Chapters
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Jamie knew she was gambling with her demands, and there was no way they would lead where she wanted. But anything more direct, and it would be too obvious. Given Shy’s position within Hollow Shades, and the uneasy relationship she had with its ruler, that probably wouldn’t be a good idea. Her presence should be seen as a punishment for her, while he prepared something better.“I’m not sure what I should call you, uh…” Golden Shine said, stumbling. At least they were walking to the Kindness…-
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Hollow Shades was evacuating. It wasn’t like Star Orchid had expected anything different. Once they’d taken a ship for themselves, flight was the only possible option. But as Star watched ponies flee up the ramp, carrying what little they could bring of their lives, she couldn’t help but feel empty inside.How much of this was because of her? None of these ponies could ever go home again. If they were lucky, Equestria would just forget they existed, and let them fade into the crowds of displaced…
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247.0 K •
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Jamie stared back at her reflection, confused and horrified by what she saw. It was strange: she knew on an intellectual level that if she’d woken this way the first time, she would’ve just assumed it was the way she ought to be, and never questioned it. But now that she had a month in this bizarre horse-body, alterations to it felt just as much like violations as involuntary mods would’ve been to her human shape.That I’ll probably never get back either. Of course Epsilon had promised that when the…
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How many soldiers were there? Star barely lifted her weapon, but as the marines advanced she felt the same weight they did, slowly crushing her. So far she had shown them two side-entrances into the royal palace, and watched near the back as their dwindling force pressed through. In both cases, they were met with a force of Unification Army soldiers so strong that they were soon clambering over corpses to move further. Eventually the dead became so thick that the enemy used them as a barricade.Star Orchid…
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Regent Twilight Sparkle walked through her laboratory, attentive to the sound of pacing hooves behind her. General Pike stomped along with iron-toed boots, clicking against the tile. Behind him were the light footsteps of the Prelate.Prelate Crimson Shine moved delicately, robes dragging along the tile behind her. I probably should’ve told her not to bother with the costume.Whatever, Twilight could send clerks down here to sterilize it later. This was too urgent to wait. “Forgive my curiosity,…
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Jamie knew terrible things were waiting in her vision, and the results did not disappoint her. Though in the moment her vision was entirely in Flurry’s role, there was very little magic needed to overlap her perceptions with those of the memories. She had seen genocide too.The Governing Intelligence—or the Alldeath, as the visions called it—acted with its own unique flavor of callous brutality. Jamie watched from the castle windows as it rained poison down on the world. Those who were caught in it…
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247.0 K •
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Time passed. Recursion could not have easily summarized how she lived, except to say that she was satisfied.Eventually, across the blurring of subjective time and the march of its absolute on Earth, the world ended. Very few ponies were exposed to the chaos, except in very specific circumstances.“Where are we going, Momma?” The colt’s voice sounded close in Recursion’s ears, and she turned to look sideways at him.Base Case had a gray coat, though he had inherited a slightly yellower form of her own…-
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Twilight took each step slowly, conscious that each moment might bring some new danger. Some part of her had to keep that thought present with her at all times, fully aware that even a few steps out into the world imperiled her. Her power might be vast, her preparation exhaustive, but that didn’t mean she was invincible. The ones she fought had defeated an even more harmonious civilization before theirs, after all. Humans knew how to kill Alicorns.It was rare for her to venture so far from the protection…
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This is so stupid I’m going to get caught I can’t believe I’m doing this why am I so stupid. Jamie crept through the shelter, shoulders stooped low and eyes alert. Of course she knew that any moment her little escape could end in failure—at this point, she expected it. But considering the death that likely waited for her if she actually carried out the AI’s plan, she had to try.Every emergency shelter has exactly the same layout. All I have to do is get to the top floor, then activate the…
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Star Orchid worked through the night. It was a bloody business, ensuring that she saw more of the Devourer than she ever thought she would. There were no ancient magical secrets to discover—the Iron Lord was no hidden Alicorn. It was a good thing she’d been exposed to so much of what happened in the dungeons beneath the castle, or she might not have been able to keep up her composure around so much blood.Star did not fake some accident to murder the Iron Lord, though it was hard to imagine needing to.…
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