1. Marksaline the Necromorph Queen

The Ishimura, save Sunset Shimmer 7/?

State of player:

》Sunset Shimmer《
Suit level 1 = 12 inventory slots (base suit)
Magic Cutter - No upgrades, currently 10 shots total. 5/10 loaded with weapons capacity of 10 and 5 shots ready to be loaded.
11/12 inventory spaces are free.

》Marksaline《
Suit level 1 = 12 inventory slots (base suit)
No weapons, but can perform surprisingly effective finishes on normal Slashers and Leapers. Takes half a RIG life bracket damage if the target is not stasis effected.
12/12 inventory spaces are free.
The Slasher blades collected are stored in her mission inventory space because she can...

》Nightmare Moon《
Suit level 1 = 12 inventory slots (base suit)
Nail rifle - No upgrades, currently 50/50 capacity in ammunition loaded. No reload in inventory stored.
One medium healing stored in Inventory.
11/12 inventory spaces are free.

》Luna《
Suit level 1 = 12 inventory slots (base suit)
Nail rifle - No upgrades, currently 50/50 capacity in ammunition loaded. No reload in inventory stored.
12/12 inventory spaces are free.

》Cadance 《
Suit level 1 = 12 inventory slots (base suit)
Nail rifle - No upgrades, currently 00/50 capacity in ammunition loaded. No reload in inventory stored.
12/12 inventory spaces are free.

They noticed that a 'Workbench' was resting in a nearby seperate room. They watched as Nightmare activated it and in response it showed that her personal items could be upgraded. Her RIG showed:

Very interesting was a available overview how a full upgraded RIG would be looking in comparison:

She could upgraded with her own upgrade nodes her owned items. Once a node was installed the item was permanently marked for a player, it still could be used by others but no longer be affecting its performance. It was temporarily swappable, but noone could upgrade the stuff from another player as one of the compromises Discord and their mysterious enemy had made up.

Her nail gun was without upgrade opportunities.

When Sunset Shimmer approached the terminal of the 'Workbench' and activated it, where she laid her 'Magic Cutter' on it and watched as the upgrade screen appeared updated before her.
Her screen showed the 'Magic Cutter' on default:

As well as full upgraded in a preview:

When Nightmare buy a Flamethrower for Sunset as a gift, did it suddenly appeared on her 'Workbench selection'.
The default Flamethrower showed:

Full upgraded would the Flamethrower look like:

Luna spoke up:
"The weapon upgrades will drastically improve our chances of survival, providing statistical boosts as well as alternative modes of fire."

Discord cut in:
"To make it more challenging i intended for you to tracking down the best weapon upgrades. Since the Necromorphs are now questionable intelligent since they are guided by a sapient and unpredictable and creative individual, is it vital to even out the playing field."

Cadance really was unsettled to fight sentient enemys, but guided by something sapient made her almost break out in sweat.

"Since every confrontation could be lethal, as to standing a chance against the endless seeming tide of Necromorphs on the Ishimura, your getting them all fully stocked and have only to find them on your journey as you all struggle to not get eliminated."

Discord generously told them.

"Em... thanks i guess?" Did Cadance with a questionable shaking voice thanked him.

Discord continued:

"The weapon upgrades of all carried with you tools, can be accessed at 'any Workbench'. Each upgrade reaches with nodes also gifts you with an additional reloading if you fit a capacity upgrade with at least one use left."
Discord had some smugness to his voice at that.

"O come ooooonnnnn!" Did a voice sounded from somewhere in the Ishimura sounding suspiciously like Sunset Shimmer, just slightly distorted.

Discord gleefully continued:
"You can find ordinarily some upgrade nodes scattered throughout the Ishimura. They are quite rare to come by outside of purchasing them from the shop, so it is important to use them wisely if you are looking to upgrade your weapons to their full potential."

Everyone noded to that with Fluffelpuff mimicking them out of herd mentality.

"Without further ado, go explore the Ishimura in a rather linear experience since we are short on time.
This is shaping up to be one of the most intense dream realm adventures you will all experience either way!"

Did Discord out of place cheerful declared what confused the adults, while the foals cheered because it sounded fitting.

"But before you actually go-"
Apparently Discord still had something to say so the herd stayed and listened:

"As you noticed each tool turned weapon has a unique upgrade path with nodes to improve damage, ammo capacity, reload time, and rate of fire. Unlocking the weapon upgrades requires inserting the 'Power Nodes' adjacent to one another. This allows you to extend the branches of the upgrade path accordingly.
I will make it rather simple for you since noone of you is actually a engineering prodigy, so just follow the places it shows on the magical illusion before you display on the Workbench.

In addition to the unlocking of weaponized tools with upgrade nodes, did you have nothing to worry about else.
They will not break down under any circumstances and work properly as long you don't have a uncomplet reloaded tool, because you get interrupted while reloading.

They might cost a little time to complet, but since i keep this all rather linear and simple you can't really complain about it being unfair.

It would be rather worthwhile the effort to practice reloading. Unloading a not emptied ammunition unit will get automatically stored in your inventory. You can reload you weapons even when they are full, but remember to complet the reloading sequence or you find yourself unable to use it.

Also the ammunition cases look very distinctive so you can’t really mistake them for something else, still i let them blink occationaly in a magical glow. So keeping a eye out for hidden stuff would be highly recommended. Somehow i know the fillys going to enjoy this aspect of gaining stuff to use."

Despite the lethal situation, did the fillys looked forward to a good easter egg hunt, just with stuff other than actual eggs...

Discord was still not done wasting time with good informational stuff:

"The upgrades can range from a considerable increase to a particular statistical thing like damage or gaining special effects as incendiary ammo that can make a huge difference to how combat plays out over time.
After all time spend reloading in combat can cost you more than time, yet if the enemy is set on fire even running away screaming has its time and place."

That joke was so bad noone chuckled, so Discord continued before it become to awkward:

"The weapon upgrades nodes can be found throughout the Ishimura as you complete Sunsets mental rescue mission. They can be identified from afar by the yellow light they emit, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble picking them out in the darkness.

So take your time checking out every conor of a room and you might get a nice freebie."

The entity complaint about next time checking the rule set before blindly agreeing to generally taking it as it was intended before taking part in it...

Apparently did Discord was on a role, so he give some examples:

"Magic Cutter – Heat Accumulator: Makes the enemy burn on its hit appendages. Very useful to make it stiffen up, when the flesh burns to charcoal.
Unfortunately will the smell be something you will have to ignore..."

The fillys had a feeling that they might have to struggle to keep their cookies in them.
Until Discord reminded them if they collect cookies until they are in cleaned roomes and than eat them, they spare themselves time taking helmets off and on again and with the air filtration installed in them, smells would keep the mostly unaffected as long they keep their helmets on.

Discord had one last thing to say about the Flamethrower before he leave them for the time be and resumed fixing everything in the background, while everyone struggle for their goals:

"The Flamethrower – Gellified Hydrazine: Once it was reached with a upgrade node, would it burn hotter and burn longer."

He calmed Lunas worries down about setting one another on fire.
Weapon 'Friendly Fire' was impossible on their herd, surprisingly was the enemy entity the one insisting on it.

That surprised everycreature and they wondered who exactly the enemy commanding the Necromorph actually was...

Discord continued:

"The Flamethrower – Macroliter Fuel Tank: Once reached via Workbench improvments the capacity would increase a lot and decrease reloading necessary mid combat thanks to the fuel neededing longer to be spended.

The Flamethrower – High-Pressure Nozzle: Would effectively double the range enemies have to fear being set on fire. It also helped spray the area wider with the burnable substance the advanced tool could hit with every spraying."

Now did still was to decide what to buy from the Shop.

Everypony designed as player had with exception of Nightmare Moon 55.500 Credits at their disposal. With one found 'Upgrade Node' by Fluffelpuff that stack up to everyponys count on upgrade nodes count that could be seperately and individually spend.

What would they spend it on?

~~Readers might make suggestions that i will probably follow.~~
~~So:~~
~~What would you make the herd spend all their money on?~~

~~Outside upgrade nodes that get collected anyway, trade in items later is highly likely.~~
~~So one charater could carry theoretical all medical supplies, while the rest carries ammunition.~~

~~Just keep in mind to leave 1-2 slots free for loot encounter during their adventure!~~

Author's Note

100 story like special!
Thanks for leaving a like behind after reading ♡

Have a wonderful month and enjoy the next time the story get a new addition:

Stay snuggly ♡

Last time edited:
07.01.2024