This is the new Fallout Equestria Comment post. The old one capped out. Continue discussion below, but keep star ratings and such on the main post!
Warning: Comments contain spoilers. In fact, the author strongly encourages spoilers in the comments.
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This is the new Fallout Equestria Comment post. The old one capped out. Continue discussion below, but keep star ratings and such on the main post!
Warning: Comments contain spoilers. In fact, the author strongly encourages spoilers in the comments.
Labels: Adventure, Author: Kkat, Crossover, Fanfiction, Grimdark, Incomplete, OC Ponies, Star-6, StoryShare This!
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3,901 comments:
@Alchat
ReplyDeleteWill do. I don't know why, but I was always under the imprecision that the mods just surfed around and posted their favored ponies of the day. Now I know better.
@Kashin
ReplyDeleteNope, I think most of it gets sent in by readers. I usually send a few links a week myself. Click the Submit link at the top of the page for the current submission email address.
This is one of the greatest stories i have ever read, and i sincerely hope that there will be many more chapters to come.
ReplyDelete@Nightmare Luna
ReplyDeleteI probably should have said so earlier, but Pyrelight is described as green and gold. That's... a lot of green.
@LordOfTheWrongs
ReplyDeleteYeah this is true I completely forgot about this. But green and gold are really hard to get to work together on a figure...Will have to see what I can do....
CRAP! :(
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFallout: Equestria reference spotted!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/10/ytpnews-on-pony.html
In the video, at 10:17.
About time the word about a fic longer than LOTR spreads. ^^
Chapter 20:
ReplyDeleteI knew it!!! Spike is watcher. After LittlePip used that black memory orb I knew it was Spike...also, great side chapter for LilPip and Homage.
Dang Been 12 Hours since the last post it be slow.
ReplyDeletehttp://ponibooru.413chan.net/post/view/68740
Now With Pants! Made by the one and only Kashin.
Are time for some lyrics.
Smack me again
And I can't believe it's true
Smashing the opponent
Was not my intention to do
Nether did you
Foresee such an outcome
To this unnecessary ending
I wish I could retrace all my steps
And erase my mistakes
With you
I wanted to say
You shouldn't suffer this way
I wanted to say
I hope I can take it away
Tempt me again and I will forget the truth
Backing your decision
Was something I neglected to do
Even for you
If you feel rage... To strike me with revenge
I will be standing right here
Waiting without fear
For you
I wanted to say
You shouldn't suffer this way
I wanted to say
I hope I can take it away
Infected Mushroom - Smashing the Opponent
@Kashin
ReplyDeleteHey Kashin do you have a Deviantart account or just ponibooru?
So, couple of things. Holy cow this comment thread... we're on page 2 already. Gyah.
ReplyDeleteFor those who did not play Fallout 3. Spoiler alert here.
The end of Fo3 is a heroic sacrifice. There's a plot device that you need to turn on, but it's damaged so when it comes online it's going to flood the control room with deadly radiation. Like, wearing rad gear and taking RadX isn't going to help. You have to decide on the good karma ending and do it yourself ("And the wanderer learned the greatest virtue: Sacrifice.") or the bad karma ending and ask your friend to go do it for you.
Except there's a third option that you can't take. At that point in the game, you almost certainly have Fawkes the friendly Supermutant with you. And it was a plot point not two hours ago that Fawkes is immune to radiation; you needed her to go into an irradiated Vault and retrieve a GECK so the plot device will work in the first place. So when the final choice comes, the OBVIOUS solution is to ask Fawkes to go push the button, since the flood of deadly radiation won't hurt her. But you can't do that because the programmers just decided you can't.
When the first DLC came out, that was one of the changes; you could now ask Fawkes to do the job and not lose karma or kill a friend. It was really annoying because I think EVERYONE saw that there was a Third Option and the game was just like, nah, you can't do that.
With that out of the way:
ReplyDeleteI don't think knocking over a tower is going to be a big deal; it just means the SPP network can't control that area anymore. The SPP has dozens of towers, so one down is not a big deal. The "blow" that Homage struck was to disable that area. The Enclave will not longer have total control over that zone's weather. They'll have to manually keep the clouds in place or risk civilians getting a good look at the ground.
I don't think Pip is going to die. If I'm putting the puzzle pieces together the right way, Pip is recording all this right before she crawls into the control pod for the SPP.
Remember some of the facts we've learned: The SPP was never activated, so its control pod is empty. The control pod overrides all other command inputs, so the Enclave will be unable to subborn them for agricultural purposes. And finally, from Dash's discussion with Rarity among others, we know the control pod puts the user in some kind of conscious suspended animation. There's no word one way or the other on whether the user can ever get OUT again.
That's the big sacrifice, I think; Pip becomes part of the SPP system, permanently.
@Escher
ReplyDeleteNot to mention Sergeant RL-3, the robot...
u know i just remembered that this is a fallout crossover which means that at the end of this little pip is going to be killed so i cried and cried and lets hope i wont cry it when little pip does die
ReplyDeleteHay NeverKnown here i just wanted to spread around a few great fallout Eq ficts ive come across. Kkat and Somber i guess you've inspired quite a few people
ReplyDeleteF:E - Outsmart Bullet
by ~slicerness
http://slicerness.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d49z5ye
FoE: Broken Steel Chp1
by ~Lex-the-Pikachu
http://crashman101.deviantart.com/favourites/45870103#/d4a09b0
Now for a cute one yes i know it knocked me flat on my back
Fallout Equestria: Pink Eyes by mimezinga http://www.fimfiction.net/story/931/Fallout-Equestria%3A-Pink-Eyes
thanks if you read any of them i hope the views can keep these aspiring writers going
@Escher
ReplyDeleteQuite probable, really. And the fact that this action of putting oneself into a system has come up through the Crusader Maneframes. Pip personally shut one down to prevent one of the Elders of the Steel Rangers from integrating himself into the system, saying something along the lines of a depraved despot such as himself having no place in the future.
@Kkat
ReplyDeleteApologies for the late response, but I am definitely not tired of the story. Yes, it's gotten quite a bit darker. That's what war does. Yes we've lost some dear friends, but there were no delusions of immortality when we started this journey. There has been a gradual shift away from adventured towards more drama, tragedy, and introspection, but it was a natural shift and a reasonable way for the story to progress. Don't rush things; there are a lot of unanswered questions that I don't want to see filled in by hundreds of contradictory fan theories forever, dozens of arcs that deserve resolutions, and even the big central questions have barely begun to be answered. A lot of people keep talking about how we're at the end of the story and worrying about how Littlepip might pull a heroic sacrifice to end the Enclave threat, but the Enclave isn't the end of the story. Heck, Red Eye isn't the end of the story (still waiting for a Red Eye + Homage alliance completely taking over the Enclave's comms, incidentally). The end of the story will come, unless I am very mistaken, when the Gardens of Equestria is activated. Everything else is a sidequest to that.
@Cedric Bale
You definitely need to read project Horizons. There are no explicit deviations from Kkat's canon so far (though whether that continues may depend heavily on what we learn about the enclave in the next few chapters of the main story). It is significantly darker at times, so be warned, but is definitely far from the "grimdark for the sake of grimdark" garbage that you see sometimes. The world is significantly smaller, and you're not going to find the inspirational big damn heroes of the main story, but Somber is a master of characterization and emotion, even more so than Kkat IMHO.
@Alchat
ReplyDeleteI have do actually, I just don't use it much, probably should though.
http://geo-vaga.deviantart.com/
I don't see why being connected into the Single Pegasus Project would need to be a permanent thing. Rainbow Dash said in the lightning orb memory that they disconnected all the brain downloading nonsense from the crusader mainframe. Presumably whoever does take over the weather using the S.P.P. would only need to control it long enough for ponies to start managing things on their own. (Not even Princess Celestia did everything by herself)
ReplyDelete@rockerman100
ReplyDeleteThe Vault Dweller, the Chosen One, and the Courier all survived the end of their games...
@Kkat
ReplyDeleteI'm only up to chapter 23 (and trying to avoid spoilers - I only did a search for your name to even find your comment), but I can honestly and with full conviction say that I could continue reading this story forever (or at least a good long while yet). I'm looking forward to the next 17+ (minimum) chapters I have left to read.
@Sindri
ReplyDeleteRed Eye might not be the end of the story, and its true that his villainy is probably no longer fresh in the reader's mind at this point. Especially after everything that happened in Canterlot and Maripony. However, I went back and re-read some of the things that happened in Old Appaloosa and Fillydelphia and realized that I had forgotten just how evil Red Eye's whole operation really is. I mean, I remembered that he was bad news, but going back and reading it was like a slap in the face. Somepony has got to put an end to his operation.
@icekatze
ReplyDeleteYes, he absolutely needs to be stopped. As noble as his intentions were, he's done things in the pursuit of them that are completely inexcusable. If he's still operating after the Enclave invasion is stopped, that will be the highest priority in the Wasteland.
However, between his idealism, the wasteland facing an even greater threat, the recurring theme of redemption, and his one remaining virtue being generosity...
Here's my theory/hope. The Enclave war effort is built entirely on deceiving their populace. Homage is Honesty, dedicated completely to getting the truth to the people who need to hear it. But working alone, she can barely reach the wasteland, and only for a few minutes at a time. And to do that she needs to break into a tower, while the Enclave has been becoming more watchful and heavily secured every time she does this. She's already played her ace in the hole, and with the alien blaster destroyed she's pretty much defenseless. At this point she probably needs to give up her wasteland tour (yeah right), try something stupid, or get help. Meanwhile, she knows as much as the audience does about Red Eye from watching Littlepip's memory orbs. Red Eye has built up an empire, on the backs of slaves, in order to rebuild Equestria. He is willing to sacrifice everything from his own equinity to his home to the lives of his workers to achieve that goal. However, after meeting Littlepip, he at least claims to want to allow her to continue with the reconstruction in a kinder way, building on the foundation he's created, while he removes himself from the equation and in the process sets the sun and moon back in their courses. With the arrival of the Enclave, all of this is starting to collapse; his empire is nowhere near as strong as their combined army, and they appear to seek the destruction of everything he's built at such great cost. He's also the most technologically adept pony in the wasteland, and not only quite formidable in person but has anything from an elite bodyguard to a massive army behind him at any given time, depending on circumstances.
So what I'm hoping to see: Homage sneaks into Red Eye's empire. She proposes an alliance between the two of them, on the condition that he frees the slaves. Given that he doesn't have another option for defeating the Enclave (other than sit tight and hope Littlepip happens to destroy them before all his defences are destroyed and all his soldiers are killed), and he no longer needs the slaves (no purpose in the short term since building is impossible, the army is as large and well-equipped as it's going to be before the war is over, and he needs the taskmasters and guards for fighting, and his long term plans don't use them at all), he accepts. Between her experience with the towers and reestablished radio presence and his technical and combat abilities, they take back communications from the Enclave. Short term, they organize the wasteland's defense and destabilize the pegasi, long term they dissolve the Enclave.
It also synergizes well with Littlepip's plans; this will have two groups on the wasteland side attempting to gain access to the towers, splitting the Enclave defenses, and both the 'open the sky and pray' plan and the 'tell them all the truth' plan will probably need support to be fully successful.
Alright, now somepony point out all the flaws in my hopes/theories so that I can either fix it or scrap the whole thing.
End result: Enclave destroyed, and depending on whether I've completely misjudged Red Eyes character, either the element of Generosity is redeemed and now friends with Honesty, making a lot of progress along the real main quest, Red Eye's empire gradually shifts from being a hellhole full of slaves and slavers and develops into a genuine society, and Littlepip learns a valuable lesson about redemption and trust OR the Enclave is destroyed, Homage is helpless in the clutches of Red Eye, who rebuilds his empire rapidly by enslaving half the wasteland, and Littlepip learns an entirely different important lesson about redemption and trust just before she goes on her most dangerous quest yet.
ReplyDelete@Sindri
ReplyDeleteHuh... you know, that makes me wonder how the Enclave keeps the DJ Pon3 signal from penetrating the cloud cover.
And yes, "It's just magic" is a valid answer. They can make clouds capable of agriculture, I'm sure they can ionize a lower layer to make them impervious to radio transmissions. In fact, that may be half the reason that the cloud cover has to be maintained so strictly -- to prevent radio leakage.
@silentcarto
ReplyDeleteIonizing the cloud wall would be my guess too; they definitely don't have incompatible tech, since Littlepip can tune into their battlefield comms on her pipbuck, but we never hear anything from above the clouds (despite the fact that they clearly have propaganda playing on at least radio and probably television) and it seems like they've never heard anything from below.
...which in turn makes me wonder if those above heard P0N-3's latest broadcast, given the hole that was derped in the clouds at the time... They probably finished patching it before the signal went out, but it's a possibility.
ReplyDelete@Sindri
ReplyDeleteI don't know. Your theory works, but only in a Step 3: ????, Step 4: Profit! kind of way.
The Raido Override System is able to back-hack even a physically installed override module, given a few minutes. It seems like they would need Hub-level access to overcome that, and with the MAw and the MoI's Media Oversight Office destroyed along with Canterlot, the SPP headquarters is the only such hub left in existance.
If it turns out that dragonfire teleportation is the only way into the SPP HQ now, I'll bet Homage will want to go too. "Facing the fire" might not be so bad with her along.
@Sindri
ReplyDeleteI think the hole had been repaired by then. However, the loss of the Shattered Hoof tower may well create a permanent gap in the radio blackout. I wonder if that's the "deepest, most vital blow yet" that Homage struck.
P.S. "You can't stop the signal."
ReplyDeleteFirst off, the Enclave war effort is not built on deceiving their populace at all. Their war effort is entirely built upon the the fact that somepony down on the surface gained access to the M.O.A. Their war effort, as brutal and powerful as it may be, is an act of fear and desperation. They are terrified of the possibility that somepony might disable or destroy their control of the clouds. And Homage confirmed that fear by destroying one of the towers.
ReplyDeleteThe weapon from the stars may have given Homage an edge, but it was never her strength. Her strengths were always her intelligence, wits and social savvy. Assuming Homage did watch the memory orbs, she would be the one to know if Red Eye can be taken at his word. Lilpip might have a load of charisma under the influence of Party Time Mentals, but she's still a self centered kind of pony, and I'm not sure she would be able to tell what his intentions really are. Personally, I wouldn't trust him as far as I can throw him. Every time he's talked to Lilpip, every one of his sprite-bot broadcasts has been filled with the kind of BS that good intentioned ponies would *want* to believe.
The Enclave, as powerful as they may be, were caught off guard. Red Eye, however, has a plan. Lilpip knows that Red Eye knows far more than he has ever let on. He has a plan, and neither the monsters of the Everfree Forest, nor an ultra-powerful demi-goddess were enough to worry him. With hundreds of unicorns working together under his command, one can only imagine what kind of megaspells he has access to. Honestly, I'm not sure what Homage could bring to the table that Red Eye doesn't already have. Only thing she has that he doesn't is her reputation, and you can imagine how fast that would go downhill if she starts telling lies.
I suppose its possible that Red Eye could end up redeeming himself, but he's got one hell of a lot of crimes to answer for. Setting the sun and the moon back on course seems like a pittance in comparison to all the families, communities and lives he's destroyed. As impossible as it sounds to me though, I guess if anyone could bring Homage and Red Eye together as friends, it would be Lilpip. I'm still banking on her being the element of Magic though.
@silentcarto
ReplyDeleteInteresting idea. If so, I think I know three pegasi that Homage is going to want to interview right away. What's going to happen when the families of those "contaminated and dead" pegasi suddenly hear their relatives' voices on the radio?
If Pip is going into pirate radio, she needs an eyepatch. :)
@icekatze
Operation Cauterize was started by the MAw intrusion, but the Enclave's entire power base is predicated on a lie. "We can't help yet because it's poisonous below the clouds."
Cauterize is too big to conceal from the general population, considering how many soldiers are involved. Therefore, the operation can only be justified to the populace if the removal of the cloud cover means instant death for all unprotected pegasi.
That said, I agree that I don't expect Red Eye's redemption. Even if he did turn, he's such a Chessmaster that I'd be eternally suspicious that it was all just part of his ploy. Unless he pulled a heroic sacrifice that clearly didn't forward his dreams of apotheosis.
@LordOfTheWrongs
ReplyDeleteIts true that much of the Enclave's power and control stems from their mass lie, though clearly not all of it, since there are plenty of pegasi that are willing to perpetuate said lie, and the pegasus isolationist movement started long before there even was a wasteland. Their desire for power and control would make revealing the truth unpleasant, and I don't know of many leaders who are terribly keen on giving up power or control, but there would likely be a lot of pegasi who would carry on the Enclave even if most of them left to help out below.
Even if everything the Enclave does relates in some way to maintaining that big lie, I'm not sure if it is then a useful distinction to say that it is the cause of their current military action. Sending large numbers of soldiers beneath the clouds actually puts them in great danger of having the lie undermined, so I would think there would be a different, more pressing reason for it.
Separate and distinct from the desire for power is the fear of attack. The destruction of Cloudsdale was a stark punctuation for a series of painful losses. They fear that without the cloud cover, they'll be vulnerable to attack just like Cloudsdale. Its a fear of total annihilation. They obviously have tried to prepare for many contingencies, but this wasn't a part of their plan, its more like damage control.
----
I'm hoping Homage can manage to start broadcasting a pirate signal up above the clouds too. I don't know how radio waves are supposed to work in Equestria, but in real life if they were being blocked by clouds, opening a hole in the clouds wouldn't really help a ground based transmitter very much. She'd need to get a transmitter up above the cloudline in order to transmit very far. If she knows the position of a satellite she can bounce the signal off of, maybe that would work. Otherwise I suspect she'd need to participate in some mountain climbing... Or maybe she'll get ahold of some of the Enclave's special transmitter tech, which could theoretically pierce the clouds.
Hey did everyone see this yet?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/10/fallout-equestria-animation.html
@icekatze
ReplyDeleteIf nothing else, it will allow transmission on a direct line of sight through the hole, and pipbucks will start picking up the signals. If there are only 50 or so pylons across all of Equestria, each one must control the weather across a vast area.
@silentcarto
ReplyDeleteTrue, and perhaps that will be enough. I guess we don't really know much about how widespread pegasus civilization is. Whether or not they have cities everywhere or just a few huddled enclaves.
If Cloudsdale is any indication, pegasus cities are made of sturdier cloud materials than normal, since Cloudsdale wasn't wiped away when Rainbow Dash did her sonic rainboom.
I finally finished the last of my Silver Bell paintings, and it's a doozy!
ReplyDeleteAny one interested can check it out here
There are wallpaper sized version of each section in my gallery along with 2 alternate endings.
@Moth
ReplyDeleteSweet merciful Celestia... that was amazing. I went from laughing about the "alicron," to crying about the "matching set" part, and then again at the end. Not bitter tears at all though.
@Moth
ReplyDeleteI like the drawing, but then that is to be expected from your Silver Bell stuff.
One thing, though: what inspired you to add the Vertibird-expy? They aren't in the basic FoE.
@Moth
ReplyDeleteMoth, I want to give you a hug so much for that. Thank you very much!
(^.^)
@O. Hinds"One thing, though: what inspired you to add the Vertibird-expy? They aren't in the basic FoE."
ReplyDeleteThat was my poor attempt at a Raptor. -_-;
I had no other idea of what to base it on and that's the only flying thing I know of in Fallout. Just chalk it up Silver Bell only getting a quick glimpse before Xenith pulled her from the window...
I figured that the sky carraiges that the Raptors launched to attack Friendship City were perhaps Vertibird-expies.
ReplyDelete@Moth
ReplyDeleteWell, someone in the comments did mention that they thought that the Raptors might look somewhat like the Iron Vulture.
By the way, I don't recall seeing you in the Project Horizons comments. Might I take this opportunity to recommend it to you?
@icekatze
ReplyDeleteI... I'm not crying, I just got some dust in my heart...
@O. Hinds"By the way, I don't recall seeing you in the Project Horizons comments. Might I take this opportunity to recommend it to you?"
ReplyDeleteI've heard good thing about PH, and the fan art I've seen has me curious, but I'm waiting for FoE to finish before starting on any side stories, just so my headcanon dosen't get mixed up. Same reason that I don't read any fics relating to the main show.
@LordOfTheWrongs@Kree@icekatze
Wow! I wasn't expecting such strong reactions, thank you all very much! /)^3^(\
@Moth
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought this picture from Silver Bell was just a cute, movingly-awesome picture like the other two have been. Then I got to the far right side with... mommy's daughter and... and yeah... I fell apart crying. Good job, you evil, evil person.
@Moth
ReplyDeleteAll of my D'awwwwwwww
also, a significant portion of my lol. Isotope 239...
« You can clutch the past so tightly to your chest that it leaves your arms too full to embrace the present.
ReplyDelete~Jan Glidewell »
-----
-----
CH 40 :
> Now, the memories of SteelHooves had revealed the truth to Velvet Remedy, and that bulwark was shattered.
-She made a one BIG error, yes. So what ? ...It doesn't stop the fact that Fluttershy was probably the kindest pony(or even Being) on the planet, short of Celestia/Luna...
>The hellhounds, the most vicious and deadly of all monsters in the wastelands had the heart of their civilization torn asunder, and the bulk of their kind annihilated in a single blast of necromantic green fire.
-I don't think this is a bad thing. Less creatures of Insane-apocalyptic-deadly potential is 'usually' a good thing...
>I am sure that, in that moment, Red Eye paused to look up into the sky, realizing something important had happened.
-It's somehow interesting to think that the one who will most probably be the 'Final Boss', a pony who has saw everything, the grand 'silent evil' of the wasteland from the top of his cathedral... has stopped, even for just a few seconds... to focus his thoughts and wonder about the phenomena.
>“Mommy,” the little unicorn gushed happily, “You made everything so pretty!”
-Indeed... *eyes slowly drifting toward the author* ...Indeed she did ... *continues to read*
>The warmth of the sun massaged me through my coat.
>The breath of the sun rekindled hope, and made all the darkness of the day before seem bearable.
-That's good Vitamin D. Sunlight helps the body in producing those.
Also, sunlight is directly linked to the production of stuff in the brain (forgot the name) that makes the person happier/less depressed.
> “This is Acting Commander Red Glare of the Raptor Nimbostratus. Commander Winters has been relieved of his command. As of this moment, you take your orders from me.”
-Is there 'Dissension in ''Paradise''' ?
>The pegasi were once again locking up the sun.
-I'm not sure to see why they do that ? I mean, initially the cover was to prevent precise targeting from Zebra missiles... but now ? Simple paranoia, I guess ?
> the breach had been sealed in under half an hour
-From the description of it... it was MILES wide ! They work insanely fast, even with 1-2 hundred pegasi ?
>“I’m not dead yet,” a weak voice called out.
-Wait, is that... why, yes it is ! Incredible, a Monty Python reference. :)
> “They can’t lie to us,” Tracker stated in voice you use to state basic facts to slow children. “They’re the government.”
-Probably the first, and the biggest, joke ever made by a pegasus in the last 200 Years. Though, it's not the kind of jokes that make people/ponies laugh.
>Be nice.
>Absolutely Everything reserves the right to buck out ponies who aren’t nice.
>PS: Healing supplies now for muffins later.
>Smiles are free.
-Probably the best salesmare argument ever.
>I wept for the little filly whose ashes I kept in a cola bottle.
-Still very creepy.
>All I could do was keep killing them until I drowned in their blood, history’s greatest mass murderer.
-I'm very sure the Zebras hold this title... So, don't worry.
>“And with that, children, I have a confession to make. This broadcast? It’s not exactly live.
>A little homebrewed surprise rigged to the spark battery from a weapon made by the motherfuckin’ stars!”
-She disassembled the Ultimate Mega-gun ?
...well, at least it was for a good thing. A prank that goes with a 'bang'.
>No charge. The Wasteland Heroine wears armor by Ditzy Doo. You’re good advertisement.
-She's a smart salesmare, indeed.
>“The Enclave have sent their best hit squad after you and your friends.”
>“The Wonderbolts,”
-*facehoof* ...this always seems to happen, for some odd cosmic reason ?
>“Trust me, Li’lbait.”
>This wasn’t going to end well.
-I hope for the contrary.
Just started reading this a few days ago and I caught up tonight. All I can say is, GAHHHH NEED MORE!!!!
ReplyDelete@Moth
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I love your take on the story^^ and great idea and execution too! :D
During my sleep deprived state I reviewed my own previous lyrics comment and have come to a weird vision out of delusion.
ReplyDeleteThis Song
I think as if this is Redeye singing to Littlepip.
I don't know why I thinking it I'm delusional and haven't sleep in over 18 hours.
I feel like a complete retard.
I'm going to try to go back to sleep now.....
KKAT MAN
ReplyDeleteFO:E update. We are getting our own Ponychan ala conversion bureau thread.
Need your permission to promote your fic so we can draw a crowd. You wan`t to help us? Just say the word
One of my friends suggested replacing the mininuke's explosion effect with a sonic rainboom as a Fallout 3/NV mod.
ReplyDeletegood or bad idea?
@soulharvester11
ReplyDeleteThat actually sounds like a great mod!
@Damhoof
ReplyDeleteLet me know its URL and I'll link it from the Fallout: Equestria Resource site, it might help traffic.
http://fallout-equestria.com/
@Kkat
ReplyDeleteWhoops, sorry my response is really, really...really late. Don't end it just because you worry some are tired, I beg of you. End this magnificent piece when YOU are ready to and the story is truly over. I've loved every chapter, and I eager await however many may follow. Best story I've ever read, hands down.
Chapter Update:
ReplyDeleteWork on Chapter Forty-One has started, but it is a slow start. I'm hoping to have the chapter out before I take off to SteamCon, but I cannot be positive that will happen.
Minor revision was done to Chapter Forty. Nothing significant, but I noticed that I hadn't written Railright with the proper accent. I've rewritten his conversation with Littlepip with Railright using the correct accent.
On a related note, I learned that a brony uploaded Fallout: Equestria to fanfiction.net without my permission and I have asked him to remove it.
There are several reasons why I do not want copies of the story to exist in multiple places until the story is finished, and quality control is the primary one. While things like the re-write above are rare, I do occasionally find the need to make edits to previous chapters (usually an extremely embarassing typo or a missed accent). I want to be sure that new readers are not reading flawed, outdated copies from other sources.
@soulharvester11
ReplyDeleteDo it, and replace the Mini-Nuke model with Rainbow Dash.
You know... like THIS! :D
Can't figure how long it took me to read it all to chapter 40, but it was totally worth it! The story is simply great, and I definitely want to read next 40 chapters at last ;)
ReplyDelete@Arcane Scroll
ReplyDeletehttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1KaoFWVlFlMjYR2KmTWxwCYnvTZQcjEULO9YHSaqqk9U/edit?hl=en_US
We will make the ponychan thread in the weekend. For now it`s just the Gdoc.
@Nightmare Luna
ReplyDeleteYour finished Pyrelight is *gorgeous*! I love her so much!
OK, kiddies, what's this talk about dieing at the end of Fallout 3? Trying to throw spoilers and curve balls at those who never played the games? Oh well, it's nice to speculate in the comment section. Though I never died after activating the Water Purifier at the end of FF3, ok I did before Broken Steel DLC. Everyone in the room was bathed in lethal, well near lethal, radiation. Sleep for a day or so being pumped full of radaway and stimpacks. Get up and fight the Enclave.
ReplyDelete@Idle Drifter
ReplyDeleteEh, the way I see it, FO3's ending was dramatic and sad. With Broken Steel, it was turned into a massive anticlimax...
Keep up the awesome work! You sir, are an amazing author, the way you can convey the character's emotions so well. I've been able to feel for what Littlepip has been going through and your imagery is truly amazing. Never before have I been able to connect with a story like this. I've been listening to sad songs during all the sad parts, and when the fight scenes come up, I blast the Metal. I've actually found that it increases the power of this story and it allows me to really get into it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for creating such an awesome story.
סוף הדרך "The end of the way" Sof HaDerech
ReplyDeleteThis phrase comes from Hebrew, and its meaning is something extraordinarily good. If we need to go through a way in order to get somewhere, the end of this way would be the place we want to get to or a condition we desire to be in -- and this place or condition is of course valuable for us.
I don't why I put this here but it sounds right.
@Maeni
ReplyDeleteI agree. Silly as it might have been, it was a good ending.
I was also near tears while reading this last chapter. So much sadness, but then in the Wasteland, that's about all you get. Besides the terror. And the horror.
ReplyDeleteAs for the end, well, I feel a bit mixed. I've never finished Fallout 3 yet but having read a few of these comments I do now. Hopefully it's not the end Little Pip will have. But, honestly, as messed up as everything is, it seems likely to be the only out come. When the final chapter comes out, I must be sure and stock up on tissues. Not that I'll cry or anything...maybe just a little.
But, let's not forget there's some DLC content that may be touched on still. Again, haven't played the DLC, so I may be missing it already in the story.
Btw, how do I contact you Kkat about getting a side story approved by you?
@silentcarto
ReplyDeleteThis.
The concept of the ending isn't on the list of things I have against Fallout 3. In fact, I like it. It's a memorable ending and a nicely grim way to close the Wanderer's story. Unless you take one of the other options, but those result in Ron Perlman sounding a bit displeased with you in the ending.
The problem, as someone said at the end of the original thread, was the implementation. Specifically, the chance that Fawkes, who had previously been willing to wander through a long radioactive corridor to grab a device for you, refuses to go into a little room for ten seconds to press a few buttons.
It's sad. All it needed was some reason you couldn't take a companion along.
And then Broken Steel made it a moot point.
New to this fic. Enormous work, at this pace we'll have "War and Peace" pony-style by the end.
ReplyDeleteHave to ask, what's up with Pinkie knowing about lead char watching her?
Because we're talking Atreides-tier prescience here, not pinkie sense or psychic powers. Were her drugs laced with melange?
I'm at ch. 32 now, and it seems more and more like very_weird throwaway pinkie joke.
Regarding Fallout portion, some extreme stuff from first games would be welcome. Alien blaster made it (cool), but unusual character builds as side ponies would be simply awesome(like LK 10 "lucky bastard" with Jinxed trait - badass without a gun)
@IkkouSoryu
ReplyDeleteChekhov is a very, very patient gunman.
I gave up the Luck 10/Jinxed build after about 2 levels, when I realized my allies were subject to the same failures. Smoke bit himself to death.
@silentcarto
ReplyDeleteWell duh. This build isn't meant for party play. And deathclaws will rape you ten times over, but still, nothing beats walking into raider camp, insulting their leader and watchig ensuing comedy with glee.
@IkkouSoryu
ReplyDeletePinkie Sense always involved predicting future events, so I don't think she needs to break causality in order to pull her predictions off.
----
Also: Now that Gawd has made a comeback, do you suppose we'll ever figure out what she wanted those memory orbs for? Do memory spells create memory orbs, or do you need a blank orb first before you can put a memory into it?
@IkkouSoryu
ReplyDeleteUp until you get Sniper, anyway, and start critting them in the eye with a rocket launcher like Steelhooves with the Star Spawn. :)
(Yes, I know you can't "Aim" with a rocket launcher.)
@icekatze
You need a blank orb. Rarity gave one to Angel to hold while she ran the extraction, remember?
@icekatze
ReplyDeleteI always figured it was the old practice that "knowledge is power", even if that knowledge is 200 years old. With that many memory orbs there's bound to be something of value to someone, or even information that can give Gawd an edge. Just look at all that Pip learned with the dozen or so orbs that she looked at in her travels.
Is it possible for a pegasus to use handguns with its wings?
ReplyDelete@Alchat
ReplyDeleteI would guess not... all the bones of a birdlike wing are kinda clumped together in the leading edge, and while the feathers are movable to some extent for maneuvering purposes and such they don't bend around enough to pull a trigger. Some, like owls, have a clawed sort of a thumb at the leading point, but I think that'd be visible if a pegasus had something similar. They might be able to manage a small gun with both wings, but it'd be tricky to do, their grip would be weak, and accuracy would probably suck.
Is there a reason that they can't use their mouth or a battle saddle?
@Alchat
ReplyDeleteHmm. But now that I think about it more, it'd kind of make sense for them to have developed tech to help with that. Some sort of exoskeleton thing worn over a wing that allows it to be used to manipulate objects, probably developed out of the same ideas that led to those blades that some of them (or were those griffons?) wore over the leading edge of the wing...
It'd probably reduce their maneuverability if not prevent flying entirely, and would be very specialized equipment, but I could see either heavy defensive soldiers or some manner of laborers temporarily trading off flight for extra protection and object/weapon manipulation.
Aww, we can't go over 9000 comments in one post. I was waiting for that :(
ReplyDeleteW00T! Chapter 41 is up.
ReplyDeleteStill reading, but one thing caught my eye - griffins playing a game of pokers, and Littlepip noting only unicorns would be able to handle the cards - a subtle jab at Blackjack methinks?
Anyway, further reading awaits. Adventure HO!
Argh, confound these ponies, they prevent me from sleeping.
ReplyDeletedam, I can't read this this evening. 4 hours of sleep and coffee jitters makes for bad commentary. Will review when competent, after work tomorrow.
ReplyDeletekkat goin' H.A.M as always ^_^
ReplyDelete@icekatze
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know, pinkie sense involved "predictions" based on previous experience; i.e. Pinkie discovered over time what certain twitches meant.
How could she discover a "twitch" associated with ponies watching her memories (okay, it's possible if I think about it), let alone name a pony who will be born 200 years later?
Hell, beat it. I'm back to reading. This better be good.
P.S. And yes, if Pinkie could predict future outright, there's a helluva lot of unfortunate implications, like knowing about apocalypse. And doing nothing, but I guess that's Pinkie Junkie for you.
I really want to know how the Crusaders from Ch41 fit in with the Hoofington Crusaders from FOE:PH
ReplyDeleteAlso, I hoped against hope that Fluttershy would be a tree, but I never thought it'd actually happen! You've made my day!
I'm assuming she'll be like Harold in Fallout 3, yes? (I know he was in 1 and 2, but he wasn't a full tree then)
Keep it up! Damn good job so far man
FLUTTERSHY'S A TREE? I didn't think that would actually happen!
ReplyDeleteFluttershy is a tree
ReplyDeleteHeadless horse is Steelhooves resurrected from the toxic radboom.
Chased by wonderbolts the whole time.
halloweenupdateisbestupdate.avi
Fluttertree. Okay, you all got what you wanted, now it's time for me to start clamoring for an explanation.
ReplyDeleteHOW!?
@IkkouSoryu
There are, I believe, two major schools of thought with the whole "Seeing the Future" thing.
The first essentially boils down to: "If you know what the future holds, it won't." The idea is that if you learn what the future holds, you will (or will not) do something essential to that future and it won't happen.
The second is that the future is fixed. Essentially, the future has already happened, you just haven't made it there yet. In this case, no matter what you do, you cannot change the course of events. It doesn't matter what you do, because, again, it's already happened, and all you're doing is essentially walking a predefined path. This is also called 'fate'.
I had some over-reaching point to make with this... Something to do with Pinkie knowing what would happen and not doing anything to prevent it, because she knew she wouldn't be able to change the course of history.
I forgot...
Ugh why must you update BEFORE I go to school!
ReplyDeleteNot that I'm complaining.
Oh, and the complied upload was by me... I took it down when it was only 27 chapters.
ReplyDeleteFluttertree? I think I missed something. Where did it mention a tree?
ReplyDeleteOh, wait. I found it. Derp.
ReplyDeleteSomehow I saw this coming, having played Fallout 3 not long after watching MLP and finding the Oasis. Though, I am still surprised :D
ReplyDeleteAwesome chapter!! I've been waiting for this.
Maybe Fluttershy is sorta alive, like Harold, the Ghoul/Mutant/Tree in Fallout 3?
ReplyDeleteWoot called flutter tree...... more or less. Though it was foreshadowed so it was kinda a logical deduction .... any way . And another stop just as i am really getting into it ..... this is almost as bad a wait as for season 2 and episode 3.
ReplyDelete@Ch. 41
ReplyDeleteAnd then Fluttershy was a tree...
Brilliant!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteKkat, I know everything must eventually end, but I have two requests..
ReplyDelete1) That end? Does not come up anytime soon. Reading this story, talking with others interested in it, and devising our own theories about the setting.. it's truly one of the best things EVER.
2) When the end does come.. leave it so you can continue later. All the Fallout games ended with a montage of "this is what happened due to your Vault Dweller's actions" and left things open for future expansion.. which was obviously built upon.
No, I am not getting tired of this fic, and, if anything, the writing is somehow getting even better, as you've thrown more then a few plot twists and surprises at us which many didn't expect.
*begs and pleads and will do anything it takes to keep offering encouragement for more FO:E* It's an inspiration to us all, and seeing a new chapter popup is often the highlight of my entire week.
Honestly, the "memories" of Pinkie Pie, where she "talked" to Littlepip, was one of the saddest and most depresing things in that story. You see the world which is paradise (compare to the wasteland), you know what will happen, you know that almost everypony die, you can warn them about incoming apocalypse, but Pinkie won't listen to you.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, any part about the past, especially when Littlepip find remains of ministry mares and other characters... :'(
Dat ending
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWizDna1XO4
Oh, so she did, and there she still stands!
ReplyDeleteActually, now that everyone's going "ZOMFG FLUTTERTREE!!!1!11!" Kkat's probably gonna drop the bombshell that Fluttershy died and the tree grew on her corpse or some messed up shit like that :P
ReplyDelete@ Spell Nexus
ReplyDeletecould totally see that happen, regardless:
ZOMG FLUTTERTREEE!!!!!11!!11!111!!!!
- "Oh wow it would dishonor teh memory of Steelhooves to arm our flying transport for a change" WHAT?! No, FOH w/ that. So glad that Calamity kept it real. That sentimental shit will get a pony kilt out chea.
ReplyDelete- these Enclave ships are so cool i wish this was animated by japanese people -_-
- The Twins are real lol. Kage lookin out the window like Malcolm X. Gawd did a hell of a job "home schooling" these kids.
- when will you silly foals learn to stop tossing grenades at my LilPip lolololol
- WHELP, ANOTHER BRILLIANTLY EXECUTED "STEALTH" PLAN LILPIP. So much for my excitement about twins. Should've seen the Dragon Age 2 intro coming. Welcome to the party, Bethany Hawke.
- Xenith ain't lyin about Tia. Left her sister an already half-ruined country. Sorta like Bush. Except worse because its her sister and the apocalypse was more or less set in stone. Happy B-Day Luna!
- Calamity as commercial airline pilot ^_^
- So ya'll kept the thunder & smoke trail routine huh, well that's practical for commando attack purposes...ಠ_à²
- SKY BANDIT!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! FIRST THE ZEBRA RIFLE, NOW YOU!!! WHY MUST THE EQUESTRIAN WASTELAND BE SO CRUEL!!! I FUCKING HATE YOU KKAT, I FUCKING HATE YOU ;_;
- i TOLD you muhfuckas it would happen. I TOLD you. You scoffed. I TOLD you. When you saw the stone bunny, you got an inkling. When you saw the word YELLOW, you knew what the fuck it was. When you saw BUTTERY YELLOW you knew what time it was. Pink leaves? Nigga Fluttertree in da house, represent, all day every day, HOLLA.
@yetti
ReplyDeletewhat's a mare supposed to do, have LilPip help Pinkie undo the whole apocalypse Back to the Future 1 style and have the fanfic refocus on LilPip's wacky Love Hina adventures in a college dorm setting?
Pinkie's preserving the entire got dayum Fallout Equestria Space Time Continuum. Thank you, Pinkie Pie.
@mycutiemarkisagun
ReplyDelete...This made me burst out laughing, and I don't even know why.
That willow in the chapter 41 sounds eeriely smiliar to a certain pegasus pony. You turned Fluttershy into a tree, well she did say in over a barrel that would like to be a tree.
ReplyDeleteThat ending... makes my want to travel forwards in time to read the next chapter...
ReplyDeleteWhile I don't predict a good ending for our dearest flutter-tree.... It's good to know for sure what happened to the kindness.
ReplyDeleteBonus points next chapter if someone gets THE Stare from a Flutter-tree for being a meanie.
CHAPTER 41!
ReplyDelete“Plans have plan stuff.” Wisdom. “We were all going to die.” In any other story I’d be able to take this as a light hearted joke...
More Gawd stuff! Yay! Always loved that bitch.
Also, poor Pip. Nothing too embarrassing to not be brought up again.
Man, the Enclave is REALLY not gonna win this thing.
Gawd saying Littlepip isn’t her type. And thus sinks my favorite FoE crack ship... Doesn’t mean I’m not gonna write it anyway. *wink*
“Where’s Silver Bell?” PANIC!
A PARTY! MORE DITZY LOVE! ~yay~ And that makes sense actually, Silver Bell DID once try to be Pinkie Pie.
Oh hey, I was right about Silver Bell helping to catch Ditzy.
Side quest? Side quest!
And more Ditzy acting as Moria. Two of my favorite characters in one!
“What is your type?” (Don’t squee, don’t squee, don’t squee) SQUEE!
Littlepip dancing with Silver. This is a damn sweet chapter. You’re going to kill someone again, ain’t ya?
“You can be a teacher.” Whoa, that was some heavy wisdom dropped there.
TUNNEL SNAKES RULE! I mean, I love those Junior Heroes. “Crusaders.” Hnnn.
NEW TEMP PARTY MEMBERS! Griffon party members! WHO WILL PROBABLY DIE! Yay?
Velvet! Awww, man.
“It’s my fault SteelHooves is dead.”
What?
Was there ever any doubt? Not from me.
Fluttershy is best pony? Hah! Lies! We all know Gilda is best pony! “Follower of the Apocalypse” oh my god.
Well, I guess I was premature when I said the Enclave had nothing up their sleeve...
Save the Wonderbolts with memories! That’s... actually pretty clever.
I’ll let Pip speak for me:
Resistance Radio. I liked it. Go Homage!
“but when things started working out in our favor, it tended to make me nervous. “ YOU AND ME BOTH SISTER!
Oh those wacky heterosexuals and their male on female relations. Go do that thing at that place.
Hey, a fight! Imagine that! I fear for the children of Gawd. But I know it’s silly to worry. At least one of them WILL die. It’s just that kinda story.
“The griffin fell back, smoke rising from a gaping wound in his breast. I stared in horror as the light went out of his eyes. “ God damn I hate being right all the time.
God Calamity’s brothers are assholes.
Wonderful, dangerous Homage. And the Wonderbolts are going to kill her. Well, shit.
Regina’s a toughie. I don’t know if she’ll survive. And I have no idea how Gawd is gonna take this.
Oh and hey, a reference to Season 2! That was bound to crop up eventually.
Battle the Wondebolts in the Everfree? What could POSSIBLY go wrong?
More ancient evil from beyond the stars? Neat.
Oh that cheeky 8th orb. Sometimes... I think you want me to do something about that.
And I’ve been dreamin’ I’ve been waitin’ to fight with those great ponies.
YOU MANIACS! YOU KILLED THE FAST TRAVEL SYSTEM! I guess we really ARE getting to the end.
...In the words of the Doctor:
WHAT? WHAT? ….WHAT?
So that was equal parts cute as a button and a trauma conga. The death of Kage was more than a bit predictable and underwhelming. I mean, he seriously screamed redshirt the moment he stepped into battle. Not that it still didn’t hurt, he was pretty cool and I have said how much I love Gawd and this will be quite a blow.
FLUTTERTREE!!!
ReplyDeleteNow THAT was a highly unexpected ending.
ReplyDeleteFluttershy actually turning into a tree? Very, VERY unexpected. *Shrug*
I wonder if they can turn her back. And if they can, I wonder if they will at all. I mean, it would be awesome for Velvet to actually talk to her, but I think the strain might kill her. As in; Fluttershy seeing how the Wasteland is wouldn't exactly be pretty.
I don't have time to pull a full reading analysis now, so I'll just hit the big points.
ReplyDeleteVelvet and Calamity confirmed as Kindness and Loyalty. That means that the only Elements that aren't accounted for are Generosity and Magic, assuming that none of the ones we've found die...
I'm leaning towards Littlepip as Magic and hoping for a redeemed Red Eye as Generosity, but we shall see how events unfold.
Ditzy Doo and Silver Bell are living with Spike for a while. Probably for the best. The standard procedure for engaging a dragon for the enclave would have to use at least one Raptor, and he never leaves his cave. I doubt that they'll consider a grounded and contained Ditzy to be worth sending dozens if not hundreds of troops into fiery death for, so as long as they can't readily level the mountain she should be safe.
Isolated farm, no idea who built it, covered with upturned dirt surrounded by body parts. And almost certainly full of hellhounds who may or may not be under Enclave control. This will definitely be the setting of a stressful encounter later. The big question in my mind is whether the Enlcave simply appropriated the farm after some wastelanders built it, or whether they constructed it themselves.
The Wonderbolts have at least one sniper capable of putting a single shot through the engine of a skywagon while both parties are moving at high speed and the wagon in question is in the middle of very complex maneuvers including sudden major weight changes. This is very far from good.
Fluttershy is a tree. And Angel the Doombunny is standing watch, petrified but completely intact. And the party has two very powerful unicorn healers, one of which has devoted a significant portion of their lifetime to learning ancient obscure spells, especially those developed by Twilight. Now, after her first encounter with a cockatrice, is there any chance that Twi didn't develop a counterspell for petrification? I doubt they'll be able to convince Angel to leave the tree, but with the Wonderbolts incoming rapidly on one side and Red Eye's (griffon) flamer troops on the other, he'll definitely have an impact on the course of events if they unstone him.
Temporary party members... I don't have much hope for Reggie's long term survival. There are five incredibly deadly fighters incoming with intent to kill everything. It seems highly unlikely that there will be no casualties in the near future, and Lil'pip, Velvet, and Calamity need to survive. Any there seems to be a decent chance that she'll go into a roaring rampage of revenge at the Enclave sometime soon, which would probably lead smoothly into a heroic sacrifice against villains as competent as these. Life Bloom is likely to survive, though by no means guaranteed. He's a sensible sort, who will be invisible to any normal forms of detection and specifically trying to avoid combat.
Hee! Review of ch 41… go!
ReplyDeletePlans… mmmm yeah. Just go with it. Think of it this way: no plan survives encounters with the enemy. They all end in dancing the Charlie Foxtrot.
Yes. All pegasi are crazy. Hmmm…. I smell a quest coming… “Reroute power to Celestia I.” Now this is interesting… Yes… Enclave can’t manufacture new materials. I thought so. Very very interesting. ::Rubs hooves together:: This is something I can use. And Wonderbolts are incoming.
Getting Ditzy out of harms way. Good. Shooting ponies at a party. Not so good.
Oooh… typo. Where Crane is talking about burnout. “Bottled” to “Bottles”. But yup. Sounds like the crazy is catching. Just enjoy the delirium! Gawd’s unattached. Hmmm….
Hmmm…. Interesting. Just understand if they call themselves Crusaders, Charity’s gonna charge them a 2 cap per word usage! ::Grins for the day you understand what that means.::
Velvet’s back! PLEASE don’t be a bitch anymore… please please please… Sweet. And yes. The Wasteland is brutal on heroes. And if it can’t be brutal on her, then it will be on her friends. Hee hee hee hee…. Calamity… that was perfect! Kindness and Loyalty… dawww…
And hello Thunderhead, how are you? LilPip goes on the offensive too. Nice!
Yes, it’s Calamity’s plan. What, he’s not allowed to do plans? Hah hah hah! Woot. Save the Wonderbolts.
Hee… hee hee hee hee…. “Time to do the thing in the place!” Bye! Heee….
Smaller missions lets Little Pip show what a badass she really is.
And… damn it. Poor Kage. We were just starting to learn your levels of badassesness…
Interesting. Pride. Windsheer. Autumn Leaf. Wasn’t there 4 brothers? Oooh, can I have the 4th? I’d really love to have a sibling of Calamity. I promise to take good care of him!
Hmmm, yeah, that makes sense. Homage as number two on the list. At least for the moment you don’t have to worry about Tenpony or Shattered Hoof getting smashed… yet.
Weee… the Everfree.
Now this is interesting. And a kink in Horizons. Ah well, I can work around it.
YEEEEE!!!! Fluttershy!!!!!!!
::Makes much happy dance.::
And once more the hack feeling returns. I’m sure I’ll be wondering why I bother, but I don’t think it’ll be so bad. I just got to react and be flexible.
Okay. I like Calamity’s plan. I hope it works. And nice to see Twilight’s compressed memory spell from S2E2 used. :3 Finally getting to one of the great unanswered questions of FoE, what happened to Fluttershy. The evil in Everfree… sigh… that’s just a fundamental difference of opinion I’ll have to roll with. I just can’t hack stars being evil. I wish I could.
Something that was missing this chapter is some broader overview picture of what Redeye’s been doing. Not nitty gritty plot stuff, but just in general. From the look of it, Equestria’s been going to hell in a haycart and he’s still burning trees. Doesn’t he realize that slash and burn farming tends to leave desert, not rich and productive farmland? No… he probably doesn’t.
All in all, great fun. It’s definitely rolling towards a conclusion, but not too quickly.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSqueee! Update!
ReplyDeleteWhat can I say? Flawless!
But umm.. Fluttertree WAS kinda creepy.. ugh.. And so I guess that just leaves out the fate of Rainbow Dash(unless I missed it)..
Dammit I'd rather read this that have episode 3.
I KNEW VELVET AND CALAMITY WERE ELEMENTS!!
ReplyDeleteAnd Fluttertree... *sniff*...
Another excellent chapter kkat! Keep it coming!
And now we know why Fluttershy never came out of the forest... hello Fluttertree.
ReplyDeleteWell, another chapter over. The only thing I don't like about this series is the WAIT! So of the Mane 6, the only one unaccounted for so far is Rainbow Dash. Also, it would be AWESOME for Angel to be unpetrified and help out the group. I'm still surprised from Scootaloo's trap for the Mane 6 and the Princess' from a couple of chapters back though. Also, anyone hoping for friendly Hellhounds ala Goris?
ReplyDeleteWait, can somebody refresh me on who our elements are?
ReplyDeleteLaughter- Ditzy
Loyalty- Calamity
Kindness- Velvet
Honesty- Homage
Generosity-?
Magic-?
When i read in the chapter end notes that Littlepip maxed out her telekinetic ability and that she could raise the sun i lol'd and thought she will totally learn to do that and is the element of magic
ReplyDeleteshes the one bringing them all together and keeping them around,the spark needed, i want to believe that that is the requirement for element of magic,not overkill magic power ,but lets be honest, even if she doesnt know other spells,her telekinetic powers are strong.
I lol'd when i read at the end notes that she maxed her TK out and could probably raise the sun, and thought she totally is the element of magic.
I gotta get some sleeps, full reply to follow. I just had a few things I had to say right up front.
ReplyDeleteThe entire scene with Silver Bell's party... I'll come up with a way to express how happy that made me eventually.
Velvet Remedy. This scene was monumental, but again, the need for sleep is causing words to fail me.
Sending Ditzy Doo and Silver Bell to Spike's cave seems awful risky. But I guess as long as nobody sees them, it should work out.
Kage... I guess my powers of prediction aren't as good as everyone else's. I didn't get a bad feeling about it until it was mentioned how he wasn't as stealthy as the rest of the team. It colored the rest of the chapter, and now I'm dying to know how Regina is going to fare. We never really got to know why they were doing it, I mean what their real motivations were, not just their excuses. How can I know whether or not it was worth it if I don't know what was at stake? I desperately hope the next chapter will reveal that.
@IkkouSoryu
In Feeling Pinkie Keen, Pinkie Pie said she'd never gotten a shudder like that before, but she still knew what it meant.
Damn, never expect party members to survive! Poor Kage, he was badass. Things don't look too well for Reggie now.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Fluttertree.
.... I am so happy Chapter 41 is out it is great, have to admit may favorite line absolutely has to be, "You must say: and now the student has become the master." You just made me nerd ALL OVER my computer with that line.
ReplyDeleteSo now that we have ~4 confirmed elements (homage - honesty, ditzy - laughter, calamity - loyalty, and Velvet - kindness). That leaves magic and generosity. I really can't wait to see who those will be (maybe the doctor they've recruited will end up being magic if he survives).
ReplyDeleteSo that makes me wonder how lil'pip will fit in to this. Assuming she isn't an actual element, i'm leaning towards her actually being the "spark". The 4 elements, thus far, are acquaintances but aren't exactly the closest of friends. They were brought together by lil'pip, so it would make sense that her roll ends up being the spark that is needed to use the elements (kind of like twilight in the 2nd episode).
Chapter 41. Let's skip the BS and just go.
ReplyDelete"Madness." THIS. IS. FALLOUT!
"Calamity’s plan was insane." He keeps living up to his name, doesn't he? Probably shouldn't do that.
"Plans have… plan stuff." Eloquent as always, Pip.
"Calamity had a bunch of ideas and vague hopes tied together by multiple points of “and then something happens”." That sounds a lot like some of your plans, actually.
“I’m beginning to agree with Velvet Remedy,” What, that he is fucking crazy? Living in the "clean" air the Enclave breathes, then dropping down here for 10~ years can't be good for the brain. Gets the juices all mixed up. Calamity is a mixed drink that has been stirred too many times.
"Gawddammit." Are we sticking with this? Okay.
"Calamity was staring at me with the eyes of a foal, hoping for my acceptance, my support of this… madness." The image of him doing this completely doesn't work with my mental image of Calamity. But oh my Gawd it's adorable.
"We were all going to die." Risking life and limb over a half baked plan that probably won't work? Just your average day at the office, isn't it?
"Calamity looked askance." Askance. I'm ashamed that this is a word outside my vocabulary. Where is Sweetie Bell when you need her? "a·skance: With an attitude or look of suspicion or disapproval" Thank you.
"Surely he wasn’t saying they had to, what, file a hunting plan?" I doubt it'll take very long, what with you basically declaring war against them. So you might want to hurry with that plan.
“Enclave Radio broadcast an offer o’ aid to ‘misplaced citizens’. Tracker accepted the offer at face value an’ flew off, promisin’ t’ contact Frost by her PipBuck soon as he was skyside." Is Tracker retarded? Or just not trope savvy? Or brainwashed. Hell, it could be all three. Still, they wouldn't put out a broadcast if it were only ~5 ponies. Something tells me this isn't an isolated incident. Call it intuition, or looking at details wrong.
"I found myself feeling distinctly worried for Tracker." Eh, Tracker is probably dead now anyway. Best to just forget about him.
"Calamity asked, trying to sound casual." Calamity acting casual. This isn't gonna work.
“Cuz that place needs t’ be more toxic,” I doubt rainout is going to add much to that place. You fucking nuked it. Now it probably has airborne Taint in addition to all the radiation and lingering heat.
“It’s almost like that place wants t’ be on fire.“ What the hell is going on in this place? What is setting it on fire? Why? How? Unless Kkat has come up with something totally new, I'm going to have to scour the Fallout wiki.
"I just hadn’t known the town’s name." What kind of a name for a town is Hope anyway? It's rubble now, at the very least. No place for a town like that in the wasteland. And now Pip is going to rename Junction R-7 to Hope, just to fuck with me. Or New Hope. Something like that.
“Hope Solar Array,” Uh oh. Did ponies have any form of space exploration? Or satelites? If so...
"Made sense considering Twilight Sparkle’s ministry had even been working on weaponizing sunlight." Oh. Well, damn. Wait a minute! They had Celestia! They had the power of the fucking sun! Unless it's all a ruse. I wouldn't be surprised.
"And this Celestia One, or Celestia Prime, or whatever they’re calling it can’t even be cast unless it’s sunny." I forgot about that. Now look for a toy raygun thingy. Assuming you can clear the clouds, you will have the power of the stars in your hooves. Or a star rather. Sol, the best damn star there is.
"Old generators and spark batteries weren’t going to last forever." Not at the rate the Sky Bandit seems to be using them.
ReplyDelete"The gun-toting adolescent griffin leaned against the wall where Ditzy’s sign had been and pulled out a pack of cigarettes." How do you smoke a cigarette with a beak? Seems tricky.
"Coming swiftly on the hooves of that thought, the realization that New Appleloosa had public bathrooms struck me across the forehead like a nailboard. Ow." Nailboard? Ow indeed. And yeah, Pip. Haven't you explored the town at all? What the hell did you do when you were here all that time ago? Actually, don't explain. Let's just move on.
"With all the cloud-tech the Enclave relies on, not t’ mention the cloud curtain, they view the sonic rainboom as a weapon of mass destruction.” Breaking the sound barrier is a weapon of mass destruction? Man, wait until they hear what a whip is!
"Granted, Cloudsdayle was the biggest, but that still left several more that survived pretty much untouched by the war." They had more cities? How many damn pegasi are there? A lot more now, obviously. But back during the war, I couldn't see them take up more than 25% of all ponies. Seems kinda douchey to shut the sky for the 25%. Needs of the many and whatnot.
“The pegasi had ‘bout fifty Raptors, only four Thunderheads, and no ability t’ make more." The fuck is a THUNDERHEAD? That sounds AWESOME.
"Any pegasus who proved capable of performing a Sonic Rainboom was drafted into the Enclave’s celebrity hit squad." Which would be, what? All of five? Unless there was some secret technique that Dash told everyone about. Right, Wonderbolts are fast and can do rainbooms. If there are more than 20 of them, it doesn't sound like a rainboom is that hard to pull off. They may be good, but they aren't infinite. And they aren't immune to bullets. No one can outsmart boolet.
“And if Ditzy Doo could do it, theoretically just ‘bout any sufficiently-radiated ghoul pegasi should be capable of pulling off a toxic rainboom.” Ghoul pegasi. Alrighty then. How many of those do we know about? Unless I'm forgetting someone, I can think of one. Ditzy. And she isn't exactly in a condition to do another one. She might evaporate at that speed.
“Sorry, kid. But you ain’t my type.” Why is that always the first thing?
"And it was very likely I wasn’t going to be around much longer." With the tendency for Chekhov's Guns and how much Kkat likes to beat you up, I think you are going to outlive Homage. By a fair bit. Man, that mental breakdown will be tons more fun then Arbu.
"And why was I even having this discussion with myself?" These sound like discussions I have with myself in these very commentaries.
“She’s hired Gilgamesh as her personal bodyguard." Dude's name is Gilgamesh? That's pretty cool.
"Apparently, all the ponies in this town were crazy. Including me." I think all ponies in general are crazy. I mean, you don't have fingers. That would lead to a severe case of horn envy. Not good for the psyche.
"What did Spike eat, anyway? Just gems?" I don't know. I think so? Where does he get them? Does he loot them from the enclave? I thought he never leaves the cave. Hmm. Perhaps a diamond is like that elven bread from LoTR.
“Where’s Xenith?” Oh you know, invisible.
"She’d flown out the door, leaving paper rectangles swirling through the air from her backwash, even before my mind could process what the Shattered Hoof Raider had said." Wow, that was a fast recovery. I guess it comes with being a ghoul. And a former mailmare. Or current mailmare, still not sure on that.
ReplyDelete"The lights were out. Not good." This better not be a hostage situation. Thank goodness Pip has bullettime. Or something like that. Really, VATS is weird.
"My E.F.S. compass lit up with dozens of lights just as Ditzy Doo pivoted back and flew into the dark maw of the doorway. It was a trap!" It's a tarp! Wait, this is Silver Bell we are talking about. Could it be a party?
“SURPRISE!” Wow, I'm relieved. And a little irked.
"I nearly shot a balloon." Go ahead and do it anyway, it'll make a nice pop noise.
"The cake was baked in the shape of a giant muffin, echoing the many muffins on the nearby table beneath a glittering banner." Bitch loves muffins. It's almost unhealthy. But what is exactly healthy about being a ghoul anyway? You are already dead. Kinda.
“Hello, Crane,” I said, turning to the yellow unicorn. “I thought I saw your telekinesis out there yesterday morning.” A few were asking about that. Apparently I'm one of only four people who remembered this guy.
“That was the first magic that li’l gal managed since getting’ her horn back. Ah honestly think seein’ mommy there do that radboom is what did it.” Something about rainbooms. What is it with these things? And I think it was part rainboom, and part trying to save the one she sees as her mother. Parental instinct works both ways.
"To my delight, Crane was duly impressed with my creativity." I personally feel that the walking on pie tins you pulled off back in Fillydephia is the most creative thing you've done with that. Until you do something like making the blood explode out of some pony, that'll be up there.
“Good news is, there’s a remedy fer that,” Is it velvet? Or something like Xander root? No, Xenith would know about that.
"Maybe the first time ever that I had turned down a distracting quest." How can you do that Pip? There is ALWAYS time for sidequests. Rule 1 of RPGs.
“Sprung up outta nowhere last spring. No idea who built it. Seems like some ponies went through a lot of effort, then abandoned the place. Or, more likely, got ‘emselves slaughtered by somethin’ wanderin’ outta the forest.” How does a farm just appear overnight? Was it aliens? It's the damn wasteland! It isn't like farms are popping up everywhere. This is an isolated event and more investigation should go into it. Now, I'm not saying it was aliens, but it was aliens.
"First pony who tried t’ move out that way came back t’ town a few times sayin’ it’s haunted." Aliens. Or holograms. Or alien holograms. Hologram aliens?
"I blinked. “Landmines?” Arkansas. That motherfucker.
"Xenith started a game?" What is THIS? The crazy is totally contagious. Get outta there before it spreads to you Pip.
"Then, on second thought, regaining orientation and maintaining accuracy while blinded did sound like an exercise the zebra would be familiar with." Why did my mind instatly try to make this dirty? Well, with Xenith and the shit she has gone through...
You know I got an announcement about this chapter being up from the Steam Fallout Equestria Group. That felt wonderful, being told "Bing! New chapter is up!"
ReplyDeleteAnd thus with this chapter restarts the land hopping journey we have become used to in recent FO:E. I think last chapter's slower pace feels better now that we see where it was going afterwards.
It's quite intriguing to see how the chapters are beginning to flow one into the next in more real time than normal. It's happened before and fairly often, but a few in a row is pretty intriguing over these past few weeks. Like the worlds events are truly speeding up and that there is less time for "multiple day" breaks.
So, let's stick with my usual review layout. High Points, Things I liked, Tearie Eyed, Funny moments and "Things I noticed."
Albeit there is no "tearie" moments this time. Sorry, Kage. :p
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High Points
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-Velvet's Return (And general character dialogue)-
This was really the strong point of this Chapter, from the giggle-worthy moments to the tearie eyed reunions. But really what stood out was the general more "chatty" sides of the dialogue, from them discovering the fancy room at Tenpony again to the party with Silver Bell.
I'll go into more specific bits of these with "things I liked" no doubt. But I feel they deserve a mention in "High Points" due to the overall times I found myself grinning, wincing or giggling at them all.
Although of course, as much as the small moments were so consistent and wonderful, with tons of nice Pony episode throw ins, the big one is of course Velvet returning. This dialogue had an odd direction given how negatively Velvet stood into it. I had expected her to have realised some things to appear with, but it seemed things were still eating at her. Good on Littlepip to overcome all of her old thoughts of Velvet to just hug her and for once be the voice of reason and optimism between them.
Giving it that little "small talk" before it about telekinesis was pretty awesome. It lays some realistic groundwork on how talking over problems often goes. No-one just arrives and enters serious buisness. To lead into it...the slightly awkward "you first" kick start, that is awesome stuff.
The discover that what you want to do for the world isn't what the world wants from you is a harsh lesson. No wonder she broke so hard...to see good in everypony and wish that with a little kindness they will smile again and want to help out too is a wonderful goal. But 200+ years of pain isn't going to go away so easily. To see her openly admit that and realise that she is going to have a hard slope ahead is quite a jump for her. It's optimistic to say, but it betrays a little pessimism, like she has lost a lot of the almost naive innocence that so defined her before to try for peace at every angle.
How this will affect her in the more immediate future (given she had little presence in bigger moments after this for this chapter) is one I am itching to see. The new Velvet Remedy, who sees the bad side...but wants to stay good. A Follower of the Apocalypse indeed. It was a wonderful little tie in with Fallout that fits everything like a glove, given it was Fluttershy who inadvertantly caused it all. Wonderful fit and very appropriate for a healer. I swear, if you planned that one from the beginning...you aren't human. As much as what I said above may hold bad times for her, I do believe she'll be strong enough to show the true goodness in her.
ReplyDeleteAnd what better time to reveal her as the Element of Kindness, eh? We all had a feeling it was coming, but to finally see it laid bare is like seeing her character development finally come full circle. Go Velvet!
Sorry, I realise I ramble and don't often come across as offering "feedback" as such, so allow me to say here. Velvet's return had a nice "underwhelming" impact to it. No big heroic walk in, just a rather nice more relatable manner for the readers, I feel. A slight melancholy in that she has lost some of her innocent optimism, but a satisfying resolution in that even with that...she still wants to do good. What a mare.
-The Party-
Sweet Celestia's mercy, Kkat. Don't scare me like that ever again! "Surprise" indeed, you horrible person. :p
I wish I could let it go on that, but no, I'm not. That build up was horrifying. Things were too peaceful, too nice and too optimistic to try from here on out that the thought of anything happening to little Silver Bell hit like a brick to the face. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to laugh in relief or swear profusely when it was all revealed as a big hoax for a party.
However once into it, this proved to be a very enjoyable and relaxing aftermath to the atrocious battles last chapter. Seeing a little innocence and laughter, as I've said before, is always a wonderful way to remind us what Littlepip is fighting for in the wasteland. To turn this pokey little party of rare fun into what ponies all over can enjoy as they once did centuries ago.
It was of course, filled with moments to smile. From the "Wasteland Crusaders" making me see how many groups Littlepip is beginning to raise for the forces of good. Whether they'll actually fight is one thing, but the fact they want to help is reason enough to celebrate. I almost sense a "Whole good parts of the wasteland rising behind Littlepip" montage or crowning moment in the approaching future.
"I suspected she’d gotten into the spiked punch." Who spiked the punch. Why? And with what?
ReplyDelete“Hope you know what you’re doing. Those two… they deserve a good life." For 500 caps that is a goddamn steal. I'd take it.
(How could I have ever doubted you? a little voice in my head asked. It could have happened to any of us, another answered.) How can you stay mad at Silver Bell, one of the last shreds of innocence in the wasteland?
“What is your type?” I found myself forced to ask." Well, you gotta ask. Ya know, for science.
"Waving goodbye to Candi (who notably had been responsible for bringing the “adult punch”)" Oh, of course it was Candi. With her concoctions I suppose it was inevitable.
"I wondered if Gilgamesh ever slept." I would guess he runs off the Uberman polyphasic sleep schedule. Or whatever equal they have with 10 hour clocks.
"How she instructed them in making Dash. “But you can be more than just a guard; you can be a teacher.” I honestly hope that Dash isn't made in a simillar manner to Jet. That was a bit gross.
“How about the Ouroboros?” I'm really glad I did Old World Blues recently. That was a fun DLC.
"What kind of group of friends would name themselves after snakes?" Why do I feel like I'm missing something? I really think I am. Dammit, this is going to bother me all day.
"Not to mention, they seemed to come in threes." Because three, is a magic number. I'm not going to sing that.
"Yep. Muffin-flavored." The fuck is muffin flavored? It's like saying you have a pie that is pie flavored. What the fuck does pie flavor taste like? Augh.
"I was never going to hear the end of this, was I?" No. Only because it's amusing and you probably are so damn adorable when embarrased.
“Calamity here took two .223 rifles, cut ‘em down and modified ‘em inta the most boss pair o’ pistols in the Equestrian Wasteland.” I've never played Fallout 1 or 2, but I recognise That Gun when I see it. And I must agree. It is boss.
“Cottoned onta the idea of sendin’ their soldiers on strikes against raiders first. Set the right first impression, paint the right picture o’ what the wasteland is all about, an’ those bucks an’ mares won’t hesitate when they tell ‘em t’ wipe a town.” SMART. That is a nice tactic. Dehumanize the enemy by showing off their worst. Then the soldiers will feel little to no remorse when they kill them. Sounds familiar.
“And at the rate they’re goin’, they’re gonna wipe the wasteland clean o’ raiders by the end o’ the month.” Ya make that sound like it's a bad thing. No one likes raiders. Not even raiders.
“Mom aint’ never gonna admit it, but she’s damn thankful fer what you all did out at Splendid Valley. The Goddess? Her plans for griffins weren’t exactly pretty.” No Unity for griffins." The remainder will be allowed to live out their days, but under Unity control and protection. But none shall breed, for they will be the last of their race.
Half the reason Red Eye’s got so many of our kind working for him, why some o’ us like Stern are so loyal t’ him…” Xenith was drinking punch from a bowl cup which clattered to the floor. “…is because they knew he was plottin’ against the Goddess.” I wonder if that will change at all now. But griffins honor the contract, yes? Perhaps not all of them.
But simply, why did I like this whole segment? It was easy. Sure it had some ruminations on the side quest locations and the suns power...but it was just a sweet and easy scene that let us rest, knowing that things were going to get a whole lot tougher soon. For that I almost thank you. Having something recent to call back to is always a nice thought.
ReplyDelete--------------
Things I liked
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Littlepip's inner thoughts. This will more than likely turn up in "Things I laughed at" as well. But for this entry, it is for the way I've noticed a change. No "corrupted kindness" or "murderer" stuff like all too recently. Since her little epiphany her thoughts have been much more simple and optimistic...or teasing. It's cool to see our hero begin to climb back up once again after she tripped before.
Ditzy being confirmed to be taken to Spike. This marks something. The Elements are beginning to gather. Straight away this indicates that the story is going to start approaching this sort of stuff. My mind instantly thinks to Homage. I'm sure she could use Spike's technology with those Spritebots to her own uses too, if she could get there, also as the Element of Honesty. Needless to say, seeing this story event had an expectory grin on my face.
Side mission potential with a Minefield Farm? (And also perhaps some Dunwich Building hints) Wonderful. These always function as nice world design enhancement stories away from the primary storyline itself. Plus you always seem to find a little way to work in some sort of element that remains into the primary arc too. Really, your side mission stories are often some of my favourites. Look at how Arbu (which was, quintessentially, a side quest) affected so much, after all. I doubt you'de mention and then never use them, so there's one to watch for. Also good to hear you've still got more world design to play with when it comes to expanding Equestria.
Gawd. It was a very small section, but very memorable to tell us about her personality. The contract. Even to romance. Someone whom is attached is immediately out of her consideration. Very blunt, hard but quite endearing and shows us, for once, a softer side to Gawd. Furthermore, a little confirmation on the Griffons working for Red Eye's purposes is very welcome to have laid bare. Finally on the griffons, I'm loving how the party has been more dynamically formed over the past few chapters. From Velvet and Xenith leaving briefly, Ditzy joining and now two griffons joining. It provides a fresh feeling to the writing.
Calamity's simple reaction on meeting Velvet was both heartwarming and hilarious. Just barreling into her. However I can't be the only one (haven't read other comments yet) to wonder that it is no coincidence that he does a lot of Rainbow Dash 'expying' right before he is confirmed as the Element of Loyalty in the text. If that was intentional, nice touch, Kkat.
The Thunderhead's present a lovely big target to see get annihilated some chapter ahead. Oh come on, we see a big fancy machine being used by the "enemy" (although less and less the Enclanve can be considered one outright) and naturally we want to see Littlepip find a way to bring that big boy down. As a design note, rather enjoying the cloud merging concept with the Raptors. Could see a lot of playing with that, being able to repair them from just the cloud layers for example.
ReplyDeleteNice reservation of concept with Horseshoe Tower reappearing. Very easy to forget details of a world like that. Nice memory and very fun to see a familier location used in a new manner with a second type of enemy. Helps give us a feel that we are fighting on the turf of the world we've become used to. Also, I only today realised that saving the griffons was an expy on saving Reilly's Rangers. Derp.
That combat was intriguing to me. For one, I think because it was a similar location, it highlights even more how much Littlepip has changed. First time around in Horseshoe she was still fighting to survive. Now she's fighting to win. Her experience and abilities feel so much more confident. They have done for yonks now, but a repeat location she once fought in just helps emphasise it. It also felt surprising to feel that Littlepip has been in a war at Friendship City, a gunfight at New Appleloosa and now a close quarters battle in Horseshoe Tower...and hasn't recieved significant injury. Breaking habit, are we Littlepip? Or perhaps it's showing, again, how much better she is becoming, even without "Level up" to tell us. It's hard to think of her as the naive, unknowing and almost defenceless pony wandering out of Stable 2 now.
Quick note, but it's awesome to see Xenith in action again. It's been a while since she got some real combat in. Kage too, if briefly. Unfortunate about him really. I sense some imminent griffon revenge soon from Reggie.
Clocked Calamity's brother right off. Naturally. I feel that was meant to be intentional. But I hadn't expected another so soon, so I consider it a pleasant surprise from you to see a third one from the family. Again, reinforcing the Enclave aren't evil, just...misguided.
The plan to save the Wonderbolts makes me very happy. I love those guys/gals in the series with their great costumes. Not to mention I'm a big fan of shows like the Red Arrows. So to see a chance for them to redeem their legend will be very satisfying. And of course, Calamity is planning it. Permit the wasteland to now start cowering in fear. However his plan being surprisingly non-explosive is rather awesome to see. He cares for his own people after all. Nice drop in of a Season 2 mechanic (and justifying it by an old point from long back as well) The Wonderbolts from their brief appearance seem pretty flamboyant with the smoke trails. I half anticipate the "egotistical flyboys" sort of imagery to pop in when we meet them. The story does a good manner of building them up properly as this very powerful foe. Thus the reaction as a reader when they ambushed the Sky Raider? "Shit!" Good work.
Also, I spot 5 Wonderbolts. The show had 6. Potential story point?
And reeling off from the end, as I'm sure I'm beginning to ramble.
ReplyDeleteEverfree and the Fluttertree only got a brief throwout this chapter. However Everfree's build up over so much time has always left it to mystery and wonder. I think, similar to how Canterlot was built up and them realised horrifyingly, we may see the same here. Fluttertree, virtually no real info here yet. Many people theorised it. Many more wondered if you'de go with it. Guess we know now. Pretty crazy concept (especially with the creepy Angel statue) and one I really am interested to see the reality of. How sane is she? Ridden with eternal guilt over what she did? Holding on to a way to save things? What will Velet think, the poor dear?
So many questions, so damn your cliffhanger. :p
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Points I Laughed
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I should clarify, when I do these bits, I try to only list the points that genuinelly made me crack up or get a little giggle, rather than just all "comedy" bits. So hopefully this gives a better indication of what humour is best passing across, at least to me anyway.
Littlepip's inner thoughts, as I said I'd revisit. They often give me a mad grin, from how crazy she can get in a very adorable way. How they'll subconsiously check out pretty much any mare within sight range for example. It's why we love her.
The Tunnel Snake burn had me grinning like maniac. Never liked those guys.
"Best pony" Always worth a fandom nod. Glad it's always so small. :p
Calamity and Velvet romancing time. Loving Littlepip's reaction. So cute to see them like that too, but it reminds me a lot over how they initially got together when Littlepip poured it out already.
The return of Littlepip cursing. Brilliant!
Pip's sex life never gets a break does it? It is the single biggest running joke in the entire story. Not to mention the single most adored one by fans here. It's HILARIOUS.
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Things I noticed
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As always, this isn't "things I dislike." Just call it 'open thought wonderings'.
Red Eye has been absent for about 16 chapters now. We still feel his influence and suchlike, but I will SLIGHTLY echo some people in that I feel we are beginning to lose a little bit of his true world impact by now. However, you did say last Chapter that he will suffer loss soon. You also noted that the Thunderhead is likely headed to Fillydelphia. So I'm not going to call you out when it's clear something is building very soon. :)
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General Comments
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It's wonderful to see the story start directing itself to another totally new area. It'll be our first one since Canterlot which, isn't that far back really, but FO:E has always had this healthy world building aspect of it. So it's absolutely brilliant to see that about to kick back in for Everfree Forest.
Now I just need to remember to post this in the new comments bit...
“We’re hirin’ ourselves t’ do this. Less you lot think you can outrun us.” No, but can you out run the Wonderbolts? They won't take kindly to griffins standing in the way of their prize.
ReplyDelete"But that notion fled as I noticed the shimmer of caramel-colored magic surrounding the suits of Enclave armor and realized there were no ponies inside." Jesus christ Crane, don't do that. Pip doesn't need any more battles right now.
"Walking just behind him was a haggard-looking charcoal unicorn , streaks of scarlet and gold in her white mane. She was wearing Rarity’s battle dress and yellow medical boxes for saddle bags." Well lookie what the Crane dragged in.
"Of course she was." Yeah, some things never change.
“This one’s been claiming he’s the best telekinetic in the wasteland,” she said indignantly. “Obviously, he hasn’t met you.” How would they decide that? Can you arm wrestle with telekinesis? I doubt that would work if you added telekinetic strength to your own arm, somehow. I think Crane might outdo Pip in STR.
“It is expected,” she whispered earnestly." Or a cliche. Whichever.
"I shook my mane. “By who?” The zebra didn’t seem to have an answer." By me. Mostly.
“Littlepip, the things I said…” Velvet began again. “They were so horrible.” Doesn't mean they aren't true. The truth hurts. Which is why Honesty is a sucky element. That and generosity
"I wondered briefly if hornets still existed in Equestria." Oh god I hope not. Please don't. No. Nonono. Curse my apiphobia. APIPhobia? Wtf.
“I’m not worthy to follow Fluttershy. Or to be your friend.” The "I'm not worthy" argument. I see this so often, yet never know how to counter it. Other than saying something like "Self opinion is poor indicator of true character."
“I let the wasteland poison me. I know that. And I was right, most ponies don’t deserve to be helped. But that’s not the reason to do it.” Kindness. Ya know, I'm starting to think most virtues just suck. Unless yours is simply being badass or something.
“What matters is that you don’t let your failures stop you.” Wow, that was pretty good. Nice job with the confidence boost on VR.
“It’s my fault SteelHooves is dead.” Oh please. If anything, it's Pip's fault. Even then it isn't.
“I’m sorry. I… when you didn’t come back, SteelHooves wanted to move. But I knew that clearing was where you would expect us to be. The others thought you were dead, but I refused to believe it.” Honestly, I wouldn't expect Pip to survive either. Heroic sacrifice and all that. She knew the risks (kinda) and accepted them. Except there was a nuke proof shelter in there. So yeah.
“I’m the reason it was so easy for the Hellhounds to find us. I made us keep camping so close to the same spot every day!” How many days was she out? If it was any more than three I would have left by then. Sometimes being trope savvy is a bad thing. Makes you an irritating little shit, for one.
“Velvet!” Calamity cheered, nuzzling the exceptionally muddy mare." Now that, is the definition of adorable. Holy hell.
"SPLASH! Calamity dumped the barrel over Velvet Remedy." Oh Calamity.
“Who’s being a silly pony,” Calamity chided." Both of you. The sillyness is so thick you can eat it.
ReplyDelete"Was there ever any doubt?" http://wiki.teamfortress.com/w/images/2/2a/Spy_autocappedintelligence01.wav Fuck no. Took you long enough, Gawd. Well, maybe a little doubt. But no more! So, 4 of 6. Pip might as well be 5. As for Xenith, I have no earthly idea.
“Ever consider mounting a magical energy turret on the top o’ that thing?” Replace magical energy turret with explosive firing undead panzer and the answer is yes.
“Her name is Fluttershy, and she was the best pony.” Fluttershy is best pony? Nooo. Rainbow pony is best pony. Fluttershy is adorable though...
“So… you’re a follower of the apocalypse?” This is a way more legit reason for that name.
“Did you not see it?” I can't see what isn't described.
"About ten minutes later, as we crouched in the cover of a broken sales bench, the pale grey light from the clouds was blotted out by the massive form of a black, anvil-shaped Enclave mobile fortress." THUNDERHEAD. Everything about this says awesome.
"Couldn’t we, just once, get a break?" Ya know there ain't no rest for the wicked, Pip.
“If they’re committin’ Thunderheads t’ Operation: Cauterize, that means they’re gettin’ ready for their big offensive" Getting ready? You mean that wasn't the full offensive? What the hell?
“By the vector, I’d say they’re aimin’ fer Fillydelphia,” I say let em. Assuming it isn't Tenpony, just let it go by. Unless you REALLY want to start a war by taking out a fucking THUNDERHEAD.
“Remember, I told you that we can make this all mean something. Make all the loss count; make this the start of something better?” I don't like where this is going.
“Well, I’ve got a plan. I know how to do it…” Oh. A plan. These always go well.
“Okay, we haven’t seen the Thunderheads before, so until now they must have been using someplace groundside as a communications center. Someplace to correlate data from all the scattered forces and relay commands.” Tenpony comes to mind, but they lost that didn't they? Where else could they be holding out? Do you think the Steel Rangers have been helping them? They could use it with half their troops gone. And their Elders.
“Horseshoe Tower.” Aha! I almost forgot about that. And what it was called.
“You. Have a plan.” Velvet Remedy leaned out the front window of the Sky Bandit, talking to Calamity. “You.” Yes. Apparently it's crazy. Which means it is exactly the same as every other plan ya'll have had so far.
“You’re…. not going to forget me, are you?” Daww. How could he ever forget about you?
"Here it comes. The first horseshoe." I still want to know how the fuck they get them on and off. Assuming they use the same horseshoes we do.
“We ain’t gonna defeat the Wonderbolts, Velvet. We’re going to save them!” Oh. What?
“There’s something else I needed to discuss with you at your earliest convenience. A… legal matter.” Prolly something to do with that cheese shop.
"I was probably being paranoid, but when things started working out in our favor, it tended to make me nervous." It's not paranoia if they are really out to get you. Don't let your guard down.
“If Calamity’s going to be a while having his brain molested, would you like to join me for a trip to the spa, Littlepip?” I must say, this is a sentence I did not expect to read this chapter.
ReplyDelete“You know, part of me says that’s… awesome.” She gave him a simpering look, leaning so close they had to be feeling each other’s breathing." :|
“You have never been sexier…” ...
“That’s it!” I jumped to my hooves, floating my armor to me. “Time to go do the thing in the place!” Yeah, I'm with Pip on this one. Time to go everyone!
"Getting this far had been… um, damn. Why was my mind searching for a metaphor for “easy” that involved muffins? Ditzy Doo was rubbing off on me." Is there a metaphor like that? I can't think of one.
"But I worried that they would be ineffective against pegasi in magically-powered armor." The blades yes, but anything hellhound related will tear through armor. Like, if you threw a hellhound eyeball at Steelhooves, it would probably leave a big dent.
"I pulled out Little Macintosh, locking onto the attacking pony with S.A.T.S., but had to dive away as the spray of his weapon melted my cover." That would get really annoying if your cover kept melting. Unless you are fighting in an ice land or chocolate factory, I don't think it's a common thing.
"Two more pegasi launched themselves across the gap from another floor. The trooper was laying suppressive fire while they flanked us." Don't get pinched! Most irritating shit ever.
"The wingblades had sparked harmlessly off the pegasus’ armor just before Kage sent his hellhound-claw knives plunging into the pony’s throat." See, what did I tell ya? Was there ever any doubt?
"His Talon armor took the brunt of it, but one shot speared his right wing. The young griffin collapsed with a grunt, his eyes closed tight against tears." If you kill Gawd's son she isn't going to be very happy with you.
"Pain sprouted from my hindlegs." Just dive into the radioactive water below, you will regrow them!
"We had seven minutes before the Raptor opened fire, eradicating Horseshoe Tower." What is with this burned earth type strategy the enclave likes? Seems like a dick move if you ask me.
"Part of me hated the Enclave for using magical energy weapons; their ammo crates never had anything I could use." Should've dipped a few points into Energy Weapons.
"Her forehooves planted on the railing as she spun, driving bucking hooves into the throat of the infantry pony as he reloaded and tried to aim." Gag. Getting kicked in the throat is bad enough, but when it's from someone with max unarmed he is lucky she didn't kick his head off.
"I could hear his armor crush into his windpipe." For example.
"The griffin fell back, smoke rising from a gaping wound in his breast. I stared in horror as the light went out of his eyes." Oh lovely. Gawd's gonna be pissed. At least you didn't characterize him very much, if at all.
"“Y’all c’n kill me, or y’all c’n win.”" Someone's got a proposition.
"Celestias fiery hemorrhoids of solar-flarin’ death!" I have no words.
ReplyDelete“Y’all let me go, an’ I’ll download what ya need inta that Pip-what-the-fuck ya got there.” Someone's got fancy speakin' skills.
“One, cuz y’folk are Calamity’s friends. Ah love muh li’l brother, an’ Ah ain’t happy t’ see his name onna kill list. Two, cuz Ah reckon without any fliers with ya, chances are, three minutes won’t be ‘nuff fer ya t’ get out anyway.” Why am I not surprised he is Calamity's brother? It's the accent. Quite distinctive. Also, you underestimate Pip. She just needs a chunk of concrete and she can fly herself and Xenith off the tower in less than three minutes. Doesn't mean she will be clear of the blast zone, though...
“What’s the chance that two of Calamity’s brother’s would be down here?” Ignoring tropes, I would say the first brother is coincidence. The second probably stayed behind when he saw who was coming. Also, Calamity's family seems quite involved with the military.
"One of Calamity’s brothers was commanding this entire damn massacre." Yeah, tha'd explain it.
“As fer Autumn Leaf an’ muhself? We remembered what dad was like b’fore mom died,” Wow, that's pretty sad actually. Calamity never really knew his Dad. And it's his fault. Kinda. Sorta.
"I’d gotten us a little over a mile before strain and exhaustion forced me to put us down in one of the Four Stars stations." That is pretty damn impressive. I wonder if she could go farther without having to carry someone else.
"In two days time, the Overcast -- Colonel Autumn Leaf’s command Thunderhead -- was going to move in with a second full regiment and wipe the Cathedral off the face of Equestria." Good. Take a major threat out of the picture. I doubt he is going down without a fight though.
"And by attack, they meant cleansing. Slavers, slaves, Rangers, scavengers… they were going to kill them all, and reduce the factories that Red Eye had rebuilt to rubble for good measure." Honestly, I say let them. Well, maybe not. Factories are useful.
"I couldn’t let that happen." Of course you can't.
"Somehow, my marefriend had rated as the second biggest threat to the Enclave." Damn. Go Homage.
"Thirty-two hours." -THIRTY TWO HOURS REMAINING- Oh god.
"After over twenty hours of meetings, what pony wouldn’t want to catch some sleep, making sure they were fresh and revived before they went hunting other ponies down and killing them?" I dunno some of them might be sadistic. Like FPS Doug. "There's nothing like the RUSH of hunting people down and KILLIN' EM."
“What do you mean, ‘what now’?” she asked gruffly. “The job ain’t over yet, is it?” Nope. And it's only gotten bigger. Heh. That's what she said.
“I’m sorry, but the Twilight Society simply doesn’t have five recollectors to give you.” So there are only five of them. Good to know. Unless they somehow could share them at the same time.
"Calamity’s plan was to divide up the Wonderbolts, incapacitate them through Xenith’s paralyzing hoof and Velvet’s anesthetic magic, and slap recollectors on them, feeding them his memories." That just might be crazy enough to work! Wow.
“There’s a memory spell, one created by Twilight Sparkle herself, which will allow me to cram all those memories into their heads in minutes. It won’t be pleasant…” The white unicorn shook his head. “But it will work.” A mind flood doesn't sound pleasant, no. And I like how you fit that in there. It works.
"Floor was good. Just give me a pillow." Sounds like me.
"Velvet Remedy cringed, looking at me in surprise." Don't worry, everyone was already dead.
ReplyDelete"Wheee. Look at it fall." Watch yer head.
“…Everfree Forest.” This is a terrible idea. Even before they knew that the enclave was going to nuke it soon.
"The consensus was that we were indeed all going to die. But at least it would be an exciting death." Once again, what else is new? These problems have never stopped you before.
“And… it was not easy to read. There were things I did not wish to understand.” Couldn't? Or did not want to? Dark secrets that tempt mortal minds. Or something.
“Forgive me for speaking what may seem ill of your Goddess, but Celestia was never as strong as her sister. When things hurt too much, she would run away.” Well Luna did have to deal with that corruption for a thousand years. She was probably tempered by it.
“I have come to believe that the infection of the stars was being held at bay for a thousand years. Even during that time, the forest was bad, but it was not as bad as it could be because something in the heart of the forest was hindering it. The Elements of Harmony, even abandoned and dormant, were holding back the bad." Interstellar corruption. I like it. Adds something unknown and mysterious to the mix.
“I’ve got it. There’s a farm right at the edge of the Everfree Forest. It’s supposedly got landmines or ghosts or something, so be careful.” Possibly a bad idea. But at least it was a landmark. “Go near, not in.” You don't need to be in for Arkansas to take pot shots atcha.
"Life Bloom gave me a pompous smile. “Oh absolutely.” Damn. That would've been a nice little smack at them.
“Oh?” Reggie perked up, flying closer. “An’ why is that?” It was the first thing she’d said all morning. Yay for it being about my sex life." Everyone always takes an interest in that. Why is that?
"The one she gave Xenith was striped with red and gold, and simply looked ridiculous." Ten points from Gryffindor for your terrible fashion sense.
"Turning around, I saw five columns of black smoke, crackling with lightning, shooting up out of the Hope Solar Array." Well fuck. This'll be fun. Ya better start flying fast Calamity. They gon' getcha!
"Only they didn’t look like the disruptions caused by detonated landmines to me. They looked like the work of hellhounds." Change of plan. Stay the fuck away from there.
"In the yard, partially hidden under a tarp, was an Enclave antenna array. It looked just like the one on the rooftop in Old Olneigh. “Oh fuck!” Indeed. This is bad. They have taken control of the hellhounds. Better think of a plan fast.
"It was like bugs walking along my bones." That is a nice analogy.
"What the hell? Something was seriously wrong with this picture." Between the trees? What the, did Discord get loose or something?
"I heard a strange pop." I hope that wasn't your leg or something.
Calamity heard it too. With a scream of panic, he pulled us over the edge of the cliff, grassy ground appearing closely beneath us, before kicking the quick release on his harness with a shout of, “Abandon wagon!” Oh. Uh oh! Explosion imminent?
"Velvet Remedy hadn’t even hit the ground when the Sky Bandit exploded in a pyrotechnic eruption of wild magic." Pretteh. Hopefully it took out one of the wonderbolts as well.
ReplyDelete"Scattered around us were burning hunks of twisted metal -- the remains of the Sky Bandit. Seeing them drove a pang through my heart. Like we had lost a dear pet or treasured heirloom." You just basically lost your version of fast travel. That's gotta suck.
"A fiercely determined bunny rabbit stared back at me." Doombunny?
"The bunny was made of stone." Eh? Oh. Uh oh. This is bad.
"Beyond the stone bunny, the grassy knoll rose up to where a massive weeping willow, twisted and ancient, rose above us. The rough bark of the tree was a strange, buttery yellow. Blue vines wrapped about its gnarled roots. Its drooping pink leaves swayed in a wind I couldn’t feel." Ah, HAA! Fluttertree! I suspected.
"The tree was framed by the angry brown sky, choked with smoke. Beyond the tree, the hillside dropped back downward into the fires of Everfree Forest, those flames pushed forward by the dark silhouettes of Red Eye’s griffins, their weapons pouring liquid fire across the ground." Waht a twist! Can't wait to see how this is going to turn out.
Interesting prediciment you've put them in Kkat. I eagerly await the next chapter to see how it all pans out.
Is it wrong that I love the Main Six ponies more because of this story?
ReplyDeleteFluttertree! I knew it!
ReplyDelete@blakestar15Just finished chapter 41. God I hope your not going to make fluttershy a tree!! I liked the idea of her being an Alicorn better. I hope you and Somber are talking so you two don't trip over each others storys!
ReplyDeleteKinda possible enough theory: Silver Bell is the Element of Laughter and Ditzy Doo is the Element of Generosity. :)
ReplyDeleteA teacher. I think that would be a good ending for Xenith.
ReplyDeleteWASTLAND CRUSADERS RAIDER HUNTING!
WASTELAND CRUSADERS STABLE WATER TALISMAN REPAIR!
WASTELAND CRU-*shot*
Ouch. How low is Lilpips charisma again?
Yes you do. Accept the bloody offer.
Velvet. please come back.
Bwahaha. Sword Mares.
I lost it imagining Xenith say that. GOOD GAWD I LOVE THIS CHAPTER!
Very high her charisma is VERY HIGH!
Manly tears are being shed as we spea- What!?
HA! OH GOOD GRACIOUS THAT IS ADORIBLE!
The Followers of Fluttershy. I like dis idea.
Fluttershy IS best pony.
Just what we all were thinking Kage.
waitaminnute Kage? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsPFvqguawU&feature=related
You godda be fucking kidding.
Do I hear final battle time.
Ohshi- Tenpony! please just keep going to fillydelphia.
Indeed go HOMAGE!
Hopefully Lilpip won't interup this time.
Forgive me but I don't like to do commentary on the battle scenes, so I can keep it moving at a fast pace.
Damnit no KAGE!
He's Calamitys... Oh wow.
Fuck Red Eye I just hopes he takes some Enclave with him before he croaks.
Please stay safe Homage. Please.
The one place we havent gone yet. Oh no. The everfree forest brings nothing but bad.
Goddamnit we asked for it and we got it.
Folker: Kkat's not reading PH, but Somber is reading this one. There's already a minor trip in this chapter (whoops, Crusaders already exist), but nothing huge. Although, yes. My dream is that PH and FOE merge for one uber-ending, tho' I doubt that will happen.
ReplyDeleteso what do we have so far kindness loyalty laughter and what ever homage is
ReplyDeleteUghhhhhh I just had to read this before I went to bed... ended up tossed and turning all night thinking about the chapter, ah well. @_@
ReplyDeleteThere're a lot less ups and downs emotionally, but so much has happened. Ditzy Doo's surprise party was definitely a high point in this chapter, it is nice to see Silver Bell finding the true element of laughter.
Velvet rejoining the team didn't have as big an impact on me as I imagined, though I think that may be due to the fact that I was sleep deprived when I read it... definitely going back to reread it now.
And... Turning the Wonderbolts... wow... that just one of those plans that're so ridiculously, utterly insane, that it just might work. I also have a feeling that Life Bloom will turn out to be some kind of badblank and saves everypony's life at one point... Memory spell... nice to see you already incorporating elements from Season 2, Kkat.
Also, am I the only one saddened by the destruction of Sky Bandit? I'm suddenly reminded of the part of One Piece where Going Merry was lost, for whatever reason.
@Somber
ReplyDeleteThe next chapter or two will almost certainly change things, but I still don't see the starts as being portrayed as evil by anyone other than zebra mythology here. Dangerous? Definitely. Chaotic? Oh yes. Unnatural, at least by equestrian standards? Very much so. But all that this chapter confirms is that they are to some degree opposed to the Elements of Harmony and that they influence whatever they touch to be more like themselves.
@Alchat
ReplyDeleteYeah, I only know this song from the "There She Is" series.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF-hmhTiQ5g
Also, holy crap new thread?
Also also, chapters 40 and 41 were awesome.
FLUTTER. FUKKEN. TREE.
ReplyDeleteThat is all.
@JeremyRush
ReplyDeleteWoops, we seem to have combo-broke each others feedback postings. Let us instead see it as one singular UBER COMMENT. :p
Part 1/5
ReplyDeleteOh-hoh! 41 already?! I really hadn't expected it to come out before SteamCon, seemed like much too little time. Feels like christmas came a few days early!
Towards Hope? Yay for optimism!
And the quote, no idea where it's from, but it's optimistic! Yay! I didn't say it was going to be easy... I said it was going to be worth it.
Madness. Hah, I can imagine Li'lbait's face~
I wonder what the plan actually is... I guess I'll know now.
"Plans have... plan stuff" Eloquent :3
Well this is kind of putting Calamity in a new light for me, he's that madman who just does things and it ends up working one way or another. I guess the Zebratown incident kinda shows that as well, but I guess I took that as something he did because there wasn't really any other way.
>“Sure.” We were all going to die.
Ahahaha. Cute Calamity is cute.
Hmm, the Wonderbolts are up to something sneaky, and I've got no guesses for what...
And Railright, waiting for somebody? Something going on here as well?
Let's get some more on those new pegasi ^.^
Oh Tracker's gone. Well Tracker seemed like a bit of a lost cause anyways :S
Hope Solar Array?
Is that.. Helios One?
>“Ah think Ah saw her headed up t’ the toilets.”
Facepalm inducing for Littlepip I'm guessing :P
Yep. Still, Silver Bell can't have just left to go to the toilet. I'm getting the feeling that a whole load of things going on right now are quite mysterious.
The description of the downed Raptor, that's beautiful, can totally imagine the scenery.
Oooh, a little info on Griffin territory. So they originally live in mountainy areas. Hm hmm!
About the weather going crazy... Is that just the Pegasi up above being pissed at the surface?
>rectangles of hardened paper
Heh :D Gambling totally seems like something griffins would do~
>“Sorry, kid. But you ain’t my type.”
Ahahaha, awesome!
I hope we get to know what exactly Calamity's plan is soon, I'm a little confused with a few things... For now, we need to find out where they're going next, what's up with Silver Bell, what's up with those 2 new pegasi, and what is Calamity's plan... Yeah... Now I have an overview!
>And why was I even having this discussion with myself?
Hahahaha, oh my, Littlepip is awesome.
>I could see Ditzy Doo’s eyes widen.
Woah, well.. Yeah, that doesn't sound like something Ditzy would like.. Maybe she'll move out?
>I detailed what I wanted Gawd to do.
... Dangit! I wanna know too :[
Oh, they're bringing her and Silver Bell to Spike :D Yay~ That's good protection! If it works like it's worked so far (it won't), then Spike's Cave seems to be safe at all times. If not, and the Enclave goes after her anyways, then it would seem that the Garden of Equestria would be in danger as well...
And with Silber Bell there, the Garden of Equestria is going to look mighty fine by the time it gets to cast it's spell!
Part 2/5
ReplyDelete>“Hey, Derpy. That ditzy filly o’ yours is up at Railright’s station. Needs you somethin’ bad.”
Nope! Whyyy would she leave safety? ;;
>bucked the door open, revealing blackness inside.
Oh god oh god, WHAT? Fuck fuck, what could possibly be going on INSIDE the damn town now? D:
... Oh, oh wow. Just pulled a Pinkie Pie there, one that was significantly scarier :x PHEW.
>“It’s a party!”
Bringing back Equestria, one step at a time ^.^ Towards hope!
Oh yeah, telling Crane about the epicness of Littlepip's magic. There's quite a lot to tell. Shooting Hellhounds in the sky, lifting a pool of Pink Cloud-infected water, forming a staircase out of objects? Myeah.
"Requires a few plants that only grew in the Everfree Forest. Reckon they’re all burnt up now."
Hey, there's a remedy for not being able to talk train ponies into letting you go to Appleloosa and wiping out the whole place and then driving with them back! Probably good that it's all burnt up, no more drugs for Li'lpip! Of course, that's only because I'm getting a druggy vibe from it. Maybe it's just like health potions. Like mana potions?
>Ghosts don’t exist. Just landmines.
Ah, no reason to worry then!
>Wait. Xenith started a game?
I was just thinking the same thing. That's pretty cool of her :3 She's lightening up a bit?
>The little pony in my head started looking around for the source of the other voices.
Uhm.. What? That's strange indeed. Pinkie Pie!
>“What is your type?”
Ahahahah oh wow
Littlepip.. Actually dancing with Silver Bell? That... Is sooo cute~!
>“But you can be more than just a guard; you can be a teacher.”
Hmm, that's pretty wise~ I like the idea of that.
“How about the Ouroboros?”
Ahahahaaa, I -love- these ponies! I'm guessing they all have their cutie marks, but damn they're just like the Cutie Mark Crusaders! The meaning of the word, I didn't know. But yeah... It's not so much the snake thing, but more just the sound of it that makes me feel it's not exactly a great name...
The Wasteland Crusaders. Yay!
>I took a plate of cake and nibbled at it. Yep. Muffin-flavored.
Muffin flavored cake? .... ??? Derp.
>“Didn’t know she was related t’ yer feathered fantasy though.”
When did Littlepip fantasize about Reggie? She seems like a cool one though, using Calamity crafted pistols. The most boss pair of pistols.
Woah, that's pretty cool. Two griffins teaming up with our crew? That sounds like a very good thing. Still need Velvet back though :|
Velvet! ^_^
Hugs, there's no escaping. Cuute.
>“Or I was wrong, as usual,”
Awww, Velvet... There's a lot of emotion in her :<
Bwaahahaha, wow, Xenith, that's eerie. But even though. Some Pinkie Pie shit you got going there. Littlepip.... DO IT.
Ugh, I gotta stop reading. Fuck. And it could be days before I'll get to read on. DAMNIT.
...
Nope, made it back. Take that, arrangements!
Part 3/5
ReplyDeleteStraight into awkward moment between 'Bait and Velvet! :D
Littlepip~ Talking sense and good words into Velvet, that's so nice :3 There's some interesting things in there, too. ("most ponies don’t deserve to be helped. But that’s not the reason to do it.")
>SteelHooves wanted to move.
Ouch. This guilt will be hard to talk her out of D:
>knocking her out of sight as she was driven into the mud with Calamity on top of her.
Haha, oh my, I'm not sure how Calamity is going to react though?. Either way, this seems like the same scene from when Twilight first meets Rainbow Dash. But actually, that wasn't what I thought of first, I thought of the scene where Rainbow Dash dives into Fluttershy the moment a battle breaks out.
>“Oops,” he said, blushing. “Let me help ya.”
Yeah... Seems like that scene alright :P That's great! :D It definitely makes this whole scene a lot more lighthearted, where just before there was a sad and awkward feeling in the air.
>Xenith asked, having ninjaed up beside me.
Hahahaa, I giggled. Both at Xenith's consistent creepy sneakiness, but especially at the wording here. She ninjaed.
>The rain was beginning to stop.
Symbolism!
Hey ho! There it is! Bang!
As has been predicted here and there, we got Kindness and Loyalty. Was that what was concluded in the comments as well? I know many were thinking that Calamity was Loyalty. How about Velvet being Kindness? That's a lot of sudden quest updates for our Garden of Equestria quest I think. Assuming that Ditzy is also an element, (and possibly Silver Bell, too?) then that quest updated 3 or 4 times. (Find the element of generosity, laughter, kindness, loyalty) Now we just need Honesty and Magic; the Spark.
The bringer of light and the bringer of truth :D Towards hope!
***
Going to Manehattan are we? What for? Err, Calamity's plan, I'll just ride along.
>"and she was the best pony.”
Tee hee, maybe a bit of awkward wording here, but the references... They must be said. It is expected.
>“So… you’re a follower of the apocalypse?”
That... That's certainly interesting o.0 Making me wish I knew my Fallout lore.. Now I need to look up exactly what it means to be part of the Followers of the Apocalypse.
>anvil-shaped Enclave mobile fortress.
Oh shit. Errr... Tenpony Tower is fucked. Damnit. Homage is not in there so at least that's good, but... It would still be another Friendship City situation.
>"they’re gettin’ ready for their big offensive,"
Fucked. Everypony is fucked.
>“By the vector, I’d say they’re aimin’ fer Fillydelphia,”
Fillydelphia... That kinda carries the possibility that they'll kill RedEye. But seeing as RedEye is RedEye, he's most likely taken the possibility into account, so it'll just be a whole lot of dead slaves...
I really kind of like the fact that they're now traveling in an area from way back, with changes. The chapters around the time our crew made it to Tenpony Tower were perhaps my favorite, so this feeling is awesome. Now we're back. No Party Time Mint-als addiction, max level, full crew, and the environment has changed what with the Thunderhead above.
Part 4/5
ReplyDeleteHorseshoe Tower. I vaguely remember that. Not too well, though.
>“You’re doing something with your memories, aren’t you?”
ಠ_à²
Come up with a plan? Erase memories!
>"We’re going to save them!”
Hahaha, what? What does that even have to do with doing things with your memories? XD
>Resistance Radio
Best fucking pony, ever.
>The thing in the place
Bwahaha! Swanky wording. I remember that line, but I forgot the context, except it was Littlepip saying something to Homage and it was a misunderstanding. Good times!
>Getting this far had been… um, damn.
Woah, what happened here. Either Littlepip is crazy, or you were trying to find a metaphor like that but gave up xD
>We were in almost the same spot that three alicorns had stood the last time I was here.
Seriously I need to be reading this again. I'm at chapter 9, which means that I easily remembered the part about a griffin cutting off a pony's head on a train, but not this. It's like a haze~ :<
>Two shots to the head of each opponent. Two, in case one missed or just failed to kill.
Yeah, or in case the first shot just makes the helmet fly off. My mind has been giving the environments a Rage-ish flair today, and it looks pretty cool. At least I can easily imagine the Enclave aesthetics being similar to the Authority's.
>blasting apart the ceiling with a prismatic lightshow.
Except of course for all this rainbowy stuff that differs even from Fallout. It's awesome, and I love the images in my head!
>I stared in horror as the light went out of his eyes.
Eeyup. Shit. I was actually just thinking about this, that even though this seemed like a regular combat situation, it actually was a lot more hefty than those our crew can safely engage. Just before, I was a little worried about Xenith. O'course Kage had to go :<
>I could see his shadow as he downed a healing potion.
Woah, isn't that new? An enemy drinking a healing potion? Another detail that makes the Enclave seem less vulnerable than previous enemies.
>Celestias fiery hemorrhoids of solar-flarin’ death!
:D Gotta start using these.
>Ah love muh li’l brother,
Oh, oh woah. This guy seems kind of a nasty fellow, but at least he's honest and kind of wants to help. "Pip-what-the-fuck" Haha :D
>I galloped for the window.
Oh I see, that's what the talk about how long she could keep levitating herself. Guess we'll find out now!
>I was going to see just how far I could fly after all.
And about that remedy? :P Maybe you'll want it in just a minute.
>They had given lethal sanction to the one group they thought could actually hunt down and kill Homage without her being able to strike back.
Well fuck. Better get to work on that damned plan, and fast!
Please let's hear a broadcast that tells us that Homage knows about this~ She'll be able to do something. But if she doesn't know they're coming? Damnit...
Part 5/5
ReplyDelete>"Grimfeathers don’t turn tail an’ run when it gets nasty,” she spat.
Now it's personal o.o
>“Storing a copy of so many of Calamity’s memories was actually the easy part."
Oh... Oh wow. I don't get how this is going to work, but if he's taken a memory that will prove what the Enclave has done and then duplicated it, he'd be able to force the Wonderbolts to be convinced. But problem is, they're pegasi?
>and slap recollectors on them, feeding them his memories.
Ah, recollectors. I thought they were only for recording memories, not for watching them. Seems like they can do either, then~
>“There’s a memory spell, one created by Twilight Sparkle herself, which will allow me to cram all those memories into their heads in minutes."
Season two material detected! o.0
>Wheee. Look at it fall.
Ahaaha~ Those small comments in there are great.
And not only that, but Everfree Forest! Again bringing us into "FLUTTERTREE?!"-mode. Heh.
>“Through this book, I have come to learn the reason,”
The... Poison joke?
Oh wow, now here's some Equestrian lore! That's awesome as shit. So the Everfree Forest was made into what it was in FiM by the stars, or a star that fell into the forest. A comet perhaps? And then it all started deterioating when the mane 6 took the elements. Awesome!
>There’s a farm right at the edge of the Everfree Forest.
I suppose this is logic that makes sense when the general consensus is that we're all gonna die... Bloody hell, whatever is there, it's not just landmines :D
>“And I swiftly gouged it from my own memory to mitigate the trauma.”
Ahahahaha, that's brilliant, I can so imagine him being all serious about it, saying this with a straight face.
>A wasteland merchant had set up home and shop beneath the overturned dish.
Ohh! That place I remember!
>The Wonderbolts.
Wow, that was quick.
>They looked like the work of hellhounds.
Yeah, okay, nope, I'll just be heading on out. Nope, nope.
>the Sky Bandit exploded in a pyrotechnic eruption of wild magic.
Nice shot...
>something was seriously amiss.
This Everfree Forest is doing strange things, and not me nor the crew seems to be able to tell just what is up yet...
>The bunny was made of stone.
>The rough bark of the tree was a strange, buttery yellow.
OKAY LOL I CHANGED MY MIND LET'S JUST KEEP MOVING
Oh god, it's happening. Oh fuck oh fuck. Still haven't read past "buttery yellow"... Here goes.
>Blue vines
Perhaps the Poison Joke is going to be significant in some way. Sort of related, I've been interested in whether or not Jokeblue's name has anything to do with the poison joke pla-... She stared Angel into stone?? O_O
Oh, hah. What a great place to end the chapter. Now I'm really excited about 42 :D Fluttershy... One of the mane 6, right there. Although threatened by approaching fire, there's a chance to talk to Fluttershy. Oh how wonderful!
Did a proper reading commentary this time.
ReplyDelete--
Oh dear. I guess we'll never see Tracker again. Poor bastard.
The Solar Array?
I wonder if there's a complimentary satillite...
This whole sonic rainboom stuff is... kinda cool, actually. But the fact that the Enclave is busy pissing themselves silly over what Ditzy's is a highly entertaining thought.
Sounds like Caravan.
Ha! I knew Gawd had sharp eyes. I'm not surprised she noticed Littlepip eyeing her. Hee hee.
SURPRISE PARTY YAY!
Ditzy Doo deserves it. She really does.
I thought I spotted Crane's telekinesis. Turns out I was right.
But the silver-purple was Silver Belle!?
I am very impressed. And overjoyed! Silver Belle can do magic again!
I'm so very happy that these things can be fixed.
Oh crap. It's Minefield. Sneak around the back, Littlepip! You don't wanna try your luck with the mines AND the sniper!
Heh. "Candi is dandy but her liquor is quicker".
At least it got spelt right this time.
"Tunnel Snakes rule!"
The "Republic"... The "Republic of Dave"?
Heavy merc firepower. Some of the best available firepower.
Velvet Remedy is back!
yay
Oh excellent. Littlepip, how are you ever gonna become a Wasteland Messiah if you don't know how and when to turn a clever and expected phrase?
Hee hee.
Ach. No! Survivor's guilt is bad, Velvet Remedy. Very bad. And a very Velvet Remedy thing to do.
There was never any doubt, Littlepip. It was there all along, you just had to open your eyes and see.
I agree with Velvet Remedy. Fluttershy was the best pony.
Hee hee.
...
Woah.
I just hit myself on the forehead with the palmslap of sudden realization.
KKAT YOU ARE A GENIUS!
Velvet Remedy is the first Follower of the Apocalpyse!
That's so awesome I've run out of adjectives and am currently suffering a critical metaphor failure.
"THIS... IS MY DOOMSTICK!"
Durr.
Hee hee. Brain molestation. Hee.
AND THEN THEY FUCKED
*ahem*
Oh crud. That's a gatling energy weapon isn't it?
Yes it is. Crap.
Calamity's goddessdamn FAMILY is commanding this... this.. Collossal fuckup-to-be?
Life Bloom -> Arcade Gannon?
No... something else...
Everfree forest!
Finally!
Hee hee. Orb number eight.
Hee.
She's a tree...
You must protect her!
--
Things I liked.
Sexual tension funniness! Littlepip is downright hilarious when she's embarrassed, and she's always most embarrassed by all things sex. Hee hee.
The rain. Somehow, the rain feels cleansing.
I want to re-emphasize how incredibly cool the whole "Follower of the Apocalypse" bit is. I mean really. I had to take a short break to let of some excess squee.
Fluttertree! I had almost given up hope after the encounter with the brahmin, but I'm ecstatically happy with Fluttertree. You've been holding this over me for almost the entire story, Kkat. I couldn't be happier now that we've found the final resting place of Fluttershy, whatever's left of her. Fluttershy must be protected from the fires. She MUST BE PROTECTED!
If she isn't, I think I'll cry...
Things I didn't like.
Um. Actually, nothing. Although I do have a dreadful sinking feeling about Homage. I really want her to live through this. I really really really want her to live.
Other thoughts.
I don't think this memory infusement thing is gonna turn out perfectly. A few of the wonderbolts will be turned... but I'm not sure about all of them.
What is that "legal matter" that Littlepip wanted to discuss? I guess we'll find out later...
I got it now, the Wonderbolts aren't necesarily trying to kill Littlepip. They want to capture her to help find Homage.
ReplyDeleteI know I usually get these out the night a chapter is released, so sorry for the delay
ReplyDelete“Chapter Forty-One: Towards Hope”
Hope, hope is good
“Madness.”
Starting strong on the hope theme I see
“Calamity’s plan was insane.”
Yes, channel Blackjack
“First, I need to talk to Gawd.””
I adore that griffon, So. Many. Puns.
““They’re probably caught up in committee,””
Bureaucracy to the rescue.
““Ah’ve put them t’ work assistin’ the community. In return, they ‘ave a place in the common house till they c’n better situate themselves.””
That is actually a very clever way to dull the rage of the lynch mobs
““Enclave Radio broadcast an offer o’ aid to ‘misplaced citizens’.”
Akbar moment in 3...2…1… IT’S A TRAP
“Celestia One, or Celestia Prime”
Ok, I’m seeing one of three things here. A giant solar powered robot, preferably shaped like pinkie. The Archimedes kill sat. Or some form of giant alicorn avatar made of pure sunlight.
“An’ clouds. Clouds make fer good pegasi homes, they ain’t so useful fer makin’ armor an’ bullets.” “
Admittedly fragile but still capable of shooting lighting and providing cover for coordinated weather strikes. A flash flood here, a hurricane there, maybe a F5 tornado in the back with an electrical storm on the side, who needs guns?
““Sorry, kid. But you ain’t my type.””
Aw, cumon, I bet you’re the type who likes there partner to say their name (sorry, couldn’t resist)
“My E.F.S. compass lit up with dozens of lights just as Ditzy Doo pivoted back and flew into the dark maw of the doorway. It was a trap!”
No, Ditzy lived; she’s going to make the sunshine and rainbows. Sunshine and F***ing Rainbows!
““SURPRISE!”
ReplyDeleteI nearly shot a balloon. “
That’s more like it. She disserves it; Littlepip could use one as well.
“Ditzy Doo made those fears evaporate as she flew to Silver Bell, scooping the filly up against her breast and lavishing her with kisses until the girl was crying with happiness.”
That is just adorable… and probably quite disgusting come to think about it.
““Hello, Crane,” I said, turning to the yellow unicorn. “I thought I saw your telekinesis out there yesterday morning.” Crane grinned. “Thanks for the catch.””
I had wondered who the caramel caster was.
“What kind of group of friends would name themselves after snakes?”
They have no hair dresser so it can’t be done
“The Wasteland Crusaders!”
WASTELAND CRUSADERS RADER HUNTERS! YAY!
“Didn’t know she was related t’ yer feathered fantasy though.”
Everyone loves Pipabuse
“suits of Enclave armor and realized there were no ponies inside.”
Opportunity, Calamity can use power armor and modify it so it can be used without a helmet, could probably link it to some more Littlepip style weapons and even hook it into the Pipleg. In short. Littlepip, power armor, get some.
“Walking just behind him was a haggard-looking charcoal unicorn , streaks of scarlet and gold in her white mane. She was wearing Rarity’s battle dress and yellow medical boxes for saddle bags.”
Look who decided to stop wallowing
““Littlepip, the things I said…” Velvet began again. “They were so horrible.””
Yes, yes they were
“Velvet Remedy didn’t ask if they were the good guys and who were the bad guys. She stopped to help the first hurting ponies she came across, didn’t matter who they were. I hoped her kindness to the enemy left a lasting impression on them.”
Let’s hope that this means she has gotten over her “ponies are not worth saving” schlock
““It’s my fault SteelHooves is dead.””
Tuwabawho?
““I’m the reason it was so easy for the Hellhounds to find us. I made us keep camping so close to the same spot every day!””
Well that explains a few things
“SPLASH! Calamity dumped the barrel over Velvet Remedy.”
Um, mr. Calamity, sr. That was our drinking water for the month
“Was there ever any doubt? “
A little, Velvet is kind of a jerk. Ok, lets see; Kindness=Velvet, Loyalty=Calamity, Laughter=Ditzy, Honesty=Homage, I think we are still short generosity and magic (maybe Pip) unless I missed something.
““So… you’re a follower of the apocalypse?””
ReplyDeleteHehe
“I could make out several large doors capable of dropping war chariots or bombers or troops by the scores.”
Epic. Is it wrong that the first thing that comes to mind from this description is the ARC Hammer from Star Wars. http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Arc_Hammer
““No, no, no,” Calamity puffed up, flapping his wings. “We ain’t gonna defeat the Wonderbolts, Velvet. We’re going to save them!””
Alright, lets see if I can extrapolate his plan. Get Spike’s orb helmet or some equivalent device, subde or incapacitate the wonderbolts and finaly force them to live through Calamity’s ‘The best of the wasteland‘ clip show.
““Yeah, you ponies have it hard,” Kage mocked, rolling his eyes.”
Buck up, I’m sure they do preening
“Time to go do the thing in the place!”
We go
“I was out the door, my armor floating behind me, Kage and Xenith trailing my gallop, before they started kissing.”
They don’t seem to mind if Reggie watches, pervy griffin
““Well, two reasons,” the pegasus said, still smiling but with an earnest tone in his voice. “One, cuz y’folk are Calamity’s friends. Ah love muh li’l brother, an’ Ah ain’t happy t’ see his name onna kill list.”
Hu? How many brothers dose Calamity have?
“You’re Windsheer, right?” I asked as the stallion moved to the nearest terminal. Calamity had said his oldest brother was a master of communications technologies. “You were the chief communications officer here?” I guessed.
Oh, right, three.
“and reduce the factories that Red Eye had rebuilt to rubble for good measure. “
We could exterminate the populace with minor effort, then use the restored facilities and abundance of pre-smelted ore to address, if not solve, our terrible supply problem… *blam* Heresy! Burn It All!
“Calamity’s plan was to divide up the Wonderbolts, incapacitate them through Xenith’s paralyzing hoof and Velvet’s anesthetic magic, and slap recollectors on them”
Called it
“Twilight Sparkle herself, which will allow me to cram all those memories into their heads in minutes. It won’t be pleasant”
Ah, the de graying spell
““We will need a place where the Wonderbolts won’t be able t’ totally own us with their aerial superiority,””
An unused stable or other underground complex… That pretty much limits them to Stable 0
“ll the Wonderbolt would ‘ave t’ do is close the door an’ collapse the tunnel. Or do what Li’lpip did with Stable Twenty-Four an’ divert a river inta it.””
And this is why I should spend more than 30 seconds on plans
““…Everfree Forest.””
Fluttertree, Flutterghoul or Fluttercorpse, we soon will know… and any would make me sad
““And then they were removed.””
That is an interesting theory. Sort of C&C Tiberium esc. The “stars” lob a teraforming device at Equestria, then sit back and wait until the planet is ripe. This brings up another theory, a simultaneously hideously depressing and sort of awesome one, Flutterthulhu (actually closer to Shub-Niggurath, but this sounds better).
“We almost made it to the treeline when we heard the cracks of thunder behind us. Turning around, I saw five columns of black smoke, crackling with lightning, shooting up out of the Hope Solar Array.”
ReplyDeleteLest stealthy assassins ever
“It looked just like the one on the rooftop in Old Olneigh. “Oh fuck!””
Was wondering when that plot point would be revisited. But the Ecnlave obviously doesn’t know Littlepip, they just gave her ammo. Hellhound launcher, engage.
“The bunny was made of stone.”
I’m guessing Angle tried to stare down a cockatrice
“Beyond the stone bunny, the grassy knoll rose up to where a massive weeping willow, twisted and ancient, rose above us. The rough bark of the tree was a strange, buttery yellow. “
Fluttertree! Oh dam, not only is she being forced to live with the guilt of the apocalypse, but she also is stuck staring at her petrified companion.
While it started out a bit slow, this chapter turned out well in the end. Given the density of the exposition I sense we are coming up on the finally in the next, I’m ball parking, 6 chapters or so (this is not an attempt to rush or slow your plot progression, just a guess based off the rate lose ends are being tied up.
The only real complaints I have are that;
One, the exposition feels a bit rushed. For example, and I may be wrong, I got the impression that the glyph book was supposed to be found after an adventure to Zecora’s hut instead of ‘I’ve had it for ten chapters and just now finished translating it’.
And two, I can’t get over how the Enclave flips between tactical geniuses and strategically inept, saddle on head retarded zealots at the drop of a hat.
I know this is completely unrelated, but some may find it amusing. I think I may be getting a bit to immersed in this fandom between reading this and PH, putting together vector ponies, editing several starting fics and writing a fic of my own. I had to consciously stop myself from referring to my class as everypony during a midterm presentation yesterday.
So nice to see LittlePip and company have a mostly positive chapter, aside for the death of the son of Gawd (will he be back?). They really do deserve a break like that at this point.
ReplyDeleteAlso VR is back!
I'm glad that the nickname I game Ditzy's bodyguard in my last Silver Bell pic ended up being so close (I figure it was a coincidence though)!
Not sure what to think of the "Fluttertree" at the end of the chapter... I'm holding out that it won't be the predictable "Fluttershy became a tree", since Kkat writes better than that...
Calamity needs this plan to work? He's been having such a rough time of it lately, I can totally see this. He may have been hiding his pain so much better than everypony else, but in the last chapter it was starting to get obvious that everything was getting under his skin. "Stop killing ponies!" and all that. And without Velvet Remedy there at the time, I think it makes perfect sense that he'd try to pick up a bit of her mantle as well.
ReplyDeleteFrost and Tracker... I'm hoping we get to see more of Frost, but I guess I shouldn't hold my breath over Tracker. I also have to wonder about all the other pegasi that didn't make it out in time. Velvet Remedy was helping out a lot of them, at least twelve of them anyway. I hope we get to see what becomes of them too someday.
I always had the feeling that Celestia could have weaponized the sun at any point in time she wanted, but chose not to because she's not that kind of pony.
On the topic of Enclave Resources: If they have trouble getting new resources, just where did that star blaster come from? Some dots are not connecting here, and I have a feeling I'm not going to like the missing link when we find out what it is.
Lilcheat: Self control has never been one of Littlepip's strong suits, and she's most certainly not the element of loyalty. Still, its nice to see that she's pulled through thus far, even with all of the temptation.
Ditzy Doo, the Enclave hit squads and New Appaloosa: I've got a few concerns with Lilpip's plan. I mentioned one of them already, namely that bringing Ditzy Doo to Spike's cave could bring the Enclave along for the ride. But it gets me thinking, how would the Enclave even know where she is? What's to stop them from wiping out the town just because (maybe the scavenged magical energy weapons from the four raptors?) because if they don't know where she is, why wouldn't they assume she's hiding in town? Hopefully the wonderbolts will not be on the case for much longer. (and what is she going to do with 12 suits of Enclave armor? will they not be able to track them down?)
Surprise party! Oh my heart, you got me good. I was sure that the wonderbolts had arrived early or something, but no, its just the sweetest, most heartwarming scene in quite possibly the entire story to date. :)
And is it just me or are the statues starting to break through just a little bit more? Maybe its all the friendship in the air. More little pony voices are going to start causing a traffic jam up in Lilpip's brain.
The farm: I have a feeling I'm going to need to play through fallout 2 again so I can remember what the deal was, even though its probably going to be totally different from what's going on in FOE.
ReplyDeleteXenith can be a teacher... I know this is going to get lost in all of the chatter, but I want to make this abundantly clear to anyone who's reading this. Kkat, you hit the ball right out of the stadium with this one. Celestia's everloving heart, you nailed a homerun just there.
The Wasteland Crusaders: I've never liked the crusades, so it always brings up mixed feelings in me when its used as a term of endearment. Not anyone's fault in particular except maybe a history teacher. One thing is for certain, those three are now DOOOOMed to get covered in tree sap or something equally sticky on a regular basis.
Those Pistols: I went through all of Fallout 1 and 2 with that gun. (took the one hander trait both times) I don't know if I'd have gotten such a warm and fuzzy feeling inside otherwise, but it still make me smile regardless. I'm going to have to work at not projecting some of my character onto Kage or Regina I guess.
Redeye: Plotting against the Goddess does earn him some bonus points, but its not enough extra credit to turn around a failing grade. Not to say that I don't think he could conceivably turn things around now, but he's really got to make an about face and make it fast. After having re-read the Old Appaloosa chapter the other day, remembering how they would raid farmsteads, kill the parents and steal the foals made me burn with righteous fury.
Velvet Remedy: Wow, that was a vivid image. The two of them awkwardly trying to say something and failing at the same time. I didn't figure that she'd be back to 100% very easily, and I can see that she's still got a ways to go. Everypony deserves friendship...
"Being without you is like walking with an open wound.” - Bam! Another one right out of the ballpark. It doesn't matter what her flaws might be, things are still better with than without. (Sometimes my shoulder gives me all sorts of trouble, but I would be lost without it.)
((Also: I really want to see a Sword Mares comic now...))
Kkatman! I has some new questions for y'all.
ReplyDelete1. The Giant Cloud ships. They are prewar tech, used on battlefield before the war?
2. The Wonderbolts were only a fighting force after the war. During the war the Special fighting force was the Shadowbolts. Correct?
3. Did you mention a name for a place similar to Fallout's Anchorage or was the someone else?
Thanks.
Glorious Dawn... I might just have to start making some fan art here, but there's another scene in this very chapter that deserves fan art first.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling that if Fillydelphia is vulnerable to attack, it is because its no longer necessary for Red Eye's plan. Helpful maybe, but not strictly necessary anymore.
I keep coming back,” I muttered to myself. “But Homage is never here.” - I told myself I wasn't going to cry this chapter, but you're not making it easy on me. That one little aside, that nobody else seems to have even heard was... I really gotta see Homage and Lilpip catch up again. ;_;
A stealth mission. Does Lilpip still have Velvet Remedy's old Pipbuck? If only Kage had been wearing the Stealthbuck MKII... I dare say being a melee fighter, he really could have used it.
Kage... I know I must have sounded awful cross in my last post about this. I hope I didn't sound like I was criticizing the story. Its just that I was getting attached to these characters (perhaps foolishly) and I hope we get to hear more of their story, even if they both end up dead before too long. Just how do griffons cope with loss? Surely they must have seen Lilpip crying right after the fight in New Appaloosa, surely they knew this wasn't a game. I was about to think that Kage and Regina might represent Generosity, given their uncharacteristically selfless nature (for children of a griffon mercenary anyway) but can even a griffon mercenary keep the wasteland from poisoning her heart?
Princess Celestia... She. Wasn't. Weak. I refuse to believe it Xenith. Her strengths, like a tender lullaby, just weren't applicable to dark times. She had a strength of compassion, of benevolence and an understanding of goodness that created peace and harmony for over a thousand years... that those strengths didn't help her deal with war doesn't make her weak. She was just out of her element.
I have a feeling the fallen star is going to turn out to be something quite unexpected, and I'm placing 75-25 odds that Red Eye is going to do something sinister with its remains vs doing something to destroy it.
Memory #8. I can't help but think that at least one member of the Twilight Council would try to watch it anyway...
Fluttertree... this could either go horribly wrong or amazingly awesome... I'm going to hold off on further speculation until next episode though.
---
P.S. on the topic of "Crusaders," who says there can't be more than one group called Crusaders? I mean, I know several people named Bill. Their parents didn't need to contact each other for permission to use the name.
@Kashin
ReplyDelete[quote]And two, I can’t get over how the Enclave flips between tactical geniuses and strategically inept, saddle on head retarded zealots at the drop of a hat.[/quote]
This, to me, makes a great deal of sense. Considering that the Enclave has pretty much been holed up above the clouds, and the last big scuffle they had was generations ago, in which it seemed like they didn't suffer any big losses, it's easy to see that they wouldn't know how to handle what is going on.
They may be able to think up great plans, but practically all of them have never seen combat like this. I doubt they thought they were going to lose more than a couple ships throughout their entire plan, not lose a bunch of ships trying to take out one town.
The fact that they have barely any real combat experience, coupled with the amount of loss they've been suffering would would probably make most people a little inept. It would be WAY out of their comfort zone.
And with the way most of them act, I bet they don't like new things getting in the way of their views.
On another note... Fluttertree?! No! Poor Fluttersy! If she's not completely flippin' crazy, she's probably going to want to die... either way I'm going to cry.
@Sgt Muffin
ReplyDelete#3. That was me, Flankorage is the setting for the Fic I'm working on and will release when the main story concludes.
@TerraH
ReplyDeletetrue, and while I agree with you on all points. It just strikes me that they would try for methods that put as few nonrenewable resources at risk. Like using the weather as a weapon while they sit back or take a page from Ditzy's book, and use the mighty power of dropping heavy objects from high altitudes.
Has Kkat ever explained why she spells Cloudsdale with a y?
ReplyDeleteLove the callout to Chapter 20.5! Great chapter as usual. One thing is really bugging so maybe one of you all know. What is the source of the Chapter Quote? This is the first in 41 Chapters that I haven't been able to find the source of the quote.. any ideas?
ReplyDeleteThis isn’t even close to the character limit. It appears my commentaries are getting shorter. And presumably less useful. I worry that I'm not getting into recent chapters the same way as I have past ones.
ReplyDeleteTowards Hope. My hope is that this marks an end to the misery of the last few chapters.
-And a few pages in, is this title less metaphorical than I thought?
-I’ve reached the surprise party. The other kind of hope is there.
-Yeah. It’s got some much needed time for the characters – and the reader – to get past the chaos of recent events.
-Heh, okay. Xenith, about half-way in: It is like things are finally going right again. Excellent description.
Seeing as I’m findng little to say, can I nitpick spelling here? I don’t think Cloudsdayle needs the y. It’s derived from Clydesdale.
And Gawd’s in on the “let’s all embarrass Pip” humour. I think this concept has been used so much that it stopped being funny, then used so much more that it’s come full circle and is raising a smile every time.
A farm that’s been built and yet shows no sign of its owners? Wow. I mean, I know things are coming up from all over the Fallout series, especially with Not-Killian a couple of chapters back, but that’s one I really wasn’t expecting to see. Very curious about where this is going, what odd twist has been put on it.
-Oh, lovely, there’s a Karl-pony out there somewhere. And Pip doesn’t have a fuel cell to take back in that direction. Then again, she’s not likely to be on a one-month time limit over this. I hope.
-Apparently it’s going somewhere Enclave-y. Interesting stuff.
“took two .233 rifles, cut ‘em down…”
That’s so subtle I feel that commenting on it is ruining the effect.
“and now the student has become the master”
I can’t decide, as a reader, if this is humour or a distressing look into Xenith’s past.
Velvet blames herself? Wasn’t expecting that. Not that it doesn’t make sense, though I suppose anyone in the group could have made that rather poor decision.
How… how did you manage to make the name Followers of the Apocalypse seem like a really sensible one for a peaceful group?
-Well, through the notable advantage of Fluttershy’s existence in the backstory. Obviously.
Okay, I’ve been specifically trying to not comment on this, but… what IS Calamity planning that involves memory orbs?
-And later: That's... let's say "interesting". In the sense of "may you live in interesting times".
Well, that was an interesting little look into Calamity’s childhood.
So… Fluttertree or a red herring?
@Kashin
ReplyDeleteThank you. That comes in handy for my fic too.
@Sgt Muffin
ReplyDeleteReally? what'cha writing?
This is a small map i whipped up a few days ago to go with my story... No tablet, done in paint, only a reference.
ReplyDeletehttp://i.imgur.com/7EUyt.png
Only labeled parts that are in my story and i added the Flankorage just then.
@Kashin
ReplyDeleteBefore the End... side story to this.
@blakestar15Just finished chapter 41. Do not make fluttershy a TREE!! That's so dumb! I like her as an Alicorn in Project Horizons. Please don't do the tree thing, please. please! PLEASE!!
ReplyDelete@Sgt Muffin
ReplyDeleteAh, a prequel, I'll give that a look through. Just trying to avoid conflicting information on the city.
I knew it was going to happen as soon as I came across that tree in the game, Now we get to see Fluttertree "SQUUUUUUEEEEEEEEE!"
ReplyDeleteKkat, as always, this was a stellar chapter. How were you able to get it out so fast, feels like the old days were this story updated every other week.
Poor Angel :( but maybe he can be turned back! Does any pony have the stare?
@Folker46
ReplyDelete...What?
Since when is Fluttershy an alicorn in PH? I...really can't figure out where you could have gotten that idea; please explain.
OH SWEET SUNGASIMS OF CELESTIA! I sure hope Lilpip or Velvet don't end up having to kill Fluttertree, this story has made me cry twice before I don't want it to happen again!
ReplyDeleteOnce again another awesome chapter from Kkat!
ReplyDeleteManaged to mix a fair bit of heavy plot relevant exposition (not least of which is the fact that the Enclave is in no position to keep sustaining these heavy losses) in with some nice light hearted moments with Silver Bell’s surprise party, as well as a full blown “d’aww” moment when Velvet rejoined the party, got a nice pep-talk from Littlepip, and one helluva glomp from Calamity.
It was define tally nice to have the crew revisiting some of the old locations from previous chapters, and damned if that scene with the Thunderhead airship didn’t serve to illustrate the very real threat the Enclave still pose. Also I just wanted to say I was seriously hoping either Kkat or Somber would use the idea of trying to get the truth out to members of the Enclave about what’s really been going down on the surface via memory orbs, and on the Enclave’s crème-de-la-crème no less. Granted the problem with that plan most likely lies in the execution (or rather in Littlepip and crew doing their best not to get executed in its implementation!) Top that off with more exposition which covers Kkat’s take on the Everfree Forest. Not gonna lie that is probably one of the more chilling fan theories on just how Everfree came to be, and kinda makes me wonder if that’s really the best place to be farming, especially now that the lynchpin that has been keeping the Star-taint bottled up has been gone for over 200 years. Finally, is it wrong that I found myself shedding manly tears over the Sky Bandit? Alas she served her crew well, it was sad to see her go.
If there’s one aspect if this chapter that I thought was a little subpar when compared to most of Kkat’s work, it was that the Children of Gawd (Ha! Knew I’d find a way to fit that pun in there) made for some rather obvious Mauve Shirts* to the point where I wasn’t the least bit surprised when Kage died (not that it didn’t hurt to read). Also I’m sure I’m not the only one saying this, but I REALLY hope Kkat is planning to find a way to deal Red Eye back into the story, preferably in a big way. It’s pretty clear that Red Eye has already hatched a plan for dealing with the Enclave, as evidenced by the research he conducted into finding a way to bypass the One Pegasus Project shields, as well as the “sloppy” tampering he did with the Fillydelphia tower that was clearly intended to gaud the Enclave into attacking the surface.
Regardless of any small hiccups though, this is still an awesome story, and I eagerly await the next chapter!
*(Note for those of you not familiar with this tvtropes term, a Mauve Shirt is basically a Red Shirt that gets some extra characterization and screen time, and is only slightely less doomed)
so, did anyone else happen to catch the Past Sins reference? making Fluttershy into a yellow weeping willow with pink leaves? thats so funny! and poor angel bunny...made to become the victim of a cockatrice...
ReplyDeletestill, awesome to the core was it the star's power that changed her? will they ever know this is fluttershy?
find out next time on Dragon Ba...wait a minute...Fallout: Equestria
Nice pacing, not too fast or intense, still had movement and a good bit of dilly dally at the same time. I could picture this in my head kinda like a psuedo cartoon and real life kind of thing, like I'll pickture calamity trying to kiss velvet remedy with muddy lips and he looks like a real life horse with a hat... or I picture the griffins as variations of guilda well any way, thanks for your work KKat. Twas a good read.
@Stoic
ReplyDeletePast Sins reference?
The Fluttertree thing is Harold from all the Fallout games and from the Over A Barrel epp of MLP:FIM
Well, I saw the new episode posted as I was headed to work, read on my lunch, so review is brief and typed on my cell phone :)
ReplyDeleteThe Wonderbolts have to deal with red tape too, perfect! It’s amazing how anything ever gets done up there.
I loved those dishes in FO3, spent hours of real time exploring them! My favorite act was climbing to the top, saving and jumping off. I have a fear of falling so I never could watch all the way down, but that just added to the thrill :)
It never occurred to me they had indoor plumbing either.
Gotta get in some Littlepip embarrassment, would feel right without it.
Ditzy scares the Enclave, good! Go Ditzy!
More Littlepip embarrassment, yes!
I wonder if Spike remembers Ditzy, I hope so. That has potential to be a nice reunion.
No, not Silver Bell!
OMFG, give me a heart attack why don’t you!
A party was so not what I was expecting there, but it is wonderful to see.
So that was her first successful magic, so proud!
I love the references to side quests in the story, perfectly blended.
“Bring me any mines you find, please. I’ll trade for caps and grenades.” LOL! This here made me laugh!
“Unattached” And my respect for Gawd increases.
Silver Bell and Littlepip dancing, this really needs some fanart!
Professor Xenith, I like that!
“What kind of group of friends would name themselves after snakes?” XD
And another branch of the Crusaders has formed! Damn, I love this!
I’m beginning to miss Velvet and I’m not even a fan of hers.
I guess not having any major wars for generations has softened their combat skills, makes sense.
Well, that explains the Red Eye x Griffin connection, I had been wondering about that.
Sorry, but that typo is driving me nuts, can’t ignore “down” = “town”.
Velvet! Welcome back!
More pegasi? Awesome!
I can so see Ditzy patching up the wing holes on that armor and making a fortune.
“Silver Bell was right -- the zebra was kinda creepy.” Ok, had to stop reading for a bit, laughing to hard to breath XD
I still can’t figure out how everyone seems to know what happened in Canterlot, did Fluttershy write a biography?
OMG, she’s been living with that all this time? No wonder she was falling apart!
Is it a pegasus trait to act without thinking! I love it! Reminds me of the first episode of FIM.
Glad to see their virtues acknowledged.
“Was there ever any doubt?” Nope, not for a moment.
Sky Bandit is becoming a tank, good idea.
“So… you’re a follower of the apocalypse?” Ok, I was not expecting to see that reference. I like it!
“But Homage is never here.” *cries for Littlepip*
“we’re going to save them” Oh Calamity, this can’t be good, what are you planning?
Legal matter? I’m assuming it has to do with her cheese shop, this has me curious.
Oh, hell, Calamity and Velvet needs a deleted scene! Pacce, help, we need you!
Yep, another failed stealth mission.
Kage, we barely knew you :(
I’m really liking this other brother.
I just got a whole new insight into Calamity’s childhood and it hurts *cries*
They are after Homage?!
I think we’re all proud of Homage, she’s a true freedom fighter!
The memory spell! I’m glad to see this here. Perfect way to introduce events from S2 into the story without it seeming forced. It helps that that episode almost seems made for Fallout: Equestria :)
I love Calamity’s plans, they are so insane!
Oh, I love this Everfree Forest backstory!
Memory orb 8 makes a return! I was wondering why they were not all in memory orb stasis.
Goodbye Sky Bandit, you will be missed :(
Fluttertree! I was convinced there was no way we were going to see Fluttertree, I’m happy I was proven wrong. And, Xenith finally gets to meet Doom Bunny in person, kinda.
This was a great chapter, things are really coming together now. Calamity’s plan is pure awesomeness and we finally find one more of the Mane 6, it’s been a while. Rainbow Dash is the last remaining unknown.
@Fuzzy
ReplyDeleteI'm okay with this. UBER COMMENTERS, AWAY!
I just got finished reading, and I'm bloody knackered, and I, like thousands of other bronies, need to get my beauty sleep before the new episode in... less than 6 hours time... I think.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I want to say that I loved this chapter. I was a bit disappointed when Kage died, but that was more due to the fact that I kinda knew he wasn't going to live for very long, and yet I didn't expect Horseshoe Tower to be his final battle.
There's a lot of new Chekhov's Guns being primed in this chapter, I can feel it, and I'm certain that a few old ones are set to fire soon, too.
Fluttertree. I did start to doubt that you'd do it, but I'm not upset that you did. In a twisted way, it is extremely fitting, plus I really want to see what comes of it.
Oh, and I caught your FO3 shout out to Colonel Autumn, that made me smile a little
"NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO."
ReplyDeleteThose were my exact words, spoken (read: sobbed) aloud as I realized that Fluttershy actually, truly did mutate into some kind of horrible tree monster.
God, I hope it turns out not to be that bad for her.
(Also, like I said earlier, I'm done praising this story. I've literally given the highest praise I've ever given to a story, and all I'd be doing is repeating myself if I continued to recite how its the best fanfic in history, etc.)
@DarthVader
ReplyDeleteChapter 41's quote comes from Joshua Graham:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41OghI3p6fM
Jump to 4:24 for the actual quote or watch the whole thing for context.
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ReplyDeleteI guess I make a bad habit of getting attached to doomed characters...
ReplyDeleteI made this in memory of Kage, that wonderful griffin who bought an empty tin can to brighten a little foal's day: http://ponibooru.413chan.net/post/view/71271
So, um, story is still fabulous.
ReplyDeleteI do have to wonder, was it ever confirmed if Lil Pip euthanized Ambrosia with the blood dagger spell?
Also, Fluttertree. Wow. It would make sense that she might have become a guardian of the forest though.
Another great chapter Kkat, I'm going to have to do a Pyrelight on a hat rack at some point. Can just see that now, hehe..
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the next chapter.
Holy cow!
ReplyDeleteFirst off, love catching yet another awesome entry into the Fallout: Equestria lineup. I swear, this story just keeps on piling the epic. I also think it's awesome how you've melded the plot with season 2's elements, especially Calamity's plan to turn the Wonderbolts back just as Twilight did in S2:E2. Let's just put humbleness aside and be frank here, we know they wrote that into MLP:FiM for the express purpose of you, KKat.
What really got me the most was the suddenness, that chaotic discovery that they had stumbled upon the Fluttertree. Ooooh-ho-ho-ho maaaan, that part...that image...
Bravo. Really REALLY can't wait for the next chapter!
Given the quote by Graham and Pip's mission, I wonder if she'll eventually acquire a replacement for Little Macintosh in the form of A Light Shining in Darkness.
ReplyDeleteIts name alone represents her place in the Equestrian Wasteland and also like her, it's small, fast, surprisingly powerful, and can endure an incredible amount of punishment before breaking.
A quick run on the thunderhead, Glorious Dawn and support craft. Curious how close I got to what other folk imagined.
ReplyDeletehttp://ponibooru.413chan.net/post/view/71311
@Kashin
ReplyDeleteNot too bad at all!
Finally finished (the whole story, not just the latest chapter) after days of slacking off at work to find out what happens next : P
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely stunning work, through and through, Kkat. I don't think I've seen a single copy-editing problem throughout the entire work, and only a couple of teensy, tiny errors.
The characters are well-defined, there's a heavy emotional investment in both their well-being and the story as a whole, the pacing is excellent, the writing superb, the subtle references to the games appreciated, even by someone who wasn't really into them...I'm floored at how good this is.
I dearly hope that you have the time to keep up the good work, as we wait with bated breath for the next part to arrive.
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