With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)

[Maxx Crowley]

Negotiation with Waller...now that's risky. Has there ever been any version of her that would actually keep her word?

 

[Whenever Possible]

It's a very nice touch that Angel!Paul refers to and thinks of everyone else by their names and not their costumed identities. When it first said "Dr. Quinzel," I thought he was taking part in a prison counseling group session.

But the important quest is... What the heck does Waller have that Pangel wants and is willing to get involved with the suicide squad to get?

 

[DrThoth]

It's a very nice touch that Angel!Paul refers to and thinks of everyone else by their names and not their costumed identities. When it first said "Dr. Quinzel," I thought he was taking part in a prison counseling group session.

But the important quest is... What the heck does Waller have that Pangel wants and is willing to get involved with the suicide squad to get?

Click to shrink...

I mean a lot of Pauls refer to people by names, but it does fit his benevolent personality here particularly well.

As Mr Zoat has answered, Alan Scott's Lantern, though I'm not clear on why Waller would have it instead of the family of one of Scott's peers. I would like to see how an angel uses the power of avarice though- I can see Paragon's value system being fairly compatible.

 

[Darko]

Waller does run a intelligence organization with a lot of agents, she probably had one of them take the lantern, or maybe if the All Star Squadron exists in that universe the government could have taken it away after his death because he was their employee.

 

[Gantradies]

......
on reflection, i should probably clarify that the previous "advice" was a combination of a movie reference (the pig farm- Snatch-an EXCELLENT British gangster comedy-recommenced it for anyone who hasn't seen it- or hasn't seen it in years,alongside Hot Fuzz), and drawing from vague memories of a loon who killed people and stuffed their bodies into drums of caustic lye irl years back (came up in an article on cracked.com).for the second. theres... probably a hotline they call if someone suddenly starts ordering Lye by the 40 gallon drum.

i....
....FUCK. im already on a watchlist somewhere, aren't i?
godammit. NOT a trait i wanted to share with my charicter!
.....least it isnt the unstable power core...

 

[thebishop8]

If this Paul's power ring is completely dead, can he even convert Alan Scott's Lantern to orange?

 

[NeoDarklight]

If this Paul's power ring is completely dead, can he even convert Alan Scott's Lantern to orange?

Click to shrink...

A better question is, would he even bother trying? It's a functional-ish lantern with a functional-ish ring. At this point, he may as well just use it as is.

 

[thebishop8]

A better question is, would he even bother trying? It's a functional-ish lantern with a functional-ish ring. At this point, he may as well just use it as is.

Click to shrink...

Just because it's out of charge doesn't change the fact that you can't power an orange power ring with a green lantern.

 

[Citizen]

But you'll still have a green lantern, possibly a ring to go with it, and options going forward.

 

[The Chosen One]

Just because it's out of charge doesn't change the fact that you can't power an orange power ring with a green lantern.

Click to shrink...

And the reason why the power ring which I arrived with is completely dead. But that was going to happen eventually anyway. The wings are a good investment.

Click to shrink...

It's not stated what color his ring is this time around.

 

[thebishop8]

It's not stated what color his ring is this time around.

Click to shrink...

I noticed that. But given that most Paul's start with orange rings, and the last 3 alternates in this very episode had orange rings, it seems like a safe assumption.

Or maybe he did start with a green ring, and because he didn't want to risk the remaining charge on his ability to fulfil a bargain with Waller, he sought out the enhancement he now has just in case.

 

[Mr Zoat]

Local morning
Probably still the 1st of April back home

I take a moment to look at my forehooves. They still look much the same, particularly given that I didn't take my armour off last night. I'm.. pretty sure that what I dreamt actually happened -for a given value of 'actually happened' but… I don't exactly know how to tell.

"Mhr?"

I glance down to where the self-renamed Party Popper is lying pressed up against my barrel. I don't think that she's fully awake-

She yawns, her eyes opening and then closing again.

-but she appears to be heading in that direction. What to say? I used her to illustrate a point, and-. Huh. I was expecting to feel a little guilt, but this is quite a bit more than I was expecting. Maybe it's because she's small and furry and adorable.

I mean… It might be because I don't have an Anti-Life fragment any longer, but I'm not going to gamble on that until Sunset and Scott have checked.

"Uhh."

Party Popper blearily looks around, notices my barrel and then pokes it with her left forehoof to check that it's really there.

"Huh. Mom always told me something like this would happen if I left the rock farm."

"She did?"

She turns her head towards mine. "Weeeeeeeell… Not this exact thing. But I think this is the sort of thing she meant."

"Party Popper, I'm sorry for dragging you into this. I-."

"Are you?" She blinks up at me. "Are you really?"

I nod.

"No one's more surprised than me. Normally the most I feel in situations like this is a mild obligation to the injured party. This is actually…" I sigh. "Bringing you here illustrated the point a little better, but honestly? From what Luna said, just teleporting Twilight and your primogenitor to the Mirror Pool would have worked just as well. I just wanted to break their resistance as fast as I could and didn't really care if I hurt you to do it. And I should have done. So: not just an apology. I do actually want you to organise Sunset Shimmer's party, if you're still willing. And obviously I'm in your debt in addition to that."

"Huh." She looks thoughtful for a moment, then brightens up. "Hey, you passed!"

"Good? Passed what?"

"Princess Luna told me that if you didn't apologise I had to buck you in the flank." She cranes her neck to bring her face a little closer to mine. "And unlike someponies, I actually know where the flank is."

"It's another word for 'haunches', isn't it?"

She shakes her head definitively, smiling broadly. "Nope!"

I snort with amusement. "Hey, you want to know what's funny?"

"Aaaaaaalways."

"Luna's my best friend in all of Equestria."

She leans back, squinting at me. "Really? Whaw."

"I know, right. So she visited your dream too?"

"Yep. So I know all the other mes didn't really die and they're all going to be let out soon and I can be Party Popper for real or even Pinkie Pie except that could get confusing when we're all together and I can even go back to Ponyville if I want to."

"Do you want to?"

"I…" She sags a little, looking away. "Dunno. I do kinda wanna see everypony again, but Twilight did try and sorta-kill me. And everypony else went along with it. And I've made a whole bunch of new friends in Manehattan. Wait a sec-ond." She turns her face back towards me, peering at me suspiciously. "Didn't your horn used to be orange?"

I briefly go cross-eyed trying to see it.

"Ah-."

Party Popper sticks her right hoof into her mane and pulls out a hoof mirror. She holds it up towards me.

"See?"

I look at my own reflection. I look… Pretty much the same. Which is good; if I'd turned into a white pony I'd be worried that Harmony was racist. But… I'm looking a little less sinister all round, and my horn is now a grey spiral face spear rather than a smooth orange face claw.

"Ah, could you please cover your ears for a moment?"

Party Popper stuffs her mirror back into her mane, then grabs a pillow and holds it over her head.

"Life… Equals… Pain."

…

It's gone.

It's… Gone.

I step off the bed, prompting Party Popper to slump into the depression I made in the bed. She drops the pillow and looks at me expectantly.

"I.. admit I've been a churl
Since I woke up over a world."

I take another look at my reflection in the mirror over the dresser.

"The day before was sour
And it left me feeling dour
I lost everything
Except a glowing orange ring
And though I fought in the good fight
I never did quite get it right."

I turn back to Party Popper, who's standing on the floor and looking strangely excited.

"And my allies, they were fine
Though not exactly of like mind
Played them false? Yes, I admit it
And I never seemed to quit it.
Tossed a coin, picked a side,
Because I'd rather fight the tide
And my rage meant that my friends
Were mostly just means to my ends."

Life… Doesn't equal pain. Life can be good, full of opportunities.

"And… Now… I'm… Free!"

I shove open the door and march down the corridor.

"I'm filled with glee!
There is no Anti-Life in me!
And everyone around can see
That I'm a jubilant pony!
And now I'm free!
I'm filled with glee!
There is no Anti-Life in me!
And everyone around can see
That I'm a jubilant pony!"

I open my wings and fly down the main staircase, Party Popper hot on my heels. I toss a bag of bits at the front desk attendant and head out of the front doors.

"Took a stand, won a prize
Cut my foes right down to size
One can rebuild from rubble
The rest weren't worth the trouble
Got a visit from my Dad
He took note of all I had
And he gave me as a prize
Something I truly do despise."

I march in the direction of the palace while Party Popper leaps onto my back and starts dancing.

"But now I'm free!
I'm filled with glee!
There is no Anti-Life in me!
And everyone around can see
That I'm a jubilant pony!
But now I'm free!
I'm filled with glee!
There is no Anti-Life in me!
And everyone around can see
That I'm a jubilant pony!"

I should probably question how I'm suddenly able to move this quickly on hooves, but… Ah. Who cares?

"Got helped out by my bro
He said I should take things slow
So I went on a few tours
And killed many evildoers
Did some building, got a plan
'cause I'm not a one note man
Then I went back home to see
What I would do with me."

Prance through the palace gates, Luna should be… That way?

"So now I'm free!
I'm filled with glee!
There is no Anti-Life in me!
And everyone around can see
I'm…"

Twilight Sparkle and I stare at each other. She looks… Rough. Worn out and generally miserable.

"A slightly contrite pony."

I stop, and Party Popper jumps down off my back.

"Twilight Sparkle."

She scowls. "What now?"

"I'm sorry. I let my fervour to destroy my Anti-Life fragment blind me to other approaches that I could take, and in doing so I caused you and your friends considerable emotional distress. I didn't take into account the.. now obvious fact that the elements of harmony aren't the jewellery that you and your friends wear, but fundamental parts of Equestria's magic that are available to anyone. I forgot that Nightmare Moon destroyed the previous manifestation of the Elements and that you reformed them from your own virtues, an option that was just as available to me as it was to you. I shouldn't have come after you in the way that I did that and I'm sorry."

"Oh. Well. Good." She sighs, then steps around me and looks at Party Popper. "And I'm sorry. I made assumptions about how the Mirror Pool worked based on other magic artefacts I'd studied, and I was.. so wrong and I didn't check that what I thought was true really was. I spent all night getting the other Pinkie Pies out and I said sorry to all of them. I've never wanted anypony to be as afraid of me as you were."

Party Popper thinks for a moment.

"I'd… Be lying if I said I was okay with any of what happened… But I know that you're telling the truth and… I guess you've really done all you can do to make up for it." She gives Twilight a quick nuzzle, then jumps back on my back. "Now go get some sleep. You look awful."

Twilight nods, takes one last look at me, then trots away. I watch her go for a moment, then continue down the corridor towards the gardens.

"So now I'm free.
Fairly happy.
There is no Anti-Life in me.
And everyone around can see
I'm a.. somewhat contrite pony."

I step out onto the manicured lawns and nod a greeting to Luna before heading her way.

"Followed Sunset to her home
Where the little ponies roam
Tried to Harmonise my strife
And destroy the Anti-Life
Though they were sadly unwilling
Speaking of their Pinkie-killing
Earned me a royal visit
Whose results were-"

I lower my head as if to sniff Luna's haunches, and am rewarded with a tail whip to the snout.

"-quite exquisite."

I walk around to face her as she rolls her eyes.

"Grayven. You seem somewhat less umbral this morn."

"I feel less umbral. Did a song and everything."

"We heard."

"How did it feel to use the Elements again?"

She thinks for a moment. "Satisfying. We feel… Cleansed by their presence in a way which being struck by their full fury does not match. Now, exactly how far does your contrition extend?"

"I'll repay every debt incurred and a little more besides. But I seem to remember making a promise to you. How-?"

She yawns. It lasts several seconds.

"We apologise. Our body entered your dream physically, and We have had little time for rest since."

I nod. "I'll-."

"Because of the great upsets you caused with the Bearers."

I nod, pausing for a moment. "I'll… Work something out, there. And I'll not keep you, but… I can remove your tiredness, if you'd rather not leave me unsupervised in your capital."

"Having seen what you planned for it, that may be wise. How-?"

Strengthen True Friend.

She shudders, coming to full alertness in an instant, her wings opening to their full span.

"Goodness."

"So why don't we head inside, and you can tell me what I can do for you, and for Equestria?"

She nods, smiling. "I would like that."

"'cause now we're free! / "'cause now you're free!
We're filled with glee!" / We're filled with glee!"

We march back towards the palace proper alongside each other, Party Popper still on my back.

"There is no Anti-Life in me!
And everyone around can see
That I'm a jubilant pony!"

"'cause now we're free! / "'cause now you're free!
We're filled with glee!" / We're filled with glee!"

Luna beams.

"There is no Anti-Life in thee!
And everyone around can see
That I'm a jubilant pony!"

 

[AidanMorgan]

I can't stop smiling and it's so sweet I think you gave me diabetes.

 

[Uyurgezn]

A better question is, would he even bother trying? It's a functional-ish lantern with a functional-ish ring. At this point, he may as well just use it as is.

Click to shrink...

If Waller ever get her hands on a power ring even half broken one there would be a black OPs lantern around. It seems like here, Waller only got the Lantern and she probably have no idea to how to to use a faulty lantern without a ring. Heck maybe she doesn't even know it have the same tech as other green lanterns. She may be seing it as a chep imitation.

 

[Idkusername]

I just can't remember where the song's from.

 

[SebazuD]

"Huh. Mom always told me something like this would happen if I left the rock farm."

Click to shrink...

None of the Mirror Pinkies had her memories.
She had to teach her who her friends are and stuff after she was made.
I mean, if they actually had her memories they wouldnt have gone aroundestroying everything.

 

[Mr Zoat]

I just can't remember where the song's from.

Click to shrink...

Me.

 

[Handlewithcare]

D'awwwww :')

Can someone with more musical talent than me turn this into a proper song? (Great job with the text, Zoat)

I wonder how long Grayven's...cleansing lasts. Or how far it goes, I guess.

Ah, who are we kidding. He is going to get vacuumed up by the tuning fork thing the moment he gets back.

 

[Idkusername]

Me.

Click to shrink...

It reminds me an awful lot of a Disney song, I just can't - Pinocchio! I'm not sure if it ever was a song, but it reminds me of 'there's no strings on me!'.

 

[RichardWhereat]

I don't think I was the only one singing that, but I'd love to hear everyone's rendition, including yours, Zoat.

 

[DAT_NOOB]

D'awwwww :')

Can someone with more musical talent than me turn this into a proper song? (Great job with the text, Zoat)

I wonder how long Grayven's...cleansing lasts. Or how far it goes, I guess.

Ah, who are we kidding. He is going to get vacuumed up by the tuning fork thing the moment he gets back.

Click to shrink...

Darkseid: "Congratulations, you've accomplished more in a few months than high-father did in millennia. As a reward, I shall show you more truth. That no matter what you do you will never escape, that Hope=Folly"

 

[Darko]

I really wish this is recorded and given to members of the Team, just to see their WTF faces.

Highfather may have a method to cleanse paople of the equation though probably not one that destroys it.

Zoat did the Elements really destroy the equation?

 

[Redhawk]

I really wish this is recorded and given to members of the Team, just to see their WTF faces.

Click to shrink...

I want to see this so much right now.

 

[Mr Zoat]

Zoat did the Elements really destroy the equation?

Click to shrink...

He completely destroyed the fragment inside himself.

 

[Alasnuyo]

They probably 'destroyed' it the same way Nightmare Moon 'destroyed' the Elements in the pilot episodes. As in, not at all. I suspect they only got rid of that shard's current manifestation; that as long as suffering continues to exist in the universe, Anti-Life can never be truly destroyed.

 

[Jack of Olives]

I spent all night getting the other Pinkie Pies out and I said sorry to all of them. I've never wanted anypony to be as afraid of me as you were.

Click to shrink...

So there are now dozens of Pinkie-clones running around Equestria...

Renegade had better get out of there before people realize what he's unleashed... and Twilight may need to go with him.

 

[LurkingInTheDeceit]

This chapter got me to move from the story only thread to here just to say, this gave me a weirdly large smile, so thank you.

 

[Galler]

And unlike someponies, I actually know where the flank is."

Click to shrink...

Broken link

 

[King of Frost]

None of the Mirror Pinkies had her memories.
She had to teach her who her friends are and stuff after she was made.
I mean, if they actually had her memories they wouldnt have gone aroundestroying everything.

Click to shrink...

I've been assuming this is a slight AU in that regard.

In canon the Pinkie clones didn't know who anyone was, and in canon Twilight would have probably had a much more visceral and panicked reaction to the idea that she murdered multiple sapient people, much less "proof" being shoved in her face, even if it all turned out they weren't killed here at all.

 

[Lord Ernest]

*Clap, clap, clap* That was beautiful! Beautiful, I say! Bravo, my good sir, delightful episode. I shall have to read it in its entirety (jumping the other alternates, they break the flow a bit) now that it's complete to appreciate it a bit more, but for someone that couldn't care less for ponies and the last time that thought about equines in general was when someone mentioned how glue is made... well, I wouldn't say that I want to see the pony show, but still really enjoyed this adventure.

In fact, I think something was mentioned about this being a two episodes trip? I would hope so, because Sunset's situation hasn't been resolved and I'm up to following Grayven's adventure in "Wilson" for a little bit more time. I'm glad that he's getting renovated, noticing how much of a heel he's been, but I hope that this doesn't mellow his harsh too much; I would miss troll Grayven too much, and it would be weird if he becomes the new Paragon or something. Not being that much of a dick to people he just meets and dialing down on being an asshole in general is ok, but I still like the Renegade being a dick and an asshole, honestly.