Abnormal Norman 47: The Winter War (Part Three)
_________________________________________________
 
Be Amaranthine
Abandoned Shoe Store
 
>Man, it's been really loud since I arrived here.
>All the shooting and the screaming.
>It's getting real annoying. Yeesh.
>What is it today? Mardi Gras?
>Ah forget it.
 
>The city's in ruins. All the debris and destroyed buildings, brought upon by the recklessness of the Saints Bro and Viri Scientia.
>You went to a shoe store to rest up.
>You then grabbed a shawarma from your bag and started munching on it while trying to look for some socks and a fit pair of boots.
>Your bare feet can't take anymore.
"Freaking splinters are ruining Amaranthine's perfect toesies.
>You then found a pair of boots and some socks on the shelf.
>They were perfect for your look.
"Oooh, these look cute!"
>You wore the boots and looked at the mirror.
"Brad would love these on me. Oh Brad~"
>*passive swooning*
 
*BOOOM*
 
"Huh?"
>The ground shook as the mirror in front of you topples over.
>You ran out the back door and went through the alley
>To your surprise, something was happening.
"What in the world!?"
>The whole place is a battlefield.
>No police, no people, no lawbringers...
>Just a bunch of Saints and a few Viri Scientia guys.
>Oh god, is there a gang war?
>You shook your head at that idea.
>You're not a Viri Scientia girl. You're a human being, just as Brad would want you to be.
>All that matters on your end is to find Noir-Man, and to save Brad!
>But how do you find a man wearing a mask at this place?
>A barren wasteland, filled with despair and regret?
 
*BLOOOSHH*
>"AIIIIIEEE!"
>A small orange girl is being harassed by one of the monster hybrids of Viri Scientia.
>Using your new-found moral integrity from that talk with Brad, you decided to save the little girl from the large chicken dragon.
>>"BO-KAAAK!"
>"H-HEELP!"
"WORRY NOT! AMARANTHINE WILL SAVE THE DAY!"
>You jumped at the large chicken hybrid and hanged on by its beak.
>>"GROOOAAAAR!"
>You then grabbed your sack of shawarma, jumped in its mouth and clogged its throat with your bag.
>>"G-GAKK..GRAAAAKKK...AARK!"
"I will miss you, oh beautiful bag of  dead delicious lamb. HURGH!"
>You jumped off of the chicken and landed on your feet.
>The large chicken stumbles and chokes on your bag.
>The little girl your age is astounded by your work.
>The chicken slowly spinned around, before falling down on the ground, slowly choking the bag out of its beak, half-conscious.
>"Oh man! THAT WAS UNBELIEVABLE!"
"I've done more unbelievable stuff! Now, can you tell me what the heck's going on in this town?"
>"I don't know! I heard on the news that a gang war had been taking place, and the police of the town were kidnapped!"
"Whoa!"
>"Whoa is right! I'm Scootaloo by the way."
"Amaranthine. I'm actually here to find Noir-Man!"
>"Good luck with that! That guy's an AWESOOOME SUPERHERO, but he doesn't have a MyFace page, so finding him is an almost impossible job. Man, he's the best!"
"O-Oh yeah? W-well, his sidekick's cooler than him!" You say, promoting your husbando all the way.
>"Oh please, Commander Underwear's always been a filler sidekick. Even Chronos was a better hero than him!"
"Who keeps making these names up?"
>"I don't know. I just keep finding them on the internet."
"W-Well, whatever. Commander Underwear is still best hero."
>"Implying Commander Underwear isn't just some dude trying to be cool."
"You're making fun of my hero?"
>"Commander Underwear? Hero? You have terrible taste, girl!" Scootaloo says with a smug face.
>>"*BOOKAAAAK!* Yelled the chicken hybrid as it slowly snaps out of unconsciousness.
"Whoa! We got to go!"
>>"My sister's friend lives nearby here! Follow me!"
"Okay, but I really need to -WHOA!"
>Scootaloo yanks your arm and leads you to a bakery nearby.
 
>*ring*ring* goes the door as Scootaloo opens it.
>"Mr. and Mrs. Cake! Hope you don't mind, but I brought a friend! She saved my life!"
>>"Scootaloo! What did we tell you about wandering out on your own at this time?" A blue girl with rainbow-colored hair says, coming down the stairs.
>"Ahh~! Onii-chan!" Scootaloo says as she goes to hug Rainbow Dash.
>>"Ack! I TOLD YOU, I'M NOT YOUR SISTER!"
>"YOU ALWAYS WILL BE, IN MY HEART!"
"Ah...ahah.."
>>"I see you made a friend outside."
"Ah...hi! L-Listen, is there any way I can find Noir-Man? Like a Noir-Man signal or something?"
>>"What? Why do you need to find Noir-Man?"
"I really need his help! His sidekick's been kidnapped and I know where he is!"
>Rainbow Dash is in shock.
>>"W-WHAT!? YOU KNOW WHERE BRAD IS!?"
"W-Wait, how did you know his partner was named Brad!?"
>>"How did I know?! How did you know who Commander Underwear was!?"
>Rainbow stared at you long and hard.
>>"Wait a minute..."
>She remembers you from the television.
>The day when Brad was caught by the army, along with you.
>>"YOU'RE THE KID BRAD WAS FIGHTING ON TV!"
"W-WAIT!"
>Rainbow grabs a broom. Mr. and Mrs. Cake, along with Scootaloo rushes behind the staircase as the tension rises.
>>"Get out of here!"
"No! You don't understand! Brad needs help!"
>>"Damn right he needs help, but I'm not going to help you find Noir-Man! For all I know, you're one of those freaks on TV who turns into animals, like what you did when Brad kicked your ass!"
"Look, I know I've been doing some bad stuff, but I'm not here for that! Brad is being held by General Igneous Rock after saving my life, and I need Noir-Man to rescue him."
>>>"General Igneous Rock?" Says an unknown voice poking out of the staircase.
"Huh?"
>>"Pinkie! Go upstairs, it's not safe here."
>>>"But she mentioned my dad!"
>Pinkie ignores Rainbow and goes down to see you.
"L-Listen, Brad has been kidnapped by the army."
>>>"Brad!? Why would he be kidnapped by-"
>>"Pinkie! Go upstairs, and bring the Cakes and Scootaloo with you."
>>>"Rainbow Dash! This is about my father, and if it concerns one of my friends..."
"I don't know why you guys are fighting now, but I'll get straight to the point. Your dad, General Rock, kidnapped Brad under the thought that Brad would lead him to Noir-Man."
>>>"But why would Brad know where, or who Noir-Man is?"
>Rainbow gives out a sigh.
>>"B-Because Noir-Man is Norman. Brad's Commander Underwear."
>Pinkie and Scootaloo squeezes their face in shock.
>>>"OH MY GAAAWWWSHH!"
>"SO THAT'S WHY RAINBOW'S BEEN COLLECTING NOIR-MAN MEMORABILIA AND SOMETIMES MAKES OUT WITH A PICTURE OF IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!" Scootaloo says in a eureka tone.
>>"LOOK! THIS ISN'T SUPPOSED TO GET OUT! PINKIE, please, for the love of god, don't text a-...PINKIE, PUT THAT PHONE DOWN!"
>Rainbow swats Pinkie's phone away.
>>>"What!? I was just texting Rarity, Applejack, Twilight, and several other close friends!"
>>"Dammit Pinkie! This is Noir-Man's secret life! He can't connect that with us! YOU TOO, SCOOTALOO!" Rainbow says, swatting her phone away."
"Uhh..."
>>"Kid...if you're telling the truth, what good does that do now?"
"I don't know. The pink woman's dad had plans for Brad. I think they're going to make Brad find Norman, or maybe use him as one of those experiments for the mecha projects, I don't know. I just need to find him so he could rescue my beloved Brad!"
>>"Don't think you've noticed, but there's a gang war here, and I don't think Norman would like to be disturbed. In fact, I don't know how I'd contact him!"
"Then please, come with me to look for him."
>>"I..."
"For Brad. The army has ships and planes. They could arrive here any minute with Brad, or worse, they could've broken Brad's will and they might go here to hunt Noir-Man when he's at his weakest!"
>Pinkie grabs her coat and her pet alligator.
>>>"The little girl's right! We need to warn Norman!
>>"Pinkie! You can't be serious! There's a gang war out there!"
>>>"Norman's our friend! Super-hero or not, we need to help get the message to him!"
>>"But..."
>>>"Rainbow, you know it's the right thing to do, despite the firefight out there."
>Rainbow is in conflict for the safety of Pinkie and the safety of Norman.
>>"...Oh fine." Rainbow says, letting go of the broom.
"Great! Now where should we start looking?"
>>"...Follow the fire."
 
Be Lyra
In the vents with Gilda
 
 
>You and Gilda waited for a long time for the guards to exit the facility.
>Gilda watches with anger as Cherry bosses Derpy around.
 
>Twenty minutes later, the guards and soldiers leave for Nolan's mansion.
"Gilda. Stay here. I'll go in."
>"But..."
"If anything goes wrong, it's all on you now."
>You bump fists with Gilda as you quietly dropped out of the vents.
>You're at the second floor. Gilda's at the ground floor. You can see from the side windows.
>>>"Girl. Pass me the sulfur." Cherry says.
>Derpy grabs a beaker and hands it to her.
>Cherry looks with annoyance.
>She then slaps Derpy.
*SLAP*
>>>"Does this look like sulfur to you? God, I think the helmet's messing with your intelligence. GRAB THE DAMN SULFUR OVER THERE!"
>You look back at the vent. You can feel Gilda's anger pulsing around.
>Looking back at Derpy, her left eye seems to move on its own. It looks disgustingly cool.
>What could it mean?
>You then slowly dropped down to the ground floor.
>Cherry's working on her stuff. She isn't looking behind anytime soon.
>You slowly creeped up to her, hoping to hold her by the neck.
>Step by step, you carefully approached her.
>Crouch walking towards her. Seven feet away from her.
>>>"Derpy, please attend to our guest."
"What th-OOF!"
>Derpy tackles you to the ground.
"HURGH!"
>You pushed Derpy away and grabbed your stun-rod.
"GRAAAH!"
>You rushed towards Cherry, but to no avail.
>One of the scientists drinks a potion and transforms into a 10-foot cockroach and tackles you to the ground.
"AAAARRRGH!"
>>>"Psshh...silly  child. Do you really think you could outwit me?"
"SCREW YOU, LADY!"
>When all else fails, use that brain-damaging time stop power you have.
"HUUURGH!"
>You used your remaining might to stop time. You could've done this before, but it's always best to save the internal bleeding for more precious moments.
>Two seconds in. You're trapped under the heavy cockroach on you.
"Goddammit. GRAAAAAHHH!"
>You slithered out of the cockroach's arms, tearing a part of your jacket off from its spikey skin.
"Dammit, that was my favorite jacket."
>You then stood up. Cherry and Derpy stood like statues. They're easy prey for you.
>You then grabbed your stun stick and prepared to stab Cherry nonlethally with it.
>But even then, easy things go wrong.
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"
>A vision has stopped you in your tracks.
>It had already been 60 seconds. Time moves on forward.
>>>"Huh!?" Cherry says in surprises after seeing you 'teleport' in front of her.
"N-NOO!"
>The vision gives you a splitting headache, this time turning you motionless.
>You kneel to the ground as your vision is forcibly shown before your very pupils.
"F...FU-"
 
 
>       {FROM ACROSS THE THUNDER IN THE CLOUDS}
>      {FROM BEYOND THE BUILDINGS OF THE CITY, IT IS LOUD}
>     {NORMAN AND BRAD}
>    {TATTERED AND BLOODIED FROM THE FIGHT THAT THEY HAD}
>   {THEY FIGHT EACH OTHER IN THE WINTER NIGHT}
>  {AS A MAN WITH A RIFLE LOOKS ON HIS SIGHT}
> {A SHOT WAS HEARD AS RAINBOW DASH AND PINKAMENA LOOKED ON}
>{IT IS NOW DAWN}
 
>There it is again. The winter vision. Why does it torture you so?
 
>Derpy holds you in a lock as you're fazed by the vision.
>Cherry finds something shining by your neck.
>>>"Hmmm..."
>Cherry then takes your locket out.
"N-No..."
>She then takes it away from you.
"NOOOOOOO!"
>Darkness consumes your eyes.
>Your achluophobia makes you weak.
"No, no, no, no."
>Cherry holds your locket with great interest.
>She wears it and tries to see if she can 'teleport'.
>>>"HUUUMMPH..."
>The locket gives her no such power.
>For only the first host can gain its power, and will hold that curse until the day the host dies. Only then will the locket share its power with other beings.
>>>"Why won't this thing work? This is the same thing Norman has!* "
[spoiler] Cherry knows about the artifacts. See Issue # 32 [/spoiler]
>She grabs you by the mouth.
>>>"How do you work this thing?"
>You couldn't speak. You're nearly in tears.
>The darkness around your eyes simply...breaks you at the moment. Same as any other moment you had when you lost your locket.
>At that point, Gilda bursts out of the vent in a last minute attempt to save your ass.
>"HOLD IT, YOU RED-HAIRED FURRY BITCH!"
>>>"Oh? Gilda! Working with vigilantes now, huh?"
>"Let her and Derpy go, or I swear I will strangle you by the neck."
>>>"I'd like to see you try. GUAARDS!"
>Guards come swarming inside the room. They each have you at gunpoint.
>>>"Girl, take the crying one to the dungeon chamber." Cherry instructs Derpy as she heads to her seat."
>"Let's do this, you bozos. HUAARGH!"
>Gilda jumps to the giant cockroach scientist from earlier and uses him as a shield, strangling him as a way of steering him.
>>>>"GRUAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGGHH!"
*RATATATATATARATATATATATARATATATATATARATATATATATARATATATATATARATATATATATA*
>The bullets hit the cockroach.
>Gilda then makes the cockroach charge right at the guards in front of it.
>>>>"GAAARGLEBLARGH!"
>>>>>"IT'S HEADING TOWARDS US! AAAAAAAHH!"
*BAM*
>The cockroach knocks out half a dozen.
>>>>>"KEEP FIRING!"
*RATATATATATARATATATATATARATATATATATARATATATATATARATATATATATARATATATATATA*
>The cockroach has had enough. It kneels to the ground, lifelessly.
>Gilda jumps off the cockroach and runs towards the guards as they reload.
>"HAHAH! HA-YAH!"
>Gilda kicks and slides, knocking them out hand to hand, foot to face.
>Cherry looks with eagerness as she grabs the emergency tranquilizer rifle.
>A guard manages to shoot Gilda in the shoulder.
*BANG*
>"ACK, SHIT!"
>Gilda retorts by kicking his balls and stealing his gun away.
>She then shoot his foot off and finishes it up with a knee kick to the chin.
*POW!*
>"Ahh...god...shit."
>Gilda hangs on to her shoulder as Cherry claps.
>>>"Haha, bravo, Gilda. You will prove to be a useful test subject, with that much stamina."
>"Go to hell."
*PHWIP*
>"ACK!"
>The tranq dart hits Gilda by the chest.
>"Y-YOU THINK THAT'S ENOUGH TO STOP MY ON MY FEET?"
*PHWIP*
*PHWIP*
>The darts hits Gilda on the legs.
>Gilda start to slow down, but remembering her slapping Derpy has her adrenaline in check.
>"Cherry....biiiitch!"
>The door opens. In comes five of the parasite-controlled policemen and tries to tackle Gilda to the ground.
>"NO!"
>Gilda kicks and pushes them away, but the tranquilizer's taking a toll on her mind."
>"I...I CAN TAKE...TAKE YOU ALL ON! CO-"
>Gilda's eyes widen at the site of a man that causes her anger. A man whom she hates as much as she hates Cherry.
>The police officer who took away her opportunity of killing Cherry years ago.
>The man she doesn't know is Norman's father.
>"Y-You!"
>The officer takes his gun and slams it on Gilda's face.
>Gilda falls to the ground, unconscious.
>>>"Quite a beast. Year after year, she's been a pain in my ass. No wonder that girl[spoiler]{Amaranthine}[/spoiler] had a fixation on her more than I did. She was quite a challenge. BRING HER TO THE DUNGEON CHAMBER. MAKE SURE SHE'S IN A SEPARATE ROOM AS THAT CHRONOS GIRL."
 
 
Be Norman
Residential Area
 
>The whole place has been overrun by hybrid gangsters and...corpses.
"Faust."
>>"GROAAAAAAARR!"
>A monstrous dog leaps towards you as you assess the area.
"HURGH!"
>You immediately blocked its bite and kicked its ass back from where it came.
"What the hell happened to this place."
>You punched and kicked your way out of the hybrids that attack you, going to the middle of the residential area.
>The mansion seems to have taken most of the damage.
>Smoke filled the air, but not as much as before.
>In fact, it feels as if it's pulling you towards something.
"Ugh, the smell..."
>There's a faint smell of something nearby.
 
>You walk down the rubble. Rocks and bricks everywhere.
>Even a few small scraps of metal to cut through your boots.
"Ah."
>The smell gets stronger.
>In the mansion grounds, some of the hybrids have turned to eating something.
>>"GRR? GRUUUAAAAAH!"
>They spotted you and proceeded to attack.
"GRAH!"
>You quickly grabbed one by the throat and threw it back to its partner.
>>"AROOOO!"
>You approached the carcass that they were eating.
"Oh my god..."
>Their mangled, detached bodies filled the air with a stench that can kill a dog.
>They were all half-transformed. Most likely a victim of biowarfare from the Viri Scientia.
>The missiles. They carried a poison that forces the inhaler to transform.
>As a result, this.
 
"...Val Halen..."
>You recognize one of the corpses of the half-transformed people.
>They were Nolan's bodyguards. Your own classmates.
>This isn't a way to go.
 
>>"Grrr..."
"huh?"
>>"GROWL!"
>A wolf-hybrid charges you to a wall.
"UMF!"
>You struggled with the five-foot beast as it tries to rip your throat off.
"HURGH...ANH!"
>You managed to kick him off. You then reached higher ground before it could manage to pounce again.
>Sadly, there were more of them upstairs.
>>"RUFF!" they bark as they charge you into a bedroom that was previously locked.
"ACH!"
>A pack of three bursts inside the room to help out the one on top of you.
"S-SHIT..."
>You just remembered that it's been three days since you've taken a piss.
>Your enhanced bladder just manages to store all those liquids nice and easy.
"I'M...GOING TO..."
>The pack leaps and bites your arm.
"AAARGH!"
>You then grabbed your pants, pulled it down, and released your urine.
"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"
>>"AROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooo"
>The pack is launched into space [spoiler](not literally)[/spoiler] as you unleashed your unholy bladder against them.
"UGH!"
>You put your pants back and looked around the room.
>The bedroom of Nolan. In it, a glass case lies on the bed.
>Inside the glass case, a woman of beauty lies still.
"Amy. "
>On her, a rose from Nolan.
 
>She looks so peaceful. Not a single blood drop to be found on her shirt. Nolan must've changed her before putting her in.
>The look on her face. The emotionless expression.
>The guilt pokes your heart painfully.
 
>You leave the bedroom to report back to Chief Celestia.
>In front of you, a large group of Viri Scientia hybrids leave the area.
>A few remain to try and take you down.
"HAH, HAYAH, HUMPH!"
*POW!* BIFF!* BAM!*
>You punched your way out of the residential area going towards the docks.
>However, something pulls you away from doing so.
>Nearby, Nolan's factory is getting more gunfire than usual.
>And with it, the scream of a woman.
>>"AAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIE!"
"I'M COMING!"
>You raced on, ignoring most of the dangers around you.
>FInally, you reached the factory. Nolan's factory.
>It's being destroyed by...POLICE!?
"What in the world!?"
>You went down and tried to talk to them.
"H-Hey!"
>They heard you and proceeded to attack you with their batons and stun-guns.
"Whoa, wh-BZZZT-AAAAAACH!"
>A mild stun gun prick to the skin.
>You pulled the string of the stun gun, launching the attacker towards you.
>You then punched and kicked in self defense.
"Sorry."
*POW!*
"My bad"
*POOSCH!*
"My mistake."
*KER-POWZAH!*
>Six guys down.
>You then went to inspect these unconscious men.
>They're all wearing some sort of parasite helmets.
>Judging by the look of it, you think  they're from Viri Scientia.
>You recognize the metal designs on these things.
>"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIEEE!"
>The woman yells once more.
>You went to the side of the factory.
>Four policemen are about to attack Chief Celestia and Councellor Cadenza Armor.
>>"SHINING, PLEASE! SNAP OUT OF IT! IT'S ME, CADENCE!"
>Chief Celestia points her pistol towards Shining Armor.
>Shining and the other policemen are walking towards them like zombies.
>>"SHINING PLEASE!" Cadence begs Shining.
>They then started to briskly limp towards Celestia and Cadenza.
"NO!"
>You arrived and kicked their heads.
>>>"OOGAHH!"
"Stay away from them!" You say as you push them away.
>"Norman! They're brainwashed by those helmets!"
"I know. Have you tried shooting at them?"
>"Too risky!"
>At that point, Shining leaps for Cadenza and begins strangling her.
>His primal instincts have made him attack anyone who isn't an animal in human flesh.
>Celestia tries to stop him the one way she can..
*BANG*
>The bullet hits Shining's helmet.
>It went in. The bullet causes a short fuse at the helmet's back.
>>>"GAAARZABLARVGH!"
>Shining then charges towards Celestia.
"Right. Time to do this the hard way."
>Shining charges towards you in an attempt to tackle you.
>You grabbed him by the throat and put your hand on his helmet.
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
 
*PSHING*
 
[spoiler]>In a quick second, the helmet is detached from Shining's head.
>Little did Norman know, that what he did was muder.
>>>"GURGLE GRAAHH!"
>Shining's body twitched and spinned around, slowly falling to the ground.
>His eyes were lifeless. His wife was speechless.
>In less than ten seconds, Shining Armor laid at the ground, dead.
"W-What?"
>"No..."
>>"SHINING? SHINING, BABY?"
>Cadence kneels down to hold her love in her arms.[/spoiler]
 
[spoiler]>Officer Norman's partner is dead. There's more to die, no doubt.[/spoiler]
 
"I..."
>Cadence weeps heavily for her dead husband.
>Celestia kneels to check his pulse.
>The back of Shining's neck was wide open.
>It burst before you pulled the helmet off.
>"The helmet was connected to his nerves. I....I'm sorry Cadence. We didn't know."
>Cadence simply cries. The pregnant mother couldn't believe of what has happened.
>You and Celestia killed Shining under self defense and  in unknowing lethal ways.
"Cadence...I...I didn't..."
>Celestia puts her hand on your shoulder.
>"It's not your fault."
"I...I killed him...like I killed..."
>"Noir-Man. Listen to me." She says as she goes in front of you."You didn't kill Shining. You didn't know it was going to kill him. Even without you here, I would've killed him instead."
>You look at Cadence. The poor widowed mother.
"Cadenza..."
>Celestia takes out her phone and calls for paramedics and mechanical engineers.
>"Control? This is Celestia. Bring the white truck and some mechEns."
"W-what now?"
>"Now? What now? We do what we can. We need to stop them. Those bastards. They're using humans and taking their free will against them. These...Viri Scientias. Who are they fighting?"
"Saint's Bros."
>"Why? Do you know, Noir-Man?"
"..."
>"Noir-Man, if you know anything..."
"...This is all my fault..."
>"Noir-Man?"
"I set off a chain of events. This wasn't supposed to happen."
>"Noir-Man..."
>You took off your mask to reveal yourself to Cadence and Celestia.
>"NORMAN!"
"They had my family at gunpoint, figuratively speaking. They both wanted me to destroy the other. Blackmailing me, or they would've killed my family and friends. I needed a way to start a war with both of them. Make them finish each other off..." You say in a sad tone.
>Celestia is shocked. Cadenza couldn't believe it.
"I will stop this. I've done enough damage, I know, but today, it all ends."
>Celestia looks at you in a confused, disgusted face. But she knew that you were low on options.
>No one could've predicted this. No one.
>>"YOU KILLED HIM!" Cadence yelled.
>"Cadence, please! Your womb!"
>>"YOU KILLED HIM! IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT YOU GODDAMN BASTARD!" She says, throwing a punch to your jaw.
>She barely gives pain due to her weak state.
>Cadence continues to cry with her weak heart barely hanging on.
"I'm...I...I didn't know...I..."
 
Be Nolan
Underground tunnels
 
>"Wow, and they said Viri Scientia was the only ones using the sewers as an escape route."
"Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer." You say as you lit up a torch.
>"Boss...you sure you're okay?"
"Timothy...I know we've been through alot, and you guys are still young..."
>"We're not abandoning you boss. We're family, and family's gotta stick together, no matter what."
>You would've smiled back, but Amy's still stuck in your head.
>With North Factory destroyed and with your mansion gone, there's only one thing left for you.
>Ignoring your fathers pleas, you set out to destroy Viri Scientia.
>"So boss, what were those missiles?"
"Bio-weapons. Many of my spies have found out that Cherry's been talking to the army. DEALING with the army, to be more precise."
>"Faust. We've been really behind, then."
"Yes. I thought that, with Norman's help, we could've had a chance."
>"But...?"
"I never suspected that they would've launched an attack on us at this time and day, and with that, the loss of many of our men."
>"Right now, you, me and the rest of the guys behind us are with you. We'll avenge our fallen saints."
"Yeah. We will."
>Nolan lights up a small wall.
>There, he pushes a brick back into it.
>The wall moves on its own, and reveals a secret cabinet.
>"Whoa."
>In there, weapons, armor and bombs. A contingency plan in the event that your mansion has been breached.
"Grab all you can, and lets head on to Cherry Jubilee's facility."
>"Don't you think we should call Gilda first?"
"I already tried. Her phone's been destroyed. She's probably dead right now."
>"Dammit."
"Men, I know the day hasn't been kind to us saints. We've lost many of our men today thanks to the bastards of Viri Scientia. We tried flushing them out with Noir-Man, but even with him, they're too powerful. Today, we defeat the Viri Scientia, not by brute force, but with our wits. Show that we can outsmart them without charging blindly into battle. We head into Cherry Hill Industries and kill their queen. We lost the factory, we lost our people, but we can rebuild from the start, and we can do this if we succeed in today's mission. Do this for your lost friends. Do this for their JUSTICE."
>"YEAAAAAAAAAH!"
>>"WHOOO"
>>>"WE CAN DO DEES!"
>"Great speech, Nolan."
"The time for flattery is over. Now, we infiltrate their facility."
>"But how? No doubt they'd expect us to go in there once they find out we're not dead."
"We'll find a way. Faith, Timothy. We'll avenge our brethren, I swear it."
 
Be Gilda
Dungeon Chamber
 
>You wake up to the drop of water that pours down on your nose.
"H-Huh?"
>You sat up and realized your arms are chained to your back.
>Your legs are chained to the walls.
>Feeling it, it's rustier than a 60's bicycle.
>This is a temporary cell no doubt.
>Derpy stands guard, along with other Viri Scientia guards.
"D-Derpy!"
>She doesn't respond. She's truly brainwashed.
"DERPY, SNAP OUT OF IT! IT'S ME, GILDA."
>She stands without response.
"Goddammit."
>You moved around your cell.
>You then see Lyra at the other side.
"Psst! Hoodie girl! Lyra!"
>Lyra doesn't speak. She doesn't talk.
>She holds her legs and broods in the corner.
>Her locket's been taken.
"LYRA!"
>"....w-what...?"
"What the hell are you doing? Do the teleportation thing and get us out of here!"
>"Don't you get it? C-Cherry took my powers away."
>Lyra slowly walks towards the bars.
>Her eyes were clear to you now.
>She's blind. No pupil in both of her eyeballs.
"Lauren Faust! What did they do?"
>"A side effect. A curse. Take away my locket, and they take away my powers and my sight."
"H-How!?"
>"I don't know why only my sight..."
>Lyra backs away to her corner to isolate herself.
>She seems to have a phobia concerning darkness.
>>"Ahh, I see you're awake." Cherry says with a smug face.
>Judging by her appearance, Cherry doesn't seem sane herself. Dirt all over her clothes, hair's rustled up.
>She's been up and running to her full extent.
"CHERRY! YOU BITCH!"
>>"Save your strength. There's a reason why you're still alive."
"Grr..."
>>"Don't be mad. You're serving a better cause now. With a woman of your strength, you'll make a nice...test subject. After Saints Bro's demise, we will start fresh, start anew. I don't know how the police got my files, but I'm sure that with all forty of them working under my control, my company's future wouldn't be a problem."
"Bitch..."
>WIth that, she exits the door, but not before you catch a glimpse of the officer that denied  you your vengeance.
>The man with the moustache.
"Goddamn Viri bastards. Once I get out of here, I'll murder everyone in this damn facility."
>"You'll end up mudering Norman's dad in the process."
"I'll make an exception for my comrade's family. So long as I kill the officer that denied me my right to kill Cherry, as well as killing Cherry today, I'll be alright."
>"Huh. You r-really don't know."
"Know what?"
>"That dad Norman has? It's the same one you're after."
"Impossible. I read the files. Norman's dad is a magazine-"
>"IF Norman's dad were some guy from a tabloid factory, why would he be a police officer under Norman's knowledge?"
>You thought for a moment.
>Suddenly, you remembered that throughout the time Norman was with you, you've been seeing the man everywhere.
>Back at the desert, Norman said that you killed the guy * .
[spoiler] See Issues # 27-29 [/spoiler]
>He then turns up alive at the Diamond Dogs' factory. Norman said he wasn't there, but you saw him before getting attacked from behind * .
[spoiler] See Issues # 41-42 [/spoiler]
>And now, he's here. Norman mentioned to Lyra about his dad being a cop.
"Faust, how could I've been so blind. HE IS Norman's dad."
>"Ding ding ding. Good job. You want a cookie with that?"
"Bug off, blind kid."
>"I know I am, but what are you?"
"Grrr..."
>Despite Lyra's traumatizing moment, she still manages to annoy people with her quick quips.
>You once held anger towards the man.
>But he's the father of one of your friends. One of the people you trust.
"GRAAAAAAAAAAH!"
>You kick the bars of your cage in frustration.
"Damn him! ACH!"
>Your constant moving causes your wrist to get cut by the rusty lock on your hands.
"Fucking rusty cuffs!" You say.
>You were set on vengeance,  but once again, Norman's blocking your way.
"Dammit."
>"I don't get what's the big deal with you and his dad. So he was doing his job and probably arrested you. So what?"
"None of this would've happened if it wasn't for Cherry. My parents would've been alive if it weren't for Cherry."
>"Oh, I get it. You have a Batman complex."
"A what?"
>"You know, you have a mission stuck in your head, even though it's pretty pointless to go out of your way to finish that mission."
"My mission is not an impossibility!"
>"Oh? How many years has it been since Cherry had been ruining your life?"
>You stayed silent.
>"I'm blind, but not deaf."
"Oh bug off."
>"Gilda."
"WHAT?"
>"You mentioned your parents."
"SO?"
>"Is this what your parents would've wanted? Working for a gang in an eternal quest for vengeance?"
"..."
>"If you asked me that, my mother wouldn't have wanted me to become a vigilante. Then again, what parent would want their children to put themselves in danger."
"What's your point?"
>"If you're out here doing dangerous work, then why not do it for the good of the people?"
"I AM DOING it for the good of the people and the city!"
>"Working for a gang?"
"Nolan's gang isn't just for the drugs! He's been saving up to-"
>"Yeah yeah, I get it. Nolan told you a sob story on how he'll try to make a difference once he has control of the city."
"IT'S NOT A SOB STORY!"
>"Oh yeah, boo-hoo, like a guy selling muffinphetamine and making profit over other people's destructive habits will make a difference."
"Y-YOU JUST DON'T KNOW HIM THE WAY I DO."
>"Believe me, I know a guy who uses his charm to get women to do his work. Guess you're not so tough around pretty boys at all."
"SHUT UP!"
>"Admit it. You joined with his gang for the money, and stayed for Nolan's ass."
"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP!"
>"Come on, Gilda. It doesn't take a blind woman to see that. Oh wait..."
"I. SAID. SHUT UP!"
>You yelled as the chains on your handcuffs slowly breaks apart.
*BRAK!*
"UGH!"
>You kneeled in exhaustion from the adrenaline of anger you recieved.
>Your hands are free, but your legs are still chained.
"HURGH!"
>"Well, I guess you broke that rusty something in your cell."
"GOT...TO...HURGH!"
>"No use, Gilda. Whatever you broke in that cell of yours, it was a product of an adrenaline rush. It won't work twice in an hour."
"MAKE ME ANGRY AGAIN!"
>"Can't. You're self aware now."
"FUCK IT!" you say as you throw a rock out of your cell in anger.
>The rock hits Derpy's shoulder accidentally.
*TOK*
>Derpy stumbles and falls to the ground.
"Ach! Derpy!"
>Derpy slowly rises up, but not before  seeing something different in her eyes and arms.
"Derpy?"
>Her right eye is motionless, but her left eye moves in every direction.
>Her right arm moves as well, but only so slightly that the only noticable moving limb would be her thumb and pointer finger.
"DERPY!"
>Her eyes tries to signal you.
>10% of her body's free from the brainwash. The injection from before had made some of her nerves numb the time Cherry had tried to brainwash her.
"Derpy! You're not...I mean..."
>Derpy tries to move her arm. It seems to work, if not for a few inches.
"W-Wait, I'll throw more rocks.
>And so, the stoning of Derpy Hooves began. Somewhere around the world, Yamino is laughing his ass off.
"HURGH!"
>First stone hits her forehead.
"GRAH!"
>Second stone just hits her mouth.
"Sorry! HURGH!"
>Third stone misses.
"Damn, almost there."
>"Hahaha, from here, it sounds like you're pounding your roomie pretty hard."
"Lyra, I swear to god, if you don't shut the hell up..."
>The rock that was supposed to hit her bars hits Derpy's shoulder instead.
*TOK*
>Derpy barely flinches.
>She still tries to move her eye around, but that's all she can do.
"Shit."
>"What the hell are you doing?"
"Derpy's eye...she's..."
>"Oh that. I noticed that too before."
"Oh god, what do I do? Derpy's in there, I mean, she's not-"
>"Calm down. I don't know how she's broken out of her mind control thing, but it's not safe to just throw rocks, or whatever you're doing to her."
"Goddammit. I swear, I'm going to pull that thing off of her!"
*CreaaK*
"Someone's coming!"
>"Shhh..."
>A large scientist comes in to take you out of your cell for Cherry's next experimentations.
>You put your arms together to pretend that your arms are still chained together.
>>"Up and at'em. Cherry needs your body."
>The man pulls you up to stand.
>He then unlocks the chain that connects to the wall and your legs' locks.
>Hopping on two legs, you slowly tried to reach Derpy.
>>"Hey! Don't wander off!."
>You continued to ignore him and hopped on your legs, desperately trying to reach Derpy.
"Come...On..."
>>"HEY! COME BACK HERE!"
"GYAH!"
>You tackled Derpy to the wall and tried to pull the helmet off of her.
"GRAAAH!"
>Her arm hits the wall as you desperately tried to take the helmet off.
>>"HEY!"
>The large scientist tackles you to the ground before you could take the helmet away.
"OOOF!"
>You resisted the man and kicked him in the shimmies, before pushing him away.
>Derpy was slowly recovering from your attack.
>She can feel her arm. It's slowly coming back to her.
>Her feet though, are still locked in a passive-idle stance.
"D-DERPY!"
>The guard has had enough and takes out a small test tube from his belt.
>His belt has about 10 tubes, and he expertly took the real one out. *
[spoiler] See Issue # 26 [/spoiler]
>>"LET'S STOP HORSING AROUND AND TAKE THIS TO THE SKIES!"
>He then tries to consume it, but is stopped by Derpy's arm."
>>"WHAT THE!?"
"DERPY!"
>Derpy grabs the test tube with all her might and falls to the ground, succeeding.
>She then pours it all over her face in an attempt to break her body off of the brainwash.
 
*drip*
>>>"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
>Derpy slowly transforms into a gray pegasus, much to the surprise of the guard.
>>"DAMMIT!" the guard says
>The transformation alters the nerves and the brainwaves of Derpy, slowly rendering the helmet incompatible with the host.
>Ergo, the helmet slowly falls of her noggin, safely saving her from ultimate damnation of brain-damage.
>"Anyone tell me what's going on?" Lyra asks in her cell.
>Derpy, standing galliantly with her new body, attacks the scientist by biting his nose.
>>"AACH!"
>You then helped out by tripping the man down.
>>"OOF!"
>You finished it with a large stomp on his face.
*PLOK!*
>With that, you look at Derpy, who proceeds to grab the keys from his back pocket.
"DERPY! YOU'RE ALRIGHT!" You say as you proceed to hug her ever so tightly.
>>>"I'm alright too. Wow, feels weird talking in this body, but it also feels familiar. I still can't believe what I did worked!"
"Oh god, I'm so sorry I got you into this shit."
>>>"Gilda..."
"I promise, once all this is over, I'm leaving your house and never returning, for your sake, soul-sister."
>>>"..."
>Derpy couldn't speak due to the circumstance of her capture.
>After all, it was because of her secret betrayal to Gilda that got her into this mess.
>>>"What do we do now?"
>You went up and unlocked Lyra's cell.
>Lyra limps towards your body.
"I gotcha, you cunt."
>"Heh."
>>>"Lyra...OH MY GOSH, I JUST REMEMBERED! YOUR LOCKET!"
>"What? WHERE?"
>>>"Cherry has it by her table. Same as Gilda's phone!"
>"Guess it's time to call for backup."
>>>"Gilda. Tell them about this! You know, how to break the cops' trance! I overheard Cherry before, and ripping them off will cause the host to go into a coma, or die!"
"Why would I help a bunch of fe-"
>"Gilda. Norman's dad, remember?"
"Grrr...."
>>>"Gilda. If not for Norman, do it for me. Prove to them that you can save innocent lives representing your cause."
"..."
>Derpy does the puppy dog eyes.
>It's super effective, thanks to her pony form.
"Dammit. I can't stay mad at you."
>"So what exactly is Derpy?"
"She's a pegasus."
>"..."
"No, bad Lyra. Get your hands away from her butt."
>"I wasn't planning-"
"Lyra..."
>>"I don't get it..."
>"Heh."
"Dire times these days. We're going to have to work smarter in the future."
>"Whatever. So long as we finish it today."
"Heh. Same old hoodie girl. Never misses a chance to complain."
>"I'm a timebender, not a miracle worker."
"WAS."
>"..."
 
Be Nolan
Outside Cherry Hills Inc., Ten minutes after Gilda, Lyra and Derpy's escape.
 
>"Sir. We've scouted the area. There's no way in, and any window we find is either bulletproof or heavily guarded.|
"Damn. There has to be a way. THERE HAS TO."
*ring**ring*
>Your phone rings. Answering it, a familiar voice brings you some joy.
"Gilda!?"
>"Nolan! God, how are you?"
"I'm fine. Cherry will die tonight for what she did to Amy."
>"Are you sure y-  HEY! THIS IS MY PHON- SHUT UP, I'M TAKING THIS ONE."
"Gilda?"
>"Nolan. It's Lyra. Remember me? You tortured me in that factory of yours, but now's not the time for nostalgia and flashbacks. Right now, the place is LOADED with guards. Where are you now!?"
"And by 'this place', you mean Cherry Hills Industries, right?"
>"Yeah. you there?"
"We haven't found an entrance yet."
>"Crap-a-doodle-doo. Where exactly are you now? Are you hidden or fighting with the Viri forces?"
"Hidden. I managed to sneak by the city. It's infested with hybrid monsters! Why hasn't Cherry called them off yet?"
>"That's because Cherry's probably looking for you now, so listen up!"
"Huh?"
>"Assuming you're really nearby, there's a dumpster by the alleyway facing the hardware store. Get it out of your way and find the hidden entrance."
"Hidden entrance got it."
>"Also, there's one more thing. I assume you already know that Cherry's using the police now, right?"
"So I've noticed. I've ordered my men from the factory to remove their helmets, but they all died, or are presumed dead. I tried contacti-"
>"DON'T. The helmets are apparently connected to their nerves or whatever. Forced removal could result in  a brain-damaging effect."
"So what? We shoot them, then?"
>"No. You know how these bastards have those test tubes that turns them into animals?"
"Yeah...?"
>"Take them and pour them on the police. Once they're transformed, they're safely converted into animals, breaking the parasite or some shit. Gilda's girlfriend broke out of it and told us all of this. It's what she heard Cherry say."
>"SHE'S NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!" Gilda yelled from the background.
"I got it."
>Nolan closes his phone and looks at his men.
"MEN. WE MAY LACK IN NUMBERS, BUT WE HAVE A CHANCE OF GROWING THEM. IN THAT BUILDING, THERE ARE COPS WHO ARE BRAINWASHED. NOW I KNOW THEY'RE OUR ENEMY BEFORE, BUT NOW, WE NEED TO HELP THEM BREAK OUT OF THEIR TRANCE SAFELY. IF YOU SEE A VIRI SCIENTIA SCIENTIST HOLDING A BILE OF THEIR ANIMAL TRANSFORMATION POTION, GRAB IT AND THROW IT ON THE COPS! IT WILL SAFELY DISCHARGE THE HELMETS, AND SAFELY BREAK FREE OF THE BRAINWASH!"
>"How do we get in, boss?"
"Through the dumpster. She told me that there's a hidden entrance there. We go in, smash these bastards, and save Gilda, the cops and the other victims there!"
>"I dunno, Nolan. Can't we just storm in and kill everyone?"
"We may be gangsters, but show some class, man. We can show them that we're better than their evil ways. We can win the cops favors, and start anew easier. This is a lot, I know, but bear with me. TODAY, WE MARCH ON TO VIRI SCIENTIA, AND TAKE OUR VENGEANCE ON CHERRY. TODAY, AMY AND OUR FALLEN BRETHREN WILL BE AVENGED, NOW WHO'S WITH ME!"
 
>"HUUZAAAAAAAAAAAHH!"
 
"Right. Let's ROLL OUT!"
 
End of Chapter 47.
Next Week: [spoiler]Now the major characters can start dying. Thanks for the advice, George RR Martin![/spoiler]