Author's Note

Well, I gotta work on a better schedule to balance my new responsibilities with my free time. gaining a promotion and becoming a supervisor is tough. As for the chapter, still have a little more set up planned and then we can dig into the meat. Hope you all have a good rest of your weekend and enjoy. Oh yeah, I'm always open to criticism and comments. Let me know what you all think so far.

Big Mcthankies from McSpanky's- wait, wrong. As always, Regreme, you are the light in my- damn it, wrong cue cards again! Thanks for all your help in proofreading and editing.

Ch 2; Ante Up

“It’s been two years.”

Sam had an expression that could only be described as complete and utter shock. Two years. Two years was far more than he expected to hear, let alone hear at all. In fact, ever since returning to Memphis, he had accepted that he would never be coming back to Equestria. Now that he was back, and learned that he’d been away for far longer, he just had no way to respond.

“Sam, are you okay?” Twilight asked.

Her voice helped the wire conduit to snap out of his trance and finally process the situation.

“I-...wait, that’s impossible,” Sam denied, “This is a joke. I’ve only been back to Earth for three months.”

Twilight shook her head, “I’m not sure how it’s possible either. Maybe our worlds have a chronal dissidence. Or perhaps there was a temporal shift from the- ah!”

Sam caught the purple alicorn as her legs buckled from underneath her. All the energy she had just moments ago just seemed to evaporate, leaving her looking drained and rather flushed.

“Whoa, Sparks! Stay with me,” Sam worriedly said before calling out, “Is she okay? What’s wrong with her?”

“Twilight, I thought I told you to rest up,” Celestia piped up while coming to her side.

The solar princess knelt down to nuzzle the purple alicorn in Sam’s arms. She seemed to only be able to return the gesture half heartedly though.

Through a bleary expression, Twilight groaned out, “I’m sorry. I just needed to know if he was safe. The gate had never been used on such a scale before.”

Twilight shifted around in Sam’s arms, as if in an attempt to stand up, but the wire conduit had to catch her once more before she toppled over again.

“Hey, don’t push yourself,” Sam chided.

“Oh, don’t lecture me on ‘taking it easy’ Mr. ‘I’m gonna take on a giant shadow conduit by myself’,” Twilight chided back.

Her little outburst was short lived as she groaned again and tried to shake off her fatigue.

Sam turned up to face the white alicorn next to him, “What’s wrong with her? What ‘gate’?”

Celestia let out a sigh before nodding in the direction behind Sam, making him turn to see. The other human conduits followed the solar princess’ line of sight, and they all looked on in surprise at what they found. A machine, or what remained of the machine, stood among a field of scorched debris.

The main body of the contraption looked like a raised metal platform with an arch at its center. However, the arch, which appeared to be made out of a solid piece of of multi-faceted crystal, had a large chunk missing from it on one side. Much of the debris on the ground appeared to be that of the crystal. Surrounding the platform were a collection of other machines with archaic looking computer-like terminals and cables attaching them to the main platform. A few of these terminals looked to be blown out or melted by an unknown force.

“What the hell is that thing?” Lu asked first.

“It’s the machine we used to call Sam here,” Celestia answered, “And, inadvertently, the rest of you.”

The human conduits looked to each other, showing looks of confusion.

Twilight had finally managed to wiggle free of Sam’s grasp, even against his protests, “”I’ll be fine. I just need a minute.” She took a deep breath and steadied herself. “Ok...it’s-well, it was, the Spatial Access slash Ribbon Collider. I’m not entirely sure why it became unstable, but like Princess Celestia said, we used it to call you, Sam.”

Sam, as well as the rest of the conduits, were still confused. However, Sam looked to also have a contemplative look on his face that turned into a cheshire grin.

“Spatial Access slash Ribbon Collider huh? The ‘SpARC’ gate does have a nice ring to it, even if you tried to be sneaky about it, ‘Sparks’.”

Twilight groaned as Celestia and Luna stifled some giggles.

“I didn’t name it after myself!” Twilight proclaimed, much to Sam’s delight in her embarrassment, “Look, Leyline theorem is a highly complex topic, and the name reflects the machine’s purpose! That’s all!”

Sam continued to chuckle, but one person was growing impatient with standing around doing nothing.

Lu stormed past the wire conduit to get up in front of the three alicorns and vent, “I don’t care about this bullshit, or this fucking place. You got the asshat over there that you were looking for. So, I’d like to get back home, and start moving into my fucking warehouse like I planned, now!”

Although taken aback by the bulkier male human, their expressions became regretful.

“...Please understand,” Celestia spoke in a placating voice, “We had no intention of this happening.”

Twilight stepped forward, looking even more apologetic, “It was my fault. I should have run more tests. The collider became unstable...it’s broken, and will take weeks to rebuild.”

“What?!” the human conduits all collectively yelled.

Bickering between the group ensued while the ponies looked on in vain. Many insults and threats were thrown around, mostly by Lu, as they tried to figure out what they would do.

“Silence!” Luna’s voice boomed across area, and was just barely enough to cut through the din of bickering humans.

The Lunar Princess nodded to her sister as Celestia gave another slight sigh.

“I am truly sorry for the inconvenience. I know it is very little to offer in light of the situation, but let us at least offer you all a meal. We may also discuss any other questions you still have,” Celestia beckoned for the humans to follow her and the other ponies, “I promise, we will do everything we can to accommodate your stay until the gate is rebuilt.”

Lu, Natie, and Isabelle all turned to Sam, still unsure of the whole situation. The wire conduit gave them a nod, a reassurance that everything was still safe and the ponies were trustworthy. It wasn’t ideal, but if they had no other choice at the moment, they’d just have to roll with it for the time being.

With one last glance back to the metal platform and the pair of earth pony guards already cleaning up, they followed the rest of the ponies out of the debris ridden room.

Sam almost immediately recognized where they were once out in the castle’s halls. The room with the ‘SpARC’ gate was actually Twilight’s laboratory in the west wing of the castle. The other three conduits gawked at their surroundings, still in disbelief of the world around them. Sam got a small kick from this, and chuckled as the rest of the humans ‘oh’ed’ and ‘aww’ed’ from the decorum of the castle and scenic views of the castle grounds they caught from the windows. Sam may have been worried about the prospect of being stuck in Equestria again, even if it was less temporary than his last stay. However, the joy he felt about returning to the familiar, semi-regularly peaceful place was enough to set him at ease.

Sam suddenly felt a tap on his arm. Looking over his shoulder, he found Isabelle peering meekly about. She leaned up when she noticed she had caught Sam’s attention.

Whispering under her breath, she asked, “Sam, are you sure this place is safe?”

“Of course,” Sam replied earnestly, “I know the feeling. I didn’t trust this place at first either. Just give it a little time, you’ll see.”

“And if we can’t trust them?”

Sam turned over his other shoulder to find Natie with a very serious expression to match her soft spoken question.

“...We can,” Sam insisted, “But, if it makes you feel better. Windows, three down, south-west, five hundred out, then up and over.”

Natie nodded in confirmation to the cryptic phrase. She fell back a few steps to take in her surroundings a little more thoughtfully. Sam had mentioned the winged unicorns by name, along with the pegasus that had conduit abilities. Her eyes flicked to each one, taking note that the pegasus was trying to take inconspicuous glances back at the four of them from his position beside the winged unicorns. Natie could tell that he would more than likely be the biggest threat.

The rest of the ponies, about half a dozen, had carefully placed themselves both in front and behind her and her companions. Her first target would be the one directly behind her on her right. The surprise would only last a moment, but it would surely give her enough time to take down at least two more. She knew Lu would take the initiative and relish the chance to take out more at the front and possibly the pony conduit. With the bulk of their forces out, she and the rest of her friends could easily make it out one of the many windows on their left and escape with Sam’s instructions.

Of course, that was merely a fallback plan. Natie trusted Sam’s judgement, as with the rest of her fellow conduits, and if he said that these ‘ponies’ could be trusted, then she was at the very least willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Aegis Flare couldn’t help but glance over his withers at the quartet of humans behind him every so often. Even if the human known as Sam used to give him constant headaches with his antics, he would be lying if he said he wasn’t happy to see the wire conduit in good health and spirit. The others on the other hoof... The muscular male, Lu, made him feel guarded. His rude and offensive attitude made it quite apparent he was type that would rather be in a fight than a dialogue, not to mention his language reminded the old captain of a punk. The female in the sundress, Isabelle, was mousy. It was the only description he could come up with for the young female. Although, after quiet conversation with Sam, she grew more curious and openly took in the castle architecture and decoration with happy wonder in her eyes.

Then, there was taller female, Natie. Eavesdropping was highly unprofessional, but when he heard the exchange between Sam and this female, he couldn’t help but tense up a bit. That cryptic set of instructions and the look of understanding in Natie’s eye only made Aegis Flare feel even more uneasy as he watched the female.

He watched as she meticulously surveyed her surroundings. He could even see that she was counting the number of guards in their escort. A standard precaution for their guests, but he could see how it could appear to someone with combat experience like her. Oh, yes, Aegis Flare could never mistake the look of someone who has seen combat before. He had seen it in Sam when the wire conduit was stuck on their world before. In fact, all four of them carried themselves in ways that only those that had faced many hardships would. Aegis Flare remembered what the wire conduit had told him all those years ago. He and his friends were in a struggle on his world, a struggle that held their very freedom on the line.

When Natie caught him staring, he quickly turned away. He saw the look in her eyes. She wasn’t afraid to use force if necessary. He and the rest of the ponies would just have to show her, all of them, that that wasn’t necessary.

Not much longer afterwards, they were brought before an oak carved, double door that opened on their own. The three newest humans paused in surprise of the doors’ action, which Sam snickered at under his breath. Beyond the doors laid an elegant dining hall. The table looked to be able to hold at least twenty guests comfortably. Decorating the dining hall were tapestries with sun and moon insignias and a few of the Equestrian royal banners. All the humans, aside for Sam, stood in stunned silence at seeing such elegant architecture. They had to be ushered in to free up the doorway and then to their seats.

Celestia, Luna, Twilight, and Aegis Flare took up seats on one side of the table closest to the door while the guards posted themselves along the walls. Sam grabbed the first seat on the end opposite to the ponies and sat down. Natie, Lu, and Isabelle followed their fellow conduit’s example and took the rest of the seats beside him. Although, they did struggle to find comfortable positions at first on the wider, stool-like cushioned seats.

Almost immediately as everyone was seated, a wall facade on the far end of the hall opened up. A trio of unicorns poured out, followed by silver trays with food floating behind them in their magical grasps. Sam got another chuckle out of watching his friends stare in disbelief at the simple display of magic as the ponies laid the trays out before them. He continued to snicker with all the questions he got about it as he simply replied with ‘magic’. The serving ponies bowed before disappearing through the facade door, to the kitchen most likely.

“Please, help yourselves,” Celestia beckoned to the human conduits, “These are only the appetizers, but don’t let us hold back your appetites.”

Sam raised an arm, happily surveying the spread of colorful finger sized treats. He was about to snatch up a few when an elbow caught him in the side, causing him to yelp.

Natie scolded him with a stare before addressing the ponies, “Look, I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but what is going on? What is this place, and how does Sam fit into all of this?”

“Natie,” Sam tried calming her down without sounding chiding.

“No, those are all valid questions,” Princess Luna replied. Her starry mane twinkled and waved as she thoughtfully bobbed her head, “You see, we owe a great debt to your companion, Samuel. He, who had selflessly aided us and our kingdom in avoiding a catastrophe.”

The other humans turned to Sam in surprise, who only shrugged with a knowing smile.

Aegis Flare spoke next, further retelling of Sam’s exploits, “Two years ago, a pony by the name of Visionary Dusk tried to destroy Canterlot, ponynapped and experimented on innocent ponies, and committed several other acts of high treason in Equestria. If it wasn’t for the Human- ahem, Samuel, Equestria would have suffered far worse at the hooves of Visionary Dusk. Although, as much as we still owe him, we are in need of him once more.”

Again, Sam’s fellow human friends turned to him and stared in astonishment for the high praise they were hearing about him.

“I see,” Natie said thoughtfully, “I’m sorry. This is all just a bit too much to take in at once.”

Princess Luna nodded, “Of course. Tis understandable.”

“I suppose I really only have one other-”

“Bleagh! What the fuck is this shit?!” Lu suddenly blurted out.

Everyone turned to see the concrete conduit spitting a half chewed mess onto the table with one of the appetizers in his hand. It was toasted wafer with a humus and daisy petal spread.

“Oops, I’m so sorry,” Twilight said as she shuffled a couple of the trays around in her magic to present more edible choices, “I forgot humans don’t eat certain types of vegetation.”

“What? Da hell is in it then?” Lu angrily chucked the appetizers down next to the mess.

“Lu, fuck’s sake. You could have used a napkin. Just clean it up,” Natie scolded.

Lu scowled and crossed his arms, “Why should I?”

Natie gave him a glare, and slight crackle of electricity ran across her body. At that, Lu reluctantly snatched up a napkin and folded up the mess in it all while grumbling angrily to himself. The ponies watched the exchange, both curious and interested in the dynamic Sam’s companions shared.

Natie sighed audibly before readdressing the ponies, “Sorry about that.”

Celestia waved her hoof with a serene smile, “It is alright. I believe you were about to ask a question?”

“Yes,” Natie replied, taking a deep breath before continuing, “If you don’t mind me asking. Why is it that you tried bringing Sam back here in the first place? You said that you needed him, ‘again’?”

The question elicited a collective stare from the rest of the equally inquisitive humans. They all turned from Natie to the trio of princesses on the other side of the table. Celestia remained as stoic as ever, years of maintaining a cool expression under pressure helping her now. Luna, on the other hoof looked rather pensive, but unsure of how to answer. This just left Twilight, looking far more anxious than either one of the others, even shifting a bit in her seat in her anxiety.

Somehow building up enough courage to speak, Twilight elaborated, “I’m sorry. It was actually my idea to begin with. You see, Administrator Aegis Flare unlocked his latent abilities a little under six months ago.”

“Question,” Sam interrupted, “I’ve been wondering. Cappy’s a conduit, I can get that, but an admin? Admin of what?”

“Please allow the princess to finish, Human. We will discuss that later,” Aegis Flare answered, now remembering just how many migraines he was given at the hands of a certain ‘tactful’ wire conduit.

The glares from both Natie and Aegis Flare were enough for Sam to sit back and listen for the time being.

Twilight looked a little embarrassed for her friend, but continued nonetheless, “T-thank you, Administrator. Ahem. Well, thanks to Sam’s previous time here in Equestria, we understood what was going on, and were able to work with him, and over time, he was able to learn to control and utilize his powers to a degree. It was fascinating to be a part of those weeks in helping and studying his new found abilities. I almost couldn’t believe that another pony, not a part of Visionary Dusk’s unethical research, had come to gain such abilities. Of course, Administrator Aegis Flare was only the first.”

Twilight let that last comment hang in the air for a moment. Comprehension dawned on Sam and he knocked his seat over after shooting out of it.

“Wait?! Twilight, you’re telling me more ponies have become activated conduits?!” Sam exclaimed, both excited and flabbergasted by the news.

Twilight bit her lip and her shuffling became a little more nervous. The next words out of her mouth were accompanied by a dead silence that filled the room.

“Um...actually, they aren’t just ponies…”