Multiple Equestrias exist amongst the vast multiverse, this one in particular has grown much harsher over the years. It has been nine hundred and ninety-two years years since the Princess Celestia banished her sister to the moon, the last hundred years have seen both a huge advance in both magical and non-magical technology was massive. The invention of the metal skeletal system and advanced firearms had huge impacts, this quickly lead the Royal Guard being almost replaced by the Equestrian Police Force save the personal guard of the Princesses.

Today was a special day for Princess Celestia, her personal student Sunset Shimmer had been angry and resentful towards others often trying to bring them down. Five years ago Princess Celestia decided to give her a new perspective and forced her to become the youngest trainee at the young age of 15 to attend the Canterlot Police Academy. Now was the day she returned after her years of training and discipline.

Sunset trotted in with a smile “Celestia it’s good to be back, I must admit I did enjoy the training at the end.”

Celestia asked with a warm smile “Well what’s your plans?”

Sunset sighed “I hope to become a full member and I need you permission for something, I don’t want to upset you but I want to do this.”

Sunset slid a paper in front of Celestia it was permission slip for experimental metal skeleton surgery, Celestia’s eyes widened “You want to undergo experimental metal skeleton surgery. Even the normal version is incredibly painful, it’s driven some ponies mad before from the pain even with high level anaesthetic.”

Sunset nodded “I want to do this.”

Celestia frowned “I trust you know what this entails, your body is going to be infused with high grade thaumic titanium. This procedure is still new and untested, they have had no volunteers for the infusion, the standard steel infusion is dangerous enough.”

Sunset nodded “As a seeker of knowledge and a protector of these peace I will do this.”

Celestia sighed “Fine, you have my permission. I am just worried about you taking such a risk.”

Sunset smiled “Thanks Celestia.”

Celestia smiled and gave the amber unicorn a hug. Sunset returned it in kind, Celestia signed the paper. Sunset smiled “I have to go the operation is in 1 hour.”

Celestia shook her head “I’m coming with you, all experimental procedures need me there to observe.” 10 minutes later a carriage awaited them with two strong pegasi police ponies on the end.

They got into the carriage, as the carriage flew over the smaller light coloured buildings while flying past the tall darker coloured skyscrapers. A mare was busy selling books from her stall when stallion came up, he shouted as he pulled out a firearm “Give me your bits!”

Several normal looking stallions and mares pulled out their firearms “Freeze!” Celestia and Sunset watched as the criminal was taken into custody. One of the greatest aspects of the EPF was they wore no uniforms and carried firearms under their everyday clothes. The carriage landed outside a large white skyscraper, it read SMTT(Scientific Medical Technology and Testing.)

Sunset and Celestia got off the carriage and trotted into the facility. The pale lobby has several bright green ferns near the white metal seats, a light green unicorn mare with a turquoise coat and violin for a cutie mark sat at the reception desk which had a few mech figurines next to the computer. Celestia coughed “Excuse me.”

The mare looked up and panicked “I am so sorry Princess.”

Celestia asked “What’s your name?”

The mare squeaked “Melody.”

Sunset thought (That’s a musician’s name, I just hope this isn’t what happens to what was her name, Lyre? Damn I was really a bitch I don’t even remember anypony except Twilight and Moondancer, they were the only two who could keep up with me. They probably exceeded my talents as I could only complete half of what I normally could during the last five years.)

Celestia frowned“We are here for the thaumic titanium testing.”

Melody nodded shivering “Um it’s on the fifth floor in the tenth lab.”

Sunset entered a white elevator. Celestia tapped the 5th floor button with her magic Celestia cast a worried glance at Sunset “It’s not to late to back out, this is a dangerous procedure.”

Sunset turned to Celestia with a look of fire “I want this, I need to be at my best to protect all ponies from the shadows hiding in this world. This world needs protectors.”

Celestia frowned as they arrived at the fifth floor. They silence between them was deafening as they trotted through the bright white hallway, Sunset knocked on the door with her hoof. A elderly green maned pony with a red coat of fur, his cutie mark was a metal claw. He said “Princess I’m glad you’re here to observe this test.”

Celestia scowled “If anything happens to my student…”

Sunset growled “Princess, you will not harm him if anything happens to me. This is my choice and I understood the risks.” Everyone else pony or otherwise gasped at the abruptness and rudeness shown toward the Princess.

Sunset trotted into the white machine filled room angrily “Let’s do this thing already, Dr Iron Claw!”

Iron Claw frowned “Do you want us to use the anaesthetic?”

Sunset shook her head “No it will interfere with the enchantment testing, I need my focus.” Iron Claw was about to protest but Sunset silence him with a glare. She laid down on a steel table. He used a scalpel to cut five indentations in her each hooves down to the bones the ones on her forehooves on the bottom and the ones on her hind hooves at an angle, Sunset didn’t even flinch, he then bolted 5 casing to the five indentations on her hooves.

He then grabbed several cable which were linked up to a massive computerised machine, the cables were attached to two large tubs containing liquid thaumic titanium. He cut two deep holes in her legs where he stuck the two cables, he turned on the machine allowing the silvery metal to enter Sunset’s body. Her horn glowed as she began casting a spell.

Celestia frowned as she stood behind a blast proof glass window watching onward. Saying she was worried would be an understatement, under her regal mask her mind was screaming (You foal what if she dies in there, you’ll never forgive yourself).

She saw Sunset start screaming as the liquid poured into her veins yet the glow of her horn was still there. Her mind (Your letting your student suffer out there.) Another part of her mind screamed back (If we do this we may lose her forever, she is the most precious thing to us I mean to me) She shook her head she was using old speech in her mind again.

Sunset gritted her teeth to stop her own screams, she could feel the metal tearing into her bones, she felt them tear into her skull she then felt the metal leave her hooves. She scowled internally (just a little more) she felt the pain vanish. She sat up and began flexing her newly formed metal claws. Dr Iron Claw removed the coating on her four sets of claws.

Sunset stood up and began walking around the room on her hind legs trying to get her bearings with her new stance. Celestia noticed that she had already got into the swing of it. Sunset grinned as she lit up her horn sending a huge flash of light over the room. Everypony covered their eyes, Celestia trotted in and frowned “What was that Sunset?”

Sunset smiled nervously “I enchanted my new skeleton with the pain into power spell.”

Celestia’s eyes narrowed “Why that spell is really dangerous, you could overload your magic.”

Sunset sighed “It’s more if I get in a tough scrape I can use the excess to heal myself besides I like the idea of getting a larger capacity for magic.” Celestia glared at her, Sunset scowled “No I’m not going to let myself get injured just increase my power, this was just to test if it worked.”

Celestia shouted “It’s still incredibly dangerous!” Sunset turned and trotted away, Celestia roared “Don’t you dare turn your back on me!”

Sunset turned and around and shouted “I don’t have to obey you you’re not my mother! ” Celestia shook slightly and teleported out of the building as her student did the same, Sunset looked up Celestia’s school with a sigh knowing she would have to make a lot of apologies, she sighed “I hope Spike’s okay.”

Author's Note

I hope you enjoy this chapter.