Chapter 32 Cherry Bomb!
Orange Juice
Back in Tide's quarters, I was standing awkwardly in the main foyer while Tide was muttering angrily to herself in the other room. I could hear the ruffles of light things being tossed about, possibly clothes as they hit the floor. "No, no, no! This won't do at all! It'll clash. It won't work…that'll blend right in. Ew! I've got to have something good in here." I just stood there wondering what the heck was going on. At least we weren't playing with her toys.
I had just sat on one of the couches when she finally emerged from the bedroom, a plaid orange and brown sweater held up in one hoof. "This'll do perfectly!" she tossed it at me. "Here, put on this turtleneck. The autumn colors will look great on you."
I untangled myself from the mess and I glanced at Tide in puzzlement, "What's it for?"
"You'll find out, now won't you?" she spat. "Just do what I say."
"O-okay," I nodded, then quickly began to force it on. I had never actually worn something like this before. "Uh…" I was kinda stuck. My horn was poking into one area of it, my head shoved into a tiny hole that I couldn't find the end of, and my arm stuck out a droopy end.
"How in the Stable did you manage to get into it like that?" Tide sighed, exasperated. "Here, I guess I'll have to help you. Stallions really are stupid."
After she helped me, she brought me to a mirror in the bathroom. "Don't you just look handsome as fuck?" she smiled. The turtleneck was tight, but felt snug and warm. The collar was almost all the way up my neck, and the arms went all the way down. It hugged my curves tightly.
Tide smacked me on the flank, "Now come on, we've got a party to attend!"
The smoke from Pumpkin's cherry bomb had just cleared and Stingray fell backward through the air, sailing to the floor below. But midair he flipped back, and when he reached the lower level, he landed on his feet.
"It's gonna take more than that to scathe me!" he laughed at us.
"Now," said Rogue, who was a humongous shadow that stood as tall as the balcony, "Why don't we see how puny you ponies really are." he lifted a hoof, smashing it into the rail, crushing it to nothing.
Swiping across the balcony, he shoved our gunman and demolitions expert to the side. Wonder just barely managed to dodge, jumping up and landing on the raider's hoof before kicking off again and landing on the other side. Rogue withdrew his hoof just before hitting me.
I turned on the minigun, "Hey, that wasn't very nice! Those are my friends." the weapon attachment lifted up, focusing on the giant shadow monster that was Rogue. A spray of powerful ordnance plummeted him. He shouted, trying to swipe at us again.
"Buck off, you think you're bullets are that effective?" he smashed his hoof onto the balcony again, jostling me, before he hit me and knocked me over. I smacked to the floor, my power saddling clanging, and I heard something crack. The gun fell off, and I wasn't sure how it was supposed to go back on. I saw it spiral away across the floor before it came to a stop next to the wall.
"Hey!" Pumpkin gasped, "Leave him alone!" she reached into another saddle bag, withdrawing three small white cubes and another bright red cherry bomb. She opened the little bomb, placing a couple cubes inside of it, and popping the last into her mouth. "MMM! Sugar cubes!" she tossed the cherry. "Now it's a sugar bomb! Even better."
Yet again Stingray had landed atop the balcony, and he grabbed the cherry as it sailed toward his companion. He tossed it away, and it exploded into a brilliant fireball a few feet away. It was bigger than before.
"Hey! That was such a waste of sugar!" Pumpkin pouted.
"Back off cupcake," said Stingray with a smirk, "before I have to hurt you."
I was just getting to my feet when Rogue spoke, "What do you think you're doing?" he was staring right at me. "Shade lighter commence! Shadow of stars, pummel my foes!" Black orbs appeared all around the unicorn.
"Shit!" yelled Wonder, and I saw him run toward me. He leapt as the orbs came crashing down, and his outstretched hooves took the brunt of the blast.
"Wonder!" I cried. He landed on his side in front of me, but he got up just as soon as he hit the ground. He did look a little battered, but thankfully he was ok.
"What? How are you still standing?" Rogue demanded furiously.
Wonder lifted a hoof, looking down at his spikes. "Magic dampeners." he smiled. "Quite a nifty piece of armor dontcha think? I'd say so."
"Faust damn you!" Rogue snarled.
"No, damn you! I've been waiting a long time for the day I'd get to do this again," Wonder smiled, then lowered his hoof. "Collection of power, strength!" He yelled. A magical glow formed around our group, the aura a deep wine red. I felt a million times more energetic all of a sudden and on my EFS my AP maxed out and then continued to grow. I had no idea how that was possible. "Collection of power, defense!" My armor clanked around me and I saw a notification:
BARRIER ADDED: DAMAGE RESIST +50 ENERGY RESIST +50 RADIATION RESIST +50
Then there was a clash and I knew I had the minigun back. Wonder looked over his shoulder at me. "OJ, this might be stupid, but you guys take care of Stingray. I've got Rogue."
"Wait, what're you gonna do!" I was worried about him.
His spikes flared up with that red magic, "You'll see." he winked. "Conversion of power!" he yelled, and suddenly he was growing, standing in the library and just as tall as Rogue. It looked like he was engulfed in a see through red fire, the color of wine, but it was just his magical aura.
"How dare you steal my magic! Copy my tricks." Rogue growled at Wonder.
"Hey, somepony had to do it. Take it as a compliment that I learned something from you. But I think I was right, I am bigger than you." he glanced down at Rogue to look in his eyes, but it was only a couple hundred feet.
"Face me!" Rogue yelled in anger. He leapt forward, lifting a hoof to punch Wonder, and then the two were at it.
"It's good we've got such a big library. Otherwise there wouldn't be enough room for the two of them." Pumpkin commented. She was chewing on something.
"Right." said Stingray, turning away from the two giants. "Well, looks like I've got to deal with you four. That's nothing." He moved to jump toward Pumpkin Spice, but she spat out what she was chewing on, and it splattered near Stingray's feet.
"Ew, what the buck is this stuff!" he tried to lift a hoof, but the sticky mess just got worse, and by the time he was done trying to get out of it, it had covered all four of his hooves, and he was stuck to the floor.
"Just a little hi-chew." Pumpkin shrugged.
"Just a little?" Stingray grappled with the gross stuff on the floor, but he just couldn't get out.
I giggled, "Hehe, that's funny."
"What're you laughing at short stuff?" Stingray snapped at me, "I could obliterate you with a look!"
"Why don't you try then?" I couldn't help myself and I was still laughing at him.
"What the hell is hi-chew anyway?"
"Niponese taffy, sorta," said Pumpkin.
"Buck you!" came a shout. "This is my magic you're using against me! In the end it won't matter. I will win!" Rogue yelled at Wonder.
"Not a chance," Wonder replied back, smashing a hoof into his opponent's face, "See, this isn't your magic anymore. The spikes transferred it to me. The more you hit me with your shadows, the stronger I get." Rogue did all he could, but he was left exhausted and out of breath on the floor of the tower, back to normal size. Wonder leapt to the balcony and his magic turned him back to normal too.
"Whoa! You're so cool Wonder!" I gasped.
"No," he flipped his bangs, "Actually I'm hot." I giggled.
"What!?" Stingray yelled, "How could you defeat him! We're more powerful than any of you!" a bright white light flared up, and suddenly the taffy was burned to a crisp. His eyes were glowing white now, and he lifted a hoof, an orb of white energy appearing atop it. Shooting it toward Wonder, he knocked him over liking a bowling pin.
"Ugh!" Wonder gasped as he hit the tiles.
"Wonder! Are you okay? How come your spikey thingies didn't do anything?" I ran to him where he lie crumpled on the floor.
"They must only work for a short period of time. I think they gotta recharge." He smiled shakily at me, "Don't worry, I'm not out yet. It takes a bit to exhaust me. But I'll be useless until these start working again. Right now, they're just as much a fashion accessory as they've always been."
"Right," I nodded firmly, "then we'll just finish up for you!"
I spun around, and aimed my minigun. The gatling chamber fired up again, spinning round and round in circles as it prepared to fire. Bullets sprayed out, right for Stingray. He jumped up and to the side, moving off as my gun chased him down. He ran along the walls, along the spines of books, and the bullets continued to miss! They only smashed into the far bookcases. Pages flew everywhere, bullets and paper raining down, but still, Stingray continued to avoid my barrage.
"Get back here you! I don't think I put enough sugar into my cherry pie yet!" Pumpkin cried, sounding upset. She tossed a few cherry bombs, trying to hit Stingray, but the explosions missed him every time.
He landed at the far side of the balcony, on the other side of us. Wonder was on the floor, our gunman protecting him, aiming a rifle down the sights at the enemy unicorn. The ashling shook his head, white light enveloping him, "You're not gonna stop me! I will complete the ritual!"
"What ritual silly?" Pumpkin Spice cocked her head, mane bouncy.
He lifted a book, one he must've either had the whole time or one he'd picked up when he was dodging our attack. "Incantum! I incite sacred powers, come to light and come from shadow!" A black colored magic burst upward from the book and that same coloration formed in the tower down below. A circle of strange writings had filled up on the floor. "For my king of death and destruction!" Stingray yelled.
A single shot sounded from our gunman's rifle. The bullet sailed through the air, burying itself in Stingray's chest. He made an oof sound and crashed to the floor. But he was smiling. "It is done." the book hit the floor next to him, the pages sifting at a fast speed. Then it slammed shut. Stingray closed his eyes, passed out.
Guardian
I immediately reached into my weapon's case, and exchanged my laser rifle for what was called the Cryogenesis. A weapon created by arcane sciences of a long forgotten Stable long before I was even born. How it came into my possession is a long story, one I would have to share later. Right now, the basics were, it used magical ammo, also specially created, to freeze and manipulate time. Each burst was a burst of mana. If I couldn't hit this mare with physical attacks, I'd have to use magical ones instead.
So as soon as she was in close range, I shot her point blank with the cryo rifle. Ice and Time energies mixed to assault her and she reared back. "Ack! What is this? You shouldn't be able to hit me!"
"Sorry, Missy," I said, as though scolding a foal, "but this gun runs on magic, not bullets. You're outta luck."
She stomped her front hooves, "Don't you dare say my name in that manner! Manipulation Magic, Spatial Void!" A colorful orb ripped open near me, causing a searing pain in my shoulder.
"Gah! Through my armor! How could you?" I backpedaled, pointing my rifle at her.
She smiled wide, pleased with herself. "Magic can do a plentitude of things, such as manipulate the space within your armor without leaving a single physical mark. Now you'll feel pain!"
"Not if I can help it!" I yelled, firing off a couple bursts.
"Manipulation Magic! Field Transfer!" with four simple words, Missy and I switched places, and the magic bursts from my own weapon hit me instead of her. I slammed to the floor, hitting a bookshelf and causing it to fall forward right on top of me.
I shoved the books away from myself. "Alright, I can see you're playing dirty. Well, I can do the same." I glanced to where Missy was standing, calculating the distance between myself and her. Then I stood, aimed my rifle and fired. I pointed it twice with multiple different bursts and when Missy switched places, she was the one who was blasted. I was easily able to dodge the ones meant for me.
"But how?!" gasped Missy as she picked herself off the floor. Her eyes widened when she realized, "You shot it at yourself!"
I lowered my helmet and smiled at the raider, "Can't outsmart me, and since we've made some distance between each other, any bursts that may hit me after switching places I can easily avoid."
"Well, you may be lousy at requiping, but at least you make up for it in your quick draw abilities. You can send off many more shots in the blink of an eye than I anticipated." Missy smirked, "I like a challenge."
"Not a challenge anymore," said a stallion behind the mare, who was holding a gun to her head.
"Lockwood!" I gasped.
"Where in Equestria did you come from?" Missy snarled, but she couldn't move, because she didn't know what type of gun was being held to her head.
"I escaped your cronies just as easily as you put me in their path." said Lockwood. "And from my observation of this battle, it would appear all I need is a little magic to defeat you."
Missy laughed, "A little? You underestimate me."
"Good thing this lightning barrage gun can send off both physical laser bolts and magical lightning bolts with the click of this button here." he clicked the said button and a whir of power could be heard as the gun glowed from red to yellow.
"You're too late you know," said Missy.
"How so?"
"I was here to serve as a distraction. My comrades already completed their task."
I stiffened, thinking of OJ. "What happened?" I demanded, steadying my rifle.
"Oh, don't worry, your precious Puppydog is alright. Somehow, his team managed to take out our Dragons. But no matter, because they completed their task before being defeated, so we stand victorious once again."
"Enough of this," Lockwood snapped, and he pulled the trigger.
"Manipulation Magic, Removal!" she yelled, and she disappeared in an instant, the bolt of lightning zapping the floor instead.
"Damn! She made me waste a bullet! Those things were Faust damned expensive! And until trade resumes, I won't be getting anymore anytime soon either. I hate raiders!" Lockwood was shaking his head. Just then, the lights powered back on and all the shadows were swept away.
"Whoa," said a light pink mare, almost white, "That was a doozy," she glanced about.
"Roseanne, glad you're safe." I acknowledged.
She lifted her 10mm pistol, blowing a puff of smoke, "As I'll ever be, but you wouldn't believe what I had to go through. Some kinda ninja or somethin'!" I shook my head with a smile and Lockwood started laughing.
"Come on, we've gotta keep moving," said I.
Orange Juice
"You know, it's probably okay that we're running a bit behind," Tide was saying as she basically dragged me down the hall. She had a hold on my hoof and she would not relent for anything. "Showing up fashionably late isn't unheard of!" she was trying to convince herself.
"We'll be fine!" I agreed with her.
"Who asked you?" she shot me a nasty look.
"S-sorry!" I stuttered.
Tide shook her head, "Just get a move on." I'm not sure I could get a move off, even if I tried to. I was being dragged down the hall afterall.
Finally we reached an intersection, where the tunnels widened out. "Elevators this way." she turned the corner, and suddenly let go of my hoof, causing me to sprawl forward and faceplant the metal grating. "Oof!" I heard Tide cry out. I glanced up at her out of the corner of my eye to see her bounce back off a mare in front of her. A rather large mare.
"Oh my!" the mare moved to the side.
"Get outta my way, now!" she snarled. Grabbing me by the ear, she said, "Up, stallion!"
"Ow ow ow!" I gasped as she pulled me by my ear now. Ugh, what'd I do to get in trouble?
"What the buck?" Tide stopped and let go. "How many of you dumb mares need to catch an elevator? Right now!"
In front of us the section was crowded with many mares and their queues. All were spruced up in dresses for the mares and nice outfits for the stallions. There was just no way we could possibly get to the elevators now! Not anytime soon at least.
Tide tried to shove her way past everypony, but when that proved difficult, she lost it. Planting all four hooves wide, she shouted, "MOVE!" the noise of the crowd died down for a moment, but then slowly but surely the ponies parted to make way for her. As we passed, I heard grumblings but everypony new it was Tide and they didn't wanna mess with her. I heard her name muttered and some ponies said things like, "Well, today is that day." Tide just charged on through.
We got a bunch of angry looks as we moved through the crowd to the elevator. Especially when we stopped in front of it and she slammed a hoof on the button. I blushed as we passed, embarrassed and sorry we were being rude to them.
The elevator dinged and the doors opened. It was full of even more ponies. Tide pushed her way in, not caring. "Wow, can't wait in line like the rest of us." one mare outside grumbled.
The doors were closing, but with a dark look and a shadow cast over her eyes, Tide lifted her hoof in an instant, it banging against the closing door and causing it to reopen. "What did you say?" her bangs fell over her eyes and she looked completely and utterly pissed.
"You heard me."
"Who said that?" she lifted her face, eyes searching the crowd.
I was taking a risk, but I tapped her on the shoulder, "Um, Tide…we're gonna be late remember?" I'm not exactly sure what we were gonna be late to, but it was obviously important since Tide stopped what she was doing and stepped back into the elevator.
"Be lucky my queue has some sense." the doors closed. Then she glanced around, blinking, "Did I just say that?" she looked down at me, and I lowered myself, cowering. She shook her head and looked away, silent for the rest of the elevator ride.
The doors opened and we stepped out onto a carpeted hallway. A light purple carpet had been laid over the metal floor. All around decorations had been put up, a pink theme to them. Music could be heard in the air, a pumping beat that made me wanna dance, but I was still wary of Tide, so I didn't make a move.
"Come on colt, we've gotta find her," she gestured to me and moved off.
We went down the hallway. I lifted my nose, mmm, colt could something delicious be smelled down here. I sniffed the air and started to move toward the source of the smell.
Jide grabbed the collar of the turtleneck, nearly choking me as I was yanked back, "Are you a bucking animal? Get it together and don't you dare embarrass me. You're here to make me look good. Don't forget it."
"I won't. I'm just so hungry."
"We'll eat later! Sheesh, you're such a child." she shook her head.
I followed along after her, like a loyal pet, "So who are we looking for?" I asked her.
Tide glanced down at me, "One of my friends. She's a beautiful mare, and one day she's gonna rule this place."
"That sounds cool!"
Tide ignored me and continued to scan the crowd. The room was filled with ponies and tables with treats lined the walls. The music blasted and I really just wanted to dance. At a rumble in my stomach, I also wanted to eat. But Tide was too busy.
"Ugh, this is pointless!" she growled. That's when the song changed and a voice came over the comm,
"Everypony, it's time for partner dancing! Mares who brought a stallion with them, get out there. Mares who didn't, that's alright, find a friend or just wait it out." the song was a slow song.
Tide glanced at me, "I guess there's no harm. What are you here for after all?" she took me by the hoof, but this time she was surprisingly gentle. We went out to the floor.
Above, silk draped from the ceiling. Lights glittered off of everything and more decorations hung along the walls where I could see them. She had one hoof on mine, and the other on my shoulder. I was doing the same. We slowly moved back and forth to the music, turning slowly.
"Can I ask who you're looking for?" I asked her, trying to catch her eye. She was still distracted by all the other dancers.
"I already told you." she said, still not looking at me.
"Well, um, what does she look like?" I asked her.
Tide sighed, looking up at the ceiling, "She's a pink mare, a very vibrant pink that stands out against the rest. She's hard to miss really. Her sparkling eyes…" Tide glanced down at me for a second. "Why should I be telling you this?!" she scoffed then glanced away. "Oh!"
"What!?" I glanced around.
"I see her! Come on!" she let go of me, and I trotted after her.
We approached the pink mare. She was wearing a dress that flowed around her like an ocean. It was a very light blue. "Whoa!" I breathed.
"Don't stare at her like that. Make sure I'm the one who looks good, got it?" Tide snapped.
"Oh right!"
The mare turned slowly, smiling, and making eye contact with Tide. "Hey Rose!" Tide smiled a huge brilliant smile. It was honestly genuine and I was shocked. Normally she was scary when she smiled. Not tonight.
"Oh!" Rose's smile faltered and it looked a little less sincere. "Hey there Tide…!"
"Happy birthday!"
The Guardian came on over the radio, "Everypony still okay?"
I tapped my radio button, "Er, is this thing on? Uh…Mm-hmm! But we just fought some mean ashlings." I was staring at Stingray right now. His belly moved up and down slowly.
Wonder stood up, he'd been checking on the pony. "He'll be okay." That's when a dark abyss seemed to open up and swallow him whole. I nearly fell over. Rogue down below was gone too.
"H-hey! Where did they go?"
"They disappeared?" the Guardian asked. He sounded concerned.
"Yeah!"
"Ours did too. Must've been the spell she cast…Anyway! We need to meet up. Let's regroup near the parkway that leads to the downtown district. I've got some questions."
"Okay!" I nodded. "Guys!" I called after turning off the radio. "It's time to go."
Pumpkin Spice was eating a sucker, "I'm ready!" she said around the stick.
"Let's get outta here." said Wonder.
They followed me out the door and down the stairs. We moved off to the back rooms. Meanwhile, our gunman checked every room before proceeding, aimed around every corner. "Just making sure." he stated.
We made it to the back, where double doors led to the outside, a huge EXIT sign above them. The two soldiers shoved them open. There was a small garden, a fountain straight ahead and the walkway moving around it. To the left a road could be seen leading into the downtown district of Bittsberg. The Guardian already sat waiting at the fountain, his team milling about.
"Good! You're all here. I heard you underwent a battle?"
"That's right! It was soo fun!" Pumpkin Spice cheered.
"Of course it was PS, of course it was." the Guardian patted her on the shoulder. Then he turned to me, "You did good Puppydog. Now, tell me about this 'task' they were trying to complete?"
I nodded vigorously, "Yep, yep! You see, when we went in, they were reading a bunch of books from the tower. And, and! They had this one book in particular—"
"I snatched it for ya," Wonder held out his hoof, passing the big black tome to the Guardian.
"Yeah!" I nodded again, "and we fought them, and won!"
"I wouldn't call it a victory," said one of our soldiers, the one with the rifle. "That white one, the one called Stingray. He completed their little ritual right before I finished him off."
"I wouldn't call it finished off either," Wonder winked at me.
"He was still breathing, I admit."
"He finished the ritual?" the Guardian asked with a raised brow.
"Something about these sacred powers, and his king?" said Pumpkin Spice.
"Shadows and light," I added.
"Perhaps we'll ask Combat Zone about it. He knows more about Circle and the ashlings than I do." the Guardian said. He was hoofing through the book, slowly, page by page. "I'm not really understanding this, but I bet Ashe would. Even Lily Bloom might be able to figure it out."
"Well duh! You'd need a translator!" Pumpkin Spice had sprung up next to the Guardian, "It's in Ancient Ponish."
"Obviously they didn't need anypony. They were a solo team," Wonder pointed out.
"That's the difference between them and us!" Pumpkin shouted.
"So we'll give this to Lady Ashe?" I asked.
The Guardian nodded to me, "That's right. She's a big reader herself."
"When do we meet up with her?"
"We've got one more leg of our journey, where we'll stop and make radio contact before proceeding to the contact point, the eye of the storm."
I nodded my head in affirmative, and looked up at the rain clouds. They had really begun to billow and were circling faster and faster the more time passed. We needed to hurry. I kept thinking of Ashe Erza. I wondered how she and the others were faring at this point. We hadn't seen them in awhile. Meanwhile, the sky only darkened.
(Chapter 33 is set for, wait for it! RIGHT NOW :DDD
Bum bum bum! Big twist going on here in OJ's flashback! Tide has a little bit of her own story to play out. And here we see her at Rose's birthday party. Oh colt, things may or may not be about to go down. If you've read Stable 28 you'll know that Rose isn't that close to Tide, but Tide thinks they're best friends. But think about it, there's a lot of undertones that come off Tide, and I think it's about time to find out what exactly happens to that before the whole thing with UP-26's revolution. Prepare yourself, because I'm creating a flashback arc here XD Who gave me the reins eh?
Anyway, we finally see how OJ and his team manages to defeat these powerful enemies. Whoo, they were tough weren't they? The Circle of Ash does not play games. They are composed of mostly many very powerful unicorns as we're gonna see. But I'm original, you're gonna get to see how I give earth ponies their own bits of magic. I mean come on, you've seen it with Pumpkin Spice and ESPECIALLY Wonder just now. Hehe, badass huh? Well in Fallout there's special armor and accessories, so I thought hey, why not give Wonder's fashion a function as well? I heh, gotta just love that scene how much "bigger" he is than Rogue. Just a couple hundred feet. Proportions wise, well, that's a couple inches, if you know what Wonder means ;) Wonder you naughty colt you. Heheh!
Okay, so I've written two chapters here for ya! I had no homework today lmao! I mean, thank the two tests I had today ':O Yea. I love the next chapter. I really thought about it and even did a bit of research and digging to make sure the battle looked good, and the characters were just right. It's intense and I'm glad I finished it for you guys today. Okey, love ya guys!)
Brohoof! /)