A Collective View of Friendship
By Admiral Q
Twilight was out late at night check out some ruins. She may have found the ruins of the old kingdoms before Equestria. Such a scientific find will make waves in Equestria. The past two hundred years has seen Equestria grow in territory so it would be a matter of time before they found their original homeland. It was best to find and preserve what ruins remain before they really start settling around here. There was already a small town of Cloversdale a few miles away. She was going their for supplies while she was out here. She leaned back taking a break from digging and notice her tunic was a mess. Rarity would have a fit if she saw it like this. She chuckled at the thought and smiled. She was so glad she still had her friends. When she became an alicorn she was shocked and overwhelmed by it. Then she became happy till Celestia told her that as an alicorn she was ageless. She would see her friends grow old and die on her. Even Spike would one day pass away. But after that Tirek event she and her friends became the embodiment of their Elements. So while not alicorns they were ageless as well and she was grateful for that. She and Cadance took Shining's death hard. But thankfully when ever she saw little Flurry Heart she can see a bit of her brother in her. Though calling her little would be in error. She had grown into a beautiful mare. As kind as Cadance but as protective as Shining she was a joy to have around.
Twilight decided to take a longer break and laid out on the grass and view the night sky. Luna's work beautiful as always. She thought about her friends. Rainbow was Commodore of the Wonderbolts. A rank made for her since it would be unfair for no pony but her ever to be Captain. As such the Captain still does the day to day running of the group but Rainbow plans the events and runs them during combat duty. She has the freedom to fly and that's all that mattered to Rainbow, especially since Soarin died. Though Rainbow has shown interest in her lately and frankly after losing Flash she be interested in a relationship with someone she doesn't have to worry about dying on her, but she hasn't made a decision on that yet. Applejack still runs the farm and watches over Big Mac's and Applebloom's descendants. Looking over her family was really the only thing keeping her going outside of their group. Pinkie was the most well adjusted of the group to the ageless thing. Sure she was sad when the Cakes passed away but meeting new ponies always cheered her up. She ran Sugarcube Corner now and still was the town's Premier Party Pony. Rarity was the only other one besides Rainbow and Twilight to leave Ponyville for long period of time. She set up Canterlot Carousel as her base but after a few years she returned to Ponyville preferring the simple village then Canterlot's constantly busy life. Fluttershy stayed in her cottage for decades before seeing so many of her animal friends die on her that Rarity forced her to move in with her after finding her sobbing after another animal of hers had died. It worked and Fluttershy now helps out with the sewing of dresses and she seems content if not happy. Twilight would have offered by she takes so many trips around Equestria outside of their friendship quests of course. Spike, well Spike was taking his first century long nap and still had ninety years to go before it will end. Thankfully he doesn't snore smoke. All in all her friends were doing well and they make sure that at least once a month they have a few days of a get together.
Twilight noticed a shooting star coming in and smiled at Luna's work in action, however it didn't quickly fade from view like others had. No it was still up their and now the angle was off. Soon the orange glow faded and she thought she saw a black object with faded green lines before she heard an impact on the ground. She took to the air and after getting some altitude she noticed a massive path ripped through the forest before ending at a massive rock. She dove in for a closer look. Thankfully she had gotten decent enough at flying to not annoy Rainbow anymore. The mare only griped that it took twenty years for it to happen. She landed on top of the rock and powered her horn in a spotlight setting and what she found astounded her. Below her was a vessel of some kind. As big as the largest zepplins she had seen but it didn't look like one at all. It was made out of black metal that seemed to glean in light and it had green lights going throughout it's body. There was small fires, sparks, and steam coming from several places not to mention hull breaches everywhere. Some ponies might be hurt in this vessel. She went to the nearest hole in the hull and jumped in. “Hello, any pony here? My name is Twilight Sparkle and I just want to help.” She said aloud and she looked around. The inside was nothing like she had ever seen before. It was all hallways with little alcoves along the walls. Everything was bathed in a green and gold light and steam was every where as well as sparks. She didn't see anypony nearby so she moved on through the vessel. Everything was the same, alcoves everywhere and nothing else. Until her hoof hit something. She looked down and saw remains of a being. It had no snout and had weird armor that covered it's body and parts of it's face.
And it was cut in half.
Twilight brought a hand to her mouth and backed away from the gorey site and she tripped on something. She flailed her arms and would have fallen to the floor but somepony was behind her and she collioded with them but the pony held firm and even grabbed her. She started to look back to say thanks but felt something bite her neck. She manage to turn around and saw an intact figure. Like the dead one it was covered in armor but this one had glow and blinking point over it. It also had an abnormally long arm while the other was average length. It's face was a light gray and held no emotion. Even from the one eye she could see while the other was covered by some device. Before she could say anything she felt weak and fell to the floor. Why? Why was she weak? An alicorn had the strength on par with an Earth pony and she hadn't exerted herself too much today. As things went dark she thought she heard voices, several voices. They weren't clear in what they were saying but one thing.
* * * * * *
Twilight manage to wake up to find herself staring at a ceiling. She tried to move but couldn't and she heard the murmur of the voices but they felt like they were in her head. She tried to move but couldn't. She panicked a bit and even more so, things felt cooler for some reason. Then the voices returned. They were a bit clearer. They talked about losing contact with a collective and reporting of various damages and repairs being made. They also talked about establishing a new collective and preparing a new queen.
'What in Equestria are they talking about and who is this new Queen?'
She then saw a figure approach her and extend that odd arm that was too long and it touched something on her and she felt sleepy. Her last thoughts was wishing her friends were here.
When she woke again she was not the same pony.
* * * * *
Outskirts of Cloversdale....
Comfy Living walked into the office of her families inn. Being the only one in the young town made her have some success. Her cousin Cosey Inn was at the desk and smile when she saw Comfy walk in.
“Did you here the ruckus a couple hours ago?”
“Yeah, that's why I was out checking the rooms to make sure there was no damage. Everything is good but it did sound like something crashed in the woods beyond.” Cosey just shrugged at that.
“Tartarus if I know what that was. Hey did you run into princess Sparkle out there? She was in the woods the last I heard.” Comfy just shook her head.
“Didn't see a lick of her out there.” Comfy looked out a window. “Sure hope she is okay.” Cosey brushed it off.
“She's a Princess of Equestria and has beaten the likes of Nightmare Moon, Discord, and the Changeling Queen. She can handle anything.” Before that discussion could go any further they heard the door open again and both turned to see who it was.
It was unlike any pony they had ever seen. Flat faced and in some kind of black armor the being faced them.
“Um, welcome to Comfy Inn and how can we serve you today?” Comfy asked and the being simply walked towards her and before she could act it grabbed her, pulled her close and inserted something in her neck. Cosey tried to come to her cousins aid but anotehr creature came from another doorway and grabbed her and repeated the process. Both mares fell to the floor staring in confusion as their coloration stared to fade and voices could be heard in their heads.
Unbeknownst to the ponies of Cloversdale the dark of night hid a threat till it was on it's doorstep. Silent figures approached the small town with a feminine form leading the way.
Author's Note
Being at parents and on a very slow road to recovering finally updated this story. hopefully it will get more upvotes. if you did downvote I want to know why
Chapter 2 (unedited)
A jeep bearing the logo of the royal guard pull to the side of the road on the outskirts of Cloversdale. All contact ceased with the town days ago and with Princess Twilight had also gone quiet the royal sisters sent their detachment out to discover why.
Stepping out of the vehicle as others pulled over the lieutenant in charge took out her binoculars and scan the town. There was no movement at all. Her sergeant stepped up. “Form squads of four and stay in constant radio contact.”
“Yes ma'am.” In minutes the platoon of guards began searching the town. They found broken doors, abandoned dinners and many disturb bed’s but no bodies. In an hour the whole town was searched but found nothing but signs of some fighting. The platoon headed back to their vehicles and the lieutenant radioed in.
“HQ this is platoon five reporting. The town is abandoned but signs of some fighting. And no sign of Princess Sparkle.”
“Noted, continue investigating to what happened to the townsponies. Also be advise that Commodore Dash has heard of the princesses disappearance and will likely be there.” The mare heard a sound boom and saw a rainbow streak in the sky.
“Roger that HQ.”
Rainbow scanned the ground looking for signs of Twi.
“Come on egghead, where are you?” She asked. Soon she saw scarring in the forest and headed that way to check it out. So she found an odd looking airship so she his in a cloud and observed the thing. It looked like it was being repaired. She observed the workers and was surprised at what she saw. Ponies practically naked and not just that, devoid of fur, mane, and tail. The only things they wore was these black things on various parts of their bodies as well as a grey tone to their skins. Twi was likely in the ship so she had to get in there and get Twi out and she can solve what's going on. She spotted an opened door with nopony around. She dashed down and with pistol drawn she headed in. The place was odd as she move from spot to spot and observe the ponies work on the ship. She got deeper in and in a dark section she heard a familiar voice.
“Rainbow Dash?” She turned and saw an outline of a pony with horn and wings.
“Twi!” she raced over and grabbed her arm. “Let's get you out of here and you can find a way to fix these ponies.”
“But they are already fix.” Rainbow looked back and surprising swiftness Two held her close and she felt pain in her neck. “I will fix you to.” Things went dark for Rainbow.
The platoon had moved into the woods looking for clues when she heard over the radio. “Contact west!” she looked that way rifle ready. She saw figures walking the woods.
“In the name of the crowns halt and identify yourself!” she called out. The only response was them getting closer. After another minute she gave the command. “Drop them.” Her platoon opened fire. She saw multicolored shields go up negating the fire. Her platoon fired spells. Again shields held most but some got through and some fell. But many did not. “Fallback!” she radioed and the platoon began doing so.
They got back to town when the strange ponies caught up. A couple of her troops screamed as they were over taken.
“HQ! We are under attack. These strange ponies are very synchronize. Trying to escape!” she cast an expanding sphere and drove the ponies away just as she stopped a Pegasus tackled her. She tried to fight them off but the Pegasus was insanely strong and soon she felt sharp pain in her neck.
Soon all the platoon soon stood with emotionless expressions and started walking to the ship. Only one Pegasus escaped.
Back in the ship Twilight said. “Time to address Celestia.”
In Canterlot Castle Celestia just finished court. She was distracted by Twilight's silence but hoped it was nothing major. Then her captain burst into the throne room. “Princess! Our scouts were attacked and likely overruned!”
“Any idea on who it was?”
“They reported strange looking ponies before they went dark.” Celestia thought to a teleport happened and a small black object appeared in air. They both looked at it cautiously when a images appeared from it with a green tint. The image was Twilight. She was naked and devoid of fur, mane, and tail. Only her feathers remained on her wings. She had a few black parts over her body but his nothing of her genitals. On her head several tubes moved to the back of her head somewhere. She gave Celestia a small smile.
“Hello Celestia.”
“Twilight! What happened to you?”
“Something wonderful, I have been given the greatest way to spread friendship and harmony.”
“How?”
“First a little back story. A ship crashed near me belongs to a power call the Borg Collective. They are a group of species that live in harmony with not just themselves but with machines as well. Seeking perfection and other races to join their collective. Sadly some reject their offers and one caused massive damage to the collective and the ship that crashed has been cut off from the rest to they formed a new one and chose me as their new queen.”
“And your purpose Twilight?”
“To spread the collective as well as harmony and friendship to all of eqqus.”
“And what if they refuse to join?”
“Resistance is futile. All will be one with the Borg.” Twilight walked a bit and another figure appeared. She was even more naked then Twilight and lacking in hair like Twilight. It took Celestia a minute to recognize Rainbow Dash. “consider Rainbow Dash here. Her transformation is incomplete but even in this state I know all her knowledge and desires. We are now of one mind. Imagine a world like that. Where everypony knows the thoughts and ideas of eveeypony else. No crime just harmony and friendship….and maybe more.” Twilight then kissed Rainbow's cheek and played with her breasts.
Celestia did her best to avoid that. “On surface it may seem perfect Twilight but it sounds like tyranny to me. Why would such a collective need a queen?”
“Because it needs a hub to function. A focus point for something that would be inherently chaotic. That is my function, to bring order to chaos.”
“I will not submit myself or Equestria to this collective.” Celestia said with a firm tone and Twilight sighed.
“I had hoped you would see reason Celestia. But know you have chosen the path of resistance. And unlike they few that could resist you lack the technology to resist. Your culture will adapt to service us. That is fact.” With that the transmission ceased and the object teleported away.
“Captain, summon the generals and alert the army to prepare for war.
Back in the Borg ship Rainbow laid on an assimilation table as Twilight looked over her friend. She would oversee this personally. She started planting implants onto the mare's body. Each with a gem invested in them. With her knowledge of equestrian magic and enchantment her drones require less armor then the previous generations of borg. It showed in the fight with the platoon. What drones taken out were few and were operational again. Unlike previous Queen’s her drones were precious to her and would not be squandered. She placed in implant on a hip, another on a lower leg, a forearm, and a thin one to perk up Rainbow's breasts. A tad inefficient she knew but all queens suffer some form of this as well as a desire for a counter part. Rainbow was that for her as well as her general. To command the combat drones and pleasure her queen. She now needed one last piece. She summoned a large metal plate with curves on the ends and placed it over Rainbow's eyes. With some snaps it connected to her face and the implants already there. This plate was filled with all sorts of sensors that allowed Rainbow to see farther and better then her organic eyes ever could. She no longer needed them and will remain dormant. After a minute Rainbow stood and looked at her.
“One of Five of Harmony Matrix one ready for orders.” Twilight smiled.
“Ready the combat drones, we have a nation to conquer.”
