Life Among the Wires.

Three days after the note writer…..

The sun was shining on my face, I opened my eyes slowly and looked around the room. I took a deep breath and lifted my head from a table. I looked down at the machine I was building these past three days. It seemed to be complete, but I don’t know for sure. I guess I should though since I built it….anyways, I turn it on and look over to my toolbox. I try to use magic to bring it closer to me, but couldn’t. I tried as hard as I could but couldn’t do it. I smiled and shut off the machine.

“My plan is coming together,” I said to myself. I heard a knock at the door. “Come in.”

“Hey you said you needed me?” A blue stallion entered the room.

“Yes I do,” I smiled. “Here put on this watch on, I made us each one.”

“Um alright but what’s this about?” He asked me.

“This is so I can give you the signal,” I said. “You can do this for me right Caizo?”

“Of course I can!” He replied. “So what’s with the box there?”

“Oh this is a magic cancler pretty much,” I replied. “I’m gonna set up a nice comfy place to put Gransion with this in it. He won’t be able to use anything of his to escape and I don’t feel like fighting so that’s why I want to outnumber him.”

“Clever as always man,” he said giving me a friendly punch in the arm. “Alright I got to get back to work. Cya later bro.”

“Have fun man,” Caizo left the room and I picked up the machine. I walked out of the room and shut the door behind me. I turned to find Celestia but bumped into Luna instead.

“Oh sorry Luna didn’t see you there...where’s your sister?” I asked.

“She’s taking a nap right now,” she replied. “Need her for something?”

“Actually yes, but I can ask you instead,” I replied. “You mind if I borrow one of the dungeon cells?”

“Uhhhh,” she seemed confused. “Why exactly would you need one?”

“Just wanna make a nice comfy home for Gransion when we get him,” I said.

“I see well go ahead then,” she replied. “Make sure it’s in the darkest corner though.”

“As you wish princess,” I replied. She walked passed me and went to her room. Luna seemed distant, but I had no idea why. I shrugged it off and went to the dungeons. I went into the far back and found an open cell. “This’ll be perfect, I can use this,” I said to myself.

“Forget something?” A pony said from behind me.

I turned around and saw my toolbox. I sighed “thank you Vinyl.”

“No problem man, I saw you leave without it,” she smiled. “So what ya doin?”

“I’m setting up a cell for Gransion,” I said. “Now that you are here you can actually help.”

“Coolio what can I help with?” She wondered.

“Stand outside of the cell and I explain in a minute,” I said. I put the machine in the middle of the cell room. I pulled the toolbox closer with my magic. I pulled out a wrench and other various tools.

“So what are you doing anyways?” Vinyl asked.

“I’m setting up a radial distance for this thing so it only affects the room and nothing else,” I replied.

“Ah sweet,” she said. “So what does it do?”

“Cancels any kind of magic pretty much,” I said.

“Interesting how does it even work?” She wondered.

“Well I asked my brother if h-” she interrupts me.

“YOU HAVE A BROTHER!?!” She said in shock.

“Oh yeah I never told you,” I replied. “Yeah he’s currently apart of the royal guard. I don’t talk about him much.”

“I can tell...are you two close?” she asked.

I sat silent for a second. “Heh we used to be the closest of two brothers...after he joined the royal guard, we kinda stopped talking to each other for a while.”

“Oh uh sorry I didn’t mean-” I interrupt.

“No, no it’s fine can’t keep secrets about that anyways,” I said. “Plus we talked this morning and he’s gonna help us so it’s good.”

“He’s gonna help sweeeet,” Vinyl said.

“Alright done,” I said standing up.

“You were messing with the thing the whole time?” She said confused.

“You’d be surprised what I can build while I’m talking to ponies,” I replied. “Now try using your magic from out there.”

She used her magic perfectly “its working.”

“So far yes,” I said walking around the cell trying to use my magic. I couldn’t use it in any corner of the cell. Only when I passed to the outside of the cell door I could. “It’s working perfectly.”

“Right on man,” Vinyl smiled. “So this is where Gransion is gonna go?”

“That is correct Vinyl,” I replied. “Once we find him that is.”

“And you sure your plan is going to work?” She asked.

“Positive,” I replied. She stood next to me silently. I looked over to her, she didn’t look back. “Vinyl is there something bothering you?”

“No…” she replied.

“You sure, cause you can tell me if something is,” I said.

“Nothings bothering me Tech no worries,” she replied and walked away.

She seemed frustrated for some reason. I followed behind her closely. “Vinyl I can tell you’re frustrated...why you won’t tell me what it is, is well a mystery.”

“I’m fine dude, seriously…” she seemed unsure when she finished that.

“Vinyl I-” I get interrupted by a guard running in.

“Tech Wire sir, princess Luna demands to see you this instant,” the guard said.

I looked over to Vinyl...she simply motioned for me to go. I shook my head and rolled my eyes. “Alright I’m on my way,” I replied. “Vinyl I wanna continue this later.”

“Yeah, yeah whatever,” she replied and walked away.

I sighed and began to follow the guard to Luna. Vinyl is not telling me something and I know it. What it is however that’s what bugs me. She usually doesn’t keep secrets from me excluding the whole acting dumb thing. The guard stands aside and gestures me to go forward. Luna was, in the library? That’s new, never talked with either of the princesses here. I opened the library doors with my magic and looked over to see Luna at a desk.

“Catching up on studies?” I asked her.

“OH Tech….don’t sneak up on me,” she giggled. “No just reading some stuff I used to read when I was young.”

“I see, so what did you need me for?” I wondered

“We found Gransion,” she replied.

“You found him?” I was confused. “And I thought he was like hidden, huh that was easy.”

“Actually where we found him is quite weird,” Luna said. “He is just outside of Whitetail Woods.”

Whitetail Woods…that’s somewhat near where the train crashed interesting. “Alright so if he’s there we just gotta go get him,” I said.

“Yes that is the pl-” Luna was interrupted by the doors slamming open. A guard came running in with sweat pouring off his face.

“Princess Luna we have a huge emergency,” he said gasping for air.

“Explain,” Luna replied.

“There’s a bunch of red rocks spreading throughout Canterlot!” He said.

Luna’s eyes widened…”Get every guard we have and get every single pony to safety now!”

The guard nodded and left. I stood in disbelief….Gransion was getting serious. I nodded to princess Luna and ran out the doors. As soon as I got out the doors A red rock sprung up from in front of me. “Wh-what the?!?” I was confused but ran passed it as fast as possible. I saw Vinyl and Octavia trying to get out through the front door.

“Come on you stupid door!” Vinyl said banging on the door.

“That isn’t gonna work Vinyl, do it right,” I said running toward the door at full force. I bashed straight through it and landed on the ground. “Nnnng…..dang.”

Vinyl and Octavia helped me up. “Careful what you do Tech,” Octavia said in concern.

I looked up and saw red rocks everywhere. Picking up ponies one by one and teleporting them somewhere. “This isn’t magic…” I said under my breath. “It….it can’t be.”

“Tech snap out of it we have to get out of here!” Vinyl yelled.

I got to my hooves and looked around for a clear path. Rainbow Dash came from above us.

“You guys need some help?” Rainbow said with confidence.

“That would be nice,” I replied. “Is there a clear path for us?”

“Dude,” she pointed to her forehead.

At first I was confused but then I got it. “I’M A UNICORN DUH!” Why do I keep forgetting this? I charged up my magic and teleported us three outside of Canterlot. I looked up and saw Gransion above Canterlot. “He can fly to! Is there anything this pony can’t do?”

“Great now we need his attention,” Vinyl said.

“Not really we need to get to where he was found,” I said. “Which is just outside of the Whitetail woods.”

“Okay well that’s a good plan,” Octavia said. “But how on Equestria are we going to get there?”

“Maybe we can help with that,” A pony said from behind us.

“Twilight?” I assumed.

“That’s right,” Twilight confirmed. “We can help get you there as quick as possible.”

“Don’t mean to doubt your abilities Twilight, but how are you going to get us there?” I wondered.

“Through the thing that got you guys here in the first place,” she said. “A train.”

“You’re kidding right?” I said. “All the tracks that can get us to the Whitetail Woods have been blocked by one of those red rocks.”

“Where were going we don’t need tracks,” Twilight said confidently.

“So let me get this straight,” I replied. “You’re saying we take a train…..A TRAIN off tracks and through stuff like it’s nothing?”

“Yup,” she said.

“You’re insane,” I said.

“Not entirely,” she replied. “We’ll be able to do it, you just gotta trust me.”

She was smiling….she was serious…..were all gonna die by this mare. I face hoofed “I can’t believe I’m saying this but, fine lets do it.”

“Good glad you agreed now follow us,” the six girls walked passed us.

“We are so dead,” Vinyl said and Octavia nodded in agreement.

“We’ll be fine I’m sure,” I said actually unsure about what was about to happen. I shook my head and followed Twilight and her friends. I swear she’s crazy but eh she’s made plans like this before. They didn’t fail then and I sure hope they don’t fail now. Wait now that I think about it, this doesn’t seem like a plan she would make.

“Twilight whose plan is this?” I asked.

“It’s Rainbows,” she replied which didn’t surprise me.

“Alright well Rainbow how are we gonna move this train without tracks?” I asked.

“I got some help,” she replied.

“And who did you get?” I wondered.

“She got me,” a deep voice said from behind me.

I turned around “DAD!!!” I was shocked he was killed….wasn’t he?

“Don’t be so shocked,” he said chuckling. “Do you really think I would go into my office by myself with no other ponies around. Nah of course not, I set up one of my robot decoys to get what I needed.”

“But I overheard a guard the other day saying they found….well blood,” I said.

“Not blood, colored water with and a whole lot of vinegar and powdered sugar.,” he said.

“You changed the density of water so it was thick enough to be blood?” I said. “That is the most clever thing I’ve ever heard of. WAIT you had a water powered robot?”

“That is correct,” he replied. “And it worked didn’t it?”

“Indeed it did….mom will be relieved,” I said. “Alright but you’re just you, how can just you help?”

“Listen son I don’t go alone to jobs,” he said. “I brought my strongest workers here with me. Were gonna yank this thing like you’ve never seen before. Also we customized the train for land travel.”

This is literally one of the smartest ideas I’ve ever heard and Rainbow came up with it. I’m impressed by Rainbow. She’s smarter than I thought, I need to stop judging ponies by what I see.

“Okay well if you’re gonna ‘yank’ this thing,” I said. “Even with the number of workers you have there is no way we’ll be able to move fast enough. On top of that we don’t know where anymore of these red rocks could be.”

“Worth the risk son,” my dad said.

I shook my head. “Risk or not, even if we make it we might be too late.”

“You gotta trust me,” he said.

“You’re asking a lot when you ask that,” I replied. “That’s like asking me to-” I get interrupted.

“As much as I would love for you to have a family moment we’re wasting time with this conversation,” Vinyl said.

“You’re right,” I said. “Lets just do this if we’re gonna do this.” Me, Octavia, Vinyl, and the mane six all got on the train. It was a small train so we’ll be able to move fast. I guess that’s a good thing, but I highly doubt we’ll get there fast enough. The train started to move and it started moving quickly. I look out one of the windows and see….ten workers and my dad. He wasn’t kidding when he said he got a bunch of workers. He’s also acting differently he wasn’t as serious as he always is.

“Tech you do have a plan right?” Octavia asked.

“I do...and we don’t have to fight if I can pull it off,” I replied.

“That’s good I don’t feel like fighting anyways,” Viny said from a distance.

“Vinyl…” I muttered.

“Yes dad?” She said being cocky.

“I still wanna finish our conversation,” I said.

“Oh relax will you jeez,” she replied. “I’m fine I told you, now get off me dang.”

I sighed and looked out one of the windows. A hill was coming up. “Dad you do see the hill right?!” I shouted at him.

“Yeah I do I would brace for….well going down hill,” he shouted back. “IT’S GONNA GET BUMPY!”

The train started to go down the hill. The ponies pulling this train would have to keep a steady hoof all the way down or they’re finished. I hope my dad realizes this. I feel a bump hit one of the wheels of the train. I look out the window and look back. Thread….red thread….great.

“Dad you gotta move faster!” I shouted.

“If I do we could get in even more trouble!” He shouted back.

“We got rocks sprouting up behind us and they’re trying to attack the wheels!” I said.

“HOLD ON TO SOMETHING THEN!!!” Him and his workers began to run as fast as they could. We were at an uncontrollable speed.

“We’re gonna die!” Rainbow said.

“Calm down we’ll be fine!” I said. “Just hold on to something!”

Everyone of us held onto a wall. This is gonna end one of two ways. We make it safely or have a very rough landing. Suddenly the trains back end flipped up.

“Hold on tight!” I yelled. “This might hurt a bit!” The train landed back on the ground and we kept moving. I looked out the window and saw my dad and his workers were alright. I rub my forehead from the sweat that was pouring down it.

“Well if we’re gonna die I need to do something first,” Rainbow said.

“And what exactly is that Rainbow?” Twilight asked.

“This!” Rainbow picked up Twilight and kissed her. All of us looked at them, everypony was in shock...except for me….it was kinda obvious. Rainbow stopped kissing her and put her back down. Twilight was in shock and Rainbow was in relief. I guess that made her feel good.

“R-r-rainbow why on Equestria did you just do that?” Twilight said still in shock.

“Reasons,” Rainbow replied nice and short.

Twilight still sat in shock. I have a feeling she’s gonna be like that for a while. The road suddenly flattened out. The train started to very slowly, slow down. I looked out the window again and looked behind us. No more rocks or threads were chasing us. I think Gransion was actually trying to stop me. Have I actually started to how you say throw a wrench into his plan. Ha it was about time he started getting mad.

“Alright...we're safe,” I said.

“We are?” Rainbow said.

“Yup,” I replied.

“Alright…..Twilight forget about what just happened,” Rainbow said.

“Trust me I won’t forget that,” Twilight replied.

“Dang it,” Rainbow said as everypony chuckled other than myself.

Okay so if I’m correct we went down a hill near Canterot. That being the case, we’re now in woods. Which means we’re at the base of the Unicorn Range. That also means were getting closer to the Whitetail Woods. I’m impressed this route that were taking was obviously planned out.

“Hey Rainbow can I ask you something?” I asked her.

“Uh yeah go right ahead,” Rainbow replied.

“Did you plan this route?” I said.

“Yeah I did,” she said. “I tried to find the fastest route and I did didn’t I?”

“Yes you did I’m impressed,” I replied. “Nicely done.”

Rainbow blushed “pfft it was nothing.”

I rolled my eyes and sat down. I closed my eyes and began to think to myself. I really hope my plan works so I don’t have to fight. I understand Gransion is powerful and all but what I’m doing he would be a fool not to back down. The train came to a sudden stop and we all fell forward. I was at the bottom of the pile….of course I was.

“Whoa what happened?” Vinyl wondered.

“I have no idea,” Twilight said.

“I feel a hoof against my flank,” Rainbow said.

“That’s mine silly,” Pinky said.

“Y’all think we should get up now?” Applejack wondered.

“I second what Applejack just said,” I said. “GET OFF OF ME!” All the ponies got up including myself.

“Sorry about that darling,” Rarity said.

“It’s fine,” I said as I opened the train door. “Dad what happ…...ened…” We were staring at a huge building unlike any other. Made entirely of stone and glass. In fact there were glass tubes containing some red energy of sorts flowing into the building and into a machine. I think we found Gransions place but, how did we miss this? It’s huge like unmissable but we missed it. On top of that what is Gransions obsession with red.

“Well I guess we go in now?” Vinyl said.

“Yeah….” I said. I opened the door to the building and walked inside with the others behind me. I pressed a button on my watch that I invented. We heard doors slam open from up the stairs. Now I just realized all the portraits of Gransion on the walls. This guy if it wasn’t obvious before, is insane.

“Tech my friend so glad you could make it,” Gransion said from the top of the stairs. “Have you come here to stop me yet again? Or do you even have plan in general?”

“I have plenty of plans Gransion,” I said. “And none of them involve fighting.”

“Please don’t make me laugh, you’ve got nothing up your little sleeve there,” he said...actually angered. “Do you really think you stand a chance really! I never heard something….so…..comedic!” He lifted his hoof and stomped on the ground causing a shockwave. “You obviously don’t know ANYTHING about me!”

“Gransion…” I tried to speak.

“Shut up, I don’t want to hear it…” he said. “I’m tired of it Mr.Wire, I’m absolutely tired of it. If you truly think you can stop me then do it! Just don’t leave without these ponies,” he tapped the wall and a bunch lights came on. Revealing pony after pony tied to a wall by red thread.

“Gransion…” I said again.

“I’m using them Mr. Wire,” he said. “I’m using them for their capabilities. Earth ponies strength, pegasus flight, and unicorn magic. No not to power me up, but for something I want back.”

“And what is that?” I asked.

“That…..is none of your business,” he replied shooting a thread at me.

I moved out of the way and looked over to him. He was….sad...but why? I can’t just let him do this though...I can’t. “Gransion talk to me, what is it that you’re trying to do?”

“You’ve tried this before...you can’t trick me into this Mr.Wire,” he replied. “I’m going to finish this plan,” the orange markings on his body began to glow. “And you are not going to stop me….not again.”

“Gransion….I already have,” I said.

“What?!? how?” He was actually shocked.

“This place is surrounded by royal guards now….just look outside the window,” I said.

He turned his head, “...........” he stood silent.

One day before this incident.

“Caizo I need you to surround Gransion with all the guards you got,” I said.

“Really?” He said. “I can do that easy no problem at all.

“That’s why I like you being a royal guard,” I chuckled. “Anyways I'm making a watch so I can give you the signal.”

“Sweet I like it," he replied. "Alright I’ll be ready when you need me.”

Back to now.

“Gransion you don’t have to do this I can help you,” I said.

“WHOA HELP HIM!” Vinyl said in shock, I motioned my hoof to her to stand down.

“Help….me?” Gransion said confused.

“Yes,” I replied. “Whatever it is you want back I can help you achieve it. Gransion I know there’s another way for you to do this and you know it as well. You don’t have to do this anymore Gransion just ask for help, you know you need it.”

“......I don’t need your help,” he says. “I don’t need your help, I don’t need anyponies help. In fact at this point you can’t stop me. None of you can stop me, I’ve already finished what I needed to.”

He’s done….he’s lost it, I raised my hoof that had my watch on it. “.....move in.”

On that signal all the royal guards from the outside of the building swarmed in. Surrounding Gransion holding spears to him. He stood there silent head facing down. Vinyl came up beside me and put a hoof on my shoulder.

“Y-you tried to help him?” She said still shocked.

“Cause I remembered Vinyl….but what he is after I don’t remember,” I replied. “However there is another way for him to do this, without all these ponies and he knows it. This is just the easy way for him to do this.”

The guards grabbed Gransion and began take him to Canterlot Castle. When Gransion walked passed me he said something “.....Zahra,” he continued to walk past me.

I looked over to him...Zahra, that name sounds familiar. Why would he bring a random name up?

“Wait did we just win?” Octavia said confused.

“Yes….yes we did,” I replied.

Everypony was already cheering….I stood silent. For some reason I couldn’t be mad at Gransion. I know why he was doing this but I don’t know what he was going to achieve.

“Hey Tech you wanna help us out or what?” Rainbow said.

I turned around and saw them taking ponies out of the thread. “Yeah I can help,” I looked over and saw a release switch near me….why Gransion needed that I have no idea. I pressed it and all the ponies came out of the thread. So many familiar faces were in that pile but I had a promise to keep. I looked around for one pony imparticular.

Then I found her….Bon Bon. “Bon Bon you alright?” I asked.

“Y-yeah fine,” she said holding a hoof to her head. “I don’t believe we’ve met who are you?”

“I’m Tech Wire….Tech for short,” I replied. “I have a promise to keep so I got to take you back to ponyville.”

“Umm okay what kinda promise?” She said confused.

“A good one just trust me,” I said.

“If you say so,” she said.

“The rest of you can handle...well rest of this right?” I asked.

“We got it covered man,” Vinyl replied. “See ya at home.”

“Good luck,” I said. I left the building with Bon Bon and began to walk toward Ponyville.

“We have to walk all the way there?” Bon Bon said kinda annoyed.

“No I just need to get close enough so I can teleport,” I said. “And that isn’t too far from here so no worries.”

“Alright good,” Bon Bon smiled. “Thank you Tech.”

“Don’t mention it,” I replied. We walked a for few minutes in complete silence. I guess this was the end, I guess it was finally over, however….Zahra. That name sounds so familiar but I can’t think of why.

“Are we close enough yet?” Bon Bon asked being impatient.

“Oh yeah we are, sorry I spaced out for a second,” I replied. I charged up my magic and teleported us just outside of Ponyville. “Come with me.”

“Right behind you,” she replied.

We made our way to her house. I was still lost in thoughts. First why did Gransion give up so easily, second why does Zahra sound so familiar….and third Ponyville wasn’t attacked? I just noticed that now, why wouldn’t this place be attacked? Maybe we got to him fast enough….I don’t know my mind is gonna fizzle if I keep thinking like this.

We arrive in front of Bon Bons house. Bon Bon opens the door and I walk in behind her. “Lyra come down stairs,” I said.

“WHO’S DOWN THERE I GOT BAT!!!” Lyra screamed.

“It’s the guy who made you the promise,” I said. “Come down here already.”

Lyra slowly came down the stairs and saw Bon Bon. In the matter of seconds they were already hugging and Lyra was crying in joy. I smiled watching this, I walked over to the door to leave.

“Wait!” Lyra said.

I stopped without turning, “hmm what is it?”

“I need to thank you somehow,” she said.

“Lyra watching that hug was a thank you for me,” I said. “Don’t worry about it….it’s what I do.”

“But I-” I interrupt.

“Just enjoy yourselves,” I said. “I just want to go home at this point I’ll see you two around.”

“Alright….bye,” Lyra said a little disappointed. I shut the door behind and began to walk back to my house.

“Are you happy Mr.Wire?” a familiar voice said.

“Aeon I don’t have time for your games,” I replied.

“Dang I tried to scare ya to,” he said jumping onto my back. “Ah but you’re the same old you and that’s what I like.”

I smiled, “I assume you’re coming home with me?”

“That’s correct man, can’t handle those ‘high standards’ of Canterlot anymore,” he chuckled.

I chuckled to and continued to walk home. I don’t know what to think anymore. Yeah we stopped Gransion, yeah we saved like a lot of ponies, yeah his magic is canceled and all of the red rocks are vanishing. However he was after something and I assume it has something to do with this Zahra….I wish he would of let me help him.

I arrived at my house and opened the door. I flicked on the lights and slid Aeon off my back. “It’s been awhile since you’ve been here last,” I said to him.

“Yeah I know but right now I just want some sleep,” Aeon yawned. “I’ll just crash on the couch like always.”

“Alright goodnight Aeon,” I said.

“Goodnight Tech,” he said covering himself with the blanket on the back of the couch.

I walked upstairs and opened the door to my room. I closed it behind me and flopped onto my bed. “I guess it really is over….finally,” I closed my eyes…...