Along the shores of Baltimare Harbor, in the halls of old 33 Hoebuck, our heroes have discovered a dark secret. What started as a mundane mission to stop illegal immigrant smuggling has uncovered something far more horrific - a cult from Griffonia. The party has successfully challenged and defeated many of the cultists and hired criminals, but in the process, has nearly died themselves. Now, low on health, they must both recover and put an end to the evils in 33 Hoebuck once and for all - before it puts an end to them first.
Way up north, in the Iron Range of Whinnysota, the ponies their inquire into exact who or what is damaging so many machines. Investigating and following leads, they may unveil the faults and problems of the Haysabi Iron Mine, and gain favor with Changeling authorities.
Damn it, I missed 123,000
1760 replies and 25 files omitted.
>>123740"Alright then...I suppose after this is finished with, you will want to return to your school."
>>123741"I don't know. It's been a long time, and it feels like longer. I imagine the world has changed since I left it."
>>123744"Hmm...what was last big event in world before you were captured?"
>>123749"Well, the war started. I think Tall Tales fell?"
>>123750Silver's eyes widen a bit.
"It...has been while. War has been over for short time, around one year. We lost."
>>123751She is silent for a moment
"I figured as much. I had heard murmuring. Certain items became harder to find... Then there was one day I thought soldiers were going to storm the place. I thought it had happened... But I had to hear it confirmed. You say 'We'? Did you fight for Equestria?"
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>>123752"Yes, though I was not enlisted soldier. Too old. But I can do mercenary work still, so that is what I did. Changelings own Western half of Equestria now, and New Mareland owns Eastern half where we are."
>>123753She squints her eyes slightly, and nods
"Unfortunate..."
Switching subjects
"You say you are working for the city against these monsters?"
>>123754He nods.
"Yes, though it seems city was unaware of true scale of what is going on. They will have field day with this, i am sure."
>>123757"Oh they were?"
She says
"But if the fascists are in control... They may use it to incite suspicion of foreigners. Or immigrants. Or as proof of the 'backwardsness' of Griffin cultures"
>>123758"That already exists in this part of city. It is inhabited by Severyanans and Skynavians, and these griffons have been terrorizing them for well over two years now, at least."
>>123759She moves her eyes to look past Silver, into the hallway and down it. It's not clear if she is looking at somecreature behind him or nothing in particular
"They will take it far beyond 'this part of the city'."
She moves her head back and looks straight at him
"Does Equestria still exist as a puppet state?"
>>123760"As far as I know, somewhat. Equestria has been split up into numerous Protectorates."
>>123761"Is there anything like the old government?"
>>123762He shakes his hoof in a "maybe" motion.
"I think they have kept much of old government, at least locally. I think leader of Baltimare Governate was mayor of city before end of war."
>>123763She sighs
"I am at once shocked he would want to work with the Fascists and the Fascists with him.... And yet, I'm not surprised at all.
Do the Fascists' secret police swarm over the city like flies on a carcass?"
>>123764"Black Hooves? They have occupied Grand Baltimare Hotel, but I have not seen evidence of them leaving there all too often. Their philosophy for occupation seems to be leave Equestria alone for most part, to avoid building unnecessary resentment for current regime."
>>123765"I see..."
She ponders for a moment, and even brings her right claw up towards her beak
"How badly 'infested' are the Fascists, or the city, if you understand my meaning?"
>>123766Silver understands what she means.
"It is hard to tell, naturally. It is unknown how many are in Fascists, but some were found to be infesting police station."
>>123767She stops moving, and her mouth, opened in part for a brrief moment as she moved around, remains in the exact position she left it. Her body freezes as a whole for two seconds. Then she starts to slowly breath out, her chest visibly contracting. After a few more seconds, she responds
"You say you are working for the city?"
>>123769She blinks
"Alright... Do you need anything of me?"
>>123770"Hmm...I do have question. We will be getting into fight with second group of griffons here, including their leadership. We also need people to guard prisoners in atrium. Which would you prefer to do, Undertoe?"
>>123771"I can fight"
She says, looking straight at Silver
>>123772He nods.
"It is your choice. We will give you rifle, then."
>>123774He nods again, and smiles.
"So...perhaps you could tell me about your skills and hobbies, now?"
>>123775"Pearl diving I couldn't equal the full seaponies with their magic, but that didn't stop me from trying. Where are these rifles?"
>>123776Silver pulls a rifle off of Iron's unconscious form, and shows it to Undertoe.
>>123777She takes it off of Silver, grabbing it by the butt
>>123778>>123777She takes the rifle, and moves back onto her rump, balancing herself so that both claws can cover the rifle. Then she looks at it. It has a black barrel, what looks almost like a second barrel underneath, and a grey metal plate around the chamber. She places her claw on the bottom cylinder, pulls something up, and must have unlocked something because she twists the top of the bottom cylinder off. She looks down the cylinder, then twists it back into position. She levels the gun, and pulls the butt of the rifle towards her shoulder. A strap wraps around, and she shows that she can hold it steady with only a single claw. Lowering it slightly, she uses her claw to pull a lever out - the gun evidently having a lever action. There is a loud "cling" as it is pulled out, and she looks into the breach. There is a "clack" as the lever is pulled back up. She lowers the gun to inspect the firing pin. A cartridge falls to the floor. She picks it up, and slides it through the loading gate into the rifle.
Now, she looks down the sight with the cocked and loaded rifle (no talon on the trigger) down the hallway into the blackness. She lowers it down, and finds a slide that looks like a safety, pulling it down, then back up.
"This will work"
>>123779He looks a little surprised.
"You are quite knowledgable about that rifle."
>>123780"A little" she says
She looks back to Silver and lets the rifle slide in the sling around her. The sling of course is not simply a sling. The sling is rather tight on her. She sits back on her rump to try to use both claws to reach behind her head, and manages to untie a golden necklace around her neck. She starts to pull it off, though it has to be pulled from under the strap.
She takes the golden chain, and holds it up. She is naked, save for the rifle, and the big, black socks that went far up her hind legs, as far as her hocks, when she was first found hiding in the closet, are nowhere to be seen.
"Do you want this?" She asks, tendering the necklace to Silver
>>123781He continues to look surprised, and he looks up at her. He does not take it from her, at least for the moment.
"But...is it not yours?"
>>123782She holds it out for another moment, and then starts to pull it back
"I suppose I should exchange it for bits somewhere. I'll need
some money after all of this"
>>123783"I can give you Bits, if you need them. What do you need to purchase?"
>>123784"Food, boarding, transportation tickets. The basics" She says
>>123785He smiles at her.
"I will see what I can do to help you with what I have, Undertoe."
>>123786She places the necklace back out towards Silver
"If you could give me a few bits for tickets, a hotel and some food, and it's not conditioned on
anything else you can take the necklace"
>>123787He looks in his bags, counts out a total of 500 Bits, and gives it to her with a smile.
"Here, take it. And keep your necklace. It looks nice on you."
>>123788She takes the bits. And looks to Silver. And looks back at the bits. And looks to Silver. She holds out all of the bits to him, to show the amount, although only after turning her body to try to hide line of sight to the bits from the other creatures
"Did you mean to give me
this much?"
>>123791He looks confused for a moment, then blushes, and chuckles awkwardly. He keeps his voice low to avoid others listening in.
"Oh, no no no, that is not...I mean, you
are very beautiful creature, and I would very much like to...but no, it is not for anything like 'that'. It is gift, to help with lodging, food, and transport. I figure it is better to give too much than not enough."
>>123792She smiles (or seems to, the ways she pulls her beak), now with a look like embarrassment
"Thank you. I had... forgotten what the kindness of the old Equestria was like. I didn't mean to accuse..."
>>123793He waves it off with a smiles.
"It is nothing to apologize for, trust me, I understand. Take those Bits with my blessing, Undertoe."
>>123794She seems to smile more
"Let me get those socks.."
She walks off, right past Silver
>>123795Silver feels quite nice, seeing her smile. He looks to the other present people to talk to.