Soul's Requiem

Gene Splice could tell Ember Gem was furious the second she walked into his office. He was seated at his desk, glaring at her. His irises were narrowed giving them a draconic look. HIs office was cheery despite the ominous atmosphere the earth stallion gave off. The walls were decorated with vintage comic books framed in glass and Canterlot could be seen from the viewing screen that mad eup the wall behind Ember's desk.

"Take a seat Dr. Splice," he said gesturing to one of the plush seats.

Gene swallowed the lump in her throat and did as she was told.

"Now then," Ember began," Explain to me what happened earlier and why you chose to disobey my direct orders."

"Sir I wished to receive a blood sample from one of the alicorns and I will take full responsibility for the damages-"

Ember help up a hoof," I'm not angry about the hundreds of credits worth of damages that was done. I'm not even angry about the lawsuits I will have to put up with over the security personnel that were harmed in Luna's rampage." His voice started to raise in volume," What I am angry about Dr. Splice is the fact that you disobeyed my direct orders. I made it perfectly clear that I was to be present when they awoke and what's more you proceeded to make the situation worse by having her chased down like a wild animal!"

"She was a threat to-"

"She was confused! She woke up in a strange place with a strange pony sticking a needle in her arm," Ember bellowed," If you were in her place you wouldn't have been pleased either I gather! The only reason that I haven't fired you and had you blackballed yet is because you were able to get control of the situation with relative swiftness. They are ponies Dr. Splice not specimens to poke and prod and if there is another incident like today I will have your flank thrown out on the street so fast your head will spin. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes sir," Gene said between gritted teeth.

"Good," Ember sat back," Now then what have you found in your analysis of the foreign mana found in Cadenza's body."

Gene pulled a holopad out of her lab coat's pocket, turned it on and placed it in front of Ember. He picked it up and started reading he data she had gathered.

"From what we gathered the temperature lowers to the mana's influence. Also we found that the mana held the same 'sickness' we found in our samples of the tree we found in the Everfree. We exposed some to our samples to the mana we found and the most peculiar thing happened. The black crystal growths on the plant cells grew exponentially. This is no coincidence. I believe there is a connection."

"There is," Ember said his eyes not leaving the holopad," But this doesn't answer any questions. It only makes more."

"We did receive an answer though sir," Gene said," On a hunch I compared the mana the crystal's started to radiate to the mana that lingered on the specimen we found six years ago and its a match."

Ember looked up at her in shock. Six years ago they had lost one of their alicorns to the influence of a strange creature from another dimension. This creature looked like a pony but was grey and furless. It gave off a debilitating mana that ate away at a pony's sanity as well as their health. The loss of Bastion had hit Genesis Tech hard and they were forced to place a kill switch of sorts on their remaining alicorn's or be forced to destroy them. As for the creature they had been able to bring it down and now they studied it extensively. Ember had made it Genesis Tech's. He knew that wouldn't be the last they saw of these strange creatures.

"Your kidding."

"No sir."

Ember looked back at the holopad. Suddenly his phone beeped," Mr. Gem there's something on the news you need to see."

The office's plexiscreen turned on showing  an earth pony in a smart black suit.

"This is Flash Point with a breaking news update. Today the Javelin Outpost outside Seatones was found to be destroyed. There were no bodies at the scene. I have Wide View with more information on site. Wide."

The screen showed a pegasus in a rain slicker with the ocean behind him and stormy skies in the background," Thanks Flash. So far High Tide and Staunchhoof, the security personnel that had been posted that night have been deemed missing. As well officials have asked that the public stay away from Seatones for the time being and an evacuation has started due to the spikes in mana radiation that has been reported just off coast. I'll have more tonight."

"Thank you Wide. In other news..."

Ember stared at the screen,' Unexplained mana spikes just li9ke last time.'

"Sir -" Gene began.

"Dr. Splice get the alicorns back here on the double and have Infinity start hacking the Javelin systems," Ember cut her off," I want all the data they were recording when the spikes started." He picked up his phone and dialed a number," Ms. Prior get me Ambrosia on the phone."

"Yes sir."

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ambrosia looked up from her book when she heard her phone ring. She took a drag form her cigarette and picked up her phone. Timeline looked up at her from his spot across the room. His table had opened books scattered across it including the small journal they had received from Ember.

"Ambrosia speaking," she said.

"Yes Ms. Ambrosia. This Ember Gem," his tone held an urgency," I'm calling to find out how you are coming with translating the journal."

'Who is it?" Timeline mouthed.

'Ember Gem,' Ambrosia replied before placing the phone back to her ear," We're making progress but it's rather slow."

"Ah I see well that is good news. I know someone that could help you out. She's quite good with things like this and her linguistics skills are top notch."

"We are quite-" Ambrosia said.

"Then its settled I'll send her your way by tomorrow and please forgive her enthusiasm she can become quite excited when it comes to old books. Besides you will get that interview I promised you out of the deal. Tah~"

The line went died and Ambrosia had the felling she had just received whiplash. She slammed the phone down with a huff," Of all the nerve!"

"What happened?" Timeline sat up and stretched. Several satisfying pops resonated form his bones.

"Apparently we're not moving fast enough with our translation so Ember decided to send one of his lackeys to 'help' us." She made air quotes at the word help and slumped in her chair," I'm beginning to regret deciding to help this guy. I mean he hasn't even given us any straight answers."

"Don't worry we'll know soon enough," Timeline said.

"Wow look at you Mr. Positive Thinking," Ambrosia said with open sarcasm.

"Well someone has to look on the bright side," Timeline chuckled.

Ambrosia stuck her tongue out at him and snuffed her cigarette out.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"So tell us," Luna said over her drink," What was that power the filly used." She gestured to Wildfire, who was enjoying a bowl of ice cream and chatted with Twilight.

"Yes I wish to know as well," Celestia said after swallowing her mouthful of cake," It is like fire magic but then unlike it."

"Pyrokinesis," Temperance said casting a glance at Wildfire," She can heighten the temperature around her with but a thought. Unfortunately sometimes her mind can become erratic. That's when she loses control."

"I sensed magic at play but it was different," Celestia said.

"Magic is different now than it was back then for intense," Temperance picked up the saucer in front of her with her telekinesis. She explained how the races have evolved and in turn how mana was used now.

Luna found it unsettling still that there was no magic field around the saucer. Celestia in turn found it fascinating. True telekinesis had been the stuff of fairy tales for her.

"Simply amazing how for ponykind has come," Celestia said.

"Amzing bah," Luna huffed," The art of spell craft is all but gone save for us sister. I don't find that amazing." She looked at Temperance," And what pray tell can you and the behemoth," she gestured to Ironsight, who sat silent sipping  a mug of coffee," Do exactly?"

"I have the inherent ability to sense the emotions of others around me," Temperance said.

"An Empath," Celestia said with wide eyes.

Temperance nodded," Indeed. As well I can access their memories an fd even if I apply enough focus alter them but tbhat trakes a great deal of strength for me to do. As for ironsight-"

"I am a soldier nothing more," Ironsight said. He had a steely gaze locked on the trio," The only skill I have is the ability to kill nothing more." He turned back to his coffee.

Temperance sighed," My brother is right unfortunately. He was made with militant use in mind, He is the strongest of us and his regenerative ability is double what mine is. As for infinity he is a genius at all things mechanical and computer related. He can connect his mind to any digital interface and hack it. As well his skill in mathematics is second to known save for Mr. Gem."

"Another question," Luna said," This Ember Gem. What can you tell us of him?"

"He built Genesis tech," Infinity said form his placed behind them. They turned to look at him as he pulled his headphones down," He's a freakin' genius at everything and I do mean everything. Guy has PhDs in almost every field. You name it Biochemistry, Genetics, Mathematics. Not only that but he's a ghost. No records of him exist, at least any that are real. Not only that but he knew you three were sealed in that spire to begin with."

"How could he have known that?" Celestia asked. She raised her eyebrow at the electric blue alicorn.

Infinity smirked," You find out."

Luna was about to inquire why until Ironsight sat up.

"We need to get back to the lab," he said going to the door," Mother has recalled us."

"Aww," Wildfire whined but one look from Ironsight cut off any further complaints.

Luna and Celestia looked at each other and nodded. It was time to question this Ember Gem.