Oh boy another "The X of Y" ones......Though not quite as large as the las few at least.
And after having an enormous, fully grown dragon show up and say it wasn't going to eat them, well they really don't know how to deal with that. Velvet simply telling Calamity not to start shooting, and Steelhooves making the rather accurate point, he said he was Spike, not that he was Watcher, and after a little intra-party dialog, Spike just asks Li'lpip "they do Know I can hear them right?"
Spike tells the group that they are welcome in his house with one condition, Steelhooves wasn't allowed in, Spike simply pointing at him and saying "that" leading Li'lpip to wonder what the issue he has with ghouls is. The group tries to protest, but Spike counters their arguments with one of his own. He can breath fire. Yeah, can't really counter that one.
Inside his cave, is even more books. Which Spike simply says are Twilight's. No were Twilight's. And when Li'lpip confronts Spike about why they had to leave Steelhooves outside, we find out it isn't ghouls Spike has an issue with, but Steel Rangers. Li'lpip hands over the memory orb, asking why Spike would want it, since it's not like he could view it, and simply says it was the last time all of the Mane 6 were all together and happy, and he simply wants it for nostalgia.
And at the groups insisting, Spike gives us a lot more detail on the past, the Mane 6, and the Ministries. And how things went so wrong.
The Mane 6 had flaws, he admits, but their virtues and their friendship was strong enough to overcome them, and yet any flaw, if put under enough pressure can become cracks, and eventually cause something to break. And once they were put in charge of the Ministries, they were put under almost constant pressure, while at the same time being split up, not being able to support each other, each one on their own for the most part.
And to add to it, only Rarity and Twilight actually "ran" their Ministry, the rest simply tossed off ideas, came up with suggestions and let the ponies under them do all the work, not really knowing how to run something like that, simply trusting the ponies under them to do things right. Which causes Calamity to make a few quips about politics that make Li'lpip both curious about how the pegasus government worked, and glad she doesn't know.
The whole time Li'lpip is quietly getting more and more upset, finally exploding, demanding to know why Spike hides in this cave all the time, he obviously cares, why the buck isn't he out helping, he's a full grown dragon, nothing in the wastelands could even scratch him. And she keeps up, despite her more calm companions pleas to NOT upset the giant dragon. Only stopping when Spike roars at them, saying he has his reasons, and he will tell Li'lpip, but ONLY Li'lpip, the rest will have to accept Li'lpip's word that they are good ones. And assuring them it isn't because he doesn't think they can be trusted, but rather there are ways to rip memories from ponies minds, first memory orbs, and also confirming that the Goddess and the alicorns are telepathic. The fewer minds with this information, the better. To which they all agree.
Leading her down through his cave, they arrive at the deepest chamber, in which rested a Crusader Mainframe. One of the three most powerful arcano-tech devices ever created. And Twilight Sparkle's greatest work, the single greatest hope for the Wastelands, for Equestria. Before Li'lpip, was all the pieces to cast the most intricate and powerful megaspell ever. Powered by the Elements of Harmony, channeled and cast by the Crusader AI. A megaspell that would purge Equestria of radiation, of taint, that would giving Equestria a chance to return to the paradise it once was.
The Gardens of Equestria.
I, I really have no words for just how much I LOVE this, if I had to choose just one thing about this story that I loved most, it would be The Gardens, the very idea, the hope, it's just amazing.
Though for all this, it was missing one, or rather 6, vital components. ponies able to wield the Elements. And that was what Watchers goal had been, with helping ponies, guiding them into forming groups, always trying to find the right ones, hoping to find a group of ponies able to embody the six virtues. And much to Li'lpip's disappointment, he says her group isn't it. While they are amazing ponies, and will do a lot of good, he doesn't think they are the ones that could use the Elements. Though, when Spike mentions how hard it would be to find a pony that embodies laughter in the wastes, Li'lpip immediate thinks of Ditzy, telling Spike she might know somepony.
On the trip back up to the group, she asks Spike if he knows what happened to the rest of the Mane 6, but he doesn't know. When pressed for why, he breaks down, turns out he had Slept Through the Apocalypse, simply meaning to take a small nap, figuring somepony would come wake him up if anything bad went down, but when he awoke, it was to late.
Just before they rejoin the group, Spike cautions Li'lpip, no matter what she learns on her travels, what she sees or finds out, to remember The Gardens were the true heart of Twilight, her greatest gift. Hinting that some of the things Twi was responsible for might not be that pleasant.
Seeing the rather morose and generally down mood everyone was in upon getting back, Li'lpip talks Spike into telling some stories about the Mane 6, from before the war, when everypony was happy. Though his attempts at telling the story of Twi's first Winter Wrap Up got a bit derailed into trying to tell the ponies about how the seasons used to work. And a little bit on how Earth Ponies work in this setting. Hard working, proud, stubborn. And also the ones responsible for almost all technology, being the more innovative and always trying to find out ways to do more with less.
(From what I understand, it was done this way to give EP's a more even playing field with unicorns and pegasi, since it was written before their other magic was really made canon, their connection to the earth, and ability to grow things better then the rest)
The little discussion is interrupted when Steelhooves enters the cave, angering Spike, though he only did so to warn them, as four pegasi in Enclave armor enter. After exchanging words with Spike, one of them notices Calamity, saying this changes things, that they would be taking him into custody, trying to bribe Spike with the reward.
Okay this part really doesn't make sense to me, he's a dashite, an outcast, I get that, but also a wanted fugitive? Okay if he had simply left and gone below on his own, I could see. But he had to have been caught and held long enough for them to brand off his cutie mark, so, why let him go after that, if you're just going to offer a reward for his capture, when you already had him? Yeah kind of confusing to me.
At the mention of the gems, Spike seems to calm down, discussing it with them, causing li'lpip to worry. Until..
“You’ve barged into my house and tried to bribe me with gems, asking me to betray one of my guests to you… a guest who you have named after a pony who was not only a good friend of mine, but the bearer of the Element of Loyalty?”
Hearing this Li'lpip cracks a small smile, seeing where it was going, though the other pegasus is still clueless, right up until Spike roasts her alive in her armor.
Okay there have been a lot of people that kind of point how stupid the Enclave armor design is since it LET Spike do that, and well, yeah, it is badly designed, but it's not a failing of the writing, it was badly designed in 'verse simply because it was made mostly by RD, who really had little clue how actual armor should work or all the details there, and simply tried her best to make it look cool, awesome, and intimidating, rather then making sure it was practical and actually worked right.
The group offers to stay and help Spike deal with the Enclave when they show back up, but Spike tells them to go, that as long as they aren't still there, the pegasi won't press it to hard. And the group decided to stay above the clouds long enough for them to be seen leaving, making clear they aren't around anymore. Though before they leave Velvet has one last question, what's with all the tall thin towers everywhere? The one's Li'lpip knows Homage uses for her broadcasts.
Both Spike and Calamity speak at once, Spike calling them the "Single Pony Project" Calamity, the "Sustainable Pegasus Project." Spike saying they were the only project RD's ministry worked on, but he didn't know any details. Though Steelhooves pipes up, only "official" project. Calamity, says they may well have been called that at first, but the Enclave was using them to enchant the clouds for miles around each tower to allow them to grow food in the sky.
Leading Li'lpip to think of Homage, how she uses the towers for her own purpose as well, spreading the truth to the ponies of the wastes, an idea suddenly dawning on her and she rushes back to tell Spike she may know about another pony he's looking for.
And their plan to be seen while leaving works, a pair of pegasi on their tale as they finally dive below the clouds, barely avoiding getting shot down before they finally break off pursuit.
They land outside New Appleloosa, Ditzy coming out to great them and do some trading, accompanied by Silver Bell, Li'lpip remarking on how much better she looks, and not just because she was no longer painted pink. And then onto their "home" at junction R-7. unloading supplies, setting up a few things they picked up for it.
Li'lpip wanders over to Steelhooves, wanting to talk to him about AJ, but feeling like it was to soon, that it would be prying to much into his personal life, so instead asking if he knows what happened to Fluttershy. He responds no, not for sure, only rumors. Some say she simply wandered off into the wastes, letting it tear her apart out of anguish for what she had done. Others that she leaped from the top of the Ministry of Peace building, and yet others claim she wandered into the Everfree Forest, and became a tree.
And, well, Chekhov's Gun, Foreshadowing, all that, you know one of those has to be true, and well, only one has enough shear 'wut!?' to really need foreshadowing. Or it could just be a little nod to Fluttertree meme.
And the chapter ends with Li'lpip listening to the recording she found outside Spike's cave, and it turns out to be from RD, after the war. Mentioning that Spike was asleep, and that she would let him sleep, hoping that by the time he wakes up, things will be better, ranting about how the other pegasi cast her out, called HER a traitor, after turning their backs on Equestria, even hiring a bounty hunter to bring back her head. One that finds her as she waits. Gilda. The recording cutting out before we learn the results of their fight.
New Perk-Anytime one party member drops below a certain health, the rest gain a bonus to DT. interesting perk.
Thoughts-Well, for a "The X of Y" chapter, rather short. Though still filled with plot twists, and of course introducing the single greatest part of the entire story, The Gardens of Equestria. As well as a lot more little things that will play out later. Mostly just getting things set for the next part, and beyond, giving us some exposition and a break from the heavier action and drama of the past few chapters, while still moving the story forward.
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