The Mechanical Terror (Ultrakill Crossover)

Chapters

Back To Old Feathers [CH-2]
Blood Red Steel [CH-3]
Crimson Stars [CH-4]
Booting Up... [CH-5]
Frosted Blood [CH-6]
Stained Steel [CH-7]
Prelude [CH-1]

Back To Old Feathers [CH-2]

V1 walks down the stairs seeking for more potent blood. But finds only empty halls and rooms. Eventually however the machine picks up the sound of cards being ruffled. V1 walks as silently as it's metal hydraulics would allow. Coming upon a large room, the machine peers inside, slipping a metal hand on the doorframe and looking over the beds stacked across the wall and guards roaming the room. most of the guards are at the centre table playing what appears to be poker while some read books on their beds. V1 steps in the room with a heavy metallic step. Every guard turns to look at who walked in the room. Most of them freeze, some gasp, others look in confusion.

V1 takes a look around the room. The machine's aperture shaped lenses glossing by every guard. V1 slides it's revolver out of one of it's wings. One of the guards speak shakily. "Who gave the tin can a gun?" All the guards are on edge. Some grab their spears, others charge their horns with magic in anticipation. V1 takes a coin out of its arm. Freshly made from the blood of it's last victim. V1 flips the coin into the air. The guards look up at the coin in mild suprise and fascination.

V1 raises it's revolver towards the coin. calculates the trajectory, timing and reflection angle as the barrel aligns to the coin. The revolver crackles as the plasma like projectile leaves the tip. The focused plasma hits the coin separating into two beams and towards two dumbfound guards. All in the span of less then a second.

The room falls into panic as 2 guards instantly die. Most of the guards hit the ground to avoid getting shot while the guards that were closer to the machine charge towards the machine. V1 dashes forward, punching through a guard's chest with it's bulky red arm, Ripping out their sternum with ease. A Pegasus flies in fast try to hit the machine with a spear with all his momentum only for it to scrape the paint. V1 acquires the Pegasus's position and uses the freshly ripped sternum to slams the guard into the wall, Shattering the sternum which end up embedding into the Pegasus's flesh. A earth pony jumps from behind grabbing onto V1's metallic neck, In response. The machine violently slams his back into a wall until the earth pony on it's back is a mushy blood soaked imprint on V1's back.

The machine rips the bloody remains of it's back only to be met with magical bolt to the machine's chest plate. The sudden EMP like blast messes up with V1's hardware long enough to let a guard fire another magical bolt. However this time it's met with the other end of the machine's blue arm. Parrying it straight back, instantly vaporising it's caster. Another unicorn summons a shield around the remaining guards so they can flee in time to warn others. V1 dashes forward, hitting the translucent cyan wall. The machine beats down on it with no mercy. Using it's revolver and red arm in combination to shatter the shield.

V1 lunges at the unicorn guard like a hungry predator. Using it's left arm again to plunge deep inside the unicorn's chest to grab their beating heart and remove it. V1 lathers itself in blood with the heart. Once the machine was coated blood red, V1 crushes the heart's shriveled husk, and observes the once plentiful room now empty and coloured a deep red. Only a few of them escaped when the unicorn held up that shield. V1 makes a calculated guess that It's highly likely that this new species of sapient equines will call reinforcements. Which will bring more blood to machine's foot steps, V1 considers this outcome, satisfactory.

Princess cadance fills out various forms and paperwork late into the night. Cadance rubs the sleep out of her eyes and a bit sleepy at having to stay up late into the night. Normally her husband dealt with most of the paper work but this time shining armour is over at canterlot for the holiday with his family, and cadance isn't one to force her husband to stay. So she will gladly take up this duty for a couple days till her husband is home. Cadance is interrupted from her work by a guard that slams into her room with heavy breaths, blood splattered on their fur, their eyes distressed. "PRINCESS! A INTRUDER IS IN THE WALLS OF OUR CASTLE! THEY HAVE ALREADY DESTROYED THE FIRST GUARD BARRACK! IT'S ONLY A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THEY GET UP TO THE TOP FLOOR! WE NEED TO EVACUATE YOUR HIGHNESS NOW!"

Princess cadance is taken it back by the sudden intrusion of her guard and their news. "Wait just one person has destroyed a whole guard barrack and got in the castle unnoticed?! We can't just leave! If this threat could take that many guards, it could easily destroy this whole kingdom if I'm not there!" The guard looks back trying to make sure the machine hasn't gotten up here yet. The sound of gunfire and yells becoming louder as the machine climbs higher. "Princess, we can't stay! Your safety is of the up most importance and we can't compromise that!" Princess cadance seems worried about the sound that's getting louder but glares at the guard with determination. "You will, show me the intruder. And I will take care of it. I'm not letting anyone get hurt under my watch!"

The guard grits his teeth but gives in, sighing resignedly. "Okay, your highness. I'll lead you to the intruder, Follow me, quickly or the defences will already be gone before we arrive!" The guard takes off and cadance flies close behind. "So this, intruder, What is it? What should I expect?" The guard huffs with his ragged breath as he runs but still responds to his princess. "Some kind of... metal beast, your highness. It tears through our forces and takes a dozen hits but comes back just as strong, I haven't seen anything like it, princess."
Cadance shivers at the description. "It sounds terrifying, but I will put a stop to it, it can't possibly handle the power of a alicorn, no matter how strong this... Thing is."

After several minutes of walking V1 finds another barricade of guards. Several magical blasts and arrows fill the machine's field of view, getting tagged in it's HUD. V1 raises It's bulky red arm, a shockwave is let loose from 2 barrels ontop it's wrist. The various projectiles in the air immediately invert their trajectory, flying back at the barricade, some guards get hit by arrows and magic while simultaneously breaking apart the furniture that was stacked to make the barricade. The remaining uninjured guards spring into action throwing all their spears at V1 with their magic as a last hail mary.

V1 spins up the revolver in it's hand, Calculating the perfect reflection ray for the plasma bolt to take before firing it. the plasma bolt ricochets dozens of times between the spears destroying all of them before flying towards the machine. V1 throws a coin at the bolt, and it bounces back, killing a few more guards with various headshots before the plasma fizzles away and letting the dead guards fall over dead. suddenly V1 is hit by point blank magical bolt. V1 is thrown off balance, the machine's servos recalibrate quickly but not fast enough to avoid a telepathic slam from the unnoticed unicorn, causing V1 to hit the wall.

The machine throws it's arm forward in retaliation, a grappling hook shooting out, penetrating the unicorn's neck and getting stuck in their wind pipe before the grapple hook violently yanks back. Ripping the unicorn's neck into shreds while bringing the guard closer to the machine. The unicorn guard's maw was met with the charging barrel of V1's revolver. The plasma bolt disintegrates the unicorn's head into bloody mist before V1 rips the grappling hook out their neck and locking the grapple back into it's original place.

Princess Cadance and her guard finally reach the floor of the intruder. the halls coated in blood of her guards but the metal beast on the wall with a tired unicorn guard nearby. Cadance blinks. Cadance was about to say something before the machine leapt out the wall, throwing a wire with a sharp point that forcefully tore the unicorn's neck before pulling them close enough to blast their head into smithereens. Spraying grey matter and bone shards on the ceiling.

The horrific bloody sight almost made cadance puke. "D-dear celestia. What is that thing?! It killed that poor unicorn with no hesitation..." The machine turned it's head towards the two at the end of the hall. It's deep blue metalwork, stained with blood and charred spots. It's armour patchy with gold plates. Yellow lights and the sliver glint of it's wings giving the machine a ominous aura. V1 raised it's revolver indiscriminately to end the alicorn princess.

Cadance's sight is filled with a flash of blue. She flinches covering her face with her wing. Yet the blast doesn't come. She looks over her wing to see the guard that was next to her now Infront of her, and sporting a large smoldering crater in their chest, melted armour dripping into the floor. The guard looks at cadance, coughing up blood. "Kill that bastard... For everyone's sake." Letting out a raspy groan before falling to the wayside, his eyes becoming blank as the life leaves his body. The sight of this guard, that cadance never knew just sacrifice their life for her made her heart wrench. But their last words, it also filled her heart with rage at this metal beast that took so many lives.

Cadance's eyes filled with tears and magic. Her eyes glowing a deep cyan. "You... You will pay for every single pony you killed today." Cadance's horn is surrounded by her cyan aura, lightning crackling around it as cadance looks towards the metal abomination with hatred. V1 looks at the enraged alicorn with interest. It's sensors picking up the insane amount of energy being produced by the mare. The machine holds onto it's revolver's grip tighter, pre charging it ahead of time as the machine and the princess stand still for a duel.

Cadance makes the first move summoning several cyan magical bolts mid air before sending them towards the machine at high speed leaving after images as trails behind them. V1 moves quickly, opting to dodge the bolts only to discover that they homed in to it's position. luckily the machine manages to dash out of range and parrying one of them towards cadance. The alicorn dodges the blast by teleporting behind V1. Bucking her hind legs into the machine's chest. V1 is sent flying, scraping against the ground, regaining it's balance by digging it's bulky red hand into the floor.

In cadance's blind rage she charges in with her guard down. Leaving her wide open for the machine to release a Shockwave point blank into her gut. The alicorn is thrown back but quickly uses her wings to gain air over the machine. The machine cocks it's red arm, discharging the used shotgun rounds. Cadance summons her magic to charge a large laser and Shooting it towards the machine. V1 runs and dashes rapidly. Calculating the best way to attack it's target while suppressing cadance with stray revolver shots. V1 throws up a coin, jumping to match it's height before punching it towards the alicorn. The coin hits her forehead and bounces higher up into the air, stunning her long enough for the machine wrap it's grappling hook around her waist.

V1 grapples towards cadance, the coin now level with cadance's forehead by the time it has closed the distance. Using it's fist to slam the coin into the alicorn's forehead and send her into the ground. The machine attempts to land a punch with it's red fist on it's way down. Cadance's horn sputters she uses her magic to get back on her feet quicker. "ENOUGH!" cadance grasps V1's neck. Taking flight again and breaking through the ground. Using V1 as a shield as the alicorn goes through the floors of the castle. Every single floor that passes by slamming into the machine's back with concrete and rebar. V1's armour wildly bending and deforming at every floor being slammed down on it

the machine however refuses to just take the punishment and uses it's fist to punch into Cadance, giving her a beating as she responds in kind. V1's wings unfolding to slow their fall while it's arm beats cadance consecutively without fail. Cadance's punches slowly become weaker as the machine draws more blood from her face, nose bleeding and eyes getting blurry as the machine unrelentingly beats her face into a pulp. Once they reaches the bottom floor, V1 grabs her head. Flipping them upside down so that the alicorn takes the full brunt of the final slam.

the room is filled with the sound of cadance's back breaking and her scream. Cadance lies their in pain. Thinking of her loved ones. Tears of fear fill her eyes as she looks up at the monstrous machine. With her suffocating breath she managed. "Please... Don't kill me... What did ponies ever do to you?" V1 looks down at the begging alicorn that made a mess of his armour, now begging at his foot. The machine coldy raises it revolver, charging it. Cadance sobs as death incarnate get ready to end her. V1 pulls the trigger. The shit mutilates cadance's face beyond recognition. A burnt charcoal coated crater now replacing her face, forever silencing her.

The machine pulls out it's red arm. It's claws on cadance's horn. Digging deep before pulling out, straining the machine's hydraulics. It's effort rewarded by a fountain of blood, letting the blood soak it and bending the deformed metal into place. Once the blood fountain dries up, V1 looks down at the pink horn. Scanning it. The machine detects the potent amount of magic still present within the horn, much more then the unicorn horns it encountered on the guards. V1 calculates that it could prehaps use this for a potential weapon. The machine shoves it into the sheath of it's wing. Keeping the revolver in it's metal hand before going towards the front door. V1 pushes it open to be met with thousands of concerned crystal ponies from the sounds inside the castle. V1's central processor "loves" the idea of thousands of defense less blood bags, so it charges it's revolver for one last massacre.

V1 finishes up the last pony by turning their ribs inside out, like how a butcher fillets a fish. Drenching itself in blood. The machine gives the area one good scan, with no life in sight, it's done with this place and heads for the train station nearby. At the train station the machine sees a familiar sight. A lone yellow terminal by itself next to the train door. V1 consults the terminal. Uploading the battle data since it's last. V1 gets a time of 30 minutes, 7,867 kills and a style of 97,608 for a total rank of P. As a reward the terminal awards it with a sum of 500,000 points in addition to the already present 679,216 points in V1's bank.

V1 browses the terminal, disappointed to find it's old weapons to be unaccessible. But 2 new weapons now available. A yellow fore arm part capable of sucking up magic of killed ponies to charge itself and teleport up to fifty metres. and a red serrated sword that can extract more blood out of a target. Each for 350,000, though the yellow arm oddly requires the horn it just got in addition. Regardless V1 accepts the purchase. Giving up it's pink horn. The 2 items materialise before the machine. The machine equips the new arm part into it's forearm, the pink horn of the alicorn encrusted into the arm like a jewel. V1 observes the shine of it's new red sword, metal tubes that go from the sword's edge to the grip, letting V1 direct access to fresh blood. V1 slides the sword behind itself letting it magnetically attaching to V1's back. V1 turns off the terminal and gets on the train. Getting into the cockpit and pushing the lever all the way forward. The train lurches as it accelerates forward. V1 sits on the chair wiping off the shriveled organs left on it's armour for it's next encounter

Author's Note

Hot damn, I should give other authors who write 2 to 3k words each chapter regularly credit. It's a lot harder then it looks. And yes I'm letting the machine get stronger, with new weapons. But so are the ponies. Oh and yea, the terminals are here. Why? Well if you know the ultrakill lore you would. So go play the damn game, and don't miss the secret levels.

Blood Red Steel [CH-3]

Steel wakes up slowly, memories and the pain of his current state flooding in as he gains a grip on reality. He looks down at himself. His armour torn apart, turned useless and Shrapnel deep inside gut, but luckily missing any vital points. Steel shrugs of the armour sand attempts to get up on his hooves but braves through the pain. As Steel gets a hold of his blurry vision, his surroundings become clearer.

The blue marble floor is coated in his own dried blood. his now dead friend laying a few meters from him. Steel almost ran into his friend but with his injuries only managed a slow shuffle. Steel looks down at Scarlet, her face unrecognisable with the giant whole in it, a pool of blood and grey matter around her head. He would have stopped here to mourn her death, but he knows that he's on a timer, he has to find help before his injuries get to him. With that last thought, Steel turns his back on his friend, silently vowing to come back later to give her a proper funeral.

Steel climbs down the stairs, each agonizing step causing him to grit his teeth. He limps by the barracks, the room coloured a maroon red from the dried blood, lifeless corpses on the floor. Steel feels more and more of his hope for rescue vanish as he looks over every dead body, a single dominant though echoes in his mind. "Are they all dead?" Steel immediately banished the thought and limps towards a first aid kit, slumping against the wall for support as he pries the metal box open.

Inside he finds bandages, morphine, rubbing alcohol and various other tools. He immediately goes for the morphine to dull his pain. Steel takes the plastic tip off and Injects it into the vein on his hoof. The fast acting drug, quickly begining to numb his pain. He takes out the rubbing alcohol removing the cap and applying it against his wounds. Steel cringes as the alcohol causes a burning sensation on his injuries but the pain being quickly snuffed by the active morphine in his blood. He wraps up his self medication by sealing the wound with a whole roll of bandages.

Once steel finishes he gets back up on his hooves, feeling much better now and determined to locate help. He begins walking downstairs again, each step now a numb sensation. He depends downward. Occasionally finding a massacred room caused by the blood drinking machine that knocked him out. Every dead body steel finds, makes him more hopeless. But her dosen't stop his journey down. Eventually after what felt like hours of walking, he reaches the ground floor of the castle.
What he sees terrifies him to his core.

The princess of the crystal empire laid bare on the floor, bruised and beaten, her face charred and bloody and where her horn should be is now a entrance to cadance's inner brain. Steel walks up to her body, fear filling his heart. He thought the princess, the last powerful being in this entire kingdom would've destroyed the beast... But he was severely mistaken. There's only one possibility left.... It had escaped the castle and entered the city, where it could then go on a genocide to exterminate every pony in the kingdom.

Steel looks up at the door that's half open, behind it, thousands lay dead mere metres from the door spreading outward into the street, doors ripped wide open off it's hinges, throats split open, fillies splayed apart. It's too much. The monster that did this, it clearly took it's time with this blood spree. Unlike the efficient deaths of the guards, these deaths maximised pain. Steel stood there, processing all the death. He covers his face up, struggling to keep himself from breaking into pure terror.

His heart pounded like thunder as he navigated his way through the maze of corpses. Trying to keep his eyes off their bodies and bone sticking out the floor like obstacles. Steel manages his way out of horrific maze, trying to keep the horrors of what he saw out of his mind as he slowly stumbled his way to the mail office. Opening the door, and looking for anything that he could use to send a message. Radios and old computers litter the office space, but turned into electric junk due to the lack of electricity in the building. Steel finds a old telegram tucked away in the corner.

Dusting it away and thankful it was still connected to it's old line that sends the message all the way to mainland equestria and hopefully to canterlot. Steel sighs, grateful he didn't skip the class on learning morse code. Steel puts his hoof over the telegram. Taking his time to remember the code for each letter and then putting his hoof into action. Four taps and pause, one tap and pause, one tap then one long tap afterwards two taps and pause, 1 tap then 2 long taps finished with one tap and pause.

Steel let's go off the telegram, sighing as all the adrenaline keeping him awake has worn off long ago. Tired from the constant horror and walking. Slumping against the wall, He slowly lets himself drift to sleep. Letting the world fade away, his dead friend, the people he swore to protect and his destroyed home. All of it slipping away as Steel closes his weary eyes.

Meanwhile in canterlot. A young guard sits by himself. Bored out of his mind since he was forced by his peers to tend to the telegram at night. Although nobody uses the darn thing anymore after dragon mail became popular, celestia insisted atleast one guard to stand by one at all times. The guard impatiently taps his foot, waiting through the monotonous night when the telegram made a click printing a short series of dashes and dots on a piece of paper.

The young guard couldn't make any sense out of it so he chocked it up to the telegram being old and crumped up the piece of paper, throwing it to the wayside

Author's Note

Yes, this is 100% shameless filler, did you really think I gave 2 random guards actual names for no reason? And if you want to know what steel sent then solve the morse yourself. Is this me being annoying? Yes, absolutely and I don't regret a single bit of it.

Crimson Stars [CH-4]

Starlight steps out the wagon, her head aching after listening to Trixie ramble all day and night about the show she has in Manehatten. Starlight groans out loud, rubbing her temples. “I should’ve just paid for the train instead... But nooo I just HAD to take that wagon... Ugh...” Never the less Trixie still seems to be in high spirits despite the bumpy ride. “The great and powerful Trixie is delighted to perform in such a prestigious city such as Manehatten! Oh how far the great and powerful Trixie has come! It truly brings a tear to the eye.” Trixie wipes a fake tear from her eye.

Starlight sighs and rubs her sore eyes, contemplating her life with a tired look on her face. “Today’s gonna be a loooooooooooong day....” Trixie snorts. “Starlight, don’t be a grumpy bum! Today the great starlight and the even greater Trixie shall. Be. FAMOUS!” Starlight yelps as Trixie forcefully pulls her hoof with magic. “AHH! I did not sign up for this!” Starlight is dragged inside a shop and lands square inside a chair. Starlight eyes roll in circles after being thrown around like a ragdoll. Trixie looks Around looking for something while talking. “The great and powerful Trixie’s assistant shan’t be so drab in comparison! First a marvelous cloak!” Starlight barely gets anytime to catch her breath before her neck is wrapped around cyan cloth with magenta.

Starlight barely could utter a word before large starred wizard hat is forced on her head, obscuring her vision. Trixie seems proud of her work. “Tadah! I turned a bland looking pony into a magnificent mage!” Starlight removes the comically large hat. “For Celestia’s sake! How do you have this much energy! … And why in the name of Luna’s stars is this hat this huge? I didn’t even know they made cloth this big...” Trixie raises an eyebrow at Starlight’s obliviousness. “Don’t you know that larger the hat, the stronger your magic becomes?” Starlight stares unamused. “Well with this hat I think I could destroy the universe, So I think I’d like to go for a smaller one.” Trixie thinks about this for a bit. “Good idea. We can’t destroy the universe before our show!” Starlight rolls her eyes in response and replaces her hat with some much more reasonable And makes sure to pay the clerk before leaving.

Starlight fixes her hat to make sure it’s in the right place. “Okay we should probably head to the theatre now. I don’t think it’ll leave a very good impression on us if we’re late” Trixie nods but pauses instead of following starlight. “The great and powerful Trixie isn’t going to be making her entrance by walking! We must upkeep our reputation! We shall show up like true magicians! Using magic!” Starlight raises an eyebrow. “I don’t know... Kinda seems dangerous. I mean there’s a reason we’re only allowed to teleport when we have visited the place before.” Trixie scoffs at the idea. “As the great Trixie once said, no pain, no gain!” Starlight is thrown off guard when Trixie suddenly teleports them both.

They both end up upside down infront of the theater. Starlight coughs as Trixie lands ontop of her. “*cough* *cough* ow...” Trixie gets up having been cushioned by starlight. “See we arrived just fine!” Starlight manages to stand up fixing her hair and dusting off the cloak while giving Trixie a stink eye. “For you...” however before more shenanigans can ensue. Both of them are suddenly approached by a pair of royal guards wearing a ebony armor with a slight purple hue, their ordinary solar crests instead holding that of the moon. “Are you two, Miss Starlight and Miss Trixie?” Trixie nods excitedly, her eyes glowing when somebody mentioned her by name. “Yes! It is I THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE! AND MY ALSO MY NOT AS GREAT AND POWERFUL ASSISTANT, STARLIGHT!” despite Trixie’s great enthusiasm, the guards doesn’t seem to care. The guard who initially asked the question motions to the other. The other guard nods and lights his horn scanning them both. “Okay, all clear. You may go in.” The royal guards leave as quick as they came.

Trixie seems more concerned then excited now. “Well... That’s as some very cold fans.” Though Trixie isn’t saddened for too long. “Atleast I’m popular enough to be known by name!” Starlight just looks into the distance where the guards now have started patrolling. “I’m pretty sure those are the new guards that Princess Luna brought in. I heard from Twi that after the changelings and all the villains we’ve had, Luna got really pissed of at the guard’s uselessness and put her guards everywhere in Equestria. Though I didn’t expect them to be... So serious” Trixie however seems dismissive as ever. “Well it isn’t important. It isn’t our problem and we shouldn’t care! We have a show to run!” Trixie starts trotting inside the theatre. Starlight hesitate before following with a slight smile. “Yea, let’s start on that show shall we?”

Meanwhile... By the train station a unscheduled train from The crystal empire slows into the terminal. Many of the ponies present are confused at the empty and unlisted train. A couple of the security guards peer inside, finding nothing but the dark unlit hall of the train. One of the security guards enter the train to investigate more. Although he didn’t get much time to do so before a maroon sword penetrated the security guard’s abdomen, painting itself dripping bright red. The chainsaw teeth lining the blade kicking in as it turns the guard inside out. The other security guards who didn’t yet enter reel back in surprise. As they see their co-worker get shredded to pieces, blood splattering everywhere. In pure terror and as a last resort to protect themselves the remaining two security guard’s attempt to taze whatever was inside the train.

The tazer’s bolts accelerate forward, only to let loose a few sparks and bounce off onto the floor. Their yellow light illuminating the metal shins of the machine, The machine’s wings unfurl, the yellow and blue lights along it’s figure flicker on revealing it’s whole form. Gold plates shaped into it’s chassis, painted blue steel and raw iron made up the bipedal robot. The sword inside the dead security guard stops as it finishes drinking up blood. V1 slides out it’s sword, now slick with blood. The 2 remaining security guard’s shiver in fear. The curious ponies behind the guards begin to crowd, unknowingly walking closer to their doom. V1 throws it’s sword without any care, it lodges itself In the first guard’s chest. Churning his insides into mush. The machine spins the gun into it hand and just as quickly fires it’s revolver shattering the second guard’s skull into a Gory firework of pinkish red paste.

The crowd behind the now brutally murdered guards scream in fear. As they realize what just happened. Some are frozen in fear while others flee for their lives. In the end it doesn’t matter for V1 cuts through the ponies with it’s blade like a farmer cutting through his wheat. V1 grabs one child in particular. Using both of it’s hands to crack open their chest and splay their ribs. Spraying itself with blood from arteries newly opened, for the machine’s metal and circuits had no remorse, it’s processors simply noting the higher potency of nutrients in the blood compared to an average. Adding a slight change to it’s targeting system to focus on younger prey.

The machine’s information gathering subroutines were interrupted as a strong kick hits it’s side. Throwing V1 into the wall with tremendous force. The machine’s armor plating cracking at the seams. V1 flips back on it’s legs, looking back at it’s attackers. A few royal guards stare down the machine, their jet black armor in comparison to the gold and purple metal he encountered in the last combat zone. V1 fires a shot, one of the guard generates a shield that deflects the heated plasma while the other goes in for another attack.

The guard raises a Warhammer from his side smashing it against the machine’s chest. V1 is uncharacteristically taken off guard by the attack and slides back from the impact. The machine expected little resistance from it’s past data analysis but keeps it’s ground. V1 draws it’s yellow arm, the encrusted horn lifting up as magic swirls around it. An ethereal glow surrounding V1. It doesn’t have much past data on the weapon so it chooses a simple route. The machine disappears in a bright red flash. The guard was taken it back not expecting the machine to be able to use magic. V1 reappears behind the guard mid-air, slamming onto the floor with enough force to send the guard flying into the air. Before V1 could come up with a follow-up attack, it is hit by slam against the machine’s spine

Throwing V1 to fly into the ground. It claws into the ground pivoting hard towards the guard, the machine pulls out it’s sword and strikes it against the guard now infront of V1. The guard remains steadfast, as their hooves grind against the floor from the force of the machine’s attack. V1 however didn’t wait for a counter attack, quickly drawing it’s revolver point blank at the guard’s head. The guard’s head is obliterated into a faucet of blood. V1 however had no hesitation in letting every drop of blood spray on itself. The machine’s metal frame dented form molding into shape as the blood quickly dries and gets absorbed into the metal surface, once the guard’s body spurts out it’s last, it collapses on itself. V1 turns to face the two royal guards. One having newly recovered from being thrown up and the other charging a magic attack. The unicorn guard let’s loose a homing missile straight towards the machine. Instead of dodging V1 slams it’s blue fist against the missile sending it back towards the unicorn who manages to roll out the way but not fast enough to not take a lot of damage from the parry, their armor charring into flakey metal.

V1 notices it’s own fist charring from the parry. It notes to limit it’s parries against these new guards. V1 lunges forward with it’s blade towards the unicorn but is blocked by the other guard with the handle of their Warhammer. The machine activates the chainsaw function. Serrated tips beginning to violently tear the metal handle of the guard’s Warhammer. The Warhammer is cut in half leaving the guard wide open for V1 to plunge it into the guard’s neck. The guard’s throat lets out a gurgling noise before falling over. Leaving the charred and battered Unicorn who manages a tiny spark towards the machine that fizzles out before falling onto their knees. V1 approaches the unicorn plunging it’s sword into the unicorn’s chest. The tubes attach them self to the heart’s arteries, sucking up every drop of blood, oxygenated or not into V1’s frame.

Without any more wasted seconds, V1 slips it’s sword out, reattaching it into it’s back and walking past the dead guards and into the streets. However a barricade of guards and police wagons face the machine. V1 revs it’s sanguine blade, charging the piercer revolver in the other hand. V1’s multi threaded processors more then happy to partake in a little warmup.

Starlight collapses on the couch backstage as Trixie follows beside her. " Oh my god.... That’s was the longest and loudest performance ever! You didn’t tell me it’s gonna take a whole hour, Trixie!” Trixie raises an eyebrow. “I wasn’t gonna pass on a lifetime chance just because you can’t use magic for one hour!” Starlight huffs. “I could if you let me sleep during the carriage ride instead of annoying me 24/7. Plus my back’s killing me.”

Trixie sighs. “The great and powerful Trixie acknowledges that she might’ve been a wee bit too excited and appologizes for my actions. Even if it was for a perfectly reasonable excuse.” Starlight smiles slightly despite being tired. “Well, apology accepted. But we aren’t staying in your crinkly carriage at the night. One more night and I’m sure my back will split in half.”
Trixie seems appaled. “How could you?! Trixie’s carriage is the best in all of the lands!... Except the wheels.” Starlight rolls her eyes. “Come’on, you owe me don’t you?” Trixie sighs “fine, just this once for my great and powerful assistant!”

They’re both interrupted by the sound of large boom in the distance. Starlight falls off the couch in suprise. “Holy macaroni!” Trixie looks into the general direction. “Hmm? Somepony must’ve put on that universe destroying hat.” Despite being facedown on the floor Starlight gives Trixie the side eye. “I was joking when I said that, but never mind that we should probably go see that was.” Trixie flips her hair and fixes her hat. “Onwards, we go, my assistant!” Trixie goes outside the theatre, expecting to see a crowd of ponies but is met by a wave of cloudy smoke.

Starlight catches up behind Trixie. “*Pant* Trixie.... *Pant* never do that again.” Trixie doesn’t reply to starlight, instead seeming in awe. “Oh my GOODNESS! THIS IS THE BIGGEST SMOKE BOMB I’VE SEEN!” Starlight face hooves herself. “Classic Trixie...” Trixie looks around peering Into the smoke “the great and powerful trixie must add this to her catalogue!”
Starlight looks around and notices that there’s no pony around what was previously a crowded street and tries to stop Trixie. “Trixie? Where is every pony? I mean we were just having a show with a couple thousand ponies. They can’t all be gone yet, right?”

Trixie turns to face starlight, blinking as she takes in starlight’s words. “The great and powerful Trixie acknowledges that you be right about that. It is quite odd for the great and powerful trixie’s show’s aftermath to be... So barren.” Starlight nods. “I think we should get the guar-” starlight is interrupted as a head of royal guard rolls in between her and Trixie. Trixie stares at the head. “Th-that is a prop... Right?” Starlight looks down at the blood pooling under it. “I... Don’t think so...”

The dissonant whining of motors echo through the quiet streets. Starlight’s eyes widen as she takes a step back, staring into the smoke, lights beginning to flare from the smoke. Trixie leaps behind, shaking like a leaf in a storm as she cowers behind starlight. The machine steps out from the fog. Dried bony dust present on it’s once blood stained arms. Trixie whisper behind her. “R-run?” Starlight gulps at the sight of the intimidating machine Infront before making eye contact with the shivering pony behind her. “Run.”

V1 slashes at the air, cutting through the fog and at the unfortunate ponies. Though it’s effort wasn’t rewarded with blood as the two ponies make a run for it. V1 raises it’s revolver with the fluidity of air as the unicorn pair run off. Starlight takes a look back, recognising it’s weapon from the several books she read from sunset’s human world. Starlight focuses her magic into a barrier over the both of them. The machine’s shot bounces off the shield, producing a small crack.

V1 decides to close the distance by whiplashing onto a nearby streetlight, the machine’s hydraulics charging midair as it swings by the streetlight. V1’s red arm dig into the side the street’s walls as it’s legs align itself to leap forward at the two running ponies. Trixie looks back this time to see the machine getting ready to charge itself at them. Instead of running harder and faster, trixie does the smart thing by shrieking like a little filly and latching onto Starlight’s hoof. Causing them both to fall and roll on the floor unceremoniously as the machine whizzes by their head with a revving sword. It uses it’s blade as a anchor to halt it self not too far away from the ponies.

Starlight and Trixie get up not too soon after. Starlight realises that with the machine so close by and ready to attack, running is no longer an option. “I don’t think we can run anymore...” She mutters as the machine rises up to it’s feet. Trixie snaps her head back at starlight “noway you are proposing that we fight that thing. The great and powerful Trixie isn’t great enough to beat that mechanical nightmare alone!” Starlight has a sudden idea. “Hey? Do you still have some of your smoke bombs?” Trixie raises an eyebrow “the great Trixie never forgets her smoke bombs... But... Why do you need it in a situation like this?!” Starlight shakes her head but explains regardless “that thing only attacked us through the fog when it got close enough, so it must be blind in the smoke” the machine rips it’s blade out off the asphalt road. Starlight panics as the machine gets ready for another attack. “Trixie quick throw a smoke bomb!”

Trixie rummages through her cloak taking out rubber ducks and confetti before coming across a few of her trademark purple smoke bombs. Acting quickly Trixie throws the bombs at the machine. V1 reacts to the blunt force projectiles approaching it, reacting by shooting the bombs with it’s gun. V1 immediately regrets it’s decision as it’s whole view becomes grey smoke. It attempts to swat away at the smoke, but unlike the fog it’s not as easily swayed. While V1 is distracted by the annoying smoke, it’s chest is met with a burning flash of magic that instantly melts the gold.

The machine falls on one knee as it’s hand goes to cover the exposed mainframe now leaking molten gold. It raises it’s head to scan the smoke further only to be done dirty with a blast of flame into it’s camera, scorching the lenses and impairing the machine’s sight further. The machine shakes the scorched camera on it’s head before a hoof kicks out from the smoke slamming into it’s wing, bending it out of shape. V1 rises it’s hand to whiplash out of the smoke Only for a arc of electricity to hit it’s side again in it’s exposed slot. The high voltage immediately short-circuits most of the hydraulics and circuits within the machine Causing the machine to fall on it’s knees completely, its blade falling to it’s side.

The smoke eventually clears as two tired unicorns stand over the smoldering body of the machine. Starlight let’s out a sigh as her horn’s magic fleets away. “Was... That it?” Trixie however was holding a fistful glitter, having expected to have to throw up a cloud of glitter at the machine’s lenses to blind it when the smoke cleared. “Hey... Atleast we lived, right?” Starlight sighs as she wipes the sweat out of her brow. “We got lucky that thing couldn’t see through smoke... And we need to get this thing to Twilight before it wakes up. Maybe she and her friends can turn it into stone like the rest of the villains..” starlight looks back at the empty streets behind her. “Let’s just hope it didn’t do too much damage back there...”

Author's Note

For those confused, I thought to make starlight stronger then Cadence a good reason. Since starlight was able to go toe to toe with Twilight sparkle in her Alicorn form, even if the Twilight that starlight faced is weaker then the Twilight we have after Starlight's reformation I would think starlight could easily if not atleast be on the same level as Cadence. Plus I think this would be more interesting then a total blood bath... Even if I feel like the power leveling is all over the place. But it does make sense, since the machine without constant blood can only take a few hard hits before dying.

oh and uhhh.... sorry about the several month long absence, school and writer's block is one hell of a concoction. so have a cute pic of Twi for being patient (If anyone is idiotic enough to wait for my shitty story lol)

Ps: any errors you report are greatly appreciated! :twilightsmile:

Booting Up... [CH-5]

B-Boot Up Sequence R-R-Ready

Firmware
Latest Version [ERROR.ERROR.ERROR]

Starting Calibration
Several systems unresponsive, Running Diagnostics....

Hydraulics: 28% functionality
Blood Absorptive Plates: 53% Functionality
Arsenal Storage System: Unresponsive
Plated Bionic Wings: 78% Functionality
Energy Distribution Core: 10% Functionality
Battle AI: Unresponsive
Main Memory Drive: Corrupted [Estimated Recovery Time: ERROR.]
Emergency Memory Drive: 100% Functionality

Loading Status Update....

Machine ID: ERROR
Location: ERROR
Current Objective: ERROR

Booting Up...

Boot Up Failed. Essential Systems Damaged

Celestia works late into the night, signing and reading countless paperwork while sipping her lukewarm tea. She looks up in surprise when her trusted assistant Raven Inkwell bursts into the room. Celestia finds it odd her assistant didn’t knock, usually even with diplomatic emergencies, she would atleast have the courtesy for a curt knock on the door.

Raven takes a deep breath mustering her courage. “Princess Celestia, I... Bring bad news...”

Celestia raises and eyebrow before leaning in towards her assistant. Her ears rising in attention. “Continue.”

Raven fumbles with her glasses almost slipping off her snout from the sweat on her brow. “T-The recent supply train for the trade deals we have in crystal empire came back and... T-the crew weren’t present and the guards that were stationed in Manhattan’s train station that promptly went to check were killed. " Raven gulps as she sees her superior’s eyes widen in surprise. Raven continues. “The monster that had killed train guards had started killing the nearby ponies but thankfully not too many innocent casualties were sustained before the elite guard intercepted the situation. The ponies were evacuated but the elite guards that were stationed... They did not survive either. The monster’s current whereabouts are unknown. All we have is witness testimonies that claim it to be some kind of Metal beast.”

Celestia remains silent, taking in all the information given to her best as she can. “How’d... This Thing get on the supply train? Have you contacted the crystal empire on this?”

Raven sheepishly nods “Yes we did... But they did not send a magic letter back. It’s silence out there in The North”

Celestia tries her best not to show the fear brewing in her mind. “This is... Most concerning. Rally up and inform every guard of this threat, take the reserve guards and bolster them around our cities. Silence the news papers and change up the story. Erase the witnesses memories, we musn’t let this beast take more lives nor sow chaos among our subjects.”

Raven nods briefly and exists Celestia’s quarters, leaving her all alone to think. “I must speak to my sister about this...”

Twilight sits on her chair by herself. Enjoying the latest copy of Daring Doo and The Mystic Forest. Spike enters the room with a stack of pancakes drenched in syrup and topped with some whipping cream and strawberries. Twilight looks up from her book and upon noticing the delicious pancakes comments. “Oh! Spike, you didn’t have to. Coffee is all i need in the morning.”

Spike rolls his eyes. “Yea? And let you starve yourself on my watch? Nada not happening.” Spike places the stack of pancakes alongside a fork on a table near twilight’s sofa.

Twilight take a mouthful of pancakes, squeaking with delight, “Mmm! So good! Did pinkie help you with this?”

Before Spike could reply two familiar unicorns teleport beside him. Twilight recognises them and greets them happily. “Welcome back I hope you had fun!”

Trixie replies with equal enthusiasm. “Oh yea, we had a great sh-”

Twilight interrupts trixie. “I wasn’t talking about you, Trixie”

Trixie snarls back. “You’re the one who was too busy to come have fun with starlight!”

Starlight gets in between both parties before Twilight could throw out a retort. “Guys! I thought you two got over this, plus aren’t we gonna tell Twilight what happened, Trixie?”

Trixie sticks out her tongue at Twilight. Twilight sighs, ignoring Trixie and addressing starlight. “Alright, alright. What’s exactly happened? And... Why are you dragging that sack behind you?” Twilight points at the brown sack behind Starlight.”

Starlight sighs tiredly. “You see, after our show we went outside when we heard-”

Starlight is interrupted as trixie steps infront of her. “A BIG BOOM!”

Starlight pushes trixie back to make some space so she can speak with Twilight who is getting more confused. “As trixie said, a “Big Boom.” after we heard said noise we went outside to find the area eerily quiet and filled with smoke. In that smoke, we found this thing,” Starlight struggles to lift the sack before dropping it’s contents infront of twilight. Unveiling the non functional humanoid machine onto the table.

Twilight gasps in surprise taking a step back before taking two more steps forward. Observing the machine as Starlight speaks. “When it came out the smoke it tried to kill us. It was very fast, i’m pretty sure it took out a few guards before it came at us. But thankfully, due to Trixie’s help i was able to knock it out where it stood.”

Twilight looks up skeptically. “Your telling me ‘Trixie’ was able to dispatch this... Robot? Starlight even i know better then to believe that.”

Trixie pouts, flapping her cloak as she drops the Machine’s 2 weapons from her own, albeit smaller sack on to the table. “Excuse me, Princess Twilight. I, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE. Was the one who blinded this Robot. You don’t hear about that every day do you?”

Twilight looks towards Starlight for her confirmation. Starlight sighs before nodding. “Yea... Trixie helped. If it weren’t for her We wouldn’t be here.”

Twilight sighs and reluctantly faces Trixie. “Good job. But don’t expect me to congratulate you with open arms, alright?”

Trixie gets on the table and stands triumphantly before her stomach starts growling, “.... Trixie believes her great and heroic actions have have created a deep hunger within her. Trixie will indulges herself at home with cake.” Trixie promptly leaves the castle to feast in celebration of her victory.

Twilight face hooves herself. Having had enough with Trixie for the day. Twilight turns to Spike who decided to read his comics in the corner after everyone instantly forgot about him. “Spike? Can you get a wheelbarrow?”

Spike looks up and rolls his eyes before getting up and leaving to go and get a wheelbarrow. Starlight decides to ask. “Twilight? What exactly are you thinking we should do? It’s knocked out but it will stay that way for only so long. Shouldn’t we tell Princess Celestia?”

Twilight looks back at the Machine, keenly looking at it’s visible innards. “We could, but she is quite busy. We can handle this for now. Plus, I asked Spike for a wheelbarrow so we can bring it to my secret lab!”

Starlight raises an eyebrow curiously. “You have... A secret lab?” Starlight asked incredulously.

Twilight simply smiles back as Spike arrives with a wheelbarrow. “Of course! What scientist doesn’t have a elaborately hidden secret lab out of sight?”

Twilight begins to load the Machine’s crippled body and it’s two weapons into the wheelbarrow. Starlight meanwhile thinks of a reply to twilight. “I haven’t seen nor heard a single secret lab in real life...”

Twilight chuckles as she begins to push the wheelbarrow with magic through the hallway. “Oh, starlight! That’s because they are well hidden secrets. Unlike those supposedly secret Japanese ninjas.”

Starlight thinks on Twilight’s words. “That oddly... Makes sense....” Starlight halts as she turns the corner and sees the hallway ends at a wall. “Umm this is just a dead end...”

Twilight just keeps on going. “Just keep following.” Twilight proceeds to go straight through the wall, much to Starlight’s confusion. Starlight shakes her head and reluctantly follows in with closed eyes.

Starlight opens her eyes seeing the large sprawling lab beyond the projected wall. “Wow.... You hid this inside the castle for this long?”

Twilight smiles smugly as she dumps the Machine onto a metal table and the two weapons are placed on the side for later inspection. “What can i say? I’m good at my craft. But enough about that! We have a robot to dissect!” Twilight begins excitedly grabbing various tools and laying them on the table.

Starlight goes up behind Twilight. “Huh? Aren’t those tools from the Human World?”

Twilight shrugs. “I just.... ‘Borrowed’ a few things from the Human World...”

Starlight glares at twilight. “You stole those tools? Twilight... I thought you were a element of harmony!”

Twilight just brushes it off. “No, i left some bits for them with adjustment for the value of gold in the human world. They’ll be fine... "

Starlight intensifies her glare "You are still manipulating prices..." Starlight sighs before approaching the table. “Okay... Pulling away from that tangent, how exactly are we dissecting this thing?”

Twilight peers through the melted gold plates. “Hmm... It’s very complicated. I can’t tell anything apart from this angle.” Twilight takes out some tongs, prying off the softened gold and melting any more gold present. But finds it difficult to melt the Machine’s original blue Plating

Starlight seems confused as she observes Twilight melting the plating. “Hmm? Why is it’s armour so un-uniform? The gold plates were so rough and weak but the blue plates are so much more durable...”

Twilight makes a guess as she finally cuts a big enough hole in the Machine’s chest. “If i have to guess... Maybe it’s not as it was originally? I sense residual enchantments on the gold plates. But the rest of it’s body lack it. So it must be royal guard armour bent into itself? How odd, where’d it get enchanted royal gold?.” She pries the last of the gold off the machine.

Twilight looks inside, seeing it’s insides. The Machine has a large blue core at its center, It's yellow light slowly pulsing as if it were a heart. Transparent tubes run through the core, blood circulating within. Behind the core rests various wires hydraulics all lining the inner ‘Skeleton’ of the machine. “How interesting, it doesn’t run off oil or any other kind of fuel but blood? Wonder why the creator would ever make this kind of decision. Wouldn't it be horribly inefficient to run off of blood?”

Starlight just stares at Twilight with frightened eyes at the realisation. “Why aren’t you scared?? This thing is like a... BLOOD DRINKING MACHINE! And your just talking about it like reviewing a book! This thing was probably chasing me and Trixie for our blood!”

Twilight just rolls her eyes. “It’s not gonna spring up and kill me, is it?” she pokes at the insides of the Machine with a Stick. Watching the wires flex and writh like pseudo muscles. “It’s not completely non-functional so that means you only knocked it offline. Which can only mean either it’s out of energy or has sustained too much damage. Considering the damage i can see, it’s probably the latter.”

Starlight just sighs as she asks. “Okay... How do you even know all of this? This is far too complex for me to even grasp.”

Twilight turns to face her, finally taking her head out of the machine’s innards. “Oh? Sunset gave me a few books on the subject of engineering. I’ve read through almost all the volumes she sent so far!”

Starlight shakes her head. “You truly do have an insatiable hunger for knowledge, not even all the books in equestria can sate you.” Starlight yawns as the toll of her little adventure with Trixie catches up to her. “I’m beat, i’ll go sleep earlier than usual. Have fun.... Taking that thing’s insides out.... Just remember to sleep, kay?”

Twilight nods and turns back to the machine, poking it and taking things out and inspecting them. Starlight teleports away to her room as twilight hooks up V1 to a few of her machines to see any readings that may come out. Trying random wires getting nothing more then pulse waves on a piece of paper until a combination of wires gives out legible text. One that she takes great interest in.

It’s a list filled with items, neatly categorized into limbs, of what was damaged and ways to fix them, much to twilight’s glee. “Ooh! The person who made this robot kept categorization as a core value, Just like me!” Twilight excitedly takes out her tools without a second thought, including a few welding tools and extra parts she has laying around. “Let’s do this!” she puts on her welding mask as she goes to work.

As the sun rises high into the sky, it’s rays hitting Starlight’s eyes. Waking her up for a new day. She stretches quickly getting out of bed, doing her morning routine before remembering about Twilight. “Wonder if she’s doing fine...” she walks down the same hallway, passing through the projected wall and into the lab. Only to see Twilight drinking a cup of coffee as she seemingly finishes wiping down the Machine layed down on the table. Starlight gives a glance to the machine, widening as she realises the damage she had done had been undone. The charred and dirty plating is long gone, replaced with shiny Bluish crystalline plates. Giving off a iridicent shimmer. The two faulty wings have also been renewed to look similar to it's undamaged brethren but now give off a blue light in comparison. Starlight is left speechless. “Twilight.... You... You did not just repair the same robot... That was trying to kill me and Trixie yesterday... Right?”

Starlight’s eyes twitch as Twilight feigns ignorance by looking to the side. “Maybe...” She sips on her coffee.

Starlight groans before scolding twilight. “You just fixed up a murderous machine without thinking! And without those weak gold plates, how are we going to beat it when it turns on again?!”

Twilight puffs up her cheek. “Don’t shout at me! I learnt a lot from repairing it! And don’t you dare suggest i don’t think before acting!”

The both of them go back and forth, going nowhere as they argue about each others beliefs. As they fight, the camera lights up, it’s blue lenses giving off light as it boots up again.

Boot Up Sequence Ready

Firmware

Latest Version: [Data Missing]

Restarting Recalibration

Hydraulics: 100% Functionality
Blood Absorptive Plates: 100% Functionality
Plated Bionic Wings: 100% Functionality
Arsenal Storage System: 100% Functionality[Empty]
Energy Distribution Core: 100% Functionality [74% Blood Left.]
Battle AI: 100% Functional[On Standby Until Main Drive Is Recovered]
Main Memory Drive: Corrupted [Recovery Time: ERROR]
Emergency Memory Drive: 100% Functional [Active]

Loading Status Update...

Machine ID: V1
Location: Unknown
Current Objective: [ERROR. No Objective Found.]
Emergency Objective: [Research, Learn And Improvise Until Main Drive Is Recovered]

Booting Up...

As V1’s boot up sequence finishes several joints start clicking together. The two ponies too distracted to notice the machine re-awakening. Pressurised air inside the hydraulics hisses as the machine stands up, the two still arguing ponies are taken off guard as the V1 towers over them, it's wings flaring as it's light intensifies. It's camera lenses focusing on the two as they look up at it...

Author's Note

Edit before release: i had this story ready to go a whole four months ago, but i wanted to prepare the green text so i can edit this if i needed to for the continuity, but with all the real life things catching up, (School projects, House renovations and The exam breathing down my neck...) it's quite hard to keep up.
so i'm releasing this now so those who actually like my bad story can enjoy it. As a little gift i drew up the two unique weapons in this fanfic. gave them real names and stats of how i'd imagine they'd work if they were ever in ultrakill.

as for the "Scarlet Serrated Blade" it is no longer serrated, since i didn't really like any of the designs i made for the serrated versions i went for a straight cut. as per it's new name and it's form it's made to impale not hack and slash. though it can do that if need be

As you can see, the "Yellow Forearm" has been improved on. and for clarity's sake, it goes directly ON V1's forearm, not the wrist.

Took a new approach to writing dialogue. hopefully it's much better than condensed paragraphs. took a few days to write up, and a hour to proof read. that being said, getting the text in the first calibration sequence to be coloured and all corrupted looking took forever and looks like an absolute mess to read when editing, i still love how it turned out though.

{Pictures got messed up, don't know how but if you wanna see em open it and go to the source. plugging in pictures in fimfiction is so annoying and i'm not spending two hours troubleshooting that}

Frosted Blood [CH-6]

Twilight yelps backward as Starlight summons a shield on the two of them. Starlight stares down the machine, glaring into it’s vibrant Yellow lens. Twilight soon regains her composure standing up and charging her magic in turn with a powerful spell, thinking of how she could've let this happen all the while. “The ROM needs to boot off was completely unresponsive to any voltage I had supplied to it!! How is it even up?! Perhaps I missed a-”

Starlight stops twilight in her tracks. “Twi! We know nothing about this thing! There’s nothing like this in the human world from what I know and you expect it to work in the same way??”

As the two continue to argue the machine quietly taps the shield gently in curiosity. Feeling magic arc into it’s finger. It records the unique energy readings it is giving off, unlike anything in its pre-existing albeit small library. It notes this fact down in it’s new database as an Unknown Cyan colored Energy alongside its use case of protecting animals.

It lays its attention on said animals, which seem to be bickering in human-like speech, Although there a certain words that seem to not be English at all. V1 runs a algorithm to fully pinpoint the sentence structure and the words spoken. Still tapping away at the magic shield expecting it to change.

Twilight turns to look at the machine at the midst of their argument. Confused at its lack of hostility. “Hold on for a minute. Why is it just poking the shield?”

Starlight turns to look at the machine to see it simply poking at her magic shield. “Why is it doing that...?”

Twilight turns smug using the opportunity to win the argument beforehand. “Maybe it’s grateful I repaired it, unlike a certain other unicorn...”

Starlight glares back at twilight before reluctantly putting her shield down. “Touché...”

As Starlight’s barrier goes down, so does the only one that stopped the machine’s finger. Which now go through the surface-less air and onto Starlight’s muzzle.

Twilight snickers as Starlight looks down at the metal finger with mild surprise, then hate. Starlight’s eyes twitch as anger fill her eyes, looking up at the machine. “YOU RUSTED BUCKET OF-”

White. Pale white was the best description for the snow swept lands of the Northern lands. A lone Pegasus bound carriage slows down by a long railway that stands out amongst the whitened sand. The two Alicorns in the carriage instruct the guards to stay behind as they trek the rest of the way. Celestia steps out in the cold wasteland, snow crunching under her foot as she does so. They are a few kilometers from the crystal empire but with the winter fog up ahead, they can see no more than a few meters. Celestia is soon joined by Luna who brought along a Yellow and striped scarf, fashioning plain black scarf around her neck herself. “Take it sister, It wouldn’t do to have you freeze on our flight there.”

Celestia smiles and accepts it. “Thank you, sister. We should set off now. No time to waste.” They set off in flight together, following the railroad to the Empire.

Luna speaks up while they fly. “Sister... Why not have our guards accompany us to the empire instead of leaving them behind? Wouldn’t it be dangerous?”

Celestia turns her head to look at her sister and shakes it. “No. We lost many good Royal Guards in Manehatten. I won’t risk anymore when the two of us will do just fine”

Luna raises an eyebrow at this. “Then what do you think happened to the Empire? None of our letters were given a response. And the recent train we sent came bearing that beast.”

Celestia contemplated this “But what? The few remaining changelings after their reformation? No, they are simply too weak.”

Luna adds “What of Grogar? Perhaps he sent that abomination molded with dark magic to us.”

Celestia shakes her head “No he was sealed away. We both made sure he could never come back, not without tearing the skies at least. But... There’s one other possibility”.

Luna’s interest is piqued by this. “Pray tell, what is your theory?”

Celestia recollects from her ancient memory. “The crystal mirror. There was more than one. A few failed attempts. All of them were sent to the crystal empire when Cadence started her rule. It could be possible that one of those “Defective
Ones” had let in something. Be it that creature or it’s creator.”

Luna was surprised at this but any question she had would remain unanswered as they finally arrive at the empire. The two land before it’s borders. The air around is quiet, Snow from the blizzard having leaked in. They could both feel the weak crystal heart’s magic from deeper within. Luna is the first to break the quiet. “This is... Worrying. I cannot hear a single pony from this bustling kingdom.”

Celestia hardens her will. “Come... We must investigate why it is this way.”

The pair disappear into the winter fog as the crunching of snow fades away.

Starlight sits in the corner, fuming in anger as twilight pats her back. “There, there. The robot didn’t mean to humiliate you or anything.”

Starlight glares back up at Twilight. “It booped me as if I was a dog! I’m never gonna recover from this...”

Meanwhile, the machine is confused on whether it’s action had done any damage. It’s analysis shows psychological damage but no physical damage. Considering it effective, V1 reserves it for non-lethal engagement.

By the time the machine is done writing an essay on the pros, cons and strategies on how to use booping in the future, Starlight and Twilight approach the machine again. Twilight whispers to Starlight and gives her a thumbs up. Starlight gets close to the machine and reluctantly speaks “Okay.. Look. I’m sorry for calling you all those nasty things back there but... NEVER boop me again either! ... Can we just put this behind us?” She raises a hoof to shake. The machine grasps her hoof and just sits there. Starlight tries shake its hand but it’s rock solid. “Uh...”

Starlight tries pull her hoof but the machine is too curious figuring out how her hoof was able to tug on its metal despite appendages. “Twi?? A lil help over here!”

Twilight joins in to help pull Starlight’s hoof with her. It still doesn’t budge. Twilight tries another method by trying to teach the machine how to shake a hoof after she was able to catch its attention. Using magic constructs as an example. “Look! First..” Twilight makes a mechanical hand grab a hoof. “You take starlight's... Hoof and your paw” She makes them shake each other before letting go. “Then you just shake it and let it go... Like that!”

The machine looks at it for a moment. Photographing the states between and proceeding to apply the tech. Starlight almost yelps as her hoof is nearly taken off by the machine’s violent shaking before it lets her go, “Ow... That hurt-” She grasps her hoof in pain "-A lot... Maybe go lighter?"

The machine then goes to grasp Twilight’s hoof. Twilight’s eyes open wide as she shakes her head. “WAIT! NO-NO-NO! STOP! PLEASE! I NEED MY HOOF!” The machine very softly shakes her hoof and lets it go. Twilight looks at her hoof before wiping the sweat off her brow. “Oh.... Thank Celestia that my hoof wasn’t shattered...”

Starlight mutters under her breath. “Lucky...”

Twilight turns to her with confusion in her eyes. “What did you say?”

Starlight shakes her head before testing her hoof and then replying. “Nothing important.”

Twilight was going to comment but was interrupted by Trixie falling flat on her face on the Lab’s floor. She lets out a yelp. “Trixie?? How did you find my super duper, triple warded, anti-occlusion based, vision deflecting Lab?!”

Starlight turns to Twilight slowly as Trixie gets her bearings. “The WHAT now?”

Trixie cuts off Twilight before she could go on an hour long rant on her top of the line Lab. “Pft! The great and powerful Trixie cannot be fooled by simple Illusions! She used her great and powerful magic to bypass your pathetic illusions!” However, in Trixie’s mind is a much different story. I can’t believe I found Twilight’s Lab by tripping in! Fate must have guided her path to greatness! And she will use this moment to put the spotlight on her!

Meanwhile, Twilight is a lost for words and Starlight smiles inward knowingly. Heh... She can have this one...

After Trixie’s high finally fades away she notices the Mechanical monster that chased her down Manehattan staring at her. She remains silent for a little while before jumping behind Starlight with quivering hooves. “WHY IS THAT THING BACK?! I THOUGHT WE KILLED IT!”

Starlight rolls her eyes at how scared Trixie is while Twilight gets in a good chuckle at Trixie’s expense. “Come' on Trixie, Get up. I don’t like it either but it’s no longer trying to kill us.”

Trixie is still shaking, but she stands up and gets a bit closer to the machine, trying to put up a brave face. “The great and”- She gulps.-”powerful Trixie i-isn’t afraid of you! S-so... You should apologize for almost hurting me and my assistant.” She pauses before adding, “Not that you could’ve hurt me anyway!”

The machine stands there for a bit before giving it it’s hand like it had done previously for the other two. Trixie looks down at it for a bit before looking surprised. “Oh.” She shakes its hand with a bit of reluctance. “That wasn’t so bad. Your very polite for an aggressive hunk of metal. But Trixie does have a question...” Trixie leaned in with squinted eyes before exploding into excitement. “You HAVE to show Trixie how you did that big fog of smoke!”

V1 blinks its metallic lenses in mild confusion. It had been able to correlate that the language of these equine like animals to that of Common English. There were some differences but none it couldn’t adapt to, and no matter how much it looks into the English word for smoke it couldn’t possibly interpret this equine’s prompt without the following two assumptions. Either this event had been stored in the corrupt drive or this equine is on the edge of insanity. It decided on the former.
All of its thoughts were calculated and formed in a mere microsecond, nothing a processor meant to handle real-time combat data in massive scale couldn’t do. V1 simply tilts it head slightly. As a way to ask what she meant.

Trixie raises an eyebrow on it as Twilight decides to resolve her confusion. “Oh yeah. You and Starlight hit it so hard, I think the Hard Drive got all corrupted.”

Trixie only seems more confused. Starlight sighs. “What Twilight meant is... You hit it hard, it lost its memories.”

Trixie nods in understanding. “The great and powerful Trixie understands now, thanks to her helpful friend, Starlight! BUT... She still believes she can make it do all those amazing acrobats! Maybe it could even join us! Just imagine...” she clears up her voice as she speaks in a dramatic tone. “The Triple Mages! The great and powerful Trixie, Her slightly less great and powerful assistant, and our sidekick The Mechanical Ballet Dancer!”

Twilight grabs her mouth with a hoof as she wheezes from Trixie’s suggestion when she imagines the tall and lanky robot in a pink tutu dress, while Starlight looks utterly dumbfounded. “I... I’m not even gonna ask anymore...”

And with that Trixie started trying to teach it ballet. Despite being a very precise machine, getting its feet articulated right and trying to follow Trixie’s horrible instructions was a challenge to say the least. At least while some of its processing goes to that. It can background process what it has learned so far.

///ULTRA.OS, Database In Edit Mode///

Equines

Equines, are as intelligent as Humans. They have a similar size to a large dog, but they are shaped more akin to a horse, though the horn they have makes them resemble the old myth of unicorns. They also seem to have an unknown energy flowing through their bodies and more prominently amongst their horn. The Equines speak a similar language to humans with minor differences that refer to Slavic, Latin or archaic dialects. Until more subjects can be found this is what it will conclude on their species.

V1 stands on one leg as Trixie instructed.

Subject 1

Type: Equine, Unicorn and Pegasus Hybrid.

Subject one is a lavender female equine with dark blue mane with streaks of magenta and purple. Oddly their unique energy essence is detected across several systems of its own frame, which suggests those systems have been tempered with, this explains why it recovered despite its last fatal boot attempt. Other than that. The subject is referred to as Twi or Twilight. Behavioral patterns show, smugness and curiosity. Note, unlike the other two Subjects, Subject 1 has wings alongside her horn. Merging the myth of Unicorn and Pegasus. This suggests various types of pony beyond unicorns may exist. Further research must be done to confirm this suspicion.

Note, Subject 1's magic is abnormally strong compared to the other two subjects.

V1 spins after seeing Trixie mimic the form of a circle with her hoof but V1 almost slips. It catches itself from falling as It adjusts its foot to counteract the motion accordingly.

Subject 2

Type: Equine, Unicorn.

Subject two is similar to Subject one albeit differences are there. Subject Two is also a female equine and shares the lavender coat but has a dark purple mane with cyan streaks, it is also far more styled. Minor energy traces are visible on the chassis. But they are negligible. The subject was referred to as Starlight and their behavior shows mild paranoia, sassiness and becomes exhausted when faced with stupidity.

Note, Very good grasp on swears and their uses in tandem with each other

V1 spins around as instructed originally with one foot before resting its second on the ground.

Subject 3

Type: Equine, Unicorn

Subject Three is much more unique than from the two. Subject three is a female equine who has a blue coat with lighter almost gray blue hair with streaks of white though it seems to not be a sign of aging. Subject Three is also the only one to wear clothes which reassemble a purple cape and hat with colored stars spotted across it. The subject refers to herself as Trixie multiple times. Her behavior shows arrogance, pride and excitement.

It is of note that she speaks exclusively in third per-

///Blunt force Imminent. Quitting Editing Mode. Auto Saving///

Before the machine could finish it’s last thought it was tackled by Trixie at Mach Ten.

V1 Grumbles inwardly as much as its software allows it to. Trixie however seems much more excited at the prospect of having taught it to dance in mere seconds. Even though it was the machine who interpreted her impossible instructions. “Yes! The great and powerful Trixie, is also a great and wonderful Teacher!”

V1 decides it should use it now and proceeds to calmly boop Trixie on the nose. She goes cross-eyed by looking at its finger “What is this? Trixie can do it better!” And much to the machine’s surprise it is then counter booped by Trixie in retaliation, in much to its horror.

Snow crunches beneath four sets of hooves as they walk across the ghastly city of the crystal empire. The blizzard howls through the alleys as the two sisters look for any sign of life. As they walk something hard yet brittle and cold crunches under Luna's boots. Luna raises an eyebrow as Celestia turns to her sister in equal confusion. Luna was the first to speak. “What is that?” Luna swipes her hoof across the floor to uncover the snow. Her eyes widen bigger than saucers as she lays her eyes on what’s poking through the snow. A small fillies head, their eye pulled out of their head like a loose yoyo through their caved in skull, the frozen blood that she had stepped on having now let out more blood that seemed to ooze like they were made of molasses.

Luna stumbled backward in a daze of fear. She had seen many things, the most terrifying things the world of dreams had to offer, the war of between ponies and griffons and the fact she had simply been more in tune to the dark arts then most ponies in Equestria. But this? This was a real pony. A completely innocent filly, now a gruesome corpse on the floor. Not something that was fake or an illusion.

Celestia glanced at the sight below her though she was able to hold back the fear she felt on looking at it. with an imperceptible gulp, she spun her magic around her horn like silk as she let loose a spell to melt the snow blanketing the crystal empire. And the sight was horrifying. Countless bodies streaked the floor and walls, like crimson strokes of a maddened artist, specks of white and pink flesh and bone splayed across each stain. “This thing... One shudders to imagine the inhuman thoughts that lie behind their creator... What dreams of chronic and sustained cruelty?”

Luna couldn't look at the bodies, she turned her head to look away, but it was all around her. “I would not wish to explore the dreams of such a being. What shall we do of this sister? if news gets around about this... everyone will panic. And it's a question of when not if.”

Celestia sighs but nods with Luna. “Your correct, many ponies travel to the crystal empire daily. I can only keep the routes closed for so long without questions arising. Or some pony checking it out their selves. This.... horrendous vile creation, even if we locate it's whereabouts and destroy it... how could we possibly expect our ponies to live knowing such a massacre happened right before our noses without our knowledge?”

Celestia frowns. “Even if the chances of survivors are unlikely we should check. Can you handle checking the streets Luna, while I check the castle?” Luna doesn't seem to even want to walk amongst the bodies but understands the importance, Luna simply nods as the sisters part ways.

Celestia walks up to the doors of the castle and pushes it open. In Front of her laid a series of bloody footprints and drops of blood. Her eyes followed the trail of blood and up to Cadence's body laid bare in the center. Unlike the surprisingly un-rotten bodies outside, Cadence's corpse wasn't so lucky. Her eyes were sunken in and blackened, coat withering away as bugs crawled over her hide, wings skinny and torn as cockroaches infested her ear. Celestia visibly cringed at the scene. “What have they done to you... My niece...”

Celestia's eyes were sullen as she looked at cadence. If it weren't for twilight, she would've been her greatest achievement. Celestia took a shaky breath, letting her emotions flow a bit more than she let it around others, even around her own sister. Pulling her composure together. Celestia lit her magic again, this time a fiery glow surrounded her horn. “You won't die like this... I will put you back together... so we can bury you a proper grave...” The corpse was pulled into a pocket dimension into Celestia's magic just as Luna trotted next to Celestia.

Luna assumed Celestia had incinerated the body, even she could smell the stench as soon as Celestia opened the door. “I presume... that's taken care of? I know this might be the bleakest and darkest day of our long lives but I do have good news.”

Celestia's eyes lit up, though they were hidden behind a mask of intrigue, she needed something to pull her mind away from the corpse of her niece. “Pray tell, what have you found?”

Luna lets a small smile of hope appear on her face. “There was a guard still breathing in the postal office. Weak but he was holding on. perhaps we may know more information on our foe if they survive the tundra. We should hurry back at once.”

V1 stares, in utter confusion. It hadn't expected the tables to turn so quickly. Not only did it have its own strategy used against it, The crazed mare in front of him is now turning paper and other objects into a teacup with seemingly zero effort.

V1 takes a pencil. Inspecting the Lignin and Carbon Lead tip before giving it to Trixie. Trixie casts a spell to transform it into a teacup. V1 snatches the cup and vigorously tests it. Electron charge tests show a slight static energy, magic signatures of Trixie are marked all over it. but the structure is entirely different. Instead of Carbon and Lignin they are suddenly 50% Silicates and 20% Nitrogen, with trace amounts of other substances like Carbides, Aluminum and various Oxides making up the rest.

Trixie pridefully flaps her coat as V1 is utterly baffled by this illogical change of matter that violated every code regarding physics. Twilight watches on while snickering, enjoying the sight of its confusion. That's when starlight taps twilight's shoulder. “Hey, Psst. i need to talk with you real quick.” She pulls away twilight to a bit more secluded spot in the lab. “Okay, I know you and now Trixie wanna keep that monstrosity. But how are we exactly gonna feed it the lifeblood of ponies regularly?!”

Twilight raises and eyebrow. “Oh you think I haven't thought of this ahead of time?”

Starlight is a little taken aback. “You.. Did?”

Twilight smiles valiantly. “Yup! Since our school actually brings in a lot of blood for a bunch of species for their care just in case of an accident. I can take out some of the almost expired ones to give to our machine buddy over there.”

Starlight honestly didn't expect twilight to think this through. “Hmm, good idea. But if it were that easy you would have just done it by now...”

Twilight sighs as a tired look comes over her. “Ugh... The E.E.A. association and I, are gonna have to do some finessing with paperwork to get that blood out without suspicion. While I do that, maybe you could show the bot around our friends, I'm sure they would like to make new friends.”

Starlight immediately tries to protest as twilight shoves babysitting the machine to her. “Hey you can't just make me... “ Starlight's words trail off as twilight teleports off. “Ugh...” Starlight turns towards the two that's still doing their own thing. “How am i gonna do this..?”

Author's Note

There... this chonker is finally done. Some of you might not like this style of doing back and forths between two intertwining stories, I just didn't want to keep one chapter all gloomy and the other filled with funny moments. so I like flipping between them for a mixed experience. but it might also be ruining the mood i'm building. i honestly don't know.

Alongside this, i've been experimenting with Internal thoughts. they vary in how they're implemented from story to story but i've used italic to show this. I see these mostly in first person stories. but i wanted to test it out here and see how it fits here.

That being said, as i went back to the crystal empire i realised what a mistake it was to kill off practically everyone, well i hope you didn't like sunburst because i didn't even think of him once while writing that genocide. like seriously. my OG plan was to get the ponies V1 has surrounded himself with to empathise with it... and... i really find that difficult with how it is going. i will have to do something corny or clever. i have a few ideas but we'll see which one works.

Stained Steel [CH-7]

Steel ran across the blood stained floor, running from all the Things chasing him. a mass of meaty flesh hitting the floor as it drew closer to him, howling his name in familiar tone, yet so distorted and demonic it couldn't be described with words. he dare not look back and greet it. He burst through a door, quickly slamming it shut and holding his back against it. bracing himself for slam of the Monstrosity chasing him. yet nothing happened. he looked behind himself and there's only a flat wall where the door was. A soft, warm voice greeted his name, though confusion laced through it. "Steel?"

He turned his head slowly... seeing his Friend. Her body was matted in fresh Scarlet-Red blood, the pink hue of her fur hidden beneath, her wings scarce of feathers and flesh, almost zombie like in appearance. and her face... her head was gone, only her lower jaw held in place by straining muscles, the tongue with which she spoke teasing remarks now dangling out her jaw like a cruel ornament decorating her new appearance.

Steel wakes up in a cold sweat, scanning his surroundings. plain white paints the walls and ceiling, he could hear the sterile beeping of the heart monitor beside him. the slick translucent rubber connected to his fore hoof, giving the life for him to open his eyes. He turned his head to look beside him, finding princess of the night staring back at him. Luna gives a bittersweet smile. "Art thee feeling well? thou condition when we had found you were... deplorable to say the least."

Steel runs his hoof around his chest, feeling the bandages keeping him in one place. though it didn't make his injuries hurt any less nor make his heart lighter. "I'm... I will be fine."

Luna tenses her eyes. "And… the nightmare. Ne'er before have mine eyes beheld such unbridled carnage within the realm of dreams. A vision steeped in gore most profane, a horror beyond reckoning… and I—" she falters, jaw tightening. "I was powerless to quell it, to weave the dream anew as I am wont to do. Thus, I did rouse thee with mine magic, though I fear such meager efforts shall avail us naught in preventing its return."

Steel gives an appreciative nod. "Thank you, regardless."

Luna shakes her head at this. "Nay, the failing is mine own," she murmurs, a shadow crossing her visage. "Should such wretched visions plague thee once more, thou must summon me without delay. Swear it, for this I cannot abide."

Steel softens at this. "Alright, princess. i will." He looks out the window. and at the bustling town of canterlot, before asking. "Princess? how many survived?" He knew the answer in his mind but he had to know... maybe he missed some?

Luna pressed her lips to a thin line and closes her eyes as her breath hitched. breaking the truth to Steel. "Only thee… Shining Armor and Flurry Heart remain. They had ventured here to confer with the nobles and to pay visit unto Princess Twilight. Yesterday, they sought to return home, yet…" She hesitates but a moment, then steels herself. "There is no home to which they may return." A silence, heavy as stone, lingers before she continues. "We have spoken naught of this unto them. as I and my sister planned to tell the truth once Thou could tell us what truly transpired"

Steel could feel his heart drop into his stomach. The thought of his home, all but destroyed. It shakes his very bones. He looks up. "Has... that monster been destroyed? The Elements Of Harmony must've destroyed it by now... right?" he was all but sure it was killed off by the Elements but he wanted some self-validification

Luna's expression darkens at this. "I know not where it hath gone. Its last trace was at the subway station in Manehattan, where it emerged from a train hailing from the Crystal Empire. The slaughter it left in its wake was grievous—innocents and guards alike fell before its wrath. And then, as if the very shadows had claimed it, the beast vanished from Equestria’s sight. None can say whither it hath fled, nor what doom it yet carries with it."

Steel felt his mouth fall open. Terror washed over him anew, but something else stirred beneath it—something stronger than fear. Vengeance, for those who fell to that monster. For his people, For the Princess, For his Friend. Steel mutters to the princess of the night. "Once i'm out of these bandages. I will find that THING. And KILL it. I saw it's handiwork first and second hand. The flayed flesh, the sizzling blood, the scorched feathers...." his words filled with a newborn Hate, one forged with despair and strife despite his injuries. "Please, let me honour those who fell in my cowardice."

Luna is awestruck only seeing such fervour among her own well trained bat ponies. but she nods with a few parting words. "We will ensure thou art attached with the search party once thee recovers. But please, do not blame thyself for the lives lost for it's not thy hands which are stained in blood."

Steel nods at this advice. Luna turns to depart. "We must alert our sister on thy awakening so we shall discuss these grave matters together with Shining Armour. Rest and reflect on thy thoughts, but do not let it consume you. Am i clear?"

Steel smiles back despite the pain in his eyes. "Thank you princess. I will... Make sure to remember your advice."

Luna leaves the room leaving Steel by himself. Steel look out the window as his thoughts roam about on recent events. He looks out at the mountainous terrain outside in canterlot, the princesses truly had a beautiful view of the of the other side of the mountain. In the distance... he swore his eyes had landed on a oddly rectangular silhouette. He looked out in the terrain again but there was nothing. Perhaps his trauma is getting to him; He should catch a little rest.

Luna walks by the hall to her sister's room. Her eyes catching the taunting stained glass decorating the wall. why doth sister insist on keeping that window of her defeat? Perhaps as a reminder to never repeat the past.... or a way to rub the salt in the wound. she shakes her head, We shouldn't think that way... Never would we willingly become that monster again. Ever.

She finally reaches the door to celestia's quarter. Pushing it open she finds her sister busier than usual. Her hoof shuffling papers as her magic writes letters or signs contracts. It's almost crazy how she could work day in, night out non-stop like that. Luna catches her sister's attention with a light cough. "Sister. The crystal pony is awake. he is well and sane as one can be after seeing such death. "

Celestia smiles putting her quill down. "Atleast there's some good news. having to cover up the atrocity in Manehatten as a train accident caused by leaking propane barrels was terrible enough. An big headline is certainly better than saying there's Bloodthirsty Villain on the loose."

Luna smiles, glad to relieve some burden. "No worries sister. but we should get going. every moment we spent bickering is another the metal beast can spend planning it's next genocide."

Celestia nods and gets up, sheafing her paper back into neat stacks. "Yes, let us go, sister. First we must get shining armour."

Shining armour sits by his daughter. A headache brewing—not just because Flurry heart is flying all over the place at random. The fact Princess Celestia had asked him to stay one day past what they were going to stay for is getting to him. Being already separated from his love for 3 days is enough but having to take care of his alicorn of a daughter is another.

Celestia and Luna both enter the room. Celestia is almost hit in the face by the Ballistic Missile that is Flurry Heart. She thankfully catches the filly and sets her down. "Careful little pony. You would've hurt some pony if i wasn't an alicorn!" Flurry heart nods at this, smiles and plops down on the bed with her favourite plushie. Celestia turns to look at shining. "Come we have many things to discuss."

Shining Armour glances at his kid. "What about her?"

Celestia gestures him outside. "Do not worry. I prepared a handful of maids to take care of Flurry in the meantime."

Shining armour nods in response.

As the trio leave and the maids enter Shining Armour asks. "So what is it you asked me out for?"

Luna shakes her head. "Tis too many ears here. Follow we must talk somewhere quieter."

Luna guides the group to Steel's room, a short walk away from the usual guest rooms. She lets Celestia and Shining Armour enter before casting a spell to lock the door and make sure no sound leaves the room.

Shining Armour recognizes Steel instantly. "Soldier? What are you doing all the way in Canterlot? You haven't abandoned your post have you?"

Steel opens his mouth to speak but Celestia speaks first. "This is not something i can easily express but I will put it as bluntly as i can." Celestia gathered up some composure before dropping the bombshell. "The Crystal Empire is no more."

She let the weight of her words linger in the air. Shining Armour who had no prior knowledge of this, stumbled on his words. "W-what do you mean?"

Celestia closes her eyes as she continues. "two days ago a cargo shipment came by harbouring a creature which devastated the equestrian forces placed there. and after reinforcements had arrived. the creature was gone."

Shining Armour is irritated "That is terrible, but that isn't at all related to what you just said earlier!"

Celestia puts her hoof on the ground firmly. "Let me continue. The train came from The Crystal Empire" Shining Armour felt his words catch in his throat as realisation dawned on him as Celestia elaborated. "With no response from the empire, I and my sister had visited it personally... We found the kingdom in utter silence and covered in windswept snow."

Shining armour turns disbelievingly to his injured stallion. "Soldier, Surely this is some kind of sick joke right? do not tell me this the truth..."

Steel looks to the side avoiding his stare. "I've seen it, what it did to my comrades... it was mere luck that I was just knocked out. After I woke up. I saw the destruction it wrought. The bodies of those i've talked to just hours prior. The corpse of the princess on the ground floor and... the massacre outside. I was able limp to the mail station and send a message through the old telegram system before i fainted again..."

Celestia's eyes turn sharp but doesn't intrude in steel's talk. making a special reminder to court martial the guard stationed at the telegram that day after she took a look at the guard schedule for the last few days...

Shining armour is devastated. words refuse to come out of his mouth as denial fades away."S-so... It's true... My friends... C-cadance... everything we worked for is gone."

Luna Interrupts before Shining could wallow too deep in his mourning. "Shining Armour... while it is true that thee hast lost almost everything. do not forget that thee still has thy daughter. You and her were lucky to not be there and thou should be grateful for what mercy the world has given us."

Shining armour brushes his mane with his hoof in contemplation as he wiped off unseen tears. "I've decided... I won't be participating in whatever plan I you and your sister are concocting. As luna said I needs to focus on my daughter and raise her well. that's what cadence would have wanted." Tears were still straining the ends of his eyes. his figure shaking. but he knew he had to stay strong for his daughter.

Celestia is a tad surprised at his maturity, having expected it to evolve into a blind rage. but smiles happily at seeing him seeing reason. "I will prepare a permanent chamber in the castle for the both of you. considering you will be staying. I can give you your old position back and make flurry heart a princess of equestria much like how cadence was in the past."

Shining Armor shakes his head in disapproval. "It is Flurry's choice if she wishes to be a princess but, I won't take back my old role. I cannot have it interfere my time with my daughter, I need to make sure she grows up properly with me by her side." He turns to leave but before he does leaves however. "Tia, Show that Beast what Tartarus is like.."

Celestia smiles in turn. "I bid you farewell." Shining gives a sad smile and nods before leaving.

Celesia frowns slightly as the plan she had made has gone awry. "hmm.. i had planned on shining armor leading the search party but that seems to be out of the question now. To be fair, it is probably the better that he stays with his daughter."

Luna nods but then sees her opportunity and takes it. "May we suggest Steel as a possible replacement? He hast already asked for a place in the team, with his experience with the threat he may be a powerful asset once his injuries have healed over."

Celestia listens to luna's proposal with intrigue. She rubs her chin. "That is... a good idea. everypony else has no idea what to expect when they find the beast in question." Celestia looks at steel. "I will put our best healers to make sure you heal quickly, even with that it would take a few days for you to recover and for the search to begin. it's a big risk what we're taking so i want to make sure you ready for the task. And even if your not going to, a description of it is highly appreciated"

Steel takes a moment, he had been sidelining the conversation upto this point only speaking when he was asked to. even then he didn't truly expect luna to go through with his request. with a renewed determination in his eyes, he answers. "I will gladly take part."

Author's Note

This one was "Written" a while ago. but just lacked that polish it needed to be published. like putting archaic words in Luna's dialogue. i've spent almost two hours searching words just for that. but alas this chapter is done. I don't know when the next one will be out. maybe before April if i get in the mood to write

Prelude [CH-1]

The dripping of blood echoes through the chamber.Gabriel falls on one knee, trembling as his angelic essence softly leaves through his now cracked helmet. V1 closes the distance to Gabriel. Looking down at him. Gabriel lifts his head slightly, looking towards the now victorious machine. However despite being beaten, Gabriel smiles, seeing the machines's broken armour and the it's formidable arsenal Molten from his attacks on the ground. Only the revolver scratched and battered but still remaining in V1's hand.

Gabriel chuckles slightly "I never thought I'd be kneeling like this to the likes of you... Hahaha... I suppose you earned it." The fallen angel looks up at V1 with respect. "We aren't so different, you and I... We were abandoned by our creators. Left to rust and rot." Gabriel's head falls as he coughs up blood. His broken helmet leaking more and more of his essence. "But I know you aren't here for that... I know you want my blood. So strike me down machine, end me." Gabriel lets his head fully fall and closes his eyes accepting his fate.

V1 looks down at the defeated supreme angel with no emotion. Though sparks occasionally fly from V1's severed wires. The machine raises the revolver in it's hands. In a flash of blue, Gabriel lets out a mighty scream as his body shatters blood spraying on V1's armour. Gabriel's body fades away leaving his armour cracked and destroyed. The red door behind V1 lights up with yellow lights as the last layer of hell is finished off. V1 turns to face it. A small inquiry forming in the machine's inner processors. "No new layers of hell in database, current situation defying expected results. Investigate"

As V1's shattered camera focuses on the doorway. It notices the odd light blueish interior. A white terminal placed at the centre of the small room. This is unlike any of the other rooms V1 has seen. The machine approaches the Terminal. The terminal had only one sentence displayed on it. "Continue. Y/N." V1 hesitates for the first time in it's robotic life, looking through it's memory to determine what "continue" in this sense could possibly mean, contemplating it's options of staying or continuing with whatever this Terminal is offering to it. If the machine were to stay it would die from a lack of blood, but if it took this risk, it might find more blood to sustain itself. Calculating that the risk is minimal due to the terminals being a trusted source of weapons in the past.

V1 presses Y with it's mangled right arm. The Terminal whirls to life. Several mechanical protrusions coming out from the room to generate a light blue portal. V1 attempts to see through it but it's completely opaque. There's only one way forward. The machine looks back at hell one last time, back at the journey it took, the husks, demons, machines and angels it ruthlessly killed on it's way here. V1 turns his back to it all, and plunges through the portal.

Two royal guards roam the halls of the crystal empire at night. To pass the near endless time they have, one of the guards decide to go make small talk. "So... Are things going well back home?" The second guard glares at the other. "I would know if you didn't make that stupid bet with princess cadance." The first guard pouts. "Come'on Scarlet. Give me a break. I couldn't possibly known she'd do this!" Scarlet glares back unamused. "Steel, look at me." Scarlet forces Steel to look at her "What did you think would happen if you made a bet that shipped 2 people together against THE Princess of love?!" Steel bites his tongue. "Umm... That she wouldn't cheat with her alicorn powers?" Scarlet face hoofs "you're so stupid. And you decided to include me too?! unbelievable..."

Steel sighs "okay, okay, it's my fault. How about we get pizza tomorrow? On me" Scarlet let's a smile crawl up on her face. "Triple it and add soda." Steel defeatedly groans. "Ugh... Fine. But that'll definitely leave a dent on my wallet... Hope you're happy" Scarlet snickers slightly. "Darn right I am. Anyway, enough chit chat. We gotta keep patroling. Next we gotta check the storage room." Steel raises an eyebrow "that old dusty room? What do you think you'll find in there? Rats?" Scarlet rolls her eyes. "Probably, but we have to check. Now come'on bud, just a couple floors up."

V1 slips through the portal, the machine's angular foot resting on the stone floor. V1 takes a look around the dusty room finding nothing but old boxes and tools, recognizing it as some sort of small scale warehouse. V1 looks back at the portal behind it. only to be met by a reflection of itself. The machine looks at it hard. Observing the many faults in his hardware, two "wings" clipped off from it's eight, the camera lens shattered creating a spider web in the machine's view, The machine's armour shattered letting anyone see the inner workings of the machine.

While V1 was in this storeroom, it looks inside the boxes. V1 finds ancient artifacts that it ignores and throws to the wayside but after eventually coming upon a few rods of metal, finding it suitable, the machine stops it's work and picks it up. Bending the steel in it's charred arms with ease. V1 looks over the bent steel rods and fits them to it's missing two wings. The machine takes out it's revolver charging it in it's hands and using the gun as a makeshift welder. The hot plasma on the tip of the revolver working excellently. Once done V1 looks over it's new steel wings. Though it lacks the distinct yellow lights, the blue metal or the ability to hold weapons. it's enough to rebalance it's chassis and that's all the machine needs.

Scarlet taps her foot impatiently at the top of the stairs. "Steel, you slowpoke get up here!" Steel climbs up the stairs panting and sweating from his brow. "It's not my fault, you can just fly up here." Scarlet sticks her tongue out. "Oh? And where's that earth pony endurance you kept bragging about?" Steel grumbles under his breath. "Ugh, can we just get this night patrol over with? You said we had to check only this storage room right?"

Scarlet looks down the hall. "Yeah, just one more room left" taffe looks back at steel. "Come'on, after this you could get your beauty sleep." Steel gets was going to retort but looks across the hallway and gets odd chills up his back looking at the door. "That hall.... it looks kinda creepy." Scarlet jokingly smirks at Steel. "it's just a storage room from a thousand others in the damned castle. It's not like it's haunted. Don't tell me your superstitious, Steely?" Steel shakes his head and gives in. "Ugh.... Fine... Lead the way and... Don't call me steely." Scarlet chuckles "whatever suits you." Scarlet walls up to the door and unlocks it with her golden key, opening it with her hoof. She steps inside and looks around before looking back at steel. "See? Everything's fin-"

Scarlet's sentence is cut off as the sound of gun being fired echoes the hall. Brain matter and blood splatters on Steel, colouring his grey mane and coat deep red and causing him to back up. Steel looks at scarlet's once friendly face that he knew since boot camp, now a bloody mess. He could see Her tongue dangling on a few remaining fibres of muscle, brain matter slowly falling onto the floor like sloppy mud. Blood dripping from Scarlet's body as it stays upright for a few seconds before leaning forward and slumping on the ground. Steel looks down at his friend's body with fear and tears in his eyes.

Steel sees a machine step into the light. It's metal rusted and charred. The machine pays him no attention instead kneeling down to his now dead friend, grabbing a handful of blood and wiping it on itself. Steel manages to break out of his shock, his training kicking in as he unstraps his spear from his side holding it Infront of him. Trying to threaten the machine Infront of him. "Y-you! Whatever you are! Surrender!" Steel's words faked confidence that he did not have, in reality, the royal guard was quacking in his boots in fear at the metal beast Infront of him that is seemingly drinking the blood of his friend.

V1 finishes drinking the blood of it's latest prey. It's much more potent then blood it found in hell. The machine hears the other equine Infront of him, the pony pointing at him with a spear. V1 stands up after making sure to empty the body of any fresh blood. The machine looks at the pitiful spear pointed at it's chest. V1 uses it's red arm to grab the spear and send a shotgun blast towards the equine. The spear shatters in the blast and the pony hits the wall bleeding from all over. Falling flat against the wall.

V1 steps up closer, scanning the body for any useful resources. The machine detects the strange alloy of the armour the guard is wearing. It detects gold and steel but something else as well. V1 considers this alloy's tensile strength similar enough to it's own to replace it's lost armour. V1 rips pieces of the armour from the pony. Straightening it out like a blanket and shaping into the shape of it's damaged armour plates. The machine unbolts some of it's armour, replacing it with gold alloy. V1 looks over the remaining bits of unused armour on the equine. Finding a small blue crystal shaped into a star on the guard's chest. The machine tears it off and observes it. Finding it's transparency and focal point a good replacement for it's shattered lens.

V1 grabs the tip of the guard's broken spear using it to shape the crystal into a small transparent blue lens. The machine pulls out it's old lens replacing it with blue lenses. The yellow light of the camera now a light bluish. V1 observes the world with it's new lenses finding it adequate. V1 stands up having fully repaired it's broken body. The machine walks down the hall with it's gun, to find more potent blood for itself in this new world.

Author's Note

Since ultrakill isn't a finished game, I just put in my best guess. I might change this first chapter when the final game is released and the ending is shown. But otherwise this will stay. And yes I did destroy most of V1's arsenal on purpose. Atleast at the beginning to give the ponies a chance to react and develop a solution, Because if I kept them I doubt a whole army could stop V1. Also instead being solely able to repair off blood I decided it'd be better if V1 was more like a scavenger but able to use blood in fights to sustain itself at full efficiency even when damaged.