Celestia's Finest: Sombra Went Down to Ashtown

[Elbeyon]

"Scope wants to see me later." Love doesn't want to darken the mood with the urgency of the request. She playfully wobbles her hugged Happy. She chuckles. "I've written him in my schedule book."

She motionlessly texts Scope, "Sorry. I'll hurry and be up ASAP. Text me if the situation change." If Scope requests her now, she'll cancel her plans and head up stairs.

She puts that business aside and focuses back at the task at hoof.

She restarts the cheer, "To the Queen!" She smiles and hoof bumps toward the ceiling.

[Miltonian]

"Yeah, that's, uh, that's right," Red Tape says. He sees Sniper fall back and clears his throat awkwardly. "In hindsight, I should have my hoof on your shoulders to, uh, guide you."

Fortunately, it's a short walk. Red Tape lets her hoof go. "Alright, here we are," he says with a wry chuckle. He holds open the door for her.

--

"To the Queen! To the Queen!" the four chant on their march through the hive. The other changelings look on in confusion, but a few of them join in. By the time they arrive, a small crowd has gathered around Love and Happy, chanting alongside them.

Chrysalis' chamber is apparently in the old 'Hydroponics' bay, which has the most secure door still standing on this part of the casino. However, it slams open to reveal a scowling changeling queen behind it. "WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THAT RACK- Oh hello Happy."

"Hi!" Happy says with a wave.

[DigoDragon]

"Yeah, that's, uh, that's right," Red Tape says. He sees Sniper fall back and clears his throat awkwardly. "In hindsight, I should have my hoof on your shoulders to, uh, guide you."

Fortunately, it's a short walk. Red Tape lets her hoof go. "Alright, here we are," he says with a wry chuckle. He holds open the door for her.

Rose steps into the brig cell. Her ears drop down a fraction; there's a sudden feeling in the pit of her stomach. No, not hunger, but... danger? Dread? It's as if something is wrong, but she couldn't quite put her hoof on it. Fortunately or not, that feeling passes as fast as it arrived. Rose turns and takes a seat on the cot.

"Well, it could use some towels and a nice throw rug." Rose was obviously kidding.

[D.KnightSpider]

Affirmative. Comm. to Love. Sniper hesitates, internally debates and then decides to add: Tell Chrysalis I said hello.

Sniper hangs back and let's the twitterpated do their thing. He stays on the alert.

[DigoDragon]

Rose sits there, thinking between several topics in her mind as a train station juggles arrivals and departures. She turns to Sniper. "Hey, I just had a really bad idea. Emerald's mind broke when I showed her the recorded media of the chips and the battle with the Pacification Protocol. The truth seemed to have triggered dormant programming in her head. Why don't you get a laptop and play that media for me? See if that triggers something in my mind?"

[Elbeyon]

Love pulls Happy in for a hug and any other changelings for the same fate if they seem interested (and agree to a hug). As they make a lively noise, she energetically passes out muffins to the changelings they see and meet. The crowd makes it a harder to handle introductions, but she tries to reference the changelings by name when they get a muffin. Love sounds a bit like a muffin street vendor. She arrives at the door giggling and happy.

The doors opening alert Love. "Hello Queen Chrysalis!", Love says with a happy feeling and smile. She puts a hoof on her chest in a respectful manner. She keeps her words light, "I apologize about my rowdy appearance so late in the day. Yesterday's games, being so great, had me wishing to return as soon as possible. We brought muffins." Love looks up at the tall Queen.

[Miltonian]

“I’ll kick that on up to Cmmd. Wildcat,” Red Tape says with a chuckle. His face goes pale at Rose’s suggestion. “Rose,” he says, “That could be extremely dangerous. Emerald almost went into a coma afterwards. Please think about what you’re suggesting here!”

--

Love meets a lot of changelings, too many to list by name. She knows a good portion of the hive right now.

Chrysalis’s eyes narrow. “Muffins,” she says, “You disturbed the first good sleep I’ve had in YEARS for muffins?!”

Happy’s ears droop. “We...thought you’d like them. You liked them back--”

“I KNOW I LIKE THEM!” Chrysalis screams, “GO AWAY AND DON’T--” She pulls up short when she sees Happy’s eyes filling with tears. The queen’s shoulders slump and she lets out a long-suffering sigh, feeling very put-upon right now. She extends a hoof. “Give me a muffin,” she says through gritted teeth.

[DigoDragon]

“Rose,” he says, “That could be extremely dangerous. Emerald almost went into a coma afterwards. Please think about what you’re suggesting here!”

"I did preface my idea by saying it was bad," Rose counters, "But suppose there's something in my head that could disable me like that. Would you rather that I risk a coma now, where you have Angel to try and undo the damage, or when I'm assaulting Ashtown in the middle of a gun battle? Which scenario do you think I'm more likely to survive?"

[D.KnightSpider]

Sniper unhooked his laptop.

"It's complicated to explain, but, as I understand it, Emerald Sheen nearly went catatonic because she was forced to remember all of her suppressed memories and trauma all at once-- similar to how Merry Melody did. Her mind wasn't able to process the resulting trauma and shut down until it could process the fear. In your case, Rose, I doubt that showing you any footage would trigger a similar reaction." Pause. "But I'm not always right."

He accessed the archival footage and reports.

"By way of suggestion, perhaps we should contact Princess Luna and ask her to check your dreams? She was able to separate the Elements from Chrysalis' influence on Tartarus, so I would assume she could separate you from any lingering Control Chip influence. I'd volunteer our other dreamwalker for the job but there are too many variables for me to feel comfortable with that course of action."

[DigoDragon]

"Sure, I'll subject myself to a 'dream exam' from Luna. I'm willing to try anything and everything just to be sure I'm not compromised," Rose says. "We might even learn more about how the chips work with memory if we do find anything. Or how they don't work if we find nothing."

[Elbeyon]

Love's attention shifts from Queen Chrysalis to Happy as Happy's ears droop and her eyes begin to water. She embraces her and rubs her shoulder as she tries to comfort and support her friend. She looks back up to Chrysalis.

Love doesn't say anything and reaches into her bag to present the muffin. There is a ribbon around it and a piece of paper attached.

Spoiler: Card

Show

To: Queen Chrysalis
From: Love & Happy

P.S. Enjoy the loaf. No bun intended. (Love signed her message)

[Miltonian]

Red Tape looks between them as if they've both gone crazy. His mouth works silently. "That's...that's...perfectly logical and I hate you both for it." He looks plaintively at them. "Can I count on you to at least wait until I send a message back to Canterlot and see if Luna is willing to be on standby?"

That was the most roundabout way of ordering someone to 'hold their horses', so to speak.

--

As Love hugs Happy, a fierce light enters Chrysalis' eyes. For a moment, Love sees something there, something that she does not recognize for what it is but wrongly diagnoses as pain and longing. If only she'd accept friendship, she'd be so much happier. And she knows it. All she requires is a little push in the right direction.

She takes the muffins quietly, reads the note, and opens the bag. A single treat levitates out and up to her mouth. She takes a bite and chews slowly. At last, she swallows and clears her throat. "It's good."

The changelings erupt into cheers.

Chrysalis' eyes settle on Love. "Could I speak to you in private for a moment?" she asks calmly, politely, almost professionally.

[DigoDragon]

"Yeah, that's fair. We can wait until we have Luna on standby tonight. Or when she visits me in my sleep. I'll be flexible."

Rose lies down on her back to get a feel for the cot. Good thing she's used to roughing it on the field. "Alright well, if either of you have anything more important to do, feel free to go. I don't want to hold anyone up from my little stunts." She seems to be taking the present situation well.

[D.KnightSpider]

Sniper nods and closes the laptop. RT was finding out first hoof just how crazy they really were. This says what happened when you created a team of four loose cannons.

He gestures at a group of invisible ponies. "Welcome to the 'I Hate Sniper' club. You'll have to wait in line. U it starts here and stretches down to Canterlot... and back again." He jokes. Mostly. The members of that club were numerous. The saving grace was that most of the membership didn't know who he was and he didn't know who they were. He preferred to keep it that way lest he deal with another Rip.

"We can't leave until a permanent guard arrives. So you're stuck with us for a few more minutes.." Sniper replies to Rose.

[DigoDragon]

"Does the I Hate Sniper Club sell t-shirts?" Rose asks. "I'll take a medium. Don't worry, my front end actually fits in one of those."

[Elbeyon]

Love watches Queen Chrysalis with her attention half divided. The note being read has Love all antsy as she hopes for at least a smirk. The muffin pinch and subsequent mouth opening have Love lean forward as she awaits the call. When Queen Chrysalis says it's good and the Changeling's start cheering, Love happily rattles Happy to reinvigorate her. "Queen Chrysalis likes our muffin!"

Love quickly nods to Queen Chrysalis. "Yes, of course, Queen Chrysalis." Love takes the rest of the muffins and hoofs her bags over to Happy. She smiles at her, "Have fun!" Love trots to where Queen Chrysalis directs. She isn't sure what to expect.

[Miltonian]

Red Tape puts his ears down flat and looks pained. "No, no! Sniper, how could you say such a thing? I don't hate you! You're...I mean, the lot of you, I..." He clears his throat. "Suffice it to say that I'd be very put out if any of you died. And I really don't hate you. Any of you."

Sgt. Corby's head pops in from above. "You called?" she says to Red Tape.

"Yeoo-esss," Red Tape says, turning a shout of surprise into an answer, "Would you mi--I mean, you're going to be guarding Lt. Rose here for a few hours. Making sure nothing suspicious happens while she's asleep."

Corby blinks slowly. "What sort of suspicious?"

--

"Thank you," Chrysalis purrs and gestures for her to come inside. Happy waves as Love slips through the door. Before she can ask any questions, Chrysalis' horn lights up and her eyes take on a green glow. Love feels a presence overwhelm her mind, bending her to the changeling queen's will. Chrysalis smiles, baring all her teeth.

"Now Love," she says, "I want this conversation to be private. Just between you and me. So please, if you would be so kind as to remove any recording devices or comms from your person and turn them off."

This seems reasonable. And Chrysalis is so happy to be talking to her for once! Yay! Love sees no reason to resist. She wants, no, needs to do this! She wants to be friends with Chrysalis and to do that she needs to keep the queen happy!

[DigoDragon]

Corby blinks slowly. "What sort of suspicious?"

"Like me suddenly spewing CPI propaganda," Rose answers. "I'll fill you in on the story later. It's quite interesting."

She points to RT. "And for you, don't take Sniper too seriously. Sure, he can get under a pony's skin, but he's a good stallion."

[Elbeyon]

Love looks up at the light and her eyes take on a subtle green as her will bends.

She feels all warm and smiles at the thank you. Chrysalis wasn't even the tinniest bit upset with her. "I'm glad you enjoyed the muffin." Love tries not to go overboard with declaring her feelings. She put a lot of feeling into trying to make Chrysalis a tasty muffin though.

"We can have a private conversation," Love agrees. Yay! Love has been wanting a private conversation with Queen Chrysalis. She reaches up to her neck to turn off her primary comm device and gently pulls out the small device. She takes out each earbud and turns their comms off. The transponder rings on her hoofs come off. "I normally have more comms, but I gave my bags to Happy", she tries to explain so Chrysalis feels comfortable with the minimal disarmament. "I'm capable of recording my senses. I'm not recording, but there is no device to remove from my person."

[D.KnightSpider]

Wait a moment... Did Rose half stick up for him? That had to be his imagination. Or the Control Chip was already affecting her.

"It was a joke, RT. You can laugh at it, like Sgt. Corby does on occasion." Sniper says. Now he knew what it felt like to be on the receiving end of a lack of humor. Karma.

"Lt. Charge and Happy were supposed to meet us here. They shouldn't be long, but knowing Love, she could get distracted and be a few hours yet."

[Miltonian]

"He is," Red Tape agrees. He turns to Sniper. "You are." He sighs. "It...wasn't a funny joke."

"That was a succinct and disturbing answer," Corby says, "Thank you. Now, is it contagious?"

"Not to our knowledge," Red Tape says, "And not according to any current theory of magic."

"That's not exactly reassu--"

"Also, I order you to."

Corby's mouth snaps shut. She salutes. "Yes sir. I'll look after everything, sir."

--

Chrysalis chuckles. "Well, we can hardly scoop your brain out." She sweeps all of Love's devices up and sets them on a table behind her. "Now Love," she says, "I've been thinking a lot about you and the problems you cause. I was thinking of simply having you suffer a tragic accident and be done with it, but that's a rather permanent solution. One I'd rather not take given the adverse emotional effects it would have on your team."

She pats Love on the head, still smiling. "Your skills are useful, but your personality is a hindrance. Every chain has a weak link and, in this operation, that's you, Love. If we fail, it will probably because you screwed everything up. Not just something, everything Love. You screw up everything you touch."

She leans in and pulls Love close. "I want you to listen very carefully to what I have to say. No one loves you. Sniper tolerates you, Rose sees you as a nuisance, Brazen ignores you when you're not actively annoying him, and Star is wondering how she can get out of the massive mistake that dating you was. Happy likes you, but she likes everyone. You're nothing special to her. And deep down, you know it. You hide behind your bucking and your incessant need to meddle with everyone around you, and if you ever stop, you'll be left alone with that single fact. You're tolerated, like an annoying, yapping dog."

She smirks. "You think everyone needs 'fixing'? Then maybe you're the one that's broken."

[D.KnightSpider]

Sniper shrugs and lets the matter go.

"The short version," He explains for Corby's benefit. "Is that Lt. Croix attempted to reverse engineer a Control Chip and took some magical backlash. We're taking some precautions to ensure that she's not affected by any mind control."

[DigoDragon]

"Aww, spoilers," Rose playfully whines. "Well, I'll try to keep some of the surprise when I tell the full version, Corby. Pull up a chair, we haven't talked much at all during this mission."

[Elbeyon]

Love chuckles alongside her. "We'd need a brain-sized spoon! I've had a lot of organs taken out and replaced. I've never lost my brain, but I have on occasion lost my mind." Love puts a hoof up and laughs. Aw, Chrysalis is being really nice to her. "I've thought a lot about you too." Love rubs her mane in embarrassment. "I don't want to cause problems." Love agrees, "Me getting in a tragic accident would hurt my friends."

Love smiles up at Chrysalis as she pats her head. "Thank you. Oh..." Love seems troubled. "My personality is a hindrance." She confesses while looking up at her, "I'm trying to become strong. I don't want to screw everything up. I need strength. If we fail, so many ponies will get hurt and die. Even if I screw everything up, am a failure, and weak, I can never stop trying."

"What?" Love seems confused. She looks toward the ceiling. "Scope asked me to go into publishing with him. He said we're getting along really well. Rose wants me to help her teach. She is always happy when I work on her legs." She searches as Queen Chrysalis list continues. "Brazen hits the bars with me in our off time. Star cares for me with all my mistakes." Her ears flick. "Happy bakes me muffins when I'm upset." Love grips her head. "I only want to help people."

She lowers her head between her hoofs. "People aren't things that need fixed. I only want everyone to find their happiness."

[Miltonian]

Red Tape nods to Sniper. "We can wait for Love in a more comfortable setting, if you're settled in Rose. Any place strike your fancy, Sniper?"

Corby drops down from above and scoots a chair over from down the hall a little ways. "Alright," she says to Rose, "I'm listening."

She's not the most talkative mare.

--

Chrysalis nods. "Yes, you must be strong. And I am here to help you with that, but we will get to that in a minute."

"They don't need your help," Chrysalis says, leaning in and bringing Love face to face with her. "And how could you understand? You weren't born in Equestria. You were raised out here, in the sand and the heat. Equestria and everyone in it was fine without you. But they're raised from birth to be warm, friendly, courteous even to strangers, and kind even to those they dislike. Out here in the Wasteland, ponies are only kind to those they actually like. No wonder you confused their polite niceness for genuine friendship. It's not real, Love. They think you're a fool, but he can't get rid of you so he might as well make you useful. Someone to help with editing or upgrade cybernetics. A body to keep the sheets warm, someone who'd never refuse a request to go drinking. You're a useful pony to them, Love, just not in the way you think."

"I've done this for a long time, Love. Longer than you've been alive." She smirks. "And no one knows ponies better than me. So trust me and all my years of experience when I say these things." She takes a deep, satisfied breath. "But if that's not enough, consider this. I've talked with each of your friends recently, in person or by proxy, and you want to know what I sensed in them? They love many things, but not a single one of them has any directed at you."

She leans further in, pushing her face past Love so she's whispering right in her ear. "Know this," she says and it rings through Love's mind as a command, "No. One. Loves. You."

She pulls back and rises to her hooves. "I'm afraid I'm incapable of love, but I can offer you advice. Be useful to them. Do everything in your power to make this mission a success. No method, no matter how horrible, must be off the table. Do it in secret if you have to." She lifts one of her hooves and regards it impassively. "Call up the darkness within yourself and--" Her hoof slams back down against the cold ground. "Use it to crush those who dare threaten this world we all share. If people question your new attitude, you will say that you finally realized how serious the threat we face is and are prepared to do whatever it takes. At no time will you mention my name or betray my trust in you. If ponies knew that this advice came from me, they would get the wrong idea."

Her eyes turn cold and fall on Love again. "But be warned. Happy Hooves is mine. You are to slowly, carefully, remove yourself from her friendship forever. Do it over time so that she feels no pain."

She takes a deep breath. "You will also kill that abomination you call a brother. Wait for the opportunity to strike. Do it in a way no one suspects. I suggest waiting until you return to Equestria, when he is likely to be placed solely in your care."

"This is not an order, yet, but I hope you will make the right choice. You should break up with Star Chaser. Your union is causing her pain. It would be kind of you to end it." She smiles wickedly. "And Equestria is all about Kindness."

[DigoDragon]

She's not the most talkative mare.

Oohhboy, this is gonna be a long shift for Corby.

Rose turns on her side to better look at her bat-guard. "Alright, I hope you know about the CPI's implanted chips in their necks that control their soldiers. I've been collecting a few, and one thing that I have learned is that the chips allow soldiers to speak to each other over long distances. Sort of like an implanted radio. Well, I was fiddling with one of the chips, trying to power it in such a way as to see if I could access that radio frequency. I thought that if I could figure that part out, then I could enlist Star or Love to help build a jammer against it. Cut off one form of communication the CPI uses."

"Instead, the chip blows up in my face. Now here's where it gets interesting. Those chips have a geas spell, a kind of brain-washing magic to keep soldiers loyal by removing their free will. Well when that chip exploded on me, it seemed to have imparted a glimpse in my own mind of what the soldiers get. I saw this vast... galaxy of alien races together as an empire. They were fighting off this great void of chaos somewhere and they were losing the war against it. I guess this is part of the propaganda Polaris uses to gain recruits."

"When I came to, I had my pistol pointed at a civilian's head. Freaked the buckling out of her and I was certainly surprised myself. Well, I turned in my weapons and surrendered to RT just in case that explosion left any lingering magic in my mind. We figure that if I get through the night without any further ill effects, I should be okay.Angel and Ace didn't find anything with their tests, so that's promising."

[D.KnightSpider]

Sniper checks the time and frowns. "I suppose we could head towards Rem's hangout as I'm going to have to feed her before too much longer. Let me update Love on where we'll be."

Comm. message to Love: Update: I'll be with Rem. Hurry.

"Corby," Sniper says to the batpony. "have a good night. And there's no hard feelings for that incident in the basement. As far as I'm concerned, we're square."

And back to RT. "After you, Captain."

He might as well give RT his final bit of advice while in transit.

[Miltonian]

Corby nods back to Sniper. "Just following orders," she says, "I'm glad I didn't have to follow them all the way."

She listens with attentive ears to Rose's story. "Uh. Huh." Corby says in response. She doesn't say much, but Rose can see the gears turning inside her head, processing this information. "Well," she says at last, "it could have been worse, I guess."

Red Tape leads the way, walking in an unhurried manner. "I think we could make a few laps around the casino and still arrive before Lt. Charge," he says, bemused, "I'll have to work on her punctuality somehow..."

[DigoDragon]

Corby nods back to Sniper. "Just following orders," she says, "I'm glad I didn't have to follow them all the way."

She listens with attentive ears to Rose's story. "Uh. Huh." Corby says in response. She doesn't say much, but Rose can see the gears turning inside her head, processing this information. "Well," she says at last, "it could have been worse, I guess."

"It could have, yeah. I'm rather glad no one came over to help me with that project. Least now we know not to run power through those chips," Rose agrees with bemusement. She, too, pauses for a moment as her mind shifts gears. "Hmm. Wonder what Chryssi did with that last prisoner? Oh well, maybe he's in a cocoon for snacking on later."

Rose props her head on a forehoof. "So, tell me a little about yourself. Is Corby your actual name? What do you like to do for fun?"

[D.KnightSpider]

"Good luck. In my experience that's an exercise in futility." Sniper replies.

He follows RT, and then takes a breath. "Red Tape, I have one more bit of advice for you, if you want it, and then I'll leave you and Rose alone for the duration. I promise not to meddle in things. It's your call."


If RT says yes: "Don't make my mistake. As your relationship with Rose develops, there might be times when you feel you've made a mistake and that the spark is gone. If you react in that moment, you might say things you regret or-- or dissolve a relationship in error. Once it's gone, you can't get it back, and... the unrequit love is... painful. Be careful, because the love may still be there underneath all the frustration and difficulty. Instead, take a step back. Deal with the frustrations but remember why you pursued this in the first place. Be committed to your decisions to love her and the rest should work itself out."

Sadness overtook him. The truth hurt at times.