mylittlejamjar | Weapon cache 1: Bearers of Hope

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Weapon cache 1: Bearers of Hope

[It's been one hell of a battle against Tirek so far, and there has been a lot of people who once had power, and even just were strong physically, that are now without that, and even without that, their cutie marks are gone; for many, the power was part of their identities, and so after seeing many scared to stand up to Tirek, whether in battle or in spirit, Nephenee decides to try to raise eveyone's hopes...and simultaneously show their enemy that they won't back down.]

[So, before some of them travel into Tartarus, the Sentinel makes two posts: one locked from the centaur...and one decidedly not.]

[Locked from Tirek]:

[The scroll shows the mare with a light cloak on, shadows obscuring the area behind her, and after glancing about, like she's afraid of being overheard, she looks back to the scroll, calm, but with a slight edge to her air.]

Well...Ah reckon today's been one heckuva day. Our Princesses get drained an' kidnapped, an' now a bunch o'us are, too. An' with each power drain, he seems to get that much stronger an' bigger...

He got a lot o'folks close to me, too... [Her tail flicks absently, a remnant of annoyance at herself for not stopping it.] An' Ah know a lotta folks are scared to fight, because their power's part o'themselves, who they are, an' 'cuz our cutie marks are too. Because he gets stronger with each one taken..

An'...Ah'll be honest. Ah'm a lil' bit scared, too. It reminds me o'when the goddess Ashera woke up an' turned all o'Tellius but for a few o'us to stone. We had to defeat her or everyp...everyone would die. Ah mean...how do ya handle that?

[Nephenee, that's not very encouraging.]

...An' the answer is, ya band together.

We can't let how bad it looks stop us from tryin' to stop him. Even if we hafta stop fightin' him for the time bein' , that's alright. There are other ways to stand against him...like bandin' together, an' not letin' him crush our spirit.

"But Neph," ya might say, 'specially if ya jus' got here, "how we gonna stop 'em? He's big an' powerful...we gotta stop 'em." An' you're right...we will. But violence ain't the only way to defend against somethin'...sometimes it's jus' lettin' your voice be heard, standin' tall against them with your friends, or even by your lonesome...even when you're quakin' in your boots. That's when it's the most important to find what ya hold dear in your heart, an' hold onto it real tight, an' do whatever ya need to to keep hold o'it.

An' 'specially here..comin' together, standin' as one...those hold even more power than simply feelin' better from fightin' beside your allies. Friendship...love...they're part o'what's saved this place so many times, before we even came here, too! That friendship's key to fightin' against Cálice, an' us standin' together against Tirek's gonna save us...Ah don't know how...but it always has before.

An' for those o'ya don't think ya got friends an' allies to stand together with...ya do. All o'us do. Even if nopony else will...Ah will. Ah...know what it's like to not have friends..to feel like ya don't deserve 'em, ain't worth it.

An' ya know what? Ah was wrong. Ah've...learned that Ah'm worth that...an' Ah think everypony's worth that. Everyone needs that love, an' even if ya don't think you're worth it cause o'stuff ya done? Friendship an' love's gotta way o'changin' all that.

When Ah was fightin' in the wars back in Tellius, we found allies even among our enemies, among traitors, an' sometimes, all it took was reachin' out. Ya might get hurt..but the friends ya make will be worth more than all the gems in all the worlds. An' to those who've been hurt? Some people may not deserve it...but that's why mercy's so strong, too. Ah've seen that break walls a batterin' ram couldn't even chip.

That's what's gonna save us. That friendship an' love, bindin' us all together, if only we let it, will give us the strength to stand against the most powerful of foes, face down gods, when our weapons an' powers won't. So don't lose hope, everypony. We'll get through this. Oh, an' to those who think fate's sayin' otherwise...

Buck fate.

[Oh. Well then.]

If a goddess decrees a lil' ol' army is 'fated' to die, an' they defeat her? An' one o'those is a lil' ol' farm girl who didn't know nothin' but growin' stuff 'fore then? Ah think all o'us can write our own fate, our own destiny, no matter what a mark might say 'bout us.

Now...Ah ask ya all to join us, to show Tirek that we won't be cowed. [Neph.] To show our hearts are stronger than anythin' he can throw at us. That we fight for an' with somethin' bigger than him.

[Open to EVERYONE:]

Tirek...Ah know ya can see this. An' jus' 'cause some o'us had our powers an' marks bein' taken...don't think we'll back down from ya. In case ya ain't noticed, this is Equestria, where Friendship can defeat even mares in the moon an' changelin' queens an' ultimately, a white pony who keeps us here. An' somehow, it'll stop you too.

[And finally, she raises a hoof, and the shrouded area behind her lights up, revealing a small..band? Marty and Dante have guitars, there's a Pinkie on drums, Bertie on piano, and those who can play other instruments have them. Those who don't, don't need them. Nephenee, Bertie, Dante, Crmsn, Morgan, Pinkie Pie, Harvey, Marty, Minato, Minako, Donna, Jou...twelve in all. And when the music begins, he might know part of that damnedable tune.]

Raise high the anchor!

Here we stand against
Ya tuggin' at our reins!
This plan o'yours is gonna
Blow up in your face!
We'll wash away the sorrow,
All the stench bovine.
But until you're defeated,
We will not subside.

Though the darkness grows deeper,
We'll bring back a peaceful life.

An' we will come,
like a flood o'pain!
Pourin' down on ya!
An' we're not lettin' up
Until your end is here!

And we will fight!
Through the darkest day!
In your final hour!
And we will never rest
Until the land is clear.
Until we have made ya disappear~

[Each of the repetitions gains strength as they put more heart and soul into it, some of the ones with wings even flaring theirs out to add emphasis to high points, and the last resounds in the air long after the music drops off.]

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[This is acceptably decent music. Some of his favorite people are even involved! But there's just one teensy tiny problem with this arrangement:]

What the crap? You set up to slay him with the power of almighty rock and roll and you didn't invite ME?

[He scoffs.]

...but okay that was pretty good. Fine. I'll let you have your cool tapes this time, but when I return from the fiery depths, y'all are gonna see exactly what you missed out on.

[Smirk. That's a promise.]

Oh! Ah didn't even know ya did this sorta thing, Sir Strong Bad!

[He seemed to avoid her, after all...]

Well, next time Ah get this sorta idea takin' hold all a sudden, Ah'll make sure to bring ya along. Ah jus' hope it does its job...

[]She raises a hoof to her chin, the one with her engagement bracelet on it, as she thinks. Huh, she didn't think he'd do that.]

Ah didn't know ya were goin' down too. Me an' a few o'us here are, for sure...we gotta get their Highnesses back, after all. Maybe we'll find some clues down there.

Are ya good at fightin'?

Edited (curse you, cellphone keyboard!) 2015-04-02 16:33 (UTC)

[Sir Strong Bad? Part of him likes that...and to part of him, that name belongs to someone else entirely. He just answers with a smile.]

Well I don't have any super-awesome weapons of destruction that'll take down the most overgrown demonic puffball I've ever seen, but fiery demons of the underworld? I've got it down.

[The view pans to his trusty nail bat.]

And despite this misunderstanding...we'll make it out. I've got your back.

Edited 2015-04-02 16:41 (UTC)

Sorry, I wanted to invite you but my mind was too focused on what's going on and I kinda forgot. I'll remember to invite you next time at least?

[Admittedly, at least a part of it was that Strong Bad wasn't a good singer, but like hell he's going to say that.]

It's cool. Neph and me...uh, we don't exactly have a history of getting on the greatest. I'm trying to make amends here, but.

[He waves a hoof dismissively.]

Anyway, that was awesome. I guess.

You "guess"? Have I seriously lost my touch that much.

[His is smiling, but there's a hint of concern in his voice. You're not that upset about it, are you?]

[He continues his blank stare for a second, then two---and then he wipes it for a smirk.]

Nah, you nailed it. Just what I needed to hear before plunging into the depths of the underworld.

[... Blinks.]

Wait, what?

Nah, I'm not going to hell just yet.

[His stupid joke's so funny, right?]

I mean, technically I am, but not like that. That's where El Diablo's keeping the princesses, and a bunch of us are going down to save them.

[A pause before muttering to himself.]

Jesus Christ...

[He's really tempted to try and stop him, especially since Doc wasn't to get out and help too, but ugh they're not going to solve anything by sitting around, are they?]

Do you... need me for anything?

Just...keep your fingers crossed. Or uncrossed. I can't keep up with what the superstition's supposed to be.

[He smiles.]

Don't worry, I already got the clucking mother hen treatment from Feena. I'm as ready as I'm gonna be.

[Marty nods.]

If you want to do something when you get back though, I'll be all for it.

[He smiles, possibility to get himself in denial over the possibility that Strong Bad might die.]

[Minato's not the best singer in the world, but he has other talents to contribute. Halfway through the performance, he steps up next to Neph, summoning Orpheus to use as a speaker. The rest of the vocals fade as he comes to take the spotlight:]

Let this Fool break it down for ya.

Every enemy before ya
fell one by one before us
You're not any different, now
you power-hungry loon

Bluffin' with a royal flush
when all you got's a pair of queens
Can't say we didn't warn you, now
Best fold while you can.

You think you got us in a corner
but we don't play with any border
In the end you'll come up shorter
That's always how it goes.

Got our magic, it's so tragic
that you're already bein' drastic
we won't panic, we're elastic
Bouncin' right on back.

Edited 2015-04-03 02:23 (UTC)

[At around the time the slightly amnesiac farming sentinel says that - in completely unrelated news, of course - the Elements ensconced safely in Princess Twilight Sparkle's library display case sparkle, ever so slightly from within, before at last letting off the slightest of glows.

Its momentary. It probably passes with nopony noticing. However, for sometime after, the Element gems look subtly brighter and more colorful than normal. That is. if anypony should notice.

Well, in any case. Back to pissing Tirek off.]

[Back at the shelter, Doc's been drifting in and out of consciousness for most of the past day or two. The double-blow of being exhausted in a journey across Equestria and then magic-drained was a little much for him.

But Curie, in her clever-dog way, steps on the scroll in just the right way to activate it. That rousing anthem is certainly enough to bring him back to alertness---and it's with a smile that he notes that Marty's playing on stage, as he loves to do. They're all doing fantastically, actually.

Finally awake, he sits upright to applaud them.]

Bravo! A fantastic and inspiring performance. I'm sorry I couldn't be of assistance this time, but if your services are ever needed in this vein again, I can...provide you with some louder equipment.

[Actually, with a big enough amp, blown out in the right way...hmm. Idea. He files that one away.]

[Marty would thank Doc for the compliment, but his mind is more focused on something else.]

Hey Doc, are you holding up alright?

[He brightens up even more when he sees Marty. Curie does too, happily butting her way into the picture.]

Much better. I'm receiving excellent care given the circumstances---really, a day or two's rest was all I needed. But I've wasted enough time, and now there are inventions to consider---my mind's much harder to defeat than my magic, and I intend to remind him of that.

Maybe you should wait until after this blows over to do any inventions? You've been through a lot this week already.

[As if to join the argument, Curie crawls into Doc's lap and gives him an admonishing stare. He leans over her to shake his head.]

I'm aware I don't have the strength or capability to work at full capacity...but our front lines need mechanical support, and I intend to give it to them. I don't tolerate bullies well.

Doc, this kind of stuff has happened before. I'm sure they got it taken care of.

[He tried his best to make it not sound like Doc wasn't needed.]

Every time I look outside, it appears worse. I hate to sit idly by...I've been enough of a load for a while.

[But...okay, fine, he backs down onto the bed at Curie's insistence. Good dog.]

Well... it always gets worse before it gets better, right?

[He doesn't even know if the metaphor even works like that, but damnit Doc you are in no shape to be doing this.]

[...fine. He drops back onto the bed, Curie settling on his chest with an expression of smug satisfaction.]

I can only hope you're right. Perhaps with your inspiration...we'll rally.

[Good, because Marty was going to force Doc inside if he had to.]

I'm sure we'll be able to solve everything in no time, Doc.

[Donna's grinning by the time they're finished. The beat is still pounding through her, and she turns her attention to Nephenee once they've finished to offer her a high-hoof.]

That was perfect, Neph. And what we need right now.

[Going down into Tartarus seems... like a bad idea, but not doing it and just leaving the princesses to their fate would be even worse.]

We'd best break down quick, though, in case Mr. Nosering decides he wants to come rain on the parade.

[This really isn't Bertie's 'style' of music, but he's expanded his horizons since coming to Equestria, and especially since taking up with Dante. The dragon's tastes do seem to run to the thunderous over anything else. Not that it's bad, just something to get used to.

Nephenee's show is a very brief stop before heading down to Tartarus, but it had seemed an important one. He offers the mare an encouraging smile.]

That ought to rouse the troops while we're whisking off to save the princesses, eh?

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Weapon cache 1: Bearers of Hope

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visual, locked like WHOA from Tyrant..I mean Tirek

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woah wait what not here but

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