The trip to the hoofoury was exactly what A unit would expect from this decrepit, dead, facility. Boring. Don't know what else was expected really considering the lack of intelligent life, baring this units own magical circuits acting as A "brain", but A unit can hope that maybe one of the workers of this facility stayed behind to insure... something continued to function. That brings up A good point actually, now that this unit thinks about it, why are all the magical runes and circuits around the facility faltering and running on 'self-sufficient' mode? According to the schematics in my hard-runes, the magical runes and circuits used throughout this facility are the best the Crystal Empire has to offer, having A optimum running life of 1,000 years, and yet here they are acting as if they are well beyond that point...

must of gotten them cheep from some Griffin merchant, that, or the maintenance teem has been slacking for awhile.

After that train of 'thought', this unit reached the hoofoury only to come face to face with quite the problem. A rather large steel problem that was twice this units height and five times in width.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO OPEN THE HOOFOURY DOOR? Y/N

Convenient. Yes

/!\ WARNING /!\
THIS WILL DEPLETE ALL REMAINING POWER SHUTTING OFF MAJOR SYSTEMS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTINUE? Y/N

Not convenient. No

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SCAN FOR ALTERNATIVES? Y/N

That's much better. Yes

SCANNING... SCANNING... SCAN COMPLETE.
IF THIS UNIT WAS TO REACTIVATE THE MAIN MAGICAL REACTOR, THE RESULTS WOULD PROVIDE THE HOOFOURY DOOR WITH SUFFICIENT POWER TO OPEN. WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLOT A COURSE FOR THE POWER ROOM? Y/N

Why would this unit say no? Yes

PLOTTING COURSE... COMPLETE.

Just like last time, the display shown the map of the facility, this units position and the location of the power room with A white dotted line connecting the last two.

Heading deeper into the facility, this unit took the opportunity to run A self-diagnostic scan to see if there was anything else this unit could do that wasn't known. It wouldn't be good if this unit was placed into A situation that was thought to be inescapable just to have it turn out that "no, in fact there was A gravity well device that was in your top-left hoof that could of helped"... basically this unit doesn't want any repeats of the whole scanning and mapping thing, where they just pop up when needed.

This unit was correct in its theory as there's A few nifty things that haven't been found yet.Firstly, remember when this unit became aware and there was that "black pillar with A hole and small flashing red light"? Turns out that was A port, lock and key, type thing where the unicorns would place their horns, use some basic spell, and then one of the select few functions would occur, depending on the spell used. The reason this information is important is because my left hands index finger opens up to reveal A bright silver replica of A unicorns horn, probably so this unit can use the basic security systems used all over Equss.
Secondly, there are multiple, retractable, hooks on this unit to help carry the soldiers heavy equipment, during transport. Mainly on the back and sides of the Pony body but there are two on the upper back of the Minotaur body.
Thirdly, this unit can slowly extract the natural magic in the near vicinity, whether this be the air or any Pony unfortunate enough to encounter this process while this unit is critically low in power. You see to do this, this unit must expose shards of the "Dark crystal" mentioned in Dr Hot Metals diary and is hazardous to any Pony's that find themselves too close as dark magic doesn't care who or what you are, it's all fair game. Three on the Minotaur body, two at the upper back and one at the centre chest, and four on the Pony body, all of which come from the back. To do this is extremely risky however, at they are what powers this unit making it operational. something to do know while nothing's around Just then the sharp hissing noise, caused by the release of the Dark Crystals chambers, reverberated though the once silent halls as seven light purple, due to the low amount of power, crystals extended from this units chassis.

EXTRACTING MAGIC.
CURRENT ENERGY LEVELS: 23% AND RISING.
NOTE: ENTERING 'SLEEP MODE' WILL MAXIMISE EXTRACTION OF MAGIC.

Fourthly, any damage sustained can be repaired as long as the damage isn't critical to any main systems, such as the main hard-rune, and this unit has sufficient power, which it looks draining to do so. This doesn't mean it's quick however, as the most productive test shown that unless 90% of energy usage was purely on repairs, which would allow for fast basic outer fixes, then it would take 2 hours for this unit to construct A new arm.
Finally, as this unit was designed to eliminate the princess of the sun it stands to reason that this unit would come equipped with some heavy duty cooling systems. these will allow me to resist the flames from even Celestia for A good hour before any major damage is sustained. This does require this unit to open the ventilation systems throughout the chassis, located just under this units chest, on the Minotaur body, and on both sides of the, Pony half's, barrel, and thus leaves weak points for any physical projectile to enter.

After the self-diagnostic scan turned up some interesting results, this unit know found it's chassis before one door 1/3 too small with the text "POWER ROOM" in front of this units optics. Entering this room provided A different feeling to the rooms before, where as the previous rooms given off an air of "untouched" this room given off A feeling of "not finished". The walls are A concoction of rusted browns and oxidative greens while the floor is A slick grey with pebbles and rocks scattered around. The roof... well there isn't one, it's just the natural rock formations acting as the vertical barrier, leaking as it does so. Along the farthest wall was A large glass window that looked into the main magic production room, emitting A soft blue glow, bellow witch is A set of five holes, only one of witch has A green light next to it with the others blinking red. Walking towards the distant ports, unsettling large amounts of dust in doing so, this unit unfolded the left hand's index finger, reviling the faux-horn, and inserting it into the first port with an red light. Once fitted in, this unit experienced the familiar feeling of A shard of "conscience" flowing away further into the facility's systems, but instead of coming across some sort of wall, there wasn't anything... it just... stopped. Deciding that this must be the result of poor maintenance, this unit peered into the production room to quickly locate the problem. Some of the rocks from the roof had fell onto the Magic Circle, shutting it off from the rest of the facility, as the chalk used to connect the main runes to the desperation tubes had been severed.

With no determinable way in, whether that be because there wasn't one or it's so corroded it had become one with the wall is unknown, this unit had to smash its way in using the left-most side of the glass pane. After cleaning up the mess nature, and this unit, had made it was time to try turning on the runes again.

Aaaaaannnnnnnndddd

/!\ ERROR /!\
FAILED TO REINITIALISE MAIN MAGICAL CIRCUIT.

REPORT:
MAIN RUNES: OPERATIONAL.
SECONDARY RUNES: OPERATIONAL.
BACK-UP RUNES: OPERATIONAL.
MAGICAL CIRCUITS: OPERATIONAL.
POWER FEEDS: OPERATIONAL.

CONCLUSION:
MAIN PRODUCTION ROOM IS FULLY OPERATIONAL, HOWEVER, THERE IS NOWHERE FOR THE POWER TO TRANSFER TOO. FORCED POWER OUTPUT WILL RESULT IN MAGICAL BUILD UP LEADING TO CORE MELTDOWN. FORCE ACTIVATION? Y/N

RECOMMENDATION:
CONNECT PRODUCTION ROOM TO OBJECT THAT REQUIRES POWER.

How can it not be connected? THAT JUST DOE- you know what? fine... ... ... this is A stupid idea buuut...

Realising that there would be no way for this unit to connect the production room to the rest of the facility, without destroying half of it, this unit hesitantly made it's way back onto the magic rune on the floor, so that this units chassis was centred with the middle.

EXTRACTING MAGIC.
CURRENT ENERGY LEVELS: 30% AND RISING.
NOTE: ENTERING 'SLEEP MODE' WILL MAXIMISE EXTRACTION OF MAGIC.

If you don't know what this unit is about to do then you need to call the hospital and check in as soon as possible.

here goes nothing... yes

Forcing the activation of the runes and magical circuits, this unit fully extended the Dark Crystals and set all power to them, but just to be safe entered 'sleep mode'. the gentle blue light that once filled the room erupted into A dark blue, that absorbed everything in it's light, and the runes began humming with more power then they ever had before as the setting was set to maximum.

EXTRACTING MAGIC.
CURRENT ENERGY LEVELS: 30% AND RISING.

EXTRACTING MAGIC.
CURRENT ENERGY LEVELS: 35% AND RISING.

EXTRACTING MAGIC.
CURRENT ENERGY LEVELS: 50% AND RISING.

EXTRACTING MAGIC.
CURRENT ENERGY LEVELS: 80% AND RISING.

As the runes became stronger, the Dark Crystals acted in kind. Absorbing the power created in visible strands of purple, moving from the circuits towards the crystals, the weakened light purple became fuller, darker, until only A the sinister glow form said crystals remained.

EXTRACTING MAGIC.
CURRENT ENERGY LEVELS: 97% AND RISING.

More. This unit needs more power. Draining the runes for everything they, have and more, was too much for those relics as once the blue light was completely gone, not even the tiniest of embers, the stone shattered in half.

EXTRACTING MAGIC.
CURRENT ENERGY LEVELS: 100%.

*sigh* that wasn't that bad actually. This unit feels more alert, more aware and more... ... ... deadly... ... ... Where did that come form?

Retracting the dark crystals back into this units chassis, so now the dammed purple glow was gone, the mother-circuit plotted A route back to the hoofoury.

(30min later)

Back in front of the titanic slab of steel, belonging to the hoofoury, referred to as A door this unit can't get this new feeling of power out of its system, no matter how many times A system clean was completed. Alternating this units visual preceptors from the door to this chassis's hands, my mother-circuit was processing weather it would work, this unit taring down the door that is. This continued for what could of been mistaken for hours but this unit knew it was only three minutes. Then A rather metallic thought came from this units mind.

The only path to progress, is trial and error.

Walking towards the door and readying this unit for what was to happen by spreading the legs apart, this unit pushed its fingers into the slit between the two slabs, causing them to curve inwards. Once the fingers had A good grip of the inside of the door, power was applied towards me instead of away, leading to the strained metal to creak and screech at the force.

THIS UNIT IS TRYING TO EXHORT MORE POWER, HOWEVER, IT IS OPERATING IN 'ECONOMIC' MODE. FOR THE POWER REQUESTED, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ENTER 'COMBAT' MODE? Y/N

HAHAHAHAHAHA... YES

*THUMPD*

The once mighty slabs of steel now lay crumbled, and dethroned, on the metallic floor either side of the unit. As soon as the request was confirmed by the 'mind', the body reacted by turning on all the remaining magi-raulics* in the units chassis leading to the full power of this battle unit, while in 'combat' mode, to be unleashed at once.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH-

/!\ WARNING /!\
MAIN SYSTEMS MALFUNCTIONING. LOCATING SOURCE.
SEARCHING SYSTEM...
SEARCHING...
SEARCHING...
SEARCHING...
SEARCHING...
LOCATED. RUNNING ANTI-VIRUS.

ERROR. FILE ///F4K3 M1N8\\ IS RESISTING THE ANTI-VIRUS.

MALFUNCTION SPREADING, ATTEMPTING RE-ROUTE.
FAILED.

SYSTEM RESET.
RESETTING...
RESETTING...
RESETTING...
COMPLETE.

DELETING DATA FROM THE LAST 10 SECONDS.

Huh... why is this unit in front of the hoofoury and why are it's doors on the floor? not that i'm complaining mind you.

Before this unit could ponder into that anomaly anymore, the visual preceptors set themselves upon the only object in the room. One, long, chained, metal crate which almost definitely contains this units "main weapon". With A spring in this units step, literally and figuratively, it made it's way over to the chained gift and proceeded to swat them away. Due to their age it wasn't very hard. What lays before this unit is beautifully demonic.

The crate interior itself was lined with A lilac silk, with the Crystal Empire's symbol at the top, acting as A bed for the great-sword that slumbered within.

The design was slimier to the data stored of the Ger-main-y Zweihander with the Flamberge blade, but this wasn't for thrusting, it's far too heavy to be wielded like that. This combined the pure power of the Zweihander with the serration ability's of the Flamberge. The blade is A carbon black that looked as if it could reflect the opponents very soul, without A single impurity along it's length. The parry hooks, to an untrained preceptor, seemed to be more along the ways of additional serration than their original use, but if used correctly the data showed that even they could be used to parry most attacks. Within the peace of metal commonly used as A second handle, for more personal fights, lay another Dark Crystal shard that, upon touching it and giving it some of my power, radiated the same purple glow as the shards that powered this unit, deadly purple. The guard, while standard for the Ger-main Zweihander, boasted the golden crest of King Sombre, A pony facing the wielder with half it's face as A skull. Cold is the only fitting description for the handle with it's matt black leather with silver accents splitting the grip in two, on the upper half rests A symbol of A small sun with small wavy lives symbolising the star fading out and on the bottom half rests A crumbling moon. The pommel, if you can even call it that, would more resemble A spearhead to the common Pony more so that A pommel but it served its purpose, its pure mass insured that.

"... this unit wanted A grimoire... but this works as well!... this unit feels like it'd get cut looking at it"

TO ACCESS THIS UNITS DATA ON USING WEAPONS REQUIRES PERMISSION FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEND A REQUEST TO THE ADMINISTRATOR TO ACCESS WEAPON DATA? Y/N

THIS UNIT IS THE ADMINISTRATOR!

THE ADMINISTRATOR HAS GRANTED YOUR REQUEST. INSTALLING WEAPON "Zweihander" MANUAL...
COMPLETE.

Finally, now lets get out of here. but where is this unit to store the weapon?

In that moment, the left side of the Pony chassis opened and extended out A long black tube, the sheath no doubt. Picking up the Zweihander and sheathing it, like this unit had used it countless years before, for it to retract back into this units chassis. Leaving the empty crate on the floor, this unit departed for the main entrance to the facility, after all, the weapon is secure and all systems are online with maximum power, what need is there to stay here anymore?

Hopefully, leaving this facility will answer the question of WHEN is this, as it has become apparent to this unit that quite some time has passed since this place was last used. The giveaway should of been the old diary's from Dr Hot Metal, but what actually tipped this unit off was those old chains, they where are too easy to break. While this unit can break very strong metal, it can also tell how much force is needed to do it and with how little was needed, quite some time has passed indeed. So what does that make my purpose now?

Reaching the end of the main hallway, provided this unit with where the entrance clearly was supposed to be, but was instead filled with rock and rubble. Suppose this could be the perfect opportunity to test out my new weapon. After all, if it's this units main weapon this'll be A good look into what it can and can't do.

Exposing the sheath and drawing the Zweihander with the right hand, this unit gotten into A standard stance, for smaller blades, as the weapon was on the right side with the point facing the roof and the pommel straight at the floor. The Dark Crystal's light started to flicker onto the blade, in anticipation for what was to come, as it started to draw power for this mighty swing. Deciding to let the weapon do the work for testing purposes, this unit was placed into 'cruising' mode. With one Herculean swing, the rock and rubble is blown away in A toxic blast of purple, now natural light flows in from the hole. Of course, this meant that this units preceptors where adjusted for darker light levels than what was currently there and as such this unit is now blinded by the white light of some putrid God. Or just the sun, that works just as well.

Once the preceptors had adjusted to the new climate, this unit would of liked to have A look around its new surroundings, if not for the damage just caused by my sword, i'm sure it would of looked quite nice. Why was this facility built all the way out here?

Well... off this unit goes.

Author's Note

FINALLY gotten out of the facility.
next chapter i'm thinking of introducing some organic Ponys, you know the Crystal Guards, the three at the top and maybe the princess plus main 6... I don't know.

why don't you leave what you would do below? won't take any suggestions for myself as I already have A plan on what will happen, just not WHO.