We open to the possibility that between the chapters, Twi may have died and gone to Pony heaven. For she is in a room filled with books, ”real” books. Though she quickly dispels that by reminding herself this was no time to become distracted by them, since Fluttershy still needed tending to. Most of the rest of the Main group huddled in the room around her while they waited on Pewter.
The stallion in question comes in, holding a syringe in his magic, and with some help from Tick Tock injects it in the site of her initial sting. Twi of course, being Twi, asks about how the anti-venom works, how it will help. Being told it’s basically Gargantuan venom itself, treated with special anti-magical antibodies. Explaining that the venom is itself somewhat magical, and highly resistant to most forms of magic, which might explain why Tick Tock wasn’t using her Chronomancy to slow it. Alright story you get a pass this time
After injecting the last of the anti-venom Pewter says that she should regain consciousness in a few hours, and be perfectly fine in about four or five days. Saying it’s a good thing the venom didn’t reach her brain or spine.
Wait, she was stung in the back, somewhere between her shoulders, and there was quite the spread. How could it NOT reach at least part of her spine?
Anyway the crisis over for now, Twi is drawn back to feed her addiction.
“I’d like to learn more about those creatures.” she said, tilting her head just slightly in Pewter’s direction. “You wouldn’t happen to have a book around here with more information, would you?”
“Hmm? Oh, yes of course.” Pewter pointed off towards one of the shelves that was marked Guidebooks. “Look in there for a book called The Wasteland: A Traveler’s Primer. It has just about everything you’d need to know.”
Twilight smiled and trotted over to the bookshelf. She scanned along the line of books until she found the one she was looking for, then grabbed it with her magic and pulled it down before returning to the others with it in tow. The book wasn’t as thick as she’d have liked, maybe only good for a little bit of light reading. Still, even that would suffice in scratching her reading itch at this point.
Okay Twi, I think you might have a problem.
Rarity thanks Pewter for saving her, to which he simply deflects by saying it was Tick Tock they should be thanking, since her barriers kept the venom from spreading far enough to do any permanent damage. Both Rarity and Twi doing so, though Tick Tock brushes it off as simply doing her job. Alright Tick Tock, you just did something that made ALL of them grateful, and more likely to trust and listen to you, and you are still kind of acting like an aloof bitch to them. This is definitely a pony used to doing everything on her own.
And per some rule in this story, can't have Rarity in the same scene as either Fluttershy or Lockwood without the shipping sub-plot coming up, though at least this time it's subtle and Rarity isn't beating some pony over the head with how great those two hooking up would be. Simply asking him why he's been so quite. To which he answers he was thinking about a... 'business partner'... who had had an encounter with a Gargantuan. Never realizing just how close a call it might have been for her. Though, given who this 'partner' likely is, I'd feel more sorry for the Gargantuan that tried to mess with her.
And yeah, the revision are doing an amazing job of setting up that reveal of this little secret a lot better then the first time, when it kind of came out of nowhere.
Rarity thanks him for letting Fluttershy use his jacket, which he says not to worry about, yes it was a gift from the same 'partner' but Fluttershy could keep it as long as she needed.
Pewter shoos them out of the room, saying all they can do now is let her rest and wake up when she's ready. That the other ponies should have the dining room set up and might need some help getting the food ready. As they leave, Lockwood saying that maybe somepony should stay with her, just to keep her company. With him and Rarity getting in a little debate over which of them would go first and skip dinner. A fight that thankfully isn't as stupid as the first draft. Less about who gets to have the honor of sitting in a room with an unconscious pony, and more about each one not wanting to make the other miss getting something to eat. Lockwood winning by making clear he's simply more used to going without food then Rarity. Who insists that she come up and relieve him right after she eats, and takes a bath.
Oh and one line that just really feels odd to me.
And this is another thing that just really throws me about the whole Rarity/Fluttershy dynamic in this story. We never in the show see or hear anything like this. One of the Mane 6 saying that they are closer to another then the rest. Yeah there are combos that hangout more often, that seem to simply work better together and be more comfortable around each other but, not to the point of actually calling one of them a closer friend then the others. So Rarity acting like this simply... doesn't feel right. I could see her feeling a bit more protective, being a bit more attentive, worried, something. It's just this story takes that a bit to far to feel in character with what we've seen. Not massively so, but just a tad off to me.
As they head back down, Rarity calls Twi off to the side to speak in private... and then begins to rather prim and properly ream her over letting Fluttershy get hurt.
Okay, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? Seriously!? And the story indicated that Rarity was in sight of Twi the whole time, so this is very very unlikely to be Curacao. So, seriously, what!? How is Rarity blaming Twi for anything?
Seriously, what!? How the hell do you even GET that idea Rarity? When has Twi done anything but the best she could? She sure as hell isn't hesitating to use her 'gifts' in anyway, beyond simply not being sure at times how to do so due to not knowing enough about what's going on. And the fact this makes Twi think about what Star told her.... this really just feels wrong. Like the story is just trying to give a reason for Twi to believe Star was right, even if it makes no sense.
Rarity tries to force Twi to promise they will be alright, something that even the most basic common sense would make pretty damn clear is impossible to promise, but Twi humors her.
Seriously, how did the revision manage to do so much to make me like RD, while also making me dislike Rarity now?
Cut to the Mean 6 setting the table. Or rather Starlight setting the table perfectly all by herself. While Curacao and Insipid watch, and we get the shear joy of more Insipid idiocy, as she tries to wrap her mind around why there are two forks. And Star having to face the fact that she is not perfect, and in fact can screw up quite badly, for she has made a major, inexcusable, and heinous error that will surely haunt her and days and make her question every decision for the rest of her life. Yes, she put the salad forks on the wrong side!
And this gem.
Starlight’s eyebrow twitched. “Would you kindly cease with your insufferable Romantique babble, Curaçao? Communicate in a language I can more clearly comprehend.”
“Aww, but boss,” Insipid whined, “I like the fancy talk! Even if I can’t understand it! Besides, it’s not like anypony can, like, understand anything you say?”
Starlight narrowed her eyes. “Are you insinuating that my manner of speech poses the same quandary as Curaçao’s bizarre vernacular?”
Insipid stared at Starlight for too long of a moment. “Uh... is that like a... trick question?”
Oh Insipid, as much as Rarity might annoy me, you are a font of never-ending entertainment. I really do love just seeing the Mean 6 interact with each other in just a normal, everyday way. No plans, no schemes, just... you know.. I would really REALLY love to see a few Slice Of Life stories about them just doing everyday shit together.
Well Star brushes off Curacao's nitpicking about which fork goes where by pointing out it's highly unlikely any of the ponies in the house other then her would know, or even care about that. So it's good enough, telling the two to go see if the rest needed help in the kitchen. Good timing to, as they almost get run over by Havoc carrying out some soup as they head for the kitchen.
Star inspects the soup, complaining at Havoc for making it spicy when she hates spicy food. Though the pegasus brushes her off as there being plenty else, with everypony in there making their own thing, including Pinkie AND Red working on something together. (I am at once intrigued, and a bit scared what they could come up with.) And even when they ARE scheming and plotting, still get some epic comedy from them.
“Uh... well, yeah I guess? I thought we were supposed to be playing all nicey-nice—"
There was a noise from the kitchen. The door opened. Starlight shoved a napkin into Havocwing’s mouth just as Applejack backed into the room, causing the pegasus to sputter and spit it out.
One by one the rest bring out their food, setting the table and sitting down to wait. A small bit with Insipid trying to sneak some food, and Curacao dealing with her. Nothing major seeming here, but... ohhh nice little bit of characterization and hinting at some things between the two. And as Grey tells the group the rest are coming, we get a little flash from Star thinking about how, even though her main goal is just corrupting Twilight, Curacao had pointed out how getting in good with the rest of the Mane 6 could help her get Twi to trust her more, explaining why Star is being so unusually nice to everypony.
And when the rest get down, we get another pointless bitch from RD about them leaving Lockwood alone with Fluttershy, though at least she shuts herself up quickly. No wait, she brings it up again later. Just get a bit of them pigging out first and Rarity being all prissy about how messy they are eating first. Please, somepony put her in her place about this rather ridiculous and idiotic obsession she has with Lockwood being evil. As much as I do love the changes for RD, this one thing is still annoying, but at least it's her only real remaining issue.
And no, nopony even pays attention to it or really gets what her problem is, and Pinkie just finally gets her to shut up by telling her to stop being so on edge and just let everypony relax.
Nope. Sorry Star, but this has nothing to do with your little scheme, she was acting just like this before you all met up.
Well that pointless drama over, back to the comedy of watching the Mean 6 interacting in everyday situations. As Pewter compliments her soup.. turns out she's actually good at cooking, well at least at cooking one thing, as the rest of the Mean 6 pipe up with some less then stellar comments about her normal cooking.
“Yeah, thanks Gray.” Havocwing nodded in appreciation and returned to her food.
Velvet shook her head. “One... two...”
Havocwing looked up from her plate and tilted her head towards Grayscale. “Hey... wait a minute!”
Oh story, even with your pointless, out of place drama, and stupid shipping idiocy. I can't stay mad at you when you have such amazing... everything else. Seriously, someone write a Fanfic about the Mean 6 just trying to be ordinary ponies in Equestria or something.
The conversation just meanders a bit, in a rather well done scene overall. Going from one subject to the next quite well, just, ponies sitting around shooting the shit, talking, just relaxing and chatting. No real drama now that RD's shut up, nothing but some character insight, and, well like I said, just some calm relaxation. And plenty of humor. Such as AJ wondering how the hay they could have pineapples, and call them pineapples, and yet nopony even knowing what an actual apple is. Though Star piping in wondering about that, and just how AJ could get her name and cutie mark given, you know, the fact 'apples' don't exist does get close to pressing into something they'd really rather not address. Luckily Rarity jumps in with the save, mentioning that the fruit is extinct.
Though Pewter does drop a slight bombshell on the farm pony, noting that with the exception of the bread, and a few other things that grow near his cottage, most of the food is fake. Simply Dolor products shaped and flavored to look like real fruit. And obviously done well enough to fool even anypony, so, damn nice job there.
And then on to Starlight.. and it seems that Twi has manged to actually prove greater then Star in at least one manner. She is proving to be an even bigger nerd then the pony that can't say three words without taking at least ten syllables to do so. Star amazed that Twi would be so engrossed in reading to actually do so while eating. And be able to both read, eat, and carry on her part in the conversation effortlessly.
Oh, and, okay cue some drama and Mean 6 driving, still subtle, wedges between the group. In ways that, yeah could just be common concern and care, being used to mask the real intention. This time against Tick Tock. Star making a few off hoof remarks about how the book was a good idea, given the limited information their other guide seems to posses or give them.
“Far be it from me to call into question your experience, Miss Tock,” Starlight responded, her mouth curling in a smirk. “I merely claim that from the information I have gleaned, you have yet to provide a complete picture to the ponies you are escorting. Am I mistaken, or have you indeed given them all the information they would require to survive beforehoof?”
“I have provided all the information necessary as it became relevant. There was no need to go into detail on a great deal of things until we encountered them.”
And right here we see exactly what it is that sets the mane 6 so on edge, and keeps them from fully trusting Tick Tock. That last quote. It's a perfect summery or how she acts and treats them. Tick Tock doesn't really see them as much beyond charges, self moving cargo. Her job is to get them from point A to point B. Now, not to the point of not treating them with some respect, not making them simply 'things', but she also doesn't treat them as equals. As traveling companions. She's a school bus driver, and everypony else are the foals in back, who should just be quite and let her do her job.
Now, again it's a great testament to the story that she can come off like that, while still being incredibly likeable and relateable. She's simply not used to dealing with other ponies. Being on her own most of the time. She's used to being in charge, in control of everything, she just really has no idea HOW to deal with a situation like this and is doing the best she can. Trying to keep up a professional demeanor, without seeing how that's hurting her. Making the others less trustful of her. While instead, if she was more open, actually talked to them like equals, companions, not like the above mentioned bus driver/foal thing, they'd be more likely to go along with her, trust her.
The withholding knowledge unless she, and she alone, thinks the rest need to know it is just one symptom of this, and it's one Starlight can use quite well against her. It's Tick Tock's own fault, and yet, you can kind of understand why she did it.
Oh, and we get one more reason right after for why, despite all this, Tick Tock is still a good pony, and a very likable character. As she admits that this was wrong and apologizes to the Mane 6 over it. Saying she never intentionally left them in the dark about dangers, or anything. Simply that things got out of hoof. She saw no reason to worry them about things that she thought they wouldn't have to deal with, and by the time she found out they WOULD have to, there wasn't time. Really nice. And enough to cause Starlight to leave off for the moment. Though it's clear that even if the apology mitigated some of the harm, she's struck a pretty good blow at the Chronomancer's self image and confidence.
The topic turns to the book Twi was reading, and her questioning about the Gargantuans, and some stuff about when you do and don't capitalize the name, some quip from Pinkie, and then the backstory of the creatures. They are actually a species called chimera beetles, and there were once several types, each named by some very very uncreative ponies who just gave them the most basic description of what they did. Though over time, the Gargantuans hunted the rest to extinction. ((Nice little worldbuilding addition))
Ohhh, ohhhhhhh very very nice story, very nice addition. The talk of her book finally makes Rarity complain about how improper it is for Twi to be reading while at the table. Bit of banter, and Starlight defending her, claiming she to enjoys reading.
And then we get a rather amazing little bit. One of those things you don't really think about until you see it, and then you wonder how you couldn't have seen it yourself. The Mean 6, for all intents and purposes, are at most a week old. They have fully formed personalities, but no specifics, no memories, no details beyond the overall personalty. Something that comes to light when Tick Tock presses Star on just what types of books she likes. Something Star can't answer. Clearly being caught off guard and flummoxed. Only being saved by Curacao making something up.
Again, nice touch. pointing out how the Mean 6 have their own issues, reinforcing that, despite how well formed their personalizes are, they have nothing to draw on beyond what Silvertongue gave them.
Curacao leaves, the story making sure to point out she gave Rarity a rather long look as she left. Wonder if that will be important? Anyway, This shifts the conversation to Rarity, who compliments Curacao's figure, then goes on to do the same to Greyscale, who being Greyscale, doesn't react at all. Much to Starlight's displeasure.
Rarity asking about her hoofguards, and just what purpose the gems in them serve... holy fuck the story is actually explaining why the hell she's wearing those!? Yup. Well after both her and RD brush off the question as "Because they look cool" Twi and Rarity both chime in, pointing out that the gems in them are far to rare and valuable to be used in just ordinary clothing, especially in such conditions. Starlight finally giving us JUST what those damn things do.
Seems that while Greyscale can mess with gravity, she doesn't have any additional toughness or durability to survive the forces she can control. The hoofguards act as shock absorbers, with the gems being used as anchor points for the spells. As long as she impacts hoof first, they will absorb the force of impact and leave her unharmed. Very nice explanation, and also pointing out that while powerful, the Mean 6 do have their weaknesses, vulnerabilities.
And the talk of fashion leads Rarity to comment on just how distasteful she finds their uniforms, in a more diplomatic way of course. Asking if they were a uniform or something. Star having to mentally admit, again, that somepony was better then her at something. This time, that Curacao was much better at coming up with convincing lies and explanations quickly. And she proves this by coming up with, what on the surface is a decent excuse, but once it gets picked apart, ends up being full of holes.
The one she comes up with is that yes, it's a uniform, and that the Mean 6 are all part of a research team heading to the Griffon ruins up in the mountains. Pewter saying it's rare to see anypony willing to go into them, since most believe it's hunted, but he laughs off anything about ghosts. The issue this raises, is she says they are each experts in some field. With her of course being their linguistics expert, something nopony has any trouble believing. The problem comes when Tick Tock points out, in her rather blunt way, what the buck is Insipid supposed to be an expert in?
“Yeah!” Insipid said, giving Rarity a half-hug. “I totally have a practical purpose and junk?”
Starlight stared at Insipid a moment, who was giving her an expectant grin. Through clenched teeth, she said: “Insipid is our... digging specialist.”
“Oh, she’s special, alright,” Havocwing said, barely stifling a laugh.
“Yeah, she’s got special coming out the wazoo!” Velvet added, not bothering to hide her own laugh.
“Aww, thanks girls,” Insipid said, giving the other two ponies a bright smile. “Yup! I’m totally super special.”
Yeah, nice job alienating the mane 6 a bit more, even if you are right. You need to learn to be less blunt and hostile sounding about it. And once more, amazing bits of the Mean 6 just messing around with each other.
The rest start to head off one by one, RD.. being.. really fucking stupid and in such a completely senseless way it's it's really hard to follow for me.
“Certainly, Rainbow Dash. I plan on remaining with her for the remainder of the night, after all, and I simply cannot wait until morning for a proper bath. Lockwood won’t mind waiting, and in fact insisted that I take care to eat and rest before relieving him.”
“Let us know if she needs anything, Rarity,” Twilight said.
“Certainly, darling. I wouldn’t dream otherwise.”
As Rarity left, Rainbow shook her head. “Ridiculous. If that were my best friend up there, I wouldn’t have even been down here in the first place.”
“Well then, why ain’t ya?” Applejack asked, giving Rainbow a hard look.
“What?”
“If y’all wanna get on Rarity’s case fer takin’ the time ta eat ‘n’ rest ‘fore she takes over fer Mister Lockwood, then why don’t y’all go do it yerself?”
“I... well I mean, if she trusts Lockwood to take watch, then I guess I don’t have a problem with it. Whatever, nevermind. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
How, was that supposed to make any sense beyond just mindless "I must hate and distrust Lockwood, just to hate and distrust him regardless of it making no sense" At least she realizes she should just shut up about it already. (Yeah up till now, it's been annoying, but now it's getting really just plain stupid. Though Again still way WAY better then the first draft.)
[[Continued the in next entry.]]
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