16 Pizzas [visual/locked to KR!Princess Luna, the Twilights, Bertie, the Doctors and Iron Liz]

[polyturtle]

[Hey, guys. Don's in his lab again, this time working on...well. Who knows what he's working on. They look metal-ish, though. Pipe-like. And so on.]

Guys, I came back here from the Games after seeing that outburst from Pollo. I'm pretty darn sure that Mechakara's trying or will be trying to take over again. Its happened before and I'm not willing to just sit around and wait for it to progress to a point where we can't stop it this time.

We owe it to Pollo to try to help him, so...

[He stops for a moment, with working and talking, weighing his words before he speaks again.]

I guess the question is...are you willing to see if androids in pony bodies really do dream of electric sheep? Because I'm ready to.

Comments

[noxequus]

Attacking him in the dreamscape is not without its hazards. While it is indeed a risk that destroying Mechakara within his mind could have adverse effects on his psyche, it is far more important to note that if anything were to happen to your self within the dreamscape, you would be reduced to a vegetative state.

It would not be true death, I cannot trust that you would recover as Bertram or Gwendolyn did.

Dreamwalking in such hazardous conditions is not to be taken lightly. There is a reason I let this situation progress as far as it did.

[polyturtle]

I know. And dealing with a mind like Mechakara's...

[Oh. He remembered what happened in his own mind.]

But I don't want to risk losing Pollo. If Mechakara can't just delete Pollo as is he'll find a way to and we both know that.

[magicalrealist]

I've been watching his dreams for anything suspicious. I haven't found anything, but what I've seen...let's just say there's a reason Pollo doesn't want to remember his dreams. They have to be handled delicately, especially if we're talking about erasing a part of Pollo. We erase the wrong parts and there's no telling what kind of damage that'll do to him.

But what really worries me is the interference spurring Mechakara into action. That's why I haven't been able to do anything but watch.

[polyturtle]

I know. I'm pretty sure Mechakara will know the minute we get in there, too. That's why we need to be ready for anything. And we'll need to find Pollo in those dreams.

[Somehow. Hmm.]

...Actually. What kind of dreams? Are they...pretty much what you'd expect from Mechakara?

[noxequus]

It is not so simple.

Pollo is everything that Mechakara detests. To simply remove him is not the goal. Mechakara desires to break him and make Pollo witness as he destroys everything that he holds dear.

However, the solution is in the problem that you stated, I believe. We must find a way to empower Pollo to eradicate all signs of Mechakara. If such a thing is possible, that is... it may be sheer folly to contemplate.

[polyturtle]

[No, that's true, wasn't it? He would remove Pollo only after everything he's held dear is destroyed. He's thoughtful for some time, before speaking again.]

Well, Equestrians like to say that friendship is magic, right? We have to show Pollo that no matter what Mechakara would try to throw at us, we're not going to abandon him to that.

[Which he is well aware is eaiser said than done. Way, way easier said than done. He rubs his head.]

And the only way we are likely going be able to do it to help him is at the subconscious level. At the source. Pollo's not going to necessarily remember things Mechakara's been doing to him, voluntary or no. And if he does he's not going to say it outright for fear of alienating us.

[noxequus]

And at the moment, that power is solely with Twilight Sparkle.

However, Pollo is still... terrified of his other half, and that has allowed Mechakara to gain momentum. This is why Twilight tried to keep secrecy; to alert Pollo to what he is doing would make him even more afraid, and cause Mechakara to grow even further in power within that body.

We must find some way to make him aware while similarly imparting to him the bravery he needs to overcome this.

[polyturtle]

I guess the question is who could possibly talk to him about that. I could volunteer, I know that feeling of...

[Ngh.]

helplessness, but...I know I wouldn't be able to do that alone, either.

[visual]

[tinkertytonk]

[Bertie's ensconced in a fort of books when his scroll turns on. Just beyond the tops are the glimmering ceilings of one of the Crystal Empire's libraries. He's looking... just a touch worse for wear and not a little like he's back on coffee. There is a cup of it sitting next to him, he doesn't appear to have slept in at least a day, and his movements are jerky.]

We've got to go deeper than his dreams, Hamato. [He also might sound slightly barking.] That's not the only place Mechakara's hiding, is it, hmm? He's in his mind. His soul, my man. And there's a chalice that can suck it out!

[Bertie hefts the book he has in front of him. It shows a detailed painting of a gold chalice, though in place of the 'X's on the black and red checkering on this approximate picture, there are other symbols that the mathematically inclined might recognize.]

The Chalice of Division. [His voice is muffled from behind the book, but his hoof appears to jab at the aforementioned chalice. Then, Bertie slams the book down in front of him, leaning in close to the scroll.] I've got it. I've had the blasted thing sitting about for months. Ever since Harvey, Andrew, and I went down to the Basement. I'd recognize that hideous thing anywhere.

I've had the answer all this time! I've nearly chucked it out twice. We'll-we'll pull out Pollo's soul, and then go into it, drag him and Mechakara apart, then just put the part that's Pollo back in. It's brilliant. It's perfect.

[Bertie's looking not a little manic at this point, ears forward, mouth slightly open, and eyes wide and red-rimmed.]

[visual threadjack]

[noxequus]

Bertram? When was the last time you slept? Your mouth is practically frothing.

[visual]

[tinkertytonk]

Yesterday! No...

Two days!

How many days ago was Monday?

[It hardly matters.]

Never mind. I haven't been tired, Your Highness. Bursting at the seams with energy, you know? The fire's lit in this Wooster's heart for a chum in need.

[visual]

[noxequus]

You have not yet saddled and yet are already mounted, Bertram. You have not slept for nearly half a week, and yet claim yourself full of energy and brimming with plans concocted from a half-alert mind.

Whilst your artifact does bring with it a possibility of hope, making the haste you insist will lead only to grave danger.

Get some sleep. Some proper sleep. Approach this with a mind that is less sure about its clarity than you are now.

[Which is to say - a clearer mind. One that isn't so caught up in its own fervor to believe everything is fine when it is not.]

[visual]

[tinkertytonk]

There isn't time to sleep! [Bertie waves off the suggestion with a twitch of his hoof.] Saddle! I've got to get my saddlebags together. Pollo's in Stalliongrad, but I've got to stop in Ponyville to get the chalice.

I could ask Alastor to teleport me. Us! You're still in Ponyville with Hamato, aren't you, Your Highness?

[This is Bertie completely ignoring your concerns, Luna. He also might be just the tiniest bit terrified of going to sleep.]

[trustme]

I want to help. I'm not the same Doctor he knew before but I feel I should follow up on what he did. [If you know what that means.]

My telepathic abilities should help in the dreamscape anyway.

[magicalrealist]

They're exactly what you'd expect from Mechakara. War, death, machines taking over...it's brutal.

(And not very fun to watch. It's a good thing she built up a tolerance for death and violence. Don should be familiar with some of it, too.)

Pollo's been suppressing his dreams for good reason. It lets him sleep, but it also means I haven't been able to find him in his dreams. That may complicate matters.

[visual]

[bluesuit_hoofy]

Bertie, I know you're trying to help, but you're talking about ripping Pollo's soul out and putting it in a cup. If we want to make permanent changes, we need to go into his mind where it is, rewire him again with all the hardware intact so the adjustments stick this time. We're going to need Pollo's active participation; right now we need to focus on how to break the news to him without making him more afraid than he already is.


...And you're not doing anything until you've had some sleep, just so you know.

[visual]

[polyturtle]

[Holy shell Bertie. Don is the last person to be lecturing on this because guess who hasn't gotten sleep since Monday himself - but the difference is that Don is at least capable of keeping his head when hopped up on coffee.

Luna is still right though. Bertie needs sleep.]

You're coming back to Ponyville?

Re: [visual]

[polyturtle]

Now hold on, Andrew. Bertie might have a point.

[There is a mile of eureka - and deviousness - on his face.]

Science doesn't know how to sleep. So why should Bertie?

[visual]

[tinkertytonk]

I've got to. [Bertie nods vigorously.] I'd ask you to bring the chalice along and meet me there, old thing, but Tricksy would pitch rather a fit if some fellow went rifling through Vergil's cave.

[polyturtle]

[He kind of does, thankfully.]

Are you able to link yourself telepathically to people? As an anchor, of sorts. That way we can communicate with one another even if we're separated.

[visual]

[polyturtle]

Uh...

[Wait a second.]

So where exactly is this chalice?

[polyturtle]

[HahahahahaHAHAHAHAHA.]

Or it might help. What if Pollo's consciousness isn't in his dreams? It would mean his dreams are all Mechakara.

[visual]

[tinkertytonk]

Vergil's cave is out in the Everfree. Never mind, Don. I'll see to it. Not to worry! Poltergeists are just a bit mad, you know?

[visual]

[polyturtle]

W-wait! Don't...

[There is no way Bertie could survive the Forest in his condition.]

...don't you want to...make sure you've got coffee for it? I mean...

[visual]

[tinkertytonk]

Oh, I'll ask old Alastor to pop me right into the cave. And I've got a coffee for the road. [Bertie presents said coffee, then frowns, something niggling at him about the unicorn's tone.] Frightfully friendly of you to worry, old top, but I think I can manage picking up a chalice. And, well... if Alastor's busy, I'll ask Dante or Vergil to take me back. Dependable sorts, dragons.