My Little Zoids: Friendship is Cybernetic

It was a calm and quiet day in Canterlot and everyone was going about their daily lives but in secret they were all excited about what was going on. In just a few hours time their lives would change for the exciting. For later today was a tournament. A Zoid tournament. Zoids are large mechanical beings shaped in the forms of animals of the land, the air and the sea. All races of Equestria compete in tournaments where their Zoids lock into combat in teams of three with melee and ranged weapons on massive battlefields. And today was a very special day for one of the greatest Zoid tournaments Equestria can offer.

The Summer Sun Zoid Tournament. It’s a tournament held only once a year where Zoid teams fight as Princess Celestia herself raises the sun into the morning sky. So everypony who signed for the tournament were cleaning their Zoids and checking up on their Zoid’s systems and weapons. Everypony but Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Sparkle was a lavender Unicorn who had a dark purple mane and tail that had a violet strip in it. Her eyes, which shone a brilliant purple outline, were focused on the manual in front of her. This tournament will be the first time she’s fought outside the practice room.

Her Zoid was a standard Command Wolf. It’s frame was purple and it was outlined with silver. It was armed with the normal Electron Bite Fangs, Strike Claws, and a 50mm Anti-Zoid Double Barreled Beam Cannon and for its equipment was Smoke Dischargers. The wolf itself however had seen better days. Despite being extremely durable the Zoid had taken a lot of damage over the course of the fights in the practice room where Twilight and Trixie, another Zoid fighter, practiced under Celestia and Luna’s guidance. Right now Twilight was looking at a repair guide to her Command Wolf, which was now nearly scrapmetal,  to see how to repair it’s Smoke Dischargers since Trixie, who used an Iron Kong Zoid, banged it up pretty bad.

“Now let’s see-” Twilight said to herself as she observed the manual. “The first thing is that it probably needs to change the power coupling in the right Discharger, already tried that thank you, and if that doesn’t work then you simply need to scrap the Zoid to a Junk Dealer and buy a new one, like Tartarus I am.” Junk Dealers were wondering merchants who picked up old Zoids and sell some of their parts for bits.

“Hey Twilight, did you fix the Smoke Dischargers yet?!” A male young voice yelled. Then coming into the repair room was Twilight’s friend and number one assistant Spike. A teenage purple scaled, green spine dragon. Spike was the second closest thing to family Twilight has due to her real brother still in the service to her majesty Celestia as her Royal Guard Captain. The little dragon had no Zoid of his own but to him that didn’t matter all that did was making sure Twilight was up to date with her Zoid.

“No. Trixie and her Iron Kong banged the Dischargers up pretty bad. I don’t think I can fix them.” She replied. Over the course of several years Twilight and Trixie had developed a small rivalry that each had only been fueled due to their separate teachers being the two royal alicorns. So whenever the two had a chance, they’d fight in the training room with their Zoids. Trixie would win a few matches while Twilight would win another few matches.

“Did that manual say what to do if you can’t fix it?” Spike asked her.

“Unfortunately yes it did. Hay seeds it even said that I should just sell the old girl and get a new one.” Twilight said depressingly. She and the old wolf had been through a lot together. From the first time using it in battle and her first friendly fight with Trixie but now it seems that it was time for one of her closest friends to say goodbye one last time.

“Don’t worry Twilight. We can ask Celestia where the nearest Junk Dealer is.” Spike said trying to cheer her up.

“Alright. I can’t believe I’m scraping my Command Wolf. I’ve had it for so long. It’s just gonna be hard to say goodbye.” Twilight said as she pressed her hand against her friend’s leg. Spike then placed his scaly hand on Twilight’s shoulder.

“It’ll be okay Twilight. Come on. Let’s talk to Celestia.” Spike said. Twilight then went to the door of the repair room and just before she closed it, she gave her old friend a last look. She then closed the door and began her walk to the Castle. As she walked, she remembered the good times she’s had with her Command Wolf. From when she was given it to her first battle. She was going to miss her friend but it was for the best.

She then made it to the castle. She walked up to the gate and the guards moved out of the way allowing her and Spike entrance. The two walked in and walked through the hallway until the came into the Throne Room. The two then bowed in the presence of Celestia. The princess was a tall white figure that stood several feet, about two more so than Twilight and Spike, and had decided that today she would wear regal clothing that spoke volumes about the ponies who made it. Her mane, flowing through the small draft the room had, was almost akin to a rainbow but was missing the red in it.

“Twilight Sparkle, Spike, how good it is to see you.” Celestia said happily with a smile on her face.

“It’s nice to see you too Princess Celestia.” Twilight said back in a sad tone.

“Twilight, what is wrong?” Celestia asked in a worried voice. Twilight then sighed and looked at Celestia.

“My Command Wolf’s Smoke Dischargers can’t be repaired. I tried but I can’t fix it. I need to find a Junk Dealer who’s the nearest from Canterlot.” Twilight replied. Celestia then brought a map to her face and observed it. She then placed the map down and looked at the two.

“You’re in luck Twilight. For there is a Junk Dealer near Canterlot.” Celestia said to her student. Twilight’s expression changed into a big smile.

“Really?!” She asked in a happy voice.

“Yes. There’s one somewhere in Ponyville.” Celestia replied.

“Great! When can I leave for Ponyville?” Twilight asked her teacher.

“You can leave immediately.” Celestia replied. Twilight then got up and was about to run out the door.

“Twilight” Celestia started getting Twilight’s attention.”I have a mission for you while you’re in Ponyville.”

“What is it?” Twilight asked. Celestia then got off of her throne and walked towards the Unicorn.

“You know about the Liger Zero don’t you?” Celestia asked.

“You mean that Zoid that won’t allow anypony into it? Then yes.” Twilight replied.

“Well I need you to take it with you to Ponyville.” Celestia said.

“WAIT WHAT?!” Twilight shouted. This was understandable as the Liger Zero was totally considered off limits due to the fact that it mauled, this is the only appropriate word to describe the attacks, any and all who got near it. To hear that she was to take it to small town made her stomach do somersaults. “A-are you sure princess?” The young mare asked her teacher. The elder mare merely grew a small smile on her face before she nodded the new information stunning her student as she turned to leave the room. Just as Twilight exited the door she bumped into the last pony she wanted to see at the moment.

     “Hello Sparkle.” Came the familiar overbearing tone that Twilight had gotten used to over her years of fighting her. Trixie merely looked at her rival with her periwinkle eyes  “Tell me what did you need with the princess hm? Talking about our last match and how I beat you?” The show mare bragged before she noticed the small bit of sorrow behind her rivals eyes.

“Not now Trixie.” Twilight said to her enemy.

“Why not? You cannot admit that Trixie is the true Zoid champion?” She asked in a cocky voice.

“No Trixie. But I can admit that you trashed my Command Wolf.” Twilight replied.

“Well if you had gotten a better Zoid, then maybe it wouldn’t be in the scrap heap.” Trixie said back. Twilight then lighting up her horn teleported her and Spike to a warehouse.

“That’s better. No naggers.” Twilight said in a relieved voice.

“Twilight, which warehouse are we in?” Spike asked his friend. Then two then turned their heads and saw why this warehouse looked familiar. They saw a Zoid that was dangerous to anypony it didn’t like. It was the Liger Zero.

“Well at least we’re here to get it.” Spike said to Twilight.

“Alright. The Smoke Dischargers might not be working on my Command Wolf, but at least it can move things. Spike, I’m going to get the wolf. You keep an eye on the Liger Zero.” Twilight ordered him.

“Yes Twilight.” He said back as he saluted. Then Twilight’s horn lit up again and she teleported to the repair room her Command Wolf was in. She then climbed into the cockpit of the Command Wolf and activated it.

“Alright old girl, let’s get the Liger ready to move.” Twilight said as she began to activate the wolf’s motion controls. The wolf then walked out of the repair room and then Twilight kicked it up by moving the motion controls faster making the wolf run. She ran through the streets of Canterlot making ponies move out of her way. She then made it to the warehouse and saw Spike watching the motionless Zoid.

“Spike, hook up the Liger please.” Twilight said over the wolf’s communication. He then grabbed a chain and hooked up the Liger to the Wolf. Spike then climbed into the Wolf and the two and two Zoids began their journey to Ponyville.

“Man sometimes I hate this job.” A rainbow maned pegasus said, as she shifted through the junk in her pile. It was a calm day at the Ponyville Junkyard but even she was excited by the arrival of the Zoid tournament though for different reasons. Said pegasus was a Junk Dealer and was considered one of the best due to her having the best parts for any Zoid. The tournament was going to be a very busy day for her and luckily she was ready for it as well. Her name...was Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash loved seeing the Zoid tournaments ever since she was a filly. She’s always wanted to ride in a Zoid and wanted that Zoid to be built by her own hands. And so today she was digging through the pile of weapons old Zoids were junked with. She was looking for a shoulder mounted missile launcher and so far she wasn’t having any luck.

“Need help looking for somethin’ Dash?” The Junkyard owner named Scrap Metal asked her.

“Yeah. Do you a shoulder mounted missile launcher anywhere?” Dash asked.

“Sorry Dash. Sold the last one yesterday.” Scrap replied.

“WHAT?!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

“Sorry. But a pony needed it for their D-Bison.” Scrap replied.

“Dammit.” Dash said angrily.

“Don’t worry Dash, we’ll always get new parts. There’s a chance a missile launcher will be one of them.” Scrap assured.

“Thanks. Well I gotta get going. See ya’ Scrap Metal.” Dash said as she left the Junkyard. Well that was a complete waste of time, Dash thought to herself bitterly. The one time this tournament was going to be near here and she didn’t even have any good scrap for any of the Zoids. She sighed and started to go back home Maybe Scoots had a better day then me, The pony she thought of was a small pegasus filly that looked up to her as an idol. She was just about to exit out of Ponyville when she was nearly trampled by an old Command Wolf Zoid that really had seen better days.

"Watch where you’re going next time!" The pilot of the Zoid said bluntly. Rainbow could tell by her voice that this one was another, what has dubbed, egghead a Zoid fighter who was great in battle as long as they had a plan but if it fails they go down pretty fast. But before Rainbow Dash could say anything, a growling was heard coming from behind the Command Wolf. Then coming from behind the Zoid was a Lion-type Zoid that had a white base and gray outline. It had yellow claws and fangs and it looked at Rainbow Dash.

“H..hey. Keep that Zoid on a leash.” Rainbow said as she backed away from the approaching Zoid. But no matter how much she backed up, the Zoid approached her even more until it’s face was looking at hers. Then the door to the cockpit of the Zoid opened.

“No. There’s no way I’m climbing into that-” She started. But then without warning the Zoid picked her up with it’s paw and placed her in.

“Hey!” She yelled when she landed into the seat of the cockpit. She wanted to get out of the Zoid, but she felt something. Unlike other Zoids that were offered to her this one felt… right. There was no other way to describe it but this one felt like it was meant for her. Then a flash of light appeared in front of Dash’s face and then a video screen came on. On it was a lavender Unicorn who had a smile on her face.

“Who are you?” Dash asked the Unicorn.

“I’m Twilight Sparkle. And you’re now the personal owner of the Liger Zero.”