Chapters
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“You’re sure about this?” It took less than two hours—two hours for Elise to finish looking over the code and for him to gather together the other members of their growing conspiracy. Katie had agreed to come without question, but she hadn’t been sure about her older sister. They weren’t sure about Harley either, though none of them actually knew where she was.Elise gestured pointedly at the scribbles she had made on the page. Her mouth writing was impressive for being so new, better than he…-
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Eric stayed up all night, Jacob with him. Mostly he kept watch at the doorway, and checked on Danielle where she slept on one of the chairs. No one came to use the computers, or to find the missing ponies. If only they had a specific list of targets, they might’ve been able to call in threats or something, get people out of public places.They sent a few covert warnings, in ways Eric explained would be “very difficult to track.” Jacob didn’t understand what he was doing, so mostly he watched. He…-
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Jacob felt less confident the closer he came to the recording studio. He could hear distant voices, see studio lights shining down the hall, but that didn’t make things easier. What do I think I’m gonna do, tell an Alicorn she’s wrong to her face? Sunset Shimmer felt an enormous debt to him, and to the others who had rescued the imprisoned ponies. That gratitude was infused anew every time his magic saved one of her ponies. But that wasn’t the same thing as having the confidence to tell a pony as…-
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Jacob heard the sirens. He jerked upright, away from Katie and into a proper sitting position. He might've spun flailing from the edge of the roof, were it not for the little pegasus, who caught him with concern. "What's that?"It didn't really surprise him Katie didn't recognize the sound. She had never been very concerned with anything outside of weather. "It means we're under attack. There could be casualties. I need to get my things." He rose, forcing his mind to clear. Despite the blaring siren, he…-
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Danielle didn't feel much like discussing anything with someone who had clearly just murdered several ponies. She snorted, scratching at the ground, but Lilly shoved her with one hoof. She forced her to slow, advancing closer in the calm. There was no way to communicate securely now—anything they said to each other, the monster would surely overhear."What are you?" Lilly asked. "I've slain dragons before, but none like you. Did your master leave you out in the sun so long you started to rot?"Danielle…-
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Danielle always panicked right before casting the Earthbreaker spell.She paced around a patch of bare rock, in the most remote corner of Imperium where the sun rarely shone. Huge sections of Imperium had now been planted and cultivated, and none of those would work.Other ponies knew to stay away, as much because of the constant noise as because of the lumpy craters ripped from the ground and massive piles of rubble everywhere. The broken rock could never be used twice—something about the magic prevented…-
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"I'm not sure any of that makes a difference." All eyes went to Jackie. "So maybe the ponies believe we're like them. Maybe they're right, maybe not. But I can tell you something we don't have to wonder about: there are people trying to kill us. I think they've made the call for us."Katie shook her head. "That doesn't mean we have to help them fight. We can keep things going back here without needing to… do whatever Sunset plans on for her war. What is she planning, anyway?"Jacob shrugged. "Harley can…-
123.5 K •
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It had to be at least two in the morning, maybe later. It was hard to know without a clock. Their entire group huddled together in the center of the little bedroom, hanging on Jacob's every word. He was still a little dazed, his mind turning over everything Sunset had told him in the hall. He had rushed back immediately to share it with his friends—they had as much right to know as he did."Before you explain it Jacob, think about how you feel right now." Harley folded her arms, looking stern. "Don't try…-
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True to Sunset's word, Eric and the rest of their party arrived before nightfall. They stumbled inside in a daze, with even the savvy Jackie walking in wide-eyed and staring.Katie was in front, collapsing on the nearest cot and staring down at her hands. "This place can't be real…""That's how we felt," Jacob said, rising to his hooves to greet them. None had belongings, except Eric with his sketchpad. Vagabonds and pilgrims. "You must like it down here, Jackie. Bats like caves, right?""Oh yeah." Jackie…-
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“Well if it's all the same, I think I'd like to get back to duty," Steelshod said, nodding off towards the loudest sounds of machinery. "We don't need any special recognition, Quartermaster. Unless you see things different, Miles."The other earth pony nodded his agreement. "Maybe an extra ration of ale for building crew four. If you can find any in the stockpile."Apple Bloom nodded. "Sure. But don't ya hold yer breath fer much after tonight—it's gonna be hard enough to find enough hay to keep all these…-
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