Oh Goddesses, Velvet Remedy wasn’t breathing! - I swear, ten lines in and I'm already riveted to my seat.
 
I knew he couldn’t drown, but the thought of being trapped in a watery grave had to be horrifying. - Never seen the party on the edge of defeat like this. YOu outdo yourself Kkat, every freaking time.
 
I think I heard Calamity fire his battle saddle and yell something, but he sounded too far away.  Then nothing. - But OF COURSE, what's a bleak fate without more mosters to threaten your collective lives?
 
Devoid of any real life, empty of friends or of purpose.  A job where I was helping no pony.  Out of a sense of responsibility and a hope, I braved the possible nothingness beyond the Stable door, leaving that peace behind. - Yeah, I was thinking back of how meaningless Pip's life must have been in the stable. Good thing she's a protagonist in an adventure story, huh? :)
 
My friends swam before me. - Aww brace for heartbreaking scene.
 
I recalled moments of joy, times I had almost forgotten. - Man, it's time like these I actually grasp how enormous your fic is. And how I should thank you immensely for every single moment of it.
 
As long as you’re willing to face the fire… - Eeyup, back into the fray we go.
 
Illness brought on by physical overexertion, mental turmoil and the nastiness of the wasteland.  We needed to go.  I didn’t have time to be bedridden again for days. - No time for such sillyness as a broken body! Adventure awaits!
 
Xenith’s voice chimed in, “Is it wrong that I want to stick him in poses?” - I would already be doing it without permission if I were in your hooves XD
 
“Applejack would have wanted her rangers to protect all good people. Not just ponies.” - Awww isn't he just adorable.
 
I also hated SteelHooves just a little bit right then.  Go ahead and put him in silly poses, Xenith!  - Yeah, revenge! This calls for sweet revenge!
 
I groaned.  “Well, that’s easy when you look pathetic.”  Xenith smirked ever-so-slightly. - Oh man, I was awaiting for this line. For so much.
 
We couldn’t wait that long.  Especially if Velvet Remedy did decide to chain me down until I got better.  Something Velvet was more than capable of.  Xenith might not realize that, but then the zebra wasn’t there when Velvet shot me. - Never ever gonna live that down, Velvet. YOu crossed one line too much in Pip's psyche.
 
“Laughter,” Xenith mused.  “A sure sign of regaining health.  Or slipping into insanity.” That just made me giggle harder for no good reason. - Well, either's good to help recover from the pain, ain't they?
 
So why did my heart desire for Xenith and Xephyr to be together? - Wow, what a way to express Pip's desire of well-being for those she cares about. Brava.
 
We needed Xenith.  I needed her.  We were stronger together.  Better. - Faster. Harder? LOL sorry couldn't resist.
 
And then I took that knowledge from myself and locked it away in orbs sitting far away in Tenpony Tower.  What was I thinking?  Literally, what was I thinking? - Oh lawd, Pip you are so crazy sometimes.But it works, so go you ^^
 
…because the Goddess couldn’t read zebra minds. - F*** YES! I called this since the very first encounter, and no one believed me! Now I have confirmation bwahahaha >:)
 
A smile broke across my muzzle.  Ooooh, I was a clever pony! - Told ya Pip, even if it's not like you can hear me :\
 
 “Ah know that.  An’ Ah’m not mad at her cuz o’… hell, Ah’m not mad at her.  Ah’m just mad,” Calamity admitted.  “Feels better than bein’ worried sick.” - I just love how you convey their emotions, every time. This one is just a periodical reminder. :p
 
 I wanted both.  But I asked for neither.  “Calamity, thank you,” I said, smiling as best I could.  “Velvet and I both owe you our lives.  You were… awesome.” - Always the selfless girl, that sweet Pip. Oh how I love her.
 
 “Turns out, it ain’t as easy as it looks.  Ah ain’t a certified PipBuck Technician an’ Toaster Repairpony after all.” - I just love how the Toaster Repairpony is thrown out every there and then.
 
 Calamity visibly relaxed.  “Oh.  That shot.  Ah was catchin’ the griffin’s attention.  ‘Parently, some folks tend t’ notice when a passenger wagon falls outta Canterlot.” - Oh, so that wasn't some monster. Still, good thinking there.
 
 The magically powered armor had been taken from the body of one of the Rangers we had killed in Stable Two.  From the damage, it was a pony whom SteelHooves had put down himself.  - Oh, whoa. Heavy emotional stuff right there.
 
 The world was filled with sharp-edged irony. - Irony tends to pop us just about everywhere in a twisted world, doesn't it?
 
 “Applejack never knew the truth about Zecora either,” I told him.  “And she loved you.  She tried to fight for your relationship because she loved you.  And, I think, because she understood.”  Not approved.  But understood. - I admit, it does possess a greater power, talking about canon characters. It's like playing well-known strings, but in new and original ways. And of course, it feels so good.
 
 Let me show you secrets! - ... Oh Celestia, this scene is gripping me. Hard.
 
 “Cuz ya brought us together, didn’tcha?” Applejack smiled.  “It’s what you do.” - I... I've got tears flowing down my face right now.
 
 I wanted to believe her so badly that I was trembling. - .... too good. This is too freaking good.
 
 “…but this is my soul.  Isn’t it?”  “Of course it is, silly,” Pinkie Pie said, hugging me suddenly and pointing at the mirror.  “You’re just looking at it wrong.” - Oh man, now I want to know what that means SOBAD.
 
“But she is not her own mare, and she never will be.  I will not be like her.” - Again, masterful interpretation of the children's inner strenght they develop while fending for themselves.
 
I could hear Calamity’s throat hitch.  “We were bullies, Velve.  Nothin’ better than bullies.  We went in demandin’ somethin’ that we knew they wouldn’t want to give, an’ it all ended in blood.  Those young knights didn’t deserve t’ die.”  My friend was crying now.  I felt a lump in my throat. - Those emotional rollercoasters must be real cheap (not expensive), seeing as I never fail to be inside, taken for a ride, when one happens.
 
“Yeah, but there are things ya don’t know,” Calamity replied and all sorts of alarm bells started going off in my head. - ... Is that moment coming? Can I actually bear to look?
 
“I dunno,” Calamity struggled.  “After the Ministry o’ Peace?  Maybe.” - Oh, so that isn't happening. Well, my heart skipped a few beats all the same.
 
I floated the parchment up and gazed at the painting.  It was a crude child’s painting… and it was the most beautiful picture I had ever seen.  “Aw… you’re crying?  Don’t you like it?  I tried really hard!” - Now you're just messing with my emotions Kkat. *tear* D'awwwwwwwwww.
 
“Now I’ve gotten a lot better at this spell,” Velvet cautioned, snarkily adding, “Thanks to an abundance of practice. But all I can do is help the physical horn grow back.  I do not know if her magic will heal, or how long it might take.” - B'awwwwwwwwww
 
The majestic balefire phoenix began to sing to Silver Bell.  Her song was rich, sadly nostalgic and overwhelmingly beautiful. - Heart... melting... vital signs... fading...
 
Raiders?  Seriously?  I’d already wiped out the raiders in Ponyville.  What did they do, respawn? - Hehe, game mechanics. I lol'd.
 
“What?” one of the younger bucks cried out in surprise.  “Oh, the barding?”  I blinked, feeling my life had somehow come full circle. - Oh, the epiphanies!
 
Let me give you a taste of what I have to offer. …I suddenly understood.  The spell was so simple.  It was barely more than telekinesis.  The easiest thing, really.  My horn began to glow. - So... tempting... I would fall right here for that. Hell, I might have easily fallen to its temptations back there in the dream.
 
“Can your eyes really glow?” - Down right to the Bridle Gossip dream scene? Woman, you rule.
 
The amber mare’s magenta eyes were wide and she was nearly squealing.  “We’re going to be just.  Like.  Her!” - Brace for deep self-insecurity!
 
“I’m sure the Wasteland Heroine wouldn’t want you getting hurt.”  - Oh Celestia they're rubbing it in. It's so hilarious.
 
“Wow,” olive buck said, staring at SteelHooves.  “Are you really one of those renegade Steel Ranger heroes?” - Is it actually the first time the team's having such a scene? Wow, that took long enough.
 
Xenith looked at me.  “No more distractions?” she asked calmly.  I bit my lower lip. - Yeah right, no distraction an horse's plot.
 
“…Fluttershy’s cottage,” SteelHooves confirmed. - *CMC cry* NO CANON UNCORRUPTED!
 
“Pegasi,” Velvet Remedy corrected automatically. “Yeah.  Those too.” - Are... are you actually the first to crack this (particular) joke? Really? I love you.
 
The inside of the cottage was beyond foul. - Not a big surprise. Still, very nasty descriptions there.
 
“How dare you!” Velvet Remedy screamed, swiveling her combat shotgun towards the second raider as the first fell. - It just had to be Velvet opening fire. There wasn't any other way.
 
I watched, frozen.  - I know I would too.
 
Velvet lowered the shotgun, turning away from the third raider’s raggedly decapitated body.  “Far as I’m concerned, I still haven’t.” - Whoa, that's how you 'take a level in badass' right. Take notes, people.
 
I could almost feel a warmth radiating off of SteelHooves.  He had done Applejack proud, and he knew it.  I hoped he was finally beginning to really heal. - So much character growth.... if Fluttershy wasn't dead she'd surely have grown branches by now dohohohohoho :P
 
Velvet was curled up in the Sky Bandit.  Pyrelight was stroking her with a wing.  - Aw, it really is her Arbu then.
 
Now it was time for me to put on the blindfold. - Am I even allowed to be hyped for an incoming awesome plan? After all the epicness that has already happened in the story?
 
Yeah, yeah.  I’m on my way, I thought.  I’ve got what you’ve asked for.  Just hold your alicorns. - Lol'd again.
 
What, are you an owl now?  I suddenly thought of Wordsworth.  - That joke, it did not go uncracked. I am pleased.
 
Then it told me. - Oh man, IT BEGINS.
 
> YOU HAVE THIRTY-SIX MINUTES TO GET CLEAR. Oh pony oh Celestia oh pony oh Celestia oh pony oh Celestia oh pony oh Celestia oh pony oh Celestia oh pony oh Celestia
 
“We have recently become aware of what the pony named Red Eye is doing,” Harbinger stated.  “We know he opposes you and has plans to overthrow you.  His intentions with the towers pose a clear and imminent danger to the Enclave and its citizens.  His intentions are nothing short of an act of war.” - You know, normally, in a normal story, this kind of stuff would happen NOT in a situation where there's a nuclear bomb going off in half an hour. But damn, maybe it's because you're one of the few that can make this work and make it look truly appropriate.
 
“What did you do?” Ambrosia cried out as the door closed and the armored plate came down.  She spun, watching massive, armored shutters lower over the windows.  “What did you just do?” - Totally epic.
 
“That bright light and roll of thunder that a lot of you reported from the vicinity of Splendid Valley just over forty hours ago?  The one a lot of you said was like a megaspell going off?  Turns out it was a megaspell going off.  Right in the heart of Splendid Valley. - Stuff like that tends to happen with Pip around.
 
“This is the Grand Pegasus Enclave.  We have commandeered this broadcast to deliver an important message to all ponies: Do not be afraid.  We are here to save you!” - Sounds like the Enclave has a deathwish too. Rainbow Dash, we're coming to save you! :D