Cyberpony Y2K

It was just about dark by the time Fleur got to Ponyville. She thanked and paid her driver, then got out with Bitsworth to look around the small, country town.

And she realized she had no idea which house was Octavia's.

"What do we do now?" she asked Bit.

"Well, I suppose we ask for directions," he replied. "Let's see..." He pointed to an Earth pony struggling with far too many groceries.

"Let's offer to help," Fleur said, "then we ask for directions."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Fleur lead the way, reaching just as one bag fell off the pile. She dove, catching it, but with her balance upset. She shot one leg back, tucking the fallen sack close to her waist, balancing her center of gravity. She held it like that for a second, where she briefly thought to the chip in her brain. Then, she straightened, standing up.

"Here, let us help," she offered.

"Oh! Thank you so much, but I...uh...I got..." She stammered to a halt. "Actually, I don't got this. Thank you. If you can take enough so I can get the door open--"

Bit stepped over, professionally taking far more bags than should have been reasonable for one pony. Fleur took a second bag, grunting at the surprising weight, then peeked inside. They were full of canned goods.

The Earth pony quickly opened opened the back end of her car, dropping the first few bags in, then began taking them from Bit. "Thank you very much. I'd have been in quite the pickle there, heh heh." She paused, looking at Fleur. "I'm not sure I recognize you. Are you new to town?"

"You can tell just because you don't recognize me?" Fleur asked, astonished.

"Well, most couldn't," she replied. "I know most of the folks around here by name, though...so...oh! I almost forgot to tell you mine. Gloriosa. Gloriosa Daisy."

"Fleur. Fleur de Liss."

Gloriosa blinked in surprise. "My word! I can't believe I didn't recognize you. What brings you around here at this time?"

"Well, I was hoping to get into contact with a friend, but...I'm not sure I know where she lives." Fleur handed off one of her sacks to Gloriosa, gladdened to have the burden off her back. "Could you give me some directions?"

"Why, certainly! You know her name?"

"Octavia Melody."

"Oh? She's making friends! That's so great for her. She's lived on her own so long, that I was starting to get worried about her." Gloriosa paused, thinking. "She lives just down that way. If you follow the road, you'll find a turn onto loose gravel. Go left, and you'll end up at Sweet Apple Acres. Definitely take a look while you're here, the Apple Family Cider Press is a sight to behold, and the freshly made cider, alcoholic or not, is to die for. Take a right, and you'll end up at Octavia's house." She paused. "Though, she lives right at the edge of the Everfree, so you may want to wait until morning. The Timberwolves tend to creep about at this time."

Fleur wasn't sure how scary any wolf could be, but decided to take the warning to heart. "So is there a place I can stay until morning?" she asked. "A hotel or something?"

"Hmm..." Gloriosa thought that through. "Well, we do have the one. Go over by Night-night's, just over there. It's got the big sign, you can't miss it." She paused. "Here, I'll drive you."

"Um, thank you?" Fleur asked, depositing the second sack into the back end. "I appreciate it."

"Oh, don't mention it! You helped me out, so I owe ya one. Just buckle up and enjoy the ride! I got this!"

By the time dawn rolled around, Fleur had fallen asleep. Briefly, but she had managed it. Her head felt clear for the first time in days.

Clear enough to consider how crazy she was being.

But also enough to acknowledge that a couple hours sleep every week was not enough to live by.

As she stepped off the gravel and onto something she wasn't sure counted as a road, she sighed to herself. Octavia's nice, and if they didn't send hitmen yet, they probably aren't going to.

Fleur stepped over to the homely little cottage. It was tiny, but quaint. She could see herself living in something like it, if she didn't have a nice, big mansion back in Canterlot.

Or if the thing wasn't right on the border of the Everfree Forest. Literally. There was grassy meadow, and then, all of a sudden, a dense wall of trees and blackberry brambles. Fleur tried not to look at the forest, but her fearful glances revealed that hardly any sunlight made it through the trees.

Fleur took a deep breath, then stepped up and knocked upon Octavia's door, and leaned back to wait.

Normal ponies would probably respond quickly. A recluse who lived on the border of the Everfree Forest might take longer. Or worse, wait for a second knock.

Thankfully, she heard hoofsteps coming for the door quickly. The door cracked open, and a familiar mechanical face appeared. "Hello? Oh, Fleur? What are you doing here?"

"I was...hoping to speak with Octavia," Fleur said.

Vinyl stared at her. Or, Fleur thought she did, at least. "You just missed her," Vinyl replied.

"What?"

"It's...almost nine, so she's probably boarding the train now," Vinyl said. "She's taking a two-week vacation in Las Pegasus. I could probably run a message to her."

"I...I need to speak with her coworkers," Fleur said.

Vinyl stopped. Her optics fell flat, the bars stopping all movement. "I'm terribly sorry, but...I don't know what you're talking about. If you want to go to Everfree, you can find where that is without Octavia just fine."

"You're a terrible liar," Fleur said. Common knowledge said that androids couldn't lie at all, but she had her doubts at this point.

"Let's just say I haven't had much chance to practice," Vinyl muttered. "Sorry, Fleur, but...I can't help you."

She moved to close the door, but Fleur shoved her hoof in the way. It hurt a lot more than she'd expected, but she kept to the task at hand.

She heard the telltale click of a gun of some sort, but Vinyl shot a look to somepony in the house, and shook her head frantically. Turning back to Fleur, she said, "Lady, you gotta go."

Fleur removed her hoof, and the door immediately shut.

"What now, my lady?" Bit asked hesitantly.

"I don't know."

Vinyl looked after the two figures as they walked down the road a short distance. "So, that was interesting."

Sky Watch slipped her pistol back into her coat. With the dark blue trenchcoat, her wings were invisible, and sunglasses covered her eyes.

In that getup, she certainly looked suspicious, but she didn't look like a mythological demon.

"That's the one who figured out Octavia's with Discord?" she asked.

"Eeyup. You gonna call back to base?"

"No, I know who to call for this."

Vinyl looked back outside. "We're not going to kill her, are we?"

"Not unless she did something really stupid, like tell a bunch of drinking buddies-slash-lovers about Discord," Sky said simply. "We just need to bring her by the castle and have a talk with her." She pulled out her phone, dialing.

"Why can't we just bring her there?" Vinyl asked.

Sky took off her sunglasses, raising an eyebrow. "If we scare her, and she gets away, we're in deep shit. And if the Inquisitor who entered town this morning is anything to go by, Fleur's being watched. She told someone, and that someone told other someones. If Fleur wants to claim innocence, she needs to be legitimately kidnapped."

"Huh. I guess that makes sense. Do I get a mask or something?"

"No, we're not handling this. This is a job for Diamond."

Fleur spared one last look at the tiny little cottage, then sighed, heading back the way she came.

"My lady," Bit said hesitantly, "perhaps if we stay in town, they may reach out to us."

"Maybe. What do I do until then?"

"Perhaps...there was something to Miss Gloriosa's suggestions. Maybe we could take a look at Sweet Apple Acres?"

"I...think you might be on to something, Bit," Fleur acknowledged. "Hold on a minute, though. I'm going to call the house. Let Second know we're going to be gone a bit longer."

She hesitated, then pulled out her phone while walking. Wasn't exactly a bench or even a large, flat rock in sight...all she could see was grass that was probably full of bugs, and thorn brambles.

The phone went to voicemail, which presumably meant that Second was busy talking to somepony. Fleur dialed again, waiting impatiently as the seconds dragged on.

The phone went to voicemail again.

Fleur lowered the phone, trying to think. "Bit? Is there any reason the droids at the house wouldn't answer the phone twice in a row?"

"Nothing within reason comes to mind," Bit said slowly.

Fleur shook her head, slowly, then dialed again. It was an excruciating wait, for the same result. Instead of dialing the house again, Fleur dialed a friend.

Upper Crust picked up on the second ring, answering with a slow, lazy, "Yeeees?" that made her blood boil.

"Hello, Mister Crust. I do hope I'm not bothering you in the middle of something."

"Hmm, nothing that can't wait a moment, my dear," Crust said. "You're not one for idle chatter, at least...not on the phone, anyway. Whatever is the matter, girl?"

"I went on something of a trip, but when I called in to check, the droids I left to take care of my house didn't respond," Fleur said. "I know this is a bit sudden, but could you send one of your boys to check in on them?"

"Worrying. I'll send someone, don't you worry about it," Upper said. "Where'd you go, anyhow? Two trips in such short time is highly unusual for you."

Fleur considered her response carefully. "After talking to an acquaintance of Fancy's, I decided to take a visit to check out Sweet Apple Acres," she lied. "Maybe I'll do a news piece about it. Maybe I'm just bored."

"Hmm. Do bring me a thing of their Zap Apple Cider, would you? I'll send the bits along when you get back."

Fleur chuckled. "Alright, I'll indulge your little 'habbit' this time, Crust. Just make sure to send one of your boys to check out my house."

"Alright, alright. See you soon."

"Goodbye."

Upper Crust hung up almost as soon as the word was out of her mouth. She stuck out her tongue at the phone, then put it in her pocket. Upper Crust held stocks in almost every security android firm, including a close ear to Princess Trixie. His people would be fine working on it, and if something was amiss, they'd make sure Fleur heard about it quickly.

Fleur stopped abruptly, however, when a thought occurred to me. She'd assumed that Discord had simply decided not to send anyone after her, but...what if they just hadn't done it yet? What if she'd narrowly avoided the assault, but by moving in way closer to the danger?

"My lady, somepony appears to be looking at us."

Fleur snapped around, whirling to see a pony at the top of a small hill, where the gravel road started. The pony was shading her eyes with one hand, holding a massive instrument case in the other.

"Can I help you?" Fleur called out.

The pony clicked open the case, then bent down. From it she pulled...it wasn't an instrument, that was for certain. Fleur wasn't quite sure she recognized whatever it was.

At least, up until the pony rested one end on her shoulder, leveling the other at the pair of them.

Fleur shrieked, jumping to the side as a faint pop! sounded. It was not the sound she'd expected from the gun. Maybe it was some sort of prank?

Bit fell to the ground with a thud. Fleur froze, turning to him, seeing the small hole in his head. No...

The pony collided with her, sending Fleur sprawling. Fleur broke into a panic, crawling away, but something seized her by the fetlocks, dragging her back. She kicked, but didn't hit anything. She screamed, cried for help, but...

But nopony came.

A swift kick to her jaw cut off any more screaming. A hoof was then planted on her chest, knocking the wind from her lungs and leaving her gasping.

An Inquisitor. Up close, she recognized Lyra. They'd had tea once or twice at the Canterlot balls.

"Lyra...what are you doing?" she asked quietly.

"Sorry, Fleur. Dunno what you're trying to do out here, but...I do have orders." She hesitated, then looked up, peering into the nearby Everfree. "Hmm. And choices. It would be very easy to frame the Gryphons if I had your body, but...autopsy might reveal problems. The more ponies who know, the harder it'll be. But, if I never found the body..." She hesitated, looking from Fleur to the Everfree, then leveled her gun at Fleur's face. "Don't worry. I'll make it quick."

"No! Stop! What are you doing?"

"The Princesses' will, Fleur." She aimed it right at Fleur's face, then suddenly jerked her head up, and to the side as a bullet shot past her head. Lyra ducked to the side as another glowing blue shot flung past, Fleur barely able to see it as it moved.

Fleur seized the opportunity, rolling away, stumbling to her hooves, facing Lyra. Lyra trailed her gaze from Fleur to the newcomer, a pony in a dark trenchcoat and shades and a fedora, aiming a very large rifle.

"Oi!" she called out. "The hell do you think you're doing?"

"Arresting a suspect," Lyra said shortly. She pointed up to her badge, adding, "You'd do best not to interfere."

"Oh, fuck that! You were about to just up and shoot her!"

"I have the Right of Expediation. It's legal."

"What did she do to warrant this?"

"I'm not about to share that information with some random pony off the street," Lyra snorted. "If you do not lower your gun, I will kill you. Stand down, Miss."

The stranger hesitated, then lowered her gun. "Is this necessary?"

"That's for me to decide, Ma'am."

Something moved in Fleur's blindspot. Something that came barreling out of Everfree.

Fleur shrieked, leaping to the side. Lyra spun, opening fire on the thing, but it didn't stop. With an ear-shattering boom, the newcomer fired.

Lyra cursed, jumping to the side, flicking a switch on her gun. As Fleur watched, it transformed, pieces rotating around until a larger barrel was in place. Lyra fired, and a glowing green bullet richocheted off the newcomer, flying past Fleur and blowing a hole in the tree behind her.

Lyra cursed foully as another boom echoed around the valley. This time, splatters of red appeared on Lyra's coat, and she ducked to the side, horn glowing.

The newcomer leveled her translucent gun, firing one last time as Lyra flashed. A brilliant flash of green light.

And then, she was gone. Fleur blinked in shock, unable to quite comprehend what she'd just seen. One moment, Lyra had been there, the next, she was gone.

Then, Fleur looked back to where Bit lay, and rushed over to her friend.

The strange pony in the coat knelt down besides her, followed by, somehow unsurprisingly, Vinyl Scratch.

"Bit? Come on! Move, Bit! Bit!"

The stranger lifted her sunglasses, leaning in close to examine the bullet hole. Then, she reached over, peeling back Bit's outer plates to lookin inside.

"I can see the bullet," she said. "It hit the central processor."

Fleur hugged him, clutching him tightly as she sobbed.

"Vinyl... is there any hope for him?"

"What? Um...I don't know!" Vinyl threw up her hands. "I have a backup processor, but if he did, he'd be moving. A lot, because that would hurt. I don't...I don't think there's anything we can do."

Another echoing boom filled the valley, followed by the sound of Lyra screaming. Fleur jerked her head up, looking around to find the other stranger on top of the hill, aiming her gun at something beyond Fleur's line of sight. She fired, then fired a few more times, before stopping. She turned, trotting back over, shaking her head.

"I take it she got away?" the pony in the coat asked. Fleur looked into her eyes, then instinctively moved away. Her eyes were narrow, slit pupils. Some sort of condition?

The other pony appeared to be an android of some sort, but not a particularly well taken care of one. Her plates were ill-fitted, and her old duster coat was torn and ragged at the edges as it trailed the ground behind her. Her mane was a mess, ragged and unkempt.

And her face...was a solid, silver mask designed to look like a mare's face, with two streams of red coming from the eyes.

"She managed a second teleport," the Diamond Duster growled. "That's a Class One for you, I suppose. Shot twice and still manages a teleport. This time much farther away then just around the bend, so she could pull out the bigger bullets." She dusted off a fresh hole in her coat, then knelt besides Bit. "This one's gone?"

"Yes," Fleur said quietly, looking down at her friend.

Diamond reached over, hugging Fleur. Fleur choked up, about to sob, when Diamond shoved a rag over her mouth. A foul, chemical smell invaded her nostrils, and her eyes widened as she struggled.

"Shhhh, sweetheart. Sleep. We'll talk things over when you wake up."