My Little Progress : Technology Isn't Magic - Thread 44

First

>>30210610
>now obsolete thread
yes

>>30208865
Wouldn't aiming an appropriately sized asteroid at the position you want be a better idea at that point?

>>30211040
But in that case, you would have to pick a near earth, or, depending on the target, asteroid belt object, pilot them to the position you need them in, and launch them on a collision course, accounting for orbital mechanics and gravitational pull. At that point, I think it would be easier to just make a satellite with the ability to bombard things from orbit.

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>>30210610
coincidentally been rewatching that series. just finished the s2 finale.

>>30211183
how is it? I've always been meaning to watch it

>>30211741
its a bit dated as far as special effects go, but its well worth the watch if you enjoy sci-fi

>>30210610
And it was at this moment that I realize that the mirror was not a mystical mirror or a magical portal, but an anchient Stargate that connects earth to Equestria.

>>30211942
Cool I'll put it on my to watch list

scientific bump

Procedurual nuking of equestria when?

i want to uplift the little ponies

>>30213564
Then you're in the right thread

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>want a story of ponies being brought up to space age levels
>it can't be realistic because K1 civs are too insanely powerful to have a gripping story

>>30215374
Not sure what you mean.
Make it that magic is technically reality bending and then technology lose most of its edge.
Make it that media actually side with ponies and have some group of humans help them.
Make it that the K1 civ that discover them is right in the middle of a war with another K1 and ponies magic can be the small advantage that could bypass some of the enemy system.


If it too powerful, reduce its power, turn it against itself, or block it with an equivalent power - then you can have a much smaller power come into play.

Just checking but portgate updates every other thursday right?

>>30212603
watch the movie first, its a prequel to the series. stargate sg1 is the first series, and i think stargate atlantis came after but i could be wrong.

>>30216226
Yeah Atlantis came after, but it’s really hit-or-miss with a lot of folks

>>30215374
>implying Equestria isn't a K1 civilization
>implying the "sun" and "moon" and "night sky" that Celestia and Luna move about with a thought aren't just projections on the inside of a Dyson Sphere
>implying magic isn't powered by a searingly white-hot rapidly spinning, visibly oblate neutron star within a much smaller Dyson Sphere around which Equestria orbits
>implying alicorns can't tap the neutron star's energies much more directly
>implying alicorns don't exist in more than three spatial and at least two temporal dimensions, allowing them to see and manipulate probability directly
>implying the pretty winged horse with a horn form isn't just for the comfort of equine-descended sentients on the planet's surface
>implying a mere human or equine mind could even comprehend the alicorn sisters' true forms
>implying this isn't also true of Cadence and Twilight Sparkle, but they don't fully understand their own nature yet
>implying implications

>>30216226
Mmhm

Chapter 15, coming through

>"We discovered that the Portgate itself was what caused the interference that prevented our drones from effectively scouting out the area. Witeless signals were scrambled by it, but once we ran cables through data transfer was no issue. Come to think of it, why didn't we do that? Maybe they were too much of a hassle. After all, we could only keep the Portgate open for a couple of a minutes at a time. Now? We don't have that issue."
>-Jonathan "Blue" Peng, Data Technician


-William-

>It was surprising how little work William had that day. Barely any new paperwork was placed on his desk, even after the Portgate reopened, and when they had evacuated he got an entire three hours of rest outside the facility. Sure, he was roused from his sleep at five in the morning, but he got to wait until nine before starting work - a truly unbelievable miracle!
>The rest of the day had went delightfully, as well. Not a single shred of paper came in until noon, and that was just a parts order from engineering. He even caught up with half of his work before he stood up at four in the afternoon and walked into the hallway, ready to meet the three lucky people who were the talk of the facility.

>>30216547

>William stood in front of the wooden door, straightening out his collared shirt and brushing his hair back with his hands. They were watching television inside, the muffled voices and musical jingles noisily playing through the walls and into his ears. He hesitated, unsure of how to continue, before knocking on the door.
>"...I'll get it..."
>Something inside shifted around. Footsteps approached the door, and a second later William stood face to face with an unshaved security guard, a look of annoyance on his face.
>"Who...ah...UM!"
>The guard seized up, shocked by the sudden arrival of the project head in their laid-back state. William never liked it when others treated him as a superior, especially when they looked like they just saw a ghost. The two other people inside turned their heads, then panickedly sat up straight in their chairs and dusted off their shirts.
>"I-Sorry!"
>"We didn't think it was-"
>"Alright," he declared in his deep bass voice. Nobody moved.
>"It's okay, I'm just here to talk about what happened. Please, have a seat."
>Reluctantly, the guard tensely made his way into a sofa. William gently pushed the door shut, then stepped inside and plopped himself into an unoccupied couch. The woman quickly grabbed the remote and turned the TV off, her sitting position clearly communicating unease.
>"I'm sorry, I know you must have been through a lot. Are you-"
>"Fine!" the guard blurted out. He cringed as soon as the sound bite left his mouth, as if he was expecting some sort of retribution or punishment for his actions.

>>30216552

>William sighed. "That's good to hear. So, you've been interviewed, I take it?"
>The survivors looked at each other, then nodded.
>"Great, that's great. I'm here because I want to hear what you three have to say."
>"But we just-"
>"No, ma'am, they asked the questions and you gave them answers. I want to know what YOU have to say about the past two weeks. What do YOU three think about what happened?"
>They didn't respond.
>"Hmm...I was expecting more of a reply. Okay. You guys said that you found intelligent life?"
>"Yes," the woman answered, "we did."
>"Oh, that - that's amazing! Congratulations, to all of you, for being the first to make contact with an alien species!"
>All three survivors cringed at the word "contact." The guard was especially uncomfortable with the word.
>"Oh...sorry. I forgot...that...that...happened." An awkward silence followed, nobody wanting to bring up the event at all. It was still a tender subject.
>"Um..."
>"Hm?"
>"Am...am I receiving any...punishment?" the guard asked, almost too meekly for a giant like him.
>"No, um...Noah, you won't. Your actions were spur-of-the-moment, reflexive responses. Considering the situation, I'm told you did very well."
>"O-Oh...thanks."
>Silence broke out again, though a tad less awkward than before.

>>30216563

>"Well...what now?" the man in the technician fatigues asked.
>"Oh! Yeah, well," William replied as he took his glasses off, "we've decided, that, um..."
>All eyes were on William at the moment, which made him feel very uncomfortable.
>"...you three are, uh, going to be part of our first- I mean, second- contact team."
>"What?"
>"Um, you-you'll get compensation and rewards soon, but for now we have to keep this top secret. Please understand, this is a very...impactful event."
>"What will we be doing?"
>"The same things you've been doing before, but...you'll be over on the other side. We will also occasionally pull you for, let's say, 'important procedures' should the need arise."
>"I don't understand. Why?"
>"You three have spent two weeks more on the other world than any of us. You're more familiar than anyone on Earth. Which is why you'll be important people from now on. Get used to having more responsibilities."
>"What do you mean?"
>"Leah, is it? You're going to be working with all of the researchers we're sending to study the planet as a guide and advisor. You'll also have time to work on other projects you're assigned to, which will be much more numerous now that the Portgate is stable. Andrew, you're going to be part of our construction and mechanical teams. Both of them, yes, but you're a skilled man; I believe you'll do just fine. And Noah...you'll be the most involved. We're setting up a special group of armed personnel to explore the other side, and your services would be much appreciated."
>"But," Andrew asked, "couldn't they just get another person to do my job?"
>"I don't know why the top brass are doing this, but I'd just go with it if I were you."
>"We'll be together, right?"

>>30216574

>"You will have opportunities to meet up, both on and off duty. Occasionally, we'll have you help us maintain relations with the locals. Even if you did...injure three of them, you did save another three. Gosh, three everywhere...oh, they'll have good things to say about you to their species. It would be fitting for the first three visitors to also be part of our... appearance. Think of this as a publicity thing."
>"Okay. We understand."
>"Any questions?"
>Once again, the room was silent.
>"Really? I was hoping that you'd guys tell me more about what happened, but...actually, never mind that. You guys have been through a lot, please rest and enjoy yourselves. I just came here to tell you the news, but I was also curious. Maybe later, huh?" he asked as he stood up and turned towards the door. "And please, enjoy the food," William said as he twisted the doorknob and pulled it back.
>"Mr. Anderson?"
>William turned towards the technician.
>"Thank you...for this."
>"Ah, no, it wasn't me who arranged this. But please, take care of yourselves," he replied as he closed the door behind him. Everyone let out a collective sigh.
>"Oh gosh," Leah sighed, "we're going to have to actually do stuff? I thought we'd, like, get famous or something, and not have to do any more work."
>"Hey," Noah shot back, "things could be worse."

>>30216585

-Celestia-
>Not even the tapestries strung along the castle's interior could completely muffle the commotion Princess Celestia's advisors made as she walked towards the conference room. The frantic ponies (mostly unicorns) clamored for a chance to have their opinions and suggestions heard by the pearl-white alicorn, temporarily throwing their Canterlot etiquette aside in the hopes that they would be noticed. Celestia herself tried her best to respond, but she was outnumbered twenty to one; even as the doors closed behind her and she took her seat, they still voiced their thoughts loudly and pointedly towards her.
>"But we can't just move everypony in the active Guard in a matter of days!"
>"How the hay are we supposed to tell the populace?"
>"You would need to provide tax cuts to the nobility..."
>"We need to go up to those things and-"
>"Quiet, please," Celestia calmly asked. "Now is not the time for confusion and disorganization. I would like to hear from all of you, one at a time, your thoughts on this matter."
>Reluctantly, the advisors silenced themselves.
>"Thank you. We'll go around the table. General Maelstrom?"
>The gruff, sky-blue stallion sighed. "I can't believe you just told us to move a bunch of our troops-"
>"Only four percent."
>"-into the Everfree! I'm not afraid of the monsters in there, but don't you think that that's a bit excessive?"

>>30216596

>"Luna wanted to garrison half of the Guard," Celestia countered. "And besides, ninety percent of our troops are idle in their barracks; it's not like we're at war."
>"The logistics are going to be a headache. Getting four thousand ponies into the Everfree and supplying them duirng long-term encampment..."
>"Leave that to me. Can you do it, then?"
>"Definitely," he grumbled, "but it'll be one heck of a headache."
>"Excellent. Grand Mage Crystal Arcana, what about the encampment itself?"
>"The Night Guard pulled out a day before we received the report, and a day after the portal appeared. There's not much to go on. And if what this says is true - that they only did that in a full day - then I wouldn't be too concerned."
>"Still, we mustn't underestimate them. When is the soonest we can expect a report?"
>"Luna's already heading back to Ponyville, and should be there tomorrow. They're using the next day to resupply, and two more days to return and set up camp at their previous location again. Add one day to send a report to Ponyville, where we'll hopefully be by then, and that's five days. Meanwhile, we'll be using two days to prepare the troops, and one day traveling to Ponyville. Setting up a permanent supply line to their now vacant camp will take two days, and if nothing happens...we'll recieve a new report five days from now."
>"A bit long, but it can't be helped. I just hope that our...visitors don't expand too aggressively in those five days."
>"About those creatures...what did Luna have to say about them?" the General asked.

>>30216607

>"Well," Crystal Arcana replied, "I actually have Twilight Sparkle's notes on them here with me. I have been informed that they are just a rough copy of the notes that were left at the visitors' shelter, but I trust her accuracy in such matters."
>Her horn glowed with a light-blue aura as the buckle of her saddlebags magically undid themselves. A sheaf of papers, bound by a golden paper clip, flew out from the leather bag and spread itself across the polished oak table. The sheets of parchment were covered with crude sketches and quick scribbles, but they were anything but insubstantial.
>"Hmm. So this is what they look like?" Celestia asked. "Diamond Dogs, but without fur."
>"I was thinking more Minotaur," the Governor of Commerce commented.
>"That's not important right now. What is important are these two facts: number one, that they're unable to use magic-"
>"Well, we don't have to worry too much about them then!"
>"No," the Grand Mage interjected. "Remember that only one of these creatures killed three of the Night Guard - and could have taken Luna's life, as well."
>"Hah! We were simply caught off guard, though. I'd like to see them try to injure a combat mage, or stop a cannonball!"
>"True," Celestia sighed. "Even if we can defeat them, I can't believe Luna just went into their shelter in the middle of the night, unannounced."
>"She has only been back as ruler for a few years, Celestia, after a millenium of banishment. Perhaps she has not become reaccustomed to Equestria after so long gone?"
>"Perhaps, but that does not matter right now. Printing Press, how should we reveal this discovery to the public?"
>"We don't," the steel-gray unicorn answered. "There's a - let's face it - intrusion of Equestria's sovereignty from the Everfree by aliens. I doubt the public would respond well to that. For now, we should keep this a secret. Maybe later, when things have progressed and we know a bit more about what's going on, we can tell everyone."
>"I see."

>>30216616

>"But how shall we let it out? There's no way to tell everypony without it being a jarring shock."
>"Let's not worry about that, Press. There are other, more immediate issues at hand."
>A low, groaning creak suddenly brought all conversation to a halt. One of Celestia's assistants quickly cantered through the large, tall wooden doors and whispered something into her ear, the stressed syllables ahd tense verbalizations all that was audible to those in the chamber save the Princess herself. The alicorn nodded, then rose from the chair as the young earth-pony mare stood at her side.
>"Excuse me. Sorry for cutting this short, but I have some business to attend to. We must reconvene as soon as possible...is tomorrow, at ten a convenient time?"
>"Yes, Princess," rang out around the table. All of the advisors began to pack their bags and prepare to leave, Celestia's attention elsewhere at the moment. As her assistant left the room, the Princess of the Sun followed, her gaze directly opposite the conference room as she went on with her day.

>>30216625

-UAV-ES-20 "Horus", #165-

>MilNav ES-20 v1.2.1.0.3 initializing...
>Motors: GOOD
>Steering: GOOD
>Signal: POOR [78% PACKET RECEIVE / 72% TRANSMIT]
>Camera: GOOD
>Navigation/GPS: !-UNAVAILABLE-!
>ES-20 #165 online. Battery 100% (00:30:20) (Cable In)
>The LED on the top of the quadcopter blinked red, then glowed a steady green as pre-flight diagnostics ran their course. Its medium-resolution video camera, screwed beneath it on a 360-degree mount, automatically began recording its first few seconds of flight video. The camera displayed a military-sized tent in a forest clearing on the bulky laptop next to it, the lenses whirring as it tried to focus on the American flag imprinted on the side.
>"Okay, things look fine, sir. But...that's weird, transmissions are really bad. Maybe it's something with the antenna?"
>"Nah, the scientists said this place messes with signals. Can you fix it?"
>"I'll try."
>2 >> 10 [TRANSMIT_PRIORITY]
>Signal: POOR [80% PACKET RECEIVE / 71% TRANSMIT]
>"Not gonna happen, sir."
>"Well, I guess we'll have to be more careful. Jackson?"
>"Hmm?" the built-in microphone caught from afar.
>"We're good. Get over here and fly this thing."
>"Alright."
>"And don't get too fancy; the connection is really spotty."
>"Sure thing."

>>30216634

>Something from behind made a scraping sound. Suddenly, the camera spun around twice, the surroundings too blurry to make out.
>"Jeez, the camera sensitivity on this thing!"
>"It's not like the combat drones you've flown. This is a scouting quadcopter-"
>"Yeah, but still.."
>[CABLE UNPLUGGED]
>Battery 100% (00:30:18)
>"Let's do this."
>The quadcopter's electric motors whirred as its propellors built up speed. Suddenly, it began to rise, gaining altitude as the view of the forest canopy slowly broadened into view. Once it reached 80 feet, the scouting drone tilted forward, flying with a slight lean towards the right. It was circling the Portgate, mapping the surroundings in a spiral path as it spun around the quickly-growing camp.
>The ES-20 was a medium-sized reconnaissance quadcopter designed for quick and reliable first-time scouting. Although its battery life was skimpy when compared to similar military drones and its frame was made of a flimsier but lighter plastic, it more than made up for it with a high-resolution 8-megapixel photo camera and strong, dependable motors. It was a relatively recent prototype (only three years old), but the few instances where it had seen use delivered promising results.

>>30216641

>However, in the Equestrian Everfree its wireless transmitter was having a hard time getting through the thick, mysterious static. Occasionally, it would drift a few meters too far forwards as its connection to the flight controller was periodically chopped off, the interference scrambling any communications back and forth. The drone lagged forward, then readjusted, then lagged forward...
>Until twenty-two minutes after takeoff, when it came to a complete stop mid-air. Five seconds passed, and the quadcopter turned around and lowered in altitude. The whine of the rotors dropped in pitch as it descended into the treeline. Just thirty feet below it, nearly completely hidden by the foliage, was a large, abandoned encampment. Not a single creature was in sight amongst the empty tents.
>Its photo camera spun around and focused on the tents in the clearing, rapidly snapping off pictures at paparazzi pace. As its flight camera switched between infrared and night-vision in an attempt to find any beings possibly hiding from it, the quadcopter descended to just ten feet above the ground. It buzzed around eagerly, taking as many photos as it could before it had to return to recharge its batteries. Nothing escaped its sight, from the long-extinguished campfires to the odd pieces of litter scattered here and there.
>Soon, however, it was time for the drone to head back. The quadcopter rose back up to cruising altitude, making a beeline back to the Portgate. It would come back to the encampment later, to further investigate the mysterious tents and awnings. A day later, it would be accompanied by a heavier research drone, which would then retrieve some of the random items scattered around the camp.
>But at that moment, it had to refill its batteries. The buzzing noise of the propellors soon disappeared from the tents as the drone headed back to base, the noon sun casting a wavy shadow on the trees.

>>30216667
>tfw you forget to use your name

That's it. Pretty regular chapter, in my opinion.

Question: There was a huge spike in readership and likes after I put out Chapter 13 and the interim. Anyone know what that's about?

Also, anyone wanna recommend some FimFic groups to join?

>>30216682
My only guess for the spike would it being that you took the story in an unexpected direction which got some more eyes on through 4chan passersbys, but that feels unlikely that 4chan passerbys would be the reason. Chapter 13's also when you switched to updating fimfic and posting on 4chan on the same day, but I'm not sure if that's related or not,

As for the this update it was alright. A lot of setup for future chapters that has me a bit giddy and the possibilities

>>30216667
the ponies are going to be in for a surprise when they come back to find humans studying the campsite

>>30216667
Can they not see Canterlot on the mountain, or get a telescope/binoculars to study the irregular thing jutting off the huge mountain? With all the onion domes though, a reference like "riskiest beat us here" would be assumed.

>>30217678
Ruskies not riskiest

>>30217678
>With all the onion domes though, a reference like "riskiest beat us here" would be assumed.

That or "oh shit that's the biggest mosque I've ever seen."

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>>30217804
>>30217678
Onion domes were also common in the Holy Roman Empire.

lets progress to the first page

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>>30218414
>>30217804
>>30217678
I wouldn't say they're full on onion domes. Onion domes usually start even with the tower then bulge out past the tower's width while Canterlot's start with an overhang with the tower and then slope inwards. So they're more like 1/2 onion dome if that's even a thing

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>>30219639
Mmm. Onions.

>year two in Canterlot
>still living with Twiggles, as a "long-term research subject"
>the Crystal Castle Thingy has a well-equipped kitchen, at least
>you can't get meat here, but anything else is readily available, as well as exotic stuff that didn't exist on Earth
>also stuff humans can't eat, but you take the good with the bad
>you have an odd craving this afternoon
>so you've got the deep fryer warming up
>while you peel and cut up a big yellow onion
>you cut it into slices and separate the slices into rings
>then put the rings in a bucket of ice water for a few minutes
>rather than try some kind of elaborate batter you just coat the wet onion rings with flour and drop them into the deep fryer
>apparently this is successful
>you have a plate with a paper towel on it, piled high with hot fresh onion rings
>"Hey, what's that smell? It smells pretty good!"
>it's Spike
"Just a dish I like. Want to try some?"
>"Sure!"
"Careful, they're still hot."
>he gives you that look
>"Dragon, remember?"
>and stuffs one in his mouth
>"Say, this is pretty good!"
>you hear another voice
>"What's pretty good?"
>it's your kind and generous hostess, Purpledrank
"They're called 'onion rings.' I just made them."
>"Can I have one?"
"Sure."
>she munches an onion ring. "Say, these are great!"
"I know, right?"
>a year later you are a gorillionaire
>apparently ponies never invented onion rings
>Progress!

>>30219769
Damn now I want onion rings

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Continue from line 590: https://pastebin.com/pKVfQaXt

>Eating delicious food with your daughter surrounded by your creations.
>Eight centuries ago you wouldn't even dream of something like this.
>Since your betrayal, your life has been a struggle more often than not.
>always ruthlessly wrestling what little comfort and safety you could from the merciless underground.
>Even now with unmatched technology and military power, you still on defense.
>But right now surrounded by what you could call a family in what you have come to call home.
>You are at peace, enjoying dinner.

Near the Foal Mountains

Music related: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tp1oH6OVC_U (Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows - The Mycroft Suite )

>You are the pretty purple princess of friendship: Twilight Sparkle.
>Currently too worried to be enjoying dinner.
>Its not for the quality of the food, this is a really good stew.
>Nor the company. Your best friends, Mr Abbé and his sister are sharing the table with you.
>Not even the ambient, a joyful mood floods the ships lunch deck as the sailors laugh and sing like only sailor can.
>The reason is obvious.
>You're still chewing on what Mr Abbé has reveled to you and your friends not so long ago.
>the prospect of fighting the royal guard and the blueblood goons is worrying.
>But you know that you and your friends will rise to the occasion like many times before.
>But what's really got your stomach in knot is that so many ponies are involved in the cover up plot.
>Abbé has already assured you that your brother is not part of the plot.
>And when rainbow dash asked about the wonderbolts, all he could say was that so far they had done nothing.
>Of course, Rainbow dash boasted that there was no way that the Wonderbolts would align themselves with the likes of blueblood.
>but you weren't so sure.
>If the ponies hoofpicked by Celestia herself could be swayed to his side, there was no telling just how far his influence extended.

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>>30220511

>There was no way he could buy the loyalty of the Wonderbolts with bits, true.
>but maybe he could get them to obey him by threatening their friends and families.
>or he could threaten to do with them like he did with anon and frame them of a terrible crime.
>Maybe he wouldn't even have to go that far, He could just threaten their careers.
>If the plot already extends to the royal air force then he could just have them discharged.
>You know just how much they value their status as wonderbolts.
>You really don't like it, but there is a great chance that you will end up fighting against them.
>They are great at flying, but you know that they are really sub-par as fighters, you can handle them.
>Is Rainbow. Who's really worrying you.
>She has dedicated most of her life to becoming one of them, you really have no idea if she could handle that kind of betrayal.
>”Darling, are you okay?” asked rarity in a concerned tone.
“Huh! yes I'm fine, sorry I got distracted, what were you saying?”
>”We were saying that you barely touched your dish dear.”
>”Princess, perhaps my chef could prepare you something else?” Asked miss Mercédès
”Oh no! I Really like this stew, I assure you.” You replied, a little louder than you intended.
>you can tell that it came out a little desperate since our friends look at you with worried expressions.
“I'm just worried about the whole cover up plot thing.” you try to sound carefree but you can tell they don't buy it.
>Applejack tries to change the subject.”now that a'h think about it, how come those secret service hooligans haven't attack us yet.”
>”Well, since we pushed through their ambush they will try to catch up to us with faster frigates and haven't reached us yet,”Explained Abbé in a calm manner
>”either that or they will try to blockade us before we reach canterlot's air space.”
>”As a matter of fact, if they intent on doing either of those things, they will do it soon. They must stop us before we pass the foal mountain.

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>>30220521

>”After that we will be in plain sight of canterlot, and surely the princess would come to investigate an air battle happening at her doorstep.” Abbé continues in a more serious tone.
>”Speaking of witch I should return to the commanding deck, my guidance might be needed soon.” Mercédès said as she rose from to her hooves.
>”But please, continue to enjoy your dinner. I'll call you over the intercom if anything happens.”
>If you were worried before, now you are positively panicking.
>the last battle, if you could call it that, was easy enough.
>As a matter of fact you or your friends didn't have to do anything.
>But the fact that Mr Abbé insisted that you kept wearing the armor, at least until you reached canterlot, clearly implies that he and his sister expect thing to get violent soon.
>That they expect you and your friends, if not to fight at least to be ready to defend yourselves.
>not only that, but with miss victory handling “Little Hans” there is no doubt that the next battle will be another massacre.
>All this death.
>All this violence.
>All the lying and manipulation.
>With your beloved teacher at the center of it.
>You fell like you're gonna puke.
>”Miss sparkle.”
“AHH!”
>Again you spaced out and ended up getting startled by Mr Chamoisee
>You totally didn't jump a yard in the air and fall off from your chair tho.
>You simply took a dive to a better battle position that happens to be on the ground.
>That's what soldiers do right?
“Y-Yes Mr Chamoisee?” you ask returning to your seat
>”Your tea madam.” he answers handing you a cup of clear and slightly bitter smelling tea.
“I'm sorry, I didn't ask for this.”
>”It was me princess.” Replied Abbé
>”I asked Chamoisse to serve us all a cup of yerva mate, for the nerves.”
>You were so distracted that you didn't even heard him do so.
>You are about to argue that you are fine but a concerned look from your friends and a gentle nod from Abbé convince you otherwise.

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>>30220543
that's all for today
pastebin will be updated when the thread dies
on a related note, i realized that the pastebin wasn't updated until today, new readers may want to read from line 434
I will try to deliver other three post bundle before the week ends
Can't promise tho

Starts from: https://pastebin.com/wZDpGYPK

>>30220575
>I will try to deliver other three post bundle before the week ends
Cool hope to read it, if not I understand

>>30220575
Glad to see you updating more regularly. I can always use more anon the betrayed in my life

>>30216283
We can all agree its still better than the stargate that shall not be named.

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>>30221634
>Implying we didn't all love Stargate Infinity

>>30221662
you scared me for a moment anon.

>>30221710
oh wait, you meant the space themed soap opera which values who sleeps with whom more than it did about the first intelligence in the universe which left marks in the cosmic background radiation?
yeah that...

>>30221773
That train wreck yes.

>>30221773
sounds hilariously bad

>>30221773
All my memories of sg-1 and atlantis were when i was in middle school and atlantis was still getting new episodes. never bothered with universe
which are you talking about

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>>30221662
Please done drag the memories back

>>30222977
well that is one creepy art style

>>30223494
You could say it's almost... spoopy.

>>30223548
>insert 2spoopy joke here

>>30211183
Ive rewatched it a couple of times, still haven't watched the season 10 final or any of the after movies yet because I just handle that it ended.

SG1 is the only other show I would consider myself a 'fan' of other than mlp.

I prefer the original main characters, and dont really like the gary stu and slut they replaced them with half way

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>>30223887

Emergency bump

Considering mass production isn't a thing in equestria, how would, for example, toy fads, e.g. Fidget Spinners, Silly Bands, etc, spread in equestria?

>>30227293
It must be a thing though, or book series like Daring Do wouldn't be able spread.

>>30227293
>fidget spinners
I've been seeing memes about those occasionally. What's the joke with those? Are they the new pogs or something?

>>30227316
It's a new toy fad. Comparable to silly bands.

>>30227316
It's something to keep idiots busy, like you'r tangle a keychain in front of a toddler

>>30227310
While printing presses are certainly a thing (Ponyville Confidential) I don't recall things like a toy factory of the top of my head

>>30227744
>toy factory

You just reminded me of an idea for a greentext I had.


Long story short: tabletop warfare with human armies represented by tiny models. Based off of our history which ponies think are just fictional tales.

>>30228080
Sounds like it could be interesting

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>>30223548

>>30228295
Yeah but I never developed the concept besides the initial idea.

>>30228532
If you don't do it, I will probably do it. It's a great idea.

>>30220543
Nice

>>30228713
If you do write it I look forward to reading it

>>30231905
>tfw the opossum is making some foaming green potion, but Luna is making beer

Well, at least Luna has her priorities straight.

>>30233451
>some foaming green potion
>it says Hyde Formular on the flask
you're some uncultured swine

How would ponies react to modern music and different bands?

>who is this "Tiny Dancer" he speaks of?

I remember a greentext where Equestria was under attack from a neighboring nation and Anon was first made military consultant but then he tries to transform it slowly into a military dictatorship with him in the lead

>>30233895
Sounds like Ecanon's.
http://pastebin.com/stjFr73k

>>30234208
>Machiavellian Anon
YES
that was it

Did something ever come of the wh40k sonon story? Its been a while since i been to these theards

>>30234340
you mean magos? pretty sure he's dead

>>30234279
>>30234208
I wish that story got a proper ending instead of the quick summary of what was planned

>>30231905
>That Young Frankenstien ref
Kek

>Be Princess Celestia
>You're horrified, absolutely horrified at the what you see through the spyglass
>Hundreds of dead minotaur warriors scattered across the field
>None of them look injured in anyway, not even a scratch
>Even Their anti-magic war machine stands used
>You turn to the the one who caused all of this
"What have you done?"
>Anon, stands in his shackles with a blank expression on his face
>"What? you said that you wanted a weapon that will end the war and I did what you asked"
"NOT like this, you were supposed to create something that will stop their machine"
>Umm.... it doesn't look like it moving"
>"Do not toy with Murderer, none of this would have happened if you hadn't built that machine in the first place"
>Murderer? you forced me to create this weapon just like they forced me to make that tank"
>"I had no choice in this, I just did what was asked of me. Nothing less nothing more"
"Guards, I heard enough. Get him of my sight"
>As he's dragged away you glance back at the corpse filled field
>If one human could create such devastating weaponry, then you could only imagine what can thousands of them working together could create
>And if one of them can randomly end up here then it wont be long till it won't be so

>>30236919
careful with that edge there

>9

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>>30236919

>>30236919
this was the day Equestria learned about human flatulence

>>30238937
I can't remember but has mlp ever done a fart joke? Because if they haven't one could make joke greentext about ponies learning flatulence from Anon.

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>>30239380
>has mlp ever done a fart joke?

Seriously? This is 4chan. Half the humor here is fart jokes.

I also made a joke greentext a while back but can't find it now, about Pinkie Pie organizing a rave and handing out balloons of nitrous oxide, filled from her own asshole. Anonymous witnesses this and freaks the fuck out because this is biologically impossible. Pinkie smiles at him and tells him, very calmly, in a very much not-Pinkie-like manner, that he's now in a land of magic and talking technicolor ponies, so he probably shouldn't make assumptions about what's possible any more, then hands him a balloon and pats him on the head.

>>30239490
yay, free bloons

>>30239490
Not /mlp/ I meant the show

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>Anon introducing 4chan to equestria when?

>>30240564

>>30239490
ah. found it.

>Pinkie is giggling uncontrollably
>more than usual, you mean
"I shouldn't ask, but what's so funny?"
>she picks up a balloon
>lifts up her tail, and holds the open end to her anus
>and BBBPPPPPPPVVVVVTTTTTT
>fills the balloon with a fart
>and hands it wordlessly to a passing pony
>who sucks in the contents in one enormous toke
>then staggers sideways and collapses giggling to the ground
>you stare at Pinkie in disbelief
>"I fart laughing gas."
"That's chemically impossible."
>"You're in a brightly colored magical land where dragons eat gems that should be vastly harder than their dental enamel and don't damage their digestive tracts. You're surrounded by pegasi with tiny wings and unicorns who can rewrite reality by shooting magical forces out of their horns. The sun and moon are manually lifted above the horizon and manipulated by our Princesses--openly, in front of us. It's awfully sudden to be surprised by impossibilities, isn't it, Anonymous?"
>you stare at her for a very long time
>she fills another balloon from her asshole ("BBBBBBBBFFFRRRRRPT!") and hands it to you
>and pats you on the head
>"You look like you could use one."
>it was a day of ontological mysteries

>>30239380
Have another.

>day we don't care any more in Equestria
>you're hanging out with the Princesses today
>you just had lunch
>there was a comical misunderstanding when you had said you were hungry enough to eat a horse
>yeah, comical
>but anyway
>now both your charming hostesses are looking kind of bloated and sleepy
>Luna gets that look
>she smirks at you
>Sunbutt sees and begins smirking too
>uh oh
>"Pullest thou mine horn, good friend Anonymous."
>"Pullest thou mine horn, and thou shalt receive a fine reward."
"Well, okay then."
>you put your fingers on the tip of her horn and pull gently
>*FRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAPPPPPT*
"Jeez, lady! Get some roughage! You're killing me over here!"
>"Is it not a fine reward?"
>you're wheezing and your eyes are running
>this is not the first time you've regretted asking Purplesmart to pull your finger when you first met
>it was a high greenhouse gas emissions day

>>30243235
If this is an often enough occurrence I might be a wise idea to start carrying around a pair of nose plugs

>>30243641
Alicorn farts are a hazard requiring MOPP Level 4 countermeasures.

Especially when they've been eating asparagus with hollandaise sauce.

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/trash/ is leaking again

>>30244197
Your mom is leaking again.

The attention to the thread is leaking again

>Pg. 9

>>30243934
I would then suggest leaving if it wasn't for the fact that he would be trying to run from the princesses.

>>30248689
well chrysalis seems to do an alright job of hiding away from the princesses so maybe anon could do it

>>30246143

>>30245352

>>30251978
>5-Gauss warning
>strong magnetic field
what

>>30252038
There was a lot of discussion the last time someone posted this image. To distill it all down, because otherwise tl;dr:

That warning sign is supposed to be placed at a distance from the equipment (such as an MRI machine) where the measured magnetic field when it is in use is 5 gauss. Closer in it gets higher, faster, and within the machine itself it may break 100,000 gauss. That's a "don't come any closer if you have an old model pacemaker, lol" warning sign, not a "hey guise look at our MRI that only generates 5 gauss while it's running" sign.

>>30251978
Uh, nice autosampler, I guess. >>30252038
Potato NMR

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>>30251978
<peteq will surely return

>>30252038
But that's quite a strong field, anon. The current world record is 45 tesla, honestly not that much higher. Stronger fields are only possible in an impulse mode.

>>30253743
Oh, I confused Gauss and Tesla. Yeah, that's weak then.

>>30253750
Yeah. 50 gauss is a refrigerator magnet at content distance. 5 gauss is barely measurable unless you have very sensitive, very expensive equipment.

>>30220575
I have to say this is getting becoming a really good read. I just started and caught up on it today. At first I wasn't sure where the plot was going to go, especially in terms of the technology. I figured it would have been a few simple techs that betrayed anon would have designed and that's it, but you expanded into something unique and interesting to read about with all the automatons and even the accidental daughter. I hope you focus on whats happening with anon equally as much as you do with the mane 6 as I quite enjoy learning of everything he is up to and his points of view. I could keep going on about what I like about this anon and your story, but that would take too long.

Hope you keep updating regularly as there hasn't been a good story posted here in a while since Write_Fag. at least in my opinion

>>30253686
Didn't he say that he would return in 3 months like near the start of the year?

>>30236919
Anon making Chlorine trifluoride when?

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does the thread have any waifus or underrepresented ponies you'd like to see.
I'm fleshing out a story and still need roles to fill.

>>30255925
Limestone, poor gal needs more love

>>30255925
I really do like Queen Chrysalis but I doubt that would work for your story. So how about instead Sassy Saddles?

>>30255925
just curious but what's your story about?

>>30257230
It still changes around in my head as various ideas get scrapped and replaced. I'd like to start a green with a proper story in mind instead of just jumping in for once, i dunno

Back.

>>30161525
>You drift in and out of consciousness a few times.
>The first time you come to and crack open your eyes, you’re surrounded by what looks like hundreds of headlights.
>Every light is on in every house you can see, and further down the street, lights are flicking on and doors are opening.
>You slowly turn your head and you notice North Point’s small, delicate frame sprawled out on the road a few feet away from you.
>You lift your head and try to get to your feet, and a few hooves scamper forward to help you up.
>Vertigo quickly overwhelms you and you slump back to the ground and pass out again.
>When you come to once more, you’re laying across the rear seat of what, from the harsh ride, feels like an A-8.
>Two griffons are sitting in the front row.
>You shakily lift a hand to shield your eyes from the harsh glare of the passing streetlights, and pain shoots down your left arm.
>It takes all your energy to keep from crying out in pain, and once you compose yourself, you speak up.
“Who are you and where are you taking me?”
>You sound very, very weak.
>Probably because you are.
>The passenger turns around at the sound of your voice.
>”My name’s Grace, and the driver is my husband Grant. We’re taking you to the hospital.”
“Do you know who hit me?”
>”I think it was the pony living across from us. Strange fellow, really. Almost never saw him out.”
>You can feel yourself losing consciousness again.
>You need to stay awake.

>>30257994
“North Point. Where’s North Point?”
>”She’s up here with me.”
“Is she okay?”
>Grace looks down and pauses.
>She’s choosing her words very carefully.
>”She’ll be fine. The hospital’s just down the street, and they know you’re both coming.”
“Where do you two work?”
>”I’m a bookkeeper at AMC, and Grant works at the 6th Street AMC factory.”
“Is he moving to Lancaster Main?”
>”Of course.”
>You steady yourself as you feel Grant slam on the brakes.
>As soon as he stops, all the doors are opened and you’re surrounded by a cacophony of voices.
>”He’s in the back.”
>”Well get him out! We don’t have all day!”
>You feel yourself being lifted out of the car and placed on a stretcher.
>The bright overhead lights of the newly-built hospital hurt your eyes even more than the streetlights, and the frantic pace doesn’t help your nerves any.
>It doesn’t take long for you to pass out again amid the chaos.
>You wake up lying in a hospital bed in a sunlit room with a nurse sitting attentively at the foot of your bed.
>Your left arm is bandaged and suspended above you, along with both your legs, and from what you can tell, most of your stomach is bandaged under the sheets.
“What the hell happened?”
>The nurse responds almost immediately.
>”Your left arm was fractured, along with both your legs. You have four broken ribs and a concussion, as well as a few large puncture wounds in your side.”
>It almost makes you laugh.
>How the hell are you not dead?
“And North Point?”
>The nurse hesitates.
>”She’s still unconscious. She arrived in a much worse condition than you, and we’re doing the best we can to save her.”
“Save her?”
>She grimaces.
>”There’s a possibility she might not survive the crash.”
>It hits you like a ton of bricks.

>>30258002
“How big of a possibility?”
>”Like I said, we’re doing the best we can. She lost a lot of blood, and we just might not have the technology to save her. But we’ve got Arcadia’s finest working nonstop to keep her with us.”
“And how long until I can get out of here?”
>”Two months at best.”
“Two months? I can’t-”
>”Mr. President, you need two months to recover from that crash. I recommend lots of rest.”
>That isn’t going to happen.
>Already your mind is racing.
>The first thing that comes to your mind is the in-house hospital that you set up when the house was first built.
>You’d much rather recover there, where you could still work.
”Okay, I’ll rest. But there’s a small clinic in the Executive House that I’d like to be moved to instead of staying here. When can that be arranged?”
>”I can prepare an automobile by the end of the day. North Point will likely have to stay here for a week, but it’ll be safe to move her after that.”
“That’s fine. Can need you bring a phone in here for me? I need to make a call.”
>”Of course. I’ll be right back.”
>She trots out and returns a few minutes later with a nondescript, black phone, the telephone line hastily extended to reach into your room, which she sets down on a small table next to your bed.
“Thank you.”
>The nurse leaves the room, and you reach over with your right arm and rest the pony-shaped mouthpiece on your chest, as close to your mouth as you can get it, and slide the too-small earpiece over to your ear.
>You press the “start call” button and quickly get a response.
>”Operator.”
“Get me Capitol-2000, extension 31, please.”
>”Certainly.”
>You hear the telltale clicks and pauses of your call being connected before the pony on the other end picks up.

>>30258009
>”This is Chief Usher Marble Shine speaking.”
“This is Anon. Got into a wreck in Greenfield on my way to the river, and I’m in the hospital. I need you to prepare the in-house clinic for both me and North Point.”
>”Right away.”
”Thank you. See you in a minute, Marble.”
>”Goodbye, Mr. President.”
>You end the call, set the phone down, and rest.
>A few hours later, another nurse pokes her head in your room.
>”Mr. President? Your transport is ready.”
>You watch the small crew prepare you to be moved, since you can’t really do anything else.
>The trip to the car is uncomfortable, and the ride to the Executive House is even worse.
>Every bump in the pavement feels like your limbs are going to fall off, and it doesn’t do anything to soothe your growing headache.
>But you make it.
>Once you’re settled in the small hospital room on the ground floor of the house, Minuette, your former housemate and current Secretary of State, pays you a little visit.
>”You look like shit.”
“Thanks. Really what I needed to hear right now.”
>She grins.
>”But seriously, I’m glad you didn’t die, even though I would have liked to be the President.”
“You say that now, but it isn’t nearly as fun as you think.”
>”I’d do it for the house alone.”
“Too bad you’d only live here for four years.”
>She sticks out her tongue and sits down on a chair against the wall.
>”How’s North Point?”
>You grimace.
“From what I heard, not very good. She has to stay at the hospital for a week before they can move her here.”
>”Is she gonna be okay?”
“I fucking hope.”
>Minuette looks away and you stare at the ceiling for a few tense seconds.
>”You need to tell her you love her eventually.”
“Doesn’t she already know?”
>”You’re such an idiot. Of course she knows, she just needs to hear it from you. It’s all she talks about when I visit.”

>>30258022
“Seriously?”
>She groans.
>”How can someone who’s invented all the crazy shit you have be so stupid?”
“I told you, relationships aren’t my thing.”
>”Yeah, I know. But I hope you know that you can’t wait any longer.”
“I know.”
>”Good. Now, I need to go. I’ve got a couple meetings later today. Just think about where to go from here.”
“I will. But before you go, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”
>”Shoot.”
“Come closer. I can’t say any of this too loudly.”
>She gets up and trots over to your bed, where you speak in a hushed but urgent whisper.
“I need you to get a team of investigators together. Screen them like nobody’s business; I need you to know everything about them before you let them onboard. Pick only the best of the best. You’re the only person I can trust to do this.”
>”What for?”
“Remember Silver Scroll? Celestia’s old advisor? Well, he was right. There are other ponies spying on us. I know of at least one that made it on the convoys. Meet with the ponies who searched his apartment by the end of the day; the Secretary of the Interior can give you their names. Investigate the hell out of every detail.”
>”And what if nothing comes up?”
“Something will. No one can disappear into thin air like he did without help. Then I need you to investigate the wreck. Interview everyone who was at the scene, especially two griffons who lived on that corner: Grace and Grant. They said they think the pony who crashed into us was a pretty suspicious character who lived across the street from them. Investigate him. Look for any magical residue on both cars.”
>”When do you want that done?”

>>30258029
“Immediately. Cancel all your meetings, do whatever it takes. This is your top priority right now. The most important thing I need you to know is that nobody else can know anything about any of this. If we need to make this public, then we will, but right now all this must be done in absolute secrecy. Last night, I told North Point that I think something big is going on right under our noses, and I intend to get to the bottom of whatever that may be. That’s why I need that team, and that’s why they need to be screened so intensively by you and you alone. I’ll carve out a small part of the Cabinet Building’s basement that you can use for all this. Anything you need to do this, you’ll get. If you need to update me on any of this, which I expect you to do often, do it face-to-face, not over the phone under any circumstances. Got all that?”
>”Yep.”
“Good. I know I can count on you to get this done.”
>”Of course. I’ll be back with an update soon.”
“ Good, thank you. And can you send in Marble Shine before you leave?”
>”Yeah, I will.”
“Thanks. See you later.”
>”Goodbye.”
>As soon as she leaves the room, Marble Shine steps in.
>”Need something?”
“I need you to get me the Chairman of AMC.”
>”Right away, Mr. President.”
>While you wait for your visitor to arrive, you try to rest a little, and one of the nurses on staff comes in to take you up before the Chairman enters.
>Gear Shift is a gray earth pony with a silver mane, and he sits down next to your bed as soon as he’s let in.
>”What do you need?”
“For obvious reasons, I’ve been thinking about making automobiles safer.”
>He laughs a little before you continue.

>>30258036
“The most important thing I want some engineers to start on are seat belts. Find a way to secure occupants to the car itself so they don’t fly forward during a crash. I’ll sketch up a design later today, but all seat belts are basically two pieces of fabric bolted to the car that connect with a fastener. I want them standard on every vehicle with two mounting points by 1912 and with three points by 1920. That should be more than enough time.”
>”Anything else?”
“Find a way to keep car doors from flying open during an accident and start developing glass that shatters into blunt pieces instead of shards.”
>”I’ll relay all that to the engineering team.”
“Thank you, Gear Shift. You’re free to go.”
>”Thank you. Goodbye, Mr. President.”
“Goodbye.”
>Once he leaves the room, you’re back to staring at the ceiling.
>You really need a book or something.

And that's all for now. Pastebin: https://pastebin.com/eufFYFaw

>>30258044
I'm kind of surprised he waited until now to introduce seat belts for cars.

>>30258220
It took us a lot longer. Seat belts weren't standard equipment in American cars until around 1960, if you believe Wikipedia. The modern three-point-harness type seat belt appears to have been invented by an engineer at Volvo, in Sweden. Then Volvo gave away the patent to the whole world in the name of safety, rather than sit on something that could have made them money, which was pretty nice of them, I must say.

>>30258252
Yeah but Anon's from our world. He should already know about seat belts. The fact that he waited until now to start developing seat belts is what I find strange

>>30258339
From our world? From what year? In-story he's talking about "by 1912" and "by 1920." Is this a different calendar? I figured Anon was from our world but from around a hundred and ten years ago, and this stuff wasn't invented yet.

>>30258367
Anon is from the present. The year was 1899 on the Equestrian calendar when he arrived.

>>30258367
line 64 of the pastebin
>“Skyscrapers, electricity, planes, space travel, cars, running water, and lots more. Basically, anything that can be used without magic.”
He's past the 1960's

>>30258388
Ah. It's just hard for me to imagine they use the same calendar we do. I guess it's not the biggest stretch, but--

>>30238491
>>30237380
How the fuck was that edgy?
Do you just throw around buzzwords because it's fun or what?

>>30258490
>Mad Scientist Anon
>mercilessly massacres mountains of Minotaur mercenaries
>using magic death rays or nerve gas or some shit that the author was too busy describing heaps of corpses to tell us about

You've got to admit that's kind of edgy, friendo.

>>30258044
fuck you scotty

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>>30220543 cont

>You sigh and take a long sip from your cup.
>It tastes like common green tea with a subtle bitterness and acid aftertaste.
>As the warm liquid reaches your stomach you can feel the effects of whatever herb the tea is made.
>The knot in your stomach seems to untie itself as a small wakening feeling floods your head.
>A content sigh escapes your lips.
“What did you say this tea was?”
>”It's yerba mate, a little thing we got from our last travel to the llaman empire.”replies abbé before taking a sip from his own cup.
>”A must say Mr Crimsonblood, this is quite the beverage, just a sip and I already feel like a new mare.” Complimented Rarity.
>”Can I have more please.” Asked Pinkie holding up her already finished cup
>”Of course, but please take it slow miss pinkie. Too much of this and you will feel very sick.” answered Chamoisse
>”Um- how much is too much?”Asked fluttershy with a half full cup of her own
>”About three or four cups can give you a pretty big energy boost, after that they still energize you, but then also draw you out in the long run since it starts to act like a light poison.” calmly warned Abbé as he took another sip from his cup.
>”besides, it's much more effective if you drink it slowly.” he added as he reclined into his chair.
>You heed Abbé advise and drink in slow sips.
>After letting the tea do its job you mange to Finish your dinner before it gets too cold.
>You let the warm tea clear your mind while your friends chat among themselves.
>Now more calm and collected you focus on more important matters.
>Dealing with what's ahead.
>A battle will most likely happen soon, and you have to come to terms with that.
>If the wonderbolts indeed end up working for blueblood you know that Rainbow dash would without a doubt fight them.
>She has always talked about how the wonderbolts are everything a pegasi should aspire to be.
>And now she knows what blueblood and the royal guard have done.

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>>30259074

>She would see them serving blueblood as a failure to that standard, something unworthy of her admiration.
>It is terrible to think that rainbow dash would have to turn on her heroes like that.
>but if that happens she will be able to handle it.
>that still leaves the rest of the battle itself.
>you hate to admit it, but you are way over your head here.
>This kind of military stuff is your brother's expertise
>You only know what you have gathered from book and your brother tales.
>And Celestia never really taught you anything beyond the basic of combat tactics, and even then you could tell she was uncomfortable when doing so.
>She didn't shy away from teaching you combat magic or self defense but every time that a war related theme came up she seemed reluctant and evasive.
>Now you know why.
>You have read extensively on Equestrian history, so you know that Equestria is not strange to war.
>Is one thing to read about the death toll of a battle in historical records and entirely another to witness them first hand.
>Celestia has lived through countless battles by now, some of them with over thousand deaths.
>Still she managed to push through, and now as a princess yourself, you must do like her.
>Stand tall and keep on going.
>You might not know much about war and strategy, but you trust Abbé and miss Mercédès judgment.
>Besides that, all you can do is be ready for when you have to act and keep a level head.
>You can only hope that the girls can do the same
>Rainbow and Applejack can handle themselves.
>Pinkie is kind of a wild card, but you trust she'll be fine.
>Is Rarity and Fluttershy that worry you.
>Rarity isn't trained in combat magic and fluttershy is, well, fluttershy.
>you don't want to be rude, but maybe it would be better if they sat this one out.
>Then again...
>The more help there is, it will be less likely that somepony get hurt.
>But if there are too many ponies fighting they could get in each other's way.
>Maybe you should ask for help.

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>>30259117

>You turn your attention back to the table and see that your friends are still entertained talking about nothing in particular.
>However, straight across the table you can see Abbé staring at the sky through the window deep in thought.
>Is he worried as well?
>he then notices you looking at him he turns to you.
>Not with his trademark smile, but with a stone faced determination.
>“We will pass the Foal Mountains soon, it would be better to discuss the battle plan now princess.”
>The mood shift as all conversation on the table end in an instant.
>A silence so tense you could hear a pin drop reigns over the lunch deck.
>gone are the banter of sailor and your friends pleasantries.
> For almost a minute you remain silent, after sucking a lungful of air you finally reply
“You're right, what would you have us do?”
>”I believe that your knowledge about your friends strengths will help us decide that princess.”
“Right, well, while Rainbow Dash may have overstated it, she is indeed the fastest flier in equestria.”
>”Damn right I am!”
“Applejack here is one of the strongest ponies I know, she's also very capable with her lasso.”
>”A'h know how to handle myself when thing get rowdy.”
“Pinkie … well to be honest I can't really describe her abilities as nothing else but incredible.”
>”Get me in there Coach, I gonna give em' what for” she say as she jumps onto the table.
“Ahem, yes.” you gently levitate her back into her chair.
“Rarity has one of the most precise telekinetic control I have seen and is very good at multi tasking.”
>”Daring you flatter me.”
“Fluttershy-”
>you stop for a moment to look at her, and to you surprise you her standing ready with a clear look of determination in her face .
“Fluttershy may not be the best flier but she has handled some of the most fearful beast equestria has to offer.”
>”I see. But what about you princess."

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>>30259130
>>30220575
that's all for today
pastebin will be updated when the thread dies
I will try to deliver more after Friday before the week ends for sure

>>30254572

>the accidental daughter
Most children are accidents tho

>>30259187
>>30258044
oh sweet both scotty and zebramancer updated today

>>30258044
Fuck you Scotty, those are some nice dubs
Checked

Hi guys, the equestria monitor here, and I have some issues about the story. Some of the problems are when the story is going to occur (During season 1 or after the glimmering), the usage of the game's screenshots and the number of events and arks involving the characters. I wanted to start slow but steady and I sometimes feel that I'm rushing on everything. So should I get more ideas to complement mine. Also you can bump the thread to keep it alive.

>>30260136
That's a tough question. Too many ideas can overload a story and make it a mess, while to little will cause it to feel anemic. It's about finding a balance that works for your story

10

>>30259187
Aww YESHH motherfucking green, also most children are not made out of space shuttle tier materials.

>>30260136
I dont visit these threads as often as i Used to, and I cant imagine how one would make a story out of this, But considering how I like both these threads and stelaris im exited about this.

>>30260136
do you have a pastebin?

>>30260136
As long as the ideas fit with the rest of story and are not forced i say go ahead add more ideas if you want to

>>30261905

Almost didn't get an update out this week. I've been denied my usual writing time on the weekend, so I made time today. Hopefully it's good despite being rushed.

>A few days had passed since then.
>Bon-Bon’s recovery was quick, for which Lyra was immensely thankful.
>There was no room for doubt that the super spy was feeling much better.
>But the symptoms remained.
>They were lessened, but not gone.
>Bon-Bon was sleeping in until sunrise; it was uncharacteristically late for the early riser.
>Her movements were a bit more sluggish than usual, and they were punctuated by awkward stumbling.
>Her legs were clearly not quite doing what she was expecting them to.
>And though it was difficult to tell, Lyra was pretty certain the smile on her friend’s face was a facade.
>The overtaxed pony emerged from their shared bedroom after Lyra had awoken.
>It wasn’t the first time this had happened since they moved in together.
>But it was definitely a rarity.
>Uncommon enough that it was worthy of note.
>She made her way to the table, stumbling once as her leg didn’t quite get in position before she lifted the next one.
>She offered a soft and simple smile.
>But her eyes remained half lidded and her head tilted downward.
>It was an act.
>And a weak one at that.
>Whatever plagued her mind remained.
>Be it a side effect from the drugs, trauma from her trials, or a combination of the two, Bon-Bon’s spirit was still weighed down.
>Lyra wanted to know more.
>Not knowing what was wrong with the sweet mare that was so dear to her was hard on Lyra.
>And not knowing if or when her friend would return to normal was torture.

“Good morning.”

>”Yeah.”

>Lyra prepared a large stack of pancakes for the depressed pony.
>It was easily enough for two mares.
>Yet Bon-Bon devoured them all with great gusto.
>Was she taking comfort from the food?
>Or was she genuinely that hungry?
>Lyra didn’t know.
>Nor did she know how her Bonny stayed so thin.

>>30268863
>What she did know was that Bon-Bon looked far less miserable with her full belly.
>Her smile still failed to touch her eyes.
>But she was less downcast.

“Anything on the agenda today?”

>”Actually, yeah. Wanna go shopping?”

>She wanted to go OUT?
>Lyra was thrilled by this news!
>Bon-Bon hadn’t left their home since coming back from her mission.
>Clearly she was feeling much better.
>The truth was that Lyra didn’t want to go shopping.
>She found it an extremely unpleasant pastime.
>But if it was what Bon-Bon wanted…

“Sure! What are you after?”

>”Do you know what a computer is?”

>Lyra nodded.

>”There’s an Equestria wide network being built so computers can talk to each other. I need it for work, but it would be really suspicious if we got connected and didn’t own a computer. So it’s time to buy one.”

“Why do you need to be connected to the network if you don’t have a computer?”

>”Next question.”

>She already had a computer, didn’t she?

“Why would we want computers to talk to each other?”

>”Eh. It’s sorta pointless right now. But- hrmm. Just trust me on this one. It’ll be a big thing.”

>The answer was classified, then.
>Were they going to be putting something important on them?

>”Shall we be off?”

>The heart of Ponyville seemed so much less oppressive with Bon-Bon present.
>Lyra couldn’t quite relax in the inner city.
>But she also wasn’t on edge.
>Being near Bon-Bon just felt…
>Safe.
>Lyra remained calm as the buildings began to tower over her.
>She didn’t feel on edge as they walked through the throngs of ponies that filled the streets.
>And she didn’t concern herself with all the noise.
>They made their way to Davenport’s Quills and Pens and Sofas and Also Computers (a subsidiary of R&A inc.)
>And stepped inside the climate controlled building.
>Lyra shivered with delight as the heat of the un-naturally warm summer left her body.

>>30268868
>They were quickly accosted by a salespony that Lyra didn’t recognise.
>Bon-Bon confidently ignored them and walked in.
>They made their way to the electronics department with salesponies in tow.
>Lyra stood in amazement at the wide array of mysterious machines.
>Small plastic and metal boxes with wires leading from them sat upon the shelves.
>Lyra still wasn’t entirely clear on what they were for.
>Yes, they did math.
>And yes, they stored information.
>But to what end?
>Why would anypony want one?
>That was something she’d yet to figure out.
>And while she did want an answer, there were far more important questions at hoof.
>How did they work?
>How long ago were they invented?
>And why were they hidden?
>Lyra turned to the salespony.
>An earth pony stallion with a brown coat and a slicked back mane.
>She couldn’t help but feel he looked sleazy.
>Though she couldn’t quite put her hoof on why.

“So… who’s your supplier?”

>”We get out merchandise from the best of the best, ma’am. You can rest assured that there exists no finer merchandise than this.”

“Yeah… that wasn’t an answer. Who’s the manufacturer?”

>”Our computers are built by none other than the most genius ponies to walk this world! The brightest ponies who have ever lived, all brought together with a common goal. To make you the best computers possible!”

>He clearly had no idea.
>But he wasn’t willing to admit he was clueless.
>Lyra couldn’t help but wonder how far she could take this.

“So… this model here.”

>She gestured at a computer at random.”

“How many offorts does it have?”

>”Thousands! Choc full of ‘em!”

“Eugh. Yeah, we’ll be passing on that one then. Which one here can do the most pira per second?”

>”Why, that would be this model right over here!”

>He guided her over to the most expensive model in the store.

>>30268871
>Lyra wasn’t really paying attention though.
>She was looking at Bon-Bon, who appeared to be disassembling one of them.
>She popped the side panels off, poked her muzzle in, then closed it up a moment later.
>Lyra tried to convey her confusion silently.
>Bon-Bon mouthed to her ‘keep distracting him’.

>”And that is why a lovely mare such as yourself shouldn’t be caught dead without this baby!”

>Lyra hadn’t really heard a word he’d said.
>From what she could tell it didn’t really matter.
>He was an idiot.
>There was a good chance the only pony in the building who knew ANYTHING about computers was Bon-Bon.
>And she wanted to look inside uninterrupted.

“Gee, I dunno. It’s kinda expensive. What’s the over-under on the strama module?”

>”Great, top notch!”

“No, give me a number. I want a number.”

>He put a great big, disingenuous smile upon his visage as he searched for an answer.
>None came.

>”Hold on, I’ll go check.”

>He walked off to who knows where.
>Seconds later Bon-Bon burst into laughter.

>”Offorts? How do you come up with that stuff?”

“It just came to me. What are you doing anyway?”

>”Checking the components. It’s all- they’re identical. This is so weird.”

>Bon-Bon quickly checked a couple more machines, giving a confused grunt every time she closed one up.
>Lyra was starting to feel very uncomfortable.
>Somepony would doubtlessly be by soon.
>They’d see her pulling their merchandise apart!
>They were going to get kicked out of the store!

>”Out of time.”

>She closed it up and stepped away.
>Moments later the salespony returned.

>”Errr. Seven?”

>He offered an answer to the nonsense question, apparently still oblivious to how stupid he looked.

>”Your cheapest model here. I’m curious about the power supply.”

>”Oh, that one. If you want a computer that generates more power you’ll want the deluxe models!”

>>30268875
>”Power supplies don’t generate- it’s not important. Isn’t 600 watts a bit excessive? 900 megahertz is really slow, I don't care how many cores you've got. I’d expect a much lower power drain. Say, 100 watts that for the whole system.”

>“Oh, I’m on to the two of you! I’m no fool! You’re just making stuff up to make fun of me, aren’t you? Honestly, megahertz? You thought I’d believe that?”

>He then stomped off in a huff.

“That was an honest question, wasn’t it?”

>”Yup. Something’s weird about these. Why would it need that much power? Why are they all so slow? Why do they all seem to have the same components? It doesn't- oh. I get it. That’s clever. We’re going to get the cheapest model we can find. Grab that one.”

>Bon-Bon gestured to a drab looking cardboard box locked up in a cage.
>Lyra wasn’t sure how she was supposed to grab it.

>”Oh right.”

>Bon-Bon walked up to the padlock holding it shut.
>She pulled something out of her mane and shoved it in.
>A second later the lock fell open.

“Shouldn’t we ask them to unlock it for us?”

>”Why? He forgot to lock it when he left.”

>Lyra wasn’t crazy about that.
>But she decided not to argue.
>She gripped the box with her magic and followed Bon-Bon to the front.
>None other than Davenport was working the till.

“Oh hey there! I thought you’d be retired.”

>”Hey Lyra. Bon-Bon. Why’d you think that?”

“Well, you sold the place didn’t you? Must have gotten a pretty good payout for this piece of land. Right in the middle of the fastest growing city in Equestria? Must have been worth a fortune.”

>Davenport was completely deflated
>He looked like a pony who was being crushed with regret.
>He’d sold too soon.
>Lyra decided to change the subject before she hurt him further.

“So are you managing the place then?”

>>30268883
>”Yup! I know the location, I know the market, I know the ponies. There’s nopony better suited for running Quills and Sofas!”

>”Why do you still sell quills? Does anypony buy them anymore?”

>”Nope. I’ve got several thousand in the store room though. No point in throwing them out! Say, you wanna buy a quill?”

“We’ll pass, thanks. Say… do you know how these computer things work?”


>”Not at all. I see you’re getting one. Why?”

>”You hear about that internet thing?”

>”Oh yeah. They say everypony’s going to be on it. I don’t really see that happening though. Just another fad, like movies.”

“Who knows. Maybe it’ll be worth having.”

>”Why do you say that? Nopony really knows what computers are for. What makes them so special anyway?”

>What makes them so special?
>Lyra knew.
>She wasn’t supposed to, but she did.
>ART-037, also known as computers.
>An extremely powerful tool with greater mathematical capacity than the entirety of ponykind.
>Capable of recording and presumably copying information with great speed.
>Used to process data at unimaginable rates.
>Lyra didn’t know what they would be used for either.
>She could see academics having uses for them in some situations, but why would she, a musician want one?
>It seemed strange.
>And yet Bon-Bon had assured her they’d be a big thing.
>If Bon-Bon said it, then it was true Lyra knew that much.
>She also knew they were more potent than was being let on.
>These tools were nothing less than a minor miracle.
>And they were being sold off by sleazy salesponies in a retail store.
>Something about that didn’t feel right to Lyra.

>”Lyra here wants one because you can get sheet music on it. And the actual music itself too.”

>”That’s a pretty expensive way to get sheet music, isn’t it?”

“You have no idea how pricey that stuff can get. This is downright reasonable.”

>>30268889
>Lyra saw no reason why she couldn’t prop up the cover story.
>It was true, after all.
>Sheet music was absurdly expensive.
>Did these things actually have that?
>If so, she really did want one now.

>”500 bits is reasonable?”

>Bon-Bon lifted a sack out of her saddlebags.
>She then started to count out golden coins.
>48 ten bit coins and 20 one bit coins lay on the counter.

>”Well. All right then. Need any help setting it up?”

>”I got a friend for that. Thanks though.”

“See you around Davenport!”

>The two ponies headed back home.
>They pushed through the crowded and noisy streets with the package in tow.
>Lyra wanted to ask a lot of questions.
>But she had no choice but to wait until they returned home.
>It wasn’t until the door was closed that she finally spoke.

“I’m feeling kinda hungry. Think I might run down to Sugarcube Corner. Want me to pick something up for you? What’s your favourite candy?”

>She spoke the code phrase in what she hoped was the correct manner.

>”Better. It sounded like a real question. What’s up?”

“These computer things are SUPER weird. I don’t trust them. How do you know so much about them? Where did they come from?”

>”Good, you shouldn’t trust them. I’ve used them before. And I don’t know where they came from.”

“Okay. Do you know why they weren’t made public for so long?”

>”What do you mean?”

“There’s an Equestria wide network ready for them, right? That’s not something that pops up overnight. They needed to build it first. They had to lay wires everywhere and connect every city. That takes time. If computers were really a new invention it wouldn’t be done yet. It might not even be started yet. We’re meant to believe that they were invented recently, like this year. I don’t buy it. These things have been around for a while.”

>”Not bad. I’ll neither confirm nor deny, but your reasoning is solid.”

>>30268894
>Lyra understood.
>Bon-Bon couldn’t say it was true.
>But she was trying to imply it was true.

>”It’s probably a good idea to pretend you aren’t suspicious. But if I were you I’d be asking a different question.”

>She picked up the parcel and placed it on the kitchen table.
>She then swiftly and smoothly pulled it apart.
>And once the cardboard was gone, she popped the side panel on the computer itself off.

>”Why did…”

>She produced some pliers from somewhere and gripped them with her mouth.
>She then leaned into the machine itself.

>”They shange eir mind?”

>Why did they change their mind?
>That IS a good question!
>Why are they suddenly not only publicly available, but being pushed?
>Bon-Bon pulled her head back out of the computer.
>In her pliers she held a tiny shard of plastic.
>She placed it on the table and closed the machine up.

>”There ya go. Fastest privately owned computer in the world. Well, once I reprogram it a bit. It’s going to pretend it can’t work without that chip I bet.”

>Lyra stared at the removed component.
>She couldn’t begin to guess what it did.
>But supposedly it was sabotaging the machine.

“Why would they put it in?”

>”Pretend you needed a computer to do something super complicated.”

“Okay…”

>”Not wanted, NEEDED. It had to happen. And soon. Now, pretend you can’t afford the hardware to do the job in time. You’d need millions of computers working on it around the clock, and you just can’t pull it off.”

“Right…”

>”Now pretend you’d already made a global network for these things before you decided not to make them public. What might you do?”


>You need a lot of them.
>You can’t afford them yourself.
>They’re already planning on defrauding the public to fund their projects.
>Honesty isn’t the best policy.

>>30268899
“Maybe sell them to the public. Have the ponies pay for them instead of yourself. And then, once they’re connected to the network, use them for your own project.”

>”Yeah. That makes sense. But ponies would notice them slowing down when you put them to work.”

“Unless you made sure the user couldn’t use its full power! Limit them to only having a tiny fraction of what it can do, and keep the rest for yourself!”

>”Ooh, that’s pretty devious Lyra. That might also mean that they’d have access to the computer all the time. That they could tell it what to do when they wanted, and maybe even know what they were being used for. Hay, they might even be keeping records of what everypony does on the internet all the time. Maybe the only safe way to use it is to use somepony else’s computer, and you should only use this to do stuff you don’t mind the whole world knowing.”

>Whoa.
>THAT was definitely a warning.

>”But ponies might find it strange if they’re all the same.”

“So you pretend there are different models! They’re all the same except the more expensive ones let their owner use more of their power!”

>”But none of this is worth doing unless ponies want to buy them.”

“So you offer a bunch of easy and cheap services! Like free music!”

>”But you can’t roll it all out at once. It’d be weird if all this stuff was already in place on launch day. Better to pretend that third parties are setting up everything themselves over time.”

“Which means they’ll have to give us the tools to actually work with these things.”

>So that’s why she’s so insistent the internet will be a big deal.
>They’re going to MAKE it a big deal.
>Though she might not yet know how.

“Why are you telling me all this?”

>”Hm?”

“Well, not that I’m complaining or anything! But isn’t this all supposed to be secret? I promise I won’t tell anypony, but still.”

>>30268905
>Lyra wasn’t entirely sure what answer she was expecting.
>But a giggle definitely wasn’t it.
>Even so, that’s what she got.

>”Because you’re Lyra.”

>Not much of an answer.

>”There isn’t another pony in the world I’d trust with this. But you’re not just any old pony.”

“That’s very flattering, but why tell ANY pony?”

>”Living a double life was driving me CRAZY. Just all the secrets and lies. It’s a huge relief to just be honest with somepony for once.”

>Even with so little experience, Lyra understood.
>She was constantly itching to tell somepony what she knew.
>To say that Applejack was an imposter.
>To tell the world that princess Celestia herself was a con artist.
>She wanted to tell Bon-Bon.
>And if she could do it without also telling Sweetie Drops, she would.

>”Don’t expect me to spill everything though. Sometimes secrets are kept for a reason.”

>The happy giggling pony from a moment earlier was gone.
>This Bon-Bon was sober and stern.

>”Now shoo! Shoo! I’ve got something important to do.”

>Bon-Bon started to push Lyra toward the front door.

“You’re kicking me out of the house?”

>”For three hours. You’ll find something to do.”

>She already knew what she had to do.
>It had been a few days.
>The heat should be off.
>Lyra was going to go see Derpy.
>She made her way around the outskirts of town.
>It would have been faster to cut through the heart of the city.
>But Lyra was enjoying the bright summer day.
>It was way too hot.
>The dirt was powder dry.
>Most of the grass was dead.
>And the trees were losing their leaves.
>But it was still a nice day by most counts.
>Lyra didn’t want to ruin it by surrounding herself with a mob of strangers.
>Derpy lived in a small home out in the rural outskirts of Ponyville.
>It was a quaint wooden abode, painted powder blue.
>The lawn was, of course, dead.

>>30268910
>With not a cloud in the sky to rely upon and no rain for the last couple of months, water rationing had long ago been enacted.
>It wasn’t serious just yet.
>Ponies simply weren’t allowed to waste water on their lawns.
>Lyra was doubtful that it’d get much worse than that.
>Surely the heat wave would break soon.
>Either Cloudsdale would bring them a good shower, or Celestia would turn down the sun.
>Lyra was starting to wonder why neither of those things had happened yet.
>Yet another thing to investigate.
>Lyra made her way to the front door.
>She knocked three times.

>”Coming!”

>Derpy’s voice rang throughout.
>Clumsy hoofsteps approached the door.

>”ACK!”

>A loud crash filled the air.
>A minute or two later the door opened.

>”Lyra!”

>A bright and chipper pegasus greeted her.
>She was heavily bruised all about the barrel.

“Oh my goodness! What happened!”

>Lyra knew of course.
>She’d done it herself.
>But she wasn’t supposed to know yet.

>”Come on in, I’ll tell you all about it.

>Derpy lead Lyra into the house.
>A rug had been crumpled up and cast aside, presumably after tripping its owner.
>She led Lyra into the den.
>The two of them sat across from each other at a simple coffee table.

>”Dinky’s out. We can talk.”

“Look, Derpy, I’m really sorry-”

>”None of that now. It was my plan, not yours. It’s not your fault I got hurt. Besides, I got a couple days off. Paid even!”

>Lyra was glad that it wasn’t all bad at least.

>”And that was so cool how you stood up to a princess of all ponies! I thought for sure I was going to have to use my drugs there to get out. But you just looked her in the eye and took her down! I hope she’s okay.”

“So do I. I’m not sure she’s doing anything wrong.”

>Derpy cocked her head in confusion.

“I overheard the princesses say some things about how this was all for the greater good. I don’t know what exactly that is though.”

>>30268916
>”I don’t trust them.”

“Neither do I. But I think we have to at least accept that THEY think they’re doing the right thing.”

>”But what could be worth tormenting a little filly like that?

>Lyra had no idea what Derpy was talking about.
>She made no attempt to hide the blank look on her face.
>Despite the vision problems, Derpy seemed to read it well enough.

>”School has changed a lot. It’s not what I remember having to go through. Miss Cheerilee doesn’t seem to like what’s happening either. Say, you went to fancy school right? Do you think you could tutor Dinky some time? She’s having trouble with her homework, and I don’t get it at all.”

“Sure? What’s the subject?”

>”Math I think. She’s at school right now. You can check it out when she gets back. Care for some tea?”

>Lyra immediately imagined the clumsy pegasus trying to pour boiling water for tea.
>She couldn’t it imagine ending well.

>”No thanks. We have something to discuss. What all do you know?”

>Derpy tried to stare at Lya.
>It didn’t work, of course.
>After a few seconds she poked Lyra’s muzzle.

“What was that for?”

>”Making sure you’re not made of metal. I don’t know much yet. Just the obvious stuff. SMILE has a secret research program, the princesses are closely involved, and they’re building something in Tartarus.”

“Wait, what? Building IN Tartarus?”

>”Oh, you didn’t know that? Yeah. I don’t know what they’re making, but they just started recently.”

>That was extremely interesting.
>Was whatever they were worried about currently in Tartarus?
>Were they preparing to imprison it there?
>Or was something else ahoof?

>”What do you know?”

>Lyra relayed what she’d found out thus far.
>She told Derpy about the documents she’d found.
>And she told her about the discussion the princesses had had.

>>30268923
>Every single detail she could recall.
>She didn’t, however, tell Derpy what she’d learned about computers.
>She’d promised Bon-Bon she’d keep that secret.
>And she meant it.

>”Pinkie might not be on their side. I wonder if she’s the one that let us in?”

“I don’t know. She didn’t have the implant my visor can see so probably not. Whoever it is would have high security clearance. If they’re using those implants as ID, we can assume anypony who doesn’t have one has low clearance.”

>”Right, right. I wish I knew who it was so I could thank them. That’s the second time they’ve let me in there.”

“Oh, you’ve been in there twice?”

>”Well, not exactly. I tried a little while back, but somepony else went in when I was supposed to and set off an alarm.”

>Lyra hoped the blush on her face wasn’t visible.
>She knew just who that somepony was.

>”Oh, that was you? I’m glad you got out okay.”

“So!”

>Lyra interrupted, hoping to change the subject from her first foray into infiltration.

“What should we do next?”

>”We go dig up whatever we stole last time.”

“Alright, let’s head out!”


That's it.

Not entirely happy with this one. It lacks polish. But it's 1:30 in the morning, and I actually have a job so that's a problem. I either publish now or on the 15th. Hopefully it was enjoyable despite the rough edges.

>>30268934
Oh wow that's a long update

>>30268934
Well I found it enjoyable to read. I really like how Bon-Bon is opening up to Lyra about the conspiracy

>>30268934
>I either publish now or on the 15th
Wow that's seems like a huge gap between available publishing days

>>30268934
So the whole internet is a distributed computing system? That's kinda neat.

>>30270684
In a way, that's a very good descriptions.

The fact that we use it mainly to look at pictures of titties, pictures of cats, and read bad fanfiction tells you an awful lot about us, don't you think?

>>30268923
>building in Tartarus
Harvesting ARGENT energy of course.
This can only end well.

>>30270883
Now to be fair we can volunteer our processing power for stuff like Folding@home. I mean most of us don't but it is an option

>>30270883
I like to think we have our priorities in the proper order

>>30270955
I'd say "doomguy in equestria when?" but I have a feeling that it has already been done, and it probably wasn't good

>>30270955
If that is basically their plan I hope someone calls them out on how such ideas usually pan out.

>>30268923
I suspect this Tartarus project is what's been keeping Bon-Bon busy. Doing something like protecting the workers

>>30270955
>ponies made of metal
who's their Samuel?

>>30268934
Just curious but are you still going to polish this up when you have the time or are you moving to the next chapter?

10

>>30277814
>9

>>30278292
nein!

>>30259187
>I will try to deliver more after Friday before the week ends for sure
So does that mean by today or by tomorrow? Because in North America Saturday is the last day of the week while in Europe it's Sunday.

>>30268934
why the fuck would you ruin it by making derpy a mother you god damned autists? this steaming heap of shit was already reddit teir and then you throw this fandumb bullshit in. one more retarded tripfag to filter on this godawful board.

>>30282421
Stay mad.

>>30284724
Immortality engine bump

>>30282421
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzpndHtdl9A

>>30283421

>>30281382
Either way it looks like it'll be a bit later than expected.

>>30289291

>page 8

>>30290719
That's fine, I can wait a while longer

>>30291920
make it 9

>>30295162
that pic reminds wasn't there a planeanon story here?

>>30296274
Yeah but the story barely started. Anon flew a passenger plane and talked to some ocs about a flight school. I'm not sure if it was intended to be just a oneshot or the start of something bigger that never got off the ground.

>>30297389
>talked about a flight school
>but the idea never got off the ground

I see what you did there.

>>30297874
I honestly did not intended that but it's a nice little surprise

boop

>>30299283
before work bump

Basic technology question: how is indoor lighting handled in Equestria? I'm trying to recall any specific scenes but drawing a blank.

>>30300414
Stage lights definitely exist, but I don't recall ever seeing bare lightbulbs

>>30300612
>>>30300414 (You)
>Stage lights definitely exist, but I don't recall ever seeing bare lightbulbs

Ah, I do remember those.

Cock.

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>>30300612
>I don't recall ever seeing bare lightbulbs

>>30301316
Oh yeah I forgot about that. Now the more I look at it the more off the socket part looks in the standing versions, plus the fact that none of those lamps seem to have cords

>implying the superior story isnt one between Equestria and the West during the Industrial Revolution
The thematics of societal ambitions vs societal morality is infinitely better than the time old thematics of much science vs muh magic

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>>30302797

>>30301821
> plus the fact that none of those lamps seem to have cords
> Dis"cord" lamp
Anon ...

>>30304041
does everything have to be a pun?

>>30305072
No, just everything that involves poni.

>>30306230
fair enough

>>30305072
Puns are fun. If I could I'd only talk in puns just to piss people off. I mean it.
>ywn go to Equestria and become the Element of Pun
>ywn be a substitute Element of Laughter when Ponk is busy doing Ponk things
>ywn have a pun battle with Pinkie and Discord and come out a winner
why live

>>30307393
I once spent a entire week working cat puns into my regular speech thanks to a TV show, for fun and to annoy one of my friends.


Follow your dreams and you memes anon.

>>30308032
Well you'd better knock that shit off right meow.

>>30308032
That sounds like some of the most 'pay attention to me xd' teenage bullshit I've ever heard. Kill yourself. I honestly just don't understand how you can willingly tell us that without shame, likely thinking it's funny, let alone actually fucking do something like that in real life. Autism.
>Follow your dreams and your memes anon.
Are you unironically twelve?

>>30308214
y u mad tho

>>30308214
Making puns and being a fucking clown beats being an unironically edgy fuck any day.
Of all the ways to annoy people making puns is one of the least harmful, hell you might even brighten the day for people with a sense of humor.

>>30308214
Hell, I enjoyed it and it got a fair few laughs.


The question is why you are getting so bent out of shape about it? It's not like I did it when he wasn't around or anything and even if and when I did it I wasn't exactly interrupting the flow of conversation for the sake of puns, merely taking the opportunities that presented themselves.


On the other hand, I will now make a bunch of cat puns at you: You have to be kitten me if you think that this behaviour is paw-blematic? This is purr-fectly normal stuff and I fail to see your purr-oblem. I am feline insulted that you see this as such a strange and stupid behaviour yet I still can't see why at the meow-ment.

>>30308469
Well, I suppose it's an easy way to find mews ment.

>>30274519
There was one that took place in the Fall of Equestria universe that was pretty hilarious. Here's the link if you're interested.

https://www.fimfiction.net/story/340131/fall-of-equestria-bringer-of-doom

>>30308688
Somehow this does not surprise me

>>30301216
balls

>>30269221
It's actually on the short end for my updates. The previous update was nearly twice as long at 7803 words.

>>30269589
Glad to hear you like it. I really wasn't sure just how open Bon-Bon should be until only recently. Having little to no experience with secret agents in my real life it's hard to anchor that in reality. It'll be a delicate balancing act going forward, but I think that I've stumbled upon the right approach.

>>30269799
Tell me about it. Something came up that couldn't be ignored. Take this as a lesson, everybody. Stay a NEET.

>>30276438
I intend to give it a once over before adding it to my paste. Which I just remembered I have. It's probably way out of date.
I don't want to spend too much time on it though, so it'll probably wind up being more or less the same.

10

>>30311978
>Having little to no experience with secret agents in my real life
You say that almost like there's a sizeable portion of people that do

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>>30313547

morning bump

>>30314132
Morning bump 2: electric scootaloo

So does anybody at what time of day portgate usually updates?

>>30316168
10-12pm EST is a good bet

Here I am. This chapter would have been longer, but life happened.

>"When people think of portals, they think of sci-fi portals. Now, I’m not one to slag off on those portrayals. They’re actually not that far off from the real deal, what with the swirly border around a view of another place. But they always seem to line up just perfectly with the ground, don’t you think? They’re always easily traversable, both sides being only a few inches at most off the ground. Well, with the Portgate, both sides were actually embedded in the ground, almost ten feet below the floor Earth-side. There was still plenty of headspace, of course - the Portgate is still fifty feet high. Another interesting thing is that the ground on our side of the portal was also about ten inches above the other side. I saw a couple of trips and falls, I can tell you that, at least until they put a ramp up. Now - and here’s the real chilling part - what if their side opened up five thousand miles below the surface? In the core of the planet? That right there’s a real mess right there, I tell ya.”
>-Erik Mason, Organic Chemist

-Luna-
>The Night Guard had already ruffled some feathers a few days ago while picking up supplies. Providing for a hundred ponies for about a week at most was already a challenging task; four thousand ponies plus heavy siege weaponry and semi-permanent encampment? A royal pain, that’s what that was.
Luna slid the check across the counter, her seal a crimson red against the off-white paper. She would have left this duty to the provisions officer, but the unicorn was busy buying medicine at the apothecary. There was a lot to do, and not a lot of time to do it; and when it came down to the nitty gritty of things, a hungry army was a useless army. Food was the priority.

>>30319347

>“I’m really sorry once again, Princess Luna, that we don’t have enough right now. The amount of food you’re requesting...it was just a bit unexpected, is all! We’ll have to send a letter to the grainhouse, and that’s going to take three days...you said that’s when you’ll need it?”
>“Yes, but it won’t be an issue. Thank you very much for your help, Crate Tack. You’ve done a splendid service to me and my troops.”
>“Oh, don't mention it, Princess! I'm just sorry we couldn't help you any more than we have."
>"No no, it's all right," Luna reaffirmed. "Thank you once again!" she shouted as she stepped through the doorway of Produce Patch's Perishables. The large town of ten thousand ponies was just as important as her four thousand troops, but this was an important deployment; the townsponies could do with a few shortages here or there. Soon enough, the other towns and cities would fill in the gaps left by her soldiers, and things would work out.
>Luna looked down at her list. She was almost done with requisitions; here were only a few more stops to go. There was only one last place she had to go, and that was...
>Sweet Apple Acres.
>Maybe she didn't have to go? Maybe they didn't need apples. Apples weren't as good of a food as oats were. Not so easy to carry. Yes, she wouldn't have to go to Sweet Apple Acres and talk to the Apple Family. No, that wouldn't turn out well. Especially since...since...

>>30319358

>The lead cannonball in Luna's stomach sunk deeper. She had no excuses for skipping Sweet Apple Acres. They needed the food, be it oats, apples, or hay. And apples would definitely help with morale. It would be good to put some variety in their diet, something that Luna knew from centuries past would always cheer a pony up. Her soldiers would definitely appreciate some fresh fruits to go with their meals, as a respite from the constant stress of the foreign encroachment on their soil.
>Simply put, she had no way of snaking around that fact. She would have to talk to Applejack's family, reassure them that Applejack was safe. and hopefully get some food from them. They would be distraught, devastated by the loss of a family member. They would plead with Luna to bring Applejack back safely. They would beg her to save their family member, make a promise that she might not even be able to keep, then wail and shriek when the bad news came...
>Luna stopped herself short. Applejack was tough, she would be fine. There would be no crying, no tears shed on that day; only smiles, and laughs, and joyful reunions. Luna was sure of it.

---

>The gate to the Apple family farm was covered in vines, a crude yet homely sign of an apple hanging from the top by two metal chains. Luna took a deep breath, inhaling the refreshing yet somewhat musky country air. It smelled of hard work and determination, the kind that went back generations and generations. Acres and acres of apples surrounded her, as the farm's name had advertised. And Luna didn't doubt that they were delicious apples, either.

>>30319362

>She stepped through the entrance, the dirt and mud sliding off her magical silver slippers as they left their imprint on the ground. The house itself was rather large, a two-story edifice with bright red walls and several large windows. Looking more closely at the surrounding farmland, Luna realized that there were more than just apples being grown on the farm. Corn, carrots, potatoes, and even grapes grew in neat little rows, It shouldn't have come as a surprise to Luna that the Apple family didn't just grow one crop - that would have been a disaster in times of, well, disaster - but she did have her preconceptions of their farm.
>"Hiya, Princess Luna!"
>Luna turned around as the yellow filly galloped up to her, her saddlebags bouncing up and down as she ran. "Gosh, you haven't been up here before, have you?"
>"No, my filly, I have not. Where is your brother?" she politely asked. Applebloom was too young to talk business, but Luna definitely didn't want to talk about Applejack with her around either. That wouldn't go down very well, she thought to herself.
>"Oh, he's out in the fields. He usually shows up right about when I get home to take a break, so I'd just wait around here for him. There he is!"
>"Howdy, Applebloom. And howdy to you too, Princess," a baritone voice sounded out from behind her. Big Macintosh had come through the barn, a towel around his thick neck.
>"Hello, Big Macintosh. I'm here to request supplies for the garrison," she said.
>"I saw them soldiers in Ponyville! They were so cool, with their uniforms and armor..."
>"Why don'tcha go play with your friends, Applebloom. This is grown up talk," Macintosh stated as he walked up to the porch, the Princess following him to the door.

>>30319368

>"Aww, but I'm a big girl!"
>"Not big enough for what we're fixing to discuss. Be a good girl, please, for Big Mac."
>"Fine," the filly lamented as she stomped off to the treehouse where her friends usually met. "I guess I could use some help with that math homework, too..."
>Macintosh made sure the young filly was gone before pulling the front door open and beckoning Luna inside. She wiped her slippers on the doormat before stepping into the living room of their home. Various portraits of family members (some here, mostly gone) lined the walls and mantle, surrounding the ancient couches and old oaken furniture with their many gazes. The shelves that lined the walls were surprisingly loaded with books for a farming family, but a glance at the titles cleared up any confusion. Times really have changed, Luna contemplated. "The Farmer's Handbook," "Pony Agriculture Techniques," "An Almanac of Agriculture"...
>"Big Mac? Is that you? And who's with you? Sure sounds like a big fella!..."
>"It's Princess Luna!"
>"An alicorn, in my foyer? You better not be pulling my leg, Macintosh...darn kids these days and their pranks..."
>The thin, knobby hooves of Granny Smith were the first thing that Luna saw of the old green pony as they made their way down the creaky stairs. Macintosh waved at the Princess to have a seat, and Luna sat her too-large frame on a nearby sofa as the ancient mare walked into the room.
>"Good golly gee, is this who I think it is? Should I get my glasses out?"
>"That will not be necessary," said Luna.
>"Shucks, that really is the princess, huh? Golly gee, what's the occasion?"
>"Granny, they need supplies. How much do you need, Princess?"

>>30319373

>"We're hoping you can supply about forty bushels of apples per week. Of course, we'll be paying you for the food - fifty bits per bushel, in fact."
>"Fifty bits? That's a mighty lot."
>"Indeed. I don't want to be too stingy, after, uh..."
>"Yep..."
>"I'm sorry for bringing that up. I understand that this-"
>"We know."
>"...in any case, we're willing to negotiate-"
>"It's just..."
>"Hm?"
>"I don't get it."
>"Excuse me?"
>"I mean," Big Macintosh continued, "y'all send a couple of your Guard in to look for Applejack, but you don't come back with anything. And now ya come back with a whole buncha ponies. An entire army! Something ain't right."
>"Well, um, that..."
>The question caught Luna off guard. How had she not realized? She hadn't given an official response as to what the Royal Guard was doing in the Everfree, and ponies would eventually get curious. They couldn't know of what was really happening - how would they react? And if one of her Night Guard let slip their tongue?
>"Oh, don't worry. We'll take you up on your offer."

>>30319393

>"Huh?"
>"You heard the young gentlecolt! We can help ya out."
>"It's fine, Princess. As long as it helps you find Applejack, we'll be glad to support you."
>"Wait, really?"
>"Yes," Macintosh replied. "We believe in you. Applejack knows how to keep herself out of trouble. I know she'll be okay."
>"Oh! Well, um..."
>"Hey," he interrupted. "Luna, we know you'll bring Applejack back to us. We just do. So stop your worrying, please. It wouldn't do for a Princess to lack anything she needs, after all."
>"I...thank you." Luna sighed, glad that she had just avoided catastrophe.
>"Don't mention it. Now, we were about to discuss the deal?"
>"Yes, well, as I was saying, we would be glad to repay you for your apples - a fair amount more than market price, if I'm correct."
>"So that's it? Forty bushels a week, for fifty bits each?"
>"Yes."
>"Well, that's a mighty fine deal we got going. We'll accept," Big Macintosh said assertively.
>"Thank you," replied Luna as she pulled out a sheaf of papers from her saddlebags. "Here's everything you'll need to know. I must keep this conversation short; there's much to do as of now. If you have any questions, ask an officer. Thank you, again, for your generosity."

>>30319400

>"Our pleasure," he said as the Princess stood up and picked up her bags. She walked up to the front door, pushing it open with her hoof, then looked back one last time before stepping outside.
>With a sigh, she pulled her clipboard out from her bags. Her last stop had gone swimmingly well, and the supply hunt was complete. Luna looked up at her sister's sun, glowing radiantly with the brilliance of a thousand candles.
>Did the aliens have a Sun?

-Leah-

>With a click, the red light next to her door turned green as Leah waved her ID card over it. She gently shoved the door open, her hands patting the inside wall as she searched for the light switch. They found purchase on a tiny little knob, and Leah flicked it on. Her room was suddenly illuminated with a warm, slightly yellow light, the incandescent lightbulb making a near-indistinguishable buzz amongst the constant low drone that echoed throughout the entire facility.
>The first thing she realized was that nothing was where it was supposed to be. Or rather, everything was where it should have been. The once dirty floor was now barren, devoid of laundry or stationary. Her bed was neatly made, and her desk was tidily organized and straightened out.
>Leah stood catatonically in the doorway for a second, utter shock overriding her thoughts, before rushing to the closet door and throwing it open. All of her clothes were cleanly folded and organized into the shelves, from her shirts to her socks. Defeated, she slumped down to the ground, her head in her hands.

>>30319410

>Someone had come into her room. Someone had come into her room, rooted through her stuff, and organized it neatly. Her perfect system of organization was gone, rearranged and redone without a word from Leah. At least they hadn't found anything incriminating or embarrassing.
>That stuff was all on her laptop, thankfully.
>She weakly pulled herself up to her feet, using the doorknob as support, before staring around her room. Everything was different - how was she supposed to know where all her stuff was? Leah thought pensively for a moment, pondering her next move.
>If she didn't know where the things she needed were...
>...she'd just bring all of them!
>With a newfound smile on her face, she happily skipped over to the box truck just outside her door and pulled it in. Leah grabbed a folded cardboard box off of it, pressing the edges together to pop it into the third dimension before creasing the bottom flaps together, taping them shut and setting it on the ground. She reached into her closet, grabbed a pile of clothes, and threw it haphazardly into the box. Her clothes only took up a single small cardboard box, but her other things...would take some time.

---

>Why did they have her move over to the other side, Leah pondered almost a day later, when it was just a five minute walk?

>>30319419

>The airlock hissed open, and Leah stepped into the Portgate site, her cart in hand. Things were certainly different from the last time she had properly been onsite. Although the concrete floor surrounding the Portgate was as busy as ever, the usual blue uniforms of the technicians was replaced by the safety-orange of construction workers, mingled in with the tan camouflage of military personnel and the white lab coats of scientists. All of the four entry ramps were operating at full swing, each one bustling with activity as supplies were brought to the other side. Two ramps were marked as designated for vehicles, and the occasional truck or armored vehicle slowly drove through the wormhole or out of it and back to Earth's surface.
>She swung her trolley around and pushed it towards the portal. A series of yellow duct-tape lines marked out several traffic lanes of various width, each one labeled with their designated traffic. Leah stepped up to the one marked "PERSONNEL WITH CARGO" and began following the snaky line, slowly getting closer and closer to the Portgate until she stepped through the portal and onto the ramp, the fresh yet foreign air flowing through her hair.
>Things had changed on the other side as well. In just two days after the Portgate had opened once more, there was already a huge camp nearly two hundred meters in diameter radiating outward from the portal. Most of the buildings were long, roomy tents, but Leah saw a few prefabricated walls being erected as well amongst the canvas and plastic tarps. Just like the other side, people bumbled about the wide pathways between the tents, a sense of purpose strongly present throughout the commotion.

>>30319425

>Lost, Leah looked around for her tent. She couldn't figure out which one of the fifty or so tents was supposed to be her new home, especially since they were practically identical. The calls of birds and the dying chirps of grasshoppers was drowned out by the constant sound of human activity, and the morning sun's glare made her squint as she turned her head left and right.
>"Need some help, ma'am?"
>Leah turned towards the big, burly man who asked the question. He scratched his beard, a dirty blonde shag that almost matched his off-duty military fatigues in color.
>"Um, yeah, do you know where the living spaces are?"
>"Oh," he chuckled deeply, "they'll be over there." He pointed towards the outskirts of the camp, where the tents were a bit more spaced out. "You wanna come with? I was just headed there."
>"Sure, why not?"
>Leah kicked the back of her trolley and pushed it along as she followed the man away from the Portgate. They weaved through the tents, the pathways between them clear of the meadow grass that had been there only hours ago. Far away, the sound of hammers and drills rang out through the camp, loud enough to rival the conversations being held around Leah as she followed the man to her destination. Crates and boxes were piled along the sides of the paths, and the occasional folding table and chairs would be set outside a tent's entrance.
>"Here we are," he sighed as they took a right turn. "The tents on the left are all living quarters. Don't know why they have them here, since Earth is a short walk away. Later."

>>30319430

>As the man walked away, Leah headed towards the tent at the end of the path. She pulled a thrice-folded piece of paper out of her jean pocket and looked at it. "Tent #47, Living Quarters #3" was her destination. Leah looked to her left. "#45, LQ #1" was printed on a laminated piece of printer paper and taped onto the side of a tent, along with a clipboard and a list of names below it. She passed the next tent in the row, stopping just outside the one following that. Her new home was actually pretty large, with a small portable generator chugging along to the side of it. And hopefully, once she stepped inside, she would find...
>"Heyyy! Leah! How you doing? Here, have a seat. This one is yours, by the way!"
>"Thanks, Andrew!" Leah replied as she carted her personal belongings into the tent. A space heater and fluorescent lightbulbs kept the tent lighted and warm, and she noticed a couple of power strips lying on the ground as well. Eight bunks lined the tent's sides, with a pillow and sheets folded neatly on each one. Leah sat down on the third one on the left and began to pull her belongings off of the trolley and beneath her bed.
>"Oh, we forgot to tell you. They'll have wi-fi set up in two days. I figured you'd want to know that, since you carted that, uhh..."
>"My pride and joy!"
>"Why are there four fans sticking out of that desktop tower? And were three monitors really necessary?"
>"It's fine, right?"
>"Yeah, I guess, but..."

>>30319435

>"That reminds me! You guys know why we had to, like, move all the way here? Ten minutes from our old living spaces?"
>"I dunno. Probably because we'll be bringing in more people."
>"Why's that matter?"
>"Well," Andrew explained, "now that the Portgate's probably permanently open we'll need a lot more people at the facility and stuff. And it's probably easier to establish something over here than to have them live eight stories above the Portgate, you know? They'll probably still have some more personnel aboveground as well, though."
>"I guess. Hey," Leah asked, "you, uhh...remember our friends?"
>"Oh yeah, I do! What do you think happened to them?"
>"I'm asking you. Last I remember, we just left the wounded ones at the Portgate and went through."
>"I dunno."
>"Yeah..."
>"Hey," Andrew asserted, "I'm sure they'll be fine. Cheer up! Come on, let's get all that stuff unpacked."
>"...thanks, Andrew."
>With a smile on his face, the technician grabbed a box off the cart and cut it open with his multitool. He couldn't exactly shake that question from his mind, though.

>>30319442

-William-

>"...so yes, the five aliens have been given sedatives on a drip feed for the past few days as part of their treatment."
>"We couldn't take that risk, William. I hope you understand."
>"I do, but..."
>"Look, it's going to be easier to have them knocked out than having them conscious and possibly attempt to escape. I would rather not take chances, nobody here would."
>"I suppose."
>"The encampment was abandoned, as you say?"
>"Yes. I doubt that it's abandoned for good, though. No signs of struggle, but the place was devoid of any supplies. Just tents."
>"Observant as always, Anderson. So, let's say that these...equines...come back sometime in the future. We'll have to try to obtain peace, of course."
>"How should we do that? I'm not an expert ambassador or diplomat, and I don't think there's anyone on site who can act in that role."
>"It's simple, really. We return our 'captives' as soon as they return."
>"Won't they react negatively to our arrival?"
>"You have load-bearing drones, right?"
>"I suppose, but they're not too reliable there. There's lots of wireless interference on the other side, although it doesn't seem to leak over through the Portgate. Wires still function fine, though."

>>30319450

>"Great. So we drop them off, as a sign of friendship. We wait for their next move. Act accordingly."
>"That's a good course of action. I'll do it."
>"Any idea when they'll be back?"
>"So far, no. Our drones definitely have a limited range here. If we bring in really powerful transmitters and long-range drones, though, we might be able to learn more."
>"Done. Anything else?"
>"No, not that I can think of. Strange, since an occurrence this big should be a much larger hassle to handle."
>"Alright. Call us if you need something, alright?"
>"Alright. Signing off."

Hooray, one more chapter complete! Hope I'm not taking too long or writing too little, since it takes a while for me to get in the writing mood. Anyways, gimme your thoughts as always!

>>30319393
It's always weird when Big Mac talk for more than just a few words. Anyway I enjoyed the update, and am looking forward to what's to come

>>30319450
>>"It's simple, really. We return our 'captives' as soon as they return."
>>"Won't they react negatively to our arrival?"
Well there's no way this is going to turn out like planned

Please WiK update your fucking pastebin! I can't read your story since the thread 404'd! I'm not going to try to read through that ad ridden hellhole of an archive.

Also, did anything happen in the thread after WiKs update where Lyra beats up Derpy? Did anyone update or did anything new happen?

>>30319461
>the Portgate is still fifty feet high
Wait has it always been so huge?

>>30321461
I'm curious now. Does the Portgate have any kind of structure around it? Or is it just a hole in the air?

If it's just a hole in the air, are the edges dangerous? Could you accidentally injure yourself if part of you was at the edge of the portal when you tried to come through?

>>30320857
Updated. Sorry about that, I honestly had no idea how out of date it was.
And not much happened after my last post in the previous thread. Some discussion about bone marrow transplants, fermentation, and orbital bombardment. No story updates.