After mounting a group of mechs the changlings move them outside of the facility to begin testing the controls. They test the motors and servos as well as the weapons systems, creating large explosions in the distance. A passerby Kal retrofit, known by his friends as R3D33M3R sees these explosions while searching the ruins for scrap metal and materials for his inventions. He decides to investigate, overhearing a conversation.
Crysilis: with weapons such as this my army shall be unstoppable!
Crysilis: now to take my revenge on those Equestrian fools!
ORB: shall i order the troops onto the drop ships?
chrysilis: what is that then?
ORB: an aerial vehicle which can move assault mechs onto the battlefield.
chrysilis: aerial as in it can fly?
ORB: yes it can travel of great distances and hold up to 32 metric tons of cargo.
chrysilis: yes we shall attack equestria at once! Order everyone to operate the machines.
changling gaurd: at once your highness.
*warning enemy technology detected activating autopilot*
changling: what is going on i can’t control it!
The mech begins to target Kal, he begins to flee for his bike as he tries to escape. As he starts up his bike the weapon charges slowly building to firing capacity. he races off into the distance as the weapon discharges a single round missing the bike just narrowly.
ORB: system report indicates that enemy technology was detected inside of that pony's body. But that technology was destroyed long ago... *he whispers to himself*
chrysilis: what are you blabbering on about now.
ORB: your highness might i suggest another action. a field test of your combat unit.
chrysilis: and where do you suggest we test them.
ORB: follow the trail left behind by the vehicle. We may find enemy forces that you could test them on.
*ORB whispers to himself* could it be they survived... it doesn’t matter i will crush them none the less.
chrysilis: Changlings! We march to victory!
The changlings board a transport and head in the direction of the trail. Soon Kal has returned to his town near the center of the ruins of the brotherhoods city. he meets with the leaders to discuss what he had witnessed.
Kal: council! council! i have a matter of grave importance to speak about!
counicl member: let him through...
*he enters the council chamber*
Kal: they are back! the MAL have returned!
council member: the MAL are relics of a time long since past. they havent existed in ages.
Kal: then explain how i saw a war mech in the ruins of the factory that nearly killed me.
council member: you enetered the forbiden area!
Kal: yes its the best place to find what i need. if i hadnt we wouldnt know about them until it was too late!
*a gaurd sounds the alarm*
gaurd: enemy incoming! prepare to recieve!
Kal: SEE! i was right!
council member: you dont know if that is what you saw. it could simply be raiders.
*a whistling sound begins from the distance followed by a massive explosion*
*random screams come from the town*
citizen: the MAL their back! run for your lives!
Kal: if you wont do anything about it then i will!
Kal runs to his lab searching for weapons to arm the gaurds with but cannot find any. the battle continues to rage until the town is destroyed and all that remains is the flaming ruins of metal and charred bodies. Kal manages to survive after being locked in his lab by debrie falling infront of his door. he is able to force the door open after applying great force. he searches the town for survivors but does not manage to find anyone for quite some time. finally he hears a scream for help come from a house across the ally. it was his friend R4Y who had becoming trapped under a support beam. using his mechanical jack he lifts the beam high enough for her to sqeeze from under.
R4Y slides from under the wreckage, attempting to gain her bearings.
Kal: are you alright?
R4Y: yes im fine, what happened?
Kal: we were attacked by the MAL.
R4Y: but i thought they were a myth!
Kal: they are very much real. i saw them in the forbidden area.
R4Y: dont you remember what happened to you last time you went out there?
Kal: yes, but thats beside the point we need to get out of here and warn some place i heard them talking about.
some place called equestria.
R4Y: ive visited a village outside the outlands they mentioned that place before. i think we can find it north of the outlands but we should find the others... hopefully they survived.
Kal: agreed lets move.
R4Y and Kal search the ruined town trying to find survivors and search for their friends. Dr0n3 the seer was in his typical spot under the temple, and Cru5h3r was found removing wreckage from the gates along with other survivors.
they joined at the gate to finish removing the debrie as Kal prepared an improvised form of transport.
Cru5h3r: thats the last of it! hows that tank coming.
Kal: its not a tank its an armoured personel transport.
Cru5h3r: it at least can destroy stuff cant it?
Kal: of course it can, i wouldnt build it without the ability to defend in this situation.
Cru5h3r: good i thought you were going soft over there.
Dr0n3: those without sight seldom fight the true fight.
Kal: yea thats normally the case Dr0n3.
R4Y: i think he means those who dont plan ahead are in trouble.
Kal: how do you understand him?
R4Y: its a gift.
*she smiles in satisfaction*
Kal: well lets get a move on their already far ahead of us.
*they climb into the APT and start the engine*
Cru5h3r: can we catch them in this thing?
Kal: just wait and see, this thing will surprise you...
*they drive into the the desert heading north west*
* after 20 minutes or so Cru5h3r begins to become impatient*
Cru5h3r: im waiting to be surprised Kal...
* kal smirks as he lifts the cover of a button on the control panel*
Kal: well then i think ive kept you waiting enough. here we go!
Kal pushes a button on the control panel, the APT begins to shift as the frame changes. four engines emerge from the sides of the vehicle and start to cycle up.the onboard computer begins to warn them. *prepare for take off in 3... 2... 1...*
Kal: HANG ON!!
*primary ignition engaged*
the speed of the craft increases dramaticly as the engines ignite. the group begins to scream with the eception of Kal who cheers for it to continue. they pass by the 3 airships in a swift motion and hurtle into the distance.
R4Y: cant we slow down now! we passed them minutes ago!
Kal: sure... kill the fun why dont you.
Cru5h3r: im gonna be sick...
Kal: fine.
*computer* engines: offline. switching to primary transport.
the distance they had traveled in the last 10 minutes had put them beyond the border of the outlands and into the lands south of Eternity's crossing. despite going so far they did not have enough power to make the long trip across the sea. the group exits the transport and attempt to remain stable on solid ground, feeling as if it spins below them. kal checks the transports engines and fuel tank after seeing smoke rise from under it.
*Kal checks the engine of the APT*
Kal: well we've run out of power but the converter matrix is still useable.
Cru5h3r: English captian brainiac...
Kal: the "tank" is fried and now we need a new means of transport. thank fully i created another device before creating the vehicle, it can help us get across the sea but its very unreliable.
Cru5h3r: you dont mean that hole maker thing do you? that thing always make me dizzy when you use it...
Kal: the Rift Energy Manipulator isnt a hole maker it tears the fabric of space and folds it into a singularity.
Cru5h3r: uhhhh....
Kal: OK I MAKE A HOLE!
R4Y: but dont you need the coordinates for the exit portal?
Kal: yea but i can compinsate using the NavCom from the transport.
R4Y: this will be one interesting trip...
an hour later after attaching serveral components and inputing coordinates the device was ready.
Kal: there its finished. everyone ready?
dr0n3: with doubt we find ourselves in question.
Kal: ill take that as a yes for him. you two ready?
Cru5h3r: im gonna regret this, but yes.
R4Y: always...
Kal: here goes!
*the device emits a beam of light and a rift is created on the ground*
*they jump into the vortex screaming as they travel within*
they fall into the abyss, it seemed to go on for longer than the time that passed when in reality it was merely moments.
after reaching the end, they had finally made it, they had arrived ... but where?
the group of four exited abruptly from the vortex, they quickly realized they were above ground level and were falling. they landed on a hard surface as they fell nearly 7 feet in the air.
Kal: *muffled* could you please get off me Cru5h3r...
Cru5h3r: sorry... i was wondering what broke my fall.
Kal: that was my spine.
R4Y: well that coulda been smoother.
Dr0n3: a fall of hieght is only as far as the distance you fall.
Kal: translation R4Y?
R4Y: even im not sure about that one.
Cru5h3r: ummm... are we in somepony's house?
outside they heard singing, the sounds appeared to be of a mare. the house was rather tidy and appeared to be in the woods. as they looked out the window they saw a mare with a light pink mane and yellow complection, with a mark on its thigh that they'd never seen before. the pony was moving towards the house humming to herself.
R4Y: oh no this cant be good! were inside her house!
Kal: hide!
Cru5h3r: too late her she comes!
*the door opens softly*
the pony entered the house only to find that 4 mysterious visitors were inside. she quickly froze in fear, with a quick jet of her wings she darted from the door in the direction she had come from.
Kal: oh brother... this cant be good.
Cru5h3r: that seemed to go over well. now we can get the heck out of here.
R4Y: your right we should leave NOW!
Kal: your right we need to find Equestria and warn them.
as the pony was fleeing from her home she shortly ran into another, with a rainbow mane and blue tone. the collision knocked them both from the air.
Rainbow dash: fluttershy? whats got you running in such a hurry?
Fluttershy: b-b-b-b-b...
Rainbow dash: calm down fluttershy... tell me what you saw?
Fluttershy: four ponies... in my house! ran away!
Rainbow dash: so you saw four ponies in your house that you didnt know?
*fluttershy nods her head*
Rainbow dash: well we'll lets go find them and ask them who they are...
*fluttershy begins to run away again but rainbow dash grabs her tail*
Rainbow dash: come on fluttershy... its your house! besides im here, no one will hurt you.
the two travel back to fluttershy's cottage posthaste. as they reach the cottage they see the group leaving, rainbow dash begins to chase after them as fluttershy stayed where she was. within seconds Rainbow dash had caught up to them and jumped in their way.
Rainbow dash: OK now who are you and what are you doing sneaking around fluttershy's cottage!?
Kal: ma'am that was an honest mistake... you see we were traveling and we...
Rainbow dash: traveling? why would you travel through somepony's house? sounds suspicious to me!
Kal: would you stop interupting so i can explain!
Rainbow dash: i supose so...
Kal: thank you. now as i was saying... we are traveling, searching for a place called Equestria to warn them.
Rainbow dash: well you in Equestria, and warn? warn about what?
R4Y: theres a group of enemy soldiers coming to attack your land! we need to speak with your leader!
Dr0n3: the leader is known to be celestia to us.
Kal: do you knwo where we can find her?
Rainbow dash: ummm im pretty sure you should talk to twilight about this. but quick question why were u in fluttershy's cottage?
Kal: long story short... my machine had a set of coordinates and it landed us in her house.
Rainbow dash: uh huh... well follow me we'll find twilight and tell her what you know.
they back tracked to the cottage and picked up fluttershy who was reluctant to travel with them. they reached ponyville and quickly found twilights house. the ponies of ponyville all stared at the group as they had never seen an outland pony or any pony that looked quite like they did.
Rainbow dash: wait here...
*she knocked on the door*
Twilight: hey Rainbow dash what brings you here.
*she quickly sees the unusual group behind rainbow dash*
Twilight: let me geuss the ponies behind you?
Rainbow dash: yea they say they need to warn the princess about something.
Twilight: warn her? warn her about what?
rainbow dash: ill let them explain.
*she waves for them to move forward*
Kal: hello. my name is Kal, we come from the outlands with an important warning. a power enemy is coming to attack this place we need to warn the princess.
is there any thing you can do to help us reach her?
twilight: well... i could write her a letter but im not sure if she will read it soon.
Twilight: i could take us all to the castle using my magic but...
Kal: *kal interupts her* did you say magic?
Twilight: yes?
Kal: thats not possible... magic is a bunch of nonsense.
Twilight: youve never seen magic?
Kal: where we come from there is no such thing as magic.
Twilight: i noticed you dont have a cutie mark either. you dont have a set of skills either?
Cru5h3r: of course we have skills, and whats a cutie mark?
*twilight points to her thigh*
Twilight: everypony has one. after they find their true talent of course.
R4Y: so you can do magic huh? prove it!
Twilight: *she lifts herself into the air using her horns magic* that satisfy you?
R4Y: pfft i can do that...
*her hooves begin to glow blueish green and she jumps into the air ladning on an invisible surface*
Twilight: but you dont have a horn? how are you doing that!
R4Y: its my ability. we all have one.
Cru5h3r: i can lift heavy objects.
*Cru5h3r digs his hooves into the ground and lifts a large section of it above his head*
Kal: i can manipulate technology with only gestures and thought.
*he dissasembles his REM without touching it and quickly reassembles it*
Dr0n3: the future is seen thou vague i may be.
R4Y: and i can change the density of objects to make them lighter of heavier like the air to make it a solid surface.
Twilight: okaaay now that thats out of the way we should probly get going to see the princess...
Kal: using your "magic" correct?
Twilight: yes. now stand close to me everyone.
they all huddle around twilight as her horn begins to glow. in a flash of purple light they are taken from infront of the tree to just outside the gate of the castle in Canterlot.
Kal: ok now ive seen everything...
Twilight: what?
*the gates open and a group of royal gaurd emerge*
Shining armour: twilie? is that you!?
*we waves for the gaurd to stand down*
twilight: hello brother! i have urgent news for the princess, can we see her?
Shining armour: of course! she is waiting in the main hall. but may i ask who the others in your group are?
Twilight: they say they are from the outlands, but ive never heard of such a place. they have come to warn us of an attack.
Shining armour: another one? it was only 3 weeks ago that we stopped the changlings.
Kal: excuse me but could you describe these "changlings" to me?
Twilight: they are black with wings and horns similar to an alicorn but they feed on love. to be honest you coat looks alot like theirs.
Kal: i think the ponies who you just described are the ones coming to attack you.
Celestia: what did you say? you saw changlings?
Kal: yes but only for a moment. they were in the forbiden area in the outlands among the ruins of the factory.
Celestia: please tell me what you have seen stranger, you have traveled quite far to tell me this.
Kal informs the princess of what he had seen and tells her of the power the machines possess. hearing of the destruction they caused to their town, she begins to question him of how they arrived and the capabilities each of the four in the group. after a long story and the princess explaining what she knows of the outlands they reach a final descission. they must fight the invading army to survive.
Celestia: havent much time. if they are as fast as you say they are we may already be too late.
Kal: how can we help you majesty?
Celestia: my sister and i will attempt to erect a barrier of magic around the whole of Equestria, but this will require all our strength.
Kal: do you have any metal or ruined technology that we could use?
Celestia: im not sure what you mean by technology but we have metal beneath the castle. do you require a blacksmith?
Kal: leave it to us, we can help you we just need to reach the place you have the metal.
Celestia: shining armour take them to the caves and assist them however you can. Twilight go back to ponyville and gather the others along with the elements of harmony.
Twilight: yes ma'am. *she teleports away*
Celestia: gaurds gather your forces we need everyones help.
Gaurd: right away your majesty!
the princesses begin to create a magical barrier around the whole of Equestria. the gaurds assemble in the court yard and send messengers to the towns. shining armour escorts the group swiftly through the caves to the deposit of metal and scrap below. twilight gathers her friends and the elements of harmony teleporting back to Canterlot as soon as she retrieved them all. as they prepared the drop ships had arrived just beyond the border of Equestria, waiting to land and begin their assault...
Changling: they have created a barrier. what now?
Chrysilis: so they know that we are coming. DESTROY IT!
ORB: arming primary cannons. cannons armed and operational. fire when ready.
Changling: what button is fire?
ORB: uggghhh..... the red one.
Changling: Oh found it.
*Chrysilis puts her hoof over her face in embaressment*
* the cannons fire at the large glowing barrier of magic pounding against it with explosive fury*
ORB: cannons are ineffective against the barrier, power drain currently at 15%. advising landing procedure to reduce power consumption.
Chrysilis: yes let us land and bring out the machines.
* the dropship lands just beyond the barrier and opens its rear hatch*
Chrysilis: move those machines to the barrier and attack it.
Changling: yes you highness.
*the mechs move into position and begin to assault the barrier using their arms*
* as they swing at the barrier they pass through as if it did not exist*
Chrysilis: what going on?
ORB: it appears that the assault mechs are able to physically pass through the barrier. this is strange as the cannons had no effect against it.
Scanning for further data.
*ORB uses his high frequency scanner to assurtain what the barrier is made from*
ORB: it appears that the barrier blocks only energy from being transfered across it and not physical objects. it appears to have similar qualities to an energy deflector rather than a shield.
Chrysilis: so it stops magic from passing but not machines?
ORB: magic is an irrelivant concept as it does not exist.
Chrysilis: magic does exist i use it myself. it stopped us from taking over this place once before and sent me hurtling into the distance only to land in that forsaken desert.
ORB: so that is your origin. i wondered what compelled you to seek the facility, it seems you stumbled apon it be accident.
Chrysilis: yes, but now that we can pass the barrier we can take my revenge upon this land.
ORB: since my creators are ong since past and you appear to have similar ambitions as my former masters i will serve you.
Chrysilis: you loyalty is appreciated, now order the troops to move forward and destroy everything in their path. burn it to the ground.
ORB: orders recieved units are now moving.
the mechines begin their march towards Canterlot destroying everything they came across and clearing the forests in their wake. they shook the very ground as they marched and dredged along the ground. village after village, town after town they marched destroying it all. the gaurds of each were helpless to stop them magic had no effect against the metallic shell of the machines. meanwhile in the caves beneath canterlot, Kal and his team were busy creating machines of their own.
Kal: systems test nominal. unit 02 is ready for test.
R4Y: yay my mech is ready! time for a test drive!
Kal: just try not to wreck it... it took me an hour to build that thing...
R4Y: quit your whining im not gonna wreck it... again.
*a purple shadow appears from the wall materializing into a solid form*
Kal: Luna? is that you?
Luna: tis i indeed, i see you progress is moving along nicely.
Kal: they dont freak you out any?
Luna: no. should they?
Kal: well since technology isnt a "normal" thing around these parts id think youd at least be... nervous?
Luna: i have seen a great many "abnormal" things in my time. this is not the first time i have seen this form of machine.
Kal: youve seen these before? WHERE?
Luna: until recently i lived upon the moon, i had traversed its surface many times over searching for a way to escape. one day i was walking near the edge of a crater and witnessed an unusual sight.
*Luna uses her magic to show Kal her memories as if they were happening at that very moment*
Luna: what is this?
*in the distance she gazed upon a large metal fortress that was in a state of decay*
*she walked forward entering the structure the likes of which she had never seen*
Luna: *yells* does anyone occupy this fortress!?
*there was only an echo of her voice*
*she searches the base to learn its purpose and why it was on the moon*
Luna: this seems as though it is to be used. what would they do here?
*luna touches the console pressing a button, as she does a loud motor begins to stir and the facility begins to react*
console: POWER LEVEL: 1.69% Facility Status: Compromised
Console: playing last recorded message. . .
Unknown pony: week 6 on colony M:3 still no communication from Earth since the event. the station is running out of supplies and power our efforts to assurtain the origin of the explosion on the surface have failed and we cant stay on the moon any longer. its a risk but we have to take it, we are going back to the surface. if anyone finds this base or this transmission our coordinates are *static* Transmission end...
Luna: Event? Explosion? Coordinates? What had happened here?
Console: queery confirmed. Answering... as of the year 1297 a great war took place that lasted for nearly a century, after year 97 of the conflict a large explosion of unknown origin and energy originated at coordinates 12:7.169 latitude 88 longitude 178. all communications from the planet of the event stopped. all lifesigns on the planets surface were terminated after 10 seconds from the explosion.
Luna: who am i addressing?
Console: Queery confirmed. Answering... the unit to which is answering your Queeries is refered to as a Knowledge Operation and Logistics Extention. also refered to as a K.O.L.E.
Luna: thou art Kole?
Console: affirmative.
Luna: how long has this place existed Kole?
Console: from particle decay and trace elements in the atmosphere it is 5,698 years after the event. records would indicate the current date is 7,092 since begining of technologic adavncement to Brotherhood assention. this facility is from point of construction 5,840.6 years in age.
Luna: Technologic?
Console: defining... Technologic, refering to technology as origin.
Luna: what is this technology?
Console: Queery confirmed. Technology the use of artificial or non-natural means of advancment, earliest records of technology are simple tools crafted from stone and or bone.
Luna: this is far more than simple tools, what is used for this facility to function?
Console: Energy is derived from Crystals found only within high pressure and energy areas. these crystals are refered to as a Core.
Luna: where can i find these "cores"?
Console: Queery confrimed: displaying locations of Cores on screen.
*the memory is interupted from outside sources*
*a large explosion in the distance disrupts Luna's consentration*
Luna: what is that sound!
Kal: they are here... Quickly we have little time!
*Kal begins to make gestures with his hooves toward the metal and parts*
*the parts move and assemble in a matter of seconds around both Kal and Luna*
Luna: What be this contraption?
Kal: since you seem to know about technology you should be able to help us. just move as you normally would and the suit will follow with you.
were the last line of defense against those machines.
Luna: this is very strange indeed.
Kal: R4Y! Cru5h3r! suit up!
*they say together* Right!
*they climb into the machines as they power up*
Meanwhile outside the castle the changling mechs have reached just beyond the canterlot forest. they charge their cannons in preperation to fire. Celestia creates a smaller barrier around canterlot before they discharge their weapons. the cannons fire but are blocked by the magical barrier protecting the city. as the fighting continues Luna and the others in the caves prepare to disembark to counter the assault.
Kal: ok everyone heres the plan im going to project a portal against the wall that leads outside within the city. after reaching the surface we will proceed to the gate and hold off the enemy machines. everyone ready?
R4Y: oh this will be fun.
Cru5h3r: right behind you Kal.
Dr0n3: behind you is force.
Luna: how does this work!?
Kal: well then... LETS MOVE!
*Kal uses his device to open a portal into Canterlot and the mechs enter*
Kal: oops i may have had the coordinates a lil off that time...
Changling: look other machines!
Changling2: but they dont have changlings inside them.
ORB: enemy combatants detected. charging main cannons.
Kal: RUN!
*the cannons fire knocking back Kal and dispersing the group*
R4Y: KAL!!
Kal: im... fine...
Cru5h3er: arming weapons! *the weapon begins to fire recoiling the mech backwards as it releases*
* the changlings begin to fire back moving in a strafing motionas to avoid the incoming rounds*
*Cru5h3r manages to land a shot on the flanking changling mech sending it to the ground in a hard thud*
R4Y: Got one! my turn! *R4Y arms her weapons by using the control panel*
*she looks around*
R4Y: where is my gun!
Kal: its... under... your arm...
R4Y: huh? i dont see it!
Kal: flick your wrist up.
R4Y: so like this? *she raises her hand up, discharging the weapon*
Changling: ow! *his mech begins to tilt backwards but quickly regains balance*
Luna: STAND BACK!
*luna begins to use her horns magic but notices her horn is covered by the armour*
Luna: i cannot create magic!
Kal: i built yours to use magic as a focused beam. just generate magical energy and aim your horn!
Luna: Like so?
*luna's suit charges and fires in the direction of her horns orientation*
Changling: retreat!
*the assault ceases as the enemy runs away from the city gates*
R4Y: you better run!
*celestia dessends from the air*
Kal: that seemed a bit too easy didnt it?
Celestia: i am sure they will be back and in larger numbers. for now we shall need to prepare.
Kal: if they are anything as the myth describes, this is but a taste of what they can do.
R4Y: they didnt seem that tough... besides didnt you say the factory was destroyed?
Kal: im not so sure is was completely destroyed, these mechs looked new.
*a changling crawls from the wreckage of the fallen mech*
Celestia: sieze him!
*celestia's gaurds capture the changling before he can escape*
as the gaurds detain the prisoner changling in the dungeons of Canterlot the two remaining mechs that fled the battle field run vigorously toward their point of insertion. in the dungeons the changling is interigated as to his motives, orders, and what had happened...
