Chapter Fifteen: Innocence.
We start off with the Mean 6. Specifically Havocwing. Who is busy being pissed off (Big surprise) at Star calling a late night meeting to talk about her job. Seeming to think that Havoc might need a little extra coaching and help in making sure she doesn't screw things up. Gee can't think of why.
Havocwing sighed and held her hoof up. “Look, boss, I’m tired. I have no idea what the hell you just said.”
I so missed this story. And especially watching these six interacting.
Star's translation more or less being, "Don't screw up!" Something Havoc takes issue with. Though Star goes on to point out all the things that her sister needs to account for when 'working over' Fluttershy. Like how the experience with the Gargantuan might have effected her. Alright, good point and we already saw it hitting her rather hard. But how would Star know this? Or the fact that she might be turning to a pony she's grown affectionate towards for comfort, rather then Havoc. Like Lockwood. Since the two of them seem to have formed a attraction to each other.
.... wait, wait.. WHAT!? How in the fucking hell does THAT work? Up until she woke up, Fluttershy didn't show any real attraction to him, aside from her more polite then anything else responses of "I guess so" to Rarity's attempts to talk him up as being the bestest most perfect stallion in the history of ever for her. And he's shown ZERO interest in things going the other way. Aside from the same politeness he offers to all the rest of them. So where the hell is Star getting this little fact from? Just from Rarity talking up about how perfect they are, and they are totally her OTP and all that other shipping BS? It just, comes off as the story trying even HARDER to cram what a great idea those two hooking up is, and how it's SO perfect and they are totally meant to be and gaahhh...
I'm not sure if it's just the revisions altering things, or knowing now just what the massive, irritating, idiocy of a disaster this whole shipping crap ends up leading to. But I'm loathing it more and more now. Even more then I originally did. I.. I did miss this story right? There was.. something good...
Oh right, everything that ISN'T that fucking subplot. Like Havoc figuring what Star was hinting at, was she should arrange for Lockwood to have an 'accident'. Getting verbally smacked down and reminded "No violence unless absolutely necessary and NO lethal force" Much to Red's disapproval. And we get a reminder of just why I DO love the story despite that glaring flaw that just gets worse as it goes on. As Red and Havoc get into a fight, requiring Star to go from verbally slapping them, to magically slapping them.
Velvet, much to Star's annoyance has to report her own failure in doing anything to Pinkie. Trying to get Star to understand she's doing her best, but for some reason nothing she does actually scares Pinkie for more then a second or two. Trying to get the okay to use 'messier' techniques. Like her hemomancy. Which Star shoots down. They do still have to try and be subtle about things for now. And we get more reveals of Red's seemingly unending font of powers. She can pull a Freddy Kruger and enter ponies dreams, twist them into nightmares, and even cause the "Your mind makes it real" type deal of anything happening in their dream, happening to them. But even that doesn't work on Pinkie, since her dreams are so full of sugar and sweetness Red couldn't get a grip on anything to try and twist.
And while proving her power to Havoc wing, we learn the the little firestarter seems to dream about bunnies a lot. Though whether it's nightmares and she's scared of them, or it's pleasant dreams of them that she's embarrassed about isn't made clear. But the source is obvious. Somewhere, deep down, is still a connection to the pony they were and would be without having been twisted by Nihila and Silvertongue's magic.
Grey is the next to arrive to report her progress. Looking like she hadn't slept in days. When asked what was wrong...
“What’s that got to do with anything?” Havocwing asked.
“Pinkie Pie.”
Yeah, again. Didn't mind the Pinkie/Dash shipping in the first draft. But this time they are doing such a better job at it. And that was freaking hilariously well done.
Star seemingly sympathetic to Grey's plight.. huh kind of odd for her. Though again showing there is greater depth to their characters. Glad that they proved that little bit of information their 'father' had told them true. And when Grey tries to push off giving her report till she could get some sleep. Rather then screaming, or beating her down with big words, or ranting, or pushing. Star just offers to use her magic to help Grey get to sleep despite the noise after she gives the report.
Said report was brief. Since Dash already had all the feelings the Mean 6 wanted her to, Grey just needed to give her the occasional nudge to push her in the right direction. (Yeah still not incredibly happy with how Dash is handled. But way WAY better then the first draft.)
Next up is Curacao, who Star notes should be there already. Leading to a completely out of nowhere bit of Grey telling about how she oversaw the events from last chapter between 'Rarity' and AJ. Supporting Curacao being in the bathroom and Insipid coming up to tell Rarity about AJ. Then the two getting in some type of heated discussion.
Ummm, okay, was that there just to make us doubt if it WAS Curacao or not? Only reason I can think of but doesn't really work. Why would Curacao be hanging out in front of the bathroom disguised as Rarity, when the only other pony that could be in it IS Rarity? Why would Insipid come up at tell her that in the first place? It sounds good, and makes a good cover for Curacao to come talk to AJ. But, yeah so much in this makes me go 'Wha?'
Well this leads to Star noting how father told them AJ would likely be the hardest one to convert to their side. Which is rather true, given their overall reactions and what happens. Yeah Curacao's bullshit setting the whole fight between her and Flathoof in motion lasts awhile, but doesn't really do anything beyond annoy me that we have the GOOD relationship put on hold for such stupid reasons.
The shapeshifter in question entering, bouncing, being far more lively and not acting like herself. Ignoring the others and instead checking herself out in the mirror. Once she opens her mouth, it becomes clear what's going on. Star using her magic to turn 'Curacao' back in Insipid. Who tells them 'Curie' totally wanted her help and that she's not showing up. But that everything is going good and she will be helping out the rest with their plans. But that if she told the others about her own, they'd just get in the way.
HER 'Pretentiousness!? You, you're one to talk. And talk... and talk... and talk...
Well baring Curacao showing up to get yelled at in person, Star tries to get a report on what's going on between Insipid and Rarity. Besides Insipid's joygasming over the makeover Rarity tried to give her.
Insipid pulled her head back and gave Starlight a nervous look. “Uh... right here, boss? Now?”
“Yes, Insipid, here and now, if you please.”
Insipid’s eyes darted around the room to the other mares present. “But... but everypony’s watching...”
Starlight stared at Insipid, then groaned and rubbed her temple. “Elucidate means ‘explain’, you imbecile.”
“Oh? Ohhhh... right! I thought you meant- nevermind. See? You think understanding Curie is hard? Like, cha.”
Yup, still love this story. Damnit, the story actually has me liking Insipid more then Rarity.
The actual report, was just a load of vague, "I'm totally on top of things" drek that Star simply accepts, knowing she won't get more out of her sister.
The rest sitting around starting to bitch about how useless Curacao is. How all she does is waste time looking good. Just generally showing what a high opinion they have about each other. At least till they get interrupted by another pony joining them. Applejack. And she heard everything. Uh-oh. As she makes for the stairs to try and escape, to warn the rest, Star uses her magic to chain her down. Regretting that they need to move ahead with some plans, and that she now has to see just how good she is with memory magic. Eeep. Umm AJ.. start screaming or something, house isn't that big.
When told to fetch Curacao so Star could talk to her about just what to do with the farm pony, the valley pony instead leaps over the rest and starts hugging AJ. Another burst of magic from Star, and 'Applejack' is revealed to be Curacao. Who simply said she wanted to test just how good her disguise was. Fooling all of them. Well except Insipid somehow. Though seems Greyscale's recounting of events wasn't of the one we saw. But seems like another one between Rarity, and Curacao disguised as AJ. Or, at least it's left open that it might have been.
The Mean 6 break up for the night. Insipid getting over joyed at being able to sleep on Curacao's floor. Curacao admitting to Grey that she doesn't really have feelings for Insipid, and puts up with it because she finds it kind of charming. And that having her own pet unicorn can come in handy. Before Havoc gets fed up with waiting and shoves them both out the door so she can get some sleep.
Part 1 thoughts- Pretty damn good. Really easy to sum up, hard to think this was half the overall chapter. But since it was mostly dialog, it went fast in the summery. It's more or less the Mean 6 telling us stuff we already know. Just recapping what they are doing with their counterparts, restating their plan. Nothing really new new. But it's still a damn good scene. Since yeah it is recapping stuff and telling us stuff we already know, it's doing so from the other perspective. Seeing the Mean 6's perspective rather then the Mane 6's on what's going on. As well as just being damn entertaining to read in and of itself thanks to the interactions between the 'sisters'. And showing us more hints at deeper levels of their personalities. Not many, but little bits. Like Star's reactions to Grey. How Curacao treats Insipid. Little things to further flesh them out, while giving a rather well done recap of things in a way that makes perfect sense in verse, as well as being entertaining to read out of it. So nice job there.
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