Altered Equestria

Equestria

Manehattan. 9:15

Manehattan; it's a city that never sleeps. No matter where you go, no matter when you get there there's bound to be at least some part of it that's still awake and alive. Streets are relatively crowded and lined with thousands of lights. Billboards show the latest advertisements pulled straight from the datasphere; showing either the latest fads like cosmetics or outfits. Sometimes they'd switch to display up and coming movies or new cds from famous artists.

All that said Black simply takes it all in as he enters the city. Staring at the various lights and ponies going about. Looked a lot like home actually, just… cleaner. "So this is Manehattan… it's certainly… bright." Muttering to himself Black started to walk further into the city although he did stop for a moment when his bracer started to buzz. Tapping his earpiece the stallion sighed to himself before walking on. "Hello?"

"How was your trip Black?"

Ion, honestly wasn't expecting to hear from him so soon. "Tiresome; spent the first hour or two on the plain napping." The stallion admitted before sighing to himself. "Either case I'm here, Now I just need to get to Epona right?"

"That's right, but I'd recommend finding a place to stay first. You brought bags didn't you?"

"Sort of." Black muttered as he felt his backpack for a moment before feeling his earrings. Arcane Runes; they were something that was carried over from the Mystic Age so long ago. They were "retro" but immensely popular among wannabe spell casters. Through the proper engravings these mana infused stones could be "pre-programmed" to do a number of things; amplify innate magical reserves, act as a light source, amplify arcane powers, act a portable storage system, or even act as a short lived weapon.

Hell, he'd there were even records in the past that some even used them to harness the "power of souls" or be used as a phylactery.

Course that ranged under the forbidden arts; Dark Magic, Maleficium.

Black wore four of these Arcane Runes as earrings, so he could use only four spells out of goddess knew how many were out there. "My bags aren't taking up much space."

"Earrings?"

"Earrings." Black repeated as Ion chuckled.

Alright, if that's the case you better head straight to Epona; you know the way?"

"Five seconds." Black muttered as he looked around before trotting off. Bus stop. Not looking for a bus ride but the terminal next to it. Accessing the holographic controls and it gave him a map to work with. 'Let's see I'm… here and Epona is… all the way over there…' "I got a map in front of me and just enough time to get there before orientation though I won't be able to find an inn or hotel in time." Black admitted as he continued looking at the map. "Ooh there's a lot of cybernetics and robotics labs that I can see if I take this route."

"I swear you and your fixation with machinery. You need better hobbies kid."

"What can I say I like what I like." The stallion muttered before downloading the terminal map into his bracer. and walking off. "Besides I wouldn't complain about my hobbies since it's gotten me and my family a steady form of income."

"Well that's true, you turned a gun shop into a cybernetics lab almost completely on your own."

"I wouldn't say that, it was only possible because mom supported what I was doing." Black shrugged to himself before hearing a whistle. Turning his head he looked to see a pair of mares trying to call him over, asking if he was looking for a good time. Though from the way they were looking at him he had a good idea of what they were thinking. He blushed, and made quick work to disappear from their line of sight. "A-anyway I'm going to have to head straight to Epona. Don't want to be late and miss the opportunity just because I was tardy."

"Make sure you don't stop at any of the shops you mentioned. You don't have that much time to kill."

"I know, I know." The stallion muttered as he shook his head. "I can wait an hour or two before I stop to check those places out."

"I sincerely hope so, you want to leave a good impression by making it on time, and being late will definitely come back to bite you if you aren't careful."

Ion stated as Black just took a breath. "Yeah yeah, don't worry I'll be on time."

"Also, make sure you look up a place to stay while your here."

"Got any places you might recommend?" The stallion asked.

"Give me some time to look up a few places. After that I'll get back to you."

"Alright." Ending the call Black went back to looking around. His eyes scanning all the different streets and signs that were present around him. "Now which way if Hoofington street… that way." Walking along the stallion stared at the rest of the metropolis.

Manehattan was arguably Equestria's most technologically advanced city. Arguably, because supposedly Canterlot was supposed to hold that position. Black wasn't sure which really held the title. Still so long as he got to see different forms of tech he wasn't complaining about which city he was in. Glancing at a mare he took notice of her showing off a hoof to one of her friends. It was completely cybernetic- a nice model made by Llamrei Corp. Came equipped with retractable manipulators so she could hold things. Must have cost a pretty penny. "Wonder if she got it for aesthetics or not."

A good question - not exactly an important one but a good question. Go anywhere around Equestria and you'd find a number of augmented ponies. Some having gotten their enhancements simply because they would work better than their originals while others got them out of necessity. He should know - back at home Black had built and applied artificial limbs for ponies that both needed them or didn't. Though the former was thankfully more commonplace back where he was from. Still that didn't stop a few from just getting them just for the sake of it.

"Sleipner Incorporated proudly presents the latest in Cybervision technology. With our new ODIN model cybereyes…"

Looking to one of the advertisements Black watched as it played on. Cybereyes, worked by replacing the actual organ with a cybernetic replacement. In exchange they allowed for enhanced visual resolution, and color coordination. ODIN had the added benefit for seeing through ultraviolet, infrared, and no-to-low light illumination. Also offered telemetry analysis, such as data on heat dispersion, and visual magnification. Not to sure what a civilian pony would do with an eye capable of all that but Black could think of some military usages for it. "Probably the real reason they made it."

"We must put a stop to augmentation!" Hearing a new voice the stallion turned his head to see a pinkish mare speaking. Megaphone in a grip of magic and her blue eyes were - as some would describe - burning with passion. She wasn't alone either. There were a number of other ponies with her, each holding up signs and shouting their own words. "Augmentation defiles the bodies and Equestrian spirit."

"Integrating with the machine is wrong!"

"When will enough be enough?!"

"Augmentation is ruining our society!" The protests continued; some listened, some ignored them. Black was actually one of the ones that listened as they came from across the street. Anti-Augmentation protesters, he knew about them; after all he'd run into a few back home. They were ponies that disagreed with cybernetics enhancement; thought it was wrong to replace the body with mechanics. It went against the goddesses design as they believed. Still they weren't too problematic, beyond talking Anti-Augmentation protesters were harmless. Well… more or less. Purity was one that a pony had to keep an eye out on. Trotting away from the area Black sighed to himself. Purity, it was one of the more radical Anti-Augmentation groups. They weren't mere protesters; they already had committed multiple acts of breaking and entering, vandalism, theft, arson… they were dangerous to say the least. Willing to go to lengths to try stopping pony augmentation.

Shaking his head Black pushed those thoughts away as he took a breath. "Nope, stop thinking about Purity Black, you don't want anything to do with them." Besides, he had more important things to think about. Like Epona Industries and this internship he was going to be a part of. "Wonder what they will have me work on." A good question, Epona built just about everything in the book, exactly what would they have the interns working on? In his mind though Black was busy thinking about all of Epona's current publicized products, and made a noise as he did before tilting his head unconsciously. "I want to say cyberlimbs, I heard that they were busy working on some new models to replace their older ones."

Epona Industries

Executive Suite

"He's headed your way."

"Good." A mare muttered as she looked outside, keeping her eyes on the city of Manehattan as she listened to her P.I.E. "I hope he's as good as his portfolio says he is. We need skilled interns to work here and not just some with an inflated ego that think they know everything."

"You don't have to worry about that, he's one of the best you could ask for in an intern - or an employee."

"I'll be the judge of that." The mare stated as she shrugged slightly and used magic to bring a cup to her lips. "Still I have to say his credentials do seem fabricated. No pony is this talented."

"Trust me his credentials aren't fabricated. He's just that good."

"I'll have to see him in action then won't I?" The mare questioned as she shrugged. "Still Ion, with how often you speak of him I admit I am a tad interested. Granted how long I stay interested depends on if your just pulling my leg."

"Geeze talk about a skeptic - I promise he's every bit as good in the the lab as he is on paper."

The mare simply made a noise as she leaned back in her seat. "I do hope your right Ion. I don't like being pranked. Now if you'll excuse me, I have another call to make."

"Course, I'll be in touch."

"Good." The mare stated as she turned halfway in her seat to look at her bracer. "As will I." Ending the call the mare stayed silent as she stared out her window again. For a while she doesn't say anything, simply puts a hoof on her cheek as she listens to the city life. A moment later she messes with her Bracer, only this time her entire window comes to life with a holographic screen as she begins her next call. "Little Ashtrail…"

Epona Industries

Courtyard 9:30

Epona Industries. Alongside Llamrei Enterprises and Sleipner Incorporated, it made up the part of the trinity of Megacorporations in Equestria. It looked… bigger than the pictures made it out to be. "There's got to be at least 50 floors in this place." Black muttered as he walked into the building; his head pointed upward at all the various floors. The lobby had a fountain but he barely paid it any attention. Instead he was more focused on the ponies going back and forth around the floor. There were no inventions from what he could tell, but then again they were likely on some of the more secure floors. Still this place was quite a sight - that much was certain.

"I think I'm going to cry."

"Go ahead, I won't judge." Another stallion muttered as he joined the pegasi in staring. He wasn't the only one. A number of other ponies had gathered to check out the building interior, their focus darting from one thing to the next in an attempt to take in everything. If one counted there'd be around twenty two. Given their states of dress it was safe to assume that these ponies were others here for the internship.

"Wow…" One muttered.

"Didn't expect there to be so many floors…" Another admitted.

"I never thought I'd actually get to be here." A third said nervously.

"Me neither." The fourth scratched their head.

"Pretty crazy right?" The fifth released a weak chuckle.

"Hello everypony." Turning to the new voice the group was greeted by one of the apparent staff ponies. The mare - like just about everyone - was shorter than Black was. A lavender unicorn dressed in a simple lab coat. Her two-toned purple and raspberry mane was pulled into a bun and she wore glasses over her violet eyes. "You must be our new interns, my name is Twilight Sparkle, it's a pleasure to meet you all." The group responded with a series of different greetings though altogether it sounded more like a jumbled mess. Ms. Twilight Sparkle didn't seem to mind. Out of curiosity though Black tilted his head at the smaller - really average-sized - mare as she spoke. She was~ kind of cute. No jaw dropper, but she was cute. She did look familiar though. Not sure why but she did.

'Twilight Sparkle, Twilight Sparkle… oh I remember! She's the daughter of Twilight Velvet, the astronomer. How could I have spaced on that? I mean she looks almost exactly like her mother.' Maybe it was because her mane was in a bun instead of let down. Nodding his head Black followed after the group as they started to move. Stopping only when a chill ran down his spine forcing him to look around. "What was that?" Finding nothing around the stallion slowly shook his head as he started jogging to catch up with the group.

Up on a higher floor a mare smiled lightly as she continued staring downward. "So that's little Ashtrail…" The mare thought before stepping back from the railing and started to move again. Making her way to the elevator the mare hit a button as she was lead downstairs."Let's see how well you fair, little pony."

"It's a pleasure to meet all of you. I am Lady Red Blade, the CEO of Epona Industries, and I'm here to welcome you to our esteemed company. Many of you have gathered here under the pretense of expanding your skills, others in the pursuit of knowledge. I am here to tell you… that such a thing is in your reach. Here at E.I. we'll be working to advance your skills and knowledge of cybernetics through the introduction of techniques and styles passed down throughout the ages, all in the hopes of assisting you in pursuing your careers as Cyber Engineers and Surgeons. Understand this however, during our time together we do not merely aim to teach you, but we aim to *learn* from you as well. You have skills and styles unique as each of you, and I have learned in my time that when you unite such skills together what you are capable of creating is only limited by your collective imagination. May you enjoy your time with us, and may we make wonderful memories together."