Chapters Torchwood: Project Equestria
Once upon a time, in the magical land of [ACCESSING. . . EQUESTRIA], There lived a magical race of Ponies. The ponies were divided into 4 distinct races; Earth, Pegasi, Unicorn a. . . uggh, this intro cannot get any worse. You know what, go ahead and read, I’ll wait here like I usually do and continue with experiments, like I do. You’re still waiting for me to stop talking, you could have scrolled down and began at the next checkpoint and began reading, so why are you still listening to me talk, hurry up and scroll down and begin, you’re not only wasting your time reading through this, but mine and the Foundation’s time also. Have fun knowing that fact.
And I know you read this in my voice.
<--NEW TAB
[10:30am, 24oc, sunny, light early-morning breeze]
Canterlot Castle, the most majestic place in all Equestria; high-class living, glorious views of the country side, beautiful weather, portals to other worlds. . . wait.
The portal was above the balcony to the Canterlot observatory emitting a quivering roar. After a few seconds after its opening a blinding flash erupted and vanished, leaving two ponies behind to fall, unfortunately short of the balcony. The alicorn remained in mid-air but the unicorn dropped immediately screaming.
“I got you, I got you, I got you!” the alicorn shouted.
His horn exploded in a cyan burst and fired an irregular pulsed beam which flew towards the unicorn and wrapped around her body, halting her just INCHES from the ground. As she was brought back up to the alicorn she gave a moderately evil look, “next time.”
“Hold on. . .” there was a pause, and then her nose began to bleed slightly.
“sigh, how many times are we gonna’ do this Isaiah?”
“Hey, just be alright that you are alright.”
“I know.”
The two flew back up to the balcony and landed, Isaiah released Tahlia from his grapple and she landed softly on the deck.
“Shall we get going?” she asked.
The two turned to exit the balcony, only to be met by two royal guards, “hold it right there. There here your highness.” They parted allowing passage for a tall pale alicorn with a flowing multi-coloured mane. She spoke in an elegant voice, “who are you two, and what are you doing here?”
The pair inched back whilst Isaiah stuttered, “well we uh well see we Tahliajump!”
Both ponies jumped from the ledge. Isaiah grabbed Tahlia around the waist and extended his wings as he glided downwards before shifting his angle to fly south.
“Shall we go after them your highness?” one of the guards requested.
She peered of into distance towards a small town, “they’re heading for Ponyville. Take a party there and find them. When you do, find out what they were doing up here. I’ll inform Princess Twilight.”
[Ponyville, 10:50am, sunny, fine breeze]
Golden Oak Library; a library within a tree; brilliant.
Twilight Sparkle lay on the balcony beside a stack of books with one open. The book, nothing special, only something to do with quantum mechanics. Mid-sentence, she was interrupted by a heavy banging on the front door. “Coming,” she shouted dropping the book.
She opened the door and stepped out. Two royal guards were waiting outside, “Princess Twilight, Celestia has requested your assistance in finding two ponies caught intruding within the palace grounds.”
“Ok? What do they look like?”
“One alicorn and one unicorn, both grey.”
“Right. I’ll keep an eye out then.”
“Thank-you. We’ll be patrolling Ponyville until later this afternoon but let us know if you see them.”
“Ok. Bye.”
She slammed the door behind her and sighed. Spike hopped down the stairs and looked over, “what was that about?”
Twilight strolled over, “just some intruders, nothing special,” she walked past him and returned to the balcony only to find an alicorn reading her book on quantum mechanics, “hey.”
“ohai.”
“Uh, what are you doing?”
He dropped the book, “I seriously don’t get this stuff sometimes, I mean the square-cube related stuff is easy but the rest is just, neagh.”
Twilight nodded slightly, “uh, right, you know you’re wanted back in Cantelot.”
He stood up and stretched, “yeah, minor misunderstanding, see, I have minor troubles with a teleportation spell I read up on and so sometimes I, and my, eh, sister, end up in places we shouldn’t.”
“Ok. I’ll let the guard’s kno – NO!” he shouted as he shoved a hoof in her face, “were staying quiet until this blows over, just don’t tell anyone.”
Twilight waved the hoof out of her face, “I won’t tell them you’re here I’ll just tell them what you told me.”
“Thanks. In the meantime do you know anywhere for us to stay?”
Twilight thought for a second, “You could stay here for a while.”
“got any spare bedding?”
“Uh,” she turned, “Spike!? Do we have a spare bed!?”
“Two.”
“What?” She turned back around. A unicorn poked her head out of the shrub beside the balcony, “oh.”
Spike shouted from inside, “WE'VE GOT TWO!”
“Ok. If you can help Spike set up you can stay.”
“Thanks.”
Twilight turned back, went to the front door and exited.
Tahlia stood beside Isaiah, “Sister?”
“Quick-thinking.”
Tahlia gave a light glare and walked inside. Isaiah gathered up the books and brought them in also.
The cool evening air of the Everfree Forest floated down the path the young unicorn magician Trixie travelled along. Carrying only two sacks of small essentials with her trademark cape and hat hanging loose out of one of them, she carried on down the broken stone path. Her only thought that crossed her mind was what the reaction on Twilight’s face when she returned a new changed pony. Only tonight she would be more of a changed pony than she currently knows, for from the thick dense shrub a few meters back, she was being stalked.
She followed the path mumbling to herself, keeping her eyes on the path ahead at all times and did not look back. Things were still and silent before, snap. Trixie froze and stared, breathing lightly. She scanned the area around her for anything. All was still and silent, very silent. She began walking again looking behind her every few seconds for anyone following her. She began mumbling to herself again, “it was probably nothing, just a twig falling, or something, maybe a mouse, or something, maybe.” She squinted as her ears began to ring. As it died down she pressed forward again.
She froze suddenly as a muted vibration moved through her mind and a voice began speaking to her, “shh. Don’t be afraid. Don’t look behind you.”
Trixie began fighting instincts; turn, don’t, turn, don’t, Turn, Don’t, TURN! She flung herself around and peered upwards. She felt a shadow of evil roll over as she backed up and began running, not daring to turn back. She ran at full pelt, not turning back or watching her steps as she tripped and regained her steps multiple times before reaching the edge of the Everfree Forest overlooking Ponyville. She entered the edge of Ponyville screaming, “HELP! SOMEPONY!”
Many of the still awake townsfolk looked on as she ran through town. She ran towards the library and smashed through the door screaming, “TWILIGHT!”
Twilight jumped from her bed as Trixie burst into her room,
“TWILIGHTYOUGOTTAHELPMETHERESATHINGOUTHERETHATWANTSTOKILLME!”
Twilight hopped out of bed slowly, “ugh, Trixie? What a way to return.”
Trixie began whimpering as she gestured towards the window; Twilight looked out and saw the townsfolk parting for a rogue unicorn passing through. “Who is that?”
Twilight exited the library but Trixie hid by the door as Spike followed. She walked down the street towards the unicorn, who’s features where now becoming clear; pale white fur, black blazer, X’d out O for its cutie mark but. . . it’s. . . face; featureless.
Twilight paused as another pony stepped in front of her blocking her procession. In an aggravated tone she spoke, “Leave! Now!”
Slender stopped and observed, as did Twilight. The pony in front of her stood her ground as Slender reared onto his hind legs and roared. “LEAVE!” the pony shouted. Slender did nothing for a few moments before vanishing in a cluster of static streaks.
There was a brief pause before murmurs arouse from the gathered crowd. Twilight stood beside the pony, “um, thanks for tha-he’s gone, we’re good,” she interrupted. From the way she spoke she sounded like she was speaking to herself, “who are you talki-how’s the other pony, hold on,” she turned to face Trixie as Twilight stood in front of her, “hey!”
The pony turned again and began walking, “she’s fine. Meet you where? Got it.” She began running.
“HEY WAIT!” Twilight shouted as she ran after her. She turned a corner, then another, then another, then WALL! She stopped before colliding face first with the wall which sprung questions; how could she had disappeared that quickly. Then she heard steps above her and saw the silhouette of a pony against the moon. “HEY!” she bounded onto the wall and followed the pony across the adjacent rooftops. After minutes of running and bounding from rooftop to rooftop the rogue pony bounded onto the ground bellow and continued running. Twilight stopped before the edge of the roof she was on and watched as the pony vanished behind another building, “ugh I give up.” She moaned as she jumped from the rooftop and began walking to the library.
**
“She’s going back to the library,” Isaiah announced panting wildly, letting out an almost crazed sigh.
“You alright?” Tahlia joked on the other end.
“TOO MUCH RUNNIN’!” Isaiah exclaimed under his breath, letting out another sigh.
“What do we do now?”
“Keep our distance until tomorrow. ‘Least until we can think of a good excuse for what happened with Slendy.”
“Being honest I had no clue if that would work or not.”
“Well it did, so we’re all good.” Isaiah looked down and checked his watch which snapped to 0:00, “she got a good look at your cutie mark didn't she?”
“Might’ve.”
“Just say he’s your evil stepfather.”
“So were doing a rethink of Cinderella are we.” Tahlia asked in a dull tone.
“I’VE BEEN RUNNING FROM ROOFTOPS WITH JUMPING INVOLVED I CAN’T THINK STRAIGHT. You think of something good then.”
Twilight barged through the Library doors and sighed. Spike jumped down from upstairs and greeted her. She walked past him in moderate disgust, “ugh, how in Celestia’s name did those ponies do what they did!”
Spike followed in slight confusion, “watch you mean?”
“Those ponies we welcomed yesterday, they appeared tonight and vanished so quickly. They didn't even use magic!”
“Who do you think they are then?” Spike wondered. There was a knock at the door.
Spike opened the door to the ponies from earlier and Twilight burst past, “YOU TWO!”
The male spoke up in a joking fashion, “helu.”
“Explain yourselves!”
“Yeah, we probably should.”
For the next half-hour they explained their part of the story. Twilight, Spike and even Trixie who joined soon after listened.
When the story concluded Twilight thought for a second, “wow, that is, so. . . so!”
The male spoke up again, “yeah. Well it’s been a long night, you lot should head on to bed.”
The three stood up and Twilight spoke, “yeah we should. Thanks for sharing all that.”
“Good we got our stories straight before things got worse.”
“True. Well, good-night guys.” She stated as they retreated upstairs.
The ponies looked at each-other and smiled, “I can’t believe that freakin worked!”
“I know. Least she’ll shut up about Slender for now.”
“Forgot to ask, you feeling alright from that?”
“Yeah nothing bad, didn’t feel like blackin’ out.”
“Good, if you can try not to transform while we’re here.”
“Yeah, I’ll try to.”
The sun rose early the next morning, as did many of Ponyville’s residents. Twilight awoke slowly and almost painfully, “ugh what a night. Spike are you awake yet?”
A voice sounded from downstairs, “I am!”
“Who was that?”
Trixie walked up the staircase levitating a tray with breakfast, “hey, I made breakfast,” she said letting down the tray on the end of the bed.
“Thanks,” Twilight thanked her and sat up, “what about the other two?”
“The other two? They left ages ago.
”
“They’re gone?” Twilight asked rhetorically, “at this time of the morning.”
“Those two are weird aren’t they,” Trixie replied.
A few hours into the day Twilight went into town to purchase goods. As she passed by the restaurant she spotted some familiar faces; Tahlia and Isaiah where sitting at a table having a discussion. Twilight walked over, “so this is where you two vanished to this morning.”
“Is it a problem?” Isaiah replied.
“Not really, it’s just that ever since you two arrived you’ve been appearing here and disappearing there,” Twilight gestured with her hoof, “you both are like. . .uh.”
“Ghosts, spectres, reapers, what?”
Twilight was lost for words.
“Don’t worry ‘bout it. How’s Trix doing?”
“She’s doing ok. She’s at the schoolyard teaching magic to the fillies.”
Tahlia spoke up, “that’s nice of her.” She peered over to Twilight’s rucksack, “do you want some help with that?”
“You’re offering?”
“sure.” She reached under the table and grabbed her own rucksack and opened it. Twilight opened hers and began moving a few items. Just as Tahlia closed her rucksack Twilight glimpsed a small grey item-like box within Tahlia’s bag, though she disregarded it.
“So were to now?” Tahlia asked.
“Back to the library to drop these things off.”
“Ok then. Isaiah will you be ok?”
Isaiah got up, “yeah I might go and check up on Trixie while you’re gone.”
“Alright. See you later.” She replied.
The bells rang loudly as class began for the young unicorn fillies as they gathered in the schoolyard. They stood in single-file as their teacher stepped forward, “good mornin’ fillies, it is I, your teacher Miss Lulamoon.”
One of the fillies in the line whispered, “Not so great and powerful now-ILL HAVE YOU KNOW! That I have had a change of heart, and mind. Now then.”
She turned and stood at the front of the crowd once again, “simple magic spells. First things first, anyfilly known any spells yet?”
Slight murmurs arose from the crowd, “from what I’m hearing some of you know things. But today we’ll be learning a few simple spells; first up, a transformation spell.” She picked up a rock beside her, “now then, in order to cause the transformation, just simply-BOOORRRIIINNNGGG!”
Trixie turned to face, “well it looks like someone doesn’t want to learn some of the important spells first up.”
“Important spells!? If you want to teach some magic, teach ‘em the sick-ass ones first.” The pony stepped forward.
Trixie recognised him; Isaiah, “you. Well then if you think your spell is a lot more important than what I’m teaching then, by all means.” She gestured as Isaiah stood forward.
Isaiah took centre-ground and stood firm. He gave a concentrate groan as he observed his panorama; a few hay bales with targets painted on them, slightly crudely; the back fence of the yard, a half-eaten apple core sitting atop a fence post; a lone tree stood out from the tree-line behind it. The target was chosen.
Isaiah dipped his head as his horn ignited with a pale white glow accompanied by a gradually rising whir. As he lifted his head he whir escalated to a much higher pitch. As his head reached its normal angle the sound was near the verge of deafening. Isaiah closed his eyes tight with concentration and each filly covered their ears.
The spell was now complete and ready. (I’d just like to point out right now that if you are against tree violence you should stop reading now) Isaiah’s eyes screamed open as he fired the spell; a bright pale beam of light fired from his horn and struck the tree, exploding it into a flaming cinder.
Every filly looked on in silent amazement before exploding into cheer. Trixie couldn’t help but drop her jaw and simply quote, “wow.”
Isaiah trotted by her and simply stated, “THAT. Is the sort-of stuff you should be teaching ‘em, not making things transform.” Every filly gathered around him and began asking questions.
Trixie simply looked on, “ooo my old habits are coming back,” she murmured to herself.
Every filly had questions to ask, mainly to do with the spell Isaiah used, to which he simply replied, “nah you won’t find this spell in any of the books here-because its illegal,” Trixie exclaimed from behind them.
“’scuse me?” Isaiah asked.
“Spells of that nature and power might I add, are strictly forbidden to be learnt by ponies of our status.”
Isaiah gave a blank glare, “do I look like I give a buck trix?”
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t report you to Princess Celestia?”
“Because you’re jealous of my power?”
Trixie looked on blankly, “ah, I, well, ugh.”
“Exactly,” Isaiah said as he trotted off.
Trixie pondered for a moment, “Wow, Twilight was right about him.”
**
Isaiah paused as crossed the bridge over the stream. He looked up at the sky and thought for a moment before being interrupted by a light beeping sound. Using a grapple beam he took an electronic stopwatch out from his rucksack and held it up; it read 00:00. “Day one; over.”
At that moment, a warping sound appeared in close proximity. From the right a small sphere of light sparked into existence (in literal sense) and vanished instantly, leaving a small box-like device behind. “what tha?” Isaiah examined the item; simply, a homing device or rather a laser tracking device used to mark landing points for ATMs. A note was duct-taped to the bottom (you know, ‘cause duct-tape fixes everything).
The note read,
‘Isaiah, day one is done here and we’re ready to bring over ALPHA. A dimension messenger is in orbit and ready to transmit the go signal when you set the SOFLAM. Jus be sure to land us in a place where nobody or nopony or whatever it is you say there won’t notice. Look forward to seein you soon bud. Edd_ P.S. If you’re not Isaiah put this thing down and go do whatever it is you do and disregard what I just said.’
“Somewhere nopony will notice, thing mate think.” Isaiah thought hard for a moment, then jumped to the conclusion; the only place in Equestria that nopony DARES talk about (and subsequently where Isaiah suddenly managed to just appear in front of); The Everfree Forest.
“Well, time to find out why nopony talks about this place,” he stated to himself as he proceeded forward. He examined the ground for a moment and noticed a slight transition between the gravel of the path and the gravel of the forest path, normal light grey to a darker shade with a slight blue transition.
Half an hour had passed since entering the forest, and Isaiah felt nowhere near a suitable place for setting the SOFLAM. “really the only thing wrong about this place is the shape of the trees, I mean, everything looks dead around here, I mean, if they took the time to”-a snap sounded behind him and he snapped to look; nothing, “yeah maybe it’s the ambience that scares everypony, what’s next; scary voices from the trees?” -+-, “yeah, sorry I asked.”
Isaiah proceeded forward once again before stopping from another twig break. Isaiah froze again before snapping his position to look behind; nothing. He turned again to move on before suddenly stopping before a blue flower with a light blue aura. “Wow, you’re interesting aren’t you.”
“Isn’t it just,” a voice sounded up ahead. A grey/black stripped zebra appeared from the shrub, “a new voice to see, and not one native to Everfree,” she spoke again.
“Take it you live around here.”
“Indeed I do, follow me but beware the flowers of blue,” she hinted.
Isaiah followed her to her hut. The lights inside glowing softly. The zebra entered first followed by Isaiah who closed the door after them, “wow, nice place, very. . . welcoming,” he observed the artefacts around her hut.
“Simple items from my homeland, they were gifted to me by my family before I began my life here.”
“Are they still around? If. . . I may ask.”
“Why of course.” She chucked, “they haven’t passed yet.”
Isaiah sighed, “oh good, I was hoping to relieve any bad memories miss . . .”
“Zecora my friend.”
“Zecora, amazing name.”
“Why thank you. You know, you are the first pony I’ve met who’s actually ever commented on my name.”
Isaiah gave a light smile, “hmm, well anyway where are you heading?” he asked watching her pack some items into a rucksack.
“You brought up my family, and there are who I’m leaving to see.”
“That’s nice of you.”
“Yes it is. Now I’ll be leaving in a few moments, you’re welcome to stay and look around if you like while I gather my things.”
“Ok, how long will you be?”
“Only a few moments, then I’ll be right out.”
“Ok,” Isaiah said as she vanished into her room. A light breeze blew through the room from an open window. Isaiah walked over and closed it. The breeze continued from the other side of the room and Isaiah followed it around. Abruptly the breeze stopped and everything froze. A silent but still audible voice whispered, “Isaiah.”
Isaiah jumped into a ready position and scanned the room. A faint black shadow glided around the room, pausing every now and then as if wanting Isaiah to follow it. The shadow glided along and jumped behind a traditional mask lying against the wall. Two blood red eyes shone out from the eye-holes and glared at Isaiah before vanishing. Isaiah crept cautiously over to the mask and glared lightly at it. A dark chuckle sounded from behind the mask and Isaiah knelt down extending his hooves. He grabbed the edges with each hoof and pulled it away shouting, “BITCH!” there was nothing but the wall behind the mask.
“Who is this, ‘bitch,’ you are referring to?”
Isaiah turned to see Zecora walk past, “oh uh, nothing.”
“I see you found my welcome masks. They’re traditional where I’m from.”
“And you’re heading there now?”
“Indeed I am. Now, do you know a pony named Twilight Sparkle?”
“Yep.”
“Could you tell her-tell her you’ve left for your homeland, got it.”
She thanked Isaiah in zebra (her native language) before exiting. Isaiah followed behind her. “good luck on your travels,” Isaiah said.
“And you as well my friend.”
Zecora parted and headed out eastward. Isaiah smiled lightly before he headed southward. After a few minutes of travel Isaiah found a suitable clearing; a large rounded patch free of trees. “Oh very nice,” he said as he open the rucksack and picked out the SOFLAM and propped it onto a rock and turned it on. A faint whir sounded as it fired a laser from the lens. He adjusted the pointer until the laser pointed to the centre of the clearing.
“Cool, s’long as nopony finds it and gets any funny ideas,” a close rustling sounded from a shrub behind Isaiah. He turned his head just as an instance of SCP-1013 (or a cockatrice depending on whose side you’re on) bust out from the shrub and screamed. Isaiah jumped back before it could take a bite and Isaiah yelled, “BITCH PLEASE!” and bucked it in the face with his hind hooves. The creature flew backwards into a tree and splattered against it, letting out a faint yelp. “That’s what I thought ya little bastard,” Isaiah taunted as he walked northward back towards Ponyville.
Night was dawning (not sure if that makes sense but just get on with it) as the residents of Ponyville gathered near the town hall. A small stage was displaying above the entrance reading, ‘first day of magic’ with ‘present by Trixie and the unicorn fillies of Ponyville Elementary’ displaying in smaller writing below. Stage lights light up much of the surrounding, and every resident of Ponyville had gathered including Twilight and Tahlia who were near the middle of the crowd.
“It’s good to see Trixie doing something with her abilities other than boast about how good she is.”
“What do you mean?” Tahlia asked.
“Well the last few times she visited she’s either boasted about how good she is at magic or encased the town within a dome leaving me outside it.”
“Huh, much like the book,” Tahlia whispered under her breath.
“Sorry?”
“Nothing.” Tahlia quickly replied.
The stage lights shut off, and a voice boomed over the crowd, “Ladies, Gentlecolts and fillies, please welcome the great and powerful teacher, Trixie!” Trixie burst out of the front door of the town hall as an up roaring applause sounded from the crowd. “Thank you, Thank you everypony. I’d never think you would applaud me ever again for my actions the last few times I’ve been here, but let it be known, I’m a changed pony now. As your about to see!” she stood aside and gestured to the door as the fillies from the schoolyard burst through the door and stood in single-file outside the door, “and now, we present, the amazing effort they pulled off today is about to pay off. Fillies,” she threw the amount of rocks that matched the amount of fillies on stage into the air, each fillies horns glowed brightly. Every rock in mid-air transformed into various items. The crowd gasped in aw before applauding. Each of the fillies smiled.
An hour into the show Isaiah arrived and stood beside Twilight and Tahlia, “anything good happened?”
Both mares gasped and Tahlia spoke, “where’ve you been?”
“stuff.” Anyway I-AND NOW!” Trixie announced, interrupting Isaiah, “Our young stars have one last spell each they’d like to present; a spell they’d been given an hour on their own to learn, and present here tonight!”
A young mare unicorn stood out from the line. Her horn glowed brightly along with her mane. In an instant her cute, bushy mane flexed into a beautifully groomed mane close to the same as Raritys. The crowd applauded and she cried with joy as she hopped up and down.
Next, a young colt stepped forward with his horn already glowing. A coloured glow identical to the glow from his horn surrounded his hooves as he stepped down, or rather off the porch. His steps hovered above the ground without touching. The crowd let out a wow before applauding. The colt smile for a second which made him loose concentration, and he fell half a foot to the ground. “whoops.” He said as a light chuckle arose from the crowd.
Another young mare stepped forward; she appeared to be slightly shyer than the rest. She paused for a moment before Trixie said something, “aren’t you going to do something?”
She replied in a voice similar to that of Fluttershy, “um well, I learnt this spell from scratch so, I’m not really sure it might work.”
Trixie knelt down and spoke softly, “just give it your best.”
“Ok,” she replied. She grunted as her horn light up. She tilted her head down as her horn glowed brighter. From the middle of the crowd Isaiah had a moment of realization, “oh hell I know what she’s doing!”
He ran through the crowd as the brightness of the fillies horn was accompanied by a low whir. Isaiah jumped from the crowd as the filly fired her spell; a thin white stream of light shot out of her horn and struck Isaiah who flew backwards with a black stain in his chest.
The rest of the crowd gasped, and the filly broke into tears. Isaiah struck the ground hard and Tahlia screamed, “ISAIAH!”
Isaiah groaned as he began to stand up. The crowd gasped as Isaiah managed to get onto his hooves, and look up at; Princess Celestia with two of her royal guards. Isaiah let out a groan.
Celestia spoke, “what is the meaning of all this!?” She looked down towards Isaiah, “I guess this has something to do with you?” she asked rather calmly.
“You’ve forgotten about us then?”
“No I haven’t,” she replied before turning her attention to Twilight, “but after Twilight helped explain you story to my guards I was actually interest to know more about you, and your reason as to why you were within the Canterlot grounds.”
Isaiah stood up straight, “wow, I’d thought you’d forgotten.”
“But first things first, where did that young filly learn that spell?”
Isaiah let out an “uhhh,” he thought for a moment before peering over at Tahlia who appeared to be keeping herself awake, to everypony that doesn’t know her, but to Isaiah this was MAJOR trouble, “moment please Celestia.” He stated as she approached Tahlia.
Celestia groaned, “excuse me?”
“DID-I-FREAKIN’-STUDDUH!?”
The crowd gasped at Isaiah answer and Celestia gave a shocked look. Isaiah stood beside Tahlia as she spoke weakly, “Isaiah get everypony out of here, quick.” She squealed the last words out before collapsing.
Isaiah looked to Twilight, “Twi, get everypony home now.”
Twilight looked confused, “why?”
“JUST DO IT!”
At that moment Tahlia stood up with her eyes closed. Isaiah backed up slightly and bumped into Celestia in the process, who was also watching Tahlia.
Tahlia’s eyes burst open revealing blank white eyes. Everypony in the crowd gave shocked and frightened expressions as the crowd disbanded in all directions. Celestia, Twilight and Isaiah stood firm, both Celestia’s guards rushed at Tahlia but where simply thrown aside like toys. Celestia and Twilight looked at Isaiah, “what do we do?” Celestia asked.
“Leave it to me,” Isaiah simply stated as he proceeded towards Tahlia. She stood and watched Isaiah before forcing him into a submissive position. Twilight and Celestia gasped in shock.
Tahlia stood over Isaiah and conjured an emerald blade with her magic; she hovered it over Isaiah’s chest and let out an evil grin. Isaiah spoke up, “Tahlia, before you do this, just remember that you’ll have to live with is for the rest of your life.
Just, remember that,” he finished before closing his eyes.
Tahlia acted confused before letting out a wrenching scream -+- then collapsing onto Isaiah who began crawling out from under her slump body.
Celestia and Twilight slowly approached as Isaiah stood up. “What was that all about,” Celestia asked.
“Please don’t ask Princess. It’s a story I’d rather not talk about.”
“Will she be alright?” Twilight asked.
“She’ll wake up in a moment. Don’t worry though she’ll be the same she was earlier.”
Celestia knelt down beside Isaiah, “Is this normal for her?”
“If you’re planning to lock her up for being a potential danger to society than guess again, Princess.”
“Isaiah, please don’t be rude, I’m not looking to do anything like that. I’m just concerned for her.”
Tahlia awoke weakly, “ugh, Isaiah?”
“I’m here Tah,” he said helping her up.
“Isaiah, I, uh, I want to be alone.”
“Are you sure?”
She knelt her head down, “yes, please.”
She stood herself up and wandered off towards the hill overlooking Ponyville.
“Tahlia!” Twilight shouted.
“Twi just leave her, she come out of it in a while.”
“Will she be alright?” Celestia asked.
Isaiah looked towards Tahlia’s direction, “I’ll go and talk to her. For now though I should probably explain everything.”
Celestia closed her eyes before opening them again, “it can wait, for now though you should go and talk to her.”
Isaiah looked up at her, “ok, we’ll probably meet up sometime.”
“Ok.”
Isaiah followed in Tahlia’s direction.
“Twilight, I guess we should end this night,” Celestia said to Twilight helping up her guards.
“I guess we should. Celestia, what did Isaiah mean by ‘probably’?”
Celestia looked towards Isaiah’s direction, “I guess we’ll find out when we meet again my faithful student. We’ll find out soon.”
Ending
Torchwood: Project Equestria
Episode 2: Ponyville and the Heat-Ray
Sometimes it feels odd to gaze upon the stars of another planet, even if the planet is just a parallel equivalent of the one you’re from, but the star map above Equestria wasn't an exception. The sky displayed the heavenly concert of distant stars and suns with the occasional wisp of a nebula. A full moon guarded the night and lightly illuminated the sky in a deep violet haze. Atop the hill overlooking Ponyville Tahlia sat, blankly scrutinizing the midnight sky. A deep feeling of loneliness filled her as she watched the light layer of clouds dissipate, giving a clear view of space. The feeling was broken abruptly as another pony lightly approached from the illuminated darkness, it was Isaiah.
“Hey Babe.” He said as he trotted past and sat down beside her.
“I thought I told you… don’t call me Babe.” She said as he sat down.
“Yeah but I don’t know what to call you nowadays.”
“Just call me Tahlia.” She said with a smile.
“Well it's nice to see you come out of that depression quickly”
“Yeah," she sighed, "are you feeling ok?"
Isaiah smiled, "well you didn't kill me though which is good."
"what did you do exactly?"
"truthfully I don't know exactly but everyone's glad it worked. Anyway, wan't some good news?"
"Do I?" Tahlia smiled.
“I got a SOFLAM beacon from Edd a few hours ago and set it up in Everfree for him to land near.”
“Land near in what?”
“He didn't explain, but it needs a laser des. to land with so its something.”
“So he’s gonna drop it out the sky is he?”
At that moment a bright silver flash splashed out of the night over North-west Ponyville. The flash tore into a brilliant rippling ‘tunnel’ upon which a flashing green projectile shot out and flew across the sky. Isaiah stood up in triumph. “Ha-ha, Nero you beauty!”
<--NEW TAB
The emerald missile darted across the purple sky. Emitting a persistent hissing sound as it passed over Ponyville. The missile was flying towards the Everfree Forest with a full certainty that here would be the crash site. After a full minute of airtime the missile finally touched earth, slamming into the Everfree with a loud green explosion. The shockwave from the impact was sure to have rocked Equestria for kilometres around the impact site, and it certainly did; lights and lamps flickered as half of Ponyville illuminated in a warm amber glow of candles and electric lamps. The local time by now was about 2:30am local and half of Ponyville would have been awake. By around 2:40, news was already beginning to spread about the object landing in the middle of Everfree and that some ‘adventurous’ ponies have begun searching for the object hoping for something of mass value.
It was about 2:56 before Twilight Sparkle finally heard the news of the impact. Arriving with Spike at the crowd gathered at the Town Hall, there were murmurs and small talk of the event but much was incomprehensible. Brushing her way through the crowd, Twilight eventually found Applejack, Apple Bloom and Big Mac in a conversation with Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. “Applejack, what’s going on?”
“No idea. Nopony’s exactly sure what the hay is going on.”
“The only thing we know is that something big fell into Everfree forest a while ago.” Rainbow added.
“Yeah. There’s been talk among some folks saying that they’re gonna’ try and find it.” Applejack continued.
Twilight peeked over the heads of the crowd. Near the entrance to Everfree was a small group of about 4 or 5 relatively young colts with bags, shovels and pickaxes. Each pony was announcing plans of what they’ll do once they find the impact site and even speculations of what the object was. It wasn’t until Princess Luna arrived that the murmurs of the crowd ceased. Every pony bowed as she gave an announcement, “I take this crowd has gathered over tonight’s spectacle?”
Twilight approached, “I've only just heard about it.”
“And from what we have heard, it must be the talk of the entire town right now.”
One of the colts from the hunters group spoke up, “We’re going to look for it now!”
Luna peered over the crowd at the group, “Is that your decision?”
Another spoke this time. “We’re the only ones who are gonna’ do it so yeah.”
Luna looked on at the smoke rising from Everfree, “Would you mind if we join you.”
The tallest pony in the group spoke this time, “Only as long as we get the riches!”
Luna spoke louder this time, “Very well then. Let us find ourselves a meteor.”
[3:13amL]
More than 20 minutes after entering Everfree the smell of smoke was becoming more present as well as the sound of crackling flames. Soon enough though the dense forest cleared out into a large clearing marked out by a ring of scorched trees. The ground around was scorched black the same as the trees but the main sight to behold was the object in the centre of the scorched earth. At first it looked like a large mound of dirt but upon closer revealed the object to be a huge cylinder, about 30 yards across from end to end and still radiating warmth.
As the crowd of ponies exited the foliage, a huge wave of gasps flew over the area. The sight of an object as Euclid as this was definitely a major event in Equestria. The object in question was mainly unusual because of composition; though at the time it was still too hot to touch, but the material composition of the object was pure metal.
The crowd gathered around the cylinder almost hypnotized by its presence until the unimaginable occurred; the end of the cylinder began unscrewing. Slowly it began rotating before picking up the pace. In just over a minute the end of the cylinder fell upon the earth with a heavy crunch. Two large sets of claws emerged and rested upon the rim of the cylinder. A large round head accompanied by two large sapphire eyes rose up and peered at the crowd, now hypnotized in terror at what creature has plummeted into Equestria. This creature ‘stood’ upon the top of the cylinder for many minutes observing the pony crowd before finally disappearing inside the cylinder. A long murmur filed silence fell over the clearing. “I feel a terrible fear for all of us Twilight.” Luna said.
The 5 colts equipped with their gear approached the cylinder. The ringleader, presumably, spoke up, “Whoever this guy is, he might be up to here with treasure. We could make a great mint with it.”
Applejack approached behind them, “Hey y’all don’t go near that!”
“What’s the problem lil’ miss?” the ringleader requested.
“Y’all don’t know what that thing is!”
“Don’t know?” the ringleader ditched his shovel, “lil missy this guy’s probably got enough riches to make everypony in Ponyville as rich as our fair Princess over here.” Behind him two ponies equipped themselves with shovels whilst another equipped a pickaxe, “This is definitely Equestria’s find of the century and the most amazing thing that ever did land on our great lands!” the pony with the pickaxe took one mighty swing at the cylinder which struck with one mighty echoing bang.
There was silence
“So what did ya hope to accomplish?”
The ringleader scrunched his face into an angered frown. From the centre of the crowd came a voice… “Look!”
Everyponies attention was thrown to the top of the cylinder. A large thin metallic rod rose up before vertically sliding another into position. On the end, a large green-lit jar attached to a machine with a long funnel on the other end was bared. As the rods positioned the funnel extended three times. A small aperture on the side of the machine fired a red laser; this did not do any harm but rather served to show where the machine was aiming. The machine itself swivelled on the axis of the first rod, first to the right, then to the left slightly, then to the right again slightly. The laser pointer vanished and a loud almost ‘charging’ noise sounded and a swirl of light converged on the exit of the funnel before firing a thick beam of heated energy in a loud torrent.
An intriguing fact about this was though that; of the 2 minutes that this irregular pattern of illuminated torment happened for, not a single pony was killed, some wounded but none were killed.
Ponies clawed their way off the clearing, and Twilight, Luna and Applejack ran also. The feeling of being toyed with fell upon Twilight as though an inevitable death would leap upon her and strike her dead.
[3:30amL]
The terrified crowds ran madly back into Ponyville, ploughing through the waiting onlookers in sheer fear of the recent events. Twilight and Luna were the last to emerge from Everfree with the same level of fear. As they made way to Golden Oaks, Luna stopped at the door, “Twilight, I’ll return to my sister and tell her of the recent events.”
Twilight stood in the doorway, “Do you think we’re safe?”
Luna looked in the direction of Everfree one last time, “I hope for us all Twilight, I just hope for us all.”
-* * * * *-
[7:21amL]
"That was a bit too close Edd."
"I know Isaiah but look on the bright side; the Heat Ray's auto-detect didn't kick-in and massacre everyone."
"Yeah, right on that one. Righty-O lets get to work."
It must have been about 8:30am before Twilight awoke from her mass disturbed sleep. Her mind was still haunted by the visions brought to her from lasts nights ordeal with Everfree Forest and the Heat Ray, and she was thinking of what the other ponies must have slept through also, or if they had even slept a wink at all through the rest of the night. Her pondering was by a hard, fast-paced knocking at the library door. “I’ll be down in a sec!” she shouted. She peered over the edge of the bed at Spike who surprisingly was asleep, or so it appeared, “Spike?”
“Y-yeah?”
“Are you alright?”
“Are, are we alive right now?”
“Yeah we are. Just try and get some sleep. You really need some.”
“O-ok”
Twilight frowned in worry; was everypony behaving like this right now, scare so bad that they shivered awake all throughout the night? Only they themselves knew. As she stepped down the staircase the knocking resumed, “ALRIGHT! Geez they don’t give one a chance to get out of bed.” She opened the door slowly to find Princess Luna waiting with a worried look.
“Luna?”
“I talked with my sister throughout the night Twilight.”
“And?”
Luna tilted her head town to the left, “she didn’t believe me.”
Twilight jumped back with shock, “ARE YOU SERIOUS!?”
“She thought that was making up stories.”
Twilight frowned, “We’ll tell her again. She’ll have to believe it if it comes from both of us.”
Oblivious to the previous night’s events, Fluttershy’s morning began in a fairly ordinary fashion; laying out food for the local animals, giving seeds for the birds but mainly tending to Angel. As per usual Angel was playing hard-to-get this morning but Fluttershy didn’t know why. “What’s the problem Angel?” Angel turned his back and pointed out the window, “Angel I can’t help if I don’t know the problem.”
Little be known to Fluttershy, Angel saw the cylinder land in Everfree the night before and was eager for Fluttershy to follow. He ran to the front door, opened it and ran towards Everfree, “Angel wait!” she shouted as loud as her voice could permit. Seconds later Angel came bounding straight through the door and dashed under Fluttershy’s bed. “Angel?” she poked her head under the bed, “What’s the matter?” Angel was shivering almost uncontrollably, pointing out behind Fluttershy, “What is it?” Angel began jetting her arm out desperately trying to draw Fluttershy’s attention. “Huh?” finally, she turned, gasped loudly and darted half over her bed backwards by the horror within her home; a metallic claw with an emerald glowing centre ‘looking’ directly at her! Slowly the claw rotated counter clockwise. Each finger extended outward revealing a green ‘eye’ which slowly drew nearer to her. Fluttershy was now in the wall adjacent to her bed with fright and panting loudly and fastly. Her mind was racing with horrid visions as well as contradictable questions; what was this thing, what will it do with her, why her! The ‘eye’ in the centre shifted colour from green to pale grey and Fluttershy knew this was the end of her. As she closed her eyes and took her last long inhale the claw lifted and emitted a wave of light paralleled with a high-pitched pulsating noise. Then there was a long silence, and Fluttershy opened her eyes slowly. The claw now was hovering over her; the eye in the centre, now green again, was still facing here directly. Slowly it turned clockwise, then back again before finally retracting to its idle state and retreating from the room. Fluttershy let out a frightened sign of relief before standing up. Making her way into the living room she peered through the doorframe looking for the claw but found only her unchanged living room. Calmly she entered the living room and crept towards the front door. As she laid a shaking hoof on the doorknob she suddenly found herself under her couch again when a thunderous howl sounded above her house:
Youtube Video
Soon after her fear suddenly vanished and she found herself running through her living room and out the front door screaming, but froze instantly at the sight outside her home; a massive tripedal machine that glittered in the morning sun. Fluttershy couldn’t keep her breath at the sight of this monster; she was even on the verge of passing out before she was stopped by the loudest sound she had ever heard:
[REPEAT]
Petrified, she watched as the machine turned slowly east and proceeded forward one leg at a time but at a quick pace; left, right, hind, left, right, hind. It puzzled her only for the moment before she finally snapped back into reality and caught her breath back. Angel slowly walked to her side and layed a paw on her left hoof. “Come on Angel we've got to warn Twilight!” she said as she gathered up Angel and ran in the direction of Ponyville.
“Are you absolutely sure about this Twilight?” Celestia asked.
“Completely Princess, Luna’s story is 100% true, I and half of Ponyville saw it; a mysterious creature that attacked us without
warning!” Twilight explained in worry.
“So your story was true my sister, I apologise.”
“Accepted dear sister. But what must we do?”
“I’ll have my guards organise trains for Ponyville’s evacuation and send word out to the town to pack their essentials.”
“Thankyou Princess Celestia” Twilight said with a bow.
“You’d better return as well Twilight.”
“I will.” She turned to run.
“Twilight, when you reach the Crystal Empire return here with your friends!”
“I will Celestia!” she shouted as she ran out the doors of the main hall.
The news of evacuation was spreading fast, and ponies all over Ponyville were gathering their essentials and packing them for travel. Multiple trains of at least 10 cars were gathering at the station ready to take passengers. Twilight was gathering here essentials which included some of her books of Astrology, bundles of writing paper, her ink and quills and Starswirl’s spell book, which to her might be the most important possession for the moment. “Spike, are your things ready!?” she shouted upstairs, to which no reply came, “Spike!” she rushed upstairs but found no trace of Spike, his bed was empty but appeared to have been for quite some time. “Maybe he’s already at the train station.” She pondered before returning downstairs and placing her belongings into a rucksack and departing the Library.
The platform at the station was a hive of commotion. Ponies discussing various issues or just shouting at one another just to hear each other over the noise of not only other ponies around but the sound of the train’s engines hissing steam from the boilers.
Twilight arrived to find Rarity and young Sweetie Belle waiting for their train to the Crystal Empire. “Rarity!”
She turned to face, “Twilight good to see you right now. Everyone else is on the train to the Crystal Empire.”
“Good. Did Spike come by at all?”
She shook her head, “I haven’t seen him since yesterday.”
At this point Twilight became increasingly worried, “If he’s not here then he’s either on his way north or. . .” She turned towards Everfree, “Oh no.”
“All aboard for the Crystal Empire!” the trains driver shouted.
At this point Twilight felt ill to her stomach, she needed to stay with her friends and keep them safe but at the same time her lifelong assistant was missing within the forest with possibly the worst thing to come to Equestria. Ultimately though, she boarded the train with her head tilted in dread. She peered out the window one last time at Everfree where the deep smoke columns from the night last where now thin strings of white steam, Spike was now on his own.
Spike pushed his way through the undergrowth of Everfree only stepping on a twig once every few minutes and hearing a noise that made his mind beg to turn back to Ponyville, but he was more determined to find the cylinder again and hopefully confront its occupant and demand answers from him, or it. Eventually he found a clearing of scorched trees surrounding the cylinder where he finally stopped and looked on at the now silent ring of scorched earth. “Ok Spike you can do this,” he said to himself as he approached the open end of the cylinder. Trebling he clambered onto the top of the silver screw of the lid and jumped across into the bulkhead. There he found the most astonishing, but the most frightening thing; the cylinder was empty, save for a few tools lying around indicating that there was possibly more than one occupant inside. The sight of emptiness about the cylinder made Spike tremble to the point where his knees where on the verge of giving out, but he regained control when a surprisingly odd sound filled his ears; the collapse of a tree, followed by the escaping flaps of bird wings. Slowly he turned around and peered in the direction of the sound. A flock of birds flew away and out of sight and Spike suddenly felt his curiosity kick in; he began walking in the immediate direction and fell out of the cylinder landing with a faint, ‘ow.’
After nearly 20 minutes of walking Spike began feeling he was tricked by his own mind as he had found nothing that had caused the trees collapse earlier, not a single creature about Everfree had been seen, but something did catch Spike’s attention, and at a lucky time before he walked straight into it, “WOAH! Uh Poison Joke, that was lucky.” He said peering up towards a small field of the flower covered by the shadow of the canopy above. A faint wiring sound became audible quickly before it subsided as quickly as it had come. “Huh?” Spike wondered as the sound became audible again much louder than before. Cautiously he stepped forward towards the Poison Joke field and peered slightly to the right. The most strangest, but incredible sight across from him; a large rounded bulk bearing 2 pairs of 3 large legs. 2 large metallic claws accompanied by 2 pairs of 2 smaller claws which appeared to be harvesting the flower field.
The weirdest thing about this object was its movement; every meter of flower that was pick caused the machine to move forward slightly one leg at a time. Spike could only look on in awe at the machine until the realization of the funnel beneath the ‘hood.’ A realizing fear fell over Spike instantly as he remembered last night. Fear once again took hold and Spike froze instantly, his mind could not gather the right actions to take at this time, and the world that Spike knew disappeared instantly.
Spike felt himself become a prisoner to his own mind, his body became petrified and he couldn't move any muscle in his body but he still felt himself standing and still staring forward. Inside his mind he could feel himself fighting the fear with the thoughts of Twilight and his friends, trying with every happy thought he could bring to bear but the fear was too strong. He could feel himself screaming out, “NO!” Spike snapped back into reality and fell to his knees panting. Slowly he looked up at the machine, got up with his arms in a ready position and shouted across the field, “IM NOT AFRAID OF YOU, MACHINE!”
Instantly the machine turned every claw it had and its main body also in Spike’s direction with a freakish whir. Spike felt his arms and his jaw drop, “Oops.” Quickly the machine paced over the Joke field and brought its claws to bear on Spike. He screamed as he turned and ran at full pelt, each claw drew itself into the ground each step Spike took and instantly retracted and made more attempts. After each claw took about 4 tries to attack the larger claws came bearing down in front of Spike, slamming into the ground enough to throw him into the air a few feet. Spike was thrown back and collapsed to the ground. Panting, Spike got up slowly and in slight pain. Each claw slowly approached him and surrounded. One approached his face and extended each finger revealing the green eye within, which opened and revealed a thin apparatus. Spike looked on before suddenly. . .
It was nearing sunset, and the train station at the Crystal Empire was just as much a commotion as back at Ponyville. Ponies from the Empire were gathering to assist the refugees from Ponyville in any way they could whether it be taking bags or offering essentials. Twilight and the girls exited in a rush and began running towards the palace. Rarity came dashing out at the same pace panting, “Twilight wait, I can’t keep up!” It took a few minutes but soon they both reached the palace, being greeted by Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie.
“Twilight! Rarity!” each shouted as they entered the main hall and exchanged hugs, “we’ve been waiting forever!” Rainbow exclaimed.
“Where’s Cadance and Shining?” Twilight asked in a hurry.
“They should be here soon,” Applejack said, “Cadance is in a meeting with Mayor Mare but your brother was at the train station waiting for you.”
Twilight opened her eyes slightly. Before she could say anything she was interrupted, “Twiley you’re here!”
Shining Armour entered the hall panting slightly. “Celestia told us what happened and we got worried.”
“We got here as fast as we could, but we can’t stay for long.”
“WHAT?” every voice in the room sounded.
Twilight approached Shining, “Spikes still in Ponyville, he’s out there alone and I have to save him!”
“Twilight you can’t be serious.”
“I am. Please have a train ready for a return trip.”
Applejack stepped forward, “and we’re going with you.”
“Applejack no.”
“We stick together Twilight,” Rarity said, “Spike was always there to help us all.”
“He was your assistant but he was ours as well,” Fluttershy followed.
“And he was our friend as well,” Pinkie followed.
Twilight smiled, “all right. We stick together. Best Friends!”
“Best Friends!” all repeated followed by a group hug.
Ending
Torchwood: Project Equestria
Episode 3: Revelation Part 1
The time was midnight when the train was prepared for the express back to Ponyville. Twilight and the others gathered on the platform giving their last goodbyes before the journey back. The ponies boarded as Twilight bit her brother farewell for now and followed. The train emitted a large hiss from the steam engine before bellowing a loud blow from the whistle. Just as the train began to pull out of the station a young deep grey pony came running onto the platform screaming, “WAIT, WAIT!” Immediately the train grinded to a halt and the pony boarded.
Twilight got out of her seat when the pony entered the cabin, “you do know we’re – going to Ponyville, I know,” the pony interrupted panting heavily, “but I need to get to Canterlot! I've got important information for Princess Celestia!”
“Like what?” Ranbow Dash asked.
“I have important information for the Princess regarding what fell in Everfree.”
Twilight noticed the ponies cutie mark; an oddly out of shape circle mixed with another with an X through it and knew who this pony was; it was Tahlia whom she’d met back in Ponyville 2 days earlier, “so you know what this thing was?”
Tahlia shook her head, “not a thing, but a vehicle much like this train.”
The girls all gave confused looks and Applejack spoke, “Whacha mean a vehicle?”
“The tripod walking about the outskirts of Ponyville in the hours before the evacuation. What you never saw it?”
Fluttershy raised a hoof, “I saw a tripod.”
Tahlia reached into her rucksack and grabbed out a laptop, and every pony gave a severely confused look showing; what was this device? Tahlia typed in a few digits with surprising precision and turned the screen to face Fluttershy.
“Is this what you saw?” Tahlia asked with a sincere look.
Fluttershy gasped, “That’s it!”
Tahlia nodded, “The proper designation is a ‘Fighting Machine.’ Within the green eyes is a living creature of insane evil!”
The girls all gave concerned looks at each other and Twilight raised a hoof to her muzzle, “I just hope we don’t meet it any time soon.”
<--NEW TAB
Spike slowly opened his eyes. His current condition meant he could only hold them open for second before his reflex snapped them shut again. Eventually though, he came around and regained his senses. As he tried to rub his eyes to clear his vision he found his movements met with an odd feeling. As he rubbed and reopened his eyes he looked on horrified; he was surrounded by piles upon piles, upon piles, of Poison Joke flower. Spike screamed aloud and made for the closest light source he could see, a close-to faint speck of golden illumination. As he crawled as fast as he could out of the flower he was met suddenly by an invisible force, but upon close inspection was a glass window, and a large one compared to his height. He began frantically beating his small fists against the glass screaming but with no consequence, either nobody could hear him or they just didn't care.
After a couple of pounds Spike gave up, but took the time to see the small world outside his glass prison; a small round room with a deep golden hue given by the small anchored lights embedded in the walls. About the room where large capsules similar to the one he was imprisoned within. Above each where a pair of grey diodes which appeared to be light sources also. Adjacent to each capsule where grey glass tubing, which twisted towards the ceiling and met with a large spherical object. The object in general was a silver grey and beared many ports for the glass tubing which appeared to either receive, or inject contents into the capsules.
After a second attempt pounding against the glass Spike was met with a faint sound of a low sounding alarm. After a few seconds waiting a large cable slithered out of the ceiling. When it was a full meter away from the floor it rose suddenly and opened. Spike shrank back in fear as he saw what the cable ended with; a claw like the ones on the outside of the, “oh no” Spike whispered to himself realizing that he was inside the machine he saw harvesting the Poison Joke.
As he crept towards the window again he observed the claw as it approached the capsule on the far side of the room. Out of the gold a bright white light appeared that engulfed the contents of the first capsule. After a few seconds of this the light vanished and one of the lights above the capsule illuminated green. As the claw moved on to the second capsule it left a fully clear view of the first capsule for Spike to observe to his horror; in an instant ever Poison Joke flower inside the capsule was liquefied into a thick slurry which began being extracted through the tubing into the sphere in the centre of the room.
Spikes jaw dropped as he realized the true danger he was in. he began frantically smashing his hands against the glass yelling as hard as he could. The claw now moved to the third capsule as the second liquefied its contents. At this point Spike began throwing himself against the glass in an attempt to break it but to no avail.
The claw was now 2 capsules away from Spikes now and he was on the verge of tears as he smashed his fists against the glass one last time before finally giving up. Accepting his defeat and inevitable death, he knelt down and hung his head. When the capsule beside his liquefied its contents with a deep grind and the claw moved on to his, he raised his head and watched the eye of the claw as it emitted the blinding white light. As Spike took his last breath he held it in, and opened one eye; the light above the capsule was flashing red. Spike exhaled and opened his other eye, only to force them shut when the white light flashed upon the capsule. After it vanished the red light above flashed again. Slowly the claw lowered and seemed to face Spike directly. As the white light flashed and vanished one last time a loud hissing sounded and the capsule door swung open.
Spike was propelled forward when a mass of Poison Joke fell upon him. As he poked his head free h stumbled back when the claw approached him. Spike felt his memories of fear coming upon him again and he began to feel light headed. As he gazed into the claws red eye it changed to a light green and retreated back slightly. Re-controlling himself, Spike got up and approached the claw cautiously. “Uh, hi?” he said reluctantly as the claw rotated slightly, emitting a light click when it did so. As Spike began reaching an arm to touch one of the claws ‘fingers’ it turned to the right slightly to face an aperture like doorway as it slid open.
As Spike turned to face, the claw vanished into the ceiling, leaving Spike to enter the doorway alone.
Spike entered the corridor and proceeded through a second aperture doorway. The room was a deep blue with two large emerald concave hemispheres towards the front. There were three chairs with accompanying podiums at different angles around the room in a circular formation. Spike moved to the left of the podium in front of the door and viewed out the view-port, from what he could make from the mixture of the heavy green and the blur from his still recovering eyes he could make out the faint outline of the rooftops of Ponyville.
From behind Spike came the sound of the door re-opening. A large black figure with glowing eyes walked through and looked directly at Spike. Spike could only stand in fear as the figure knelt down in front of him and extended its hand. With a firm grip it took hold of Spike’s jaw and shifted it left, then right, then left again. Then the figure forced Spike’s jaw open and began poking the flesh of his fingers into Spikes tiny fangs. Spike’s only thoughts at current where that of examination, and the fear of the unknown figure drained with every passing moment.
“You’re unique little guy.” The figure said, rubbing Spikes head with his hand, “let’s have a better look at you.” The figure quickly grabbed under Spike’s arms and lifted him up onto a table adjacent to the podium and released him, “let’s bring up some lights.”
Slowly, thin white lines within the joints between the walls and the floor sprung light into the chamber. Every blank detail within the room became ripe with vibrancy and every fine detail missed became clear. The figure slowly illuminated with the lighting in the room and soon his face began standing out. Spike’s thoughts ran rampant within his mind but slapped back at him with a hard realization; this figure was another dragon!
“You’re a dragon! Hey!” Spike exclaimed before being lifted by the head. The dragon held Spike’s head firm and reached over to the console. He flicked a switch and released Spike simultaneously with only two words, “hold still.”
A halo suspended by two yellow illuminated rods rose up from the table and began rotating. A thin layer of light emitted from the rods and began fluctuating as the ring above began sending down rings of a darker shade of yellow. On a monitor on the podium beside the table an outline of Spike’s figure showed up displaying an x-ray of Spike’s body with a table of data that Spike had yet to understand. As a full frontal mirror of Spike wiped up the outline and began rotating, the halo ceased movements and retracted into the table. Spike clasped his hands together and approached the monitor and examined it; the rotating reflection displayed was exact to Spike’s form and he gave out a, “wow,” in surprise.
“You’re looking good little guy.” The dragon stated.
“Yeah.” Spike replied in a simple fashion, “where am I?”
The dragon moved to the right of the podium and flicked a switch. The view-port at the front of the room altered bringing up a map of the edge of Everfree to the other side of Ponyville. A small blinking dot appeared on-screen and the map centred and zoomed. “On the edge of the forest not far from the town. If you want specifics, this is where you are.” The screen altered bringing up a CGI turnaround of the exterior of the machine Spike was within.
“Wait, so I’m in here,” Spike began recounting, “before that I was watching from a rock when the machine was harvesting Poison Joke, then I was running, and then I woke up within the cell, then. . .” Spike paused and looked up at the dragon, “you nearly killed me!”
The dragon frowned, “little guy if I wanted to kill you I wouldn’t have halted processing wouldn’t I. now say that again, you were there when the Handler was during mid-harvest?”
Spike nodded in confusion.
“And you woke up back there.” He pointed his thumb towards the door to the rear.
Spike nodded with anger, “yeah you abducted me!”
The dragon raised a hand to his muzzle, “yeah. My bad I forgot the HARVEST protocol includes the capture and sedation of any creature it encounters. Should’ve checked on that before sleeping.” He took a pause. “How long where you out?” he finished in a lower tone whilst toggling some controls which brought up and timeline on the view-port. “Right so the Handler picked you up about 1 last night. Well I was fast asleep so I wouldn't have been any help to you.”
“So that’s one problem cleared up. Now about nearly killing me.”
The dragon glared, “you would be dead if there wasn't a dividing scan for each capsule.”
“A whatawa wha?”
“Dividing scan. Put simply each capsule is scanned to be sure the correct contents are within. Meaning that if something was in there that isn’t supposed to, like you were, it would halt the process and alert me to it, which it did.”
“So I should stop worrying then? That’s a relief.” Spike exhaled.
“Well it is 90% efficient.”
“Um. Meaning?”
“Well on rare occasions it won’t pick creatures like you up and they. . . well. . .”
Spike suddenly fell ill and fell to his knees. The dragon rushed to his side and placed a hand on his back. “Right this is important, and I know that you’re feeling this way and I know you want to shut up about it, but did you get a quick and sudden nose bleed?”
Spike looked up and nodded. The dragon stepped away and turned to face the door, crossing his arms. He dipped his head in a partially shameful way. From under his voice Spike could barely make out his voice mumbling something under his breath. Spike peeped past him, “is, that a problem?”
Immediately he sprung into life as if the day’s previous events never happened. Turning and speaking in rapid succession, “no problem, now first things first now all that’s cleared up, my names Edward James Alistair just call me Edd, this is DELTA,” he stated pointing his fingers to the ceiling, “now it’s time to rock!” he quickly shifted into his seat behind the podium and began activating switches. The machine around them groaned and powered up into reality. Spike lost his footing for a second as the floor rocked slightly and the machine shifted into an idle position. Statistics displayed on the viewport displaying DELTA at full 100% operation, “buckle in Spikey-boy, were on the move.”
A buzz of static rang through the rooms PA system proceeded by a voice, “Edd, you all set on your end?”
Edd flicked a switch which caused a quick robotic drone to echo around the room, “We’re heading into Ponyville now. And when I say ‘we’re,’ I picked up a friend by accident.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know a little dragon named Spike?”
“Spike? Yeah that’s Twilight’s assistant.”
Edd faced Spike, “Spike you might be a bit tired. In the back down the stairs is my room, go and take a nap or something.”
Spike looked confused, “but I’m not tired at a – GO, NOW!” Edd raised his voice. Spike dropped from the table and walked through the door. He turned to face Edd and raised his own voice, “you’re not Twilight you know!”
The door closed as the voice came through again, “bit harsh.”
“Necessary though, he might not like the fact that you’re ambushing their train.”
“Yeah. Anyway they’re five minutes out.”
“Hear from you both soon.”
“You too.” And the radio cut.
At approximate, I would have to be just before 1PM local the time the express neared *, everypony excluding Tahlia was nearing sleep but trying to keep themselves awake by any way possible, mainly watching Tahlia at work on her laptop, but Pinkie found good conversation with the train’s driver which has kept her awake for a while. Twilight observed at how swift Tahlia was with using her laptop, considering she had hooves instead of hands she was remarkably swift at what she was doing, which at current was setting up a small dish standing atop a small tripod stand and opening a program which appeared to be linking to it.
“What are you doing?” Twilight asked with the tone of exhaustion.
“I’ve set the radar to tone when it picks up the Fighting Machine’s armour type so that we know how near we are to it, if it begins beeping li-
**
Everypony looked up, and Pinkie burst through the door.
“Like that?” Rarity asked.
Tahlia failed to answer. Instead though, she stood up, placed the laptop on the chair, and proceeded to the rear of the train. The beeping continued.
As she exited the rear door of the caboose she peered out to the left side of the train and observed the distance. Due to the amount of air forced into her eyes it was moderately difficult to see but she could make out the fabled lights in the distance; two round green illuminated lights accompanied by two smaller red headlights. ‘Here we go,’ she thought to herself.
“TAHLIA!” Twilight shouted.
Tahlia rushed back into the carriage, the beeping from her laptop was now frighteningly fast, and all the girls were now huddling together. “Don’t worry too much; the beeping just indicates that we’re near it, as long as it doesn’t-
**
“What does that mean now!?” Twilight shouted!
“It’s on an intercept, were heading right for each other!” Tahlia replied
Fluttershy screamed, as did Pinkie, “STOP THE TRAIN!” she bellowed as she ran for the front.
“NO WAIT!” Tahlia shouted back as she ran after.
“STOP THE TRAIN!” Pinkie shouted at the driver.
“WHY!” he shouted back.
“WE”RE GONNA’ DIE IF YOU DON’T!”
“WHAT!?”
“UP AHEAD!” Pinkie shouted.
The driver peered out the side of the train and saw it, the Fighting Machine now only half a kilometre away from the train, “oh sweet Celestia” he cursed as he applied the brakes. Sparks began raining from the wheels as the train slowly began grinding to a halt.
“DON’T STOP THE TRAIN!” Tahlia shouted as she bounded over Pinkie and the coal cart. As she landed she immediately disengaged the brakes and set the engines to full. The train jolted as it sped up to its full speed and was now barrelling at full pelt towards the Fighting Machine.
The machine was now looming overhead and was now truly terrifying. A thin white light emitted from a funnel beneath the machine accompanied by the high pitched sound of a charging energy weapon. Then there was silence. . .
Youtube Video
The Heat Ray narrowly missed the carriage with the girls and struck the caboose, incinerating it instantly. The burning wreckage blew off the car-coupling and rolled off the track into the nearby shrub.
The train ploughed forward, passing underneath the bulk of the machine but on a collision course with its hind foot. Instantly the foot was off the track into the air, coming back down with a loud, artificial thud beside the track allowing passage for the train.
“KEEP US GOING!” Tahlia shouted at the driver as she grabbed Pinkie and brought her back inside. The girls were cowering at the front of the carriage. The reason for this was obvious; most of the rear of the car was either melted or partially ablaze.
“It didn't do this back in Ponyville!” Fluttershy squealed.
“Will it catch up!?” Applejack shouted.
“Surely it can’t be that fast!” Rarity followed.
Tahlia poked her head out the window. She began mumbling something incoherently, holding a hoof to her ear.
“Tahlia!” Twilight shouted. Tahlia dashed for her laptop and began typing. The girls darted for the nearest windows. About half a K back was the Fighting Machine at full speed, “it’s following us!” Rainbow shouted.
“Don’t worry, we’re faster than it,” she announced observing stats on the Fighting Machine on her laptop, “it’s too slow it won’t. . .” A speedometer on the screen began increasing; 60, 65, 70, 80, 90km/h. “oh shit!” Tahlia exclaimed under her breath.
Out the windows the girls could see the increase in speed; each leg increased momentum with the hind hitting the ground every 0.8th of a second. Fluttershy wept and darted under the seat. Everyone still out the windows gave grave distorted looks. In little under 30 seconds the Fighting Machine was nearly upon them. A large white searchlight emitting from beneath the bulk shone upon the train. The light nearly blinded the girls forcing them back within the carriage.
“TAHLIA DO SOMETHING!” Pinkie shouted.
“Hold on, I've got this!”
“Got what!?” Twilight demanded.
“Since I've got specs on what the machine is doing at all times I’ll transmit a signal that’ll jam the machines computer!”
Reality froze for a second as silence once again fell, save for the rattling of the train and the heavy thumps of the Fighting Machine.
“WHAT THE HAY HAVEN’T YOU TOLD US YET!?” Applejack demanded.
“Did I mention we’ve been following each other?”
Tahlia stopped typing and a message appeared on her screen displaying; PROGRAM READY, LAUNCH NOW? Tahlia laid her hoof on the Enter key and inhaled, “please don’t work.” She pressed enter and exhaled.
After a few seconds the effects of the virus took effect; the Fighting Machine’s searchlight vanished and the machine suddenly lurched towards the left as the left knee rained sparks and grinded. The machine began slowing down rapidly. The girls began to cheer. Fluttershy emerged from beneath the seat and AJ peered out the window, “we’re in luck ya’ll, we’ve got a bridge coming up ahead!”
“We’ll lose it there.” Rainbow announced.
“We’re gonna’ make it!” Pinkie squealed.
The train entered the bridge. About a third of the way across the Fighting Machine caught up and pointed the Heat-Ray towards the bridge.
Twilight peered out the window and saw the white light emit from the funnel, “INCOMING!”
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A way past the middle of the bridge burst into splintering shards of blazing wood. The iron of the rail bent upwards and detached in a wrenching screech of twisting metal. The train screamed towards the burning gap, “WERE GONNA CRASH! GET OUT!” Twilight screamed as she grabbed Pinkie and Applejack. Fluttershy grabbed Rarity and Dash ran through and took the driver. Everypony ejected from the train as it careened off the bridge into the ravine below, impacting with a massive grind before being engulfed in an immense fireball which shot up and partially incinerated much of the bridge above.
The ponies landed on the other side of the ravine partially exhausted. Everypony looked down at the wrecked inferno of the train. Twilight looked around and noticed someone missing; Tahlia. “Tahlia?” she asked in concerned, “Tahlia!?” Everypony looked around for Tahlia; she was nowhere to be seen.
Rarity raised her hooves to her muzzle and began to sob. Pinkie and Fluttershy cried out loud and hugged tightly. Applejack dipped her head, “Not like this. Not like this,” she whispered as she peered up. Twilight walked over and slung her arm around Rainbow Dash as they both dipped their heads. The mourning was short lived as the whir of machinery rose over the sound of the burning train. The Fighting Machine stood on the edge of the cliff and entered and idle position. Rainbow Dash immediately lost it and flew full speed towards the machine, “RAINBOW WAIT!” Twilight shouted as she flew after her.
Rainbow approached the glowing hood of the machine and began shouting, “YOU SEE WHAT YOU’VE DONE!? LOOK AT WHAT YOU DONE TO ALL OF US! You’ve separated us from our homes, our families, our lives, WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT!?”
“RAINBOW!” Twilight caught up to her and tugged at her neck with her front hooves.
Slowly the machine whirred and elevated its bulk. The girls moved back slightly as the machine emitted a deafening roar,
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The girls were left slightly dazed and deafened as the machine turned to the left and strolled off with a limp in its left leg, “HEY WE’RE NOT FINISHED WITH YOU YET!-Rainbow it’s not worth it!” Twilight interrupted tugging at her neck.
The machine was nearly a kilometre away when the girls regrouped. “What do we do now?” Fluttershy asked.
“We’ve only got one option; continue on to Ponyville.” Twilight announced, “Are we good to go?”
Everypony agreed and placed a hoof in a circle. “You in?” Twilight asked the train’s driver.
“No other options, looks like we’re doin’ this,” he said placing his hoof within the circle.
“Alright girls, and. . . er-Steampunk Bill,” he replied.
“Alright everypony, let’s do this.”
[≈5:10am]
The sun was a thin orange stripe on the horizon when everypony reached the edge of Ponyville. Not a single sound came from the town, only the wind and the callings of distant birds were the ambiance that filled the air. Every street traversed bared no signs of life, only the light flight of leaves and sheets of used paper, shop side shrubs and trees shifted lightly in the breeze and the banners above the Town Hall fluttered ever so slightly. Everything was nearly. . . dead. Ponyville was. . . dead.
Bill broke the stillness, “Ill head to the train station and find us a ride.”
“Will you need help?” Applejack asked.
“I’ll come and find you if I need some.”
“Alright, we’ll be at the Library if you need us.” Twilight said.
“Ok, later.” He said as he walked in the direction of the train station.
“Where to now Twai?” AJ asked.
“The Library, we need the Elements of Harmony. Hopefully they can help us take this thing down.”
“Twilight, do you mind if we go to our homes and get some belongings?” Pinkie asked.
“Sure, we’ll meet at the Library.”
The girls split up with Rainbow Dash and AJ heading to Sweet Apple Aches and Fluttershy running home at full pelt. Pinkie ran after her. Rarity followed Twilight to the Library.
At Fluttershy’s Pinkie asked her what her plan was, “Angel must still be here, I’ve got to find him.”
“What if he ran off with the rest of the animals?”
“If I don’t find him, then, I hope he’s doing alright.”
The girls searched for minutes around the house but with no success.
“He’s not here ‘Shy,” Pinkie concluded.
“Ok well let’s. . .huh?”
Multiple heavy trampling sounds boomed through the house, rattling everything that wasn’t nailed down, including Pinkie and Fluttershy.
“Ah, what is it!?” Fluttershy lightly screamed as they hid under the table in the dining room. From the window the silhouette of a massive dark machine rolled by, the darkness accompanied by constant flashes of green.
As it began to fade into the distance Pinkie spoke up, “oh no, not another one!”
They rushed outside and caught a glimpse of the machine, “it’s heading towards Applejacks.” Fluttershy Squealed, “we gotta’ warn her-
**
From Ponyville the sound echoed through the empty streets. Twilight and Rarity froze, “oh no, what was that?” Rarity asked. Before Twilight could answer a familiar sound blew through the streets.
“It’s back!” Twilight Gasped, “we’ve got to hurry.”
Misfortune struck Twilight and Rarity when they found the Library; a large snake-like apparatus was protruding through the front door of the Library. But the shock was from what it was being deployed from; the Fighting Machine.
“How do we get in?” Rarity asked.
“We need to wait until it leaves.”
“Shall we wait at my place?”
“Probably a better idea than waiting here.”
Over at Sweet Apple Aches Applejack and Rainbow Dash at gathered a few of AJ’s thingsand were prepared to leave before Dash notice a photo frame on a dresser in the living room; it beared a colt and a mare holding a filly Applejack and Dash began to self-ask; were these AJ’s parents?
“I’d rather not talk about it.” Applejack said watching Rainbow hold the photo.
Rainbow said nothing as she place the photo frame back down and walked towards the door. As they were about to leave, a bright emerald light shone through the glass panes in the door. AJ and Dash through themselves back as the door slowly opened. “Upstairs!” AJ whispered as they turned and ran as quickly and quietly as they could, leaving the rucksacks full of items on the stairs.
AJ and Rainbow hid in separate rooms, peeking their heads out watching the emerald light as it lit up the area above the stairs. Slowly a black metallic claw rose up and forward from the staircase and turned to face the hallway. It opened its fingers to allow the green glow to fill the room with a partially blinding green and proceeded forward. As it passed by the rooms Applejack and Dash where hiding it emitted a low pitch mixture of a grind and a whir. The girls watched as the claw bypassed the rooms and proceeded down the hallway. Applejack beaconed to Rainbow to come to the room she was in and she proceeded. She crept under the snaking metallic rope the claw was attached to as hard as she could and narrowly missed touching it, with her body, but she miscalculated on the maltreatment of her tail; one fine hair protruded and lightly, very lightly, brushed the rope. Immediately the claw swung around with an angry robotic growl and emitted a deep red light, and quickly proceeded back down the hallway to the room the girls were hiding.
The door was forced open as the claw came through and proceeded to scan the room. The girls, cowering under the bed where on the verge of tears at this point. The claw was now between them and every possible exit and their only hope was that it didn’t check under the bed.
“Applejack, I’ll lure it away.” Rainbow Dash whispered.
“No you won’t Rainbow!” AJ whispered back.
“Why? No wait!” Rainbow asked as Applejack slid back behind the bed.
She got up and screamed, “hey, lookin’ for me!?”
The claw locked onto Applejack and shifted forward, “Rainbow, RUN!”
Rainbow rushed past the claw and cowered in the doorway as Applejack jumped onto the bed and made an attack attempt at the claw, which met with no success. The claw sung and smashed Applejack face-first to the ground. As she rolled onto her back the claw opened again revealing the green-lit eye, changing to red as it loomed over her.
“APPLEJACK!”
Torchwood: Project Equestria
Episode 4: Revelation Part 2
Rainbow darted over the claw to the bed and nabbed a pillow. Quickly and (literally) aimlessly she launched the pillow straight into the claws hand. The claw flinched and aimed at Rainbow before Applejack bounded up from the ground and bucked the claw as hard as she could. The claw lurched back hard and impacted the wall. A loud crunch sounded as the claw swiftly left the room with a finger dangling bellow, which appeared to be severely damaged from the last impact.
Dash and AJ sat where they were, panting heavily.
“That was, too close,” Dash stated still catching her breath.
“Yeah. We should probably – get outa here? – yep,” AJ and Rainbow agreed before a loud noise sounded from outside.
-+-
Without hesitation Dash grabbed Applejack around the belly and flew straight through the window without thinking. As they gained altitude AJ looked down and spotted their attacker, “Rainbow, wait!”
Rainbow stopped and turned to face where Applejack was looking; the machine that attacked them was glaring at them also, as if silently saying, ‘damn.’
“AJ look!” Rainbow Dash said looking towards Ponyville. From their position a faint outline was visible.
“Tell me that ain’t that tripod,” she asked rhetorically.
“yep,” Rainbow replied.
<--NEW TAB
-Twi/Rarity-
Twilight and Rarity where still waiting for the Fighting Machine to move on. It must have been half an hour before it finally did. The claw receded back into the metal bulk which began glittering a bright orange glare against the morning sun. Slowly the machine rotated bulk-first before moving each leg to allow further rotation. For a few moments it stood making only a slight ‘breathing’ movement before letting out its horn. -+- At this point the machine moved on southward.
“Good we’re clear,” Twilight whispered to Rarity beside her.
Both ponies crept out from the shadows and crossed briskly across the grass towards the library. Slowly Twilight opened the door and entered. Rarity followed close behind and closed the door behind them. Twilight darted across the room to the chest holding the Elements of Harmony. She forced the chest open enough to tear the lid from its hinges. Her face turned to horror at the chests interior; empty (aside from the gold velvet).
Rarity approached beside her and glanced at the chests contents, “oh don’t tell me it took the Elements!”
Twilight froze and dropped the chest, “yes, yes it did.”
“And with the power it already has. . ?”
“It, it could overthrow Princess Celestia and, well possibly if it was that cruel. . .”
“Enslave us all?”
Twilight looked at her, “well, yeah I mean, it took Spike, killed Tahlia, and now holds the Elements of Harmony – but can’t use them dear,” Rarity interrupted with a glint of hope in her eyes, “it can’t use them without us remember?”
Twilight smiled, “your right, and as long as we got each other,” she was interrupted by Rainbow dash and Applejack who barged through the door. Both began shouting incoherently which made it sound like gibberish.
“ONE AT A TIME!” Twilight broke the noise.
“There’s another one!” Rainbow stated.
“Another tripod?”
“nuh-uh,” Applejack spoke this time, “this one’s got claws, lattsa them.”
“So does the tripod.”
“It’s got six legs!” Rainbow exclaimed.
“Six legs?”
“And really, really really – CLAWS BIG ENOUGH TO LEVEL PONYVILLE!” Applejack began before Rainbow interrupted.
Twilight gave a grave look, “this one sounds worse than the tripod.”
“Yup,” both ponies agreed, “both ways as well,” Rainbow added.
“Both ways?”
“Yeah it’s, wait,” Applejack peeped behind Twilight and notice the empty chest, “uh Twi, where are the Elements?”
Twilight dipped her head, “the Fighting Machine took them.”
“Shoot. So what do we do then?”
Twilight snapped back to normal and walked towards the door, “we get to Canterlot, warn Princess Celestia and hope that we can put an end to all this.”
Everypony cheered and Rarity spoke, “Right then darling, let’s get pinkie and Fluttershy and be off then.”
“But what about the train?” Rainbow asked.
Just as she said that, Steampunk Bill (the train’s conductor just in case you forgot) barged through the door, “girls, the trains ready to go. And also your friends are waiting for you there just in case you’re wondering.”
Everypony exited the library and headed for the train station. By now the sun was clearly visible on the eastern sky and the estimated time was 7:40am.
The time was now about 10:00am when the train arrived at the Canterlot station. A company of Celestia’s royal guards hurried along the platform to meet the girls. As the train halted the girls stepped off and greeted the guards who stated that Celestia required their presence.
Celestia awaited the girl’s presence within Canterlot Castle. The girls burst through the doors accompanied by the royal guards.
“Princess Celestia!” Twilight exclaimed.
“Twilight my student thank goodness you and your friends made it!”
Twilight dipped her head slightly, “well not all of us.”
Celestia looked worried, “what do you mean?”
The girls approached and Pinkie spoke, “well you remember Tahlia from a few nights ago?”
“Yes?”
“Well, uh, how do, how do we put this,” she said with a tear in her eye.
“You don’t have to Pinkie, I understand,” Celestia replied. She knew from Pinkies tone that they had lost Tahlia.
“So what do we do now?” Twilight asked.
Just as she finished a royal guard burst through the door, “PRINCESS, IT’S HERE!”
Everypony approached the edge of the balcony that overlooked the rest of Canterlot Castle. The guards below manned (anyone know the equestrian version of that term? No? Anyway) the guards manned their stations along the walls. Everypony below throughout the town went for the nearest building and took refuge. Outside the city walls the Fighting Machine stood firm and erect with a slight ‘breathing’ motion.
Celestia and the girls watched as the machine lurched upwards and let out its now signature sound. -+-
“So, this is the creature that’s been terrorizing my kingdom,” Celestia groaned.
“Yes,” Twilight replied, “and it also has the Elements of Harmony.”
“IT WHAT!?”
Twilight walked back inside with her head tilted, “we we’re too late to get back to Ponyville and it took them.”
“As much as I am disappointed that you would let the Elements fall into the wrong hooves Twilight, I am glad you told me before it was too late.”
Applejack turned her head and looked over towards the Fighting Machine, “uh girls, we’ve got more trouble.” The Handling Machine waltzed towards the Fighting Machine and halted beside it.
“Ah, it’s come back for us AJ!” Rainbow Dash screamed as she hugged Applejack.
“Basically we came here to pass on information but now we might be here for your protection Princess.” Twilight continued.
“I would agree Twilight. If that ‘thing’ has the Elements and has come here then. . .”
As she finished a green flame appeared above Celestia; a grey scroll laced with a red ribbon blinked into existence and fell atop Celestia’s head. The girls looked extremely surprised and Twilight gasped.
Celestia opened the scroll and began reading; at first glance the paper appeared extremely different to any paper she had ever received;
“Presence requested,” Celestia repeated.
Twilight looked up at the princess, “what do we do?”
“Well now before we go doing anything,” Applejack butted in, “Let’s consider what’s happened since this all began.”
“Agreed,” Rarity replied, “after everything that Thing has put us through why should it start telling us what to do!”
“Right,” said Twilight,
+++
“We meet with these things.”
“All of us,” Rarity said.
“No Rarity, just Twilight and I,” Celestia stated.
“But but but but but but but,” Pinkie stuttered.
“Girls,” Twilight interrupted with reassurance, “we’ll be ok, wait here for us to return.
“Ok,” the girls replied.
The drawbridge at Canterlot’s wall fell with a heavy thud. Celestia and Twilight proceed over and left the Castle’s sanction. Ahead of them stood the Fighting Machine and the Handler waiting for them. The ponies stood at the edge of the drawbridge (which as far as I remember from the Geneva Convention still labels them on protected territory until they step off. Anyway) they stood on the edge of the drawbridge and waited. After a few moments the Handler moved forward and lowered its bulk to the ground, Twilight stood off the drawbridge and proceeded forward before stopping a few hundred feet from the Handler. (From what I remember from the G.C. they’re both in neutral turf now which according to is where opposing sides may exchange whatever).
A grill bellow the funnel of the Handler opened like no door Twilight had ever seen, slowly the machine lowered its bulk until grill was nearly touching the ground. Just as the door near full open a silhouette appeared from the ambient light within the machine. The silhouette’s colour broadened once the figure stepped out into the natural light and Twilight made it out instantly and ran, “SPIKE!”
“TWILIGHT!”
Both met in a big hug that was quickly interrupted by the Fighter’s horn. Spike handed Twilight a scroll which was similar to one they received earlier.
“They told me it was important,” Spike added.
“Can you say who ‘they’ are,” Twilight asked.
“Well, ‘they,’ said to wait for their ‘say-so,’”
Twilight turned towards Celestia and gave a nod, Celestia nodded in return.
Back within the Castle Twilight handed (or hooved IDK then again ‘hooved’ sounds just wrong) the note to Celestia who took it with a levitation spell. The other ponies gathered around to read, only the note simply said;
“Explain?” Everypony repeated.
From behind them a voice sounded, “Yeah, is it a bad time?”
Everypony looked behind them; a grey alicorn stood in the doorway and gave a wave, “hi.”
Celestia recognised him, “Isaiah?”
Isaiah smiled.
“So where have you been all this time?” Celestia asked.
“Ehh here and there, mostly sightseeing.”
“Mostly?” Pinkie asked.
“well, I’ve been doin’ some other stuff as well.”
“Like what?” Rainbow asked.
“ask him then, I’ve been doin’ my own stuff,” Isaiah said pointing to the other side of the room.
A large grey dragon was leaning against a pillar with his arms crossed, “hey. Hey Spike,” he waved at Spike who was standing next to Twilight.
Twilight looked down at him, “now can you explain?”
A female voice sounded from atop the staircase, “how about we all explain.”
The girls looked up and let out a shocked gasp at the pony. Twilight felt speechless but managed one name, “Tahlia!?”
Everypony was left speechless at the fact she was still alive after the Fighting Machine ambush, but this left Twilight with an idea the made her look at Isaiah, “so if she’s still alive, and you’re suddenly here, and. . .” she gasped when she turned towards the dragon who was wearing an evilly familiar mask.
The trio gathered and stood in front of the girls. Twilight raised a hoof to her muzzle and thought before turning to the others. They raised their hooves and entered a group huddle,
“It can’t be them,” Twilight said.
“Not Tahlia and Isaiah but the dragon maybe,” Rarity followed.
“But theirs two machines and three of them,” Pinkie followed.
“What’s that got to do with this?”
“I don’t know. I thought it might be useful.”
“Well what else do we know?”
“Well we know that they vanished right before the meteor thing fell in Everfree.”
“Tahlia had that episode before it fell.”
“And Isaiah went after her.”
“And they scared the critters around Ponyville as well,” Fluttershy added In an attempt to join the conversation.
At this point Spike was getting tired of their pointless conversation and decided to end it.
“Everypony listen up!” the girls stopped their conversation and looked. Spike was standing beside his dragon friend, “It’s really not that hard to figure out.”
The girls exited their huddle and Twilight spoke up, “so, it was you this entire time?”
“Yeah, everything past the capsule was us,” Isaiah said.
“Twilight may I take this?” Celestia whispered to Twilight, “sure.”
“May I ask you three, why did you do what you did?” She asked.
Edd spoke up this time, “being honest everything that happened in the last few days has been a minor mistake. The whole ‘scaring the entire town into evacuation,’ which should I add was brilliantly executed, was not intended, it just happened. So, sorry.”
“Is that enough an explanation?” Isaiah asked.
Celestia thought for a moment before concluding, “Well yes. Everything except your method of, well, transport.”
“We’ll get to that later,” Edd said, “but right now you have a town to recall.”
“Hmm you’re right,” Celestia agreed.
“We’ll hold a town meeting to explain everything to Ponyville as well.”
“Very well, I’ll be there as well just to be sure you didn’t miss any details with us.”
“Well I’ve told you everything I’m allowed to tell you.”
“Allowed?” Celestia asked.
“Exactly. Now, you get the town back, and we’ll organise that meeting.”
“Very well then mister – Edward miss whatever-your-called-here. Now then. See you in Ponyville,” he stated before vanishing in an aqua globe.
“And I’ll see you later too Celestia,” Isaiah said in mild worry.
“Very well then Isaiah. And tell your friend he needs some manners.”
“What, he can’t help he’s our maid. Te-he,” he laughed lightly before vanishing in a similar aqua glow.
The girls gathered around Tahlia and began questioning. Celestia turned and walked out onto the balcony and looked off into the distance. Tahlia followed her and looked out; the Handler was now heading towards Ponyville whilst the Fighter shifted into motion and followed. Celestia, not looking at Tahlia simply asked, “who are you three Tahlia?”
Tahlia tilted her head, “I don’t think you should know just yet Princess. But from what’s happened lately, you might have a good idea who we are.”
“You three aren’t native to Equestria.”
Tahlia looked up at Celestia, “we aren’t native to this realm.”
Celestia said nothing, as did Tahlia.
News was travelling fast around Equestria that the threat of ‘invasion’ had been dealt with. All the towns and cities where refugees from Ponyville where receiving the news with requests for all of Ponyville’s residents to return home. It was around about a quarter to five before the first train bound from the Crystal Empire returned full of ponies excited to return home. Among those exiting where the Cutie Mark Crusaders; Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo; excited to return home.
“Do ya think Applejack and the others will be back yet?” Applejack asked.
“Well they would’ve been her to greet us if they were,” Sweetie Belle replied.
“Where do ya think they’d be then?”
“They’re probably still at Canterlot with the Princess,” Scootaloo answered.
“So what do we do now?” Applebloom asked. The three thought for a moment before concluding;
“The Clubhouse!”
"Come on we gotta get there quickly," Sweetie Belle said as the fillies ran off.
Meanwhile though the town was beginning to regain the life-force it had been drained of; doors and windows reopened, flowers bloomed, shop signs flipped to 'open,' the pulse of life that kept the town alive throughout it's existence began to beat again. It wasn't long though before letters began appearing within letterboxes around Ponyville with, 'Royal request: meet at the town hall in 15 minutes,' signed by Princess Twilight.
The crowd gathered in front of town hall as requested. It was a short while until the purpose of the request was answered; Twilight and the rest of the mane six exited town hall and stood before the crowd.
"It was only three days ago that we were driven from our homes by the forces of the unknown. It was three days ago that the horror that fell into Everfree made us cower in our beds that night. And it was the horror," she paused for a moment, "that we are here to tell you about because, well," she paused again and turned to her friends who where gesturing encouragement towards her, "We are here today to tell you all that the horror that we fled from was only misunderstood."
Murmurs rose from the crowd. Twilight spoke again, "the subjects behind this event have come forward and apologised for the actions and, oh." a dozen hooves raised from the crowd and Twilight picked one from the middle.
"What about us where's our apology?" a colt shouted which arose a moderate uproar from the crowd.
"I was leading to that," Twilight spoke above the crowd, "they're on their way now."
"So where are they then?" a mare shouted from the rear of the crowd.
Just as her sentence concluded a heavy wail sounded from behind town hall.
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Distant bells chimed signalling 12 in the afternoon. As the ringing subsided the distant thumbs became audiable. And then it came into view as one foot impacted the stream throwing water high above the ankle joint. The second landed short of town hall and the third followed through. the first and second took small steps forward once more before the glistening monolith stood over town hall and glased down at the now terrorfied crowd. A blinding flash appeared in front of Twilight who stood back to allow room. In an instant a grey alicorn burst through, head tilted and wings erect. As the glow faded the alicorn tucked his wings and lifted his head and looked over the crowd, "Afternoon Ponyville."
Meanwhile over at Sweet Apple Acres the Cutie Mark Crusaders arrived at their clubhouse still in the same condition it was in a week ago.
"So what are we gonna do until everyone's done at town hall?" Scootaloo asked.
"Well the apples are overdue for the harvest this season 'suppose we could get a head start on them." Apple Bloom replied.
"We might as well since we can't help anypony out," Sweetie Belle added, "and besides, maybe we might find our Cutie Marks on our own."
"Yeah, I mean what haven't we done around here yet that could earn us our Cutie Marks?" Apple Bloom asked.
The girls thought for a moment without much success, "I'm out of ideas," Scootaloo said.
"yeah really until things return to normal there isn't anything we can do," Sweetie Belle added.
"Suppose we could go back to Ponyville and see why everypony got called there."
"Sound's good Scoots," Applebloom replied.
The girls departed the clubhouse and headed off in the direction of Ponyville. It wasn't long before Scootaloo paused for a moment and looked around with the feeling of being watched, "hey girls, do you fell like we're being watched?"
Applebloom and Sweetie Belle looked at Scootaloo and replied, "no, why?"
"Mmm, nothing."
The girls continued onwards unaware of their current status. At the edge of the gate into Sweet Apple Acres Applebloom ran forward and looked over the hill towards Ponyville: the Fighting Machine was visible from their location and Applebloom gave a look of slight confusion, "hey girls che-," she turned to look at Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo; a massive silver-clad crab with large emerald eyes stood behind them and raised slightly.
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo turned and looked up at the machine. Simaltaniously, all three of them huddled and screamed as they ran as fast as they could towards Ponyville. Meanwhile within the cockpit Edd peared over the console and out the view-port, "oh damn that's not gonna' end well."
"And, in term was the reason behind the use of this device," Isaiah continued his confession as he pointed towards ALPHA. He looked over towards the Mane 6 before looking over the crowd at Celestia and Luna who displayed less deserning looks. Isaiah lifted a light smile as murmurs rose around the crowd. out of nowhere a voice shouted, "what about your entry!?"
Isaiah paused and bobbed up to try and see who shouted the question, "what?"
"Out in Everfree with that big meteor thing!"
"That was in self-defence I apologise for that but what happened was in self defence."
"Self-defence?" Twilight exclaimed from Isaiah's left, "half of us where traumatised from the whole experience!"
"Twilight I. . ." Isaiah began, "OK look that whole experience was. . ." Isaiah was interrupted by distant screaming. The crowd turned and looked towards the source: Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo came running through the crowd towards the Mane 6.
The trio screamed babel in front of the girls before looking up at ALPHA. "ANOTHER ONE!" Apple Bloom screamed.
Isaiah thought momentarily before realising and switching channels on his radio, "Edd where you at?"
"The three ponies just found you lot didn't they." Edd questioned blankly through the mike.
"Yep and they said that ALPHA was 'another one' so care to explain why shits gonna get worse off for me to explain!?"
"Just tell them the truth but different." Edd replied in a relaxed tone, seeming to know what he was talking about (for once).
"How so eh?"
"Your Earth is bland and boring right. Our Earth is screwed by decades of Alien occupation."
Isaiah began to understand where Edd was going with his idea, "so like Earth-Equestria must have a fucked-up version as well." Edd finished.
"Perfect thanks."
"No problem bud. By the way I'm three minutes out."
Tahlia approached Isaiah, "Edd scare them with the Handler?"
"Yeah by accident, but i got a plan that should shut up the questions thanks to Edd."
"How so?" Tahlia questioned.
"Like this," Isaiah stated moving forward and jumping onto a piece of the railing on the edge of the porch. He sat down in a human-esq pose with his front hooves in his lap, "k before you all start getting pissed about what just happened perhaps I should tell you all why we've done what we've done."
"Please do," Celestia requested as she and Luna moved to the front of the crowd and sat down.
"OK," Isaiah began, "where we're from is, pretty much here, but, not like this; Ponyville no longer exists. all that's left of this place is a burning furnace of an eternal fire which formed from a decade long war between the Pony race and another race called the Xorda. Initially we thought we had them, but it was a winning battle in a losing war and quickly we were overwhelmed. Each of our species; Pony, Gryphon, Dragon," he looked over at Spike before looking back, "we banded whatever technologies we had and created these things, "he pointed a hoof at ALPHA which groaned as it re-adjusted it's stance slightly and sprayed out a light burst of Veridigen exhaust.
"Against the Xorda these were our only defence. Of these we have the Fighting machines, this thing; the Flying machine, which the Gryphons command to neutralize Xorda air forces; and the Dragons command Handling machines, that thing," Isaiah gestured towards DELTA now hovering behind the cloud with its claws retracted. "All together we wiped the Xorda out from the planet but Equestria was too far gone for our inhabitance, so our chief scientists and engineers devised the Dimensional Assualt Capsule, which we came here with. And thats pretty much it." Isaiah concluded.
"So why are you here?" Celestia questioned.
"Are you willing to accept what remains of us?"
Stunned murmurs arose from the crowd. Isaiah gave a fake worry-full stare as Celestia contemplated, "I'll consider it."
The crowd broke into a light applause as Isaiah leapt from the railing and joined with Tahlia. As the crowd began to disperse Edd teleported beside Isaiah and gave him a staged hug. Twilight and the girls walked over beside them, "wow, if we'd known you'd been through all that, we wouldn't have been so harsh in questioning."
"No problem Twilight, at least you all know now."
"We're sorry," Pinkie squealed as she hugged Tahlia.
"I deeply apologise for our intrusion Isaiah, but like I said, I'll consider allowing your Equestria's residents to relocate here."
"Thank-you Celestia." Isaiah returned dipping his head slightly.
"Well, we have things to attend to back in Canterlot. Twilight, Girls, we bid you farewell for now," Celestia stated before teleporting out with Luna.
"we should go too," Applejack followed.
"Agreed," everyone else followed.
As they left Tahlia, Isaiah and Edd huddled together, "nice story," Edd began.
"yeah I just mixed some stuff around and basically got that working."
"and it worked too," Tahlia followed.
"yeah that was lucky. So what do we do now?"
"well I'll get in contact with Wesley and report on what's happened so far but you too can do whatever." Edd ordered.
"I've had enough publicity for one day, I'll be up there," Isaiah pointed.
"I'll go and just hang out with Twilight then." Tahlia finished.
"agreed then," Isaiah and Edd agreed simultaneously before teleporting out. Tahlia stepped down from the porch and headed in the direction of the Library.
Fluttershy arrived home shortly after the conclusion of the seminar. she sighed lightly as she opened the entered and laid down on the couch and closed her eyes. As she opened them again Angel stood in front of her with a blank look on his face, "oh Angel I haven't seen you since we left." Angel crossed his arms and frowned. "I'm so sorry I forgot about you but everpony was leaving in a rush and I. . ." Fluttershy paused and sighed again, "I'm sorry Angel I just," she sighed again and got up and headed into the kitchen. As she opened a cupboard full of groceries she peeped out the window to her left and noticed something in the distance. As she closed the cupboard and Angel bounded onto the bench top she peered out the window to focus on the object. The object in question as ALPHA standing idle at a fair distance away.
Isaiah zoomed in on Fluttershy as she looked out her window in curiosity. He placed both his hooves on his cheeks and sighed. As Fluttershy walked away from the window Isaiah raised his hooves over his eyes and groaned, "I've made a big mistake haven't I," He questioned himself.
That night Fluttershy slept peacefully as she normally would with Angel in his bed beside Fluttershy's. Angel awoke suddenly as a bright light shone past the window. As he got up a light groan became audible briefly before subsiding. He quickly jumped up and sat down on the windowsill waiting for the anomaly to return but with no result. Cautiously he hopped down and woke Fluttershy who woke up in minor annoyance, "Angel this is not a good time to wake me up." Angel jumped up to the window again and pointed outside, "Is there something out there?" She asked sleepily. Angel nodded and bounded out the room and into the living room. Fluttershy slowly hopped out of bed and followed Angel. Angel gestured to the front door and Fluttershy reluctantly opened it, "Out here?"
Angle nodded and stepped back slightly as Fluttershy walked outside into the night. The ambient air was cold with a slightly warm breeze. The full moon of the night gave the area around Fluttershy's home an faint white glow. Fluttershy walked down the footpath for a short time before coming across a foreign object along the way; a large metallic foot attached to a high extending pole. 3 of these shapes stretched down from a massive bulk with blocked out the moon when Fluttershy wandered below it. She froze in the center of the shadow and peered up at a familiar object descending from the bulk; the claw that she encountered a week earlier.
Slowly the claw dropped down to just above eye-level to Fluttershy who stood motionless as the fingers extended revealing the emerald eye in the centre. Fluttershy looked into the eye for a few moments before here view focused on a small obsidian sphere within the eye. On the other side of the eye Isaiah sat at the console observing Fluttershy back. He felt a mild depressing feel going through him as he looked into her eyes. Slowly Fluttershy raised a hoof to one of the claws fingers and tapped it lightly before lowering it again. Isaiah stepped out from the console and walked up to the viewport. He looked on for a few moments at Fluttershy before she began to move away. The claw followed her movement for a few seconds before closing and receding back into the tripods body.
Isaiah returned to the console and sat down. Slowly he tilted his head back and sighed, “She was probably not the best pony to start with.” He flipped a switch on the left side of the console which brought up an option on the viewport. Isaiah shifted the joystick to the option: DELTA.
Edd reclined in his seat as he lit a joint of Poison Joke. The entire cockpit was blazing music drowning out the incoming ringtone from ALPHA. Edd spun around slowly whilst releasing a blissful moan. When his head neared the console in front of him he heard the ringtone and switched the communications channel open. On the other side Isaiah was suddenly hit with the absurdly loud music and switched the volume down quickly. “Edd!” Isaiah shouted with no reply. “EDD!” he shouted again this time yealding a result as Edd moaned into the microphone.
“Woh, I’m high as a kite and the greenhouse is on fire.”
“Yeah that’s great,” Isaiah sarcastically replied, “WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU ONE!?”
“du, dude, dude, du, dude have. . .” Edd began before his head fell forward and hit the console hard.
"That sounded like it hurt," Isaiah remarked after hearing the impact resonate through the microphone, "look Edd, if you're sane enough to understand what I'm saying you should know that this whole thing we've done was a terrible idea."
Isaiah waited for a few moments before giving a long sigh. He took the headset off and slung it on a hook on the right of the consoles panel and tilted his head back over the chairs head, "reality is fucked sometimes," he said to himself as he got up and exited into the bedroom between the cockpit and the generator. Slowly he got into the bed and lay on his back and closed his eyes.
Isaiah's eyes shot open at the sound of noises that were foreign but familiar. As he turned his head he shot to all fours at the realisation that he somehow was on Xen. "What the fuck how am I here!?" he screamed at himself. The sound of rapid footsteps sounded behind him and he turned rapidly to see a Gargantua ramming into him. Isaiah went flying into a nearby wall and slid down the uneven surface to the floor. When his eyes opened again the Gargantua was standing over him with it's nitro jets primed. Isaiah screamed as it fired and his vision went white and his body numb. When Isaiah opened his eyes again the white was dominant, feelings of confusion rolled through his mind as he wondered if he was in limbo or some other plane of existence. As Isaiah clambered to his feet the white shifted into a massive black pupil outlined by a dark cyan ring which quickly dominated the white. From the either a deep feminine voice boomed over the silence, "I know the truth about you Isaiah."
Isaiah backed away from the eye and instantly slipped from the invisible platform he was standing on and fell into the void below. Shortly after, he impacted a solid surface. Getting up, he found himself in the Lambda Complex teleportation chamber at Black Mesa standing over the Xen portal. Isaiah remembered this event from nearly 5 months ago "Holy shit this is old," he said to himself before the voice returned again, "your quotation tells me that I'm on the correct route of your memories."
Isaiah dropped into mild anger, "who the hell are you to go through my memories."
"The answer will present itself shortly Isaiah. But for now." The voice continued. Isaiah's location shifted in a disorientating stretch of perception. The distortion ended in a bunker-esq location bearing a T-shaped hallway. Cautiously Isaiah stepped to the right of the junction to a doorway blocked by a massive structural collapse. Slowly he approached the largest stone and propped his ear against it, a slight voice became audible but gained volume. Quickly Isaiah realised that the voice was that of Dr. Finitevus. Isaiah remembered this event from only 2 and a half months prior.
"We're getting closer now." The location distorted again and returned changed once more. This time though the location was one Isaiah feared to tread; the dark grey walls of Anti-Site-30. From behind him the sound of a revolver clocking sounded which forced Isaiah to turn around. Isaiah's most feared foe lifted his signature Taurus .44 parallel to his sharp featured face and smiled. Isaiah backed off slowly before his anti-self turned and aimed the revolver at Isaiah and fired. Isaiah shut his eyes and flinched as the ringing drowned out the ambience.
As the ringing faded he opened his eyes and found himself at Canterlot within the library. Vast columns of bookshelves stretched outwards from where he stood. "All but fiction," the voice returned this time much smoother and calm. Isaiah turned and looked in the direction the voice came from; the voice was Princess Lunas.
"You know the story I told was fake," Isaiah replied with full sanity.
"From what we had found from the memories within you, your story was far from accurate with only limited truths."
"Like the fact we're not from here?" Isaiah continued.
"Well yes that being one of them."
"So now you know the truth and your gonna' tell your sister aren't you." Isaiah said sarcastically.
"No we're not." Luna solidly replied.
Isaiah raised his eyebrows in mild surprise, "Ok so why not."
The location transitioned to a mountain range. Luna vanished in front of Isaiah and reappeared behind him overlooking the landscape. Isaiah noted that the location was the main island of Arcadia and the mountain was overlooking the main structure of Site-30. "In the spirit of knowledge," Luna began, "We believe it is best that what we know stays with us to detur the furthur curiosity of my sister."
"You wont tell Celestia so she wont as more questions? Why?"
Luna turned and looked down at Isaiah, "You, Tahlia and Edward are unique. But there's a certain quality within you three that brings upon the most horrific of dangers at the sound of your presence."
"What does that mean?" Isaiah asked.
"I sense something in your future; something that bears the name of evil. But there's another that follows in it's wake; something calling itself of golden knowledge, a city; your name, Edward's, and another called Max; called out by the thousands that inhabit the city. But that's all we can see. Nothing more, Nothing less." Luna concluded.
"So when will it happen?"
"I am unsure. But it is waiting for you, you cannot find it, only await it's arrival."
"But what about the evil you sensed?" Isaiah asked worrisomely.
"That we are unsure of also, but we can sense it will happen soon." Luna finished before vanishing.
The location around Isaiah distorted before finishing on a small hill inhabited by a lone tree. Over the hill and standing out from the vast green valley below was a massive foreign object that looked to be at least a kilometer in diameter. The object in question beared what appeared to be a large golden wall protecting an emerald dome which hid whatever was below it. From behind Isaiah came the familiar pattern of footsteps. He turned around and saw what appeared to be ALPHA but lacking its markings looming over him. From the either Luna's voice became audible once more, "Prepare for unforeseen consequences."
The tripod fired it's heat-ray as Isaiah woke up in his bed.
Ending
Torchwood: Project Equestria
Isaiah sat with his left hoof pressed against his chin as he watched the world outside the viewport. All he could think about was what Princess Luna had told him last night in his lucid dream; ‘Prepare for unforeseen consequences.’ Isaiah heard this phrase over and over again as it ran through his head. He couldn't think of any event or person, or anything on that matter that would relate to it. But still the thought of ‘unforeseen’ or consequences for that matter had him worried slightly.
A light static appeared and disappeared within a small window and Edd’s voice echoed over the speaker, he sounded extremely and painfully hangover. Isaiah raised brought the microphone from his headset up close to his muzzle, “sleep well?” A sound of pain fell over the cockpit as Edd struggled to give a reply. Isaiah raised his hoof to his forehead and gave a light chuckle, “holy shit Edd what the hell were you on last n-“ his sentence fell short after a large thump ricocheted through both the speakers and headset.
Shit that sounded bad , Isaiah thought to himself.
“Remind me to never take Poison Joke again,” Edd muffled
into his own headset.
“Was it good,” Isaiah asked jokingly.
“Until now yes WHY the hell did you just ask that!?” Edd suddenly sounded switched on as if the hangover suddenly vanished. He raised both hands to his forehead and covered his eyes.
“Just checking to see if you were OK, it be a shame if Wesley found out you were doing drugs on a mission.”
“If you tell him or anyone else about this,” Edd began with a heavily aggressive tone as he grabbed his headsets microphone, “I will sling a rope around your neck and legs hog-tie you and leave you dangling above 682 as a fucking cat toy!”
Isaiah’s eyes widened from the comment, “well, that escalated quickly. Look, are you OK for anything else other than death-threatening me or are you busy with the hangover to do shit.”
Edd got up from his chair and rested his hands on the console. After a deep breath he pressed his left hand against his eye, “yeah, I think I need to rest this one out for a bit.”
“Ok,” Isaiah said. He turned a key on the left side of the console which flipped open a small hatch containing a button. The core of ALPHA made a heavily audible hum was the machine activated. As ALPHA rose into an idle state it lurched upwards suddenly but regained stability. “That didn't feel good,” Isaiah remarked, “should probably get Daedalus to check that later.” ALPHA reached its normal idle position and remained steady for a few moments before the knee joint on the left leg failed and the body dropped slightly and swung to the left. An audible tumble sounded on the outside hull which stopped Isaiah remarking the current state of the machine. He watched out the viewport wondering if something in the back came loose or if someone was outside.
As Isaiah leaned forward a black pony-shaped figure slide over the right copula and stopped midway. Isaiah gasped along with the thing on the outside. “EDD!” he shouted into the microphone.
On the other side Edd was heading back into the rear section of DELTA, “Later!” he shouted back. As the door to the apex closed Isaiah shouted back, “WE GOT A CHANGELING!”
Edd raced back through the door and mantled his chair. Switching DELTA on, he sat down and put his headset on.
Isaiah put on his own headset and activated ALPHAs combat units. The changeling jumped off the copula and began fleeing.
“Come back here!” Isaiah shouted taking aim at the changeling. When the machine finished locking Isaiah fired the MAC cannon.
The shot barely missed and sent the changeling spiralling downwards before disappearing into the canopy below.
“Did you get it!?” Edd shouted soberly from his end.
Isaiah shifted himself so he could get a good viewing angle from where he was sitting, “uhh looks like.”
Edd sighed as he laid back in his seat, “well that’s one less bastard we need to deal with.”
“Yeah well if there’s one there’s more,” Isaiah continued, “the direction it was heading what’s there?”
Edd analysed the possible flight plan for the changeling which lead to an area within the Bad Lands down south, “only area of interest.”
“We head there then,” Isaiah said.
<--NEW TAB
The Bad Lands lived up to the expectations of its name. The area was walled off by a mid-sized mountain range that kept most of the landmarks hidden from ground level. The area of the Bad Lands itself mainly consisted of barren red soil with the occasional hoodoo making an odd silhouette against the thin line of dust rising from the ground. The Fighting Machine remained motionless as it scanned the area; not a single creature, nor any form of life was present save for an eagle that happened to fly across the sky southward. “So what were we expecting to find,” Isaiah asked rhetorically.
Edd, who was inspecting a hoodoo by ALPHA’s rear foot neglected to answer. Isaiah noticed what Edd was doing and pulled a confused look, “never seen a hoodoo before?”
“Isaiah we’re dealing with a changeling race we've never seen before you think they might have the capability to transform into an inanimate object?”
Isaiah raised ALPHA’s hind leg and sent it down onto the hoodoo blowing shrapnel in any direction it could, “If he’s still in there he ain't happy!”
A faint outline cleared through the dust line a few hundred meters ahead from Isaiah and Edd’s positions; a large black alicorn shaped creature emerged bearing with it two changelings in guard positions. “Uh, Edd. . . company.”
The changeling trio halted a striding step (ALPHA’s standard distance per step which is about 25-30 meters apart) and waited.
“What’s that one’s story then?” Isaiah asked himself remarking about the larger changeling in the centre.
“Ring leader maybe.” Edd replied.
“Eh, probably.”
Before another word came through to each other the ring leader changeling shouted, “Is the deed done!?”
“Uh, Edd? You gonna’ reply to them?” Isaiah asked
“Why me!?” Edd spat back.
“Because I’m a pony and they probably would prefer to kill me then to talk. And besides if they’re talking about bringing down Ponyville or sum-shit then that’s probably what it’s asking about.” Isaiah replied.
“Fine then,” Edd groaned before leaving the cockpit. He exited DELTA moments later and moved into the open of the Bad Lands, there was a higher momentum of wind tan there was earlier, which Edd took note of. Obsering his surroundings he saw more changeling-esq shapes shifting around the larger hoodoos around the area. Both he and the larger changeling moved in closer until both stood a few meters apart.
“You’ve fulfilled your side of the bargain?” she asked.
“It’s done, should’ve given us a better task that shit was way too easy. If you wanted to bring down Celestia you didn’t need to waste mine and his time doin’ the shit you could do blindfolded. You seriously think we like wasting time and resources on shit that’s barely any fun for us, maybe if you got of your lazy asses you’d be better to actually live somewhere decent you lazy shit!”
Isaiah gave himself a slightly nervous look as he noted Edd’s change in tone. There was only one other person who talked the way he did and Isaiah didn’t like it. On the ground though the lead changeling got increasingly aggravated, “HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME THAT WAY!”
“I’LL TALK TO YOU ANY WAY I WANT YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE FINITEVUS DOESN’T GIVE A FUCK ABOUT WHAT YOU AND YOUR CHANGELING FRIENDS THINK. SO FAR AS HES CONCEARNED YOUR ALL JUST AS LAZY AS THE NEXT PONY FROM PONYVI-
NEVER MENTION THAT PLACE AGAIN!” the lead shouted back.
“Well too bad ‘cause Finitevus will send you straight there if you try and defy him and rest assure it will be even worse than it will be when he hears you don’t like the work he’s doing for you.” Edd concluded in a more convincing tone than before.
“WELL DO THAT THEN, AND TELL HIM THE DEAL IS OFF.” The lead screamed at Edd who gave a light smirk.
As he turned his back and walked back Edd stopped for a moment and made a light compliment, “you seriously need to.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
Edd teleported to the cockpit of DELTA in a split second and switched on the external broadcast, “Ponyville sends there regards!”
Isaiah made a triumphant laugh as he powered up the Heat-Ray. As the changelings in the area took flight Isaiah sounded ALPHA’s horn which dazed every changeling near him. As the insectoid noise of wings filled the air the sudden scream of a fully charged Heat-Ray pierced through the air. The beam fired at a small group to the right of ALPHA and instantly terminated them. Edd followed shortly afterwards with DELTA. The four plugs beside the Heat-Ray emitted glowed red before a jet of liquid fire blew out of the nozzle. The ground around melted into glass from the heat and anything else charred to black. Any changeling that didn’t evacuate became a dark silhouette charred against the sand but those that did only barely escaped, the ringleader included amongst them.
When silence fell over the Bad Lands once more Isaiah burst out with laughter, “Holy shit that just happened!”
While Isaiah was enjoying the moment, Edd took the time to savour it, “shit’s gonna’ get harder here now.”
“Wait, didn’t she say Finitevus was here?” Isaiah just realized.
“Yep.”
Isaiah’s joy instantly switched to anger, “Of all the FUCKING PLACES TO GO!” He yelled, manipulating ALPHA’s controls to head straight for Ponyville.
Edd gave chase with DELTA at top speed.
He can screw any other place he wants to, but not here. We’ve caused enough damage Finitevus you’re not adding to it. We’ll drive you and your pathetic army out, burn through the stragglers, and when that’s done, hunt you down. . . “Like the ANIMAL YOU ARE!”
“You really didn’t need to help me with these Tahlia,” Twilight said with a rucksack on her back.
“Well it’s the least I could do to try and make things up for what’s happened,” Tahlia replied. She had the other rucksack full of belongings on her back also. Both were filled to the brim with magic and spell casting books with the odd ‘Mythical Creatures of Equestria’ book. “I still feel kinda bad about what we did to you lot.”
“Please don’t be. Equestria has suffered through many atrocities even before you arrived.”
“Is one called Discord?” Tahlia asked sarcastically.
Twilight froze for a moment then caught up to Tahlia and walked parallel to her, “What do you mean by that?”
Tahlia stood frozen suddenly and peered upwards, directing her ear upwards with her eye. An odd sound fell through her ears which seemed to drown out the more ‘local’ sounds in favour of processing this one. It sounded artificial much like either ALPHA or DELTA but it sounded too ‘loose’ to be either of them. The sound felt like the footsteps of a giant until a new sound accompanied them which sounded like a rattling chain-link fence, only it was only three notes long.
Tahlia ran ahead dropping the rucksack in the process.
“Tahlia wait!” Twilight shouted.
Tahlia rounded a corner a few meters ahead and stopped dead at what she saw. Most of Ponyville was looking in the same direction towards the Everfree Forest; two faint but visible columns of smoke or steam where emanating from a minute area behind the tree line. A short period later a large black machine gradually cleared the canopy before the entire body suddenly lurched upwards. The machines full body became visible now. As it came to a stop on the edge of the Everfree border it let out a light mechanical drone.
Tahlia’s jaw dropped as she felt a horrifying feeling rush over her. A feeling of dread that seemed to make her think only the worst of thoughts; blood smears against the walls of ever home in Ponyville, bodies hung by their necks, Twilight dead against the wall in her library with a bullet hole through her head, whoever was left made forced into manual labour by the people behind the machine.
Twilight rushed around the corner and paused. She looked at Tahlia before sighting the machine in the distance. Her jaw dropped in a similar fashion only not as far as Tahlias. She took one step back, “Tahlia, what is that?”
“Get everyone away from here NOW!” Tahlia ordered. Before Twilight could ask why Tahlia turned and faced her, “GET EVERYONE AWAY FOM HERE NOW TWILIGHT!” She was on the verge of tears as she shouted.
Most ponies near them turned around wondering about the commotion. As they did multiple buzzing sounds filled the air. From the edge of Everfree multiple flying objects appeared from the tree line and flew full-force towards Ponyville. “EVERYPONY RUN!”
Every pony ahead of Tahlia and Twilight began to flee in any direction. The objects became more apparent as they landed and hovered over the town. There were 5 still in the air and 3 landing. Tahlia managed to confirm 3 L-35s landing and 5 L-29s holding overwatch before being rushed by a thoughtless pony knock passed her, causing her to smash her head straight into an adjacent wall. Twilight stopped immediately and ran back for her. Picking her up with her magic she gave chase towards the library.
A black-cloaked biped intercepted Twilight and missed capturing her with a fish net and slipped up. Twilight managed to slam her front door shut just as a wooden shard and a small metal pulp snapped past Twilights right ear.
Spike jumped down the stairs at the sound of the snapping wood. The splinter from the door flew parallel to his face, almost catching his eye and embedding itself in the wall behind him. “Twilight what’s going on!?”
Twilight materialized multiple planks of wood and a hammer from the either and began boarding up every door and window in the library. In just under a minute the libraries interior was encased in darkness save for a few streams of sunlight streaming through the boarded windows. Things went unnervingly quiet for a few moments before an angry hard knock rattled through the front door.
“Come on out pretty-pony, we’re not gonna’ hurt you much if you come out now,” a voice echoed through the front hall of the library. Sounded like a 40s era gangster but wouldn’t be surprising if the individual was a gang member at some point.
Twilight and Spike huddled in the centre of the hall motionless. Every few moments the sun would be blocked by movement outside the window and return when it moved on. On a sudden occasion a face appeared to look through the window and scan the room before moving on.
* * *
At Canterlot everything was quiet. Lacking the news of Ponyville the city was relatively calm and normal. Luna sat at the balcony linking to both princesses bedroom, looking on into the clouds moving overhead. She let out a light sigh before she walked inside. As she did an L-35 sprung into view off the edge of the balcony. Luna darted around and looked into the face of the machine. In a state of shock she darted towards the door as the machine fired; a rain of metal bled through the open door and down the hall. Luna had managed to prone low enough not to be hit but that didn’t quell her fear. She ran as fast as she could until she hit the main throne room where Celestia was handling orders to the garrison.
“Sister, what’s happening!?” Luna screamed.
“We’re being attacked by someone and we don’t know who,” she replied as a guard barged through the main doors.
“Your highness,” he exclaimed before collapsing to the ground. A mid-sized figure surrounded by a deep black robe stepped over him and stopped.
“Princess Celestia I presume,” he stated in a lightly sarcastic voice. Two soldiers moved formation next to him bearing TRCR-357s (dart guns). Both guards accompanying Celestia and Luna dropped to the floor when the soldiers fired them off and holstered them. Both brandished their assault rifles before stepping to the side and aiming.
“Who are you,” Celestia asked.
The individual gave a slight smirk and moved around the pair C-clockwise, “I do understand that the nature of our first meeting has so far been, shall we say, a bit forceful, if it can be considered? But there are things that you must understand.”
“Like what,” Luna asked.
“Like what indeed,” he replied, “such as the fact that this is a peaceful . . . takeover.”
“How has this been peaceful,” Celestia demanded.
“Well let’s see, well the primary fact is your guards aren’t dead but merely . . . sleeping. Also at the fact that we just walked right in,” he gestured a walking figure with his fingers, “without proper resistance. You see princess, being who we are, we tend to . . . kill, a lot, before we take a position. But this?” He paused behind where Celestia and Luna were standing and exposed his arms and pointing to the area around him, “this is basically Canada is like; they leave no doors locked, and people can just . . . walk . . . right,” a small 15-man squad walked in and positioned themselves around Celestia and Luna. The individual was only inches away from Celestia, “. . . in.”
“Who are you,” Celestia asked as the figure smirked and turned around.
“I am the great Doctor Finitevus!” he exclaimed walking up the staircase. He paused halfway up, “and we, are, LEGION!”
“LEGION!” The soldiers below shouted back.
“Take them both to the dungeon!” Finitevus ordered.
One soldier stepped forward, “where is it sir?”
“FUCKING FIND IT!” Finitevus shouted back, “And make sure they can’t escape!”
As she began to be taken Luna jumped her jailer and charged the Doctor. As she did a Stalker tank dropped through the roof overhead and aimed directly at her. Luna slid to a stop just before the machines eye. Her reflection stared back at her through the red illumination.
“eid ouy won,” the machine said in a cold mechanical voice. Both gun-pods took aim at Luna as she stepped back.
Finitevus on the other hand was laughing with joy, “such FIRE in this one. Don’t kill her,” he ordered as he descended the staircase again, “she and the other one are too valuable.” The Stalker stood down and shifted to the right. Each spike on the end of its leg leaving a ping sound as it did. Finitevus stood in front of Luna and grabbed her chin with force, “defiance is the first step to your death. If you want to live you’ll do as you’re told!”
Two soldiers stepped forward and took hold of Luna’s necklace and began dragging her in the opposite direction. Finitevus re-ascended the staircase with his hands behind his back. A soldier approached him from atop the staircase and saluted, “Doctor, Unit 42 has taken the lower valley.”
“Excellent, tell them to hold positions and await further instructions.” Finitevus replied.
“Yes sir, 42/89 also reports minor resist/capture and have taken refuge within one of the residents.”
“Tell them to await for 30 minutes before going in after them. No casualties, I want as many of them to stay alive as possible.” Finitevus ordered.
“Yes sir.”
Finitevus walked down the corridor and paused before a stain-glassed window. The window showed a figure resembling a Draconequus. “LIEUTENANT!” He scowled.
Another soldier ran down the corridor, before skidding to a halt and saluting, “sir!”
“See if this place has a library. If it does scower through every book there is for information on this!” He gestured towards the window.
The lieutenant looked up and scanned the window, “That’s. . .”
“Discord, yes. Now GET GOING!” Finitevus shouted.
We’re not the only ones who are using this planet. He thought to himself.
* * *
Twilight stepped over to the blocked window and peered through a gap between the wooden boards; a soldier stood a few meters away holding an assault rifle but was looking in the opposite direction. From the left another soldier came into view dragging a unicorn caught in a fishing net. The soldier with the rifle reached into his trench coat pocket and picked out a bracelet-like device and chucked it to the other soldier. As he knelt down to put it on the pony kicked the soldier square in the face. As the soldier moved back in pain and mild shock the other soldier raised his rifle and hit the pony on the side of the face with the butt with enough force to knock him out.
Twilights eyes widened as she hid beside the windows opening. She began panting as she raised a hoof to her chest. Spike was in the centre of the room with a warm rag over Tahlia’s forehead. Slowly she raised her eyes and let out a slight moan. As she try to get up Spike stopped her, “hold on a second.”
“Where are we?” she asked slowly.
“The library,” Spike replied, “Twilight brought you here after they arrived.”
Tahlia looked at Spike before looking over at Tahlia, “they?”
Spike helped Tahlia to her feet and walked her over to the window, “look.”
On the outside two soldiers gather together, one was talking into a microphone attached to his coat, the other was wielding a torch-like object and waving it in the air. Over the top of the adjacent house the black outline of the Goliath shifted over to the right and became fully visible down the road. When the soldier lowered the flare the Goliath raised its body slightly and ceased all movement. The other soldier reattached the microphone to his coat and began conversing with his friend beside him, at the distance the talk was just muffled murmurs. As one turned around a Stalker moved past the pair and halted a few meters away.
The ponies and the dragon hid again as the soldier moved up to the window. A light tap echoed through the hall of the library and a voice followed, “Oi, whoever’s in there, you’ve got 25 minutes to come out or we blow you the fuck up. 25 minutes.”
“Why are they gonna’ kill us?” Twilight asked.
“Because it’s what they do.” Tahlia responded.
“Who are they though?”
Tahlia lowered her head, “Twilight, I need to tell you something.”
“What is it?”
“That story Isaiah told about where we’re from and why we’re here,” Tahlia began, “it was a lie.”
Twilight and Spike were shocked. Tahlia got up and walked away from the pair.
“So why are you here then?” Twilight asked.
“Were here . . . for no reason.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“It was just some little experiment we did; only we didn’t expect them to follow us here.”
“What do you mean experiment,” Spike asked.
“Where we’re from, we . . . don’t look like . . . this,” she pointed to herself with both hooves.
“Well, who . . . or what are you where you’re from?” Twilight asked.
Tahlias radio began to produce static. Isaiah’s voice came over the radio, “Tahlia, you there?”
“I’m here,” She replied.
“Tahlia, Finitevus and the Legion are here, get everyone away from Ponyville.”
“We know.”
“We? Oh shit no. where are you now?”
“I’m with Twilight and Spike, we’re in the library.”
“Are you safe though?” Isaiah asked.
“For the time being. Someone outside said they’ll blow us up unless we leave the library.”
“And they’ll definitely do it as well.”
Spike and Twilight huddled together, “what’ll we do then?”
There was a pause for a few moments.
“I’ve got a plan.
“Your times up ponies!” A soldier shouted from the outside. A group of 20 soldiers took formation in a 10 meter perimeter around the library. The Goliath on the edge of Ponyville took position and aimed at the library. The front door open slowly and Twilight stepped forward. Spike followed her shortly after.
A soldier stepped forward, “there were three of you where’s the other?” he said in a harsh tone. Tahlia emerged from the front door a short time later and stood motionless.
“Get over here now,” he said. As he noticed her Cutie-Mark he raised his rifle, “HOLD THE FUCK UP!”
Tahlia backed up and almost fell down backwards. The soldier brought up his microphone and set a channel on a module attach to his belt, “Doctor, we've got the girl from the Foundation.”
* * *
“Good, have her ready for transport and bring her here ALIVE sergeant,” Finitevus replied, “harm her and there will be consequences.”
* * *
“Yes Doctor,” the soldier replied, “Get over here you.” He continued walking up to Tahlia. He grabbed her by her mane and began dragging her away.
Twilight gave a shocked expression, “NO LET HER GO!” she shouted as she ran towards the soldier.
“Grab her,” another soldier shouted, a third dive towards Twilight and tackled her to the ground. A forth approached Spike and pointed his rifle at him, “What should we do with these then?”
“Doctor what do we do with the others?”
* * *
“Who are they?” Finitevus asked.
“Another pony and a dragon shrimp,” the soldier replied.
“There not important kill them off.”
* * *
“Yes sir,” the soldier concluded, “kill them.”
“No don’t you dare!” Tahlia shouted.
“Odd how you care about them Miss Tahlia. Being a member of the Foundation, I’d thought you’d not care for anyone else aside from yourselves,” Finitevus replied.
“That’s not true now let them go!”
“Hurry it up sergeant!”
Tahlia tried all she could to resist the soldiers pull, “Let me go you heartless bastard!”
“Bring the Stalker in and kill these two now,” the soldier commanded. A Stalker moved around the formation and aimed at Twilight and Spike, “Do it nice and quick.”
“ris sey,” The Stalker replied.
“NO!”
An extreme explosion erupted from the Goliaths back. The machine hunched forward and ‘winced.’ As it turned around the face was hit by the onslaught of the Heat-Ray. Every soldier and Stalker in Ponyville looked towards the Goliath as it collapsed.
“What the hell!?”
The silver outline of the Fighting Machine shifted through the thick smoke emanating from the Goliath's wreck.
“DOCTOR, THE TRIPODS HERE I REPEAT; THE TRIPOD IS HERE!”
* * *
“Destroy it, DESTROY IT NOW!”
“But sir we've lost the Goliath!”
“USE WHAT YOU HAVE. SCRAP THE DAMN THING!”
* * *
“Yes Doctor. All units switch to heavy ordinance!” the soldier shouted. The Stalker forgot about Twilight and Spike and moved ahead down the road. Each soldier scrambled and began gathering any heavy weapon they could find.
The soldier pulling Tahlia began dragging her fiercely towards a landing VTOL. Twilight seized the opportunity and rushed the soldier who dropped Tahlia and drew a sidearm. Twilight leaped into the air and round-housed the soldier on the side of the face, knocking him out instantly.
Spike ran to Tahlia and helped her to get up. Tahlia got up and stood on her hind legs. She raised a hoof and shouted, “REVOLUTION! EVERYPONY, NOWS YOU’RE TIME! TAKE BACK PONYVILLE!”
Every captured pony struggled out of their harnesses and began to escape. Any pony hiding within their homes emerged and began attacking the nearest soldier and assisting with their captured brethren.
“Twilight, now’s our chance for revenge. You ready?”
Twilight stood boldly, “Let’s do it.”
Tahlia charged at the nearest soldier and pinned him to the ground before punching him twice. With her magic she picked him up and threw him through the nearest wall.
Twilight jumped a soldier and hammered his head into the ground on the landing. Another soldier turned around and fired a few rounds from his assault rifle. Twilight managed to hold the shots with a barrier spell and deflected the shots back at the soldier who flinched and fell backwards. Twilight was shocked but Tahlia looked mildly pleased, “You’ll get used to it!” She shouted as she ran past.
As Twilight rushed another soldier her target was picked off by a rainbow. The rainbows appearance cleared into Rainbow Dash as she fluttered off the ground slightly, “That’ll teach ya!”
“Rainbow!” Twilight shouted.
“There you are Twilight. Don’t just stand there I’ve got ten already!”
“Wait, you’re keeping score!?” Twilight questioned.
“Why not!”
A soldier rushed Rainbow with a blade but Twilight managed to pick him off with a laser. Rainbow turned around as the soldier dropped to the ground beside her and looked at Twilight. “That’s two for me then,” She stated with a smile.
A soldier rushed around the corner chasing a pony before being startled by Pinkie Pie. “Hi there!” she said with a big smile, “Wanna see my party cannon!?” she asked reaching behind herself and bringing out her signature cyan cannon. With a groan the soldier was blasted backwards by the force of the cannons shot.
Applejack pounced on another soldier, “hi there sugar cube,” she said before slamming her hat over the soldiers face mask. “What the. . .” the soldier exclaimed through the fabric of both the mask and the hat. “Bah now,” she stated as she bucked the soldier square in the chest. He flew in the opposite direction with a large amount of force and Applejacks hat flew into the air. As it floated downwards she caught it and repositioned it back onto her head.
A soldier paused for a moment before a light blue scarf fell upon his head. A light pink one followed before a green. “Those suits of yours are much too bland darling,” Rarity stated, “they could use a bit of a twist,” she followed as she tugged at one of the scarfs. The soldier spun around a few times before collapsing.
A pair of soldiers cornered Fluttershy with her hooves over her eyes and aimed their rifles at her. A large shadow loomed over the pair. As they turned around Edd cracked their heads together knocking them out (and most likely killing them). Fluttershy removed her hooves and Edd lent out a hand.
Twilight and Rainbow Dash ran down the main street before being intersected by a Stalker. “sgnikaew ,eid ot emit,” the machine stated. From the border of Ponyville ALPHA fired a shot from its MAC cannon. The shot obliterated the Stalker in an instant and its remains blew across the area.
Within 15 minutes every Legionnaire had been rounded up and neutralised. Everypony cheered with joy. Isaiah rushed towards Tahlia, “Tahlia!” He collided with her and hugged her tight, “You’re alright!”
“Unless you stop squeezing I won’t be!” she groaned.
“Oop, sorry,” Isaiah apologised. He looked around and saw everypony conversing with each other. A few took guard over the captured Legionnaires. Edd walked into the crowd with Fluttershy who ran towards Twilight and the rest of the main 6.
“Glad this shits over with,” Edd stated.
* * *
“Doctor,” A soldier approached Finitevus.
“What is it!?”
“Ponyville has been retaken by Torchwood and the resident’s sir.” The soldier reported.
Finitevus fell into an instant rage and grabbed the soldier’s microphone off his suit, dragging the soldier with him as he approached a window. “Sergeant! Sergeant are you there!?”
* * *
“Sergeant!” Finitevus’ voice came through the soldier’s microphone speaker.
The trio overheard the doctor’s voice and approached the soldier. Edd placed a foot on the soldier’s shoulder and tore the microphone from his coat. “You’re getting too old for this Doc,” he mocked, “the Insurgency do a better job at trying to kill us than your Legionnaires do.”
“DAMN YOU EDWARD. I SHOULD NEVER HAVE COMMISSIONED YOU!”
“Keep telling yourself that Doc, I’m not dying any quicker listening to you repeating yourself.”
The microphone cut to static before fully deactivating. Edd let out a light chuckle before chucking the microphone back down.
Tahlia looked over towards the cheering crowd and thought for a moment how quickly it took them to retake Ponyville. Edd took note and knelt down beside her, “You OK?”
“It was so easy for us this time,” she began, “why did we win this so quickly?”
Edd got back up and walked over to the crowd of hostages. One looked up and laughed. Edd tore the soldier’s hood off his head.
He was a Mobian-Echidna youngling; maybe only 21 in age. Edd grabbed him around the throat and lifted him off the ground.
“Why’d you give up so quickly?” Edd began. The soldier gave no reply out of fear. Edd shook him slightly and pressed his throat harder, “Tell me!”
Another soldier on his left gave a noticeable chuckle. Edd dropped the youngling and moved in front of the latter.
“What’s so funny!?”
The soldier looked up at Edd, “We were never given a contingency plan for if they rebelled. We all were relying on the machinery to kill ‘em of in case that happened,” he stated in an elderly voice.
Edd knelt down and removed the soldier’s hood with care. The soldier was a Mobian-Echidna with a mild grey beard under his muzzle. “So what’s funny about you surrendering then?”
“Were expendable,” the soldier continued, “he never gave us a C-plan because he didn’t care about them or this place.”
“What do you mean?”
“Finitevus wants to turn this place into a factory, the entire planet in actual fact. And for that he needs good enough area, and this place suffices well.”
“What’s plan to clear the area then?”
The soldier laughed lightly, “Well when the flagship arrives here tomorrow, this place and everywhere else he deems good enough will be incinerated. Everyone and everything will burn to make way for glory of the Legion! Finitevus will rein in this world and later yours! Everywhere will fly the banners of our great empire!”
Edd got up and walked away from the soldier as he continued to rant. The soldier concluded hailing the Legion when Edd pulled and shot him in the head. Everypony behind them looked on in shock.
Edd walked over to Isaiah and Tahlia and holstered his sidearm, “we got 24 hours before that ship arrives at most. What’s our plan?”
“My plan,” Isaiah groaned.
“What are we gonna’ do,” Tahlia asked.
“First of all both of you stay here.” Isaiah mumbled through gritted teeth.
“NO Isaiah, were in this together you’re not going to lone-wolf the rest of this. We do this together.”
“Look around us Edd, Finitevus did all this to them. I don’t give a fuck what you say I’m taking that bastard down right here and now!”
“This isn’t a time for personal vendettas Isaiah this is serious!”
“This isn’t a vendetta Edd! This is taking revenge for all those he’s killed.”
“That’s a vendetta Isaiah.”
“WHO GIVES A FUCK EDD! MY ONLY CONCERN IS TAKING HIM DOWN NOW!”
“YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO DO IT ALONE!”
“I’LL TAKE HIM DOWN WITH ME IF THAT’S THE CASE EDD!”
“Not if I take you down first,” Edd pulled on Isaiah and aimed at him.
Isaiah stood on his hind legs with his arms extended out, “Do it then!”
Edds hand began shaking as he began to squeeze down on the trigger.
“What’s this all for Edd, are your trying to protect him still, is that inner origin of yours still fighting you to resist!?”
Edd screamed out loud as he threw his aim skywards and emptied the remainder of his ammunition. When the slide locked he paused briefly before dripping his arm and the pistol.
Isaiah turned around and began walking towards the Fighting Machine. Tahlia ran up and tried to stop him, “Please don’t.”
“Don’t try and stop me Tahlia,” Isaiah shook her hoof of and continued walking before vanishing in a teleport. Tahlia sat down and watched as ALPHA made way in the direction of Canterlot. Edd turned around and lifted a palm to his face and covered his eyes.
“Were pretty lost on our own aren’t we Edd.” Tahlia said.
“We’ll be in deep if he kills Finitevus without trial.” He continued after her. He turned around and peered over the crowd of ponies still behind them, “anyone here know another way into Canterlot!?”
Six hooves stood out from the crowd. Everypony in front stop aside revealing Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Pinkie Pie. Spike too had his hand up but not far enough to be seen above the crowd. “Anyone else?” Edd scolded. No other response came. “God damnit,” he said in response.
* * *
Finitevus lent against the window and peered out at a regiment of soldiers in the lower courtyard. 3 lines of soldiers moved into formation with a commander out front issuing orders. After a few moments the soldiers saluted and disbanded in multiple directions. Finitevus stepped back from the window and placed his hands on his face and groaned.
A soldier approached Finitevus cradling a book. “Doctor, we’ve found something you might want to look at,” he said flipping to a random page mid-way through; the page detailed a type of ‘super weapon’ labelled within the book as the ‘Elements of Harmony.’ Finitevus gentle pulled the book from the soldiers grip and began to read. He leant against the wall beside the window and began flipping pages.
“Bring the Princesses to me,” he ordered closing the book and dropping it on the ground.
“Yes sir.” The soldier replied as he gave a nod and walked away. Another soldier approached Finitevus soon after, “Sir, recon reports the Fighting Machine is heading in this direction sir.”
Finitevus walked to the centre of the hall with his hands over his muzzle tapping his nose with his fingers. He let them drop and caught them together behind his back and walked over the window once more. “Have advance guard posted with anti-vehicle weapons ready,” he ordered.
“Yes sir.” The soldier replied before turning and walking out the main doors muttering orders into his microphone.
The first soldier returned with Celestia and Luna being led by metal chains. Both had a Harmonic Displacer clamped to their horns. [Harmonic Displacer - A device modified to disrupt certain degrees of brainwave activity. Reverse engineered from samples of SCP-148]. The soldier moved the pair to the centre of the hall before pausing. Finitevus turned and faced the trio before gesturing the soldier to move along. He did so with a nod before moving out the main doors, closing them in the process.
“We haven’t really gotten along very well haven’t we Princess,” Finitevus mocked, “but right now I need your cooperation.”
“What makes you think we would help you?” Celestia scolded.
Finitevus shifted his cloak to cover his back only before taking it off and letting it float down to the floor. As he approached the duo he reached his left hand to his belt to wield his signature sidearm; a C96 Mauser with a large bayonet under the barrel. “Because there’s only one thing from stopping us achieving total domination of this planet,” he pointed the barrel of the Mauser up to Celestia’s chin letting the bayonet pike into her flesh slightly, “the Elements of so-called Harmony Princess, where are they?”
“I refuse to tell you,” Celestia replied. Finitevus let out a light sigh.
“Really Princess you’re only making things ever so harder for yourself and your sister,” he replied dragging Luna further from her sister.
“Don’t you hurt her!” Celestia yelled.
“Hurt her?” Finitevus chuckled, “Who every mentioned hurting her?” He said returning to Celestia, loading a single round into the Mauser’s chamber. “Let’s see if your good-for-nothing sister knows anything then,” he stated tugging on the chain wrapped around Celestias neck dragging her head down to Finitevus’ shoulder height. Putting a foot on the chain he raised the Mauser and poked the barrel to Celestia’s head, “Tell me where the Elements are Princess.” He forced his words upon Luna who began to panic slightly.
“She doesn’t know. And even if she did she,” Celestia was cut short when Finitevus poked the blade harder into Celestia’s temple.
“I’m not asking you Princess. Come on now it’s that simple; tell me where the weapon is and your sister lives.”
Luna remained silent with fear.
“Tell you what then, I’ll give you on the count to five to tell me; five,” Finitevus began in a childish manner. Luna was still silent, “FOUR!” Still nothing, “THREE!” Luna’s jaw dropped slightly as she began to panic. Her breathing quickened.
“Come on now. Two.” Finitevus continued, “Last chance.” Luna inhaled heavily and exhaled. Finitevus’ expression returned to normal, “hmm too bad.”
Finitevus pulled the trigger and the shot passed straight through Celestia’s cranium. Luna screamed the loudest she had ever as her dear sister’s body collapsed to the floor. Finitevus on the other hand remained normal as he approached Luna, passing to her right and letting the blade of the bayonet slice through her cheek slightly. “You disappoint me. Both of you.” He said coldly putting his cape back on and holstering his sidearm.
He approached luna again and stood in front of her, “do you understand who we are now?” he asked before grabbing her head with both hands, “DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME PRINCESS!”
Luna broke down into tears as Finitevus stood over Celestia’s body, “this wouldn’t have happened had you’d told me where the Elements where. But you don’t know do you.”
Luna shook her head. “All you had to do was tell me. She only died because of your error Luna,” Finitevus told her before moving to the main door and opening them. Two soldiers stood to attention as Finitevus gave them orders. Both soldiers moved in to relocate Celestia’s body as a third stood behind Finitevus who gave him the order to remove Luna.
Luna lay in her cell sobbing over her sister’s death. Her only thoughts she could conceive where why she could not bring herself to say anything, only a few words could have saved her life but she knew she was too frightened to say anything. From the back of the room a light scurrying became audible. The silhouette of a small pony became visible before his features became fully apparent.
“Luna,” he said in a light whisper, “you in there?”
“What do you want Isaiah?” she replied harshly.
“Where's Finitevus?”
“Is that all you care about? Just him?” she said struggling to her fours, “because if you do, he’s in the main hall.”
Isaiah began to hear a change in her attitude, “thanks. Wheres Celestia?”
“SHES DEAD!” Luna shouted ramming her muzzle through the bars of her cell, “HE KILLED HER FOR NO REASON!”
Isaiah’s feeling of shock immediately shifted back to revenge. Both were short lived when a door opened not far from the room he and Luna occupied.
“Luna is there a library here?” Isaiah rushed the question.
“Yes, why?”
“Your sisters not going to be dead for much longer.” He replied heading to the door at the far end of the room.
As he smashed to door opened a guard was knocked back into the wall from the force of the blow. Isaiah ran out of the room and made his way down the hall. Multiple doors where scattered around the corridors but by a good guess he had a feeling the library may be guarded. A right guess as he rounded a corner to find two heavily armoured guards on both sides of a door way. Shouting in a foreign language both raised their weapons and fired at Isaiah. Isaiah span around and darted back around the corner. Without a second thought he ran into the closest room and slammed the door behind him.
From inside Isaiah could hear both soldiers speaking in a language similar to German. After a few moments gunfire erupted before ceasing. A fast paced knocking came from behind the door but Isaiah didn’t move to open it. After a few moments the door flew open throwing Isaiah forward and flipping him upside down. Edd walked in and bobbed down.
“You OK?” he asked.
“Little bit.” Isaiah replied.
“Cool, ‘cause we’ve still got shit to do,” Edd handed Isaiah his pistol before cocking his own gun (an MP40). Isaiah picked up the pistol with magic and pulled the slide back before releasing it.
“The library’s just around the corner.”
“Why are we going there?” Edd asked.
“There’s hopefully a book in there with a revival spell.”
“Why do we need that?”
“Because Celestias dead.”
“nooo,” Edd exclaimed with shock.
“Yeah, so we’re doing that before anything else.”
“I can agree with that. It’s the least we can do for them.”
“That’s true.”
Isaiah and Edd approached the corner and examined the area ahead of them. The doors to the library and the area around were clear of Legionnaires. Edd gave a countdown before both ran towards the doors yelling. As they stormed through they barred the doors with a nearby bookstand and laid against it. “Well that was anticlimactic,” Edd remarked, “let’s have a look around.”
Edd headed to a section labelled ‘Magic for advanced learners’ while Isaiah headed to a section labelled ‘Starswirl collection.’ He began scanning the titles on the shelves looking for a book which may have an appealing label. As Isaiah came to the end of the row he stood before a random door. With his magic he turned the knob on the door and walked into a small room. The sound of a piano playing came over the silence of the room. The piano itself sat in the centre accompanied by two figures; one sitting behind the piano itself and another sitting on the edge to the left.
“No it’s a G-Minor that comes afterwards,” a female voice sounded.
“No it’s a higher octave than that,” a male voice followed soon after. {Also I should point out that I don’t know musical terms}
“Are you sure?”
“Quite, listen,” the piano began to play again.
“No I still believe it sounds lower.”
“Why don’t we ask him then?” a hand began visible and pointed directly at Isaiah. Isaiah took a step back in surprise as the figure sitting on the edge of the piano got up and closed a book in her hand.
“He’s a fan of taking his time isn’t he,” she said.
“Judging by his current career record it seems he’s a natural at the idea,” the male replied.
“You call it an idea; I call it a lightly effective strategy.”
“If the strategy involves taking ones time to save the world then the idea of Superman would be a practical joke.”
Isaiah began to look extremely confused. Both individuals took note and the female gave the first announcement, “it seems our views of pop-culture references and military tactics have confused him.”
“It would seem so. Shall we just give him what he needs and move on?”
“That would be a good move right now.”
The female handed Isaiah the book he was looking for, ‘Useful spells for the dangerously adventurous.’ Isaiah was lost in confusion at that moment but had a sudden realisation, “wait, I’ve seen you guys before.”
“Maybe so,” the male replied, “but who we are is not important to you right now.”
“What do you mean?”
“It means that though you have met us in person,” the female began, “you’re not allowed to know who we are until the appropriate time.”
“When’s, or what’s the appropriate time?”
“When you’re ready, it will find you.”
“And we’ll be there when it happens,” the male concluded.
“What’s the event though?” Isaiah asked.
“What event?” Edd asked.
Isaiah turned around and saw Edd looking at him in confusion. Isaiah turned around again to find the door and the room replaced by a solid wall. Isaiah felt a wrong feeling in his head as he looked down at the book opened to the page containing the revival spell.
Isaiah sighed as he picked up the book with his magic and walked to the door with Edd.
“So how are we going to do this?” Isaiah asked.
“Do we know where Finitevus is?”
“Luna said he was in the main hall so that’s our best bet.”
“Huh. This is gonna’ be easy,” Edd scoffed.
“How’s this going to be easy?”
“Because I see the world differently sometimes Isaiah. This is one of those times.”
“How do you see things differently?” Isaiah asked.
“Fun fact about my species; during our first testing phases we’re put into an artificial dream which usually involves being put into a random 90s game.”
“You serious?” Isaiah chuckled.
“Not kidding. Right now I know the world is still real but my mental training is showing things in 2D.”
“And poorer than today’s standards graphics?” Isaiah mocked.
“Yep.”
Isaiah paused for a moment. “Ok. So what game is it you can see right now?”
“MP40 and now I’m hoping half of these guys speak German. So most likely Wolfenstein-3D.”
“This is going to be good.”
Youtube Video
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Edd pressed his ear against the door before moving back and booting down the door. A soldier on the other side was blown to the floor from the force. Edd walked through the doorway and fired a shot at the soldier killing him before moving on the first corner. Moving on to the second a guard around the corner shouted before drawing a pistol and firing a shot. Edd took cover before drawing his own weapon and killing the guard. Moving on to a door leading to a long empty hallway. Another door lead to a room with 3 guards and a normal soldier. With ease, Edd took down the soldier and a guard but took a few hits from the other 2 and took cover. After a brief moment Edd re-emerged from cover and took the other 2 out with ease.
Passing through another door Edd encountered another guard who he took down without any problem. Through the door behind him two soldiers took aim. Edd pulled his own trigger without any effect as his weapon was empty. Taking cover from the incoming fire he switched clips and began to blind-fire around the corner, taking out both guards with ease. Passing through a final door he came across a long hallway lined with stain-glass windows. Edd moved through before the Stalker appointed to guard Finitevus smashed through from the left and smashing through the right, almost slipping of the edge of the building. Edd approached the machine before taking cover as it began desperately firing through the room. From cover Edd shot at the knee joint in the machines right leg causing it to drop from the building.
Moving up to the final door, Edd loaded a new clip and waited for Isaiah to catch up. “I seriously can’t believe that happened,” He said.
“Well it did, but there’s only one problem.”
“What’s that?”
“Not one of these guys said what I wanted them to say when they die.”
“What do you want them to say?”
Edd holstered his weapon and opened both doors before reequipping his rifle. A soldier rushed at Edd with a mounted bayonet but Edd turned and booted him in the chest. As he fell Edd took a shot and killed him. “Mein Leben!” the soldier shouted.
“Thank you!” Edd remarked.
{STOP TEH MUSIC}
Finitevus stood at the top of the staircase as he watched his last guard die. With no second thought he gave a slow clap, “Congratulations Edd you caught me.”
“Yeah you gave up to easily just now.” Edd remarked.
“You’ve wiped out all my guard and regime. And any reinforcements don’t arrive unless I give the signal tomorrow.”
“You lazy motherfucker,” Isaiah gloated.
“That is. . .” Edd began before breaking into laughter, “the funniest damn thing you have ever admitted. The great Doctor Finitevus is powerless without his little army. You are. . . so sad.”
“Quite. So what’s your plan now?”
Edd’s tone returned to normal, “Take you back to earth so you can stand trial. And hopefully get the death sentence.”
“Very well then.”
The final PoW entered DELTA shortly before sundown. Edd made sure that each was loaded into the rear module of the machine before he disabled the machines engine. Tahlia walked past towards ALPHA where Isaiah was walking away from bearing a note. Isaiah paused in front of Tahlia and titled his head down.
“I’m sorry I lashed out at you earlier.”
“It’s not your fault you got angry Isaiah.”
“I know. I just hate taking it out on you.”
Tahlia approached and hugged Isaiah. He shrugged her off shortly after and made towards Ponyville.
He stopped at the library and took a short breath before going to the front door. Before he had a chance to knock Twilight opened the door with a moderate look on her face.
“I’m sorry for everything that happened here Twilight,” Isaiah said.
“Being honest,” Twilight began, “I don’t know what to day either. I mean, noponys ever going to forget this happened.”
“You should.” Isaiah requested, “Before I go; is Celestia ok?”
“Shes alive and well,” Twilight replied.
“Good,” Isaiah said turning around, “just take this and I’ll be out of your way,” he handed Twilight the note. The note was stamped with a Foundation logo; Twilight unfurled it into a full A4 page. When she looked up to talk, Isaiah was gone.
Twilight took the note inside and began to read;
‘To whom this would concern,
Words cannot explain the horror that occurred over the last few days, but I know everything that happened will never be forgotten. But one thing in all this must be forgotten; us. We must be forgotten. Forget who we are and what we were about. Forget why we were here and what had to be done. But from all this, never forget your own bravery when you were faced with death. Never forget your own determination to keep what was yours when others sought to take it from you. Never forget who you are; amazing, beautiful and above all; unique.
Sincerely
Isaiah Foale – Torchwood-5 – SCP Foundation.’
Twilight ran out of the library towards the Everfree Forest. After 10 minutes she reached the original crash site; the area was regaining its greenery but the one anomaly was the lack of the original capsule. The area was clear. Tilting her head Twilight turned around and began to walk back to Ponyville before noticing an object on a rock; the SOFLAM Isaiah left the day before the capsule arrived.
Ending
