Previous thread: >>43176271/moon/day Thread OP template: https://ponepaste.org/10858/moon/day Story Archive: https://ponepaste.org/10731Lunar Tunes Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPZFLrezW19x4msWO-HIuHvjwdWSfiVdcEquestria Project (meditation/lucid dreaming guide): https://pastebin.com/3mQfmH24 (embed)old /moon/day story archive: https://poneb.in/He5X50m6Humanizations of Princess Luna and others have a dedicated thread - post them there. Keep it pony (aside from inclusions of Anonymous in pics).Ongoing Stories:"Demons & Nightmares", by Durr0694: https://ponepaste.org/11243"Moonlight, Veiled - Book 3", by horsa: https://ponepaste.org/11561"Our Kingdom", by O.K: https://ponepaste.org/11360Stories On Hiatus:"Ghost in the Shadows" by ReggieSomething: https://ponepaste.org/7522"Assistant to the Night Court", by LmonE6: https://ponepaste.org/121"Lunar Entanglement, Act I", by ReggieSomething: https://ponepaste.org/1113Dead (Until proven otherwise) Stories:"Embracing the Night, Part 5", by AutoPony: https://ponepaste.org/3605"A Heart Longs for Another", by AnthonyC4: https://ponepaste.org/873"Our Thirty Years War", by TheGhostlydude: https://ponepaste.org/6795"A Bond Through the Ages", by Ar-Adunakhor: https://ponepaste.org/6722"MoonyCYOA", by Krivvy: https://ponepaste.org/4290"A Nightmare, No More", by Starla: https://ponepaste.org/5708Upcoming moon phases:First Quarter: Saturday, May 23Full (Blue!) Moon: Sunday, May 31Third (Last Quarter: Monday, June 8New Moon: June 14
>>43249927>"GREETINGS, ANONYMOUS!"
Last thread hit the image limit and wasn't leaving page 9, so I wanted to make the new one while it was still Monday. Anyways, TQ: What would you do aside from the obvious with Luna on a sleepover? She wants to eat junk food, watch anime and talk gossip.
>>43249970Stargaze with her and, depending on which world we're on, compare each other's constellations!
my wife's gotta stay clean!
good night, moonfrens
>>43250116goodnight anon
>>43249990My wife after one of >>43240245
>it's the stuff of nightmares>and i try not to think about it>i've had enough, i don't even care any more>i just want it to stop
>>43250311>>43250614The duality of moonfrens
>Friends, Anons, Horsefuckers, lend me your ears;>I come to banish Luna, not to praise her.>The evil that mares do lives after them;>The good is oft interred with their bones;>So let it be with Luna. The noble Celestia>Hath told you Luna was ambitious:>If it were so, it was a grievous fault,>And grievously hath Luna answer’d it.>Here, under leave of Celestia–>For Celestia is an honourable mare;>Come I to speak in Luna’s banishment.>She was my friend, faithful and just to me:>But Celestia says she was ambitious;>And Celestia is an honourable mare.>She hath brought many captives home to Equestria>Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:>Did this in Luna seem ambitious?>When that the poor have cried, Luna hath wept:>Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:>Yet Celestia says she was ambitious;>And Celestia is an honourable mare.
>>43249970Since no one else said anything, I'd also love to try exotic alcohols with her!
>>43250783NGL Damien Lewis' performance of that monologue is one of my favourite things. It'd be fun to write a ponified version of Julius Caesar's civil war, with Luna as Caesar and Celestia as Pompeii or something. or writing the Lunar Heresy
Hi, Lunabros>>43249927>OP imageLuna would probably like Kingdom Hearts
>>43251352How about a ponified Titus Andronicus with Chrysalis as Queen Tamora
Having a nap with Luna
>>43251881Painting with Luna!
I updated the ponepaste to where the last thread left off, and I have a small update to the chapter for today.>>43236613>You spend a long while in that position, laying at Luna’s side, holding her as she drifts off to sleep.>You take what care you can not to disturb her.>Every now and then you look at her eyes, searching their depths for signs of contentment and rest. >Half-lidded and drowsy, her eyes yet remain open as she watches the fire before her burn slowly to the flicker of embers. >The soft glow of the fire reflects in a ghostly flicker in her eyes. >She keeps them open despite her evident fatigue, apparently lost in thought as she surveys the dying firelight. > Eventually, it dies out entirely, the last glowing coal’s light covered with a layer of ash. >As it does, and the light of the fire finally dims to nothing, Luna sighs heavily and closes her eyes. >As quietly as you can, you shift against her side in an attempt to get into a more comfortable sleeping position. “Luna.”>Your voice is barely a whisper, as quiet as the wind in the boughs.>She murmurs something inaudible as her breathing slows and steadies, and you’re finally confident that she’s drifted off to sleep.>Content now that you won’t disturb her, you go to what remains of the fire to be sure that it’s completely extinguished. >You grab a pot of river water and pour some of it into the fire’s heart, sending up little plumes of ashy steam. >Filling the pot again with some sandy clay from the riverbank, you lay a small layer of material over the embers to fully ensure that its smothered before returning to your resting spot. >On your way back to Luna’s side you stop by your pack, bringing our your bedroll and removing some of your travelling clothes. >Tomorrow, depending on when Luna awoke, you thought you may try to do some laundry in the river before embarking on your journey once more. >Finally ready to sleep yourself, the weariness of the day catches up to you all at once. >Stumbling back to her side, you set your bedroll at Luna’s flank and set yourself softly down.>She’s fully asleep now, as far as you can tell. >You examine her as you lay at her side, holding off the grips of sleep for just a little while longer. >She’s twitching slightly in her sleep, making small, nervous sounds as her dreams interrupt the peace of rest.>You reach over to her to caress her mane, careful not to wake her. “It’s okay, Luna. You’re safe. Rest, Princess.”>You whisper assurances to her, barely audibly, as you attempt to coax her away from whatever dream is plaguing her. >Soon, the twitching stops, and Luna settles once again into a restful slumber under your touch. >Smiling, you lean over to kiss the bridge of her muzzle before letting yourself finally drift off as well.
>>43252107>You awake to a warm breeze, the golden light of morning shining through your closed eyes and the heat of the sun bearing down on you as you lay. >Nearby, you can hear the steady trickle and babble of the stream. >The soft bed of grass is plush at your side. >Rubbing the sleep from your eyes, you sit up and take in your surroundings. >You’re still where you were when you fell asleep, inside the ruined ring of Luna’s meadow cottage, under the boughs of the ancient oak by the riverbend. >The sun is shining through its verdant boughs, casting dappled light about you as it illuminates the meadow. >You sit up, looking about for Luna. >She’s not nearby, though the rest of the campsite is as it was when you settled down for the night. >The breeze had entirely died down, and the grass of the meadow around you was as still as the leaves of the tree above. >The only evidence that the world had not stopped around you was the sound of running water.“Luna?”>You say her name aloud, hoping she’s within earshot, then call it out louder when no response comes. >You leave the ruin, stumbling over its stony ring as you survey the grassy meadow about you. “Luna!”>There’s no response, but your eyes catch a glimpse of azure from behind a bush, a couple dozen yards away.>You make your way over, the striking heat of the morning sun making you sweat a little despite the short walk. >As your movement disturbs the grass, a strikingly blue eye peers out at you from behind the bush.>It’s surrounded by a deep blue coat, framed by a shimmering cascade of starlit mane, swaying in the nonexistent breeze. >”You know, you didn’t have to yell. I hadn’t gone far, my love.”>Luna’s playful grin widens as you throw your arms around her in a tight embrace. >She leans into it, nuzzling into your chest.
>>43252110“I thought I lost you.”>”Not yet, Anonymous, and especially not here.”“What, in the meadow? We’re kind of in the middle of nowhere, Luna.”>She giggles at that.>”No, silly human, in dreams. Surely you ought to have realized that by now?”>You withdraw from your embrace to examine her again, unsure what she meant.>You see her face – her beautiful, perfect face – shining in the morning sun, her mane flowing as though borne aloft by the magic that filled it with starlight and glimmer.>She just smiles at you, waiting, deep blue eyes twinkling in the light. >The light. >You turn to the sun, locked in place high in the sky, shielding your eyes from its glare as realization sets in. “Ah, right.”>”There you go.”>You feel the familiar tug of magical aura steering you back to face her as she turns her muzzle up for a quick, gentle kiss. >”It usually doesn’t take you this long, Anonymous.”“It feels more real this time, though I couldn’t say why.”>Luna turns back to the bush, considering your words as her horn’s aura lights up again. >”I believe it has something to do with this meadow. Maybe that’s what drew me here in the first place, all those years ago.”>She withdraws a bouquet of lavender from the bush, tied at the stems with a knotted rope of grass and suspended in the glow of her magic.>She floats it over to you, beckoning for you to take it. >You do, and breathe deeply of its perfumed scent. >The floral aroma fills your senses, mingled with the woody freshness of sun-baked grass and leafy stem. “If you hadn’t told me this was a dream, I would swear these were real.”>Luna smiles as she takes up the bouquet in her aura again, bringing them close to her and taking in a deep, relaxed breath of their fragrance. >”Remember what I told you, Anonymous. Just because we’re in a dream, that doesn’t mean this isn’t real.
>>43252115That's all for today, I hope to finish this chapter off next weekend. Happy (belated) /moon/day, all.
>>43250614holy shit my wife is so sick
>>43252204I hope she gets better
>>43252204My wife is DOWN WITH THE SICKNESS
Spooning my moonwife!
>had graveyard /moon/-tier hours recentlyTHIS WAS RIDING SHOTGUN LAUGHING AT ME
>>43252414I unironically can't wait to have a night shift job.
>pg 8
which fanfiction would (You) read to luna?
I don't think I've seen any of Resonant Wave's stuff in the playlist.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRhpMiPnGLghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDgSO-AS2mwhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz7jNd-1oaA
>>43249927orbital boost
>>43254302don't piss her off anon
Behold, an official filly plushie Luna
>>43254603Looks meh. They should've gone with the S1 appearance.>b-but muh comi--Don't care.
>>43255018>b-but muh season wu-Don't care.
Me when I freaking Heart all you goddamn moonfriends
>>43249927ay wake up
>>43256591
>>43249927Lunar boost
i found this mare stuck in my dream catcherwat do?
>>43257800Let her loose in your fridge for five minutes and she'll be happy enough to stay
Winter Rose's channel is a pretty good source for old music if OP wants to look through it.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJUjsElwHSghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBZCqxMZoeYhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIdCGaWqa5Mhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW-_Cgr8w2Y
>>43257349
>>43258681There is no better pair of sisters.
>pg 9
>>43259225mune honse
>>43259418she's so pretty
>>43259657>"The human ones are further in. I kind of want to see the one with the human on the horse."
>>43261165you got the anon pov?
>>43261353
>>43258743I spent all night reconfiguring this animated celestia mane to fit my wife because I want the very best for her, and for a while she really did look like this.I think I did pretty okay though, I know people bitch when popens get posted outside /opg/ but come on, I had to show my fellow moonfags.
>>43261588
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCoJqyBlHRI
My wife is so cool!
>>43261588i really want to sit down and configure some nice particles but i'm not very good at it and it would be infinitely easier to try making a pbr mesh. the thing is animating outside of particles is impossible without scripts. i think i got the treesand alicorn head too on hand
>>43262301I don't even know how to switch heads because I am le dumb
>>43261588I don't know shit about popen but if it's anything to do with Moonie, I like it
>>43262476meticulously bringing moony to life in the virtual world has been so much funi love her so muchits very fun to press y and watch her do the yippieas of last night she even has a moon buggy to drive around inmoony in the moon buggyit's adorable
>me when the moonfags have all the LS plushes
>>43262746it's been years anon, surely you've saved up enough for a big mare of your own?
>knock knock
>>43263114don't let her in!
>>43263428Let her in!
Still have one more scene to complete and a couple days of editing, then I can move on to part two. It feels good to get momentum back.
>>43252115 >You place your hand on the ridge of her neck, stroking where her coat met her mane as you turned to look around the meadow.>Rolling waves of green grass, lit to a piercing hue by the bright rays of the morning sun. >The edge of the forest in the distance, brush rising up to meet the shadowed eaves of the trees where your path continued eastward. “It is beautiful here.”>”Indeed it is, Anonymous. It seemed appropriate to share it as it was in my memory, in the light of the sun as well as the moon.”>She leans into your hand a little as you stroke her mane absentmindedly, pressing up against you in playful intimacy. >As much as you didn’t want to spoil the moment, you couldn’t help but worry for her. >Even here in the world of dreams, where she was as she wanted to appear, bright and vibrant in the days of her youth, you knew who she was and the struggle she still bore. “You had some trouble falling asleep tonight. Are you doing okay?”>She looks up at you quizzically, the light in her eyes still playful, loving, but with the slightest edge of hesitation to her movement. >”What do you mean?””You wouldn’t let me leave to put out the fire, and fell asleep staring at it. When you’d fallen to sleep at last, I left for a moment to clean up – when I returned, you were restless. Twitching, muttering a little.”>You take up her hoof in your hand, stroking her fetlocks tenderly as your eyes met hers again.>They were wet, and bore a distant look. “Bad dreams?”
>>43265008>Luna averts her eyes, taking her hoof from your hand with a sigh.>”Bad dreams.”>She paces around for a moment, collecting her thoughts.>Around the two of you, the meadow starts to darken, clouds materializing in the bright summer sky to veil the sun, layer by layer. >"I just wish there was a way to go back.">She stops pacing, turning back to look at you. >"We had so little time together, Anonymous. When I first met you, when you first came to Equestria, I took you for a curiosity. I was stronger, then, and the sun wasn't such a burden. I wasted so much time. So much time that could have been spent together, away from the everyday toil and troubles of a world that didn't even need me any more - ">She was speaking more and more rapidly as she continued, and despite yourself, you were loath to stop her. >"We could have left months - no, even a year ago. Canterlot would have been fine without us, and there was so much we could have done, seen...">She lowers her head, crumpling a little in remorse and shame.>You go to her then, taking her in your arms as her legs fold lamely under her, eyes closed as she turns her muzzle into your chest. >"Now we have all the time in the world together, and it's too late. I've been old for longer than I can remember, but every day I feel it more. What's left of my magic is in the sky with the moon, and every day it dims, little by little.">She sobs a little, the wetness in her eyes soaking into your shirt as you hold her tightly against you, hoping that you can give whatever comfort you can to the princess in your arms.>"At least here, I can pretend that everything is okay. That the sun will rise on day where we can be free, together. Free of pain, of regret.">She looks up at you, smiling ruefully through tears.>"That was the bad dream. I was looking for you, and you hadn't come. I dreamt of a future where I left you behind. Another regret.""Silly princess. Wherever you go, I'll be close behind. Next time, you'll just have to wait until I put the fire out.">She smiles then, a smile deep with joy and love, and nuzzles into your chest again.>"So long as you're not too close behind, Anonymous. When next I dream, I'll wait for you."
>>43265009 >You stay in place together for a long moment, letting the clouds scud over the expanse of the sky above as the sun warmed the grass.>Eventually, the awkward position you're holding her in starts to tell on you, your leg and back cramping slightly. >As you shift in her embrace, she pulls back a little, eyes dried and her playful smile returned. >"What, tired ready?""Just adjusting a little, Princess.">"Let me help.">Without a further word, she pushes you back onto the grass with a firm, gentle movement. >You give in to her, laying on the sun-baked grass, taking in the combined scents of the earth and Luna's unique, almost floral sweat. >Luna was right - this dream felt unusually, strikingly real. >She moves lithely to straddle you, craning her head over yours, piercing eyes surveying you with a commanding mien.>The sun shines above her, surrounding her head in a blazing corona, filtering through her nebulous mane in an azure halo. "You're beautiful.">The words are reverent, whispered as if in worship. >She smiles appreciatively, drawing her head down towards yours, moving her lips to brush against your cheek, then neck, to alight against your ear. >Her weight bears down on top of you, settling into your embrace as her essence envelops your senses. >She whispers soft words into your ear, breathy and intimate. >She draws back again to look you in the eyes, warm and beautiful in the radiant light. >"Don't forget this when you wake, Anonymous.">She lowers her head again, lips lighting against yours with feather lightness. >Your eyes open, and it's dark once again. >Your arm is sore, and you blink blearily, getting to grips with your surroundings. >Luna's foreleg and wing is draped over you, grey-streaked mane falling over her withers in sleepy, carefree disarray. >She stirs a little, the warmth of the dream rapidly giving way to waking conciousness. >You stroke her mane, kissing her muzzle chastely as she slowly awoke. "I could never, Luna."~~~Just another quick update for today, and that just about wraps up this chapter. Moving closer to the end for the next one, which I'm really looking forward to. Looking back on it, this is a chapter that may change more than some others for the sake of pacing and coherency on its way to the pastebin and FimFic. Happy /moon/day, and good night.
>pg 10
>>43265397DOOM lookin' ahh princess
Applying to the fire department today, /moon/bros. Wish me luck!
>>43265826Based!
>>43265826Good luck anon
>>43265826She's proud of you.
>>43265826tell your new co-workers to stop breaking their toysthere aren't enough laptops because you all somehow keep breaking the laptops that are SPECIFICALLY FUCKING DESIGNED to withstand the rough treatment of firefightershow the fuck do you roll over a brand new dell rugged with a stretcher? do you fucks drink on the job when i'm not looking? because that takes a failure of coordination so great that i can only attribute it to daydrinking, intentional destruction, or unironic profound mental retardation that needs a full-time tard wranger
>>43265826Good luck anon!
>>43265397No human could possibly resist picking up the Nightmare orb
>>43266155Too late
>>43265899I'm sensing quite a bit of experience, Anon.
Whats her favourite energy drink flavour?
>>43266504sorry for venting in the cute moonhoers thread, anon, but while i respect firefighters from a distance, I despise their utter disregard for their equipment. i get it on some level, and I wouldn't put replacable tech above [most] human life, but when you're the guy that has to try to fix it or worse: deal with dell's pajeet tech support that are trying to fuck you out of the warranty it grinds on you after a while
>>43266718The best.
>>43266176Lonely dorks get uppies
>>4326539710/10 would boop that black snooty
>>43265397marey me!
>>43249927sub orbital boost
The heat woke me up at 5, AC's too expensive to run for long and I haven't been able to workout because of it. I wish it was her season again.
>>43269239I love her!
>>43269239She's so happy!
This guy fucking died sometime ago, so here's some of his better Lulu stuff.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMF_basryxIhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9h4ibBkzGohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI_HBH4BokQhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hyc9-yvkcQhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3PDDV_2PIYhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1w71BJe17I
>pg 9Don't let us down, moonfags
>>43269979Like actually dead? That's a shame, his stuff is pretty good and I'm hearing it for the first time here.
Post-shower, pre-wage cage bump
>>43271151Keep strong, brotherwe'll make it one day
>>43271350Thanks m8, have a pre-post-wage cage (You)
Post-wage cage bump!
>>43269979Thanks for the links, I haven't heard those songs before.>Nicolas Dominique is deadFucking how? When?! Is it 100% confrimed? I only see a shitton of "RIP" it in the YT comments, but can't find any post from his family/friends declaring him dead, like they usually make.
>>43271018>>43271535Apparently. I think it was confirmed in his dicksword server, but there's no way I'm going in there.
>pg 8 in under 2 hoursGrim.
Anti-slide contingency measures: activated. Bump
>>43253154>>43258373>>43261661>>43269979These songs have been added to the Lunar Tunes playlist. I also archived them, just in case. Thanks, Anons.
>>43272511>mfw it was all me
the most unbelievable part of friendship is magic is that this cutie patootie wasnt being worshiped all of the night
>>43272724Celestia's greatest sin is not propping Luna up until she came back.
double moon...
>>43273334unf....
Since tonight is the blue moon, will Luna finally grant our wishes?
>>43273415Sorry anon, I've captured her for myself!
My ceramic Luna is finally finished.
>>43249927
>>43274336I can't see anything you stupid bitch
>>43274322adorable anon just scrolling the catalogue and saw this. I like how you made use of the thin glaze and whatever you did for the little stars in her mane, creative stuff!
>>43274322she cute
>>43274360>whatever you did for the little stars in her maneThis a specific effect glaze that has some particles in it that form these white dots. Carl Jäger 4134a Kosmos to be precise.The place where I have stuff burned (as I don't have my own kiln and it wouldn't be practical at such a small scale anyways) has a somewhat limited selection of blue tones among the glazes they have. Thus, I checked what other glazes there are a while ago and came across that one.
>>43274322That's cute as fuck, anon. I can't wait to blow a hundred or so bucks on something with so much sovl put into it.
>>43274625You can have it right now for the very low price of about tree fiddy
Go out and look at the full Moon, Anons!
>>43274730This isn't mine, but it's too low past the southern treeline where I'm at :(
she can always see it, even here, beneath shingle and roof and nail...
>planned to pull an all nighter and spend most of it out of the house doing laundry and watching dvds in the van with moony>took too long showering and packing up clothes and left the house at 5:30 am>sky already turning yellow ahead as we headed for townim such a disappointmentgonna go out tonight to make it up to her
THIS IS MY MARE! THERE ARE MANY LIKE HER BUT THIS ONE IS MINE!
little marebig van
>>43249927I'm ruining it by pointing it out but I love it when /sun/ and /moon/ are next to each other. It feels so right.
So cute ^c^
>>432499275:48 AM bump
>>43276683She's a sweet little baby who could do no harm
>>43265899>firefighters are all pic rel sunfags>some are daybreakerfags, even>they've sensed the tech guy is moonfagYou've picked the wrong hood, nonny.
>>43278333they're lucky their jobs involve saving lives or they would face password issues on the weekly
>>43278333
What do you moonfrens think "the stars will aid in her escape" means? Do you take it literally? Is it some magic shit?
>>43278538I never thought about it before. I know it's supposed to be about Nightmare Moon specifically but I feel like it relates more to Luna herself and how the Elements of Harmony ended up freeing her from Nightmare Moon's control over her.
how does one deal with the absurdity of a work week
>>43278970Would've been one of the best Moonie pics if artist hasn't forgotten to draw her eyelashes.
This mare is too pretty. Someone throw a sheet over her.
>>43279554You don't wanna do that.https://derpibooru.org/images/992141?q=artist%3Ainkygarden
I love holding my Moonwife!
>>43280415Wow! So do I!
>>43280429isn't that the luna that's on auction right now https://www.ebay.com/itm/398011723627
>>43280441Kek, looks like it
>pg 9 in 2 hours
>>43280521Woona and Luna!
>>43281101Woona!
hhhh
()()()>Be Sepia, unicorn>The kids seem to have forgotten Nightmare Moon not five minutes after she left with Messalina to meet the Citadel Council>As soon as they return to their living quarters deeper inside the ambassador building, the kids take shelter inside a small corner fort made up of giant foam building blocks and blankets>The kids' room is somehow quiet>Sour Dough joins you in staring from the single doorway>His grin stays as he tells you in a low voice,>"They're conspiring in there.">You look at the fort again, ears focused>The occasional harsh whisper in a frenzied debate carries across the room>Every few moments one of them peaks out from a crack to see if you are still there>You ask in an equally low tone,"What are they conspiring about?">Sour shrugs,>"Escape and explore. That's what they've been doing ever since they got here.">That grin remains,>"It's what I would talk about.">You roll your eyes with a grin of your own"Kindred spirits, huh? So how are they going to escape?">He thinks about it, still smiling>You remember that under his marine uniform, his cutie mark is a wooden crate labeled with bread, its pried-open side revealing a blade>He thinks out loud,>"I wonder how the public transit system works. It looks all automated. Do you need eye-dee to use it, or can you simply pay with credits?""Do you think they're going to sneak onto the transit system?">He remembers where he is and explains quietly,>"That's one avenue. They probably have several plans and will enact whichever one gets the first opportunity.">He looks out into the hallway,>"I'm more worried about where they'll explore once they escape this building.""Once they escape? You think that's inevitable?">Sour shrugs,>"They've done it plenty of times before, apparently.">He turns around,>"Let's go ask Ambassador Udina about the previous escapes. See if there's anyplace they want to explore in particular.">You nod, the look up to the Alliance marines flanking the doors,"Please keep an eye on them.">One of them grins down at you,>"Nothin' is gettin' past us, ma'am.""Thank you.">You turn and follow Sour down the hall
>>43282732>When you are well out of earshot from the marines, Sour asks you gently,>"How's your horn?""My horn?">"You were doing levitation exercises for the whole deployment. Are you getting better at it?">Of course, being in a liaison role for this deployment, he would have access to the report about your time in that mansion after being “shunted”>Forced to serve the bastard children of the house's patriarch, you were denied use of your horn for a month>Like an unused muscle, you lost a lot of magical dexterity and strength>It could have been much worse,>Notches's ruined horn sticks in your memory"I am getting better. At least, I'm able to lift heavier things for a while without passing out. It feels good,">And then there were the other unicorns practicing outrageous spells in the corvette's hanger>Just watching them made you dizzy"But I just won't be useful for anything besides administrative duties for now.">You glance over to see Sour smile warmly at you,>"Hey, look at me: a hornless earth pony. I can't cast any spells, but I'm still useful. You just have to think dastardly.">You give him a deadpan stare"Dastardly?">"Of course. You've had at least some evil thoughts in your life, right?">You frown,"Well, yes, but I'm not very proud of them.">"And you know that other ponies have evil thoughts and can act on them, right?">A dozen examples from a dozen impromptu history lessons from Celestia herself flash through your head"Oh, absolutely.">"Good. Now with all of that in mind, think: if I were the leader of an evil cult willing to do anything, including mass murder, how would I kidnap an entire room of children?">When you turn a corner towards the stairs, you pass by a floor-to-ceiling window showing the Presidium>You start to sift through rather unpleasant thoughts, but something catches your eye and you stop to look out>A hovercar, halfway between the "floor" and the "ceiling" of the hollow ring, turns out of the air lane and begins to descend sharply>Sour stops a few places ahead of you and watches too>More hovercars turn hard and practically dive towards the ground>Then they all turn again sharply as one, straight at you>Something in the back of your head, amplified by those dark thoughts, forces one hoof to move>As the sleek fronts of the hovercars get bigger, another hoof moves>Sour grabs you by your barrel and pulls you away, commanding,>"Move!"
>>43282734>You only get a few seconds to gallop down the hall before one hovercar rams itself into the hallway, shaking you off your hooves>All you hear is crunching metal and shattering glass>Except the noise keeps going>And the floor keeps shaking>You lift your head up to look>The hovercar, a dusty crumpled shape, is half-buried in the hallway>The tinted canopy is completely broken, its once black opaque material now covered in spider cracks wherever it is not simply gone>Something wet pokes out of a gap in the glass>Sour pulls you up>"Come on, we’ve got stairs by the Ambassador's office. We can get back to the foals that way-">More shaking>The door you were walking to opens, revealing another marine escorting Ambassador Udina>The aging man gets two seconds to look at the wrecked hovercar, before something beneath all of you explodes()()()>You are Nightmare Moon>Instead of the long, tall, up-sloping chamber meant for public hearings, you and you alone are led by Messalina to a nearby private conference room to meet the Citadel Council>Oblong, with you entering at the tapering end>At the snubbed end are two other doors, with a curving digital screen taking up the whole wall in between>The majority of the room is occupied by a curving laminate table and a motley set of chairs meant for very different species>At the snub end are three plain chairs separated from the rest>At your end is a raised cushion>You take the seat as you and your overly-cheerful shadow wait>You sit there, staring straight at the other end of the room>You let your ears slowly rotate, listening for any change in the subtle ambiance of this massive station>Meanwhile your mind wanders across this galaxy to the planet the coalition fleet is raiding>Your lips tingle>If Messalina notices the different rhythm in your breathing, she does not tell>It is only for a couple minutes that you wait until one of the doors opens>An Asari with white facepaint, a dark-plated Turian, and a hooded gray Salarian enter>They are all dressed well, but not ostentatiously so>When they stop to stand by their chairs, you bow your head to them briefly"Councilors.">They all nod to you, and the Asari speaks,>"Miss Moon. Thank you for your patience.">You give her a polite smile,"Thank you for your generosity.">"Messalina, thank you for your help. I will call for you when we are finished.">The chronically smiling assistant bows and leaves without a word
>>43282736>The Councilors sit>After several minutes of first contact pleasantries and promises of future negotiating, things you and Sean have gone through together many times in many ways, you find an opening"Speaking of cooperation, I will be so bold as to direct this conversation towards more immediate matters, concerning offensive efforts occurring somewhere in the Terminus Systems.">Now the Turian councilor speaks up with controlled suspicion,>"You wish to discuss your people's current joint mission with the Systems Alliance and Nihlus.">A statement instead of a question>And he mentions Nihlus the Spectre>Interesting>You keep your face blank, for now the game starts>Sean told you everything in his dream, but you have not received so much as a message via extranet>Before leaving for the Citadel, you had both agreed to not flaunt your ability to visit the dreams of people on the other side of a whole galaxy>Opsec and all"Nihlus. He is a Spectre, correct? They're an enforcement branch.">The Salarian answers in a cold, matter-of-fact tone,>"Enforcement, intelligence, and diplomacy.">The Turian lets out a huff at that last word>The Asari slashes a glance at him while the Salarian continues,>"He is also our lead man in our efforts against the cult that currently holds your people.">The cult>Just the cult"The Devil's Hand?">The Turian asks,>"You know of them?""Only what my secretary managed to scrounge up from the extrananet. Most of it is simple rumor, but I assume you know actual facts.">The Asari answers,>"Indeed. In fact, in the spirit of cooperation, would you like us share with you what another of our Spectres has discovered about them?""Please.">You give nothing else away, but a stab of anxiety pricks the back of your mind>This is Sean's paranoia, rubbed off onto you from the year he shared his body and mind with you>His manufactured inner voice, half jovial and half cynical, announces:>"And this is where the twist is revealed.">The Asari presses a key on an interface built into the desk>The room dims slightly as the wall screen activates, showing one of the Citadel's arms and several points of interest along it's>The Salarian explains,>"Our agent's last assignment led him to a Devil's Hand cell stationed here on the Citadel itself. Unfortunately, our efforts to capture this cell whole was unsuccessful. However, we were able to obtain information regarding actions they were about to undertake. Actions that involved your people.">The next slide had several surveillance videos played in sequence to show two winged colts, one of them Squall, flying out of an elevator from the Presidium and into one of the Wards>"These were some of the files recovered from one of the cell's many hideouts. We are still searching through the rest of them."
>>43282737>You recover enough to ask impassively,"They were planning on abducting the ponies here?">The Salarian councilor nodded,>"Most of the written files were deleted, but enough was repaired to infer that they had planned on kidnapping at least one of the children during one of their many escapes into the rest of the Citadel.">This can risk sounding as an insult, but you have to ask,"Have you tried giving the children escorted tours of the Citadel?">"We did, but apparently they were too boring. They escaped from their chaperons several times.""Of course.">You breathe in deep,"I will keep them under control until the Nocturnal arrives from its mission. In the meantime: you said you were unsuccessful in capturing all of the cell?">The Turian councilor crosses his arms,>"Saren's bearing down on the final three members as we speak. They were away from the hideouts and usual gathering places when the raids commenced.">Another slide showing three videos side-by-side>All are hooded individuals walking through a crowd>Heads forward and low, you cannot gain a glimpse of their faces>But the builds and gaits define a female and two males, one of which is quite tall,>Familiarly tall>The female shows only a little blue skin>"These three appear to be the leaders of the cell, according to the evidence we've recovered.">The councilor goes on about the previous sightings of the two male cultists throughout the Wards, forming a vague pattern, but you focus on repressing a sigh>Sean dreaded a scenario like this>He had never encountered another of his Spartans who had "gone rouge," but the possibility was always there>And to learn that one of them is following The Computer will be a hard hit for him>More immediate: there is a much bigger threat to your ponies than you had previously thought>You need to get back to them
>>43282738>But there was something else>Saren>Spectre Saren>More of Sean’s memories, thick with paranoia and pain, come bubbling up>The Turian's reverberating voice makes you focus on him>"We're expecting a report from Saren any minute now.">Then the ambiance of the station changes>Everyone notices your ears shooting up>Before anyone can say anything, the room shakes for a fleeting moment>An explosion, far away inside the station>It takes the Asari councilor only a moment to regain her wits and open up a channel on the table>"Report.">The response is crisp and level,>"Explosion in the Presidium. Ambassador wing.">You need to get back to your charges now>The other door on their end opens to two rushing Citadel Security officers, one of whom speaks urgently,>"Councilors, the Destiny Ascension is being recalled. We need you on the emergency shuttle now.">The Asari turns back to see you lay your translating earpieces on the conference table>She speaks in perfect English,>"Miss Moon, a team will escort you to wherever your people are being evacuated.""There is no time.">"Miss Moon, we cannot-">You interrupt with a restrained voice,"You cannot stop me. My only concerns are my little ponies,">You show your sharp teeth in a grimace,"And the cult that desires the novelty of new playthings.">Ignoring the wide-eyed stares of the Councilors, your form dissolves into glittering smog and phases through the closed door you came through>Messalina is nowhere to be found as you backtrack with the speed of a hurricane>Your running C-Sec escort team is blown off of their feet as you pass through them>You flow through the elevator doors and shoot down the winding shaft towards the Presidium>Dark thoughts cause your smog to grow>Parts of your smog break off and shoot down branching shafts>This may be just a foolish waste of energy, but there are so many avenues of escape for these last three cultists>Paranoia demands your eyes in as many places as possible now()()()
I need to stop being a lazy nigger and read this green to its fullest.
>>43283709
>>43283775How could you...
>>43284115Oh, to hold moonwife...
>>43284131Oh, to be squashed underneath (nightmare) Moonwife's heft...
>>43283775
This last scene is kicking my ass. At least work is slow so I can work on it.
>>43284601
>>432499272:54 PM bump
Vroom vroom
>>43249927>
>>43286015GIWTWM
>>43286392My wife is so cute
>>43286392ink butt, rape rape
Anti-frognigger contingency protocol: activated
>>43288108Up again
nothing ever goes right for moonhorse
you know, a few years ago I would have been very invested in saving as many threads as I could from the proxy faggot and- oh ffs the name field carried over in the last postanyway, now it just makes me disappointed and vaguely annoyed
>>43288708Touch the moonhorse!Hug the moonhorse!Kiss the moonhorse!Marry the moonhorse!
>>43289082Have passionate sex with the moonhorse!Go for moonlit walks in the forest with moonhorse!Collect stamps and foreign coinage with moonhorse!Observe the stars at the observatory with moonhorse!Frolic in the rain with moonhorse!Study maps with moonhorse!Make music with moonhorse!Plan conquest with moonhorse!
>>43289102Based.... so based....
quack
I like it here better cuz all they do is talk about dumb shit and be dumb in the other one.
>>43289692>in the other oneWhat is the other one?
Best sisters!
moon...
>>43290300Turn that frown upside down!
IWTSmoochPL
unf moonie...
>>43289230Why did she decide to impersonate a duck?
>>43291050Because ducks are cute just like her!
>>43291396She deserves all the candy.
>>43265019Love the story, where can i read the rest of it/find updates
Hug the moon...
>>43285135luna but the boycott
>>43292631Shut up Fluttershy! This shit good!
>>43291396que "In the lore this is actually really dark" faggotry
>>43292635lets keep it 100% dutchbros is better. They only hire the gayest and the most non-binary baristas!
I can't fucking stand Nnaly's art style. The colors, the eyes shape, the proportions, everything makes Luna look inferior and uglier. Yet EVERYONE loves it what the fuck
>>43292718I'll admit I like some of them, but a lot are ugly as shit and the cat ears don't help.
>>43292636Luna is the mare in the moon because she's about to get as fat as the moon from all the candy
>>43291909This is Moonlight, Veiled. Check the OP to find the rest of the story
Godd night moonfrens. Sweet dreams!
>>43293211
Luna picking up some cash on the side.
>>43293221What would a moonburger be made out of?
>>43293221>Moichandising,moichandising, where the real money is made!
>>43257800Brush her mane and offer her coffee.
>>43293223Moon cows maybe?
>>43282741>You are Aden B103>For the first time in almost a decade, you are part of an operation you want to be a part of>In the dim lighting of the phantom dropship's cramped space, the whole platoon of pony marines are performing a final equipment check>Sean is walking among them, answering questions and checking a piece of gear or two for each of them>He talks with all of them while he goes through his inspection, occasionally making a deadpan quip or innuendo that helps the ponies laugh away the building tension>He is far from the quietly raging teen that you once knew>And what about you, Aden?>Have you grown up at all?>You comms open up and Shal the Elite Ranger speaks,>"The Normandy just appeared over the horizon. It is passing over the dee-zee two.">Sean stops his inspection and waits>"Could not detect it dropping off the eye-eff-vee. Credit to that ship's helmsman. One minute for dee-zee one.">Sean replies,>"Understood.">He makes his way over to you>You check each other's equipment, making sure the fabric rigs holding your heavy combat load are secure, all the buckles are buckled, and the IFAK's are where they should be>With the check done you both slap each other's helmet, just like on Onyx before another exercise had your team dumped out into the wild>He steps in close and whispers to you,>"Before we jump, you alone need to know this.">You tilt your head forward, unwilling to guess>"Those unknown organics I pointed out in the briefing are part of the compound’s internal security. I don’t know how these people did it even with this galaxy’s level of tech, but they’ve got creatures I’ve only seen in the more ridiculous universes. I couldn’t say anything to the Normandy’s crew without giving myself away. Just be ready to kill some big aboms when we get inside.">You nod>You handled many man-made horrors down in the underbelly of your megaopolis alone>With a platoon of marines and you brother Spartan beside you, you would normally have no doubts>Except these are not the marines you know, but a brand new coalition of uplifted ponies and foreign humans>And Sean might encounter something that can make him turn on you>Oh well, too late to back out now>With ten seconds left, you and Sean step around and over the pony marines to one side of the phantom's hull>The lighting cuts out completely, but the pitch black is quickly replaced by starlight as the side door hinges down>A turbulent ocean far below you gives way to the steep slope of the volcano that takes up your whole view>In a smooth motion the Phantom yaws, slows, and then hovers over the rocky ground>In the second before the dropship starts to veer away, you, Sean, and two pegasi jump>Your stomach rises up into your chest as you brace your legs>The rocks and soil give under you, sending only a muffled shock up your legs before you start sliding down>You dig with one hand and both feet to stop
>>43293371>You aim your rifle up the slope with your free arm, past Sean and the two hovering pegasi>The muted metallic whine of the Phantom fades away up the island chain towards the second dropzone, where Commander Shepard, Nihlus, and the Alliance marines are waiting>The two pegasi, both privates, hover just above you with loud flaps of their wings>They only glance down at you before looking all around, their heads keeping still like birds>Horse birds with little gun rigs under their wings>The one with a sandy coat, Updraft, announces,>"Clear.">Sean looks up to the two ponies,>"Keep screening as we climb.">And so you climb>Carefully>With over two hours to go before the combined force arrive to this island, you have plenty of time to scale the side of this volcano>Not that it's easy>Where there is no foliage to barge through, there is loose dark soil and rocks that slip under you>There are several places where you and Sean have to use both hands to get traction>All the while, the two pegasi marines keep watch, only taking short breaks by landing on relatively flat spots>No one speaks until you all reach the spot just below the lip of the volcano>The pegasi perch on two bumps in the slope next to you>Sean turns to all of you>"I'll go alone to disable the camera apparatus overlooking the compound. They might send someone out to investigate, or they might not. They looked tight on personnel with the new influx of guests.">You nod and whisper,"Green wink for success?">"Red for danger. Just like old times.">As Sean takes off most of his rigging to make the most of his SPI armor, you scan as much of the ocean and jungle below you as possible>Old times>On one hand, you and all the other recruits in Beta Company were burning with rage and anger from murdered families and lost homes>It's what got most of you through training that was tougher than what your head instructor, Kurt-051, had gone through>On the other hand you found Sean, Jane, and Nikki>A brother and sisters in all but blood>Hell, all of Beta became brothers and sisters>Sean estimated at least a hundred of them are scattered throughout all of these universes>Firmaments>Whatever you're calling these other places>When Sean's form turns into clear glass and he carefully crawls over the lip, his rifle and rigged gear left in your care, a question pops up in your head>Were there any other Spartans in the earth you were in?>Hopefully not>Anyone who wasn't a complete introvert would have been sucked down into the cutthroat politics>You keep scanning the terrain, but that's soon interrupted by Updraft whispering,>"Spartan Aden?">The slow turn of your head towards him is what probably makes him reconsider>"Sorry.">The thought of Sean laughing with the pony marines makes you think further than just shutting him up and keeping noise discipline>If this was before Operation Torpedo and the rest of Beta was with you, you would certainly stay quiet
>>43293373>But eight years of being a recluse while doing freelance work in a dismal world sucked>It's about damn time you tried making friends, starting with those whose whole shtick is, 'friendship is magic'>You shake your head,"That camera up there doesn't have a mic. What's up?">Updraft blinks several times and his mouth starts to hang open before he remembers his question>"Are you gonna stay in Equestria too?">The image of Sean and Jane smiling among their new family makes your heart ache>Yet it's not a sad ache>It's been a long time since you've felt something like it>You scan up and down the sides of the volcano as you answer,"If I'm allowed to. There wasn't any time to talk to Princess Celestia about citizenship.">You glance over at the two pegasi as Updraft responds>They're both scanning>Good>"I think the Princess would grant it to you, especially if you help out like this.">A sudden memory of young Sean and Jane arguing over Henlein makes you huff"The ultimate cost for the perfect value, huh?">"Yeah, something like that.">You both go back to scanning until Sean's icon winks green on your helmet-mounted-display>Sean crawls back down to you a minute later>He explains as he reequips his kit>"The view is excellent, but we'd be skylining terribly there. We'll head down to just below the treeline and move around to the side of the volcano there to overwatch the others.">You all nod, but then Updraft says,>"We can go the other way 'round, Sean. Make sure nopony can sneak around behind us.">Sean nods,>"Do it.">The two pegasi lift off and glide down the slope, covering ground that's going to take you and Sean many minutes to navigate>You and Sean watch them turn sharply just above the canopy hugging the lower third of the volcano and disappear around the bend>"Right. Let's go."()()()>The main raid force is just now fording the small straight onto the main island>Even without the view the surveillance camera had, both you and Sean can clearly see them as tiny specks in the wet sand and shallow water>The trees on top of a long hump in the terrain blocks line of sight from the compound itself>Even with your team taking out the one sentry looking over there, the marine coalition is crossing the big danger area by the book, with the Mako IFV overwatching the whole affair>It looks like a silver and black gunboat with six big wheels strapped to its bottom, but its turreted cannon and coax are nothing to laugh at>But nothing interrupts the platoon as they cross in small fireteams, and there is no response from the compound>Alright, you all call it a compound, but it really is a walled-off city block transplanted right next to this dormant volcano>On each side there is a set of heavy duty gates, one for personnel and one for vehicles>That small courier ship is still resting on the pad>The forest is cleared for at least fifty meters around the walls, with dirt trails winding from the gates and into the trees
>>43293376>Those giant, neon pink, inverted pentagrams lighting up the sides of the central skyscraperare irritating your eyes now, despite the anti-glare features in your visor>The decor reminds you of certain megalomaniacal celebrities back on the earth you freelanced in>Out of all the nasty jobs offered to you, you refused the ones from them>Sean suddenly crawls backwards, away from the nook in the rocks he's been peering through, and deactivates his camouflage>You look over at him>He hangs his head, almost resting it on the stones"You okay?">He clamps a hand over his visor, covering his eyes>His voice is heavier than normal,>"Bad memories. I'm starting to get a headache.">Captain Mizzen's words flash through your mind,"I'll keep watch.">He thinks about it>Then he nods,>"Thanks, Aden. I'll check comms.">Shortly after the Mako drives across the open strait and enters the last piece of jungle cover, Sean deadpans,>"Their comms aren't encrypted.">You almost snap your head around,>"Whose?">"The compound's.">You breathe again>"I've got a callsign Excess talking with a callsign Dethroned about Queen Chrissylis. Something about nutrition, or lack of it in her.">You keep one eye on the compound as you open up comms and match the frequency Sean is on>You only get the very end of the conversation, but then you hear a woman's voice,>"Excess, this is Soul.">Another woman's voice answers,>"Go ahead, Soul.">"The volcano camera is acting up. Transmitting, but not responding to commands. I'm taking Deviance with me to check it out.">You both look at each other>As Excess keeps talking, Sean signs to you a suggestion to lay an ambush>You nod, then sign back that you'll warn the pegasi after this exchange on the comms>"Understood, Soul. Have you seen Tongues?">"Fifteen minutes ago or so. He was leading one of the new guests to the western gate.">Excess sighs into her mic,>"Impatient little shit. I'll have something for him whenever he gets back. At least he'll miss the big reveal.">As you both climb around to the back of the volcano, Sean hangs his head back to look up at the stars>He mutters,>"Such timing.">He catches you staring,>"The betrayal’s about to happen. Good thing we're here to stop it.">He looks away,>"I'll go through the other channels, see if any more are talking.">You switch to the team channel and are about to open your comms when Sean snaps straight and rigid, falling on his back against the slope>His trembling hands form claws as muscles all over his body twitch from sudden extreme tension"Sean!">You go to him, but before you can reach him Sean relaxes fully, exhaling>He slumps back onto the rocks as if dead>You freeze and wait>He takes a huge breath before rolling over and rising to his knees>He looks down at his armored hands"Sean?">He balls them up, opens them, then finally looks up at you and breathes out,>"The same music.""Music?"
>>43293378>He doesn’t move>"The same music The Computer filled my head when it had me. I turned off my comms.">He hangs his head and takes several breaths before looking back up at you,>"Sorry, Aden. I need you to be my radioman for the rest of the op.">You nod back,"I'll get the scouts back here to lay the trap.">By the time the two scouts fly around the bottom of the volcano and swoop back up to you, Sean is calm>He tells the two ponies about how two cultists are coming to investigate the camera, most likely in a hovercar>"If we kill them, then they'll be shunted to somewhere else to build up another cell. I'd avoid that if I can, so we're laying low until they get here and check on the camera. We'll subdue them, then respond to any defenses the compound might throw at the platoon when they assault.">The other pegasus, Mild Breeze, perks his ears up at the growl and the bark of thruster jets in the air>"That's not the Phantom.">Sean signals you Updraft and climbs toward Mild>"That's the hovercar. Get under our camo.">Updraft tucks his wings in and crawls under you next to your rifle>You activate your armor, running one of the programs Hitomi wrote which ignores anyone or anypony underneath you>Sean does the same with Mild>When small thrusters began to fire off close by, you slowly turn your invisible head to look up>A brick of a hovercar, painted black with bright red trimming, circles around the volcano once before settling down onto the somewhat flat lip next to the camera>The thrusters are cut and the side hatch hinges up>Inside is a brightly-lit cabin with three rows of seats bolted down like a van>A woman in black armor gets up out of one, joined by another from the cockpit>They’re both looking away from you as they walk over to the surveillance camera, but their conversation is carried over by the wind>One of them keeps talking about a young boy>Sean makes his hands visible below the lip and signals you to subdue the one on your side>Both of you leave your rifles by the winged scouts and discard your rigs before you climb up over the edge>You stay low on you hands and feet with your chest centimeters above the ground>When you first tried to be sneaky during training back on Onyx, you couldn't stop your heart from pounding against your chest>You were doubting every possible choice, causing crippling indecision>Now your heart rate is barely above resting>Even if it was the middle of a sunny day and you had to deal with a shadow under you, you could sneak up on these occupied cultists>Under starlight and with the background noise of the ocean below, this is an easy game of red light, green light>They're so busy chatting away that you cannot help but listen as you close the distance, step by step>The one on a knee hunched over the camera ignores the other’s plans for the kid and asks out loud,>"How are we keeping the bug horse from starving?">That sounds like Soul
>>43293381>Deviance throws her hands up before crossing her arms and turning away, pouting>Stop>Her helmet has no face plate>Her blue skin shows she's not a human woman, but an asari>An alien exclusive to this galaxy>A monogender, long-lived species>Nearly all of them are biotics; mass manipulators>If you're going to subdue her, then you better disorient her before she can focus on you>You'd rather not get tossed down to sea level>Deviance turns back to Soul>Go>"That Bell unicorn said something about her eating love.">She shrugs,>"Not sure what she meant by that. How do you eat love?">Soul, navigating the orange holographic user interface on the camera, answers with,>"Magic.">Deviance snorts out a laugh,>"Of course it’s magic. I wanna know, like, what does she have to do to get it? Does she have to seduce people?">She turns, pressing a finger against the chin of her helmet,>Stop>"Bell mentioned that she could shape shift. Does she disguise herself as a lover to trick you into giving her that love?">Soul scrunches her shoulders as she punches in a sequence before answering,>"Maybe? I'd rather just kidnap people and feed off of them at my leisure. I don't want to do any infiltration shit.">Deviance smiles and twirls back around, hands on her hips>Go>"Come on! You don't want to take someone’s place and bang their lover for years-on-end with no one being the wiser?">Soul jams in the same sequence and clenches her free hand into a shaking fist,>"Not really. I want to see them squirm in the trap. That's just as good as actually doing it.">Soul turns to glance up at Deviance>Stop>Soul's an asari too>Despite Sean's insistence on not killing them, the probability of that is quite low>You can't argue with him now, with you only a few steps behind Deviance>And the platoon is going to begin its assault very soon>Soul looks back down at the interface>One step>You take a slow breath>Another>Soul presses more holographic buttons before muttering,>"What the fuck?">Deviance bends over to look at the screen>Another step, and you rise up into a crouch>"What's up?">Soul throws her arms up then lets them drop,>"It's bugged out is what's up. Anything related to video playback just doesn't respond to commands.">Three more steps to take and you'll be right behind Deviance>Soul sighs, then raises one arm and activates her omni tool,>"A bunch of the recordings are corrupted too. What the fuck caused this thing to-">You take another step, but freeze in a hunched stance, arms raised>Soul turns just enough to look up at Deviance>If you move at all, she just might catch something out of the corner of her eye>"Someone's messed with it.">They stare at each other and you swear Deviance is smiling when she says,>"So a hero’s come to rescue everyone.">She straightens up and puts a finger to the side of her helmet>”Excess,”>She takes a step back into your waiting arms
>>43293383>You pull Deviance back, threading your arms through hers and constricting her neck>Sean lunges for Soul, but her whole body flares with distorting blue light>The blue flare slams into all of you and throws you off your feet>Far>One long second later, you dig a furrow in the ground in front of the hovercar’s open door>You still have Deviance>Her circulatory system is the same as a human's, so she blacks out within seconds>In those seconds there is gunfire and another flare of blue>Sean and both pegasi are flung over you and into the open hovercar>Updraft hits the interior wall with his helmet hard and falls in between the seats>Sean lands on the seats with Mild on top of him>You throw yourself back up onto your feet and charge Soul, still holding her limp partner in front of you>But Soul is smiling>Her body flares up again, making a pull motion with one arm>Blue distorted air grips you both and pulls you off your feet, suddenly without gravity>Soul steps to the side and lets you coast on past her, well out of your reach>As you float out over the edge, towards the compound, you twist your body to watch Sean stepping out from the hovercar, holding a dazed Mild>He launches the pegasus sidelong over the edge>Mild wakes up fast, spreading his wings and diving down to get the ground between him and the asari>Sean gets biotically punted back into the hovercar for his troubles>You must have loosened your hold because Deviance jerks awake>"What the-!">The blue grip on you disappears and gravity reasserts itself>Deviance curses Soul in her own language and you get a final glimpse of the other Asari strutting into the hovercar, her body once again flaring out blue>You pull the flailing, screaming asari around to put her between you and the oncoming face of the volcano>Her body flares up with blue light, but it's too late>Her armored body softens your impact, but you still bounce and start to tumble end-over-end>Your vision devolves into a messy swirl of dark colors>Before you hit the treeline, Mild breaks radio silence with a rushed call over the platoon net, his terse voice distorted by the wind and encryption,>”Break break break, Sierra team compromised.”()()()>Be Updraft, pegasus>Somepony’s distorted voice is punching through the ringing and into your ear>You spit out the bile left in your mouth, but your stomach is still doing flips>Any thoughts you try to make keep getting interrupted by a throbbing pain in your head>You breath in deep, fighting back the urge to dry heave, and try to look around>A bright blue light makes you shut your eyes>Your legs and wings feel fine, just constricted by oddly-shaped cushions>Your gun presses into your side>The asari lady, breathing hard like she just finished a set of gassers, says passively,>"You can stay right there.">A big door closes, cutting off the sounds of the ocean>Cushions on one side shift and she croons right over you,>"Now what do we have here?"
>>43293386>A strong hand grabs the back of your neck and yanks you up high>Your head spins and your stomach lurches hard up into your throat, but nothing's in it>Another hand shoots past your flapping wings and takes your gun out of your rig>"My, my, you've never gotten hit by biotics before, haven't you?">She slams you onto the seat, digging your snout into the cushion>"What a cute little birdie you are.">The asari hears something that makes her groan,>"Soul here.">The headache is gone, but you’re in the worst position possible>A larger opponent with longer reach with a solid grip on your neck>And with your face being forced into the seat, you can’t breathe>"Yeah, we have intruders. Lost Deviance, but I've got two prisoners here. One is,">You can barely see Spartan Sean in between the seats>His whole form is encased in some weird blue field, still as a statue>"One is probably human, as big as the boss. Got him in stasis.">You kick out your hind legs, but even if you can reach her, you won’t hit hard with this angle>"The other is-, yes, I threw Deviance off a cliff with another Human. They sneaked up-">You get your legs under you and push up, barely getting enough space to take a breath>”Oh, stop that.”>She flings you forward into the hull>You don’t bonk your head again, but as you spin around the asari gestures at you with one arm>The same blue field that’s encasing Sean forms around you and you flop onto the seat>You can’t move>All you can do is watch her sag and gulp in air>Yet she’s smiling>”Oh, I haven’t worked this much in a long time.”>She staggers into the cockpit>You try to bend the hard shell that has you in an awkward pose, but your muscles start to spasm from the strain>You start to listen to the wild chatter on the platoon net in your helmet’s radio that has been going this whole time>Something about getting the Mako to start the assault>Also somepony asking about your team’s status>In the small tinted window of the hovercar, Mild looks in, his wings flapping hard>He looks at you and Sean, both trapped>The hovercar then jerks up, leaving your partner>The asari comes back into view, talking to someone on her comms,>"I've set it to land in the recessed hangar.">She looks down at Sean>"Yeah, this human is still in stasis. I'm tossing him out when I land, but I'm going to have my fun with this pony. Oh shut up!">She couples that last outburst with ripping some wires out the back of her helmet and pulling it off>Pictures of those sweeping head fringes are one thing>Seeing them is different>You much prefer hair over them>She doesn't even have ears>The dark blue smooth skin is shiny with sweat in a way that makes your stomach lurch again>The asari throws the helmet away and, after a couple deep breaths, turns to you>"Now let's get you out of that armor.">With a sweep of her hand the hard shell vanishes instantly
>>43293388>She's already lunging for your throat again, but you have a fraction of a second to act>Your wings, bunched up under you, launch you up past her reaching hand>You smash your helmet into her head>That makes her gasp and step back>Your wings flap maddeningly and knock against the seat cushions, but you stay on her>Your forehoof cracks her jaw, but she doesn't fall>You aim your next punch at her temple, but she recovers>She parries your punch with a forearm>With her other arm she reaches around and grabs the base of a wing>Panic wells up instantly, but you channel it into another lunge at her head, mouth open>She tries to lean back, but you catch her cheek in between your teeth>She twists your wing until something snaps, shooting white hot pain all up your wing and along your spine>You scream through your teeth and bite down so hard that blood wells up in your mouth>The asari screams too, toppling backwards onto the deck>As soon as you land on top of her, music blasts through the hold>Drums, an echoing guitar, and synths>You ignore it, still screaming through your teeth as you pull at her cheek, trying to make her pain worse than yours>She lets go of your now-limp wing and uses both hands in a panicked attempt to push you off>The music gets louder and the seats beside you shift>The asari gains some sense and seizes your throat with both hands>Before she can do anything to you a massive gloved hand grabs both of your wings at their base, squeezing them together, and snatches you up into the air>The piercing pain is too great this time and you cry out, letting go of the asari's ripped and bloody cheek>Sean lifts you violently up to his visor’s level>He holds you there for an agonizing moment, ignoring your screams, the music blasting from his golden helmet>You are about to punch at him when the music shifts>He tosses you into the back wall>There's a flash of white>The asari's laughter piercing the fast drums makes you open your eyes>As you slowly stand up on the back seat she says,>"By the Goddess, I never thought that stupid music would actually work.">The asari grabs Sean's offered hand and he pulls her onto her feet>The hovercar shifts suddenly as it descends, throwing her off balance>Sean holds her to him, his other hand resting on the back of her hip as he brings his helmet close to her>His golden visor disappears, revealing his face>Despite the pain from your bite, her face falls to utter confusion>"Boss?">The music quickly rises into a crescendo>She doesn't notice both of his hands moving up her body until they clamp onto either side of her head>Sean's helmet blurs forward>Soul's head is thrown back, blood spraying out of her forehead>Sean's hands move to the beat of the firmly sung lyrics as he mechanically rips her armor off
>>43293389>Like all ponies, you can intuit what comes next in the song and guess how to sing along>You stay completely silent and still, unable to look away as Sean violently strips Soul down to her deep blue skin>"Living weak has its cost,>A little given is abundance lost,>I won't lose again,>Live to dream,>It's not your fault,>You press the iron,>I feel it hot,>I'll gladly burn again,>I can take it, now."()()()>You are Dethroned, turian>Soul has finally found something to go rogue over>You and a few of the newer nameless wait in the quiet recessed hangar as the hovercar lands>Even before the thrusters shut down fully you can hear the music>Odd>Soul hates the music the boss insists be played at all of the Hand's bases>Is she trying to drown out whatever she's doing to that other intruder?>Another pony?>Whatever the case, you need to detain the human>The sooner you get him in the dungeon, the less chance there will be with one of the roaming guests stumbling upon him>You're so close to the big reveal, you don't want to take any chances ruining it>Tongues has escaped your watch, but he's taking his prey well off base>He'll get his comeuppance either by you or Excess once he gets back>You blink>The hovercar's side door still hasn't opened yet>You walk over, take one hand off your rifle, and pound your three-fingered fist against the hull>No change>You look back at the nameless>A krogan, an asari, and a couple of humans all in dark casual clothes>Having been transferred here only a couple of weeks ago, these four haven't done anything notable; anything to earn their pentagrams and names>The hovercar still doesn't open>Yet the music continues onto the next track>Having listened to it for months, you know it well>This is the start of one of the more intense ones>Good for workouts>You choose to not have the Russian lyrics translated for you>It's one of the many you're learning on your own>A few seconds before the drums kick things off, the door hinges up>A body is flung out by an invisible figure>It's Soul with her top half naked and covered in blood>Her chest, where the carved pentagram should have been, has been ripped open>A blinking disc the size of your hand is stuffed inside the hole>A grenade>You don't have time to shout a warning before the grenade detonates in time with the drums>The kinetic barriers embedded in your armor save you from the shrapnel, but you are thrown to the ground>The unarmored nameless are decimated>One human's neck is shredded and he topples backward>The other's leg is torn off and he falls>The asari throws up a biotic shield in front of herself just in time>The krogan throws his arms up in time to protect his eyes and throat, the only soft parts of his body that cannot handle shrapnel>Something leaps through the dust kicked up by the explosion>It reaches the asari right as you recover from the shock and bring up your rifle
>>43293390>She sees the disturbed dust too late and a half-visible armored hand with straight fingers thrusts into her neck, snapping it>The ghost in the settling dust doesn't slow down, but flies past the falling asari towards the krogan, with both humans in its way>You fire and hold down the trigger, but the thing is already past where you aimed>The phantom leaps over the human corpse and onto the one still alive>He's too busy letting out his first and only scream before a boot smashes through his sternum with a single great crunch>As you pull your aim around, the two meter tall krogan charges the thing>Still moving fast the thing slides past his reaching hands, ripping up the corpse and leaving a dark smear of blood on the concrete>You stop firing to see the golden-headed thing as it hooks onto the krogans hip to swing up onto its humped back>The krogan spins as it grabs at the phantom, but it braces itself on top of him>Before you squeeze the trigger, the thing takes one motion to grab the front-most plate on top of the krogan’s head and rip it off in a spray of yellow blood>You fire a burst, but you just hit the krogan as the ghost falls behind him>The krogan bellows in pain and rage, swinging its arms wildly>The Russian lyrics start as you get back up on your feet to get a better angle>The music is not coming from the hovercar, but from the ghost>It throws another disc grenade around the raging krogan towards you>It must have pilfered the box of grenades you had stowed in the hovercar>You run and leap behind the front of the flying box>It takes the brunt of the explosion, but you know the ghost will have at least a dozen grenades>With how fast it is, you don’t stand a chance even if your kinetic barriers recharge>You sprint for the exit, yelling the panic order into your radio and expecting a disc to hit your back>Just before you pass the threshold into the hallway leading to the elevator and stairs, a grenade embeds itself into the doorway’s frame>You get one step into the hallway when the grenade detonates>Your barriers fail and a sledgehammer rips through your side, sending your rifle spinning into the hallway and you onto your side>Pulsing, white hot pain covers your arms and legs>Yet the approaching music pierces through the ringing in your ears>You roll onto your back and look at where the hangar door used to be>Fully visible now, a tall human in strange green and black armor sprints through the dust>You fumble for your sidearm, but even before your good hand can grab it the human throws itself onto you>Its impact with its boots buckles the armor on your arms, pinning them>Massive gloved hands grip both sides of your jaw, forcing you to be face-to-face with the bulbous golden visor>Then it pulls your head up with the certainty of industrial machinery>You scream as your neck and spine are stretched, your jaw is crushed, and then a snap-()()()End M4, Pt. 1https://ponepaste.org/11243
>>43249927I envision Luna having a massive fat ass compared to Celestia
>>43293604Well, yeah, how else is she supposed to moon people?
She loves (You)!
>>43249935HUZAAAAAAAAAH
>>43294218
