CH 4: The Long Way *remastered*

         I open my eyes half way, vision blurred. All I see is fire and wreckage of a train. I start breathing heavily and soon opened my eyes all the way. My vision was still blurred but I can smell fire and I can feel myself laying flat on the floor.

“Tech….Tech,” I hear my name muffled. Seems my ears haven’t come back fully yet. “Tech get up,” I feel somepony touching me but I don’t know who. I can’t move, I can’t speak, and I can barely breathe.

“Vinyl did you get him up?” Octavia said or so I assumed.

“I’m trying but this lug is so not getting up,” Vinyl said in worry.

“Just pick him up from under the shoulders,” She insisted.  “Drag him over here and put his back against this tree. He must of had the wind knocked out him,” knowing that smartness it’s definitely Octavia. I feel some pony tug on my shoulders dragging me across grass and rocks. As I was getting dragged I see Octavia’s hooves go past me. Thank Celestia it’s these two. Something bad happened and I'm determined to find out what it is.

Vinyl puts my back to a tree and soon I start getting my oxygen back. “You two *cough* alright?” I ask finally being able to speak.

“Thank heavens you can speak,” Octavia said in relief. “I’m fine just a little stiff from the crash. Us three are lucky I can tell you that,” I look around trying to see if somepony else made it.

“Anypony else….make it?” I ask I couldn't see any others so I assumed the worst.

“Not a single one man,” Vinyl said. “Or at least we think they could of ran off by now following the train tracks back to well wherever they came from.”

I looked down at my hooves not a scratch on me. Us three were lucky liked Octavia said. Though it seems to lucky. I don’t see any other ponies around not even oh I hate saying this but, not even dead ones. They just all seem to have disappeared out of thin air. I looked up at Octavia and Vinyl both of them minor scratches. How could we have taken such minor damage from a train crash like that? On top of that is this what the conductors of the train were talking about?

“Do you two...know the cause of this wreck by chance?” I asked.

“Not at all though there is something glowing in the distance,” Octavia said. “In that direction over there.”

“Well then,” I said struggling to get to my hooves. “I guess were going that way.”

“Whoa slow down there speedy!” Said Vinyl. “You're still injured, sit down.”

“Vinyl I’m fine,” I said. “Now move I’m going to see what is over there it might clear up everything,” I started walking toward the glowing light. As I was walking toward the light it slowly kept getting more red. Perhaps another rock of sorts? I turned the corner and saw a glowing red rock and something else... something I couldn't explain.

“Hey ummm...you two would probably want to see this,” I said with a shaky tone. They started walking over wondering what I was so scared about. I usually don’t get scared cause I could explain everything but this….this was un-explainable. Octavia poked her head around the corner with Vinyls and both of there mouths opened in shock.

“W-w-what the?” Octavia said with pure shock.

“T-that’s just not even possible,” Vinyl said.

“I-I can’t explain this,” I said still scared at what we were looking at. “That red rock it’s got ponies wrapped up in some weird red material. It’s like a thread...sort of,” I was talking out loud at this point I couldn't keep my thoughts to myself. “I just….I just don’t know I've never seen anything like this. I just have one question why didn't it get us?”

Octavia looks over to me. “Maybe we woke up in time.”

“Either that or it forgot about us and was just about to wrap us up in whatever that is,” Vinyl said.

“Vinyl that’s….a possibility,” I said still looking at the rock. “But what are….OCTAVIA LOOK OUT!” I try to say quickly but a thread hooked on to her neck.

“AAAAH GET IT OFF!” Octavia screamed in fear.

“Oh no you don’t,” Vinyl grabbed Octavias back hooves. “Hnng Tech there’s gotta be something we can do! ANYTHING PLEASE WE CAN’T LOSE HER!” Vinyl was in fear as was I. I started thinking as fast as I could. I looked around for anything we could use, rocks, dirt, bark.....tree branches.

I stomped my hoof into the ground. “I got it!” I snapped a medium sized branch off of a tree. “Vinyl hold her steady!” I swung the branch at the thread hoping for it to break. No luck so I repeatedly began to swing. “Come...on….break...you….son...of...a….GAAH!” I just couldn't get it to break I was already running out of options. My head was spinning trying to figure out something then I saw my suitcase.

“Tech I’m slipping!” Vinyl said in worry. I grab on to Octavia’s hooves as quickly as I possibly could.

“Vinyl I’ll hold her now!” I said. “Listen closely my suitcase made the crash thank the lord. I need you to get in it and look for a silver box you can’t miss it! Move I can’t hold on forever!” She quickly moved to my suitcase and opened it.

“Is it REALLY necessary to have all these shirts!?!” She said in worry.

“Just throw em out and find the dang box already! I’m sorry no one told me how long we were going to be in Canterlot!” I said hooves slipping from Octavias. “Speed up the process please!” She threw out shirt by shirt.

“I got it….what now?” She asked.

“The button, press it!” I tell her.

“Alright it better not kill me,” She presses the button.

“Hello and welcome to the materializing storage what is the password?” The machine spoke to Vinyl and her eyes widened.

“P-password I do-” I interrupted her.

“Technical storage 223399!” I say to the machine. “Request weapon 88492!”

“Hello Tech welcome back, materializing shurikens in 3...2..1.” A shuriken appears in front of Vinyls face.

“Yooooooo what the?” She was still in shock but grabbed the shuriken.

“I’ll explain later just throw it at the thread NOW!” I said in panic almost losing grip on Octavia. Vinyl throws the shuriken right through the thread first throw. “Lucky shot,” I caught Octavia as she fell. “Now lets get out of here now!” I said running toward Vinyl with Octavia now on my back. “Keep the silver box and run. Weapon system shut down and lock.”

“Shutting down,” the box said. Vinyl ran behind me. We ran for a short while hoping to be far enough away from whatever that rock is. I put Octavia on the ground with her back against a tree. I swipe the silver box out of Vinyls hooves.

“Okay now that were all calm,” Vinyl said panting a bit. “What’s with the box dude? I’ve never seen technology that advanced.”

“It’s a long story Vinyl and I would rather save it for later. Right now I need to make sure Octavia is alright,” I said looking at her neck and head. I sighed before speaking “She’s fine just knocked out from lack of oxygen,” I fell back in the grass. Looking up at the sky in relief. “We need to get to Canterlot.”

“What good will that do we don’t even know where we are,” Vinyl said in disappointment.

“I got this,” I press the button on the box.

“Hello and welcome to the materializing storage what is the password?” The box repeats this everytime I turn it on.

“Technical storage 223399, Request item 237,” I said to the box.

“Password accepted welcome back Tech. Materializing map of Equestria and with you circled on it and what direction you are facing.” The map materialized and I took it.“Powering down need charge before next use.”

I sigh, “The only weakness of this thing….low battery life,” I look at the map. “Well were close to the unicorn range thanks to all the running so we can make it, but it’s a long walk.”

Vinyl looked at me still in shock. “How did you get that thing?”

I look over to her. “Its something I invented years ago. The way it can materialize things like that is from a rare crystal. This rare crystal is found outside of Equestria where I took a trip to with someone very close to me. It was a dangerous trip but, I still managed to get the crystal. Though it’s only good for two uses before I have to charge it which takes about a week. It’s very useful in situations such as that back there. There is more but I’d rather stop there for now,” I finish my explanation looking up at Vinyl.

“Okay my mind is gonna fizzle,” She said rubbing her head. “But thanks for saving Octavia like that with that cool device of yours.”

“No problem,” I said. “I was just doing what I-” I got interrupted by a hug from her. Its quite rare to get her scared, but then again that’s the same for me it kinda shook us all.

“No like really, thanks,” She said quietly. “For all of that back there. If you haven’t come on this trip we probably would of never came back,” She hugged a bit tighter. “Embrace this while you can cause it WILL not happen very often.”

“I had a feeling those words would come out soon,” I said then hugged her. “I couldn't say no anyways. I know how you are with that never give up thing,” I say with a chuckle. I looked up toward the sky and realized it was night. Must of been knocked out for hours, wonderful. “We should find a place to call shelter for the night.”

We let go of each other and she looked up. “Yeah we should but where?” She asked. “What if another rock springs up in the night right next to us?”

“Don’t worry I have a plan for that.” I said picking up Octavia and putting her on my back. “Let us just find a cave or something and relax alright?”

“Yeah I guess you're right,” She said and slowly started following me. We looked around walking in a straight path toward the unicorn range to make sure we stay on track for tomorrow. I kept thinking to myself about that red rock. I kept trying to find an explanation for it, but I just couldn't. Nothing, literally nothing could explain what all that was about. It's just an obscurity to the world, I've never seen anything like it at all.

It’s either out of this world or some advanced magic that somepony is using to capture normal civilians. As I recall though there isn't any magic like this but it could still be a possibility.

“Yo over there,” Vinyl points her hoof to a small cave snapping me out of my trance.

“Huh oh yeah that could be a good spot,” I said. “Lets just hope there’s no bears or anything in there.” I grab a rock next to me and threw it into the cave. We hear an echo but no animals. “Seems safe,” I said still unsure.

“I say we just trust it. We need a place to stay for the night anyways,” Vinyl walked toward the cave. I followed behind her with Octavia.

“Nice cave I guess,” I say putting Octavia up against a wall. “Alright I’m gonna go grab some fire wood real quick.”

“No need,” Vinyl said putting her hoof on my shoulder. “Grabbed some on the way here I had a feeling we might need some.”

“Wow Vinyl I’m impressed,” I said with a smirk.

“What do you mean?” She questioned

“You used your brain for once,” I said with a small chuckle.

“Dude!” She punched me in the arm.

“Ow...you know you punch pretty hard dang,” Doesn't help I’m not very strong in the arms either.

“Yeah yeah whatever just make fire happen okay,” she handed me the wood and sat up against the wall near Octavia. I simply rolled my eyes and set the wood in a pile. Put some rocks around it just to make a nice fire pit.

“Alright here goes,” I try to send a spark to the wood using my horn. “I’ve done this before lets just hope it GAAH!” Fire flung up in my face and fell back against the wall.

Vinyl laughed. “Hot tonight Tech?” She said with a grin.

“Oh ha ha funny,” I said but we both laughed. Seems like the tension from before has calmed down. Though I still couldn’t put my mind to it, it just doesn’t make any sense at all. I look over to Vinyl who was on her phone. “How long have you had that?” I said a little bit irritated.

“The whole time why?” She asks.

“Why…...why…..WHY!?!?” I shouted surprised Octavia didn't wake from that. “We could of called for help a long time ago! Do you know anypony who is in Canterlot right this second?”

“Actually yeah I do,” She said going through her contacts.

“And who is that?” I ask.

“Actually somepony you know,” She says. “I just hope she picks up.”

“Who is it exactly?” I question.

“Twilight sparkle,” She said quickly.

I slammed my hoof to my face. I take a big sigh. “How do you know she's there?”

“Eh I was talking to her in her library for some reason. Then she said something about going to Canterlot and that’s how I know,” she ended that sentence with a smile.

“Vinyl sometimes I wish you would bring up stuff sooner,” I said. “Call her and make sure she picks up.”

“Alright alright no need to get your shirt in a bunch,” she dialed the number. “It’s ringing….still ringing,” she sat there hoping she would pick up. “Holy Twilight I need to talk to you It’s really important.”

I could hear Twilight on the other end. “What is it Vinyl?” She asks.

“Okay this is gonna sound weird but were in a cave. Before you say anything let me finish,” She said quickly. “We saw this red rock and it did this weird thread thing. It grabbed Octavia and we saved her then we ran through the forest and ended up in a cave AND this all started from a train crash.” Good job on the detail Vinyl, I slowly shook my head.

“Dear Celestia Vinyl are you okay. Wait, wait we who else is with you?” She asked.

“Oh my friend Tech is with me,” She replied.

“Oh Tech's with you thank goodness,” she said. I started to freak out cause I never told Vinyl that me and her are good friends.

“You know Tech?” She asked. I think Vinyl thought I only knew her name.

“Oh yeah totally. He helped us six in the past fight off this man called Fear. We became good friends since,” Twilight spilled the beans. “Didn’t he tell you?”

Vinyl gave me a glare. “No he...didn't, anyways can you help us cause that would be really nice right now were lost.

“Don’t worry I’ll get Rainbow to come with me and we’ll be there as soon as possible.”

“Thanks bye.” She hung up the phone and looked at me. “Helped us in the past? Fight off a man called Fear? Why haven’t you swung this by me and Octavia yet?” She questioned me.

“Well I never found it important,” I replied. “He was a unicorn...with griffon claws nothing special.”

“If you say so,” Wow that was quick I actually expected her to get mad at me. “It’s getting chilly dang it.”

“Shall we huddle for warmth like ponies did in the old age,” I said with a smirk.

“Eh why not,” She scooted closer to me and put her head on my shoulder.

“You know I was kidding right?” I ask.

“You know I don’t care right?” She said with a cocky attitude.

I sigh “What about Octavia?”

“Don’t worry I got this.” She pulled Octavia up to her. “See nice and close,” we both let off a laugh.

“Were idiots,” I say with a smile.

“Nah I’m the idiot here, you two are the smart ones,” she said with confidence.

“Vinyl don’t talk down on your self like that you're smart to,” I look toward her. “There’s nothing wrong with you alright.”

“Oh are we a charmer,” She says with a grin.

“I’m just being nice embrace it because it WILL not happen very often,” she looks up at me and smiles.

“Don’t copy me man, that’s so lame,” she says.

“Ha ha sorry,” we both laughed. I lay my head back and sigh. “I hope we get somewhere safe soon.”

“Why?” She asks.

“I just….don’t want to deal with this,” I said. “I don’t like being the hero it’s just not my thing. I moved to Ponyville for peace and quiet. However I get dragged into fighting someone. I get a bunch of friends and don’t get me wrong I like all of them especially you two, but whenever I get friends it always leads to some danger like now. This red rock that we keep talking about almost took Octavia and is currently taking all other ponies that ponies may know and we’ll never see again,” I look down.

“Tech you don’t-” I interrupt her.

“No let me finish.” I insisted. “I just don’t like this stuff happening to ponies of any kind. I’m a peaceful guy and I like to keep it that way sometimes but then all this stuff happens and it attacks my friends if anything. Its just I don’t know frustrating. I used to be the hero all the time when I was younger. Standing up for people who were my friends, saving lives more often than others...honestly it's annoying,” I ended off everything with a sigh.

“Tech dude sometimes it just works out like that,” Vinyl says. “You don’t have to be a hero just be a guy who helps ponies.”

“And pretty much be a sidekick to a hero. I don’t know in my books sidekicks are also heros.” I say.

“Yeah but I didn’t say you had to be a sidekick either just don’t think of as a hero just think as ummm…” She thinks to herself. “Think of it as helping the community.”

“Vinyl.” I say.

“Yes Tech?” She looks at me.

“You sound so lame right now,” I say with a chuckle.

She chuckles. “Yeah I know, but hey I’m just trying to make your situation better.”

“Well thanks.” I said with a smile. “I think this is the longest conversation we ever had…..Vinyl…..Vinyl?” I look over and see she fell asleep. I sigh and close my eyes hoping we won’t have problems in the morning.