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Seraphem2013-03-22 08:18:01

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Chapter 39: The Coming Storm (part 2)

After that, the two head out into Friendship City. Li'lpip getting to experience something new. The nearly undivided attention of nearly everypony they pass being focused on the group, and yet not on her. Ponies constantly coming up and welcoming Calamity as soon as they saw his Dashite brand. (I really do love Friendship City, which of course means, pain is coming for them.) Well right up till two guards come up to them and great her. One apologizing for the little mishap a few weeks ago where they kind of, sort of shot at her over that whole Arbu mix up. The other, not so much, poking at the still sore wound and generally being a dick.

The duo stop by to see the town's mayor, who also runs a fairly large trading business. While her and Calamity were haggling over his stockpile of goods... random assassination attempt. A pony comes in and start's firing at the mayor, only managing to get a shot off because it took Li'lpip a while to realize the gun she was trying to draw was in a security locker at the town's gate. Calamity meanwhile knocking the mayor out of the shot, giving Li'lpip enough time to shift focus and simply force choke the attempt killer till he drops unconscious.

The mayor tells the two the killer was almost definitely hired by Raspberry Tart, the pony the group had been warned about when they came in. And a quick call to her, makes pretty damn clear she's an utter cold hearted bitch. But the kind that hides behind a facade of transparent innocence and plausible deniability. And I quickly find myself agreeing with Li'lpip.

I was beginning to deeply and egregiously dislike Raspberry Tart.

After the call was over, the mayor rants a bit. Everypony knows Tart is crooked and evil, but nopony can actually prove it. And when the two ask if they can help the mayor simply makes a somewhat snarky comment about if they could get a confession. Followed by wishing somepony could get a listening device into Tart's room.

I grinned, crossing my Pip Buck-bonded foreleg in front of me. “Sneaky is one of my specialties.”

The two head to get something to eat before Li'lpip sneaks in, since she's barely eaten anything since Splendid Valley thanks to the radiation and taint ruining her apatite. And while walking, Calamity makes a rather good point of just how coincidental the timing of the assassination attempt was. Li'lpip thinking he meant it had something to do with them, but he had meant more Redeye and the Enclave. A joke about it might even be hellhounds behind it gets to her though. And Calamity... way to go. I mean it, this might be one of Calamity's best scenes in the story. And it's short but to the point. He simply sees Li'lpip's reaction, and forces her to stand there and listen while he dissects how wrong it is for her to feel guilty over setting off the megaspell. Not only did it remove the Goddess, who would destroy all ponies if not stopped. But she also removes the ability for Redeye to use the bomb against other ponies. Like he was threatening to do to Tenpony already. /slowclap. Very very awesome little speech, and it's what Li'lpip needs. Somepony to make her see how wrong all the things she is beating herself up over are.

They reach the diner, the radio blaring more Enclave propaganda. Extolling how hideous The Goddess was, and pretty much they got that whole part right about what her plan was and what she intended. Though slips into bullshit, when THEY claim credit for the megaspell detonation that killed her.

And then, sudden jump cut. Guess it's just to save time, and really not like anything was missing you couldn't fill in. Li'lpip was in Tart's office, and.. her stealthbuck had just failed as she as leaving after planting the bug. Tart calling her underling to deal with the intruder. Said underling being a massive cyberpony, with razor sharp wings grafted onto him. She tries to bluff, telling Tart she was hear to see if she'd like her to kill the mayor for her. Tart recognizing her from the background of the call after the last attempt and not buying it. Though, her tune changes after Li'lpip kills the cyberpony in a rather gruesomely squicky way. Yeah, messing with a master of TK is NEVER a good idea.

And jump cut to Li'lpip returning to the mayor. (I don't really mind the jump cuts here. The chapter is long enough and not like anything major was missed. But does feel a tad odd at times.) And while they got the entire recording of her and Tart bartering for the contract to kill the mayor. Tart wasn't an idiot, and immediately called the mayor after Li'lpip left to report her as an assassin, covering her flank. But, then they get the REAL good news. Calamity was right, the assassination attempt wasn't a coincidence. She was working for the Enclave, who where on their way to pick up a somepony specific. And their assault force would be there in about an hour.

The city council meets to plan how to respond. Evacuation wasn't an option, it would take to long to get everypony off the island. And only the doctor seems to even entertain the notion of simply handing over whatever pony it is they want. Well unless it was Li'lpip herself they were after, then she would also go for that option herself. And in any case, the fact that the Enclave wasn't responding to any attempts to talk, even through the communicator Tart was using, makes negotiation a bit hard. The group finally deciding to fight.

While Calamity goes to fix the harbor guns that had been sabotaged by Tarts minions, Li'lpip stops to visit Ditzy, seeing that the procedure to purge her was working, kind of. What it really was, was teaching her how to channel the radiation in her body and expel it in great gouts of radiation. The force of which kept knocking her over. And she just plain adorable doing so.

I smiled to Ditzy Doo and applauded too. Somehow, watching her joy made the storm clouds over my own head scatter, if just for a little while.

And THAT is why Laughter is one of the most important virtues to ponies. More on that later.

Li'lpip turns on her radio, listening to the Enclave broadcast, mostly just to try and get an idea what they were up to. A spiel justifying their destruction of Canterlot being cut of by.... HELL YES HOMAGE! DJ-PON-3 breaking back onto the air. Telling the Wastes the true story of what happened at Maripony. That it was the Stable Dweller who destroyed the Goddess. And used Redeyes weapon to do so. Though the broadcast is cut before she can say more, the simple fact that Homage was out there fighting back was enough to lift Li'lpip's spirits. Which need it, because, the Enclave show up early....

And it turns out the pony they were coming for was Radar, the other Dashite. A squad of armored pegasi descend, telling everypony to either comply, or be killed. Shooting any pony that talks back or flees. including one of the Arbu fillies, that flees in panic as soon as she sees Li'lpip. The squad of Enclave soldiers starting to fight with themselves immediately over one of them shooting a foal. Causing some of them to simply leave the city. As has been stated from before we even met the Enclave, the pegasi themselves are NOT the enemy. Most of them are as much victims of The Enclave as the ponies under the clouds. And this, showing this so quickly is great. I LOVE that it is made damn clear just who the "bad guys" are. Not all pegasi, or even all ponies wearing Encalve armor. Just the few in charge, and those to dedicated, or to blinded by their lies to think on their own.

Though the sight of the filly being vaporized breaks Li'lpip. Calamity finding her curled up around the ashes, looking for something to put them in. Having nearly completely snapped over this. only coming out of it after Calamity decks her across the face. Finally coming back to herself and rushing off with him to see how they could help.

The two meet up with the city leaders at what was left of the town's defenses. The Enclave had sent three raptors to take the town, the harbor guns having taken out one before being destroyed. And yet one of the remaining two had ceased firing on the town as soon as the guns had been destroyed, leaving only one actually attacking, as well as the troops. Radar saying he was willing to turn himself over, but nopony believing that would get hem to stop. Instead they come up with a plan to take out that last attacking ship.

Li'lpip and Ditzy scavenge what was left of her delivery wagon and the supplies in it. The wagon having been destroyed while the Enclave was bombing the harbor. Li'lpip takes it hard, but Ditzy just shrugs it off. “It’s just a wagon.”. Calamity meets them, dropping off two sets of Enclave armor, puzzling Li'lpip since she couldn't wear one, only to find out Ditzy was coming. Calamity pointing out that she'd been alive over two centuries and survived the wasteland that whole time. She could look after herself. And Li'lpip reluctantly agreeing, slipping a fresh Stealthbuck onto her Pipbuck.

The trio make it onto the attacking raptor, both their armor and her Pipbuck now close enough to pick up the intraship communications between the two. The one still attacking trying to order the other one to resume firing, threatening them with treason if they don't. That "Operation: Cauterize" was in effect. The others response.

“Raptor Pyrocumulus, the ponies of Raptor Altostratus regret to inform you that we will not slaughter helpless ground ponies, no matter what our orders say.”

This, is just brilliant. I LOVE that almost from the start, it's made clear that no, anypony wearing Enclave armor is not an enemy. The these are still ponies. It is only the ones in command that are the enemy, the ones using lies and threats to keep the majority of the pegasi in line. And at the same time, makes those who ARE the enemy even more evil. Going after their own for not being cold hearted bastards. And makes them even more dangerous IMO, because the dissension in the ranks would only make the ones in charge worried, more likely to go even further to quell rebellion. It would make them desperate, and lead them to do even worse things then they already would to end the conflict before the dissatisfaction grows.

While an invisible Li'lpip places some explosives among the ammo racks for the battle wagons of the raptors hanger, Calamity and Ditzy simply try to remain unnoticed till she's done so they can carry her out. But an officer stops them, starting the standard "Who are you?" "You're coming with me" etc... till Calamity simply shoots him, triggering every pony and turret in the hangar to start shooting at the two just as Li'lpip tosses the last bomb, the trio jumping out of the hangar.

Outside, they see the rebelling raptor crashing into Friendship Bridge, having been shot down. Li'lpip returning the favor by detonating the bombs, sending the last warship crashing down, her elation quickly ended as she looks at the devastation of the city below. Landing briefly, they find about a quarter of the cities ponies were left, but the mayor and Radar had been killed in some of the final bombardment. The three head off, drawing off as many of the remaining troops still trying to mop up as they could, losing them by the time they reach the suburbs of Manehatten.

They decide to head to Stable 29, to see if the Applejack Rangers can help the survivors, who were stranded on the island, the boats all bombed by the Enclave, and the bridge having been taking out by one of the crashing raptors. And we get this adorable bit from Ditzy.

"Absolutely Everything does not have boats, must fix."

Okay, and again this just shows why Ditzy is so amazing in this story. She always cheery, always hopeful, and always just looking for the best way to help. She always seems so innocent, and yet, we all know just what she's been through, what she's seen. Stuff that would annihilate any "innocence" in almost anyone, yet she keeps going, stays happy. Not because she doesn't notice or understand what's going one. She fully knows how bad things are. But she simply chooses to not let it effect her. She is a living (sort of) example of how ponies used to be, and how they could be again. And also, possibly an even better example then Pinkie of just why Laughter is a virtue. Her little quips and jokes throughout this chapter are the one bright spot. The one thing keeping some light and hope in an otherwise hopeless situation. not just for the readers, but for Li'lpip as well. And we haven't even gotten to her greatest moment yet.

The group stops to rest, and Ditzy gets to splash adorably in a puddle of radioactive goop to help her heal from the injuries she took during the fight. Calamity heading out to scavenge for anything useful. And just as Ditzy gets out of her little bath, a squad of Enclave soldiers surround the two, Li'lpip surrendering since they were vastly outgunned.

The two get looked in a magical energy cage. Ditzy casually poking the field and owing as it shocks her. Li'lpip getting worried at the rising radiation she was taking being locked so close to the ghoul. Smiling as she sees Calamity in the distance, Spitfire's Thunder aiming at the Enclave troops, but then her hopes being dashed as he disappears without firing, only to be led into the camp later by a pair of guards. Locking him in a cage. The leader of the group coming over to taunt him, and Li'lpip learning why he couldn't attack, the leader was his brother.

The two bicker, giving us both some insight's into just how bad his family had treated him even before he became a Dashite, and also one reason for it. Their mother had died in childbirth with Calamity. He goads the soldier into revealing more of the plans of the Enclave. And unlike most times the bad guy gloats about their plan, this makes sense for why he's doing it. Plus, he doesn't come off as the smartest pony ever. Specially when we learn later he only got a command rank because of who is father and older brother were. So him explaining this to his brother, it makes sense.

The short version, the Enclave learned about Redeye's messing with the SPP towers, thanks to Li'lpip's journey into the MAW hub. And have decided to destroy not only him, but anypony groundside that knows anything about the towers. And anypony they might have told. Li'lpip wondering just what Redeye was up to. Not believing he would be sloppy enough to leave evidence for the Enclave about what he was doing, and wondering if having them down here was all part of his plan.

As the camp settles down for the night Li'lpip tries to come up with a way to get them free. She knows she could levitate enough weapons around to kill all the soldiers, but that would still leave them trapped in the cages, and she was quickly reaching lethal radiation levels from being trapped so close to Ditzy. While trying to work it out, her and Calamity talk about his past, and his family.

His father turns out was a massive ass. And a drill sergeant for the Enclave. Recounting a very dickish comment he had made to Calamity upon getting his cutie mark. Which was a hammer and screwdriver, which surprised Li'lpip at first. Figuring it would be something to do with his accuracy with a rifle. Though she quickly realizes just how often Calamity would jump on the chance to fix something, and how he always seemed to have the most fun when doing that. Causing Ditzy to ask for his cutie mark story, the stallion holding off, since "Cutie Marks don't matter" but Li'lpip joins in and he relents.

When trying to impress his father, he had entered a young sharpshooters contest, and came in third. Which of course made him a worthless piece of shit who simply wasn't good enough to his father. He spend the next year working on the rifle, improving it, fixing it, and next year came in first, and got his cutie mark.

I really like his story, it does explain a lot about both him, and his brothers. And, I'm with Li'lpip. (I know surprise surprise.)

“I… I’m sorry, Calamity, but I kinda hate your father right now.”

Well minus the "sorry" and "kind of" parts.

And then, Li'lpip returns the favor, giving them HER cutie mark story. She was a good year behind the rest of the foal in getting hers. And since getting one was what told the Overmare what job to give a pony, she was getting desperate to find someway to put Li'lpip to work. Eventually simply letting her apprentice with different ponies to see what might get her a mark. While working for the Pipbuck technician, a foal became lost, and nopony could find him.

"“One of the most overlooked capabilities of a Pip Buck is that it can track tagged objects.''"

Oh, ohhhhh, so so amazing how things can be just so plain, and right out given to the readers, and still not seen much till later by them.

Anyway, Li'lpip takes it upon herself to find the colt. And being her, it involves hacking, lockpicking, and appropriating equipment that isn't hers. And since the ponies in Stable 2 are kind of dicks, she of course gets yelled at for it, even after finding the lost colt. Yeah no clue why she would be so eager to leave... But it also got her her cutie mark.

Smiling softly at the memory, I concluded, “It was the first time I had ever felt I’d done something useful. Something really… good.”

And then, because this chapter has decided to actually have several pages of just pure cuteness without trying to rip out the readers heart, settling for making them simply stop out of shear D'awwwww, we get Ditzy's cutie mark story. Via her chalkboard, and a funny bit where she has to poke Li'lpip till she remembers to read aloud for Calamity.

Her uncle owned a moving company, and she loved helping out with it whenever she could. One day, they were helping a family move, and the foals were a bit scared of her, and avoiding her due to her eyes. So she broke out some bubble wrap and showed them the shear fun of popping it, the three of them playing and having fun all day with the stuff. Ditzy not even noticing she got a cutie mark because of all the fun she was having.

And, wow even MORE happy bits for this chapter, seems it decided to turn around near the end and start looking up. Calamity's brother comes by just before dawn, letting them out of their cages. Saying that orders had come down to kill ALL Dashites. And, well, as much as they fight, they are still brothers. it's clear he doesn't like doing this, knows he shouldn't', and yet he just can't execute his baby brother like that. Li'lpip taking time to get Li'l Macintosh back.

Oh, no wait, the story was just building up for an even bigger bit of bad news, should have known this would be happening. And it's the worst yet. New Appleloosa was the Enclaves next target, and they would be attacking it at dawn. Causing Ditzy to fly off as fast as she could to try and rescue Silver Bell, Calamity picking up Li'lpip and chasing after her.

They reach the town just as the attack was commencing. Enclave troops swarming he town, and four raptors getting into final position to wipe it out with their canons. Before Li'lpip and Calamity can work out a plan, Ditzy take off, heading right for the middle of the Enclave forces, sending out a pulse of radiation to keep them off her, causing them to focus on her instead of the town. And while Li'lpip knows she should try and do something, she's at a loss for how she could help. Ditzy starting to climb higher, being chased by pegasi, yet shooting enough blast of radiation to keep them from getting to close. Breaching the cloud bank, and then turning around, heading straight down. Getting hit a few times by weapons fire, but still going. Blasts of radiation propelling her faster. One soldier getting off a pair of missiles that track her as she reaches the middle of the squad. And then.... and then...

Ditzy Doo exploded.

Thoughts- NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! okay, granted I know what happens after this, but well no spoilers. And it's not so bad being able to simply click on the next chapter and find out. But for those reading as it went, having THAT as the cliffhanger... I can't imagine how bad that was. Definitely the biggest chapter ending cliffhanger in the story.

As to the rest, well what else can I say that I haven't already. I loved Friendship City, and hated seeing it destroyed. The Enclave prove they are a threat to the wastes, yet at the same time show how divided they are. And I love it. That these are still ponies. Even most of those that are following the orders are only doing so because they've been essentially brainwashed by the Enclave's lies. But, it'll get deeper into that later. Really, this was overall a great introduction to The Enclave as a threat.

Also, taking timeout for the shear cuteness of the Cutie Mark stories was great, even if it was tempered with sadness over Calamity's. And the way Li'lpip's shows what her special talent is, without comping right out, leaving it easy to miss, even for her. And yet in such a way that going back, you simply have to wonder. "How did I miss that?"

Comments

DeathCloud Since: Dec, 1969
Mar 31st 2013 at 4:57:51 PM
I agree on Enclave. They are proven to be dangerous threat like in games but also got "humanized" quickly.

I always have problem when evil nation/race shows that it's not Always Chaotic Evil only much later in story, long after that faction introduction.
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