Ponies trotted purposefully through the streets of Canterlot, enjoying the warm rays of the clear sky on their way towards their various tasks. The city had changed much in the past few years, holding onto the regal designs but allowing for more modern apartments and even shops that sold communication devices and other technomagic wonders brought by the recently restored Griffon Kingdom. Up in a tower of castle that was in a wing used by Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns a young unicorn stallion was staring out the window while an older red and blue maned unicorn was giving a lecture.
“And so with the runes being as old as Starswirl’s time even in the smallest of writing the symbols can still have power. Meaning that if you can memorize the runes and know how to arrange them, most spells should be able to be cast through an object over your own horn causing possible damage if you try a spell that’s to powerful for you.” explained the professor. “Mr. Gears, if I could have your attention back within the classroom over the wondrous day our Princess has graced us with?”
The blue unicorn with a black mane jumped in his seat and turned to face the front once more. “I’m sorry Professor Booksalot.” he stammered out.
“I won’t write you up to Head Mistress Shimmer, for daydreaming, if you can tell me the question that was asked and what my response was.” Booksalot started with a gentle nod toward Gears.
“Alabaster Star had asked why there was now a pegasus in the class.” Gears said gesturing to the pegasus mare a few seats away from his own. “And you then went on a tangent about the uses of the written letters and runes over casting spells directly from our horns, Professor.”
“Good, well that will be all for today class is dismissed.” Booksalot said with a note of finality as he sat at his desk. All the students then began to file out of the room chatting amongst themselves. As Gears started to leave the room the pegasus from the class was there waiting.
“So your name was Precision Gears right?” she asked with a smile.
“What of it?” he asked looking the green mare with maroon eyes and a deep blue mane, up and down.
“Well my name is Starry Breeze and I’ve heard a lot about you and just wanted to get to know you is all.” she replied with a smile.
“So, what have you heard about me, and from whom?” he asked as he began to trot down the hall for the stairs.
“Just that you’re a really talented unicorn and that you don’t judge others based on appearances.” Starry said following, “I picked all that up from other students from my morning classes.”
“And your point Ms. Breeze?” Precision asked as they reached the base level and went past a few of the royal guards that were on duty.
“Well I was wondering if we could go and get a bite to eat some time or something.”
“A date? Within a few moments of meeting me, you seriously asking that?”
“Well… uh… not a ‘Date’ date but more of a uh…” she stammered out blush arising to her cheeks.
“Look if you’re looking for study help I doubt there’s much I could tell ya given you are a pegasus in this school. You obviously know a good bit, but one thing I could say is, go buy a Griffon recorder, let it play throughout your classes. Then you have everything the professor talked about in a place you can go back and listen to.” with that Precision then left the slightly confused mare behind as he headed up a flight of stairs that lead to his private dorm.
Over in the Royal Throne room the sisters, Sunset Shimmer, and a brown unicorn stallion, wearing a black coat were in the middle of a conversation. “So as you ladies can tell Dimensional Technologies has many wonders we offer and can bring to the ponies of Equestria to better their lives.” stated the unicorn.
“You have certainly brought a few, interesting points, to mind Mr. Dimtec. You may leave and we shall be in touch on weather or not we accept your business proposal.” Celestia told him with a kind smile and a nod. Bowing with respect the stallion left the room.
“I think we should jump on this opportunity to advance past the Griffons and have things they don’t.” Luna said firmly, “This could also be what we need to help the little ponies on their journey to explore my night much closer.”
Celestia smiled at her sister’s eager response and hopeful wishing for the newly formed Space Exploration Corps. She then turned to face Sunset, “And what’s your opinion on this stallion’s offer, Headmistress?”
“Well I don’t see anything wrong with the Technomagic he’s offering, it’s still things that from the human side of the mirror I know we could make it on our own without his crutch.” She said slightly unsure, “At least, that’s the word I would use for what he’s offering. Ponykind won’t learn anything if we are just given the tech instead of discovering it for ourselves.”
Celestia nodded in understanding, “Then I propose we first call a meeting with the other Princesses, Twilight’s Friendship Council included, and we discuss this in further detail with their inputs. Next, would be informing Joe Dimtec of our choice.”
“Your point is reasonable Tia, I shall write a letter for Candace and her daughter Flurry Heart.” Luna said arising from her seat and leaving the room.
“And, I shall handle the others, you may return to the school Sunset. We shall speak again in the morrow.” Celestia said as a few guards returned into the room. Sunset Shimmer nodded and gave a short curtsy before leaving.
Author's Note
And please once again leave comments and find them Typos. They love to hide in late night writing.
Setting the Stage - Human
A noon day sun beat down upon the city of Trestin, the light gleaming off it’s tall skyscrapers. Within one of the higher apartments a young woman sat in a chair and stared at the city below with her left eye, the other covered by her long purple hair. She was wearing a simple blue t shirt, jeans, and a pair of boots, she gazed on as a voice spoke from behind her.
“So as you can see Ms. Taissy, we’ve provided you with full amenities. If you need anything else, please just give us a call.” A man in a suit said kindly from the doorway of the apartment. “I’ll just get going and let you start figuring out what to do from here.”
As he left Taissy raised her right arm and inspected her hand in the light, “I know it’s fake, but it looks so real. Same with those drones, it’s like looking in a mirror.” She stood and went over to the bedroom opening the door and gazing in upon the five identical copies of herself standing against one wall with eyes closed, standing as stiff as the machines they were. “It’s just freaky”, she thought with a shiver as she walked past them and pulled a hoodie out from the closet and began to leave.
“Inquiry: Where is Mother Unit headed?” a woman’s voice asked from behind her just as Taissy placed her hand on the door knob to pull it closed behind herself.
“Out, Number Two, and you five can just stay here in rest mode” Taissy responded in an identical voice, not turning around to face the active doppelganger with glowing orange eyes. Taissy then continued out of the apartment and stepped onto the elevator. As she rode down she began to think over her current situation. “So all I know is that some people at Medical Robotics made me into what I currently am. They also made the Drones that are now in my bedroom, and whatever it is they did I can’t seem to recall what happened to make them do it.” A message then slid across her vision saying “Memory Deleted”, along with a quick splitting headache. Hissing in frustration and pain Taissy stepped off the elevator and walked out of the building.
Outside there were people and Robots walking about, living their lives and draining their batteries. “And I’m the hybrid now…” she muttered to herself as she blended in with the crowd heading for the park, wanting fresher air than the vehicle-output filled air she was currently within. “And I keep getting these images of some guy, I feel I should know him, but nothing.” Releasing a sigh as she reached the park and headed down a trail that led through the trees and the practically natural forest in the middle of Trestin. Joggers passed her as she quickly walked out into a clearing that had a few vendors selling food or gimmicky souvenirs to the park goers.
“I should probably look into a job starting tomorrow,” she muttered to herself, “Not sure where to even start.”
“Why not find a security job?” asked a voice that wasn’t her own but was also within her own head. ”That is what we are made for.”
“Maybe you and the others Three, but I’m human,” Taissy hissed through her teeth as she sat upon a bench “and humans aren’t restrained by programs because we’re born.”
“Three has a point though, a security or guarding position is strategically best for the collective Mother Unit. With our combined skill set and the tools you currently have at your disposal it's logical to pursue that career path.” replied Two.
“Didn’t I tell you lot to stay in sleep mode?” Taissy grumbled out, “Besides, doing that wouldn’t be any different than if we stayed with War Mechanics. I don’t want to be used as they were using us.”
“I thought we left because they never gave you cake.” Three questioned causing the other drones to start chatting amongst themselves and giving Taissy the beginnings of a headache.
Putting her hands to her temples and rubbing them lightly she said, “It’s going to be a long month.”
A week later Taissy was sitting at the table within her apartment with a few various applications laid out in front of her. She was going through them filling them out as the five identical drones were going about cleaning the apartment and organizing all of Taissy’s things. “Why are we doing this?” asked the one organizing the pantry as she glanced back with her Blue eyes. “It’s demeaning of our skills and capabilities.”
“Because, Five, even if we only need to buy food for me you all are going to help clean this place so I can work more once I get a job.” Taissy replied as she turned a page on the application she was currently working on.
“Besides, Five, it’s different from what we normally do.” spoke up the drone with yellow eyes who was dusting the ceiling fan.
“Whatever you say Three.” Five said with a huff as she went back to her chore.
“Will the two of you be quiet and just get your jobs done?” called another drone from the bathroom.
“Just be glad Four hasn’t joined them, One.” said another from the bedroom.
“And you can shut your mouth Two.” One replied as Taissy huffed and forcibly put her pen down.
“Should I just leave or do you want to be put on toilet duty for the next month One?”
“No Ma’am.” One replied after a moment of silence.
“That’s what I thought.” Taissy stated turning her violet gaze back to the papers in front of her. “Coffee Shop waitress, or should I turn in the one for the library?”
“Or we could go to Dimensional Technologies for work. I hear they are hiring.” said the drone with green eyes, flicking through tabs and windows on the apartment computer, taking in information.
“I’ve told you my position on that, Four.” Taissy said getting only a shrug in response. She turned in her chair to gaze across the building tops to the dark gray building with a large, blue, interconnected capital D and T. “That logo seems so familiar though...”
The sun shone brightly down upon the top of a sea of clouds that Taissy could see from her seat. “So we’re going to these people to ask what sort of advancements they have currently?” she asked the man in a white lab coat, with the Dimtec logo over the heart, as he stepped past her to sit in one of the leather seats on the opposite side.
He smiled and gave a nod, “We will also be figuring out what they know about us as well.” A low groan came from the exterior of the plane, followed by a high whine from the engines. “Hopefully this goes quick Ms. Lascher, I never fully trust the planes. Something about trusting such thin walls to keep me thousands of feet off the ground.”
“Of course Mr. Tanner, is there anything else I should be aware of?” Taissy asked looking at him with both of her eyes.
“Not off the top my head, just be sure to study all bits of robotics they allow us to see as the studious little budding scientist you are.” Mr. Tanner said pulling a bottle of water out from a compartment.
Their flight continued in silence for a while longer before the whine of the engines cut off with a lurch. “Would you be a dear, Taissy, and go check the radar in the cockpit? I didn’t think we were so close yet.”
“Yes sir.” she said standing from her seat and heading into the vacant cockpit. She ran her gaze over the instruments and, finding the radar quickly, she raised an eyebrow before calling back, “Sir, there’s nothing around according to it.” Yet before a response could come the plane gave another lurch and began to dive with a red emergency light finally flicking on.
“I suggest you get to your seat Ms. Lascher.” Said Mr. Tanner from the back and the plane rocked, hitting turbulence in its fall. Taissy turned on her feet and started to move. As she was in the hall between the cockpit and the main cabin another lurch threw her roughly into the wall, the force causing her to black out.
Taissy bolted upright in her bed, taking deep breaths as she looked around the bedroom with her human and artificial eye. Three was standing at the window looking at the city below with her yellow glowing gaze. “Is Mother Unit alright?” she asked without turning.
“I’m fine Three, it was just a dream.” Taissy replied pulling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them.
Author's Note
So that's the first chapters, I'll write and release chapters in pairs one for each character. Again, comments and Typo corrections are appreciated. Thanks.
