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", "count": "424", "submission_left_submission_id": "3159036", "submission_left_file_name": "4747182_Speedy526745_c4.doc", "submission_right_submission_id": "3159045", "submission_right_file_name": "4747192_Speedy526745_c5.doc" }, { "pool_id": "89373", "name": "Older Works", "description": "Archive of works from before I joined. Will have original upload dates posted in the description.", "count": "1177", "submission_left_submission_id": "3159036", "submission_left_file_name": "4747182_Speedy526745_c4.doc", "submission_right_submission_id": "3159045", "submission_right_file_name": "4747192_Speedy526745_c5.doc" }, { "pool_id": "89798", "name": "Portal Panic", "description": "A co-op story by myself and Hexus telling the tail of two big, strange mares being thrown into a world neither of them know amidst a catastrophe.", "count": "19", "submission_left_submission_id": "3159036", "submission_left_file_name": "4747182_Speedy526745_c4.doc", "submission_right_submission_id": "3159045", "submission_right_file_name": "4747192_Speedy526745_c5.doc" } ], "description": "[b]Original Post Date:[/b] May 21, 2017\n\nChapter 10 of 13\n\n[b]Cover:[/b] [url=https://inkbunny.net/s/3159004]Portal Panic Cover[/url]\n[b]First:[/b] [url=https://inkbunny.net/s/3159016]Portal Panic: Intro[/url]\n[b]Prev:[/b] [url=https://inkbunny.net/s/3159036]Portal Panic: Chapter C4[/url]\n[b]Next:[/b] [url=https://inkbunny.net/s/3159045]Portal Panic: Chapter C5[/url]\n\nYes yes we know a Goodra can't actually ever learn Frenzy Plant, but it was a spur-of-the-moment thing that we rolled with.", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Original Post Date: May 21, 2017

Chapter 10 of 13

Cover: Portal Panic Cover
First: Portal Panic: Intro
Prev: Portal Panic: Chapter C4
Next: Portal Panic: Chapter C5

Yes yes we know a Goodra can't actually ever learn Frenzy Plant, but it was a spur-of-the-moment thing that we rolled with.", "writing": "----------------------------------------------------------Duel------------------------------------------------------------\n\n>The park had seen prettier days.\n\n>A quarter of a gazebo had vanished, leaving a growing pond in the center \n\n>Large puddles were scattered across the soaked ground while the turtle pond splashed at the tallest edges of the shoreline.\n\n>Splashing into one of those puddles was a large, lavender hoof.\n\n>Gabby had looked down to negotiate the fence, and her face twisted as her hooves visibly sunk into the mushy ground.\n\n>Looking back up, she saw that the source of the shaking she'd felt was standing there, mimicking her own wide-eyed stare.\n\n>She looked over this other beast across the landscape from her.\n\n>Like her, it seemed this creature was at least somewhat like a large horse.\n\n>The mane and what she could see of the tail were tipped with glowing blue lights.\n\n>Antennae protruding from its head also were glowing at their tips, petals open like new flowers while the cores were pointed at her.\n\n>Between them was a large horn with that same electric blue spiraling its way up the cone.\n\n>Its wide eyes were projecting the color onto her like a pair of floodlights.\n\n>She could almost swear she could see that same glow coming from the creature's flanks, but she wasn't sure.\n\n>The most worrying thing was that it seemed to have some kind of armor plating on it.\n\n>Every times its ears moved she could see hardened panels across their backs.\n\n>Right across the bridge of the nose was another, but more worrying were the hooves that each gave the same dull shean.\n\n>Whatever it was, it looked like it was ready for battle.\n\n>Something she hoped she didn't have to do today.\n\n>Neither beast moved until Gabby noticed the way the other one's hair seemed to squirm on its own accord.\n\n>Her face twisted as she entertained the thought that the beast's hair might be alive.\n\n>She swallowed her anxiousness and took a deep breath.\n\n''Nice to meet you, I'm Gabby and-''\n\n>The blue kaiju huffed, standoffish with her adversary.\n\n``-Orchid.''\n\n``It's a pleasure. I was wondering if--''\n\n>The glowing creature was quick to cut her off with a flick of its tail.\n\n''I know what you are. You're here to terrorize the city!''\n\n>Gabby accusingly pointed a hoof towards the grey beast.\n\n''Isn't that what you're doing? I know I certainly didn't cause all this!''\n\n>Orchid shook her head.\n\n''I've never met another kaiju before, but I was taught that I should never listen to them if they tried to communicate.''\n\n>Gabby frowned and curled her horns.\n\n''Kai-ju? What? Wait, how do I know you're not the monster?''\n\n``Because I'm the only kaiju with the defense corps.''\n\n``Defense what-now?''\n\n>The blue one stomped a hoof into the loamy soil.\n\n``See? I knew it!'' \n\n``That's not enough proof! What if you just made that up?''\n\n``Did not!''\n\n``Did too!''\n\n``Nuh uh!''\n\n``Uh huh!''\n\n>A safe distance away, a recon unit watches the `battle' unfold.\n\n>Two sniper teams seem to be the main sets of eyes for the troops.\n\n>Nonetheless, every soldier with a strong enough scope is watching intently.\n\n>''My money's on the purple one.''\n\n>''No way! She doesn't look like she knows how to fight at all! Mine's on the gray one.''\n\n>Roughly half of the unit nod in agreement.\n\n>''We still don't know what she's capable of. My money's still on that one. I've learned not to judge so quickly.''\n\n>Surprisingly civilized discussion takes place among the troops as they look on.\n\n``Did not!''\n\n``Did too!''\n\n>Unbeknownst to the two of them, a convoy of buses is trying to silently slip along the edges of the park.\n\n>All of the passengers are plastered to the parkside windows looking at the two towering monsters bickering at each other like siblings.\n\n>Neither kaiju remembering what an inside voice is is causing headaches for many of the riders and what onlookers peeked out through building windows.\n\n>The city was otherwise silent as the never-ending echoing series of rebuttals dominated the soundwaves, blaring over sirens and radios alike.\n\n>Gabby had been yelling until she was red in the face, her adversary sporting a strong blue tint across her cheeks as well.\n\n``This isn't going anywhere!''\n\n``You're using sound waves to attack the peace!''\n\n>The lavender hybrid looked flabbergasted for a fraction of a second.\n\n``Okay now I know you made that one up!''\n\n>Orchid dug her hooves into the soil.\n\n``I was warned about you.''\n\n``By whom?''\n\n``The Defense Corps.''\n\n``There you go again...''\n\n>The sea kaiju stomped a hoof for silence.\n\n``I'm gonna save everyone!''\n\n>Gabby nodded despite herself, until Orchid continued, that is.\n\n``And to do that, I'm gonna take you down!''\n\n``Wait wh--''\n\n>She was again cut off by a series of thunderous booms as her would-be adversary went into a charge.\n\n>If she were hit where she stood currently, it would be disastrous for both her and the buildings nearby.\n\n>Angrily shaking her head, she too broke into a sprint, adding her own earth-shaking steps to the chaos.\n\n>She didn't have far to dash as the blue one surged across the ground, tossing mud and flower beds into the air.\n\n>The next move was quick with practiced efficiency.\n\n>Orchid stopped before impact, digging furrows into the ground as she halted and spun around.\n\n>The tail was brought to bear, prehensile strands balling together into a solid, brightly colored mass as they swung towards Gabby.\n\n>The lavender horse's eyes went wide as Orchid executed her maneuver.\n\n>Gabby quickly skidded to a halt, and slammed her hooves into the ground to brace for the impact.\n\n>Surely her tail hairs couldn't hurt that much, right?\n\n>Wrong.\n\n>The bulk of the tail hairs struck her on her side.\n\n>The blow nearly knocked the wind out of her, and certainly knocked her off her hooves.\n\n>Her massive body hid the ground with a thud, and the momentum caused her to skid across the ground like a makeshift bulldozer.\n\n>Grass and trees alike were either flung aside or mowed down beneath her.\n\n>Skidding to a stop just shy of the bordering fence, one thing was on her mind.\n\n>Whatever that was, it wasn't made of normal hair.\n\n>She was back on her hooves in short order, and barred her teeth.\n\n>Her side may have been bruised, but she wasn't going down that easily.\n\n>She bounded off for her assailant once more, her thundering steps ringing against the tall buildings surrounding the park.\n\n>Before reaching the kaiju, though, she reared back a forehoof for a punch aimed at the side of her face.\n\n>While not a fist, Orchid was no stranger to the human art of a boxing match.\n\n>Craning her neck to the opposite side, the oceangoing kaiju ducked into a sidestep, narrowly avoiding catching it on her nose as she slipped by.\n\n>Her growled rebuttal came as a leg-sweep, a forehoof lurching forward and then to the side as she tried to catch Gabby off-balance.\n\n>The attack hit its mark, and while it didn't hurt as much as the tail did, it sent her skidding and again nearly caused her to break through a boundary fence of the park.\n\n>More upset at the fact that she nearly caused unintentional damage to the city for the second time within a few seconds.\n\n>Gabby stood up again, wiping a bit of mud from her cheek, and started inhaling.\n\n>At the same time, a blue orb was forming half inside, half outside her mouth, and it was rapidly growing bigger.\n\n>Orchid blinked in confusion, and that hesitation cost her dearly.\n\n>When the orb was jawbreaker sized to the hybrid pony, she exhaled forcefully.\n\n>From it shot out a narrow sky blue beam, aimed square at the kaiju's chest.\n\n>As close as they were, the stream struck point blank.\n\n>The instant it made contact, Orchid yelped at the frostbitten pangs around where her neck melded with her chest.\n\n>Instinctively, the blue kaiju tried to get away from it but the beam continued to pour ice across her as she hastily stepped back.\n\n>Frost spilled across her front, the supercooled air creating a mist that wrapped around her and licked at her sides.\n\n>The beam petered out a few short seconds later, leaving a shivering Orchid, wisps of cold trailing from a piece of ice affixed to her front like a medallion.\n\n>Teeth chattering, the kaiju shook it off as best she could.\n\n``What was that?!''\n\n>The chilled kaiju was only dimly aware of someone calling out in the distance.\n\n>''Holy shit, that was ice beam! It's just like my Japanese card games!''\n\n>''I don't think it's supposed to be that big, though...''\n\n>Gabby nodded in the direction of the shouting.\n\n``That's right, or, that's at least what I've been calling it.''\n\n>She then glanced in the correct direction, and her eyes went wide when they fell upon the busses.\n\n>She wondered internally what all those busses were doing in a line, and so close to the two of them, for that matter.\n\n>She started softly trotting away from the bus line, and the edge of the park. \n\n>The would-be defender was taken aback.\n\n>If they already knew about it then obviously the military's intelligence was on par today.\n\n``Now, could you just...''\n\n>Gabby was already snickering, a playful grin tugging at her mouth.\n\n``...chill out?''\n\n>Somewhere in the distance, someone hollered.\n\n>The opponent would have made a retort, but she was too busy testing the icicle splattered across her chest.\n\n>An uncontrollable shiver twitched underneath Orchid's nose plate as she tapped the cold formation with the hard edge of her hoof disbelievingly.\n\n>A series of loud ``tink'' noises echoed over the park.\n\n>She looked back up at Gabby, eyes wide.\n\n''You shot ice at me!''\n\n>The goodra-pony exhaled, a few trailing cold vapors visible but rapidly fading.\n\n>She shrugged.\n\n``It's a thing I can do.''\n\n>Gabby donned a thoughtful expression for the time being.\n\n>It certainly wasn't a thing she could do more than once.\n\n>It--no, she--might dodge it, and then what?\n\n>It would be catastrophe if it struck a building.\n\n>A rapid banging distracted her from imagining a frozen skyscraper.\n\n>Orchid tried to chip away at the ice with another hard hoof.\n\n>Gabby decided to make use of the precious seconds while her opponent was busy.\n\n``So, can we stop fighting now?''\n\n>The tapping stopped for only a moment.\n\n``Nope.''\n\n>Soon, the park echoed with the sound of hooves on the ground\n\n>The blue kaiju was on the move again. \n\n>Orchid was trying her best to stay confident but she still shuddered with every cold pang that continued to jolt through her from what little pieces were left on her.\n\n>Clearly she needed to get back to the basics.\n\n``Pretend like it's a jaeger...''\n\n>She muttered her thoughts aloud to herself as she pounced left and right in a serpentine dance, dodging phantom beams that could erupt at any moment.\n\n>Her pattern wasn't so much a zig-zag as it was like she was practicing ballet. \n\n>She glanced out of the corner of her eye, studying the way her perceived target was obviously just staring at her, trying to draw a bead.\n\n>In reality Gabby was just trying to figure out what in the world she was doing.\n\n>But that wasn't stopping Orchid from narrating her thoughts.\n\n``If I can just just disrupt the targeting system, I can stop the ice laser.''\n\n>''Ice beam!'' a distant voice corrected through a megaphone.\n\n>She probably only had one shot at this. \n\n>No, wait, that's it!\n\n>She skidded to a halt, dirt-caked hooves slipping over puddles and digging into what soaked grass remained.\n\n>Inwardly, she grimaced, but sacrificing the park grounds was the best option.\n\n>Literally, in this case.\n\n>Orchid flattened her tail and scooped it low into the dirt.\n\n>The tail lurched upwards and forwards into a flicking motion, starting from the tip of her dock to the sparkling end.\n\n``Mud toss!''\n\n>The shack-sized glob of mud took flight while an onlooker cried out.\n\n>''That's not what's it called!''\n\n>Unfortunately, Gabby was in too much of a daze from the kaiju's movements to defend herself.\n\n>The mud struck the hybrid right in the face.\n\n>Gabby staggered about the park grounds, using her forelegs to clear away the mud until she remembered that her hooves were even muddier.\n\n>She went back on all fours, using her horns instead.\n\n``Pffffbt pffbt pffbt! Muuud! Blech, it's in my mouth!''\n\n>Being partially made of goo was starting to have its drawbacks as she tried to wipe the mud from around her eyes, nose, and mouth.\n\n>She even went so far as to stick her tongue out and rapidly wipe away the taste of the grounds.\n\n>Her face was still coated in mud, but she could at least open her eyes.\n\n>The other kaiju had already crept close during the distraction.\n\n>Jotting that down mentally, Gabby looked around for something that she could use.\n\n>There were only so many things she could do before the city itself became at risk from her actions.\n\n>She wanted to pacify her quickly before things got that far.\n\n>During her lament, her eyes settled on a large tree, already-uprooted from Orchid's evasive maneuvers.\n\n>It was well within the reach of her retractable horns.\n\n>She saw the tree and instinctively seemed to know what she had to do next.\n\n>This must've been what leveling up was like.\n\n''Frenzy Plant!''\n\n``Frenzy wha-''\n\n>Orchid was cut off by a mouthful of vegetation.\n\n>The improvised plant slapped the kaiju across the face, the trunk landing with a solid thunk.\n\n>''It's super effective!''\n\n>The top half of the tree was left dangling like a broken bat.\n\n>Orchid reeled, hitting the ground with a heavy thump that shook what plants were still standing.\n\n>Any ice still affixed to her broke clean off from the impact.\n\n>Groaning and cradling her horn, she noticed a jeep sitting idle at the nearby edge of the park.\n\n``I'm getting pretty beat up here.''\n\n>''You have to keep going!''\n\n``I don't thi-''\n\n>''The guardian legion is on it's way!''\n\n``Yeah it's... that's...''\n\n>The kaiju trailed off uneasily. \n\n>Her snout scrunched up and her eyes narrowed.\n\n>''Um, commander, she called it the `defense corps'.''\n\n``...''\n\n>''Oh yeah. Those guys.''\n\n>Nubby, crocodilian teeth poked out from her frowning lips.\n\n``Are the jaegers moving in soon?''\n\n>''Yeah, we got moves like jagger.''\n\n>The kaiju glared at them in the most nonplussed way she could manage.\n\n``You have no idea who the defense corps is, do you?''\n\n>''Maaaybe?''\n\n>Gabby trotted across the grounds to the fallen kaiju.\n\n>She wore not a face of triumph, but one of concern.\n\n``Are you alright?''\n\n>Orchid flicked her ears incredulously.\n\n``What kind of kaiju are you?''\n\n``The not destructive, not rampagey kind?''\n\n>They each glanced at the thoroughly ruined landscape around them.\n\n>The park looked like more of a construction site, with trees, flowers and grass alike replaced with an ocean of mud and a lot of giant hoofprints.\n\n``I didn't know it was going to do that much damage... I was aiming for tiring you, not knocking you out.''\n\n``And I was just trying to stall for the mechs.''\n\n``Mechs?''\n\n>Orchid nodded as if this was the most sensible thing in the world.\n\n``Yeah, the jaegers are supposed to fight kaiju to protect humanity!''\n\n>Of course she said this with more than a little bit of pride, stamping one hoof into the dirt and sticking her chest out.\n\n``But... aren't you a kaiju?''\n\n``I just do training.''\n\n``With this `defense corps' of yours, right?''\n\n``I don't understand how any of you haven't heard of them by now.''\n\n>The hybrid shrugged.\n\n``Hopefully those mechs won't be needed, `cause I never intended to fight in the first place.''\n\n>Orchid cocked her head to the side, wet, alien hair slowly squirming.\n\n>Gabby thought for a moment before she panned a hoof behind her, at the actual city.\n\n>Aside from a few cracked windows, the buildings nearby were in good shape.\n\n>Well, as good a shape as having holes randomly torn out of you could leave a building in.\n\n``Do you recognize this city? `Cause I sure don't.''\n\n>She turned back to Orchid, frowning.\n\n``And nobody actually knows this `defense corps', right? I want to wager you're not familiar with this city either. Otherwise I'm sure I'd be swarmed by those mechs by now.''\n\n>The seahorse nodded her head, a slightly pained look on her face.\n\n>Obviously she wasn't comfortable with this realization either, but still, Gabby continued.\n\n``So neither of us know where we are, but... Something's still bugging me.''\n\n>Again her eyes locked with Orchid's.\n\n``You could've attacked the city, but you didn't, and you just said you were gonna fight me to save everyone.''\n\n>Gabby paused for a brief moment, idly pawing at the ground with one hoof.\n\n``If I were here to rampage, I would've already been doing it, and there'd be fewer buildings left standing before we'd cross paths.''\n\n>She could see Orchid tense slightly as if expecting her to make good on this.\n\n``Despite not knowing these people, you were willing to protect them and this city just as much as I was.''\n\n``Yeah, from you.''\n\n>Gabby pointed a hoof towards a nearby building with its fair share of holes in it.\n\n``I didn't do anything like this. I can't do anything like this. ...Can you?''\n\n>Orchid squints at the distant cookie-cutter missing section of a building.\n\n>Finally, something seems to click as her features literally light up.\n\n\"Almost.\"\n\n\"Almost?\"\n\n>Orchid stood, walked over to a still-standing park merry-go-round and lowered her head.\n\n\"NAM!\"\n\n>She pops her head back up, pieces of twisted metal poking out from her lips.\n\n>A news camera zooms in on Gabby making various disgusted and queasy faces as the viewers can hear Orchid chewing to the tune of groaning and breaking metal.\n\n``Nam nam nam nam...\"\n\n>Her eyes do manage to fall back on where the merry-go-round was.\n\n>Sure enough, the remnants of a bite mark in the remaining piece don't match what's virtually all over the nearby structures.\n\n>Although she wasn't putting that missing half-circle in the fence past the blue kaiju now.\n\n>Her gaze shifted beyond Orchid and the park's fence to the convoy of military troops just... sitting there?\n\n>She pointed at them with a forehoof.\n\n``...How long have they been there and why aren't they shooting at us?''\n\n>''It's fun to watch!''\n\n``Watch..?''\n\n>Gabby glanced past the convoy.\n\n>A van with ``Channel 7 DOX News'' printed on the side with obnoxiously red lettering was parked on the sidewalk.\n\n>Looking further away, she could see at least a dozen such trucks and vans positioned around the park and at least as many camera crews staring back.\n\n>She was beginning to feel a little self-conscious.\n\n>She fell back to a sitting position near the blue-gray horse.\n\n>It was the last anyone ever saw of the ``Tired? Try public benches! It's not just for hobos!'' bench.\n\n>The mayor felt a pang of joy at the demise of the last relic in a line of very poorly thought out city works advertisements, though Gabby merely sighed aloud.\n\n``I should've known the media would be all over this...''\n\n>One of the tank commanders nearby spoke up.\n\n>''You're giant, talking horses straight out of a bad B-movie; of course you're going to be on the news.''\n\n>''More like a fanfic of a fanfic that was a crossover between something really stupid, like ponies and-''\n\n>''Shut it, Nelson. Anyway, what did you expect us to do?''\n\n>Meanwhile, the bus convoy had snaked its way out of the park district, but it was certainly not a smooth ride.\n\n>Every big quake jostled vehicles and passengers alike.\n\n>The chief thought surely that one of the impacts would've caused them to flip.\n\n>Luckily, the only things that did get flipped were a few stomachs.\n\n>As the lead bus turned onto the road that would eventually take them towards the lab, the chief had a lot of thoughts to sort out.\n\n>After all, he was directly responsible for unleashing two monstrosities on the city.\n\n>But even before that realization, a million questions.\n\n>How did the portals bring them here?\n\n>How do we rebuild?\n\n>How much will it cost to rebuild?\n\n>Will this cost me my life's work?\n\n>What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?\n\n>How do we send them back?\n\n>As the busses began traveling the winding road to the lab, another, much more important realization crossed his mind.\n\n>He had no idea where in the lab he'd put all the rescued civilians. \n\n \n\n", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "----------------------------------------------------------Duel------------------------------------------------------------

>The park had seen prettier days.

>A quarter of a gazebo had vanished, leaving a growing pond in the center

>Large puddles were scattered across the soaked ground while the turtle pond splashed at the tallest edges of the shoreline.

>Splashing into one of those puddles was a large, lavender hoof.

>Gabby had looked down to negotiate the fence, and her face twisted as her hooves visibly sunk into the mushy ground.

>Looking back up, she saw that the source of the shaking she'd felt was standing there, mimicking her own wide-eyed stare.

>She looked over this other beast across the landscape from her.

>Like her, it seemed this creature was at least somewhat like a large horse.

>The mane and what she could see of the tail were tipped with glowing blue lights.

>Antennae protruding from its head also were glowing at their tips, petals open like new flowers while the cores were pointed at her.

>Between them was a large horn with that same electric blue spiraling its way up the cone.

>Its wide eyes were projecting the color onto her like a pair of floodlights.

>She could almost swear she could see that same glow coming from the creature's flanks, but she wasn't sure.

>The most worrying thing was that it seemed to have some kind of armor plating on it.

>Every times its ears moved she could see hardened panels across their backs.

>Right across the bridge of the nose was another, but more worrying were the hooves that each gave the same dull shean.

>Whatever it was, it looked like it was ready for battle.

>Something she hoped she didn't have to do today.

>Neither beast moved until Gabby noticed the way the other one's hair seemed to squirm on its own accord.

>Her face twisted as she entertained the thought that the beast's hair might be alive.

>She swallowed her anxiousness and took a deep breath.

''Nice to meet you, I'm Gabby and-''

>The blue kaiju huffed, standoffish with her adversary.

``-Orchid.''

``It's a pleasure.  I was wondering if--''

>The glowing creature was quick to cut her off with a flick of its tail.

''I know what you are. You're here to terrorize the city!''

>Gabby accusingly pointed a hoof towards the grey beast.

''Isn't that what you're doing?  I know I certainly didn't cause all this!''

>Orchid shook her head.

''I've never met another kaiju before, but I was taught that I should never listen to them if they tried to communicate.''

>Gabby frowned and curled her horns.

''Kai-ju? What? Wait, how do I know you're not the monster?''

``Because I'm the only kaiju with the defense corps.''

``Defense what-now?''

>The blue one stomped a hoof into the loamy soil.

``See? I knew it!''

``That's not enough proof! What if you just made that up?''

``Did not!''

``Did too!''

``Nuh uh!''

``Uh huh!''

>A safe distance away, a recon unit watches the `battle' unfold.

>Two sniper teams seem to be the main sets of eyes for the troops.

>Nonetheless, every soldier with a strong enough scope is watching intently.

>''My money's on the purple one.''

>''No way!  She doesn't look like she knows how to fight at all!  Mine's on the gray one.''

>Roughly half of the unit nod in agreement.

>''We still don't know what she's capable of.  My money's still on that one.  I've learned not to judge so quickly.''

>Surprisingly civilized discussion takes place among the troops as they look on.

``Did not!''

``Did too!''

>Unbeknownst to the two of them, a convoy of buses is trying to silently slip along the edges of the park.

>All of the passengers are plastered to the parkside windows looking at the two towering monsters bickering at each other like siblings.

>Neither kaiju remembering what an inside voice is is causing headaches for many of the riders and what onlookers peeked out through building windows.

>The city was otherwise silent as the never-ending echoing series of rebuttals dominated the soundwaves, blaring over sirens and radios alike.

>Gabby had been yelling until she was red in the face, her adversary sporting a strong blue tint across her cheeks as well.

``This isn't going anywhere!''

``You're using sound waves to attack the peace!''

>The lavender hybrid looked flabbergasted for a fraction of a second.

``Okay now I know you made that one up!''

>Orchid dug her hooves into the soil.

``I was warned about you.''

``By whom?''

``The Defense Corps.''

``There you go again...''

>The sea kaiju stomped a hoof for silence.

``I'm gonna save everyone!''

>Gabby nodded despite herself, until Orchid continued, that is.

``And to do that, I'm gonna take you down!''

``Wait wh--''

>She was again cut off by a series of thunderous booms as her would-be adversary went into a charge.

>If she were hit where she stood currently, it would be disastrous for both her and the buildings nearby.

>Angrily shaking her head, she too broke into a sprint, adding her own earth-shaking steps to the chaos.

>She didn't have far to dash as the blue one surged across the ground, tossing mud and flower beds into the air.

>The next move was quick with practiced efficiency.

>Orchid stopped before impact, digging furrows into the ground as she halted and spun around.

>The tail was brought to bear, prehensile strands balling together into a solid, brightly colored mass as they swung towards Gabby.

>The lavender horse's eyes went wide as Orchid executed her maneuver.

>Gabby quickly skidded to a halt, and slammed her hooves into the ground to brace for the impact.

>Surely her tail hairs couldn't hurt that much, right?

>Wrong.

>The bulk of the tail hairs struck her on her side.

>The blow nearly knocked the wind out of her, and certainly knocked her off her hooves.

>Her massive body hid the ground with a thud, and the momentum caused her to skid across the ground like a makeshift bulldozer.

>Grass and trees alike were either flung aside or mowed down beneath her.

>Skidding to a stop just shy of the bordering fence, one thing was on her mind.

>Whatever that was, it wasn't made of normal hair.

>She was back on her hooves in short order, and barred her teeth.

>Her side may have been bruised, but she wasn't going down that easily.

>She bounded off for her assailant once more, her thundering steps ringing against the tall buildings surrounding the park.

>Before reaching the kaiju, though, she reared back a forehoof for a punch aimed at the side of her face.

>While not a fist, Orchid was no stranger to the human art of a boxing match.

>Craning her neck to the opposite side, the oceangoing kaiju ducked into a sidestep, narrowly avoiding catching it on her nose as she slipped by.

>Her growled rebuttal came as a leg-sweep, a forehoof lurching forward and then to the side as she tried to catch Gabby off-balance.

>The attack hit its mark, and while it didn't hurt as much as the tail did, it sent her skidding and again nearly caused her to break through a boundary fence of the park.

>More upset at the fact that she nearly caused unintentional damage to the city for the second time within a few seconds.

>Gabby stood up again, wiping a bit of mud from her cheek, and started inhaling.

>At the same time, a blue orb was forming half inside, half outside her mouth, and it was rapidly growing bigger.

>Orchid blinked in confusion, and that hesitation cost her dearly.

>When the orb was jawbreaker sized to the hybrid pony, she exhaled forcefully.

>From it shot out a narrow sky blue beam, aimed square at the kaiju's chest.

>As close as they were, the stream struck point blank.

>The instant it made contact, Orchid yelped at the frostbitten pangs around where her neck melded with her chest.

>Instinctively, the blue kaiju tried to get away from it but the beam continued to pour ice across her as she hastily stepped back.

>Frost spilled across her front, the supercooled air creating a mist that wrapped around her and licked at her sides.

>The beam petered out a few short seconds later, leaving a shivering Orchid, wisps of cold trailing from a piece of ice affixed to her front like a medallion.

>Teeth chattering, the kaiju shook it off as best she could.

``What was that?!''

>The chilled kaiju was only dimly aware of someone calling out in the distance.

>''Holy shit, that was ice beam! It's just like my Japanese card games!''

>''I don't think it's supposed to be that big, though...''

>Gabby nodded in the direction of the shouting.

``That's right, or, that's at least what I've been calling it.''

>She then glanced in the correct direction, and her eyes went wide when they fell upon the busses.

>She wondered internally what all those busses were doing in a line, and so close to the two of them, for that matter.

>She started softly trotting away from the bus line, and the edge of the park.

>The would-be defender was taken aback.

>If they already knew about it then obviously the military's intelligence was on par today.

``Now, could you just...''

>Gabby was already snickering, a playful grin tugging at her mouth.

``...chill out?''

>Somewhere in the distance, someone hollered.

>The opponent would have made a retort, but she was too busy testing the icicle splattered across her chest.

>An uncontrollable shiver twitched underneath Orchid's nose plate as she tapped the cold formation with the hard edge of her hoof disbelievingly.

>A series of loud ``tink'' noises echoed over the park.

>She looked back up at Gabby, eyes wide.

''You shot ice at me!''

>The goodra-pony exhaled, a few trailing cold vapors visible but rapidly fading.

>She shrugged.

``It's a thing I can do.''

>Gabby donned a thoughtful expression for the time being.

>It certainly wasn't a thing she could do more than once.

>It--no, she--might dodge it, and then what?

>It would be catastrophe if it struck a building.

>A rapid banging distracted her from imagining a frozen skyscraper.

>Orchid tried to chip away at the ice with another hard hoof.

>Gabby decided to make use of the precious seconds while her opponent was busy.

``So, can we stop fighting now?''

>The tapping stopped for only a moment.

``Nope.''

>Soon, the park echoed with the sound of hooves on the ground

>The blue kaiju was on the move again.

>Orchid was trying her best to stay confident but she still shuddered with every cold pang that continued to jolt through her from what little pieces were left on her.

>Clearly she needed to get back to the basics.

``Pretend like it's a jaeger...''

>She muttered her thoughts aloud to herself as she pounced left and right in a serpentine dance, dodging phantom beams that could erupt at any moment.

>Her pattern wasn't so much a zig-zag as it was like she was practicing ballet.

>She glanced out of the corner of her eye, studying the way her perceived target was obviously just staring at her, trying to draw a bead.

>In reality Gabby was just trying to figure out what in the world she was doing.

>But that wasn't stopping Orchid from narrating her thoughts.

``If I can just just disrupt the targeting system, I can stop the ice laser.''

>''Ice beam!'' a distant voice corrected through a megaphone.

>She probably only had one shot at this.

>No, wait, that's it!

>She skidded to a halt, dirt-caked hooves slipping over puddles and digging into what soaked grass remained.

>Inwardly, she grimaced, but sacrificing the park grounds was the best option.

>Literally, in this case.

>Orchid flattened her tail and scooped it low into the dirt.

>The tail lurched upwards and forwards into a flicking motion, starting from the tip of her dock to the sparkling end.

``Mud toss!''

>The shack-sized glob of mud took flight while an onlooker cried out.

>''That's not what's it called!''

>Unfortunately, Gabby was in too much of a daze from the kaiju's movements to defend herself.

>The mud struck the hybrid right in the face.

>Gabby staggered about the park grounds, using her forelegs to clear away the mud until she remembered that her hooves were even muddier.

>She went back on all fours, using her horns instead.

``Pffffbt pffbt pffbt!  Muuud! Blech, it's in my mouth!''

>Being partially made of goo was starting to have its drawbacks as she tried to wipe the mud from around her eyes, nose, and mouth.

>She even went so far as to stick her tongue out and rapidly wipe away the taste of the grounds.

>Her face was still coated in mud, but she could at least open her eyes.

>The other kaiju had already crept close during the distraction.

>Jotting that down mentally, Gabby looked around for something that she could use.

>There were only so many things she could do before the city itself became at risk from her actions.

>She wanted to pacify her quickly before things got that far.

>During her lament, her eyes settled on a large tree, already-uprooted from Orchid's evasive maneuvers.

>It was well within the reach of her retractable horns.

>She saw the tree and instinctively seemed to know what she had to do next.

>This must've been what leveling up was like.

''Frenzy Plant!''

``Frenzy wha-''

>Orchid was cut off by a mouthful of vegetation.

>The improvised plant slapped the kaiju across the face, the trunk landing with a solid thunk.

>''It's super effective!''

>The top half of the tree was left dangling like a broken bat.

>Orchid reeled, hitting the ground with a heavy thump that shook what plants were still standing.

>Any ice still affixed to her broke clean off from the impact.

>Groaning and cradling her horn, she noticed a jeep sitting idle at the nearby edge of the park.

``I'm getting pretty beat up here.''

>''You have to keep going!''

``I don't thi-''

>''The guardian legion is on it's way!''

``Yeah it's... that's...''

>The kaiju trailed off uneasily.

>Her snout scrunched up and her eyes narrowed.

>''Um, commander, she called it the `defense corps'.''

``...''

>''Oh yeah. Those guys.''

>Nubby, crocodilian teeth poked out from her frowning lips.

``Are the jaegers moving in soon?''

>''Yeah, we got moves like jagger.''

>The kaiju glared at them in the most nonplussed way she could manage.

``You have no idea who the defense corps is, do you?''

>''Maaaybe?''

>Gabby trotted across the grounds to the fallen kaiju.

>She wore not a face of triumph, but one of concern.

``Are you alright?''

>Orchid flicked her ears incredulously.

``What kind of kaiju are you?''

``The not destructive, not rampagey kind?''

>They each glanced at the thoroughly ruined landscape around them.

>The park looked like more of a construction site, with trees, flowers and grass alike replaced with an ocean of mud and a lot of giant hoofprints.

``I didn't know it was going to do that much damage...  I was aiming for tiring you, not knocking you out.''

``And I was just trying to stall for the mechs.''

``Mechs?''

>Orchid nodded as if this was the most sensible thing in the world.

``Yeah, the jaegers are supposed to fight kaiju to protect humanity!''

>Of course she said this with more than a little bit of pride, stamping one hoof into the dirt and sticking her chest out.

``But... aren't you a kaiju?''

``I just do training.''

``With this `defense corps' of yours, right?''

``I don't understand how any of you haven't heard of them by now.''

>The hybrid shrugged.

``Hopefully those mechs won't be needed, `cause I never intended to fight in the first place.''

>Orchid cocked her head to the side, wet, alien hair slowly squirming.

>Gabby thought for a moment before she panned a hoof behind her, at the actual city.

>Aside from a few cracked windows, the buildings nearby were in good shape.

>Well, as good a shape as having holes randomly torn out of you could leave a building in.

``Do you recognize this city? `Cause I sure don't.''

>She turned back to Orchid, frowning.

``And nobody actually knows this `defense corps', right?  I want to wager you're not familiar with this city either.  Otherwise I'm sure I'd be swarmed by those mechs by now.''

>The seahorse nodded her head, a slightly pained look on her face.

>Obviously she wasn't comfortable with this realization either, but still, Gabby continued.

``So neither of us know where we are, but...  Something's still bugging me.''

>Again her eyes locked with Orchid's.

``You could've attacked the city, but you didn't, and you just said you were gonna fight me to save everyone.''

>Gabby paused for a brief moment, idly pawing at the ground with one hoof.

``If I were here to rampage, I would've already been doing it, and there'd be fewer buildings left standing before we'd cross paths.''

>She could see Orchid tense slightly as if expecting her to make good on this.

``Despite not knowing these people, you were willing to protect them and this city just as much as I was.''

``Yeah, from you.''

>Gabby pointed a hoof towards a nearby building with its fair share of holes in it.

``I didn't do anything like this.  I can't do anything like this.  ...Can you?''

>Orchid squints at the distant cookie-cutter missing section of a building.

>Finally, something seems to click as her features literally light up.

"Almost."

"Almost?"

>Orchid stood, walked over to a still-standing park merry-go-round and lowered her head.

"NAM!"

>She pops her head back up, pieces of twisted metal poking out from her lips.

>A news camera zooms in on Gabby making various disgusted and queasy faces as the viewers can hear Orchid chewing to the tune of groaning and breaking metal.

``Nam nam nam nam..."

>Her eyes do manage to fall back on where the merry-go-round was.

>Sure enough, the remnants of a bite mark in the remaining piece don't match what's virtually all over the nearby structures.

>Although she wasn't putting that missing half-circle in the fence past the blue kaiju now.

>Her gaze shifted beyond Orchid and the park's fence to the convoy of military troops just... sitting there?

>She pointed at them with a forehoof.

``...How long have they been there and why aren't they shooting at us?''

>''It's fun to watch!''

``Watch..?''

>Gabby glanced past the convoy.

>A van with ``Channel 7 DOX News'' printed on the side with obnoxiously red lettering was parked on the sidewalk.

>Looking further away, she could see at least a dozen such trucks and vans positioned around the park and at least as many camera crews staring back.

>She was beginning to feel a little self-conscious.

>She fell back to a sitting position near the blue-gray horse.

>It was the last anyone ever saw of the ``Tired? Try public benches! It's not just for hobos!'' bench.

>The mayor felt a pang of joy at the demise of the last relic in a line of very poorly thought out city works advertisements, though Gabby merely sighed aloud.

``I should've known the media would be all over this...''

>One of the tank commanders nearby spoke up.

>''You're giant, talking horses straight out of a bad B-movie; of course you're going to be on the news.''

>''More like a fanfic of a fanfic that was a crossover between something really stupid, like ponies and-''

>''Shut it, Nelson. Anyway, what did you expect us to do?''

>Meanwhile, the bus convoy had snaked its way out of the park district, but it was certainly not a smooth ride.

>Every big quake jostled vehicles and passengers alike.

>The chief thought surely that one of the impacts would've caused them to flip.

>Luckily, the only things that did get flipped were a few stomachs.

>As the lead bus turned onto the road that would eventually take them towards the lab, the chief had a lot of thoughts to sort out.

>After all, he was directly responsible for unleashing two monstrosities on the city.

>But even before that realization, a million questions.

>How did the portals bring them here?

>How do we rebuild?

>How much will it cost to rebuild?

>Will this cost me my life's work?

>What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?

>How do we send them back?

>As the busses began traveling the winding road to the lab, another, much more important realization crossed his mind.

>He had no idea where in the lab he'd put all the rescued civilians.

 

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