"Uhhhhhh... whoopsy..." Props' voice echoed across the elevator car.
"Whoopsy?!" Ebon Mane's voice returned, positioned right next to Pilate inside the cramped enclosure. The air was stifling hot, and thudding vibrations could be felt reverberating up and down the shaft. "What do you mean, Propsy?! What's going on?"
"Oh, no biggie!" She chirped back through the sound stone installed above the instrument panel of the car. "I just gotta turn the thing with the thing and... uhhhh... whoooooopssssy..."
"That isn't very reassuring," Pilate muttered. Simon chirped across his shoulder in agreement.
"Props!" Ebon growled, his hoof pressing harder to the panel below the enchanted crystal. "We've been sitting in this stupid car for nearly three hours. Now, we dropped you and Jasper off at the core so you could open us a way to the security brig. What the hay is going on?"
"Well, it's just that this place is so much bigger than a steam engine and they have all their conduits going flank over uvula and... oh! Hey! I think I found the manastream generator—oh wait no. No, that's not it...""
Ebon's voice growled. "Props..."
"Whoooooooooopsyyyy..."
"Nnngh! Enough with this whoopsy crap! There's no telling if Floydien is still alive or not! Just tell us what we gotta do or this whole thing's a bust!"
"Ahem... Ebon, good fellow..." Clark's voice spoke up over the sound stone. "I believe what Props is eloquently trying to tell us is that she's bitten onto more than she can chew."
"Yeah, Jasper. We got that the first time."
"It has nothing to do with the munchies!" Props' voice cracked. "It's just that I can't tell what floor the sub-leyline-relay is! If I could overload that, then all of the tertiary bypasses would kick the bucket and I would have full control of the tower from here! Including all of Overseer Fatch's flank-fuggly gizmos!"
"Well, you obviously are bumping into a proverbial brick wall, so if you could kindly hoist us back down to the bottom floor so we could regrup in the central core and come up with a better plan—"
Pilate reached up and gently shoved Ebon away from the sound stone. "Ahem, Miss Props?"
"That's my name! Don't wear it out!
"If you could kindly describe to me—"
"Cuz I'd look horrible in vertical stripes!"
"Um... please describe to me—"
"Heeheehee—!"
"The relay!" Pilate grunted, nearly shaking Simon off his backside. "The sub... leyline relay... Could you describe it?"
"Well, it's reinforced with syntho-alicornia microfilaments spun around four auxiliary nodes framed equadistantly from a rotating piston core—"
"The shape, Miss Props. Could you describe the dimensions of this device?"
"OH! Uhm... sort of like a big fat doughnut surrounded by four smaller doughnuts, and all of them covered in bright, electrical sprinkles."
Jasper's voice lifted in the background. "Riveting. You should go into teaching geometry courses, my dear."
"Mmmmm... I love sprinkles..."
Ebon emitted a breathy sigh. "This was a bad idea. I probably should have stayed with Props. I always seem to help her concentrate better." Silence. His body pivoted towards Pilate. "Mr. Pilate...?"
The zebra was too busy concentrated. Using Simon's energy funneled through the O.A.S.I.S. sphere, he felt beyond the elevator doors, the hallway beyond, and the foundation of the building through and through. At last, his heart skipped a beat as he said, "Four stories below us, Miss Props! About forty meters from the building's north face!"
After a momentary pause, the soundstone crackled, "Ohhhhh! Right by the employee break room! Wowsers bowsers, the Nightshade ponies are some sneaky Mcsneaksneaks!"
"Yes, indeed. Can you access our floor now?"
"Yup yup yup! Just gotta make the relay short circuit!" A frightening hiss of pent-up energy shorted out around the elevator car. "Aaaaand done! Hehehe! That wasn't so bad—Oh... uhm... whoopsy..."
Ebon groaned. "What now?"
"You guys might kinda sorta wanna hop out of that elevator car around about now..."
"Huh?" Just then, the sound of groaning metal cables drowned out Ebon's voice.
"Jump you fools!" Clark's voice crackled, growing louder as he must have shoved the downstairs soundstone closer to his muzzle. "Jump out of there as if your bridles are on fire!"
"Crudmuffins!" Ebon shouted.
Simon let loose a high-pitched bark. Metal bent loudly, indicating the doors were ripped off their hinges. A gust of cool air filtered in from the hallway beyond as the car began to jolt and drop.
"Nnngh!" Pilate was already thrusting forward. He rolled out of the elevator, spun around, and reached his hooves back just in time to hoist Ebon along with him. The screaming sound of a falling elevator echoed up from the shaft below. Both stallions fell on the floor, panting, while Simon scampered on ahead of them.
"Correct me if I-I'm mistaken..." Pilate stammered before gulping. "But you're actually going to let that mare fly the vessel in the hangar?"
"At this point, I'm not sure I'll let her fly a fart..." Ebon stood, helped Pilate up, and galloped with him down the hallway. "Quick! Before Fatch's goons find us! Or worse!"
The description was scrumptious.
Now that is a new one on me.
Oh yeah, I'd kinda forgotten about Floydien.
I hope he's not dead though. I was sure that Phoenix was going to be the first character to have an offscreen death.
oh, the lolz I had. xD
Considering the amount of explosions that are just waiting to happen in and around that one building, I believe you need a better word than "worse."
. . . Dammit, Colon, I'm hungry now
2819780
Nope. Can't happen. I refuse to believe it. if its off screen, its not dead. Floydien is not dead. Nope. not gonna happen. Blah blah blah blah I can't hear you.
I'm also starting to wonder how big this party is gonna be by the time we reach Book 4? Or are we gonna have to kill ponies off? I really rather that not happen.
Yes.
This chapter was full of interesting.
Now where's Shell's violent provocative rear end sexual realignment therapy?
(How long 'til he gets his butt whooped?)
2819970
hehehe, NYES! ALL THE PONIES WILL DIE, AND RAINBOW DASH WILL BE ALL ALONE AGAIN! MWAHAHAHAHHAAHAHHA!media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9fwr5g3ld1rpnk74.gif
2820141 I agree, this must happen so that the other pegasi can find RD and fly east with her.
Also, where have I seen this particular scene before?
Props should probably get somebody to help with that whole being careful thing. It is rather helpful when you're trying to capture a building from a highly militarized company in the middle of a large country that wants to kill you.
Misread this the first time. Epic spittake.
Props makes my butt tired, and I'm just reading about her antics.
And three hours, huh? I guess that works out right, based on what's been going on down south. I wonder what Belle and Kera have been doing to keep themselves occupied... The mind reels.
That would probably be best for all concerned.
I DID IT.
It took so long but I finally managed to completely catch up! I just discovered this story 2 weeks ago and I can proudly say I've read every chapter in the series so far! It's. So. Awesome.
But, now I have to wait for updates...WHY CRUEL FATE?!
I find it worth mentioning that when one is speaking about the floors of a building, it's 'storeys', not 'stories'.
I'm sorry, it's been bothering me for a while now.
2820892
Welcome to the Noble Jury.
Also, Props would make a great science teacher. Just imagine her teaching physics courses!
Hold on to your butts.
2820892 It's really not much of a wait. On good weeks there will be one or two almost every day, otherwise it's still at least once a week.
2821978
Uh... he's never missed a day. I thought this was common knowledge.
No action series is a true action series without a dropping elevator in it. It is known.
2821575 I just heard that voice coming out of Pinkie's mouth. Sweet baby Jesus.
2822406 It is known.
2819970
I get the feeling that the end of this book will have a lot of bloodshed in it. My guess is that the party will get pretty small before moving on again.
2820944
Twilight would probably do something like that.
The title, plus the first line, made me think Props farted in the closed elevator with everypony around her.
This was actually me the other day at work. I was all, pointing to a plant, "Is this thing a thing?" and my boss actually nodded and knew what I was talking about.
Also, thanks for conjuring up every frightening elevator image from every movie I've ever seen. Ever. Its a legitimate fear, dang it. (I especially blame Resident Evil and Poseidon).
Honeytiger thought props was gonna accidentally blow up the place or something.
2833435
Nah, just the ends of the stallion's tails.
Mission Accomplished!
...Sorta.
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
Well, Props is at it again...also, did I mention that switching the POV with the chapter is disorienting? Because it is. It's very disorienting. These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
2898698
I never thought I whould chach up to you since when I started this fic (austreio) I was over 30 weeks behind.
Now that I caught up, I want to keep reading your evaluations so my question is this.
What is your normal posting schedule? Do you try to do one a day or just when you fell like it? Whichever is fine for me I would just like to keep reading you evaluations
Thanks
Still have a long ways to go to catch up to this glorious train-ride. And what a ride this is! ):( can write some damn fine OC's.
2819884 'There's something to be said for short scraps and explosions.'
Josho and EE OTP. To Tartarus with you, IC, for making me okay with shipping. But I'm coming around.
That was hilarious. Yay for Props Anyway, time to escape.
-Spirit
Props is crazy.
Jeez Props, pull yourself together, girl!
I do believe this so ends day 4....many things were learned and innumerous questions raised....those many, many worlds...
Poor Props is misunderstood because her mind is always spinning.
oh, good one!
reminds me of "Dung Biscuits" from a book.