Altered Equestria

“You’re what?”

Black just scratched his head as he heard his mom's voice in his ear. The flat tone leaving her spoke volumes as he just sighed. “I’m… going to stay in Manehattan for a while longer, I got hired on as part of the Epona Security Force.” The stallion heard his mother take a slow almost cathartic breath.

“They want you as security.”

The mare repeated as Black nodded. Then the moment he realized this wasn’t a video call he spoke up. “Yeah, crazy.”

“That doesn’t begin to describe it… when I let you go to Manehattan, It was to further your skills, not to be a security officer.”

“Yeah I know.” Black muttered as he shook his head and looked to the side, his attention focused on the two mares that were in the hovercar with him. Calista seemed to be out of it, her attention not really focused on anything, while Lady Red seemed to be going through something on her bracer. “Bu hey, you always wanted me to try new things.”

“I also wanted you to be a doctor at one point.”

The mare stayed silent before sighing.

“Still… I guess this is out of my hooves. Just… what will they be having you do?”

“Well I have to get some training, and then I’ll be getting assignments.” Black explained.

“Well at least they’re not throwing into the deep end of the pool yet… still you want me to send you anything? Kevlar vests, weapons? A box of condoms?”

“Mom!?” Lady Red looked to the flustered stallion in interest. “I don’t need those!”

“Says the adolescent stallion who’s going to be spending a lot of time with an older mare.”

Black made a noise as he heard a giggle.

“Relax honey I’m just teasing; trying to lighten the mood.”

The mare went silent.

“But seriously, do you need anything?”

She asked again.

“I can send more clothes if you need some, some of your inventions too. I can even send you a few books if you want.”

“Thanks mom.” Black said with a smile. “Some extra clothes will be nice, not to mention something to read in my spare time.” Black admitted. As for my inventions; I’ll have to get back to you on that ok?”

“Alright honey,.. Oh sorry that’s a customer, I have to go.”

“It’s alright, I’ll talk to you later mom.”

“Stay safe, and remember the rules I taught you firearms.”

“Don’t draw it, less you plan to use it.” Black stated. “And always shoot to cripple, never to kill.” Reciting the first two rules Black felt his mom nod her head through the other end of the line.

“Thats my boy, now be safe, I’ll talk to you later. Love you.”

“Love you too mom.” Black ended the call before sighing to himself. That call had been about as well as he expected. Least it wasn’t the first one; the mare had been worried sick since she heard about the attack on Epona. The fact that she restrained herself from not going full “Wick” was amazing. ‘If she did, half of Manehattan would be Ground Zero by now.’

That probably wasn’t an understatement, the mare did after all own a gun-shop, and there was probably enough weapons there to rival a small armory.

“So, how’s the mother?” Lady Red asked as Black looked to her.

“She’s good, just worried.” Black stated. “She always worries about me.”

“It shows that she cares.” The mare stated as she leaned back in her seat. “Wouldn’t you be more concerned if she seemed nonchalant with whatever you chose to do?”

“I guess.” The stallion admitted as he felt the carcome to a stop.

“Lady Red, we’re here.” The driver called out as the mare looked out the window and smiled slightly.

“Ah good.” She muttered as she used her magic to push open the door and step out. The driver met her outside a moment later, pulling out a wheelchair as Calista push herself out the seat she’d taken in the car.

‘She’s having trouble synchronizing with her legs.’ Black thought as the while mare stumbled into the wheelchair for a moment.

“Good, now let’s get you two upstairs.” Lady Red stated as Black traded places with the driver as he pushed Calista to the steps, searched for the Anti-grav controls and floated her towards the door. He followed Lady Red to the third floor where she used a key card to gain access to a room. “Alright we’re here.”

Black just looked around the room as he took everything in. The room was pretty normal, with plenty of signs that someone was living here already; bit of a mess, though. There were books, and a TV, a couch and a bed. Some pictures of an ever stretching plain with Equestrians were hung up on the wall. There was some laundry taking up space in a bag and an assault rifle resting on the table.

“Nice piece.” The stallion muttered.

“Pre renaissance era Equestria.” Lady Red stated as she stared at one of the pictures. “The Farplanes, supposedly all Equestrian souls go there once we die.” The mare whispered. “It is beautiful.”

“Uh… I was talking about the gun.” Black stated as Lady Red looked at him. “Valkyrian Mk6 right? Looks like custom job. Really nice.” That actually earned him a snicker from Calista as she looked back at him.

“You know your guns.”

“I grew up in a gun-shop.” Black admitted before he turned to look at Lady Red before pausing. “The painting is pretty to.” He said quickly as Lady Red smirked for a moment.

“I’m glad you think so. The mare stated as she fully turned to him. “Anyway, Black this is Calista’s apartment, you’ll be staying here with her for a while.” Black blinked as Calista’s smile faded.

“Excuse me?”

“I thought I was just supposed to help her if she needed it.” Black stated as Lady Red just nods.

“That will be easier if your staying in the same place and not an entire apartment apart.” The mare states as she looks between the two. It’s only temporary though, as soon as Calista can manage on her own, we’ll be moving you into a separate housing unit.” The mare fel silent, thinking before nodding her head. “Think of this as your first assignment.”

“But -”

“I don’t want him here.” Black looked to Calista, her eyes narrowing in anger as she bit her lips. “And I can take care of myself.”

“Not right now.” Lady Red stated as she crossed her hooves. “It’ll take a while before your body adjusts to the new wares running through you.”

Running through me?” Calista muttered. “So it’s more than just the legs.” The mare took a guess. “How much?” The mare asked. “How much metal is in my body?”

“Enough to keep you alive.” Lady Red muttered as she looked back to Black. “I’ll send some things over in the next few days. In the meanwhile I’d recommend taking good care of Calista here.”

“Uh… right.” Black muttered as he scratched his head with a wing.

“In the meantime I need to go, I have a meeting to handle.” The mare admitted as she started walking off. “Don’t run him ragged Calista, I’ll be seeing you.” Calista didn’t say anything, just staring into space as Lady Red left the new pair alone. Black opened his mouth to say something only to fall silent for a few seconds later. He had no idea what to say in this situation.

“What can you say?”

Turning his head Black looked around before his attention was drawn to a few things starting to rumble. “Huh.”

Outside

Lady Red heard things break even from outside the hall. An angry roar punching through the air as just kept walking. “Sorry Calista, but this is how things are going to be for a short while.” The mare muttered as she reached her car and stepped inside. “Back to the office.”

“On it mam.”The driver responded as they drove off, Red Blade just sighing as she hit a button on her side and a privacy screen rolled up, cutting her off from the Driver and the rest of the world. She started to make a call, only stopping only when her eyes narrowed. “What are you doing here?”

“Just visiting.” The mare just crossed her hooves as she stared at the opposite end of the car. “How have you been?”

“Better.” She admitted. My company is still going through repairs, but’s going well regardless.”

“That’s wonderful news.” Lady Red just made a noise. “What about Calista how is she?”

“Well she’s angry, but that’s to be expected.” The mare stated as she looked elsewhere. “She’ll pull through though, she’s strong like that.”

“And you’re giving her a partner.”

The mare just frowned as she glanced back at her counterpart. “How exactly did you figure that out, it was only decided hours ago.”

“What, pray tell, manages to escapes my notice?”

That earned a sigh from Lady Red. “Of course, your good that way… too good sometimes.” The mare admits as she starts messing with her bracer. “Yes I’m giving her a partner, though as of right now, he’ll be more of a nanny till she can walk again.”

“I see.” The mary continued dialing something on her bracer before stopping. “Are you doing the right thing?”

“Well, it’s not a completely terrible idea.” The mare stated as she uploaded something into her bracer. “I have faith in Calista’s abilities. That’s all I need in the end.”

“And her partner.” The mare said nothing as she closed her eyes for a moment. “Will he be a good addition?”

“He has his skills.” The mare admitted. And he’ll need training, but he’ll be fine after that.”

“Are you certain?”

“Is it your place to question me?” The mare countered as she looked back at her counterpart. “I do my job, they do theirs, and you do yours.” She states. “That’s how the world works.”

“You have a point.” The two fall silent as the mare sighs.

“Why are you here?” She asks finally. “You know better than to contact me like this, so what is it? What brings you here.”

“My lady… I told you, I’m just visiting.”

Calista’s Apartment

Black gulped as he looked at Calista, things flying around her as trashed her room. Telepathy. Simple arcane technique, just forgot how destructive it could be at times. Especially in the hooves a real unicorn.He watched, the miniature twister spinning about the room before it began to slow. When it completely ended, the magic suspending the objects in the air faded before they fell like rocks. Calista just breathed for a moment, her eye closed as Black took a step forward. “Uh… you feeling better?” He asked meekly.

“Wow, smooth as silk aren’t you?”

Before he could respond or seek out the source of the voice Calista spoke.

“I need you to leave.” Themare ordered as Black blinked and looked at her.

“Uh - but.”

“Just… just leave.” Calista muttered. “Go out for a few hours… but just… leave.” Black didn’t say anything before taking a step back.

“I’ll see how things are around town.” He whispered as he headed towards the nearest window and pushed it open. “I’ll be back later, ok?”

“Yeah.” Calista nodded her head as Black climbed out the window and took flight. A few minutes after he vanished Calista looked at her hooves and turned them, “feeling” the iron and steel that was connected by pseudo-nerves.

“Why?” She brought the iron hooves to her head and pressed them against her skull. She cried.

Outside

Black took a breath as he landed in a random street, looking back in the direction he had come from and felt his ears drop to the sides of his head. He wasn't sure what to expect when he saw Calista with her augment, but having her throw a telekinetic fit was certainly not what he was expecting.

“I’ve never seen anypony get like that before.” He admitted to himself. “I’ve never seen anypony angry about getting augmented.

“Everyone you’ve augmented wanted them. That’s why.”

The stallion made a noise before frowning stopping when he raised his head and looked around. In the crowd he couldn’t tell who had spoken to him, they all seemed lost in their own little world, going about the city like they would naturally. “Who… who's there?”” The stallion didn’t get an answer this time, and after standing in the middle of the sidewalk for almost a minute he went back to walking, continuing on his way with a cautious look over his shoulder.