in her muzzle she faced 940 00:39:01,608 --> 00:39:04,730 down a month's that looked like a cross 941 00:39:02,960 --> 00:39:06,798 looking a giant yaoguai and Nightmare 942 00:39:04,730 --> 00:39:09,798 Moon a wide-eyed buck cowering behind 943 00:39:06,798 --> 00:39:12,710 her in addition there was a whole mess 944 00:39:09,798 --> 00:39:15,199 of audio logs most of the logs had 945 00:39:12,710 --> 00:39:16,670 deteriorated beyond salvation but I was 946 00:39:15,199 --> 00:39:19,759 able to download eight of them onto my 947 00:39:16,670 --> 00:39:23,450 pipbuck my pipbuck was clicking at me 948 00:39:19,760 --> 00:39:24,890 with a hiding voice calamity circled the 949 00:39:23,449 --> 00:39:26,568 sky banded around the ruins of the 950 00:39:24,889 --> 00:39:28,219 garish pink and green hatchery building 951 00:39:26,568 --> 00:39:31,038 with the cartoonish smiling alligator 952 00:39:28,219 --> 00:39:32,328 statue out front the hatchery sat 953 00:39:31,039 --> 00:39:34,069 between the main hatton edge of the 954 00:39:32,329 --> 00:39:35,329 gloomy River and a set of train tracks 955 00:39:34,068 --> 00:39:38,778 which crossed the street leading up to 956 00:39:35,329 --> 00:39:40,430 it all about where strewn tank cars most 957 00:39:38,778 --> 00:39:43,250 of which were leaking a glowing toxic 958 00:39:40,429 --> 00:39:44,868 sludge when the balefire bomb had 959 00:39:43,250 --> 00:39:46,670 detonated the train had derailed 960 00:39:44,869 --> 00:39:49,400 spilling its shipment of radioactive 961 00:39:46,670 --> 00:39:51,769 waste across several blocks the hatchery 962 00:39:49,400 --> 00:39:53,059 had gotten the worst of it several train 963 00:39:51,768 --> 00:39:56,139 cars have been flung into the building 964 00:39:53,059 --> 00:39:58,548 and its water pens smashing them apart 965 00:39:56,139 --> 00:40:01,879 Gummy's retirement hostel an alligator 966 00:39:58,548 --> 00:40:03,559 sanctuary I spotted at least a dozen 967 00:40:01,880 --> 00:40:06,829 giant Radig ators milling about in the 968 00:40:03,559 --> 00:40:08,329 water pens and along the shore through a 969 00:40:06,829 --> 00:40:10,009 shattered wall of the hatchery building 970 00:40:08,329 --> 00:40:12,170 I saw the shadowy movement of a 971 00:40:10,009 --> 00:40:15,409 legendary rata Gator easily the size of 972 00:40:12,170 --> 00:40:18,409 one of the train cars yeah we're not 973 00:40:15,409 --> 00:40:19,848 going inside of there I announced the 974 00:40:18,409 --> 00:40:22,199 mayor from Audrey wood asked us not to 975 00:40:19,849 --> 00:40:24,690 harm the local wildlife 976 00:40:22,199 --> 00:40:26,219 I wasn't sure why as the Radig aiders 977 00:40:24,690 --> 00:40:29,579 posed a clear threat to the town just 978 00:40:26,219 --> 00:40:31,319 downstream I suspected the bridge under 979 00:40:29,579 --> 00:40:33,650 turrets along Buckland cross regularly 980 00:40:31,320 --> 00:40:35,640 had more shoot at than just blood wings 981 00:40:33,650 --> 00:40:38,510 there's a big one in there that looks 982 00:40:35,639 --> 00:40:41,608 like he could swallow us all whole 983 00:40:38,510 --> 00:40:43,740 velvet Remini knickers we shouldn't need 984 00:40:41,608 --> 00:40:46,108 to just set us down on the roof calamity 985 00:40:43,739 --> 00:40:49,229 I'll put Pilate someplace cozy to rest 986 00:40:46,108 --> 00:40:51,960 she looks down sorrowfully at the 987 00:40:49,230 --> 00:40:53,670 Wounded Bird wrapped in blankets the 988 00:40:51,960 --> 00:40:56,820 Phoenix coughed and shuddered sending a 989 00:40:53,670 --> 00:40:59,880 twinge of worry through my friend gotcha 990 00:40:56,820 --> 00:41:01,680 calamity called back but be quick I 991 00:40:59,880 --> 00:41:04,920 don't think that roof is headed by much 992 00:41:01,679 --> 00:41:06,659 more than wishful thinking why do 993 00:41:04,920 --> 00:41:07,710 believe the ponies wish us to keep these 994 00:41:06,659 --> 00:41:11,759 beasts alive 995 00:41:07,710 --> 00:41:15,769 zennith pondered I tell you I clearly 996 00:41:11,760 --> 00:41:18,119 laughed because eradicate is good eaten 997 00:41:15,769 --> 00:41:20,759 velvet remedy made a face and zennith 998 00:41:18,119 --> 00:41:22,140 looked vaguely ill I on the other hoof 999 00:41:20,760 --> 00:41:25,260 felt like I had missed an opportunity 1000 00:41:22,139 --> 00:41:26,489 back on my first day outside I hadn't 1001 00:41:25,260 --> 00:41:27,599 even thought of killing and cooking one 1002 00:41:26,489 --> 00:41:31,529 of the Radig aiders near the big 1003 00:41:27,599 --> 00:41:33,960 McIntosh Memorial calamity flew us in 1004 00:41:31,530 --> 00:41:36,119 for a landing on the rooftop he touched 1005 00:41:33,960 --> 00:41:37,530 down with a clump of his hooves there 1006 00:41:36,119 --> 00:41:40,559 was a warning grown in the roof sagged 1007 00:41:37,530 --> 00:41:42,290 perilously I suspect to clam he might 1008 00:41:40,559 --> 00:41:44,759 very well be right 1009 00:41:42,289 --> 00:41:46,199 velvet Remini got out floating Peyer 1010 00:41:44,760 --> 00:41:47,819 lights wrapped body next to her and 1011 00:41:46,199 --> 00:41:49,379 began to cross towards a set of crates 1012 00:41:47,818 --> 00:41:53,190 on one corner of the building moving 1013 00:41:49,380 --> 00:41:54,450 cautiously on the unstable surface I'm 1014 00:41:53,190 --> 00:41:55,108 just going to leave you right over here 1015 00:41:54,449 --> 00:41:58,230 for a while 1016 00:41:55,108 --> 00:42:00,449 velvet crude softly there's lots of nice 1017 00:41:58,230 --> 00:42:03,079 warm radiation here you'll be feeling 1018 00:42:00,449 --> 00:42:04,730 your old self in no time 1019 00:42:03,079 --> 00:42:06,409 the click clicking of my pipbuck 1020 00:42:04,730 --> 00:42:08,360 insisted that she was correct and that 1021 00:42:06,409 --> 00:42:10,089 we should all drink some rad away as 1022 00:42:08,360 --> 00:42:12,250 soon as we got away from here 1023 00:42:10,090 --> 00:42:16,340 velvet didn't see the pressure plate to 1024 00:42:12,250 --> 00:42:18,889 be fair neither did I the damn thing was 1025 00:42:16,340 --> 00:42:20,440 well camouflaged she was nearly to the 1026 00:42:18,889 --> 00:42:22,639 crates when she stepped a hoof onto it 1027 00:42:20,440 --> 00:42:24,200 one of the crates burst open with an 1028 00:42:22,639 --> 00:42:27,289 explosion of colorful streamers confetti 1029 00:42:24,199 --> 00:42:28,879 in a party glitter the sound of trumpets 1030 00:42:27,289 --> 00:42:31,550 blasted through the air and several 200 1031 00:42:28,880 --> 00:42:32,599 year old balloons did nothing but lie 1032 00:42:31,550 --> 00:42:36,140 there in the bottom of the crate 1033 00:42:32,599 --> 00:42:37,789 deflated in greasy with rot well remedy 1034 00:42:36,139 --> 00:42:40,339 jumped back several feet in panic 1035 00:42:37,789 --> 00:42:43,519 surprise she landed on all four hooves 1036 00:42:40,340 --> 00:42:47,300 with a soft thump the roof collapsed 1037 00:42:43,519 --> 00:42:48,949 from under us I felt an awful lurching 1038 00:42:47,300 --> 00:42:50,330 weightlessness as the sky bandit tilted 1039 00:42:48,949 --> 00:42:53,449 and began to fall into the empty space 1040 00:42:50,329 --> 00:42:55,340 for half of the roof used to be calumny 1041 00:42:53,449 --> 00:42:56,869 flapped his wings quickly lifting us 1042 00:42:55,340 --> 00:42:58,760 into the air again as I lashed out with 1043 00:42:56,869 --> 00:43:01,670 my magic to wrap velvet Remmy and pilot 1044 00:42:58,760 --> 00:43:03,440 in bubbles levitation several chunks of 1045 00:43:01,670 --> 00:43:05,180 ceiling splashed into pools below or 1046 00:43:03,440 --> 00:43:07,909 cleaned off metal walkways as they fell 1047 00:43:05,179 --> 00:43:10,879 a crumbling rumble belched up from the 1048 00:43:07,909 --> 00:43:12,379 building below us velvet and pyre lights 1049 00:43:10,880 --> 00:43:15,380 slowly slow to back towards the waiting 1050 00:43:12,380 --> 00:43:16,760 sky bandit obviously we would have to 1051 00:43:15,380 --> 00:43:20,210 choose someplace else to cradle pyre 1052 00:43:16,760 --> 00:43:21,890 light while she recuperated the hulking 1053 00:43:20,210 --> 00:43:24,199 head of the legendary rata Gator snapped 1054 00:43:21,889 --> 00:43:26,000 up through the opening I barely pulled 1055 00:43:24,199 --> 00:43:27,559 velvet and pilot out of the way the 1056 00:43:26,000 --> 00:43:28,610 creature scales brushing against velvet 1057 00:43:27,559 --> 00:43:32,599 remedy and knocking her out of 1058 00:43:28,610 --> 00:43:34,130 levitation bubble velvet fell the 1059 00:43:32,599 --> 00:43:36,409 charcoal unicorn hit off the side of the 1060 00:43:34,130 --> 00:43:37,849 creature sliding down his scales and 1061 00:43:36,409 --> 00:43:41,750 splashing into a pool of much smaller 1062 00:43:37,849 --> 00:43:43,250 radiators below the mammoth Radig ater 1063 00:43:41,750 --> 00:43:46,099 twisted about and opened it small 1064 00:43:43,250 --> 00:43:48,380 snapping at the sky bandit with a 1065 00:43:46,099 --> 00:43:49,929 mixture of comedy and horror I realized 1066 00:43:48,380 --> 00:43:52,460 the monster had no teeth 1067 00:43:49,929 --> 00:43:54,379 the huge jaws closed into our ride 1068 00:43:52,460 --> 00:43:56,289 threatening to drag us down as the 1069 00:43:54,380 --> 00:43:58,880 monster gummed at the sky bandit 1070 00:43:56,289 --> 00:44:00,320 calamity yelled his body slamming into a 1071 00:43:58,880 --> 00:44:01,309 bent girder as he was swung around 1072 00:44:00,320 --> 00:44:04,580 helplessly in the air 1073 00:44:01,309 --> 00:44:06,170 barely sparing his wing velvet remedy 1074 00:44:04,579 --> 00:44:07,819 splashed struggling to keep her head 1075 00:44:06,170 --> 00:44:09,150 above the waters the smaller rata Gators 1076 00:44:07,820 --> 00:44:11,380 closed in 1077 00:44:09,150 --> 00:44:14,619 swimming was not a skill normally 1078 00:44:11,380 --> 00:44:16,570 developed in stable life the closest 1079 00:44:14,619 --> 00:44:19,480 radda Gator opened it small revealing 1080 00:44:16,570 --> 00:44:22,030 rows of razor-sharp teeth frantically 1081 00:44:19,480 --> 00:44:23,469 she threw anesthetics fell at it then 1082 00:44:22,030 --> 00:44:25,740 flung her forelegs over the paralyzed 1083 00:44:23,469 --> 00:44:28,088 creature like it was a life preserver 1084 00:44:25,739 --> 00:44:30,669 the behemoth Eradicator was pulling us 1085 00:44:28,088 --> 00:44:32,559 into the hatchery still not wanting to 1086 00:44:30,670 --> 00:44:33,838 kill this thing I drew out the poison 1087 00:44:32,559 --> 00:44:36,099 dart gun for the first time in ages 1088 00:44:33,838 --> 00:44:39,849 firing shot after shot into the soft 1089 00:44:36,099 --> 00:44:41,769 tissue of its gullet the legendary radda 1090 00:44:39,849 --> 00:44:44,859 gator released us tottering and 1091 00:44:41,769 --> 00:44:46,329 collapsing back into the pool below the 1092 00:44:44,858 --> 00:44:48,519 splash hurled velvel remedy over the 1093 00:44:46,329 --> 00:44:50,910 side of the pan along with several 1094 00:44:48,519 --> 00:44:53,380 extremely not toothless rata Gators 1095 00:44:50,909 --> 00:44:54,909 calamity grunted flapping his wings as 1096 00:44:53,380 --> 00:44:55,269 he regained control of the passenger 1097 00:44:54,909 --> 00:44:58,118 wagon 1098 00:44:55,269 --> 00:44:59,769 I threw another telekinetic feel around 1099 00:44:58,119 --> 00:45:01,510 velvet remedy pulling her up from the 1100 00:44:59,769 --> 00:45:05,579 floor a several rata Gator jaws chomped 1101 00:45:01,510 --> 00:45:10,260 at the space she had just vacated Plan B 1102 00:45:05,579 --> 00:45:10,260 zennith asked not missing a single beat 1103 00:45:11,719 --> 00:45:15,259 I was just starting to soak into a 1104 00:45:13,670 --> 00:45:18,139 luxurious bath when I got an emergency 1105 00:45:15,260 --> 00:45:20,840 call from the mall mrs. weather was 1106 00:45:18,139 --> 00:45:21,379 reporting a robbery I get there soaking 1107 00:45:20,840 --> 00:45:23,450 wet 1108 00:45:21,380 --> 00:45:25,039 my uniform clinging to my coat only here 1109 00:45:23,449 --> 00:45:26,899 that the thief with the sunny suds new 1110 00:45:25,039 --> 00:45:28,329 sparkle-cola machine and the theft was a 1111 00:45:26,900 --> 00:45:30,500 single bit 1112 00:45:28,329 --> 00:45:33,019 apparently she hit the button for one of 1113 00:45:30,500 --> 00:45:34,730 those new sparkle-cola rats and machine 1114 00:45:33,019 --> 00:45:39,050 dispense the normal sparkle-cola 1115 00:45:34,730 --> 00:45:40,608 oh the harbor so the operator sunny suds 1116 00:45:39,050 --> 00:45:42,769 naturally had no way of getting the 1117 00:45:40,608 --> 00:45:44,449 machine I could probably do it with a 1118 00:45:42,769 --> 00:45:47,090 crowbar but then I'd probably be fine 1119 00:45:44,449 --> 00:45:49,460 for the damages I instead just gave her 1120 00:45:47,090 --> 00:45:51,079 one of my bits which she promptly put 1121 00:45:49,460 --> 00:45:54,019 into the machine hitting the same button 1122 00:45:51,079 --> 00:45:55,759 and getting the same damn result I feel 1123 00:45:54,019 --> 00:45:57,230 I should receive an award for refraining 1124 00:45:55,760 --> 00:46:01,609 from using the cattle prod and that old 1125 00:45:57,230 --> 00:46:04,070 hag an hour and a couple packets of 1126 00:46:01,608 --> 00:46:06,650 radaway later the sky beneflu over the 1127 00:46:04,070 --> 00:46:08,320 designated meeting spot the steel 1128 00:46:06,650 --> 00:46:10,430 rangers had changed their configuration 1129 00:46:08,320 --> 00:46:12,019 many of the backup Rangers were now 1130 00:46:10,429 --> 00:46:14,449 hiding in places that couldn't be target 1131 00:46:12,019 --> 00:46:16,579 from the air either that or they had 1132 00:46:14,449 --> 00:46:19,519 left but I didn't believe the latter was 1133 00:46:16,579 --> 00:46:22,608 at all likely I licked the inside of my 1134 00:46:19,519 --> 00:46:24,259 muzzle radaway tasted like rancid orange 1135 00:46:22,608 --> 00:46:27,769 juice and it left an aftertaste that was 1136 00:46:24,260 --> 00:46:29,000 somehow even less pleasant I suspected 1137 00:46:27,769 --> 00:46:30,619 that somepony had decided to make 1138 00:46:29,000 --> 00:46:33,108 radaway fruit flavored as a marketing 1139 00:46:30,619 --> 00:46:34,460 technique I wished I could meet that 1140 00:46:33,108 --> 00:46:35,829 pony so I could shoot her with a poison 1141 00:46:34,460 --> 00:46:38,000 dart 1142 00:46:35,829 --> 00:46:41,210 fire light was resting on one of the 1143 00:46:38,000 --> 00:46:42,588 broken tank cars bathing radiation the 1144 00:46:41,210 --> 00:46:43,880 giant Radig ater shouldn't be able to 1145 00:46:42,588 --> 00:46:46,549 reach her so long she doesn't roll off 1146 00:46:43,880 --> 00:46:48,559 the tanker velvet remedy had planted 1147 00:46:46,550 --> 00:46:50,180 herself a safe distance away just out of 1148 00:46:48,559 --> 00:46:51,250 the radiation zone keeping watched 1149 00:46:50,179 --> 00:46:53,509 through my binoculars 1150 00:46:51,250 --> 00:46:55,099 she had her anesthetic spell in case 1151 00:46:53,510 --> 00:46:56,450 pilots should fall or one of the 1152 00:46:55,099 --> 00:46:58,880 radiators should figure out how to get 1153 00:46:56,449 --> 00:47:00,289 up to her hiding spot and combat shotgun 1154 00:46:58,880 --> 00:47:01,960 and plenty of ammo in case the spell 1155 00:47:00,289 --> 00:47:04,329 wasn't enough 1156 00:47:01,960 --> 00:47:08,949 as calamity circled a lot the rain 1157 00:47:04,329 --> 00:47:10,539 finally let up we landed - our medical 1158 00:47:08,949 --> 00:47:12,549 Pony on the edge of the parking lot 1159 00:47:10,539 --> 00:47:14,820 facing eight steel Rangers whom we could 1160 00:47:12,550 --> 00:47:17,680 see and several whom we could not 1161 00:47:14,820 --> 00:47:19,838 according to my EFS one of them was 1162 00:47:17,679 --> 00:47:22,358 outright hostile a spot of red in the 1163 00:47:19,838 --> 00:47:23,920 sea of lights on my compass even though 1164 00:47:22,358 --> 00:47:27,009 she stood her ground patiently like all 1165 00:47:23,920 --> 00:47:28,300 the others we waited his clam he 1166 00:47:27,010 --> 00:47:29,770 released himself from the sky banditz 1167 00:47:28,300 --> 00:47:33,099 harness and shook off the rain from his 1168 00:47:29,769 --> 00:47:34,690 coat then he flew up and released the 1169 00:47:33,099 --> 00:47:36,809 chains binding elder Cottage cheese's 1170 00:47:34,690 --> 00:47:39,280 life-support pod to the roof mounting as 1171 00:47:36,809 --> 00:47:39,608 I floated the pod down to hover behind 1172 00:47:39,280 --> 00:47:41,530 us 1173 00:47:39,608 --> 00:47:44,469 calamity grabbed Spitfires thunder and 1174 00:47:41,530 --> 00:47:45,339 took off into the air Steel is grunted 1175 00:47:44,469 --> 00:47:48,969 and took the lead 1176 00:47:45,338 --> 00:47:52,179 I followed floating the pod Zenith stood 1177 00:47:48,969 --> 00:47:54,039 behind me the atmosphere was like a 1178 00:47:52,179 --> 00:47:58,358 rubber band stretched to the point of 1179 00:47:54,039 --> 00:48:01,079 fraying about to snap goddess's I don't 1180 00:47:58,358 --> 00:48:03,639 like this and muttered under my breath I 1181 00:48:01,079 --> 00:48:05,348 had telekinetic she's about all of my 1182 00:48:03,639 --> 00:48:08,289 weapons even though they were still in 1183 00:48:05,349 --> 00:48:10,838 their holsters armor-piercing or magical 1184 00:48:08,289 --> 00:48:12,699 rounds were loaded into each my ears 1185 00:48:10,838 --> 00:48:14,019 swiveled trying to pick up the sounds of 1186 00:48:12,699 --> 00:48:15,939 the steel rangers we couldn't see as 1187 00:48:14,019 --> 00:48:17,530 they moved into better positions their 1188 00:48:15,940 --> 00:48:21,250 little lights sliding back and forth on 1189 00:48:17,530 --> 00:48:23,710 my EFS compass two of the steel rangers 1190 00:48:21,250 --> 00:48:25,719 approached one of them was a unicorn 1191 00:48:23,710 --> 00:48:28,269 scribe wearing robes of free war armored 1192 00:48:25,719 --> 00:48:30,489 mesh the other was the red light on my 1193 00:48:28,269 --> 00:48:33,900 compass a paladin whose battle saddle 1194 00:48:30,489 --> 00:48:36,179 held what looked like two anti-tank guns 1195 00:48:33,900 --> 00:48:39,690 the other stood at the ready weapon 1196 00:48:36,179 --> 00:48:41,819 ports open on their battle saddles we 1197 00:48:39,690 --> 00:48:44,220 were expecting Steel Ranger traders not 1198 00:48:41,820 --> 00:48:47,039 one trader and a bunch of tribals miss 1199 00:48:44,219 --> 00:48:50,219 hostility growled then your head bobbed 1200 00:48:47,039 --> 00:48:51,750 as she took in steel oaths but it seems 1201 00:48:50,219 --> 00:48:52,609 they did grace us with steel hose 1202 00:48:51,750 --> 00:48:55,829 himself 1203 00:48:52,610 --> 00:49:01,410 so tell me Hobie they actually call me 1204 00:48:55,829 --> 00:49:04,099 elder now Hopi I have accepted the 1205 00:49:01,409 --> 00:49:06,299 position steel have said shortly I 1206 00:49:04,099 --> 00:49:07,799 believe you have some bony who you wish 1207 00:49:06,300 --> 00:49:11,100 to join us in exchange 1208 00:49:07,800 --> 00:49:13,740 send her out now till your elder and go 1209 00:49:11,099 --> 00:49:16,679 in peace Oh 1210 00:49:13,739 --> 00:49:17,939 night aunt meet the unicorn said with a 1211 00:49:16,679 --> 00:49:20,639 note of regret that didn't touch her 1212 00:49:17,940 --> 00:49:21,150 eyes I'm afraid she won't be joining us 1213 00:49:20,639 --> 00:49:23,309 after all 1214 00:49:21,150 --> 00:49:24,269 took a gallop off the short end of the 1215 00:49:23,309 --> 00:49:28,259 bridge while trying to evade 1216 00:49:24,269 --> 00:49:30,840 incarceration I felt my skin tighten 1217 00:49:28,260 --> 00:49:33,690 around the hairs of my mane steel hose 1218 00:49:30,840 --> 00:49:36,059 stance didn't change his voice seemed 1219 00:49:33,690 --> 00:49:39,119 unmoved by the news although I suspected 1220 00:49:36,059 --> 00:49:42,779 he had to be enraged inside were they 1221 00:49:39,119 --> 00:49:45,750 trying to provoke something more is the 1222 00:49:42,780 --> 00:49:48,840 pity Steel's applied evenly standing 1223 00:49:45,750 --> 00:49:50,219 very still the elder had a bit of an 1224 00:49:48,840 --> 00:49:53,430 accident of his own before we could 1225 00:49:50,219 --> 00:49:57,359 depart he's unconscious but still alive 1226 00:49:53,429 --> 00:49:59,639 a few of the steel Rangers bristled and 1227 00:49:57,360 --> 00:50:01,650 stopped but no pony made a foolish move 1228 00:49:59,639 --> 00:50:04,329 and the two addressing us seemed to 1229 00:50:01,650 --> 00:50:07,789 shrug off the news as inconsequential 1230 00:50:04,329 --> 00:50:09,549 paladin amaranth the unicorn scribe said 1231 00:50:07,789 --> 00:50:11,960 in a tone that only pretended to ask 1232 00:50:09,550 --> 00:50:15,620 would you please check elder cottages 1233 00:50:11,960 --> 00:50:17,059 pod and make sure all is in order the 1234 00:50:15,619 --> 00:50:19,279 armored paladin with the anti-tank 1235 00:50:17,059 --> 00:50:23,509 weapons trotted forward a step stopped 1236 00:50:19,280 --> 00:50:28,580 then took several steps back paladin 1237 00:50:23,510 --> 00:50:29,330 amaranth the unicorn questioned this is 1238 00:50:28,579 --> 00:50:32,869 a problem 1239 00:50:29,329 --> 00:50:34,819 amaranth intone these are just any group 1240 00:50:32,869 --> 00:50:38,989 of tribals these are the stable two 1241 00:50:34,820 --> 00:50:42,880 tribals that's the stable dweller she 1242 00:50:38,989 --> 00:50:46,009 nodded towards me yes I realized that 1243 00:50:42,880 --> 00:50:49,630 the unicorn said impatiently but I don't 1244 00:50:46,010 --> 00:50:52,940 see how that matters it matters 1245 00:50:49,630 --> 00:50:56,780 amaranth crowd because DJ Pony has a 1246 00:50:52,940 --> 00:50:59,050 boner for I cringed at that the mental 1247 00:50:56,780 --> 00:51:01,490 image being all manners of wrong and 1248 00:50:59,050 --> 00:51:04,310 he's got the whole wasteland believing 1249 00:51:01,489 --> 00:51:06,349 whatever she says if it was just the 1250 00:51:04,309 --> 00:51:08,719 outcasts anything that went down here 1251 00:51:06,349 --> 00:51:13,789 would be our words against theirs but 1252 00:51:08,719 --> 00:51:15,079 with her the unicorn scowled and what 1253 00:51:13,789 --> 00:51:16,429 pray tell do you think is going to 1254 00:51:15,079 --> 00:51:20,539 happen here what the truth wouldn't 1255 00:51:16,429 --> 00:51:25,329 favor us paladin M ref took two more 1256 00:51:20,539 --> 00:51:28,340 steps back this is blown kill them all 1257 00:51:25,329 --> 00:51:31,250 the moment she spoke every spot on my 1258 00:51:28,340 --> 00:51:35,420 EFS compass changed to red except for 1259 00:51:31,250 --> 00:51:37,699 the unicorn what the unicorn shouted 1260 00:51:35,420 --> 00:51:42,759 spinning around to face the others belay 1261 00:51:37,699 --> 00:51:44,899 that order it was already far too late 1262 00:51:42,759 --> 00:51:47,329 steel hooks have been busy standing 1263 00:51:44,900 --> 00:51:50,389 still targeting Rangers with this armors 1264 00:51:47,329 --> 00:51:51,798 targeting spell even as he talked before 1265 00:51:50,389 --> 00:51:53,389 any of the steel Rangers could react to 1266 00:51:51,798 --> 00:51:55,728 the words of either paladin M wrath or 1267 00:51:53,389 --> 00:51:57,409 the unicorn our Applejack's ranger was 1268 00:51:55,728 --> 00:51:59,838 firing loads of high explosive grenades 1269 00:51:57,409 --> 00:52:01,428 at them three of the co Rangers were 1270 00:51:59,838 --> 00:52:03,889 blown into armored giblets before the 1271 00:52:01,429 --> 00:52:05,209 new corn had finished saying order the 1272 00:52:03,889 --> 00:52:08,358 word drowned out from the hosts of 1273 00:52:05,208 --> 00:52:10,278 detonations pallet and amaranth fired 1274 00:52:08,358 --> 00:52:11,989 its steel hooks almost point-blank the 1275 00:52:10,278 --> 00:52:13,608 rounds from her twin anti-tank guns 1276 00:52:11,989 --> 00:52:15,818 punching through his armor and flesh and 1277 00:52:13,608 --> 00:52:17,838 exiting the other side and perfect holes 1278 00:52:15,818 --> 00:52:20,239 steel hose fell to the ground with a 1279 00:52:17,838 --> 00:52:23,688 metallic thump his light on my compass 1280 00:52:20,239 --> 00:52:25,548 winked out M ref turned back towards me 1281 00:52:23,688 --> 00:52:26,928 with a swift canter only to find herself 1282 00:52:25,548 --> 00:52:29,329 looking down the barrels of a sniper 1283 00:52:26,929 --> 00:52:34,099 rifle a zebra rifle and little McIntosh 1284 00:52:29,329 --> 00:52:35,689 I pulled every trigger from the way blue 1285 00:52:34,099 --> 00:52:37,160 sparks erupted from the holes I blew in 1286 00:52:35,688 --> 00:52:39,199 her armor the magically enchanted 1287 00:52:37,159 --> 00:52:42,288 bullets in little McIntosh were probably 1288 00:52:39,199 --> 00:52:43,999 the ones which kill her the world 1289 00:52:42,289 --> 00:52:45,559 erupted around me as the three remaining 1290 00:52:43,998 --> 00:52:47,568 steel rangers launched grenades and 1291 00:52:45,559 --> 00:52:49,509 missiles at us neglecting the safety of 1292 00:52:47,568 --> 00:52:51,409 the elder and the unicorn alike 1293 00:52:49,509 --> 00:52:53,900 mercifully most of the first volley 1294 00:52:51,409 --> 00:52:55,818 missed they had been targeting steel 1295 00:52:53,900 --> 00:52:58,880 hoofs and the moment he went down their 1296 00:52:55,818 --> 00:53:00,768 targeting spells lost their lock I felt 1297 00:52:58,880 --> 00:53:02,559 shrapnel and fire slash at me as I was 1298 00:53:00,768 --> 00:53:05,058 knocked to the ground my ears ringing 1299 00:53:02,559 --> 00:53:08,119 the magical grip I had on my weapons 1300 00:53:05,059 --> 00:53:10,219 evaporated even through the near 1301 00:53:08,119 --> 00:53:12,019 deafness caused by the explosions like 1302 00:53:10,219 --> 00:53:15,139 it's still here spitfire slender echoing 1303 00:53:12,018 --> 00:53:17,028 across the main hat in shoreline two of 1304 00:53:15,139 --> 00:53:19,788 the seal Rangers dropped dead before 1305 00:53:17,028 --> 00:53:22,849 they hit the ground the third fire two 1306 00:53:19,789 --> 00:53:25,219 Rockets I watched as anethe couch passed 1307 00:53:22,849 --> 00:53:25,818 me dodging them and planted herself on 1308 00:53:25,219 --> 00:53:27,499 her forehooves 1309 00:53:25,818 --> 00:53:29,028 swinging about to buck the Knights 1310 00:53:27,498 --> 00:53:32,389 helmet with such force that it broke his 1311 00:53:29,028 --> 00:53:34,119 neck as she looked at me I saw she had a 1312 00:53:32,389 --> 00:53:36,219 vile clinch between her teeth she 1313 00:53:34,119 --> 00:53:38,260 dropped it 1314 00:53:36,219 --> 00:53:40,299 the vial shattered against the ground 1315 00:53:38,260 --> 00:53:44,319 and the lot began to fill with fireless 1316 00:53:40,300 --> 00:53:45,670 smoke I pushed myself to my hooves pain 1317 00:53:44,318 --> 00:53:48,608 lancing through multiple parts of my 1318 00:53:45,670 --> 00:53:50,740 body my pipbuck was sending me medical 1319 00:53:48,608 --> 00:53:53,920 warnings some of my cuts were pretty 1320 00:53:50,739 --> 00:53:55,389 deep and I was bleeding badly my 1321 00:53:53,920 --> 00:53:56,829 inventory sorter immediately placed 1322 00:53:55,389 --> 00:53:58,389 within reached the remaining medical 1323 00:53:56,829 --> 00:54:01,269 supplies I had taken from pelvic remedy 1324 00:53:58,389 --> 00:54:03,598 earlier I administered the last of the 1325 00:54:01,269 --> 00:54:05,889 painkiller and down to healing potion 1326 00:54:03,599 --> 00:54:08,890 more explosions toward the ground near 1327 00:54:05,889 --> 00:54:11,559 me thrown me back my head hit the 1328 00:54:08,889 --> 00:54:12,759 concrete hard enough to daze me the 1329 00:54:11,559 --> 00:54:14,588 steel rangers who had remained hidden 1330 00:54:12,760 --> 00:54:17,500 before had now moved into positions that 1331 00:54:14,588 --> 00:54:19,420 gave them clear lines of fire my ears 1332 00:54:17,500 --> 00:54:20,409 were ringing in my vision blurred but I 1333 00:54:19,420 --> 00:54:23,409 could still tell the sound of 1334 00:54:20,409 --> 00:54:24,818 machine-gun fire the smoke and dust were 1335 00:54:23,409 --> 00:54:27,190 obscuring my vision as much as anything 1336 00:54:24,818 --> 00:54:29,858 else but my EFS was still picking out 1337 00:54:27,190 --> 00:54:32,200 targets I had no idea what had happened 1338 00:54:29,858 --> 00:54:34,269 to zennith I looked around blinking 1339 00:54:32,199 --> 00:54:36,939 concrete dust out of my eyes but I 1340 00:54:34,269 --> 00:54:39,329 couldn't see her not even the friendly 1341 00:54:36,940 --> 00:54:42,099 light that should be her on my compass 1342 00:54:39,329 --> 00:54:45,880 another light flared up a friendly one 1343 00:54:42,099 --> 00:54:47,769 as a terrible sound warped the air steel 1344 00:54:45,880 --> 00:54:50,980 has got back to his hopes in a vortex of 1345 00:54:47,769 --> 00:54:53,679 unseen necromantic energy Canterlot 1346 00:54:50,980 --> 00:54:55,210 ghouls don't stay dead you have to turn 1347 00:54:53,679 --> 00:54:59,318 them to ash or dismember them to keep 1348 00:54:55,210 --> 00:55:00,130 them down I was at once thankful and 1349 00:54:59,318 --> 00:55:01,809 horrified 1350 00:55:00,130 --> 00:55:04,960 fearing even more for our trip into the 1351 00:55:01,809 --> 00:55:06,940 Canterlot ruins somebody was crawling 1352 00:55:04,960 --> 00:55:11,050 towards me a friendly light on my 1353 00:55:06,940 --> 00:55:13,179 compass I turned expecting disease NF it 1354 00:55:11,050 --> 00:55:15,068 was the unicorn scribe 1355 00:55:13,179 --> 00:55:17,500 she was dragging herself across the 1356 00:55:15,068 --> 00:55:20,139 broken asphalt a swath of red smearing 1357 00:55:17,500 --> 00:55:23,519 out behind a tattered flank an explosion 1358 00:55:20,139 --> 00:55:23,519 had torn off one of her legs I 1359 00:55:23,588 --> 00:55:32,528 she said weakly focusing on me as if her 1360 00:55:26,349 --> 00:55:34,778 life depended on it don't understand her 1361 00:55:32,528 --> 00:55:37,949 life didn't depend on me it was already 1362 00:55:34,778 --> 00:55:40,510 over for the second time that day I 1363 00:55:37,949 --> 00:55:42,939 administered painkiller all that I had 1364 00:55:40,510 --> 00:55:43,569 left to a pony who should have been my 1365 00:55:42,940 --> 00:55:47,710 enemy 1366 00:55:43,568 --> 00:55:49,269 I found myself laying down on a straw 1367 00:55:47,710 --> 00:55:53,019 bed roam the common lot of our boo 1368 00:55:49,269 --> 00:55:54,699 watching colorful ponies trot about many 1369 00:55:53,019 --> 00:55:57,519 of them stopped away the low four 1370 00:55:54,699 --> 00:55:58,719 trotted up to greet me friendlies town 1371 00:55:57,519 --> 00:56:00,460 in the wasteland had been the claim on 1372 00:55:58,719 --> 00:56:03,939 their sign and they seemed too 1373 00:56:00,460 --> 00:56:06,519 determined to live up to that as one 1374 00:56:03,940 --> 00:56:08,048 Pony a fairly ugly puce colored mare 1375 00:56:06,519 --> 00:56:10,170 with a withered hind leg and a cutie 1376 00:56:08,048 --> 00:56:12,329 mark that looked like a stewpot told me 1377 00:56:10,170 --> 00:56:15,068 well we got to be good at something and 1378 00:56:12,329 --> 00:56:16,180 everything else about this town sucks so 1379 00:56:15,068 --> 00:56:18,329 it might as well be us that's the good 1380 00:56:16,179 --> 00:56:20,500 part right 1381 00:56:18,329 --> 00:56:22,539 most of the storefronts have boarded 1382 00:56:20,500 --> 00:56:24,519 over windows except for the helping of 1383 00:56:22,539 --> 00:56:26,980 quick care whose windows were covered in 1384 00:56:24,519 --> 00:56:29,440 aged fliers and posters and virtue 1385 00:56:26,980 --> 00:56:33,010 comics which no longer had a front wall 1386 00:56:29,440 --> 00:56:35,048 much less windows still the entire place 1387 00:56:33,010 --> 00:56:37,730 was clearly in use the home for a 1388 00:56:35,048 --> 00:56:40,309 half-dozen Pony families 1389 00:56:37,730 --> 00:56:41,809 we would be spending the night here the 1390 00:56:40,309 --> 00:56:43,279 good ponies of our boo insisted on being 1391 00:56:41,809 --> 00:56:46,549 gracious hosts after we came to the 1392 00:56:43,280 --> 00:56:50,800 merchants rescue earlier today I was too 1393 00:56:46,550 --> 00:56:53,539 numb to argue or really to feel anything 1394 00:56:50,800 --> 00:56:55,010 part of that I knew was the painkillers 1395 00:56:53,539 --> 00:56:56,779 The Velvet Romney had doped me up with 1396 00:56:55,010 --> 00:56:59,390 before wrapping me in enough bandages to 1397 00:56:56,780 --> 00:57:00,830 have been a museum exhibit come see the 1398 00:56:59,389 --> 00:57:04,699 mummy of the rare stable dweller 1399 00:57:00,829 --> 00:57:07,670 beware the curse I couldn't remember how 1400 00:57:04,699 --> 00:57:09,409 the fight ended I couldn't remember much 1401 00:57:07,670 --> 00:57:12,610 past holding the unicorn scribe as she 1402 00:57:09,409 --> 00:57:14,659 passed from this life I had a concussion 1403 00:57:12,610 --> 00:57:17,780 velvet Romney warned that I might have 1404 00:57:14,659 --> 00:57:20,179 blacked out again thanks for your help 1405 00:57:17,780 --> 00:57:22,340 stranger the merchant Pony was saying to 1406 00:57:20,179 --> 00:57:25,609 calamity that might have been the end of 1407 00:57:22,340 --> 00:57:27,530 me if you hadn't stepped in velvet 1408 00:57:25,610 --> 00:57:30,110 remedy trotted up to me seemingly from 1409 00:57:27,530 --> 00:57:32,290 out of nowhere she gave me a gentle kiss 1410 00:57:30,110 --> 00:57:37,280 on the horn as if I was her little filly 1411 00:57:32,289 --> 00:57:40,940 how's your head i grunted in response my 1412 00:57:37,280 --> 00:57:43,150 head was full of crying shadows you'll 1413 00:57:40,940 --> 00:57:45,730 be okay little pip she said soothingly 1414 00:57:43,150 --> 00:57:49,670 just rest 1415 00:57:45,730 --> 00:57:53,599 she sighed as soon as she said it why do 1416 00:57:49,670 --> 00:57:54,079 I even bother saying that where were you 1417 00:57:53,599 --> 00:57:58,099 just now 1418 00:57:54,079 --> 00:57:59,539 I asked changing the subject just 1419 00:57:58,099 --> 00:58:02,119 helping patch up the merchants Brahmin 1420 00:57:59,539 --> 00:58:04,789 she replied indicating the two-headed 1421 00:58:02,119 --> 00:58:05,960 cattle one of them took a few bullets 1422 00:58:04,789 --> 00:58:08,719 and the other had a sliver of glass 1423 00:58:05,960 --> 00:58:10,070 wedged in a tough it'll be another day 1424 00:58:08,719 --> 00:58:11,359 or two before the first Brahmin can 1425 00:58:10,070 --> 00:58:12,730 travel so the merchants will be joining 1426 00:58:11,360 --> 00:58:15,039 us here for dinner 1427 00:58:12,730 --> 00:58:18,340 I'm nodded 1428 00:58:15,039 --> 00:58:19,929 that's nice of you I wondered how the 1429 00:58:18,340 --> 00:58:22,630 hell you could notice a sliver of glass 1430 00:58:19,929 --> 00:58:26,409 in the bottom of Crete yourself I mean 1431 00:58:22,630 --> 00:58:29,559 they were standing on it right oh she 1432 00:58:26,409 --> 00:58:32,829 told me though it said casually as if I 1433 00:58:29,559 --> 00:58:35,559 had vocalized the last question then she 1434 00:58:32,829 --> 00:58:38,799 kissed my head again informing me I'm 1435 00:58:35,559 --> 00:58:40,719 going to go sit with calamity she 1436 00:58:38,800 --> 00:58:41,950 trotted off leaving me wondering when 1437 00:58:40,719 --> 00:58:44,980 she had picked up an ability to 1438 00:58:41,949 --> 00:58:46,989 communicate with animals the gears of my 1439 00:58:44,980 --> 00:58:50,050 mind felt broken and I was sure was 1440 00:58:46,989 --> 00:58:52,569 missing something important getting up I 1441 00:58:50,050 --> 00:58:54,490 started to look around I had nothing 1442 00:58:52,570 --> 00:58:57,190 better to do and my usefulness seemed to 1443 00:58:54,489 --> 00:58:58,809 be limited to shooting things I played 1444 00:58:57,190 --> 00:59:03,280 another of the audio logs of the unnamed 1445 00:58:58,809 --> 00:59:05,619 mall security guard spread the day at my 1446 00:59:03,280 --> 00:59:07,420 niece's birthday party first time I 1447 00:59:05,619 --> 00:59:10,510 actually wanted to be called away so 1448 00:59:07,420 --> 00:59:13,090 naturally no pony had any problems I was 1449 00:59:10,510 --> 00:59:15,190 tempted to feign a call anyway I know 1450 00:59:13,090 --> 00:59:17,200 it's pretty awful and selfish to me but 1451 00:59:15,190 --> 00:59:18,789 darling is suffering from wartime stress 1452 00:59:17,199 --> 00:59:22,029 disorder and there's nothing really I 1453 00:59:18,789 --> 00:59:23,800 can do to help I hated just standing 1454 00:59:22,030 --> 00:59:25,420 there and feeling useless sharing 1455 00:59:23,800 --> 00:59:27,550 worried looks with my sister as darling 1456 00:59:25,420 --> 00:59:28,869 went on and on muttering things like so 1457 00:59:27,550 --> 00:59:31,030 what if it's my birthday we could all be 1458 00:59:28,869 --> 00:59:32,650 dead tomorrow I hate this war why does 1459 00:59:31,030 --> 00:59:33,609 it have to be like this is a really too 1460 00:59:32,650 --> 00:59:37,570 late to come to a peaceful resolution 1461 00:59:33,608 --> 00:59:40,710 I'm not sure all the zebras are bad yeah 1462 00:59:37,570 --> 00:59:43,930 no Pony else was enjoying the party 1463 00:59:40,710 --> 00:59:45,340 according to sis darlings been depressed 1464 00:59:43,929 --> 00:59:46,599 for months now and nothing she does 1465 00:59:45,340 --> 00:59:48,579 seems to pull her out of it 1466 00:59:46,599 --> 00:59:49,839 she was really hoping the birthday party 1467 00:59:48,579 --> 00:59:51,130 had raised the girl's spirits but if 1468 00:59:49,840 --> 00:59:54,390 anything it seems to have made her even 1469 00:59:51,130 --> 00:59:56,349 more withdrawn sis is at her wits end I 1470 00:59:54,389 --> 00:59:58,839 advised that it was time to call the 1471 00:59:56,349 --> 01:00:01,380 Ministry of peace Darla needs some help 1472 00:59:58,840 --> 01:00:04,088 that we can't give her 1473 01:00:01,380 --> 01:00:07,240 one of the RB ponies trotted up to me a 1474 01:00:04,088 --> 01:00:10,150 canteen around her neck would you care 1475 01:00:07,239 --> 01:00:13,959 for some water I realized I was parched 1476 01:00:10,150 --> 01:00:16,990 and nodded my pipbuck clicks softly as I 1477 01:00:13,960 --> 01:00:19,599 levitated the offered canteen closed the 1478 01:00:16,989 --> 01:00:21,608 mayor looked apologetic I'm afraid all 1479 01:00:19,599 --> 01:00:23,740 we got is dirty water around here the 1480 01:00:21,608 --> 01:00:25,869 purifiers down again bend down all week 1481 01:00:23,739 --> 01:00:26,979 we've captured as much rainwater as we 1482 01:00:25,869 --> 01:00:30,519 could but we're saving that for the 1483 01:00:26,980 --> 01:00:33,159 children I nodded understanding and took 1484 01:00:30,519 --> 01:00:36,250 a small drink just enough to be polite 1485 01:00:33,159 --> 01:00:37,719 and wet my mouth then remembering that 1486 01:00:36,250 --> 01:00:38,889 it might be a long time before I had 1487 01:00:37,719 --> 01:00:42,129 water even this good again 1488 01:00:38,889 --> 01:00:43,269 I took a deeper sip the goddess has only 1489 01:00:42,130 --> 01:00:46,150 knew what water would be like in 1490 01:00:43,269 --> 01:00:47,829 Canterlot velvet remedy had loaded up on 1491 01:00:46,150 --> 01:00:52,150 canteens of pure water before we left 1492 01:00:47,829 --> 01:00:52,720 him bony Tower yet get your sorry hides 1493 01:00:52,150 --> 01:00:56,380 out of here 1494 01:00:52,719 --> 01:00:57,969 y'all ain't wanted here I jumped at the 1495 01:00:56,380 --> 01:01:01,240 voice booming from the loft above what 1496 01:00:57,969 --> 01:01:03,308 had once been custard cakes shop grandpa 1497 01:01:01,239 --> 01:01:05,558 rattle you get back in your room the 1498 01:01:03,309 --> 01:01:07,720 mayor with the canteen shot it back yet 1499 01:01:05,559 --> 01:01:10,420 get out don't you ever come back 1500 01:01:07,719 --> 01:01:11,679 the crotchety old buck yelled levitating 1501 01:01:10,420 --> 01:01:18,059 a stick and wiggling in a threatening 1502 01:01:11,679 --> 01:01:21,548 manner I've got a shotgun he had a stick 1503 01:01:18,059 --> 01:01:25,289 the mayor looked abashed please don't 1504 01:01:21,548 --> 01:01:27,699 mind grandpa rattle his mind a bit gone 1505 01:01:25,289 --> 01:01:29,440 above I saw the green mare with the 1506 01:01:27,699 --> 01:01:31,449 orange mane who might seen before appear 1507 01:01:29,440 --> 01:01:34,240 at the old bucks window and gently but 1508 01:01:31,449 --> 01:01:35,769 forcibly guide him back to his room the 1509 01:01:34,239 --> 01:01:37,479 canteen mayor gave me an embarrassed 1510 01:01:35,769 --> 01:01:41,199 smile she reclaimed her canteen and 1511 01:01:37,480 --> 01:01:42,608 trotted off I shook my head feeling a 1512 01:01:41,199 --> 01:01:45,548 bit woozy and looked around for my 1513 01:01:42,608 --> 01:01:47,858 friends I glanced towards where pyre 1514 01:01:45,548 --> 01:01:49,358 light was sleeping perched on an old 1515 01:01:47,858 --> 01:01:52,449 vendor sign above where the brahman were 1516 01:01:49,358 --> 01:01:54,538 tethered she was glowing softly mostly 1517 01:01:52,449 --> 01:01:57,159 healed and sleeping off her injuries I 1518 01:01:54,539 --> 01:01:58,690 trotted closer admiring the subdued 1519 01:01:57,159 --> 01:02:03,719 majesty of the sleeping Phoenix 1520 01:01:58,690 --> 01:02:03,720 I clicked another audio diary entry 1521 01:02:03,989 --> 01:02:08,199 today has been the latest chapter in the 1522 01:02:06,338 --> 01:02:10,929 continuing war between mr. Bean's and 1523 01:02:08,199 --> 01:02:12,838 jamocha Joe and I gotta say I really 1524 01:02:10,929 --> 01:02:15,038 don't like where this one's headed 1525 01:02:12,838 --> 01:02:16,630 jamocha Joe is threatening to sue mr. 1526 01:02:15,039 --> 01:02:18,640 Bean's over his latest advertising 1527 01:02:16,630 --> 01:02:20,640 campaign which fishes the assertion that 1528 01:02:18,639 --> 01:02:23,019 all our beans are a questioning groan 1529 01:02:20,639 --> 01:02:24,068 according to Jim okey Joe the ad - 1530 01:02:23,019 --> 01:02:26,108 trying to paint stuff like this 1531 01:02:24,068 --> 01:02:27,699 unpatriotic suggesting that some of 1532 01:02:26,108 --> 01:02:30,369 their beans might come from zebra lands 1533 01:02:27,699 --> 01:02:32,278 I tried to point out that the ad said no 1534 01:02:30,369 --> 01:02:34,539 such thing but he wouldn't listen I 1535 01:02:32,278 --> 01:02:37,210 talked to mr. beans about the new ads 1536 01:02:34,539 --> 01:02:39,160 and he said and I quote hey I'm not 1537 01:02:37,210 --> 01:02:41,019 saying his beans a zebra beans I'm just 1538 01:02:39,159 --> 01:02:43,420 saying you know do you know where's 1539 01:02:41,019 --> 01:02:45,548 beans come from cuz I don't but our 1540 01:02:43,420 --> 01:02:49,869 beans are pure 100 page trionic pony 1541 01:02:45,548 --> 01:02:50,798 beans that's all I'm saying okay just 1542 01:02:49,869 --> 01:02:53,318 awesome 1543 01:02:50,798 --> 01:02:54,818 you know mr. beans reminded me the 1544 01:02:53,318 --> 01:02:56,259 winter was almost here and the winter 1545 01:02:54,818 --> 01:02:58,389 makes her breaks a pony in the coffee 1546 01:02:56,260 --> 01:03:01,720 business he needed every edge you could 1547 01:02:58,389 --> 01:03:03,818 get even Starbuck I told him that maybe 1548 01:03:01,719 --> 01:03:04,778 should try instead to make coffee that 1549 01:03:03,818 --> 01:03:06,068 didn't taste like it was filtered 1550 01:03:04,778 --> 01:03:09,579 through something used to wipe a Mules 1551 01:03:06,068 --> 01:03:15,608 backside but he says that's how coffees 1552 01:03:09,579 --> 01:03:18,720 supposed to taste sandy shore that was 1553 01:03:15,608 --> 01:03:21,480 the name of the black coat a bandit son 1554 01:03:18,719 --> 01:03:23,069 I kept watching him from across one of 1555 01:03:21,480 --> 01:03:24,750 the picnic tables in the our boo common 1556 01:03:23,070 --> 01:03:25,980 lot as I ate from the meaty bowl of stew 1557 01:03:24,750 --> 01:03:29,000 that the good ponies of our boot would 1558 01:03:25,980 --> 01:03:33,179 offered us sandy shore was lethargic 1559 01:03:29,000 --> 01:03:35,309 slow to respond and very withdrawn his 1560 01:03:33,179 --> 01:03:38,309 eyes were red from crying but he wasn't 1561 01:03:35,309 --> 01:03:40,460 crying now he was just staring at his 1562 01:03:38,309 --> 01:03:43,739 stew with very little interest I 1563 01:03:40,460 --> 01:03:45,949 empathized it was an absolutely 1564 01:03:43,739 --> 01:03:49,399 delicious stew Radig ater is good eatin 1565 01:03:45,949 --> 01:03:52,139 but I just didn't have any appetite I 1566 01:03:49,400 --> 01:03:56,070 put another spoonful in my mouth chewed 1567 01:03:52,139 --> 01:03:58,710 and swallowed mostly from rote memory my 1568 01:03:56,070 --> 01:04:00,150 pipbuck clicked slowly at me the stew 1569 01:03:58,710 --> 01:04:02,880 was made with the mildly irradiated 1570 01:04:00,150 --> 01:04:05,220 river water after the radiation exposure 1571 01:04:02,880 --> 01:04:06,750 gummies I wasn't so concerned about the 1572 01:04:05,219 --> 01:04:10,319 negligible amount I was ingesting from 1573 01:04:06,750 --> 01:04:12,570 the dirty water using the stew I was a 1574 01:04:10,320 --> 01:04:15,269 touch worried about the cold but I had 1575 01:04:12,570 --> 01:04:18,030 to imagine he had ingested worse often 1576 01:04:15,269 --> 01:04:22,289 and at least the water in his glass was 1577 01:04:18,030 --> 01:04:25,070 pure rainwater so what's the market 1578 01:04:22,289 --> 01:04:27,179 around here I heard velvet remedy asked 1579 01:04:25,070 --> 01:04:28,800 she and glamoured were chatting amiably 1580 01:04:27,179 --> 01:04:31,489 with several of the RV ponies in the 1581 01:04:28,800 --> 01:04:33,900 caravan merchants at the next table 1582 01:04:31,489 --> 01:04:35,459 steelo's was sitting nearby keeping 1583 01:04:33,900 --> 01:04:37,079 watch over elder cottage cheese in his 1584 01:04:35,460 --> 01:04:38,760 medical pot as the repair spells and 1585 01:04:37,079 --> 01:04:40,409 chanted into his armor slowly patched up 1586 01:04:38,760 --> 01:04:43,470 the gaping holes caused by a Marantz 1587 01:04:40,409 --> 01:04:45,108 anti-tank guns I'm not sure what seal 1588 01:04:43,469 --> 01:04:48,539 has planned to do with the elder now I 1589 01:04:45,108 --> 01:04:50,799 didn't think he knew either 1590 01:04:48,539 --> 01:04:52,360 we're always looking for parts to keep 1591 01:04:50,800 --> 01:04:55,269 up that damn piece of shit water 1592 01:04:52,360 --> 01:04:58,320 purifier and we'll fire the green mare I 1593 01:04:55,269 --> 01:05:01,090 had met before told her and more radaway 1594 01:04:58,320 --> 01:05:03,550 especially for when it's broke which is 1595 01:05:01,090 --> 01:05:06,880 like every day that ends in Y beyond 1596 01:05:03,550 --> 01:05:08,380 that basic supplies and by the fucking 1597 01:05:06,880 --> 01:05:10,260 goddess if we could just get some toilet 1598 01:05:08,380 --> 01:05:14,680 paper around here 1599 01:05:10,260 --> 01:05:18,070 by the goddess which one or did they 1600 01:05:14,679 --> 01:05:21,339 actually follow that one here velvet 1601 01:05:18,070 --> 01:05:24,970 remedy caught on that too it's a goddess 1602 01:05:21,340 --> 01:05:27,519 she asked politely yeah you know all 1603 01:05:24,969 --> 01:05:30,009 that unity crap we're all going to be 1604 01:05:27,519 --> 01:05:31,480 together as one ain't we and robe fires 1605 01:05:30,010 --> 01:05:34,650 raised voice brought laughter from 1606 01:05:31,480 --> 01:05:37,150 nearby picnic tables lowering her voice 1607 01:05:34,650 --> 01:05:39,400 we had one of her wandering preachers 1608 01:05:37,150 --> 01:05:41,019 come through a few years back it was a 1609 01:05:39,400 --> 01:05:44,230 bad year for us so we took some solace 1610 01:05:41,019 --> 01:05:47,500 in him velvet remedy nodded and then 1611 01:05:44,230 --> 01:05:51,219 redirected the conversation so what do 1612 01:05:47,500 --> 01:05:53,889 you barter with here meet the 1613 01:05:51,219 --> 01:05:55,769 milk-colored mayor spoke up proudly come 1614 01:05:53,889 --> 01:05:58,559 from generations of Radig ATAR hunters 1615 01:05:55,769 --> 01:06:00,519 she thumped a hoof on her chest I 1616 01:05:58,559 --> 01:06:02,799 understood now why she didn't want us 1617 01:06:00,519 --> 01:06:04,239 killing the monsters in the hatchery the 1618 01:06:02,800 --> 01:06:08,920 giant rat a Gators were their livelihood 1619 01:06:04,239 --> 01:06:11,619 I faded out of the conversation I was 1620 01:06:08,920 --> 01:06:13,119 having trouble keeping focus I looked 1621 01:06:11,619 --> 01:06:15,609 down at my stew and realized I'd eaten 1622 01:06:13,119 --> 01:06:19,529 more of it than I thought my head was 1623 01:06:15,610 --> 01:06:19,530 throbbing even behind the painkillers 1624 01:06:19,860 --> 01:06:23,160 sandy shore had pushed away from the 1625 01:06:21,659 --> 01:06:24,569 table and was wandering off toward the 1626 01:06:23,159 --> 01:06:27,299 section of the strip mall which had once 1627 01:06:24,570 --> 01:06:28,920 been a helping of quick care among the 1628 01:06:27,300 --> 01:06:30,960 faded posters and flyers papering its 1629 01:06:28,920 --> 01:06:33,930 windows I spotted a gray one with a 1630 01:06:30,960 --> 01:06:37,110 black block letters remember what 1631 01:06:33,929 --> 01:06:40,589 separates ponies from zebras not stripes 1632 01:06:37,110 --> 01:06:45,329 not cutie marks but what is inside there 1633 01:06:40,590 --> 01:06:48,660 is good in all of us no pictures no 1634 01:06:45,329 --> 01:06:50,809 ministry affiliations it almost looked 1635 01:06:48,659 --> 01:06:52,619 like it could have been made locally 1636 01:06:50,809 --> 01:06:54,960 embarrassment pushed me through my 1637 01:06:52,619 --> 01:06:58,500 numbness I hope to zennith hadn't seen 1638 01:06:54,960 --> 01:07:00,929 it I looked across a lot to where she 1639 01:06:58,500 --> 01:07:03,210 was eating food of her own cooking alone 1640 01:07:00,929 --> 01:07:04,799 save for the merchants cattle one of 1641 01:07:03,210 --> 01:07:08,309 whom had bandages wrapped around slag 1642 01:07:04,800 --> 01:07:09,330 courtesy of velvet remedy what are the 1643 01:07:08,309 --> 01:07:11,460 marks on your flanks 1644 01:07:09,329 --> 01:07:12,779 I heard calamity ask because I got it 1645 01:07:11,460 --> 01:07:16,829 from the table and made my way over to 1646 01:07:12,780 --> 01:07:21,000 Zenith they looked like brands there was 1647 01:07:16,829 --> 01:07:24,210 an odd tone in his voice yep it's an RB 1648 01:07:21,000 --> 01:07:25,550 mark a mayor told him proudly we get it 1649 01:07:24,210 --> 01:07:28,050 after we eat the heart of our first kill 1650 01:07:25,550 --> 01:07:31,860 only ponies with an RB mark and voting 1651 01:07:28,050 --> 01:07:33,900 the Town Council I settled down next to 1652 01:07:31,860 --> 01:07:36,329 Zenith tuning out the conversation that 1653 01:07:33,900 --> 01:07:37,610 the elders were in I was having trouble 1654 01:07:36,329 --> 01:07:41,130 following it anyway 1655 01:07:37,610 --> 01:07:44,160 probably the concussion or maybe just 1656 01:07:41,130 --> 01:07:45,570 didn't seem so important it was hard for 1657 01:07:44,159 --> 01:07:47,129 such little things to seem important 1658 01:07:45,570 --> 01:07:49,890 when I kept seeing sandy shore hugging 1659 01:07:47,130 --> 01:07:51,599 his father crying or the mayor whose I 1660 01:07:49,889 --> 01:07:54,719 had become a horrific Black Moon Sun 1661 01:07:51,599 --> 01:07:56,159 thing or the unicorn scribe a murdered 1662 01:07:54,719 --> 01:07:57,779 by her own Rangers in some sort of 1663 01:07:56,159 --> 01:08:01,699 political move I still didn't understand 1664 01:07:57,780 --> 01:08:03,990 I looked at what Zenith was eating 1665 01:08:01,699 --> 01:08:08,009 please tell me they didn't refuse to 1666 01:08:03,989 --> 01:08:11,529 offer you food I said my hackles rising 1667 01:08:08,010 --> 01:08:14,440 no she said simply I cook for the 1668 01:08:11,530 --> 01:08:16,780 medical Pony and myself neither of us 1669 01:08:14,440 --> 01:08:20,739 cares for Stuart meat I just hope I did 1670 01:08:16,779 --> 01:08:24,189 not offend oh oh yeah 1671 01:08:20,739 --> 01:08:25,210 that makes sense we should be 1672 01:08:24,189 --> 01:08:34,049 apologizing to you 1673 01:08:25,210 --> 01:08:36,039 I replied earnestly why well because I 1674 01:08:34,050 --> 01:08:40,900 glanced back in the direction of the 1675 01:08:36,039 --> 01:08:43,750 poster maybe she hadn't seen it you did 1676 01:08:40,899 --> 01:08:46,989 not write that damn it 1677 01:08:43,750 --> 01:08:49,689 she had nor any of the ponies alive 1678 01:08:46,989 --> 01:08:51,340 today here or anywhere else you should 1679 01:08:49,689 --> 01:08:53,019 not apologize for what ponies who are 1680 01:08:51,340 --> 01:08:56,560 not you did long before you were around 1681 01:08:53,020 --> 01:08:58,270 to stop them ah my head swam a bit and 1682 01:08:56,560 --> 01:09:00,090 it took me a moment to realize we 1683 01:08:58,270 --> 01:09:04,930 weren't just talking about ponies I 1684 01:09:00,090 --> 01:09:07,109 nodded understanding none of us would 1685 01:09:04,930 --> 01:09:08,409 blame you for what happened in the war I 1686 01:09:07,109 --> 01:09:11,850 paused 1687 01:09:08,409 --> 01:09:14,619 realizing that wasn't quite correct well 1688 01:09:11,850 --> 01:09:17,770 steelo's would but I think even he's 1689 01:09:14,619 --> 01:09:20,409 coming around my thoughts returned to 1690 01:09:17,770 --> 01:09:23,530 the poster they could've at least paint 1691 01:09:20,409 --> 01:09:24,599 it over though they are hunting their 1692 01:09:23,529 --> 01:09:28,630 prey to extinction 1693 01:09:24,600 --> 01:09:31,060 zennith informed me soon there will be 1694 01:09:28,630 --> 01:09:32,409 no more meat to barter with I do not 1695 01:09:31,060 --> 01:09:33,970 begrudge them for not spending what 1696 01:09:32,409 --> 01:09:37,239 little they have on such luxuries as 1697 01:09:33,970 --> 01:09:40,090 paint I thought of the number of 1698 01:09:37,239 --> 01:09:41,289 radicals we'd seen at the hatchery when 1699 01:09:40,090 --> 01:09:44,350 I've been thinking we might have to 1700 01:09:41,289 --> 01:09:46,090 fight them there had been a lot but when 1701 01:09:44,350 --> 01:09:49,300 viewed as both food and trading supplies 1702 01:09:46,090 --> 01:09:51,520 there were hardly any I hoped the river 1703 01:09:49,300 --> 01:09:53,289 held significantly more and found myself 1704 01:09:51,520 --> 01:09:56,710 wondering what a bad year amounted to 1705 01:09:53,289 --> 01:09:59,850 here in our boo my brain seemed to slip 1706 01:09:56,710 --> 01:10:02,439 I felt like I had lost a bit of time 1707 01:09:59,850 --> 01:10:05,620 back at the tables I heard calamity 1708 01:10:02,439 --> 01:10:07,239 asking where the new graves were I felt 1709 01:10:05,619 --> 01:10:09,220 a sudden urge to pay my respects to the 1710 01:10:07,239 --> 01:10:10,659 Bandit I had killed no matter how 1711 01:10:09,220 --> 01:10:15,130 ludicrous were meaningless the act would 1712 01:10:10,659 --> 01:10:18,069 be oh we ain't buried them yet an RB 1713 01:10:15,130 --> 01:10:19,420 buck replied grounds to muddy got the 1714 01:10:18,069 --> 01:10:23,019 bodies locked up in the clinic cellar 1715 01:10:19,420 --> 01:10:26,109 for now emerald fire shot a dark look at 1716 01:10:23,020 --> 01:10:29,110 the buck Clemmy nodded Belva romney 1717 01:10:26,109 --> 01:10:32,469 coughed with alarm hey isn't that where 1718 01:10:29,109 --> 01:10:34,719 sandy shore was headed don't worry miss 1719 01:10:32,470 --> 01:10:38,140 got the cellar locked up tight no ponies 1720 01:10:34,720 --> 01:10:40,000 gonna get in there without the key yeah 1721 01:10:38,140 --> 01:10:41,440 because apparently the only Pony in the 1722 01:10:40,000 --> 01:10:46,560 entire wasteland who can pick a lock as 1723 01:10:41,439 --> 01:10:48,909 me no wait there is at least one other 1724 01:10:46,560 --> 01:10:51,820 probably part of the Philadelphia steel 1725 01:10:48,909 --> 01:10:56,139 Rangers or maybe somepony who works a 1726 01:10:51,819 --> 01:10:57,699 red-eye I stopped suddenly suspicious 1727 01:10:56,140 --> 01:10:58,630 that my lock-picking rival must be 1728 01:10:57,699 --> 01:11:01,359 red-eye himself 1729 01:10:58,630 --> 01:11:04,480 I had no facts to base such an 1730 01:11:01,359 --> 01:11:08,739 assumption on but it felt right the 1731 01:11:04,479 --> 01:11:10,329 sense of duality was too perfect the 1732 01:11:08,739 --> 01:11:12,840 certainty slipped from my wounded mind 1733 01:11:10,329 --> 01:11:15,729 almost as quickly as it manifested I 1734 01:11:12,840 --> 01:11:18,180 found myself staring at a puddle and not 1735 01:11:15,729 --> 01:11:20,349 knowing how long I had been doing so I 1736 01:11:18,180 --> 01:11:23,380 looked up swiftly enough for my head to 1737 01:11:20,350 --> 01:11:26,380 pound but everypony was where I had last 1738 01:11:23,380 --> 01:11:27,670 saw them except for sandy who was 1739 01:11:26,380 --> 01:11:29,829 sitting morosely in the corner between 1740 01:11:27,670 --> 01:11:31,989 the clinic and a dark vertical wall sign 1741 01:11:29,829 --> 01:11:33,939 for Starbuck the coffee shop that wasn't 1742 01:11:31,989 --> 01:11:36,069 java's cup 1743 01:11:33,939 --> 01:11:38,079 as the first rays of sunset dipped below 1744 01:11:36,069 --> 01:11:40,448 the cloud cover the wall sign suddenly 1745 01:11:38,079 --> 01:11:43,600 lit up bucked on by some ancient timer 1746 01:11:40,448 --> 01:11:45,519 miraculously still running other lights 1747 01:11:43,600 --> 01:11:47,500 flickered on about a third of them still 1748 01:11:45,520 --> 01:11:50,860 functional illuminating the mall and 1749 01:11:47,500 --> 01:11:53,020 patchwork pools of light my eyes caught 1750 01:11:50,859 --> 01:11:56,409 on the sign that lingered there an image 1751 01:11:53,020 --> 01:11:57,790 of two very attractive mayor's twins one 1752 01:11:56,409 --> 01:11:59,920 with a cream-colored mane and a coffee 1753 01:11:57,789 --> 01:12:02,948 brown coat the other with the same brown 1754 01:11:59,920 --> 01:12:04,420 for her mane and a creamy coat who were 1755 01:12:02,948 --> 01:12:05,919 entwined around each other almost as 1756 01:12:04,420 --> 01:12:07,210 much as their tails were entwined around 1757 01:12:05,920 --> 01:12:09,940 a cup of steaming coffee with the 1758 01:12:07,210 --> 01:12:11,319 Starbucks logo all backlit by lights 1759 01:12:09,939 --> 01:12:16,210 that flickered and threatened to go out 1760 01:12:11,319 --> 01:12:17,679 I mine supplied a logo for them by our 1761 01:12:16,210 --> 01:12:21,909 coffee and we'll let you watch us make 1762 01:12:17,680 --> 01:12:24,070 out what was that zennith asked I 1763 01:12:21,909 --> 01:12:28,479 flushed with embarrassment as I realized 1764 01:12:24,069 --> 01:12:31,210 I'd said that out loud um nothing just 1765 01:12:28,479 --> 01:12:35,109 looking I winced and quickly clarified 1766 01:12:31,210 --> 01:12:38,529 at the coffee shop over there zennith 1767 01:12:35,109 --> 01:12:43,869 followed my gaze are they bucking the 1768 01:12:38,529 --> 01:12:46,479 stars or the stars bucking them I think 1769 01:12:43,869 --> 01:12:47,920 they're bucking each other I replied 1770 01:12:46,479 --> 01:12:49,329 before I realized she wasn't paying 1771 01:12:47,920 --> 01:12:52,060 attention to the lesbian sesh Jewish 1772 01:12:49,329 --> 01:12:54,159 mares I thought about turning to see her 1773 01:12:52,060 --> 01:12:57,730 expression but my eyes didn't want to 1774 01:12:54,159 --> 01:13:02,829 leave the sign are you all right little 1775 01:12:57,729 --> 01:13:04,929 one oh just a concussion I answered then 1776 01:13:02,829 --> 01:13:08,140 in transition that only made sense to me 1777 01:13:04,930 --> 01:13:09,840 at the time so velvet rarely talks to a 1778 01:13:08,140 --> 01:13:13,650 Brahman now 1779 01:13:09,840 --> 01:13:16,579 yep she's a real kind pony that one one 1780 01:13:13,649 --> 01:13:21,389 of the brahman responded polite to I 1781 01:13:16,579 --> 01:13:25,050 began to nod yeah she really zoo 1782 01:13:21,390 --> 01:13:28,380 what I jumped up stumbling backwards 1783 01:13:25,050 --> 01:13:29,820 over Xenophon fell flat on my tail the 1784 01:13:28,380 --> 01:13:31,199 Brahmans right had smiled at me while 1785 01:13:29,819 --> 01:13:35,670 the left wing continued chewing its cud 1786 01:13:31,199 --> 01:13:40,319 obliviously you you can talk I stammered 1787 01:13:35,670 --> 01:13:44,789 then flushed I I'm sorry I didn't know 1788 01:13:40,319 --> 01:13:47,130 that Brahman were well smart the Brahma 1789 01:13:44,789 --> 01:13:49,710 had asked as I picked myself up looking 1790 01:13:47,130 --> 01:13:50,779 up at Zenith apologetically the zebra 1791 01:13:49,710 --> 01:13:55,250 just shook her head 1792 01:13:50,779 --> 01:13:58,769 uhm yeah I admit it feeling foolish she 1793 01:13:55,250 --> 01:14:00,840 chortled not many Pony folk even tried 1794 01:13:58,770 --> 01:14:03,090 talking to us not that I blame you 1795 01:14:00,840 --> 01:14:05,880 most of us her dumbest posts ain't that 1796 01:14:03,090 --> 01:14:08,520 right Herbert she said looking at her 1797 01:14:05,880 --> 01:14:11,579 other head but the other had just kept 1798 01:14:08,520 --> 01:14:14,940 chewing I looked to zennith but she was 1799 01:14:11,579 --> 01:14:16,559 just watching me with amusement yeah I 1800 01:14:14,939 --> 01:14:24,899 don't really get in good conversation 1801 01:14:16,560 --> 01:14:27,090 from him she said dourly you um I I felt 1802 01:14:24,899 --> 01:14:31,649 stupid sorry 1803 01:14:27,090 --> 01:14:34,500 concussion brain no worky um I'm little 1804 01:14:31,649 --> 01:14:39,710 pip well how did their little pip on 1805 01:14:34,500 --> 01:14:42,180 this and this mother half Bob Bob I 1806 01:14:39,710 --> 01:14:44,760 asked wondering how one head could be 1807 01:14:42,180 --> 01:14:47,250 male on the other female I looked at 1808 01:14:44,760 --> 01:14:48,960 bass over she sported several bandages 1809 01:14:47,250 --> 01:14:51,960 including a bandaged leg in a medical 1810 01:14:48,960 --> 01:14:53,819 brace courtesy of Ella remedy definitely 1811 01:14:51,960 --> 01:14:56,010 a female brahmana judging by her bulging 1812 01:14:53,819 --> 01:14:58,619 utter although I couldn't recall if I'd 1813 01:14:56,010 --> 01:15:00,030 seen any male brahmana not that I've 1814 01:14:58,619 --> 01:15:05,550 been paying enough attention to notice 1815 01:15:00,029 --> 01:15:07,710 if I had yep Bob Brahmin told me I just 1816 01:15:05,550 --> 01:15:12,300 call him Herbert to get on his nerves 1817 01:15:07,710 --> 01:15:14,810 Oh from the looks of Bob 1818 01:15:12,300 --> 01:15:16,980 nothing much could get on his nerves I 1819 01:15:14,810 --> 01:15:19,460 didn't think bob was even aware that a 1820 01:15:16,979 --> 01:15:21,899 conversation was going on 1821 01:15:19,460 --> 01:15:24,119 most Brahmin got two heads but only half 1822 01:15:21,899 --> 01:15:27,479 a brain between them I'm one of the 1823 01:15:24,119 --> 01:15:28,920 lucky ones best claimed if you count 1824 01:15:27,479 --> 01:15:31,439 being saddled for life with Bob here 1825 01:15:28,920 --> 01:15:32,640 lucky anyhoo tell that mayor friend of 1826 01:15:31,439 --> 01:15:35,519 yours thanks again for patching up my 1827 01:15:32,640 --> 01:15:41,219 leg did a real fine job you did polite 1828 01:15:35,520 --> 01:15:43,680 to mayor from the Ministry of peace took 1829 01:15:41,219 --> 01:15:45,719 darling away yesterday apparently she's 1830 01:15:43,680 --> 01:15:48,450 being held at a wsd treatment facility 1831 01:15:45,719 --> 01:15:50,219 in Manhattan I picked up a renewable one 1832 01:15:48,449 --> 01:15:53,099 month past on the Luna line so I can see 1833 01:15:50,219 --> 01:15:55,140 irregularly had our first snow today 1834 01:15:53,100 --> 01:15:57,690 went to bring his own set of small 1835 01:15:55,140 --> 01:15:59,190 problems to the mall now I'm in charge 1836 01:15:57,689 --> 01:16:01,139 of shoveling snow from the sidewalks and 1837 01:15:59,189 --> 01:16:03,719 rooftops keeping the lot salted so 1838 01:16:01,140 --> 01:16:05,310 nobody has an accident business is 1839 01:16:03,719 --> 01:16:06,390 picking up at the coffee shops but most 1840 01:16:05,310 --> 01:16:09,180 the other stores are suffering the 1841 01:16:06,390 --> 01:16:12,090 normal dropping customers only the 1842 01:16:09,180 --> 01:16:13,380 regulars up to braving the snow caught a 1843 01:16:12,090 --> 01:16:15,000 couple hoodlums spray-painting 1844 01:16:13,380 --> 01:16:16,319 disparaging things about Princess Luna 1845 01:16:15,000 --> 01:16:18,659 on the backside of the sunny suds 1846 01:16:16,319 --> 01:16:20,460 building one of the delinquents tried 1847 01:16:18,659 --> 01:16:23,039 claim with wsd is a defense for his 1848 01:16:20,460 --> 01:16:24,899 actions well that pissed me right off 1849 01:16:23,039 --> 01:16:25,439 having a family member who really is 1850 01:16:24,899 --> 01:16:28,079 suffering 1851 01:16:25,439 --> 01:16:30,509 I'm sick of ponies using W STS an excuse 1852 01:16:28,079 --> 01:16:31,949 of what's really just bad behavior then 1853 01:16:30,510 --> 01:16:33,900 the other little bastard turned to spray 1854 01:16:31,949 --> 01:16:36,179 can towards me and I finally got a 1855 01:16:33,899 --> 01:16:37,469 chance to use his cattle prod it was 1856 01:16:36,180 --> 01:16:40,140 still shaken when the police ponies 1857 01:16:37,469 --> 01:16:42,960 arrived spent the afternoon given 1858 01:16:40,140 --> 01:16:44,340 statements mrs. weathers dan the poodle 1859 01:16:42,960 --> 01:16:46,770 peed on my leg while I was talking to 1860 01:16:44,340 --> 01:16:48,980 the officer really wanted the club that 1861 01:16:46,770 --> 01:16:51,719 little monster with the prod as well as 1862 01:16:48,979 --> 01:16:53,549 the audio log ended I trotted slowly 1863 01:16:51,719 --> 01:16:54,810 over to the table were velvet rowdy and 1864 01:16:53,550 --> 01:16:57,090 clam you were still chatting with the 1865 01:16:54,810 --> 01:16:58,530 our boo ponies the merchants had 1866 01:16:57,090 --> 01:17:00,119 finished eating and was rolling out a 1867 01:16:58,529 --> 01:17:01,559 sleeping bag just inside the shattered 1868 01:17:00,119 --> 01:17:03,809 sovereign of what had once been a comic 1869 01:17:01,560 --> 01:17:05,620 book shop sandwiched between Sonny suds 1870 01:17:03,810 --> 01:17:07,570 and custards cakes 1871 01:17:05,619 --> 01:17:10,109 I could see another sword mares poster 1872 01:17:07,569 --> 01:17:12,159 on the wall above rows of empty shelves 1873 01:17:10,109 --> 01:17:14,099 this is the fifth time this year that 1874 01:17:12,159 --> 01:17:16,420 that damn water purifier has burned out 1875 01:17:14,100 --> 01:17:18,820 honestly I think the little bastard is 1876 01:17:16,420 --> 01:17:19,989 simply beyond hope we keep fixing her up 1877 01:17:18,819 --> 01:17:21,509 and jury-rigging her together but 1878 01:17:19,989 --> 01:17:24,909 there's only so much we can expect 1879 01:17:21,510 --> 01:17:27,070 emerald fire was telling calamity once 1880 01:17:24,909 --> 01:17:29,019 it's gone I don't know what we'll do 1881 01:17:27,069 --> 01:17:31,509 you tried negotiating with steel range 1882 01:17:29,020 --> 01:17:34,870 for access to the water talisman but all 1883 01:17:31,510 --> 01:17:40,720 they do is shoot at us I came to a halt 1884 01:17:34,869 --> 01:17:42,729 blinking wait I looked up at the dark 1885 01:17:40,720 --> 01:17:44,170 silhouette of Buckland cross scattered 1886 01:17:42,729 --> 01:17:45,519 lights illuminating small bits of the 1887 01:17:44,170 --> 01:17:48,279 shadowed pier that towered out of the 1888 01:17:45,520 --> 01:17:51,190 water just downstream of our boo turning 1889 01:17:48,279 --> 01:17:54,479 to steal those I asked if a bit abrasion 1890 01:17:51,189 --> 01:17:56,799 a water talisman built into it no 1891 01:17:54,479 --> 01:18:00,009 Steel's replied with a slightly derisive 1892 01:17:56,800 --> 01:18:01,570 tone but el ricotta cheese brought 1893 01:18:00,010 --> 01:18:03,039 several back with him from his raid on 1894 01:18:01,569 --> 01:18:07,439 the Ministry of peace hospital out near 1895 01:18:03,039 --> 01:18:12,909 friendships oudy friendship I paused 1896 01:18:07,439 --> 01:18:16,750 hold on several yes even then I think he 1897 01:18:12,909 --> 01:18:18,699 was planning ahead dammit grandpa rattle 1898 01:18:16,750 --> 01:18:21,060 screamed out from his loft you fucker 1899 01:18:18,699 --> 01:18:24,639 still here get out force too late 1900 01:18:21,060 --> 01:18:27,940 emerald fire facehoofed well somepony 1901 01:18:24,640 --> 01:18:29,950 please shut him up a couple of ponies 1902 01:18:27,939 --> 01:18:34,899 including the one-eyed milk colored pony 1903 01:18:29,949 --> 01:18:38,529 scooted off I've got a shotgun I ignored 1904 01:18:34,899 --> 01:18:40,089 him turning to emerald fire they have 1905 01:18:38,529 --> 01:18:42,769 several water talismans in there and 1906 01:18:40,090 --> 01:18:45,140 they won't give you clean water 1907 01:18:42,770 --> 01:18:48,290 my mental haze was fading sharpening 1908 01:18:45,140 --> 01:18:50,060 into a deadly focus the green pony Oh 1909 01:18:48,289 --> 01:18:53,119 with a cute little flame for a huge mark 1910 01:18:50,060 --> 01:18:55,039 above for our boo brand nodded we don't 1911 01:18:53,119 --> 01:18:57,079 have much rata Gators have been getting 1912 01:18:55,039 --> 01:19:00,439 scarce but we're willing to trade what 1913 01:18:57,079 --> 01:19:04,010 we got for good water I felt a simmering 1914 01:19:00,439 --> 01:19:08,089 anger why should you have to it's water 1915 01:19:04,010 --> 01:19:11,150 you needed to live steel of the bristle 1916 01:19:08,090 --> 01:19:14,170 de calamity jumped up whoa there little 1917 01:19:11,149 --> 01:19:16,399 PIP he Nate as he flew over to me 1918 01:19:14,170 --> 01:19:18,619 nothing wrong with selling necessities 1919 01:19:16,399 --> 01:19:21,079 if that's what you got a sale he 1920 01:19:18,619 --> 01:19:24,289 whispered hastily do you remember these 1921 01:19:21,079 --> 01:19:27,079 folks make a living selling meat steel 1922 01:19:24,289 --> 01:19:29,420 Oh snickered under his breath Applejack 1923 01:19:27,079 --> 01:19:35,000 sold apples got a problem with that 1924 01:19:29,420 --> 01:19:36,770 I stopped checking myself in the stable 1925 01:19:35,000 --> 01:19:40,430 the needs of life were provided by the 1926 01:19:36,770 --> 01:19:43,490 stable basic food water a place to stay 1927 01:19:40,430 --> 01:19:47,270 even barding work was assigned to 1928 01:19:43,489 --> 01:19:49,219 according to our special talent we paid 1929 01:19:47,270 --> 01:19:50,990 only for luxuries either from the 1930 01:19:49,220 --> 01:19:53,079 allowance that the overmare signed or 1931 01:19:50,989 --> 01:19:56,090 from the gains of profitable hobbies 1932 01:19:53,079 --> 01:19:58,119 that worked for stable - but it was not 1933 01:19:56,090 --> 01:20:01,010 the way of the equestrian wasteland 1934 01:19:58,119 --> 01:20:03,710 still I couldn't help but feel angry at 1935 01:20:01,010 --> 01:20:06,739 the steel Rangers refusal that's 1936 01:20:03,710 --> 01:20:08,090 different I insisted finally you're 1937 01:20:06,739 --> 01:20:10,369 talking about ponies who work for what 1938 01:20:08,090 --> 01:20:12,920 they sell the ponies here risk life and 1939 01:20:10,369 --> 01:20:14,899 limb hunting even gardeners totally grow 1940 01:20:12,920 --> 01:20:17,510 their vegetables but the steel Rangers 1941 01:20:14,899 --> 01:20:19,909 this is a water talisman it provides 1942 01:20:17,510 --> 01:20:21,489 water freely they didn't even create it 1943 01:20:19,909 --> 01:20:26,729 they stole it 1944 01:20:21,489 --> 01:20:29,800 I'm scavenged calumny corrected curtly 1945 01:20:26,729 --> 01:20:31,899 fine scavenged so they work to get it 1946 01:20:29,800 --> 01:20:36,430 too but that doesn't mean they shouldn't 1947 01:20:31,899 --> 01:20:38,349 share my voice was rising unbidden a 1948 01:20:36,430 --> 01:20:41,650 stupid song started to play in the back 1949 01:20:38,350 --> 01:20:45,579 of my head he got a share you got a care 1950 01:20:41,649 --> 01:20:48,309 it's the right thing to do I absolutely 1951 01:20:45,579 --> 01:20:52,029 hated the song but at the same time it 1952 01:20:48,310 --> 01:20:53,410 struck me as impossibly sage sandy 1953 01:20:52,029 --> 01:20:56,109 shores glass had been filled with pure 1954 01:20:53,409 --> 01:20:58,000 rainwater but what would happen when 1955 01:20:56,109 --> 01:20:59,739 that rainwater ran out and the water 1956 01:20:58,000 --> 01:21:03,850 purifier still refused to function 1957 01:20:59,739 --> 01:21:05,170 I killed poor Colts father the least I 1958 01:21:03,850 --> 01:21:06,760 could do is make sure the water he was 1959 01:21:05,170 --> 01:21:10,390 drinking wasn't fucking poison 1960 01:21:06,760 --> 01:21:13,949 I owed him that much I heard him a whole 1961 01:21:10,390 --> 01:21:16,180 hell of a lot more than that little pip 1962 01:21:13,949 --> 01:21:20,470 Belleville remedy asked cautiously 1963 01:21:16,180 --> 01:21:24,280 what are you thinking load up alder 1964 01:21:20,470 --> 01:21:26,199 cottage cheese I bark to see loose if I 1965 01:21:24,279 --> 01:21:29,429 was the leader here then I was damn well 1966 01:21:26,199 --> 01:21:32,019 going to lead heading to Buckland cross 1967 01:21:29,430 --> 01:21:34,060 but this time we're not just gonna give 1968 01:21:32,020 --> 01:21:37,380 their elder back for free we're 1969 01:21:34,060 --> 01:21:39,070 bartering steelo's made 1970 01:21:37,380 --> 01:21:40,989 judging from what happened this 1971 01:21:39,069 --> 01:21:43,929 afternoon what makes you think they even 1972 01:21:40,989 --> 01:21:46,539 want their elder back he walked towards 1973 01:21:43,930 --> 01:21:49,240 me I've been thinking about this all 1974 01:21:46,539 --> 01:21:50,560 evening little pip and I'm convinced 1975 01:21:49,239 --> 01:21:53,859 that they were hoping he would died our 1976 01:21:50,560 --> 01:21:57,400 hooves or at least that they could claim 1977 01:21:53,859 --> 01:21:59,469 so with little opposition dead he's a 1978 01:21:57,399 --> 01:22:02,049 martyr for their cause 1979 01:21:59,469 --> 01:22:03,640 alive he's the elder who keeps sending 1980 01:22:02,050 --> 01:22:05,680 steel rangers to their deaths in the 1981 01:22:03,640 --> 01:22:06,910 Canterlot ruins and whose leadership led 1982 01:22:05,680 --> 01:22:08,739 to the crippling of the main Hatton 1983 01:22:06,909 --> 01:22:12,488 contingent in his efforts to take stable 1984 01:22:08,738 --> 01:22:15,459 - and stable 29 I stared back at him 1985 01:22:12,488 --> 01:22:22,179 taking that in I think he'll attack us 1986 01:22:15,460 --> 01:22:27,000 again probably good i hissed little pimp 1987 01:22:22,180 --> 01:22:29,890 love a remedy gasps I turned to her I 1988 01:22:27,000 --> 01:22:32,409 didn't start this but I'm itching to end 1989 01:22:29,890 --> 01:22:33,640 it one way or another we're coming back 1990 01:22:32,409 --> 01:22:39,719 from Buckland crossed with a water 1991 01:22:33,640 --> 01:22:43,770 talisman i scowled no make that two 1992 01:22:39,719 --> 01:22:48,039 we're getting one for stable 29 to 1993 01:22:43,770 --> 01:22:51,070 calamity shook his head little pip think 1994 01:22:48,039 --> 01:22:53,800 this through do that and you sign our 1995 01:22:51,069 --> 01:22:57,549 booze death warrant I stepped back 1996 01:22:53,800 --> 01:22:59,800 stunned by his words right now they're 1997 01:22:57,550 --> 01:23:01,329 nothing to the steel ranges give him a 1998 01:22:59,800 --> 01:23:03,520 water townsman and you give him 1999 01:23:01,329 --> 01:23:06,119 something the steel rangers want and you 2000 01:23:03,520 --> 01:23:08,650 know the way they'll come to take it i 2001 01:23:06,119 --> 01:23:13,329 grimaced thinking of the steel rangers 2002 01:23:08,649 --> 01:23:17,529 attack on stable - oh I have not 2003 01:23:13,329 --> 01:23:20,698 forgotten velvet Remini cringed her 2004 01:23:17,529 --> 01:23:23,788 voice softened still slightly raspy 2005 01:23:20,698 --> 01:23:25,839 littlepip I know where this comes from 2006 01:23:23,788 --> 01:23:29,519 there's a part of my heart that wants 2007 01:23:25,840 --> 01:23:34,599 revenge on them too but this isn't right 2008 01:23:29,520 --> 01:23:35,860 no I stomped I think it is and I think 2009 01:23:34,599 --> 01:23:39,400 it's about damn time 2010 01:23:35,859 --> 01:23:43,319 I looked over my friends they were 2011 01:23:39,399 --> 01:23:45,368 eyeing me with concern maybe even fear 2012 01:23:43,319 --> 01:23:47,469 look I understand if you don't want to 2013 01:23:45,368 --> 01:23:49,618 come with me on this one I won't think 2014 01:23:47,469 --> 01:23:51,489 any less of you 2015 01:23:49,618 --> 01:23:54,429 zennith held her tongue as she had done 2016 01:23:51,488 --> 01:23:56,069 for years still saying nothing she 2017 01:23:54,429 --> 01:23:58,538 trotted to my side 2018 01:23:56,069 --> 01:24:02,558 clammy shook himself spreading his wings 2019 01:23:58,538 --> 01:24:05,349 I ain't saying I don't want to go I'm 2020 01:24:02,559 --> 01:24:07,690 just saying we do it smart friendship 2021 01:24:05,349 --> 01:24:09,400 city ain't too far from here we take the 2022 01:24:07,689 --> 01:24:11,019 first water talisman there in velvet 2023 01:24:09,399 --> 01:24:14,460 Remmy talks him into trade that includes 2024 01:24:11,020 --> 01:24:16,809 water rights for the Abu ponies I nodded 2025 01:24:14,460 --> 01:24:21,279 clam B's plan was much more sound than 2026 01:24:16,809 --> 01:24:24,849 mine so you're in oh hell yeah 2027 01:24:21,279 --> 01:24:27,309 clammy grin you think I passed my chance 2028 01:24:24,849 --> 01:24:29,078 for an adventure with you after all my 2029 01:24:27,309 --> 01:24:32,349 whine about being left behind you think 2030 01:24:29,078 --> 01:24:34,889 I'm gonna give up now velvet remedy 2031 01:24:32,349 --> 01:24:37,029 facehoofed ah 2032 01:24:34,889 --> 01:24:41,190 somepony should stay here with pyar 2033 01:24:37,029 --> 01:24:43,259 light she began then side 2034 01:24:41,189 --> 01:24:46,169 but you ponies are going to get 2035 01:24:43,260 --> 01:24:49,020 yourselves all killed without me she 2036 01:24:46,170 --> 01:24:51,659 looked at me sternly but I don't like 2037 01:24:49,020 --> 01:24:54,239 this and I'm going to do the 2038 01:24:51,659 --> 01:24:55,710 negotiations I don't think that any of 2039 01:24:54,238 --> 01:24:58,979 you are diplomatically inclined towards 2040 01:24:55,710 --> 01:25:03,890 the steel rangers right now well are you 2041 01:24:58,979 --> 01:25:08,839 clam Lee asked her no velvet admitted 2042 01:25:03,890 --> 01:25:08,840 but unlike most of you I can fake it 2043 01:25:09,948 --> 01:25:13,559 spend some time with sister day filling 2044 01:25:12,119 --> 01:25:15,599 out applications for a place in one of 2045 01:25:13,560 --> 01:25:17,190 the stable tech war shelters the 2046 01:25:15,600 --> 01:25:20,160 non-refundable deposit took most of my 2047 01:25:17,189 --> 01:25:21,859 paycheck but hey it'll be worth it just 2048 01:25:20,159 --> 01:25:24,210 to take one worry off my sister's head 2049 01:25:21,859 --> 01:25:26,339 ever since darling was taken she's been 2050 01:25:24,210 --> 01:25:28,350 slipping from me a bit more I think 2051 01:25:26,340 --> 01:25:30,199 she'd been drinking but I can't never 2052 01:25:28,350 --> 01:25:32,370 smell it on her breath when I'm over a 2053 01:25:30,198 --> 01:25:34,109 been to visit darling twice this month 2054 01:25:32,369 --> 01:25:36,180 she's definitely looking better it has 2055 01:25:34,109 --> 01:25:37,589 some of a cheer back whatever the 2056 01:25:36,180 --> 01:25:40,260 Ministry of peace is doing to treat her 2057 01:25:37,590 --> 01:25:43,140 seems like it's working she's almost 2058 01:25:40,260 --> 01:25:45,119 like her old self now only thing off is 2059 01:25:43,140 --> 01:25:47,430 that seems like she's my forgetting some 2060 01:25:45,119 --> 01:25:49,680 things I asked her about a birthday 2061 01:25:47,430 --> 01:25:50,940 party and she got strangely quiet then 2062 01:25:49,680 --> 01:25:53,460 she told me she doesn't remember having 2063 01:25:50,939 --> 01:25:54,988 one this year the mayor I spoke to at 2064 01:25:53,460 --> 01:25:57,350 the hospital says the temporary memory 2065 01:25:54,988 --> 01:25:59,939 loss is a side effect of a therapy 2066 01:25:57,350 --> 01:26:01,469 honestly it was just so good to see 2067 01:25:59,939 --> 01:26:04,469 darling smiling again I was fine with 2068 01:26:01,469 --> 01:26:05,819 that saw one of them little hoodlums 2069 01:26:04,469 --> 01:26:08,489 like got spray-paint in a couple months 2070 01:26:05,819 --> 01:26:10,859 ago he was dressed up fine Mane combed 2071 01:26:08,488 --> 01:26:12,059 over looked presentable he stopped on 2072 01:26:10,859 --> 01:26:13,609 the street to thank me for helping him 2073 01:26:12,060 --> 01:26:15,719 out and putting him on the right path I 2074 01:26:13,609 --> 01:26:17,670 was so stunned I told me with my 2075 01:26:15,719 --> 01:26:18,960 pleasure asked him how that other buck 2076 01:26:17,670 --> 01:26:20,219 was doing he looked away saying 2077 01:26:18,960 --> 01:26:23,189 something about trying not to think 2078 01:26:20,219 --> 01:26:25,289 about bad influences things at the strip 2079 01:26:23,189 --> 01:26:26,939 mall been interesting mr. Bean's and 2080 01:26:25,289 --> 01:26:29,579 jamocha joe stepped up their advertising 2081 01:26:26,939 --> 01:26:31,259 war I fully expected to get an earful 2082 01:26:29,579 --> 01:26:33,269 from mr. Bean's last week when Jumoke 2083 01:26:31,260 --> 01:26:35,489 erected no pun intended 2084 01:26:33,270 --> 01:26:37,050 that huge hot and steamy Starbucks 2085 01:26:35,488 --> 01:26:38,039 signed with the twins espresso in light 2086 01:26:37,050 --> 01:26:39,719 they laying all over each other 2087 01:26:38,039 --> 01:26:43,019 surrounded by steaming cups of Starbucks 2088 01:26:39,719 --> 01:26:44,849 but he seemed almost cheerful about 2089 01:26:43,019 --> 01:26:47,609 find out why yesterday when the new 2090 01:26:44,849 --> 01:26:50,038 java's cup sign went up not as much sex 2091 01:26:47,609 --> 01:26:51,539 appeal but the Billboard was huge easily 2092 01:26:50,038 --> 01:26:53,458 20 percent larger than the style bike 2093 01:26:51,538 --> 01:26:55,048 the Billboard and the whole thing is 2094 01:26:53,458 --> 01:26:56,548 done in patriotic colors with an image 2095 01:26:55,048 --> 01:26:58,078 of the princess in the corner endorsing 2096 01:26:56,548 --> 01:27:00,389 it is the best thing to keep you up all 2097 01:26:58,078 --> 01:27:02,568 night I have to wonder if he had 2098 01:27:00,389 --> 01:27:05,128 permission to use an image like that 2099 01:27:02,569 --> 01:27:06,959 jamocha Joe spent most of today trying 2100 01:27:05,128 --> 01:27:09,118 to persuade me that javis Cup billboard 2101 01:27:06,958 --> 01:27:11,729 was too big against regulations and 2102 01:27:09,118 --> 01:27:13,168 hazard come the next windstorm I told 2103 01:27:11,729 --> 01:27:17,760 him the filed complaint with the zoning 2104 01:27:13,168 --> 01:27:19,288 office the Sun was setting is the sky 2105 01:27:17,760 --> 01:27:23,069 Bennett flew towards the black former 2106 01:27:19,288 --> 01:27:24,929 Buckland cross whoa Nellie clam Lea 2107 01:27:23,069 --> 01:27:26,899 shouted pulling up sharply as a half 2108 01:27:24,929 --> 01:27:28,859 dozen automated turrets turned our way 2109 01:27:26,899 --> 01:27:31,338 thought what Romney threw her shield 2110 01:27:28,859 --> 01:27:33,449 around him as the guns opened fire 2111 01:27:31,338 --> 01:27:36,958 bullets and Lance's of colored light 2112 01:27:33,448 --> 01:27:38,608 filled the air around us I focused my 2113 01:27:36,958 --> 01:27:41,309 horn glowing is velvet Romney caster 2114 01:27:38,609 --> 01:27:42,838 disintegration Ward over us the light of 2115 01:27:41,309 --> 01:27:44,668 my magic flickered around each turret at 2116 01:27:42,838 --> 01:27:47,729 Buckland cross not just the ones 2117 01:27:44,668 --> 01:27:49,408 shooting at us but all of them for a 2118 01:27:47,729 --> 01:27:50,819 good measure I extended my spell over 2119 01:27:49,408 --> 01:27:54,088 the Sentinel robot I can make out on the 2120 01:27:50,819 --> 01:27:55,529 bridge calamity danced in the air trying 2121 01:27:54,088 --> 01:27:56,878 to keep the sky bandit from taking more 2122 01:27:55,529 --> 01:27:59,369 than a few minor hits by putting himself 2123 01:27:56,878 --> 01:28:00,838 between the guns and us the shield 2124 01:27:59,368 --> 01:28:03,929 around him was taking so many bullets it 2125 01:28:00,838 --> 01:28:07,048 looked like a sparkler I focused harder 2126 01:28:03,929 --> 01:28:07,708 working as fast as I could I knew I 2127 01:28:07,048 --> 01:28:10,198 could do this 2128 01:28:07,708 --> 01:28:11,578 I'd effectively done it before just 2129 01:28:10,198 --> 01:28:12,778 yesterday I crawled out under the sky 2130 01:28:11,578 --> 01:28:15,528 Binet and swapped out the spark 2131 01:28:12,779 --> 01:28:18,989 batteries I had the technical expertise 2132 01:28:15,529 --> 01:28:21,239 this was easy but it was taking far 2133 01:28:18,988 --> 01:28:23,799 longer than I wanted 2134 01:28:21,238 --> 01:28:25,209 Calamity shield went down a stream of 2135 01:28:23,800 --> 01:28:28,119 bullets tearing through and slashing 2136 01:28:25,210 --> 01:28:29,939 crosses hide flesh wounds little more 2137 01:28:28,119 --> 01:28:33,399 than scratches but over a dozen of them 2138 01:28:29,939 --> 01:28:34,960 he yelled we suddenly dropped several 2139 01:28:33,399 --> 01:28:37,539 yards as he briefly forgot to keep 2140 01:28:34,960 --> 01:28:38,948 flying clam Li spread his wings and 2141 01:28:37,539 --> 01:28:40,149 caught air again his velvet Remy threw 2142 01:28:38,948 --> 01:28:43,689 up another shield around him as quickly 2143 01:28:40,149 --> 01:28:46,448 as she could all of a sudden the turrets 2144 01:28:43,689 --> 01:28:47,619 all shut down simultaneously I had 2145 01:28:46,448 --> 01:28:49,929 unscrewed their maintenance plates and 2146 01:28:47,619 --> 01:28:53,189 pulled apart their spark batteries they 2147 01:28:49,930 --> 01:28:55,630 were dead The Sentinel robot as well I 2148 01:28:53,189 --> 01:28:58,389 scowled floating several dozen spark 2149 01:28:55,630 --> 01:28:59,529 batteries back to the sky bandit I was 2150 01:28:58,390 --> 01:29:01,719 going to give the seal Rangers every 2151 01:28:59,529 --> 01:29:03,039 chance to do the right thing but if the 2152 01:29:01,719 --> 01:29:06,760 exchange earlier today was strike one 2153 01:29:03,039 --> 01:29:10,198 then this was strike two calamity lifted 2154 01:29:06,760 --> 01:29:10,199 us back up and flew in for the landing 2155 01:29:11,219 --> 01:29:16,689 responses came back from stable text 2156 01:29:13,270 --> 01:29:17,860 today sis found him in the mail she was 2157 01:29:16,689 --> 01:29:23,319 weeping over them when I got home from 2158 01:29:17,859 --> 01:29:25,269 work I've been accepted she has not I've 2159 01:29:23,319 --> 01:29:26,710 been given a special broadcaster when 2160 01:29:25,270 --> 01:29:29,530 the call comes I'm gonna make my way to 2161 01:29:26,710 --> 01:29:31,119 stable 34 the broadcast is supposed to 2162 01:29:29,529 --> 01:29:32,529 be my proof of acceptance according to 2163 01:29:31,119 --> 01:29:34,630 the letter which warned me not to lose 2164 01:29:32,529 --> 01:29:36,340 it I offered to give my sister the 2165 01:29:34,630 --> 01:29:40,180 broadcaster and thus my place in stable 2166 01:29:36,340 --> 01:29:42,250 34 but she refused she said she should 2167 01:29:40,180 --> 01:29:45,130 be out here anyway if the warning comes 2168 01:29:42,250 --> 01:29:46,539 she'll try to make it to darling as when 2169 01:29:45,130 --> 01:29:49,180 most the evening pleading with her she 2170 01:29:46,539 --> 01:29:50,439 drank herself into a stupor the rest I 2171 01:29:49,180 --> 01:29:52,719 spent crying and trying to convince 2172 01:29:50,439 --> 01:29:54,189 myself that it doesn't matter anyway the 2173 01:29:52,719 --> 01:29:56,560 stables will never be used after all 2174 01:29:54,189 --> 01:29:58,899 there's no way to zebras with day I use 2175 01:29:56,560 --> 01:30:00,730 weaponized mega spells that'll mean they 2176 01:29:58,899 --> 01:30:04,929 were the destruction is Shirley's eyes I 2177 01:30:00,729 --> 01:30:07,629 have to believe that it's bad when work 2178 01:30:04,930 --> 01:30:09,390 has become the high point of my day but 2179 01:30:07,630 --> 01:30:11,560 I'm not sure how long that's gonna last 2180 01:30:09,390 --> 01:30:13,660 Java's Kalpa still losing a lot of 2181 01:30:11,560 --> 01:30:14,500 business to Starbuck and mr. Bean's is 2182 01:30:13,659 --> 01:30:16,840 getting desperate 2183 01:30:14,500 --> 01:30:18,760 today mr. Bean's added a new vending 2184 01:30:16,840 --> 01:30:21,520 machine to his coffee shop and i in 2185 01:30:18,760 --> 01:30:24,119 Shante Emporium vendor now you can buy a 2186 01:30:21,520 --> 01:30:29,969 caffeine and your bulletin one easy stop 2187 01:30:24,118 --> 01:30:31,738 no good can come of this as we landed 2188 01:30:29,969 --> 01:30:33,868 velvet remedy tossed up a shield in 2189 01:30:31,738 --> 01:30:35,368 front of the sky bandit molding it 2190 01:30:33,868 --> 01:30:38,279 between the ruins of several chariots as 2191 01:30:35,368 --> 01:30:39,448 she stepped out several steel rangers 2192 01:30:38,279 --> 01:30:41,429 came charging towards us 2193 01:30:39,448 --> 01:30:43,198 a rocket whisk out of one of their 2194 01:30:41,429 --> 01:30:44,969 battle saddles impacting on the shield 2195 01:30:43,198 --> 01:30:46,319 which immediately collapsed in a stark 2196 01:30:44,969 --> 01:30:50,069 reminder of the limitations of our 2197 01:30:46,319 --> 01:30:53,128 unicorns magical power grating steel 2198 01:30:50,069 --> 01:30:56,279 ranges Velva said magnifying her voice 2199 01:30:53,128 --> 01:30:59,340 magically we come in peace negotiate the 2200 01:30:56,279 --> 01:31:01,408 safe return of your esteemed elder I was 2201 01:30:59,340 --> 01:31:02,819 willing to forgive the missile but if 2202 01:31:01,408 --> 01:31:06,658 they shot at her after that greeting 2203 01:31:02,819 --> 01:31:09,118 that would be strike three the steel 2204 01:31:06,658 --> 01:31:12,738 rangers slowed to a brisk trot they 2205 01:31:09,118 --> 01:31:14,938 weren't firing at least not yet 2206 01:31:12,738 --> 01:31:17,279 buckling crosses the property of Steel 2207 01:31:14,939 --> 01:31:19,280 Rangers one of them called out her own 2208 01:31:17,279 --> 01:31:22,198 voice magnified by the armor she wore 2209 01:31:19,279 --> 01:31:25,198 leave it once any negotiations will 2210 01:31:22,198 --> 01:31:27,868 commence afterwards I know what this 2211 01:31:25,198 --> 01:31:30,448 place is Knight River seed and you would 2212 01:31:27,868 --> 01:31:32,429 do well to remind your place you were in 2213 01:31:30,448 --> 01:31:36,538 the presence of two elders one of whom 2214 01:31:32,429 --> 01:31:39,689 is speaking to you stir star palette 2215 01:31:36,538 --> 01:31:42,509 steel hose the nightmare asked clearly 2216 01:31:39,689 --> 01:31:45,269 recognizing steel loves unique voice she 2217 01:31:42,510 --> 01:31:47,159 stammered trotting in place a moment we 2218 01:31:45,269 --> 01:31:51,149 we don't recognize your authority 2219 01:31:47,158 --> 01:31:53,279 anymore you're a traitor no I'm a 2220 01:31:51,149 --> 01:31:55,530 loyalist in the ministry Meryem the true 2221 01:31:53,279 --> 01:31:58,078 purpose of the rangers steel told her 2222 01:31:55,529 --> 01:32:00,208 flatly and you are wet-behind-the-ears 2223 01:31:58,078 --> 01:32:03,179 Knight barely graduated from initiate 2224 01:32:00,208 --> 01:32:08,899 Knight River seed send out the Pony in 2225 01:32:03,179 --> 01:32:13,069 charge here um that would be me sir 2226 01:32:08,899 --> 01:32:16,829 steel hoes stood silently then calmly 2227 01:32:13,069 --> 01:32:18,719 you're kidding me the steel rangers 2228 01:32:16,829 --> 01:32:21,210 stared back at us three more joining a 2229 01:32:18,720 --> 01:32:22,680 three already facing us I spotted two 2230 01:32:21,210 --> 01:32:24,539 more stepping out of the doorways high 2231 01:32:22,680 --> 01:32:27,840 on the stone arches above taking sniper 2232 01:32:24,539 --> 01:32:33,019 positions steel his voice couldn't hide 2233 01:32:27,840 --> 01:32:36,869 his disbelief you were kidding me right 2234 01:32:33,020 --> 01:32:39,810 no sir Knight River seed said shifting 2235 01:32:36,869 --> 01:32:42,059 hesitantly into a battle stance and and 2236 01:32:39,810 --> 01:32:46,140 I'm afraid I'm going to have have to ask 2237 01:32:42,060 --> 01:32:50,160 you two to leave I can see you're afraid 2238 01:32:46,140 --> 01:32:51,600 Knight river seed steals replied we have 2239 01:32:50,159 --> 01:32:53,970 come bringing elder cottage-cheese 2240 01:32:51,600 --> 01:32:55,500 whom we will return to you in exchange 2241 01:32:53,970 --> 01:32:58,440 for two of the water talismans stored 2242 01:32:55,500 --> 01:33:03,329 here in Buckland cross after that we 2243 01:32:58,439 --> 01:33:05,639 will leave not before welle romney was 2244 01:33:03,329 --> 01:33:07,229 looking uncomfortable clearly her 2245 01:33:05,640 --> 01:33:10,170 intention to be the negotiator had gone 2246 01:33:07,229 --> 01:33:11,789 up in smoke I brought up my eyes forward 2247 01:33:10,170 --> 01:33:13,440 Sparkle and slipped out the sniper rifle 2248 01:33:11,789 --> 01:33:16,319 targeting the two ponies in sniper 2249 01:33:13,439 --> 01:33:18,210 positions even with my skill and 2250 01:33:16,319 --> 01:33:19,409 targeting spell it would be a tricky 2251 01:33:18,210 --> 01:33:21,630 shot to hit either of them 2252 01:33:19,409 --> 01:33:25,500 but even if I missed I could at least 2253 01:33:21,630 --> 01:33:27,090 pin them down the seal Rangers looked as 2254 01:33:25,500 --> 01:33:28,380 taken aback as they could considering 2255 01:33:27,090 --> 01:33:34,199 they were completely concealed by metal 2256 01:33:28,380 --> 01:33:36,489 armor I'm I'm sorry what what was that 2257 01:33:34,198 --> 01:33:39,279 after the disgraceful actions of power 2258 01:33:36,488 --> 01:33:41,138 in Amer F at the previous exchange you 2259 01:33:39,279 --> 01:33:43,300 are lucky were asking so low a price for 2260 01:33:41,139 --> 01:33:46,359 the return of your elder steel is 2261 01:33:43,300 --> 01:33:48,670 informed her flatly whom your own ponies 2262 01:33:46,359 --> 01:33:53,558 shot at so be careful whom you call a 2263 01:33:48,670 --> 01:33:57,609 traitor Knight River seed hesitated once 2264 01:33:53,559 --> 01:33:59,380 more then took a step forward we we 2265 01:33:57,609 --> 01:33:59,859 can't comply with those demands and you 2266 01:33:59,380 --> 01:34:02,380 know it 2267 01:33:59,859 --> 01:34:06,189 request denied now get off of our 2268 01:34:02,380 --> 01:34:07,449 Citadel the two light machine guns on 2269 01:34:06,189 --> 01:34:09,279 our armors built in battle saddle 2270 01:34:07,448 --> 01:34:12,308 clicked as they reloaded pointing 2271 01:34:09,279 --> 01:34:14,679 threatening Li at us but my EFS was not 2272 01:34:12,309 --> 01:34:18,670 registering her as hostile it was a 2273 01:34:14,679 --> 01:34:20,710 bluff are you really going to attack an 2274 01:34:18,670 --> 01:34:22,899 elder with 200 years combat experience 2275 01:34:20,710 --> 01:34:25,658 backed by a team of wasteland heroes who 2276 01:34:22,899 --> 01:34:31,448 have defeated the Dragon Steel has asked 2277 01:34:25,658 --> 01:34:34,058 warning Lee you can't win I can't give 2278 01:34:31,448 --> 01:34:37,089 you one water talisman much less to she 2279 01:34:34,059 --> 01:34:40,748 spat back your offer is absurd and you 2280 01:34:37,090 --> 01:34:43,179 are trespassing this sounded like it was 2281 01:34:40,748 --> 01:34:46,118 going downhill but no pony was read on 2282 01:34:43,179 --> 01:34:49,059 my EFS compass yet we could still talk 2283 01:34:46,118 --> 01:34:51,609 this out I was beginning to really hope 2284 01:34:49,059 --> 01:34:52,989 we could I hadn't realized how badly the 2285 01:34:51,609 --> 01:34:54,639 losses it's Table two and twenty nine 2286 01:34:52,988 --> 01:34:57,098 had depleted the main hat and contigent 2287 01:34:54,639 --> 01:34:58,210 of Steel Rangers the battle earlier 2288 01:34:57,099 --> 01:35:00,880 today must have taken out their 2289 01:34:58,210 --> 01:35:02,078 remaining hierarchy all that was left 2290 01:35:00,880 --> 01:35:03,788 were the Knights left behind to guard 2291 01:35:02,078 --> 01:35:06,908 the fort and probably a hoof full of 2292 01:35:03,788 --> 01:35:09,248 scribes these weren't the ponies who 2293 01:35:06,908 --> 01:35:10,978 attacked stable - they weren't the 2294 01:35:09,248 --> 01:35:12,819 ponies who attacked us earlier either 2295 01:35:10,979 --> 01:35:14,679 they weren't even the ones responsible 2296 01:35:12,819 --> 01:35:18,228 for refusing water - the civilians of 2297 01:35:14,679 --> 01:35:21,590 our boo pow 2298 01:35:18,229 --> 01:35:23,260 one of the snipers fired steelo's the 2299 01:35:21,590 --> 01:35:26,989 night wasn't even read on my compass I 2300 01:35:23,260 --> 01:35:28,309 think it was an accident the bullet 2301 01:35:26,988 --> 01:35:31,098 ricocheted off the ghouls magically 2302 01:35:28,309 --> 01:35:32,809 powered arm instructed remedy she fell 2303 01:35:31,099 --> 01:35:34,519 with a Yelp leading out of a hole in her 2304 01:35:32,809 --> 01:35:37,940 flank her blood running down over her 2305 01:35:34,519 --> 01:35:44,289 Nightingale cutie mark everything went 2306 01:35:37,939 --> 01:35:48,138 to hell stop shooting at us I yelled 2307 01:35:44,288 --> 01:35:50,509 surrender the two unicorn scribes were 2308 01:35:48,139 --> 01:35:53,440 clearly panicked with all the alarms the 2309 01:35:50,510 --> 01:35:55,820 explosions outside I wasn't surprised 2310 01:35:53,439 --> 01:35:57,819 one of them cast a blinding spell that 2311 01:35:55,819 --> 01:35:59,988 filled the stairwell strobing lights I 2312 01:35:57,819 --> 01:36:02,090 closed my eyes tight and fired blindly 2313 01:35:59,988 --> 01:36:04,759 with a poison dart gun not wanting to 2314 01:36:02,090 --> 01:36:07,569 kill these ponies unfortunately they 2315 01:36:04,760 --> 01:36:10,190 weren't showing the same restraint a 2316 01:36:07,569 --> 01:36:11,719 crackle of lightning cut the air making 2317 01:36:10,189 --> 01:36:13,098 my coat hairs all stand on end and 2318 01:36:11,719 --> 01:36:16,279 filling the stairwell with a smell of 2319 01:36:13,099 --> 01:36:17,869 ozone I backed up the stairwell pressing 2320 01:36:16,279 --> 01:36:20,478 against the wall nearly tripping on the 2321 01:36:17,868 --> 01:36:21,078 steps one of the unicorns had combat 2322 01:36:20,479 --> 01:36:24,019 spells 2323 01:36:21,078 --> 01:36:25,549 I fired again hoping that if I couldn't 2324 01:36:24,019 --> 01:36:29,389 hit them I could at least keep them from 2325 01:36:25,550 --> 01:36:30,949 getting closer the two water talismans 2326 01:36:29,389 --> 01:36:34,159 we had come to procure dangled from my 2327 01:36:30,948 --> 01:36:36,169 horn on chains they were amazingly small 2328 01:36:34,158 --> 01:36:39,138 things no bigger than a particularly 2329 01:36:36,170 --> 01:36:40,699 gaudy necklace they radiated a cool 2330 01:36:39,139 --> 01:36:42,650 power from the large sapphires in the 2331 01:36:40,698 --> 01:36:45,498 center of their golden latticework but 2332 01:36:42,649 --> 01:36:46,939 were otherwise almost unremarkable I had 2333 01:36:45,498 --> 01:36:48,260 braved the internal rooms of the pier 2334 01:36:46,939 --> 01:36:50,109 and picked one of the hardest locks I'd 2335 01:36:48,260 --> 01:36:52,639 ever come across in order to get them 2336 01:36:50,109 --> 01:36:55,689 but my relatively stealthy entrance was 2337 01:36:52,639 --> 01:36:57,640 obliterated when all the alarms went off 2338 01:36:55,689 --> 01:36:58,869 I felt a cool breeze and could clearly 2339 01:36:57,640 --> 01:37:00,340 hear the sound of steel hoes grenade 2340 01:36:58,869 --> 01:37:02,109 machine gun as he battled nights with a 2341 01:37:00,340 --> 01:37:05,079 fraction of the skill but just as much 2342 01:37:02,109 --> 01:37:07,149 ridiculous firepower when I dodged into 2343 01:37:05,079 --> 01:37:08,079 the interior buckling cross calamity 2344 01:37:07,149 --> 01:37:09,759 have been swerving through the air 2345 01:37:08,079 --> 01:37:13,029 dealing with the two remaining Sentinel 2346 01:37:09,760 --> 01:37:14,980 tanks the ones I've missed another bolt 2347 01:37:13,029 --> 01:37:17,649 of electricity lashed out this one 2348 01:37:14,979 --> 01:37:19,989 hitting me square in the breast my body 2349 01:37:17,649 --> 01:37:21,489 locked up in intense pain my magic 2350 01:37:19,989 --> 01:37:24,699 imploded and the dark gun went tumbling 2351 01:37:21,489 --> 01:37:27,550 down the stairs I teetered gasping and 2352 01:37:24,699 --> 01:37:29,710 fell back through the window freefall 2353 01:37:27,550 --> 01:37:30,820 just for a fraction of a second but long 2354 01:37:29,710 --> 01:37:32,789 enough for the podium I had to be 2355 01:37:30,819 --> 01:37:36,399 convinced that I was falling to my death 2356 01:37:32,789 --> 01:37:38,829 then I had a metal girder I opened my 2357 01:37:36,399 --> 01:37:40,299 eyes blinking my vision still swimming 2358 01:37:38,829 --> 01:37:43,119 with foreign colors and shapes from the 2359 01:37:40,300 --> 01:37:44,440 blinding strobe spell I was laying on 2360 01:37:43,119 --> 01:37:45,789 one of the under struts that had formed 2361 01:37:44,439 --> 01:37:47,619 a latticework beneath Buckland Bridge 2362 01:37:45,789 --> 01:37:51,220 looking up at the underside of the 2363 01:37:47,619 --> 01:37:52,960 street a cold wind blew across me 2364 01:37:51,220 --> 01:37:55,510 carrying the first drops of another rain 2365 01:37:52,960 --> 01:38:00,000 storm I turned my head and immediately 2366 01:37:55,510 --> 01:38:03,970 regretted it it was a long way down okay 2367 01:38:00,000 --> 01:38:06,640 being very very still just float myself 2368 01:38:03,970 --> 01:38:09,909 back into the window I told myself not a 2369 01:38:06,640 --> 01:38:11,410 problem the two uniformed scribes 2370 01:38:09,909 --> 01:38:13,840 appeared in the window above me their 2371 01:38:11,409 --> 01:38:15,639 horns glowing motes of magical energy 2372 01:38:13,840 --> 01:38:18,460 formed around one of them forming into 2373 01:38:15,640 --> 01:38:20,770 eldritch daggers I whipped out little 2374 01:38:18,460 --> 01:38:23,039 McIntosh slipped into SATs and fired 2375 01:38:20,770 --> 01:38:23,040 twice 2376 01:38:25,390 --> 01:38:29,130 Calamity flapped his wings in the sky 2377 01:38:27,189 --> 01:38:31,629 bandit lifted away from buckling cross 2378 01:38:29,130 --> 01:38:33,460 the rest of us huddled in the sky bandit 2379 01:38:31,630 --> 01:38:35,190 which was now considerably more riddled 2380 01:38:33,460 --> 01:38:38,230 with bullet holes 2381 01:38:35,189 --> 01:38:40,479 next stop calamity insisted we would 2382 01:38:38,229 --> 01:38:42,279 start putting on armor while we still 2383 01:38:40,479 --> 01:38:46,059 have much of a passenger wagon left that 2384 01:38:42,279 --> 01:38:48,969 was zennith was tending to velvet remedy 2385 01:38:46,060 --> 01:38:50,500 who is breathing heavily she slept the 2386 01:38:48,970 --> 01:38:52,240 bullet had lodged inside her flank in 2387 01:38:50,500 --> 01:38:53,380 velvet had spent the battle digging it 2388 01:38:52,239 --> 01:38:55,380 out while zennith applied healing 2389 01:38:53,380 --> 01:38:58,090 potions and zebra poultices as needed 2390 01:38:55,380 --> 01:39:00,150 lover would be okay but she had lost a 2391 01:38:58,090 --> 01:39:03,100 fair bit of blood and needed to rest in 2392 01:39:00,149 --> 01:39:05,859 the end only two of the buckling cross 2393 01:39:03,100 --> 01:39:09,070 pony surrendered we let them go in one 2394 01:39:05,859 --> 01:39:10,929 of the crosses boats i watched them as 2395 01:39:09,069 --> 01:39:12,460 the crane lowered them shuttering under 2396 01:39:10,930 --> 01:39:15,340 waves of deep hurt at how very few 2397 01:39:12,460 --> 01:39:17,230 ponies were in that boat we'd stripped 2398 01:39:15,340 --> 01:39:21,250 the fallen Knights scribes and initiates 2399 01:39:17,229 --> 01:39:24,699 14 and all and built a funeral pyre they 2400 01:39:21,250 --> 01:39:26,050 deserved that much at least I wondered 2401 01:39:24,699 --> 01:39:28,539 if the outcasts would claim Buckland 2402 01:39:26,050 --> 01:39:30,100 cross for their own now we would take 2403 01:39:28,539 --> 01:39:33,189 our to water talismans to friendship 2404 01:39:30,100 --> 01:39:35,410 city in stable 29 but first we needed to 2405 01:39:33,189 --> 01:39:37,529 rest our but--would offered a sanctuary 2406 01:39:35,409 --> 01:39:39,849 and I was eager to take them up on it 2407 01:39:37,529 --> 01:39:43,000 the light from the pyre dancin to the 2408 01:39:39,850 --> 01:39:44,829 sky as if someone a streak of green and 2409 01:39:43,000 --> 01:39:45,640 gold appeared whirling Imperial wedding 2410 01:39:44,829 --> 01:39:48,670 amongst the flames 2411 01:39:45,640 --> 01:39:50,020 I played the final audio log that I have 2412 01:39:48,670 --> 01:39:53,470 been able to recover as he flew through 2413 01:39:50,020 --> 01:39:55,690 the darkness I woke up in the hospital's 2414 01:39:53,470 --> 01:39:57,030 afternoon apparently I've been in a 2415 01:39:55,689 --> 01:39:58,779 surgery for two days 2416 01:39:57,029 --> 01:40:00,369 fortunately the company's paying for 2417 01:39:58,779 --> 01:40:02,710 most of the costs seen as I was injured 2418 01:40:00,369 --> 01:40:04,149 on the job I've gotten a frantic call 2419 01:40:02,710 --> 01:40:06,699 from mrs. weathers who was screaming 2420 01:40:04,149 --> 01:40:07,420 about murder I rushed to the mall as 2421 01:40:06,699 --> 01:40:09,099 fast as I could 2422 01:40:07,420 --> 01:40:11,890 telling her to send a terminal message 2423 01:40:09,100 --> 01:40:14,079 to the police we do Ziva storm the night 2424 01:40:11,890 --> 01:40:15,820 before when I got there sunny says 2425 01:40:14,079 --> 01:40:18,100 laundromat was a complete disaster 2426 01:40:15,819 --> 01:40:19,779 turns out jamocha Joe was read about 2427 01:40:18,100 --> 01:40:22,060 that fucking huge ass billboard and mr. 2428 01:40:19,779 --> 01:40:24,399 Bean's damn thing came crashing down 2429 01:40:22,060 --> 01:40:25,960 this morning good three hours after 2430 01:40:24,399 --> 01:40:28,869 stormy past tearing through sunny Suns 2431 01:40:25,960 --> 01:40:31,149 roof the murder victim turns out was 2432 01:40:28,869 --> 01:40:32,949 mrs. weathers fucking poodle she was 2433 01:40:31,149 --> 01:40:34,899 screaming and hollering at mr. Bean's so 2434 01:40:32,949 --> 01:40:36,369 red-faced I thought she'd explode claim 2435 01:40:34,899 --> 01:40:37,839 that he murdered a poor little walking 2436 01:40:36,369 --> 01:40:39,399 piss dispenser 2437 01:40:37,840 --> 01:40:40,779 like he was the one who left a damn dog 2438 01:40:39,399 --> 01:40:44,638 in the laundromat while she popped out 2439 01:40:40,779 --> 01:40:46,868 for a cake I can't say I didn't laugh I 2440 01:40:44,639 --> 01:40:49,059 don't even see the Battie old unicorn 2441 01:40:46,868 --> 01:40:50,198 produced a firearm I still don't know 2442 01:40:49,059 --> 01:40:51,880 whether she was actually trying to shoot 2443 01:40:50,198 --> 01:40:54,669 me or if the bullet was meant for mr. 2444 01:40:51,880 --> 01:40:57,670 beans and I rain was just that bad I'm 2445 01:40:54,670 --> 01:40:59,170 told the police ever in custody while I 2446 01:40:57,670 --> 01:41:01,480 was in surgery my stable tech 2447 01:40:59,170 --> 01:41:02,380 broadcaster went off I missed the call 2448 01:41:01,479 --> 01:41:04,238 but that's okay 2449 01:41:02,380 --> 01:41:05,889 according to the message this is just 2450 01:41:04,238 --> 01:41:07,500 some sort of test run like those fire 2451 01:41:05,889 --> 01:41:09,849 drills they made us do in school I 2452 01:41:07,500 --> 01:41:13,569 decided not to mention it to my sister 2453 01:41:09,849 --> 01:41:15,010 she's already in too much of a mess sis 2454 01:41:13,569 --> 01:41:17,019 is here looking more depressed and 2455 01:41:15,010 --> 01:41:19,239 anxious than ever I don't think she's 2456 01:41:17,020 --> 01:41:19,900 been sleeping I told her the doctors say 2457 01:41:19,238 --> 01:41:21,488 I'll be fine 2458 01:41:19,899 --> 01:41:23,319 I'll be up in a bow good as new by the 2459 01:41:21,488 --> 01:41:25,839 end of the week but I don't think she 2460 01:41:23,319 --> 01:41:27,158 was really listening I've been shot and 2461 01:41:25,840 --> 01:41:31,050 that's all she seemed to be able to 2462 01:41:27,158 --> 01:41:33,098 focus on well letting the other thing 2463 01:41:31,050 --> 01:41:34,300 apparently while I was in surgery ponies 2464 01:41:33,099 --> 01:41:34,860 from the Ministry of morale paid her a 2465 01:41:34,300 --> 01:41:36,820 visit 2466 01:41:34,859 --> 01:41:38,889 Corden assist they were asking us with 2467 01:41:36,819 --> 01:41:40,179 the question about Dahlan weird things 2468 01:41:38,889 --> 01:41:41,920 like what she said at her birthday party 2469 01:41:40,179 --> 01:41:45,158 in about her internship last year with 2470 01:41:41,920 --> 01:41:49,210 four stars sis was freaking out I think 2471 01:41:45,158 --> 01:41:51,308 I think she's losing it I've seen this 2472 01:41:49,210 --> 01:41:52,899 sort of thing before and as much as I 2473 01:41:51,309 --> 01:41:55,090 hate it I think it's time we call the 2474 01:41:52,899 --> 01:41:56,259 Ministry of peace they're the only ones 2475 01:41:55,090 --> 01:41:59,400 that seem to be able to do anything with 2476 01:41:56,260 --> 01:41:59,400 wartime stress disorder 2477 01:42:00,288 --> 01:42:06,038 where is everypony I asked trotting out 2478 01:42:03,649 --> 01:42:10,399 of the sky bandit hello 2479 01:42:06,038 --> 01:42:14,838 it is late Xenophon toned they are 2480 01:42:10,399 --> 01:42:16,280 likely are sleeping I nodded night had 2481 01:42:14,838 --> 01:42:20,059 fallen during our battle on Buckland 2482 01:42:16,279 --> 01:42:21,768 cross I looked around all the stores 2483 01:42:20,059 --> 01:42:23,119 were closed up but there is light 2484 01:42:21,769 --> 01:42:26,088 pouring between the board's covering the 2485 01:42:23,118 --> 01:42:28,009 windows of Starbucks I contemplated 2486 01:42:26,088 --> 01:42:30,158 heading there but decided that I didn't 2487 01:42:28,010 --> 01:42:32,929 want to break in in anybody's home 2488 01:42:30,158 --> 01:42:36,018 instead I made for the comic shop with 2489 01:42:32,929 --> 01:42:38,029 his collapsed front wall I could hear 2490 01:42:36,019 --> 01:42:39,469 the snores of the merchant but I was so 2491 01:42:38,029 --> 01:42:42,378 weary and emotionally exhausted that I 2492 01:42:39,469 --> 01:42:45,078 could sleep through a firefight I was 2493 01:42:42,378 --> 01:42:50,048 not a good pony I wanted to be a good 2494 01:42:45,078 --> 01:42:55,128 pony I tried to be a good pony but today 2495 01:42:50,048 --> 01:42:57,948 today hi a voice system me from the 2496 01:42:55,128 --> 01:43:00,378 darkness I turned to see grandpa rattle 2497 01:42:57,948 --> 01:43:02,298 huddled in the shadows I looked for any 2498 01:43:00,378 --> 01:43:05,479 sign of a shotgun and by vad I made a 2499 01:43:02,298 --> 01:43:08,059 stick instead I noticed the red marks 2500 01:43:05,479 --> 01:43:10,689 above his hind hooves I knew such marks 2501 01:43:08,059 --> 01:43:15,069 well they meant he'd been shackled and 2502 01:43:10,689 --> 01:43:17,869 recently my eyebrows raised an alarm 2503 01:43:15,069 --> 01:43:20,510 shush they don't know this old man can 2504 01:43:17,868 --> 01:43:22,128 still pick a lock he told me astutely 2505 01:43:20,510 --> 01:43:24,829 judging not only what I had seen 2506 01:43:22,128 --> 01:43:26,838 but riot made of it you and your friends 2507 01:43:24,828 --> 01:43:31,668 won a height a ladder Abu this is a 2508 01:43:26,838 --> 01:43:34,328 no-good place I blinked what do you mean 2509 01:43:31,668 --> 01:43:36,798 they seemed perfectly nice to me 2510 01:43:34,328 --> 01:43:38,538 yeah well take a look in the basement if 2511 01:43:36,798 --> 01:43:42,828 you don't believe me but don't say I 2512 01:43:38,538 --> 01:43:45,018 didn't warn ya the basement in the quick 2513 01:43:42,828 --> 01:43:46,989 care where they kept the bodies they 2514 01:43:45,019 --> 01:43:49,119 were going to bury tomorrow 2515 01:43:46,989 --> 01:43:52,119 I had a sudden dreadful sinking feeling 2516 01:43:49,119 --> 01:43:57,220 in my heart grandpa radda looked at me 2517 01:43:52,119 --> 01:43:58,829 nervously he I'll get Emma get then he 2518 01:43:57,220 --> 01:44:01,420 shambled back into the shadows I 2519 01:43:58,829 --> 01:44:04,619 considered following him then turned and 2520 01:44:01,420 --> 01:44:04,619 galloped silently for helping hoof 2521 01:44:06,789 --> 01:44:10,600 there were three ponies in the helping 2522 01:44:08,439 --> 01:44:11,589 of quick care they were chatting around 2523 01:44:10,600 --> 01:44:13,480 bowls of stew 2524 01:44:11,590 --> 01:44:16,210 cigarette butts and a game that involved 2525 01:44:13,479 --> 01:44:18,399 black shits and white dots they looked 2526 01:44:16,210 --> 01:44:20,109 like a family one of them a mayor hardly 2527 01:44:18,399 --> 01:44:22,479 older than a filly just barely old 2528 01:44:20,109 --> 01:44:25,659 enough to have her cutie mark and I 2529 01:44:22,479 --> 01:44:28,750 noted her our boo mark they also looked 2530 01:44:25,659 --> 01:44:32,349 like guards either way they never saw me 2531 01:44:28,750 --> 01:44:33,819 pass the lock on the basement door was a 2532 01:44:32,350 --> 01:44:36,789 surprise in the expensive one for a 2533 01:44:33,819 --> 01:44:38,079 struggling town like this not that I 2534 01:44:36,789 --> 01:44:40,329 didn't figure they could have scavenged 2535 01:44:38,079 --> 01:44:41,920 it from somewhere but I would expect 2536 01:44:40,329 --> 01:44:44,590 such a viable to have been sold during 2537 01:44:41,920 --> 01:44:47,550 their last bad year it was still the 2538 01:44:44,590 --> 01:44:50,470 easiest lock I had picked that evening 2539 01:44:47,550 --> 01:44:53,380 the smell hit me immediately followed by 2540 01:44:50,470 --> 01:44:56,710 the sound of flies but then I was 2541 01:44:53,380 --> 01:44:58,119 expecting to find bodies I closed the 2542 01:44:56,710 --> 01:44:59,949 door behind me without a sound and 2543 01:44:58,119 --> 01:45:02,710 descended the steps cautiously turning 2544 01:44:59,949 --> 01:45:04,840 on my pipbuck light the two water 2545 01:45:02,710 --> 01:45:07,899 talismans clinked together softly still 2546 01:45:04,840 --> 01:45:10,029 hanging for my horn one of them I had 2547 01:45:07,899 --> 01:45:12,219 procured for this town risking my life 2548 01:45:10,029 --> 01:45:14,009 in the lives of my friends killing 2549 01:45:12,220 --> 01:45:16,030 ponies I didn't want to kill 2550 01:45:14,010 --> 01:45:21,060 self-defense didn't make them any less 2551 01:45:16,029 --> 01:45:25,559 dead clink-clink 2552 01:45:21,060 --> 01:45:28,050 the basement was an abattoir blood both 2553 01:45:25,560 --> 01:45:30,090 new and very old stained the tiled floor 2554 01:45:28,050 --> 01:45:32,210 and splatters and streaks running 2555 01:45:30,090 --> 01:45:34,409 towards the drain embedded in the center 2556 01:45:32,210 --> 01:45:38,189 bodies of ponies lay on the tables 2557 01:45:34,409 --> 01:45:40,609 carved not just open but apart skinned 2558 01:45:38,189 --> 01:45:42,929 and flayed their meat removed I 2559 01:45:40,609 --> 01:45:45,989 recognise the dead from our boo and the 2560 01:45:42,930 --> 01:45:48,840 bandits alike the remains of more ponies 2561 01:45:45,989 --> 01:45:51,539 were piled on barrels in a corner beside 2562 01:45:48,840 --> 01:45:52,860 the barrels were the refrigerators they 2563 01:45:51,539 --> 01:45:55,319 were lined up like soldiers wearing 2564 01:45:52,859 --> 01:45:57,349 uniforms of discolored white except 2565 01:45:55,319 --> 01:46:00,090 where they were stained with blood 2566 01:45:57,350 --> 01:46:01,620 trembling I approached one of them my 2567 01:46:00,090 --> 01:46:04,440 skin crawling as I stepped onto the 2568 01:46:01,619 --> 01:46:05,699 sticky wet floor I reached out 2569 01:46:04,439 --> 01:46:07,919 telekinetically to open the first 2570 01:46:05,699 --> 01:46:10,710 refrigerator filling a sick terror 2571 01:46:07,920 --> 01:46:14,819 touching it even with my magic it was 2572 01:46:10,710 --> 01:46:18,569 locked so were the others that didn't 2573 01:46:14,819 --> 01:46:21,979 stop me I unlocked the first one and 2574 01:46:18,569 --> 01:46:24,590 braced myself I swung the door open I 2575 01:46:21,979 --> 01:46:28,009 saw meat 2576 01:46:24,590 --> 01:46:29,449 I turn reeling my gaze caught on a pony 2577 01:46:28,010 --> 01:46:30,560 skull hung on the wall next to the 2578 01:46:29,448 --> 01:46:33,819 stairs where I couldn't see it before 2579 01:46:30,560 --> 01:46:35,150 the skull was mounted on a plaque 2580 01:46:33,819 --> 01:46:38,139 beneath it 2581 01:46:35,149 --> 01:46:41,269 somepony had soldered on the word unity 2582 01:46:38,139 --> 01:46:44,210 we're all going together as one ain't we 2583 01:46:41,270 --> 01:46:48,920 it was a bad year for us so we took some 2584 01:46:44,210 --> 01:46:50,480 solace in him they ate him I realized my 2585 01:46:48,920 --> 01:46:54,170 mind teetering on the darkest edge of 2586 01:46:50,479 --> 01:46:59,750 night they killed the preacher and they 2587 01:46:54,170 --> 01:47:01,310 ate him clink clink black sign you had 2588 01:46:59,750 --> 01:47:04,029 been sandy shores father lay on one of 2589 01:47:01,310 --> 01:47:08,239 those tables his ribs were cracked open 2590 01:47:04,029 --> 01:47:10,488 they'd cut out his heart it's an R boom 2591 01:47:08,238 --> 01:47:14,779 arc we get it after we eat the heart of 2592 01:47:10,488 --> 01:47:17,448 our first kill but I killed the Colts 2593 01:47:14,779 --> 01:47:21,929 father and I certainly wasn't going to 2594 01:47:17,448 --> 01:47:24,799 Oh goddess 2595 01:47:21,930 --> 01:47:26,520 I felt suddenly and violently ill I 2596 01:47:24,800 --> 01:47:28,590 stumbled against the wall 2597 01:47:26,520 --> 01:47:31,470 retching trying to purge myself of every 2598 01:47:28,590 --> 01:47:34,739 last bit of the evenings meal my head 2599 01:47:31,470 --> 01:47:38,190 began to pound again I felt dizzy my 2600 01:47:34,739 --> 01:47:41,630 concussion and I'd killed for these 2601 01:47:38,189 --> 01:47:44,460 ponies I shuddered and vomited again 2602 01:47:41,630 --> 01:47:47,430 then spit repeatedly trying to clear the 2603 01:47:44,460 --> 01:47:49,250 taste for my mouth I wanted to rinse my 2604 01:47:47,430 --> 01:47:52,070 mouth out with radaway 2605 01:47:49,250 --> 01:47:55,920 the water talismans knocked together 2606 01:47:52,069 --> 01:48:00,079 clink the feeling of illness passed 2607 01:47:55,920 --> 01:48:00,079 leaving me just feeling violent 2608 01:48:01,550 --> 01:48:07,159 you're cannibals I shouted as I burst 2609 01:48:04,969 --> 01:48:08,748 back into the quick care telekinetically 2610 01:48:07,158 --> 01:48:13,219 lifting all three ponies and choking 2611 01:48:08,748 --> 01:48:16,639 them what the fuck is wrong with you the 2612 01:48:13,219 --> 01:48:19,099 wasteland isn't fucked-up enough the 2613 01:48:16,639 --> 01:48:20,380 mother of the family the same apricot 2614 01:48:19,099 --> 01:48:22,538 mare who had been collecting the bodies 2615 01:48:20,380 --> 01:48:26,659 levitated a knife from the table I 2616 01:48:22,538 --> 01:48:30,710 knocked it away with my own magic you 2617 01:48:26,658 --> 01:48:34,788 fed the cult his own father you sick 2618 01:48:30,710 --> 01:48:37,460 fucking monsters I raged seeing nothing 2619 01:48:34,788 --> 01:48:40,009 but red the youngest mare was passing 2620 01:48:37,460 --> 01:48:41,389 out the other two struggled the father 2621 01:48:40,010 --> 01:48:44,210 trying to bucket me even though I was 2622 01:48:41,389 --> 01:48:46,159 across the room he only succeeded in 2623 01:48:44,210 --> 01:48:48,309 kicking over the table spilling black 2624 01:48:46,158 --> 01:48:50,509 shits and ponies to all over the floor 2625 01:48:48,309 --> 01:48:53,059 there was a rifle holster on the other 2626 01:48:50,510 --> 01:48:54,949 side of the table the apricot mare 2627 01:48:53,059 --> 01:49:00,349 focused turning the whole table of fire 2628 01:48:54,948 --> 01:49:02,178 of me bang I felt the bullet impact my 2629 01:49:00,349 --> 01:49:05,569 armor bruising badly as it failed to 2630 01:49:02,179 --> 01:49:10,578 penetrate it hurt but I didn't let 2631 01:49:05,569 --> 01:49:14,569 myself even wince where is the colt i 2632 01:49:10,578 --> 01:49:17,299 growled i needed to find him to save him 2633 01:49:14,569 --> 01:49:18,590 from this place him and anypony else 2634 01:49:17,300 --> 01:49:22,389 here who could still be saved 2635 01:49:18,590 --> 01:49:22,389 as for the rest 2636 01:49:22,420 --> 01:49:28,510 the father weekly pointed towards star 2637 01:49:24,430 --> 01:49:32,590 bucked thank you I hissed as I pulled 2638 01:49:28,510 --> 01:49:36,010 the zebra rifle out the sound of silence 2639 01:49:32,590 --> 01:49:37,810 shots filled the night I dropped their 2640 01:49:36,010 --> 01:49:41,079 burning bodies and trotted out the door 2641 01:49:37,810 --> 01:49:43,480 a pony stumbled towards me the darkness 2642 01:49:41,079 --> 01:49:45,869 I swung the zebra rifle around but 2643 01:49:43,479 --> 01:49:48,669 stopped as I recognized the merchant I 2644 01:49:45,869 --> 01:49:52,199 heard a shot the merchant Pony said 2645 01:49:48,670 --> 01:49:54,970 looking worried are the bandits back I 2646 01:49:52,199 --> 01:49:59,039 studied them pony a moment for asking my 2647 01:49:54,970 --> 01:50:01,690 voice is dangerous and low did you know 2648 01:49:59,039 --> 01:50:07,840 the merchant froze reassessing the 2649 01:50:01,689 --> 01:50:10,629 situation know what that our boo is full 2650 01:50:07,840 --> 01:50:17,489 of cannibals that the meat they're 2651 01:50:10,630 --> 01:50:19,989 selling you is Pony meat did you know 2652 01:50:17,489 --> 01:50:23,199 the merchants pony blanched looking 2653 01:50:19,989 --> 01:50:25,809 immediately ill the pony swayed fighting 2654 01:50:23,199 --> 01:50:29,439 to stay on all four hooves that was 2655 01:50:25,810 --> 01:50:33,280 answer enough go look in the basement 2656 01:50:29,439 --> 01:50:35,710 I said pointing back the way I came mind 2657 01:50:33,279 --> 01:50:38,889 the bodies in the fire then go tell 2658 01:50:35,710 --> 01:50:40,300 every Pony you meet I turned toward 2659 01:50:38,890 --> 01:50:41,650 Starbuck where light still poured out 2660 01:50:40,300 --> 01:50:43,690 behind the boarded up windows 2661 01:50:41,649 --> 01:50:46,899 I could hear my friends galloping 2662 01:50:43,689 --> 01:50:48,699 towards me but I ignored them instead I 2663 01:50:46,899 --> 01:50:52,599 marched towards the door of the coffee 2664 01:50:48,699 --> 01:50:55,039 shop the righteous fury of Hell followed 2665 01:50:52,600 --> 01:50:58,530 behind me 2666 01:50:55,039 --> 01:51:00,329 djay pony here and I gotta tell you I 2667 01:50:58,529 --> 01:51:03,329 don't know what to make of this one 2668 01:51:00,329 --> 01:51:04,829 children for weeks I've been telling you 2669 01:51:03,329 --> 01:51:07,439 the heroic deed that the stable dweller 2670 01:51:04,829 --> 01:51:09,510 by our hero won an equestrian wasteland 2671 01:51:07,439 --> 01:51:14,159 are bringing of lighten this time of 2672 01:51:09,510 --> 01:51:17,190 darkness but today another village in 2673 01:51:14,159 --> 01:51:17,899 Manhattan is gone silent our boo was 2674 01:51:17,189 --> 01:51:19,859 dead 2675 01:51:17,899 --> 01:51:22,049 reports have reached me that everypony 2676 01:51:19,859 --> 01:51:25,170 in the town over two dozen has been 2677 01:51:22,050 --> 01:51:28,230 killed and listen children I don't know 2678 01:51:25,170 --> 01:51:29,310 how to say this but but it looks like it 2679 01:51:28,229 --> 01:51:31,859 was the stable dweller who was 2680 01:51:29,310 --> 01:51:33,390 responsible a witness from Buckland 2681 01:51:31,859 --> 01:51:36,779 crimes reported seen her opened fire on 2682 01:51:33,390 --> 01:51:39,600 the ponies in the our boo Commons now 2683 01:51:36,779 --> 01:51:41,550 children I don't want to believe this I 2684 01:51:39,600 --> 01:51:43,920 don't want to believe our heroine has 2685 01:51:41,550 --> 01:51:45,779 turned on us there must be more to this 2686 01:51:43,920 --> 01:51:47,760 story than what I'm hearing if you know 2687 01:51:45,779 --> 01:51:49,399 anything about it please contact my 2688 01:51:47,760 --> 01:51:50,909 assistant on which a tenpony tower 2689 01:51:49,399 --> 01:51:53,729 anything at all 2690 01:51:50,909 --> 01:51:56,340 I don't know exactly what went down or 2691 01:51:53,729 --> 01:52:00,959 why but I'm not gonna stop till I find 2692 01:51:56,340 --> 01:52:03,989 out and when I do you'll know too this 2693 01:52:00,960 --> 01:52:07,010 is DJ Pony bringing you the truth no 2694 01:52:03,989 --> 01:52:07,010 matter how bad it hurts