-While Sling fought the monster from within, Hoof, Titus, the Witches and a Vault agent named Midnight Glitter, combated it from without in a final battle. During the battle, the Witch Master Dim Light allowed the creature to consume him and, from within, released the caged creatures and souls of those the monster had absorbed. The vengeful spirits assailed their captor and Exweizi was torn apart from the inside. Only Sling's Mind and Spirit seemed to survive and, with Dim Light's help - the Witch Master appearing to sacrifice himself - Sling was saved and returned to the physical world in the body of Exweizi's original form - that of the Unicorn Witch Silver Gaze. The body morphed, before the the eyes of Sling's friends, back into his original little blue Earth Stallion form returning him, externally, back to normal. It appears that Dim Light's Spirit and Mind may well be alive within Sling even now.     Sling woke briefly, long enough for Titus to pick him up, before slipping back into unconsciousness. The Surviving Witches - acolytes of Dim Light - did their best to heal the wounded combatants before hastily departing. Shortly after the Witches left the scene, the battered Cannonites were captured by Equestrian Vanguards, taken back to the Embassy and interrogated. Sling was unconscious throughout this, though the Equestrians found him to be extremely magically charged among other things. Hoof and Titus resisted their interrogation attempts and all were eventually released, though the Equestrians made it clear they were not done with their "Investigation."       _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _     [19:57] The following events started slightly prio to XYZ's last battle...   [19:59] With Texin to his side, Sling Swivel made it into the deserted TownHall. The voice of an old pony called to them, coming from behind a flipped table. "What's the difference between a saint and a sinner?" The claim was replied with confusion by the Cannonite, and this triggered a violent reaction. "That's not the damn difference!" The flipped table is kicked at him and Texin with such force that it flies above their heads, and lands outside the Townhall. "Last chance, maggots! What's the damn answer? I swear on Celestia herself I'll shoot yer damn faces!" Yells the figure of a sturdy Pegasus stallion. His are spread, and his right foreleg, with a mini-crossbow strapped to it, aims at the duo. "So? Who's talking first?" After the table was kicked, his voice gained strength and harshness, like the one of a drill sergeant... and he may as well be one, judging by his Equestrian golden armor and the veteran scar that took an eye away from him.     [20:07]  * Texin scrambles behind Sling, poking his head out slowly "How very rude! And I thought we were friends, er...", looking down for a moment, seemingly deep in thought "Is it a mineral..."     [20:10]  * Sling_Swivel crouches instinctively, wincing as the table hurtles through the air over his and the Griffon's head... Sling's mouth hangs open in shock and surprise when he spots the Pegasus aiming a weapon at them and clad in the Armor of... the Equestrian Guard?   [20:10]  * Sling_Swivel, being no fan of the Equestrian Government or their soldiers, could find only things better left unsaid on the tip of his tongue... “Uhm... uh...” he mutters as Tex uses him as a shield.     [20:12]  * Texin frowns "It's...what do they use for swords?" looking towards Sling.     [20:13] The pony sighs in annoyance. "...Iron. That mineral you are thinking of is Iron! How do you dare forget the name of Iron Wing! Glorious member of the Vanguard and protector of..." For a second, he seems lost in thought, lowering the crossbow in the process. "I.. I'll remember the rest of it eventually. Who is with you this time, catbird?" Spits out the Equestrian as he trots closer to them. "And what exactly are you doing here?"     [20:14]  * Sling_Swivel's fear and shock is quickly replaced with irritation and he can only scowl at the Vanguard...     [20:18]  * Texin steps out now "Well I should ask you the same, no? This silly town of his with the misleading name, I've never seen it before, we just came upon it. And you were here first, so hah", turning his head away with a hmph, before looking to Sling and nodding quickly "Oh, and this si swiveling swings, our newest guest."     [20:19] "Not a guest for long, I'd hope," he replies, sourly, scrunching his muzzle.     [20:21] The Stallion stops right in front of Sling, looking at him with his only blue eye in a mixture of stoicism and despise. "So you don't know either why my playground changed so suddenly? Some time ago I was on that disgusting manor with the flowers... now I am in this miserable colony. And why don't you have a cutie mark, son?" He asks to Swing, ignoring his remark about how long he plans to stay."Stayed at home too much? You should do something with yourself! All my daughters are leaders and examples of a pony! How sad must be your mother at your lack of talent... tsk tsk." [roll perception after your post, Sling].     [20:26]  * Sling_Swivel 's scowl only persists, "Because I'm not one of *you*," he replies, bitterly, "I don't threaten strangers and ask riddles," he adds, glowering up at the Vanguard.   [20:26] !roll 1d20+1 [20:26] Sling_Swivel rolled 1d20: 10       [20:30] The old Stallion lets out a single laugh, and turns around to trot back to his previous spot. "Well, you could at least try to answer, son. I've been trying to remember the answer to that riddle since... I forgot since how long. But enough chit-chat, I have a monster to slay!" The soldier leans down to grab something from behind a few chairs. As this happens, a white noise invades Sling's ears, and his heart feels oppressed. Iron Wing gets up wielding a long sword on his left foreleg. "...Oh, she's here already. To battle positions!"     [20:32]  * Texin quickly darts his eyes around, stepping back nervously "Ohhh, fighting's not so fun, this better go on like those fancy epic poems!"     [20:34]  * Sling_Swivel quirks a brow and regards the Stallion skeptically for a moment as he laughs, the corners of his mouth still curved decidedly downwards. Sling's irritated look soon turns to one of confusion... then to one of fear as the feeling from those nights before returns, “Oh Hell..” he mutters, glancing over his shoulder and following after the catbird.     [20:34] "Nonsense, catbird! The glory of battle is in the battle itself, not on those fancy songs!" The ground begins to tremble, shaking the entire building. The wooden structures whines and its windows shatter at the strong Earthquake. There's nowhere to go but outside before it collapses! Neither slow nor idle, Iron Wing flies through one of the weak walls, leaving a hole with his shape as he yells a battlecry. "FOR CELESTIA'S SUN! AND FOR THE VANGUARD!" Most of the Townhall's walls begin to crumble and a roar disrupts into Sling and Texin's ears.     [20:37]  * Sling_Swivel is quite shaken and looks around, panicked as the place starts to come down around them! "Oh Fuck! Fuck!" he shouts, scrambling to turn around and sprint back out of Townhall.     [20:40]  * Texin quickly dashes after Sling, whining as he looks back to the place falling apart "Awwwww, no complaints, darn it."     [20:42] Cracks snake their way around the snowy road when Sling runs outside. He looks in panic to the nearby buildings also collapsing to the cataclysm, and the gray sky above chimes in protest with thunders and rain. Iron Wing can be seen flying around, not going too far from the ruins of the Townhall as he continues to yell. A huge roar erupts from the mess of broken planks, dirt and snow, as giant black tendrils crawl by every fissure available. Soon enough, a hideous, huge black mass emerges from the ruins, roaring and shrieking to the little creatures that stare in awe, fear and anger at her. Her formless body begins to take the shape of a pony, like a colossal shadow of a unicorn."Playtime is over! Behold what I'll be when I'm done with your friends!"The voice is distorted by both its size and demonic nature, but is still acknowledged as the one of Silver Gaze. A giant hoof crushes the only house that remained standing around her, sending splints and shards against Texin and Sling, who are dangerously close to the colossal monster. Her giant, red eyes settle over them. "And like I promise, I'll let you see while I kill them!"   [20:50] The storm above intensifies when a crack appears through the firmament, opening a vortex that looks into the outside world, through the eyes of the creature. An angry Titus and an unknown pony wearing a leather mask and straw hat stare at Sling when he looks up to see what's going on. The next thing he knows is that everything in the fissure fades to black, and he overhears Titus' yelling, thunderous among the storm. "And you, Texin... You've served well. I'll let you die quickly!"     [20:52]  * Sling_Swivel stops suddenly as the monstrosity appears, rising from the earth... He can only stare in horror up at the thing as it towers over him, gloating in its booming voice!   [20:52] Sling is frozen in place for a time, but as the monster raises up a hoof and brings it down, he turns jerks away, being peppered by splinters and debris... Tumbling over, he looks back up at the thing fearfully as it makes its promise...   [20:53]  * Sling_Swivel 's gaze turns skyward at the scene... Is that... Titus? The image fades too fast and Sling is left screaming as the storm's fury intensifies.     [20:54]  * Texin keeps looking wildly about as the figure comes up from the ground, shrinking in his spot as it refers directly to him, calling out "N-No, I don't serve nothin!"     [20:57] "SUFFER CELESTIA'S RADIANCE!"Interrupts the loud yell of Iron Wing. With a sword glowing with the intensity of the Sun, he charges against the monster's back, burying his long blade into the black, shifting flesh of the creature. The fissure in the skies shows something again, this time a bright orange light that, alongside Iron's attack, elicits a long scream of pain from the colossus.   [20:59] The gray Pegasus backs away from the monster quickly, looking surprised and pleased as he flies down towards Sling and Texin. His blade is coated in black blood, and so is his face and limbs, giving his toothy smile an odd aspect. "For the princesses! That never worked before!" The fissure depicts the shadow of a pony shrouded in an intense glowing, and then the friend of Sling, holding a sword bravely as he yells. "AAAGH! YOU SHALL SUFFER!"Recovered from the attack, the giant monster prepares to smash the trio of souls with one of her humongous hooves! [Roll Init!]     [21:05]  * Sling_Swivel curls up his hind-legs, covers his head with his forelegs and screams right along with the monster as all hell breaks loose. The Vanguard returns and Sling takes a glance around, spotting another flash of Titus armed with a sword... He soon looks back to the beast as it approaches, raising a massive hoof menacingly!   [21:05]  * Sling_Swivel quickly rolls back onto all four hooves, ready to run!     [21:05]  * Texin widens his eyes as the creature wails out as Iron attacks, scrambling on up and pulling out a smaller blade from his Fannie pack, frowning as he points it over to the mass "N-No more!     [21:05] !roll 1d20+2 [21:05] Sling_Swivel rolled 1d20: 9       [21:06] !roll 1d20+4 [21:06] GMC rolled 1d20: 13     [21:06] !roll 1d20+6 [21:06] GMC rolled 1d20: 7       [21:06] !roll 1d20+4 [21:06] Texin rolled 1d20: 15       [21:07] Order of turns: Texin - Y - Iron – Sling   [21:07] "DIE!"     [21:07] (So THAT'S where Y was!)   [21:07] (X and Z were outside, Y was inside!)     [21:07] Before you all start, make a reflex save     [21:08] !roll 1d20+2 [21:08] Sling_Swivel rolled 1d20: 19       [21:08] Iron's roll   [21:09] !roll 1d20+4 [21:09] GMC rolled 1d20: 1       [21:09] !roll 1d20+4 [21:09] Texin rolled 1d20: 13       [21:11] Iron looks too happy with himself to avoid the giant smash, like Texin and Sling do. Before the hoof falls upon him, he says to Sling. "I don't know what it is, but some shit is going on outside! Time to take the ch---" *BAM*His sword is blown away from the impact, and it lands right in front of Sling, stuck to the ground by its tip....   [21:11] Texin's turn!   [21:11] [I'll make you a map soone]   [21:11] [Battle music :3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiDI4GZMVF0 ]   [21:13] http://sketchtoy.com/63881709     [21:14]  * Sling_Swivel screams in frustration and fear! "But I don't know how to use a Sword!!" he wails, darting for the weapon.     [21:15] Sling acquires Blade of the Sun: Slashing damage (2d12)     [21:17]  * Sling_Swivel snatches up the sword and tries to make a quick one-eighty and put some serious distance between himself and the monster!     [21:19] The Stallion grabs the long blade with his hooves, barely able to hold it with a single leg. The handle is rich in decorations, with a hilt made of pure gold in the shape of a Morning Sun. The blade itself glows with orange magic... yet again, is too heavy for Sling, and he barely makes some distance between the monster and himself.     [21:24]  * Texin unfurls his wings and takes to the sky, looking down at the monster and focusing on one of the long tentacle protrusions. Letting loose a cry he folds back his wings and begins a steep dive towards it, holding his blade steady and out.     [21:25] [Roll attack!]     [21:27] !roll 1d20+4 [21:27] Texin rolled 1d20: 12       [21:28] The gryphon dives into the giant limb, and pierces through it with his pointy blade! [Roll damage!]     [21:28] "Dude! What are you doing?!" he shouts as the Griffon takes flight to engage the monster!     [21:28] !roll 3d4+4 [21:28] Texin rolled 3d4: 2 2 1       [21:29] Covered in black blood, Texin makes it to the other side of the limb, leaving a hole on his way through! "AAAAAaaaaH! You can't WIN!" Yells Y in desperation, flailing her injured leg in reaction. [Y's turn!]   [21:30] "I am the apex predator! Nothing is atop of me!"   [21:31] Several tendrils are protrude from her body, darting against Texin as he is still midair!   [21:31] !roll 10d20 [21:31] GMC rolled 10d20: 6 17 10 3 6 12 15 19 16 1     [21:31] Four of them land on the gryphon, slashing and piercing his sides for...   [21:32] !roll 4d8 [21:32] GMC rolled 4d8: 2 2 2 4     [21:32] (8) damage   [21:35] From the crater left by Y's hoof, an armored figure stands. Covered in shining golden armor, Iron Wing stands and shakes some dust off his suit. "It's you goddamn fault not knowing how to fight like a man, kiddo! We aren't in your logical world anyways. Suit my blade to something you know how to use, maggot!" With a hearty laugh, the armor fades away so to lighten his weight, and the old Stallion flies up and above...   [21:35] [Sling's turn]     [21:36]  * Texin is nearly knocked out of the sky, heaving and huffing as he quickly flaps back a good distance from the mass     [21:37] The creature roars and begins to regenerate from her injures, giving time to Sling to think, and Texin to back away. The figure of Iron Wing disappears against the fissure in the sky, on which everyone can see how Titus hacks and slashes at something, obtaining three black arrows nailed to his body in reply!   [21:41] "He... He is the reason this is happening. Didn't you have enough turning me into this? Now everypony will pay!"     [21:42]  * Sling_Swivel is about to drop the useless blade and run the hell away when the Vanguard Lunatic stands up out of the crater the monster's stomping had seemingly crushed him into, "What the hell does that even mean!?" he shouts in reply, as the Pegasus takes wing... He glances up, in utter confusion at the battle taking place “outside” then back to the Sword...   [21:42] “Fuck... I dunno... Sword turn into... a Hoof-Friendly M16!” Sling pleads with the weapon as the monster roars.     [21:43] [https://i.warosu.org/data/tg/img/0209/63/1349217226441.jpg]     [21:44] [Make a will roll]     [21:45] !roll 1d20+3 [21:45] Sling_Swivel rolled 1d20: 20       [21:45] [:3]     [21:45] [Oh, Shit, I'll take that. And the M203 with it. Say Hello to my Little Friend!]     [21:47] The heavy blade shines and changes its shape! Accommodated to his hooves, the rifle Sling desired so strongly materializes from the sword! Both Texin and the giant monster look at him in slight confusion, the device resulting alien to them, to say the less... Sling acquires M-16. Loaded. 20 bullets. (1d20 piercing damage each)[Why do murrikans always ask guns? Ahahahhaahhaa]     [21:49] [daaaayyyyyyum!]     [21:49] [we are still in your turn, sling. You can shoot]     [21:49] [Must be an M16A1]     [21:50] [My thoughts, as well, Hoof]     [21:51] [And Murricans always ask guns cause they kick ass!!!! :DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD]     [21:52] [One of those two is literally two meters from me in my safe in the cloest: http://oi61.tinypic.com/160pn5i.jpg]     [21:55] http://sketchtoy.com/63881883   [21:55] [updated map.]     [21:57]  * Sling_Swivel grits his teeth, sits back upon his haunches to steady himself, smacks the bottom of the mag with his left forehoof and then draws back the charging handle... He shoulders the weapon, awkwardly flips the selector into Semi and aims for the beasts' face and eyes as best he can...   [21:58]  * Sling_Swivel takes a breath, releasing it, before squeezing the hoof-friendly trigger-bar and firing off a few shots.   [21:58] !roll 1d20+3 [21:58] Sling_Swivel rolled 1d20: 7       [21:59] The stallion's aim isn't the best after not only having spent a good time without practice, but also using the weapon with hooves for the first time... luckily for him, his target is hard to miss. Hit!   [21:59] [How many are 'a few shots'?]     [21:59] [Call it a string of 5]   [22:00] !roll 5d20 [22:00] Sling_Swivel rolled 5d20: 17 9 4 20 8       [22:01] The bullets are shot with the roar of a thunder each, and pierce into the flesh of Y for (58) piercing damage     [22:01] The giant monster cries in pain, but still looks baffled, confused about the situation. Texin's turn!     [22:02]  * Sling_Swivel is incredibly surprised that that worked!     [22:05] "HAHAHAHA!" The thunderous laughter of Y echoes through the landscape as she reincorporates from the shots, and, in the sky, Sling can see how Hoof now receives some arrows into his body as well... The sight changes to witness a couple of ponies, unknown to him, laying in the snow, apparently unconscious. "No matter-- It doesn't... matter. That magical weapon will be mine along your mind!”     [22:06]  * Texin watches in awe as Sling fires off the rooty tooty point and shooty, quickly redoubling his effort to go after the tentacle morass, this time to try and lop it off.     [22:08] The gryphon doesn't waste time after the surprise, and with a few flaps of his wings he takes off and darts against the monster! [roll attack!]     [22:08] !roll 1d20+4 [22:08] Texin rolled 1d20: 11       [22:08]  * Sling_Swivel winces, glancing at the "scene" in the sky... is that... Hoof!?     [22:09] The monster receives the powerful hacking and slashing of Texin right on her chest! [Roll damage!]     [22:10] !roll 3d4+4 [22:10] Texin rolled 3d4: 4 1 3       [22:11] "UGH! You are a couple of annoying insects... Like such..."After Texin harms her for (12)slashing damage, splattering more black blood over him and his small sword, Y encloses her limbs around him and shoots tentacles at his body. "... you shall be crushed!"   [22:11] !roll 12d20 [22:11] GMC rolled 12d20: 17 19 1 1 12 14 19 3 11 20 1 5     [22:12] !roll 6d10 [22:12] GMC rolled 6d10: 1 3 8 8 5 6     [22:13] The gryphon fights back, cutting some of the cursed limbs and leaving more scars on the creature's surface... but his demise is imminent, and Y takes him into her body. The last thing Sling sees from Texin is his claw releasing the small blade...     [22:14] "Oh God... No!"     [22:17] "Ohohoho, you really expected to win? I am but playing with you!"The humongous creature looms above the Cannonite, crushing more ruins with her giant hooves as she leans down, her red eyes glowing over the stallion. "... You are seeing the future right now. I'll become an army of one after I consume your town. Nobody will be ever alone, and I will have it all."   [22:17] [Sling's turn!]   [22:18] As the stallion gets ready to shoot, or talk, the images in the sky change again, depicting a heavily injured Hoof and Titus still standing to the monster that will surely kill them.     [22:20] "Yeah well..." he begins, looking up at the monster... a chilling scene appearing above it in the sky that gives Sling pause... at least for a moment, "Fuck you too!" he continues, shouldering the weapon once more, taking aim at the beast's face and firing!     [22:21] [Roll damage]     [22:21] [Damage or Hit?]     [22:21] [damage]     [22:22] !roll 15d20 [22:22] Sling_Swivel rolled 15d20: 3 14 9 7 10 10 11 7 12 11 8 4 13 5 18     [22:22] [Mag Dump]     [22:25] The stallion empties the magazine on Y's face, eliciting some grunts of pain from her, but not quite stopping her. Her maw opens, ready to devour him! The storm above, however, stops all of a sudden, and the giant monster remains frozen in confusion at this. From a corner of the town, the noise of a stampede reaches both Y's and Sling...     [22:28]  * Sling_Swivel squeezes the trigger-bar several times after the last round is fired, gritting his teeth as the monster closes in... one mag... that was it. This was it...   [22:28]  * Sling_Swivel 's ears twitch as the storm above ceases and the monster comes to a sudden halt... His ears swivel, listening... something was coming...     [22:29] The noise grows, ominous. Sling can't yet explain what's going on, even less now. The giant pony widens her eyes in clear surprise... The scene in the sky begins to close, being Hoof shooting a bolt the last thing it shows before its orange light fades and disappears. The fissure closes slowly, and the noise of the stampede becomes deafening, enriched by a cacophony of animal noises and voices.     [22:30]  * Sling_Swivel looks about in utter confusion, the rifle still clutched in his forelegs... what was happening??     [22:33] "B-but... how?" Inquires the colossus as her sight turns to the West. Newly surprised, she answers the question herself at the same time the stampede made of different animals and ponies can be seen, rushing towards where Sling and she are. "..That's why he let us eat him... And that's why he... the chaos spell, it made him free from his prison from the beginning! DIM, YOU MO--"Her monstrous voice is consumed by the ones of hundreds of creatures. Leading them, an orange pony wearing a leather mask and cape floats by means of the latter device, which glows in white light. He has no words for the giant, but for Sling, as he moves at high speed towards him. "Grab my hoof!"   [22:37] An enormous spider follows promptly behind, with a couple of Pegasi flying above. Bears, wolves, giant bugs of all kind, ice creatures and even some living beings of such weird shapes that Sling couldn't have imagined existed rush at the meeting of Y. The giant gives them face, while Dim flies above Sling extending a firm leg, yelling him now or never! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0udcS2lSs     [22:39]  * Sling_Swivel just watches in shock as the horde of beasts and ponies charge the panicked monster... He quickly realizes... these were all the captive creatures. All the captive Ponies! They were free... and they were mad!   [22:39]  * Sling_Swivel spots one Pony out in front, leading the charge! He approaches and extends a hoof, calling out to the little blue stallion and Sling reaches with his own hoof, still somewhat in shock and still clutching the rifle with his other.     [22:39] Beasts and ponies crawl over the giant limbs and tendrils of the black colossus, she crushes some here and there, their clamor of pain and anger distorted by the chaotic magic that spawns from them in sparks of pink, green, orange, blue, red, indigo... magic. Every little explosion leaves a hole in the giant, and as some of the most vicious creatures gnaw and launch their attacks on her, thousands of blade like protuberances sprout from Y's body to fight back, slashing, hacking, piercing, tearing apart creatures that continue to explode in fantastical colors. Their voices claim revenge, others greedy yells for power, the need to seize a body. Pain lingers from the weakest...   [22:42] Dim catches Sling from a hoof, and takes him above the pandemonium. The massacre below turns into an unrecognizable mess of monsters, ponies and beasts fighting each other in violent orgy.     [22:43]  * Sling_Swivel feels himself tugged into the air by his hoof! He glances up at his rescuer, then down at the insane technicolor melee below... at a loss for words...     [22:45] "Slihng... this is the first time we meet, but truhst me. I'm here to sahve you" Says the witch to the Cannonite on a bizarre accent. The bloodbath below goes on, the carcass of Y turned into battlefield and feast for the prisoners. A gray Pegasus flies in circles around Dim, but the sorcerer pays him no mind, floating away with Sling towards an untouched alley of the town. Their hooves touch the snow once more as they land, with the Pegasus still following them. "So you were the cause of all this... I think it's fair to say 'thanks', witch. But you are as despicable as this monster that holds us. Prepare to face your doom!" Cries the voice of Iron Wing as he aims with his crossbow to Dim. The Mage still looks indifferent to him, his sight not above with the Vanguard, but lost in the horizon of the alley's entrance...     [22:49]  * Sling_Swivel looks back to the masked fellow, "Who... who are you?" he asks, before the Vanguard fellow returns and they soon land... The Vanguard threatens Sling's rescuer and, soon enough, the little blue Stallion is brandishing his weapon at the Pegasus, "That's about enough from you, you Royalist Stooge!" he threatens.     [22:52] The stallion lets out a laugh full of mockery, and changes aim at the Cannonite. The stand-off ensures when the old soldier says. "Shoot me, son. You are nothing but a target more in the list for any Equestrian..."     [22:52] [Shoot!]   [22:52] !roll 1d20+6 [22:52] GMC rolled 1d20: 5       [22:52]  * Sling_Swivel clicks   [22:53] [Sling's AC is 12]     [22:56] Sling's gun shoots nothing, as the Equestrian's bolt flies mere centimeters away from its target's face. "To Tartarus with this! I'll kill you both with my bare-hooves!" The enraged soldier leaps forward, ready to lay some pain on Sling as Dim produces some sort of magical field around them. The soldier crashes against the reddish, transparent barrier.     [22:57]  * Sling_Swivel changes his grip, preparing to defend himself with the rifle-fighting techniques he can vaguely recall when... the Equestrian Zealot is stopped and deflected in mid-leap!     [22:58]  "We don't have tihme for gahmes... Look" From within the protective sphere, Sling can see what Dim was looking at this whole time. At the alley's entrance stands Silver Gaze, soaked in black goo and the blood of some of the creatures that fought her. She's nothing but a normal sized, somewhat skinny unicorn, but her horn lightens with dark magic that produces black arrows, like the ones that injured Titus and Hoof in the depictions. "Your sorcery can't keep you safe from Celestia's light, wi---" Iron Wing's nape is pierced by the magical projectiles, and his ramble comes to an end...     [23:01]  * Sling_Swivel turns away from the rambling zealot, following Dim's gaze as he speaks... "That's... her..." Sling mutters, as the Silver Mare cuts down the loudmouth Vanguard.     [23:03] "I ahm Dim Light, Cahnnonite. I ahm the responsible of this ahbominations existence, and I cahme here to put an end to it, geht you out." Silver takes a few steps forward, looking extremely tired, but with magic escaping her eyes and horn in display of power. "He is nothing but a liar! A sack of shit and lies that uses other ponies... He made me into this. All this is his fault!"     [23:05]  * Sling_Swivel looks back to the Masked Stallion... "You... you are?" he asks, then looks back to the Mare as she continues to approach, regarding her coldly... "Wait... he begins, back to Dim, "There are others... that Griffon fellow... and a young Stallion named Spades..."   [23:06] "A red Pegasus Mare in a cage... she speaks a strange language..." he adds, trying to recall the other captives.     [23:07] Dim remains stoic, but lowers his gaze of glowing white. Silver laughs more as she is close enough to put a hoof on the barrier. Her wounds are grievous, to say the less, and the whole reasoning behind her ability to sustain such damage is the fact they are still trapped inside her. "All dead. Dead like me when this bastard took my heart away. Literally... You think red mages deal lightly with their experiments? The Griffon was a meal I had near Las Pegasus, Spades another one I used to trick a witch into leading me to Dim, hahahha... the fool thought of me as his brother for weeks... Oh, that mare, y--"   [23:13] "Cloud Rider... Ohne of the dihsciples you toohk with you the night you escahped. Don't prehted I forget easihly about other ponies. Buht it's enough lahst words... those ahre for fools that didn't say or do enough while they lihved." The magical bubble disappears, and Silver falls to the snow heavily. The skies above become clear of clouds, tainted in an orange hue that assimilates the lights of the evening. ".. S-sahving him won't mahke you a better pony. Dim... You know what you have dohne" The stallion glances at Sling, talking in a calmed voice. "Touch her horn, ahnd think ohv somepony you cahre about. Ahnd someplace you cahll home."     [23:15]  * Sling_Swivel stands by, listening as the two go back and forth... he doesn't believe a word... well... very few of the words the Silver Mare speaks... At Dim's command he cautiously approaches the Mare, still clutching his rifle with one foreleg... He pauses, though, and looks back to the masked Stallion, “W-what... about those others?” he asks.     [23:20] Dim glances to Iron's corpse as the sun-like light covers them all. "They have fouhnd rest... I tuhrned Silver into sohmething I shouldn't have played with. She could stohre the essehnce of what she devoured. That's why she becahme insane for it. Crahving for other's to fihll what she never truly had..." The bleeding mare looks up to Dim and Sling, crying and gritting her teeth in anger at them. "You took my heart... my mind. You made a husk."   [23:22] "That rituahl can't be performed on those with a strohng, full heart... Now I musht rest. My own mihnd craves fohr a break, and---" The orange light glows intensely now, almost blinding, and Dim curses in his language as her hurries Sling to touch Silver's horn. "Sohmething is wrong with the spell. Quickly, you muhst leave now."     [23:27]  * Sling_Swivel listens as the masked rescuer speaks, nodding somberly... He had not truly believed he would get a chance... but now he had to wonder why only he would have one. That poor young Stallion, that weeping Mare who spoke in strange tongues... that brave, eccentric Griffon... Why him, but not them?   [23:27]  * Sling_Swivel swallows hard at Dim's urging, nodding once more, “Thank you... Dim Light... you get yourself out, too,” he replies, before pressing the muzzle of his rifle against the silver Mare's temple, pinning her head and touching her horn with his free forehoof... “Titus... Hoof... Arrow... Orange Burst... Aurora...” he mutters, envisioning the faces of his friends and that warm, cozy farmhouse that he called home...     [23:34] Silver doesn't do much in reply to Sling's prodding and further immobilization of her head. Noting beyond..."You damn... human freaks. I.. I hope you live long enough to see it happening... H-heh..." Dim looks somewhat nervous at how bright the light has gotten. When Sling thinks of his friends and new home, the sensation of falling into a vortex of memories and sensations overtake him. He is no longer inside Silver, but he knows he's not alone. The images of a young orange stallion prancing in green fields with an equally naive and young yellow mare at his side is only a peek to a myriad of thoughts that aren't his own... But is late when he feels a magical outbursts, when his hooves feel firm ground, snatching his consciousness from him. Sling falls unconscious, asleep...     [23:38] [Last post from Sling, and it's el endo]     [23:42]  * Sling_Swivel ignores the Mare, focusing... He gasps and his eyes snap back open as he feels himself falling away from the scene... away from the destroyed town, the silver Mare, the carnage of battle... and his masked rescuer... He peers in wonder at the peaceful scene, confused... intrigued...   [23:43] The scene slips away, though, just as quickly as it had appeared... and he feels the earth beneath his hooves again... then... then... sleep.     [23:47] When Sling wakes up, he feels the cold around him, the confusion, the... lack of something he doesn't know what it is. He hears the joyous call of Titus, and the worried words of some unknown ponies around him. "...is alive, ihnside of him." Still dazzled, in a state between fever and dream, Sling hears how someone calls from above, an authoritative female voice. "Cannonites?!" Then it's all dreams again...   [23:47] El endo   [23:47] [Cue credits music! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5YhlMNM6Nk]       _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _     -It was not until waking up back home, at Titus' Farmhouse, did Sling remember all of what had occurred within the Monster.