morphosis | Winding Down

Finally, by hook or by crook, King Zod falls. The Rangers are given approximately five seconds after the battle to recuperate before they are teleported back to the Hexagon immediately. Alpha approaches them, buzzing with excitement.

"You did it, you really did it! Congratulations, Rangers, on your first success in battle! But before you go, I have a few more things to explain to you."

If they're willing to stay and listen, they will hear the rules: "There are three rules every Ranger must follow. You must never use your new power for personal gain, you must always keep your identity a secret, and you must never escalate a battle beyond what is necessary. The second rule is the most important at this point---the Rangers before you were easily killed when the enemy discovered their identities. If possible, don't morph where anyone can see you."

Alpha continued on. "This is a desperate situation, so feel free to use as much force as you feel is necessary. But always be mindful of the people around you. Don't destroy buildings unnecessarily."

When all of that was explained, he shook each of their hands. "Each of you will receive free room and board here for the time being. The city of Angel Grove is yours to explore, though you should keep a low profile. Just go to the port room when you want to teleport out, and tap your communicator when you want to come back. You will each receive a message on your communication devices when you are needed to fight."

When he checks to ensure that everyone has some form of communication device, he dismisses them to explore the greater Hexagon: training facilities, a mess hall, the library of records, the memorial hall...it's all fairly empty, giving it an eerie atmosphere. The port to Angel Grove is now active as well.

[Feel free to tag around the Hexagon, organize group activities, or make your own logs around town!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Ah whoops?" came the familiar voice of the man she had met earlier at the Hexagon. It took a bit to spot him at first, but the glow from the lit cigarette in the shadows of the trees gave him away before he stepped out into the light a little bit more.

"Takin' it out on the trees huh? Bet that totally solved whatever was on yer mind." he teased with a drag from his cigarette.

"Sometimes you've just gotta blow off some steam," Applejack admitted readily, slumping down. "Can't imagine you're too happy either."

"Being taken from my home, thrusted into some squabble between sides in a foreign planet, being told I have to do this, there's no other choice?" G said before taking a long drag of his cig and blowing out a puff of fire instead of smoke.

"No man, I'm peachy, just fuckin' peachy. But you're right, gotta let off some steam."

"Yeah, I'm worried about the folk back home too," Applejack agreed, hanging her hat in her hoof. "But if I don't stop 'em here and now, they could get back to Equestria and hurt my friends, I reckon."

"That's what they're telling us anyway. We have no way to know for sure if them fucks are just using us to clean up their mess." he replied with a shrug.

"But, alas, we ain't got a choice now do we? Unless you know how to travel back to your world, we're kind of stuck doing this shit."

"I wouldn't have a clue," Applejack sighed, glancing down at her necklace. "I mean...I got a little bit of magic, but I can't use it on my own. Maybe a unicorn could work it out, but not me."

She kicked at the dirt. "You're in the same wagon?"

"Pretty much. I got powers, but nothing that could take me back home." He pointed at the necklace as he brought it out into view. "Not even with the newfound boost from this crap."

"And I'm guessing we can't combine 'em? They look different."

Applejack flopped against the ground, groaning loudly. "We've gotta get stronger somehow. Do you know anypony with some magic? Other than this?"

G shakes his head. "Maybe if you're into shoving the circle peg through the square hole."

At her later comment he sighed, taking a drag from his cig and letting out a sad faced smoke cloud. "I'm sure ya understand the concept of kidnapping and I'm sure I know about as many people here as you do. Which is to say not a fuckin' one."

"There's gotta be a way. I can't just leave 'em hanging! My friends need all six of us together to save Equestria, and if even one's missing the magic doesn't work."

She looked quite distressed by this.

"Take it up with bucket head, but I gots the distinct feeling that he don't give a shit. Whatever muck up and trouble our world was in doesn't matter to them it seems. It ain't like my world was fairing any better, but I know there's chumps out there who will fix things so at least there's that."

"What was eating you over there?" Applejack asked, suddenly more curious than worried.

"There were a lot of shady things going on in the shadows. Things that most were oblivious to and that made me realize that the world wasn't as forgiving as most think it."

And that was just the tip of the iceberg.

"You've been through the wringer?"

"Y'could say that, yeah. But we all do eventually, some more 'n others." he added with a shrug.

"Even here. All those folk dead, just like that. And nothing to say it won't happen to us too."

"They died cause they weren't strong enough. Ain't our problem and draggin us out here without askin' is almost as bad as whatever these goofs are doing to this world. It's called kidnappin' and I don't know about your world, but in mine it's considered illegal."

"No."

Applejack's voice sounded pained. She shook her head.

"It ain't like that. Not at all. We're still alive. We can go back. We will. They'll never see another thing. They were cut down, and it ain't right. Doesn't matter how strong they are."

G laughed, now looking down on the pony. "You're delusional! You're really gonna take their word for it? That we can go back home once we're done doing their dirty work? What if while you're here playing along to cops and robbers, you're world is in the midst of destruction? You already said that you're so called friends need you there to make the magic happen right? If a threat was to befall you're world right now? You'll be going back to a graveyard."

His words were harsh but there was no malice behind them, Nightgale had faced the harsh realities of the world in the worst possible ways, she knew how bad it could get and how hopeless it could be to hope. That's not to say she believed in giving up. No, on the contrary, she believed in doing what you had to to come up ahead and win.

"Stop worrying about others when you can't even help yourself or your world. Think about where you are and what's going on. Right now we're pawns to this sick game, taken from wherever we were to help these people who had already lost. We have no choice according to them but there always is a choice, it's just about what you make of it. But you keep on bucking blindly all you want, just don't say I didn't warn ya to keep an open mind and stay alert to everything."

"Life's all we've got, is all I'm saying," Applejack whispered, hanging her head as she pulled away. She wouldn't believe that of the world, she couldn't. It couldn't be that terrible.

"Heh, simple minded. I suppose that has it's own merits too. Focus on what's in front of you and all that shit. That's fine."

They do say ignorance is bliss too and who knows, maybe it'll help the little pony through this thing.

Winding Down

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject