"Overseer!" A uniformed employee of Nightshade Industries ran across the bridge between the two facility buildings in northeast Blue Nova. "Overseer Fatch! I've been looking all over for you! There's urgent news from the Madame!"
"Unnngh..." The frazzled stallion ran a hoof over his face and spun from a tight cluster of advisors. "What could it possibly be now?!" He frowned. "It's crazy enough as it is with all of these Ledomaritan Enforcers breathing down my neck."
"She needs you to relocate the Think Tank immediately!" the messenger exclaimed. "There's been a security compromise at HQ."
"And there isn't here?!" Fatch leaned forward, teeth gritting. "Has any of my urgent memos gotten to the Madame?! I do hope she realizes I have my legs full of this unsightly 'Shell' character—"
"All I know is that there's been a security breach at the Madame's building and she needs the Think Tank moved right away!"
"Spark alive. It's a conspiracy, I swear..."
"Should I take a team into the basement levels, sir?"
Fatch blinked awkwardly in the noonday sunlight. "The basement levels?! What for?"
"To prepare the Think Tank for relocation."
"Uhhh... no..." Fatch's eyes narrowed. "They're across the way in the Supplies Department building."
The messenger blinked, then broke into a cold sweat. "I... did not see them when I went by, sir..."
Fatch's mouth opened... but hung there. His facial muscles twitched, dragging his gaze towards the entrance to the building on the far end of the bridge. He broke into a trot... and then into a gallop... and at last into a sprint. His nervous associates sped swiftly after him.
He burst through a door, turned around two hallways, and came upon the long corridor where a security detachment had gathered before the room in question.
"Overseer, s-sir!" One guard gulped, his armor rattling as he struggled to salute. "I-I was just about to update you! It appears as if we have a development—"
"Let me see..."
"We had guards here stationed the entire time and we can't fathom how they could have—"
"Let me see!"
The guards opened the door with their magic. Fatch immediately dashed in... only to skid to a stop. His face paled as he looked at the empty lengths of the room. A gust of wind blew at his face, for the doors were wide open, exposing the interior to the brilliant sky above the skyscrapers of Blue Nova.
"It... but... how...?"
"It's j-just like I said, sir..." The messenger's voice could be heard, panting from the corridor behind. "I thought they were supposed to be stationed here. I don't understand—"
"Weren't they being checked?! Weren't they being examined regularly?!" Gnashing his teeth, Fatch spun around. "I want to know who is responsible for—"
Shell stood in the doorway, his body flanked by dead silent ponies. Enforcer Evans and a few other soldiers trotted up to his side, gazing neutrally into the room. In the utter silence that followed, Shell's hoofsteps were like hammer drops. He paced past Fatch's numb body and looked at the open windows.
After a few seconds, he slowly and icily pivoted towards the chalkboard positioned along the side of the room.
Fatch bit his lip, shifting nervously.
Shell shuffled closer towards the board, his one eye tracing the runic symbols and dimensions of the illustrated zeppelin. He eventually opened his lips with, "This is not typical Nigthshade design..."
Fatch said nothing.
"But I do recognize some of this..." Shell brought his hoof up and tapped the runes. "I see it in my sleep, just as I hear the dying screams of my fallen comrades." He glanced at the powdery chalk brushed off his hoof. His nostrils flared as he turned towards Fatch directly. "I take it you had ponies who were important to you... and now they are gone. I don't suppose they were imprisoned here against their will... were they?"
At last, Fatch gulped hard and said, "If you would like to conduct an investigation, I can orchestrate a meeting between you and my chief executives—"
"My good sir, there has been an investigation going on before I even came by here, and now with all of the elements adding up, I see far too much to blame it all on mere coincidence." Shell gestured towards Evans, and the young Enforcer nodded back before directing commands to his armored companions. "Rest assured, if there is a search to be made of these 'renegade' ponies who once dwelled in this room, it is no longer up to you to manage it."
"Wh-what?!" Fatch remarked breathily.
"The security of Ledomare at stake," Shell said. "I have already rounded up several local companies of the Ledomaritan Defense Force to form a perimeter around this property, though we would be most fortunate if your industry's ineptitude in its own detainment hasn't already cost us the whereabouts of this nation's biggest potential enemies." He threw his voice towards the corridor. "Evans, send another message to Filta's armada. I want the Steel Wing en route to Blue Nova immediately."
"Aye, sir."
"Wait a second!" Fatch growled. "You can't just... j-just seize our property! This belongs to Nightshade Industries! Just on whose authority are you doing this!"
Shell turned slowly and stared down Fatch. In his one eye, the Overseer buckled down, trembling.
>.>
Things are going intense...
LOOK INTO MY EYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Wait, a perimeter? Oh boy, this just got about 50 times more difficult for them all... Also, even if they went out the window, where the hell is Pilate and Co.?
Perimeters are made to be breached. I look forward to Pilate and Props and co. busting through the lines brilliantly.
One does not simply fuck with Shell...
I'll bet Shell thinks that Nightshade got a hold of some of the escapees. And they did! Kind of. Oh, I kinda want to see more of Shell. I enjoy hating him.
Shell apparently can do the hand-of-Vader "you have failed me" thing with his eye alone.
Escape - Metallica
Fatch, Fatch, Fatch. This is Shell you're dealing with.
Protocol and chain of command do not apply.
Things are becoming all messy and confusing in Blue Nova...
Damn, I almost forgot Shell was there.
Just have to hope our little squirrel buddy - for the life of me, I can't remember its name; the hell is wrong with me tonight? - has strong enough magic to levitate a whole herd of ponies to some semblance of safety. Heh, "safety". Yeah, right. There'll probably be things blowing up around them at any moment now.
I wonder what's going on with Dash. I know this is more-or-less happening in "real time", but it's hard to get a mental handle on just how much time we're talking here. I'm assuming Dash will be joining the fray at some point - won't that be a hoot? - but she still has to leave the crystal place, presumably stumble across EE and Josho, and get to Blue Nova for the party.
Aaaaaaand Belle and Pilate still need to reunite.
Eh, I guess I should just enjoy the ride.
Hoh jeez, sounds like Sea Shell is not amused...
Dash needs to show up sometime soon
I have a feeling the cook will be a bigger asset than anypony suspects. :)
SHELL.
MUST.
DIE.
Shell is trying to become supreme ruler of Ledomare.
Damn anyone who gets in his way.
...I hope he gets run over by Xonans in his sleep, drowns in the mucous of his own blood and is slowly picked apart and roasted alive by manticores who are educated in table manners, torture, and cooking.
You know, I think Shell is at the point where he's completely snapped.
The other ponies can't see it yet, because he's one of those calm but crazy types, but I think that if he had a chance to get Dash now, he would no longer care about sacrificing the lives of his stallions like he used to.
I'm just waiting for that moment when he finally orders something insane, and Evans is like "Wait, what?" That's a thing that usually happens with insane villains that have sane followers.
Fatch has got it hard here. not only is in a bind with Nightshade's orders, but he now has to deal with a very determined and pissed off Shell.
Down with Shell!
2755330 Lol.
2755800
Can you imagine a manticore in a monocle witting like an old English noble and taking a bit of Shell's ear?
"I say, this Needs more worcestershire sauce. It's bloody dry!"
All your base are belong to Shell.
Make your time.
Ah. . . good ol' Shell. I missed you, buddy.
2754274The squirrels name is Simon... and didn't he poop his nuts out?
2754172 He can do the stare. Not the Fluttershy stare, but the Tywin stare. He just gives you a neutral look without any kind of message and turns you into a quivering, scared puppy in a few seconds.
i.imgur.com/XnPgo.jpg
"A king who needs to say that he's a king is no true king at all." By whose authority? By your fear, Fatch.
Shell and Nightshade should have a meal together some time. That'd be a date for the books.
...Damn I missed Shell. He might be somewhat insane, but he covers it up in layer upon layer of iciness and badassery.
Oh yeah, Shell. Forgot about him for a second. With this many volatile ponies trapped in one city I don't think things will stay non-explodey for very long. Once Shell and Nightshade meet...and once Pilate and Belle reunite, and once Dash finally arrives (that's happening, right?) with her ragtag team (or maybe just with Roarke. Hard to say).
There's a shitstorm, coming, Harry...
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
Hoo boy. Shell is royally pissed. Rightfully so, as well...I reeeeeally don't want him to find Belle...He probably will, though. These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
>This is not typical Nigthshade design
oh look a typo
This is bad.
-SPirit
Damn, Shell's really serious about this one.
on MY authority motherfucker
YOU WILL RESPECT MA AUTHORITAH!
Damn, Nightshade industries is just having a shit day today, huh?
This douchenozzle must've lost his sense of irony along with his marbles.
Hypocrisy thy name is Shell.
You're out of your depth now, Fatch.
7412803
Nighty is alright, maybe even interesting.
Shell on the other hand is fascinating.
He has depth, determination, delusion and single mindedness.
He's a ruthless villain unlike nightshade who is a blustery madmare.
Best villain is back. I really enjoy hating him.