Unity

Beep… Beep… Beep…Beep…

“Keep the shield up!” I barked the order without conscious thought. I knew it would be obeyed, as the only other option was death. I flickered out of the protective dome and promptly began to do what I do best: Teleport. No matter what those damn enemy-of-the-galaxy aliens threw at my home world, I was still the uncontested best at teleportation. I proved this now. I was not about to let my companions fall. I had done so once, a long time ago. I swore never again. You can’t hit a target that moves so fast it appears to be in about ten different places at once. And I sure as Tartarus knew that attempting to predict the moments of an incensed teleportation expert was nigh on impossible.

Beep.Beep.Beep.Beep

I could keep this up all day if I needed to. Growing up as the only unicorn among a bunch of earth ponies and pegasi had made me tough, impossibly so. I wasn’t like those other tenderhoof unicorns that lived in opulent manors in Canterlot. It became a game to me, a game I was confident I could win. Teleport, reappear. Lose a blast of raw energy, then teleport away again. Attack from a new angle, then step through the shadowy mists and attack from two directions at once. Shadowstep off to one side and attack again. I made sure to vary my attacks, keeping them strong but completely random and off balance. If I stood still, it was game over. And I was determined to win. Which is why it came as a shock when I suddenly found myself staring directly at his open palm.

BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP!

For a brief moment, time stood still. I stared at the open palm of the monster, swirling with a nimbus of magic far greater than my measly strikes. For the tiniest space of time, I knew what had happened, and I understood. I had lost the game. It was all over. Then, as if mocking me, time sped up and the last thing I saw was a flare of blinding light. I could still feel, though. I could feel my battered body flying through the air. I felt it slam into the side of what had once been a building. I would have cried out in pain, if I could have gotten my vocal cords to work. Or maybe I did and I just never heard myself. I didn’t know. I slid down the debris and lie there. All I was aware of was the agony. My entire face felt like it was being held next to a roaring bonfire, but the worst was my right eye. The pain was probably similar to having a white hot poker stabbed directly into my unprotected socket.

BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP!!!

"Get her a stronger dosage! She can’t wake up while I’m still working on her!”

“Technica, if we give her a stronger dosage it may well kill her!”

“Do it! I promised I’d save her life, and I’m going to keep it! Besides, you must be crazy if you think I’m just gonna give up one of my biggest projects!"

The rest of my body was slightly numb, but the stabbing lances of pain were no less. My spine felt as though someone had snapped it in two, which would explain why the rest of me felt numb. My right forelimb was throbbing in tune with my heartbeat, and I could feel a small pool of blood gathering upon where I lay. The smell of burnt hair was also present, suggesting that I had suffered severe burning in a few areas. How long I lay like that, I had no idea. Try as I might, I couldn’t get my eyelids open. Nor could I move any other part of me. It was like the commands were getting lost on the way to my muscles. After a time, though, I detected hoof beats, as well as somepony humming a mirthful tune. Though the effort cost me a great deal, I gave a pathetic groan—one I was not even sure would be heard over the odd humming.

But then the humming stopped. The mysterious pony crept closer, undoubtedly looking for the source of my noise. Trying with all of my might, I finally got my mouth to open, and I groaned out the only word I could manage. “He… help.” Even my voice sounded completely broken, unrecognizable.

“Oh my gosh, you’re alive!”  There was a slight pause, followed by the mare moving closer. “Hey, can you hear me?

Summoning the last of my strength, I nodded. “Do you want to live?”

Another nod. “Will you accept any treatment?”

I managed another weak nod. A distant, removed part of my mind wondered how many more times I would have to do so. I could already feeling what little strength I had fading. I hear one last thing before blackness claims me:

“I can rebuild you… I have the technology.”

BEEBEEBEEBEEBEEEEP!

“Where’s that other dosage, Doc? I need it, now!”

I opened my eyes. The strange beeping I’d been hearing was still there, frantic, out of control. But even as I opened my eyes I knew something was wrong. I couldn’t see out of my right eye. I felt the eyelid open, but there was nothing there. It was like somepony had painted black over that side of my face. I couldn’t see. My breath came faster, as did the tempo of the beeps. They were almost a single sustained note now. My heart pounded in my chest, my breathing was harsh and whistling. I struggled to climb out of the unfamiliar bed, to get out of the unfamiliar room. None of this felt comforting. Before I got very far, there was somepony’s hooves on me, pressing me back down. At the same time, I felt a slight sting on the back of my neck. Immediately, my eyelids began to close. I could feel my heartbeat and breathing slowing down, slowing farther than was normal for any creature save a hibernating bear. The beeps slowed their insane pacing, too. The last thing I saw was a vaguely familiar cinnamon maned unicorn standing over me with a spot of blood under her eye.

Booting systems…..

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>

Logistics Core… Done

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Processor… Done

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Security… Done

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Sensors… Done

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Servos… Done

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All systems nominal…..

>>

Pony Chip Operational

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>>

Armaments Engaged, Command Override: Ghost Activated.

Welcome, Ghost.

---Personal Log of Codename: Ghost

Flicka hesitated for a moment as her Ward was hustled off down to the hidden headquarters. She was torn between staying close to Twilight, or making sure Rainbow Dash was going to be okay. She decided that the Queen was fine with her family and friends for the moment, and trailed her new Princess. For all intents and purposes, she had two changeling royalty her contract ordered her to protect. And right now, Princess Dash was the one who needed watching the most. Flicka crept forward, taking care to stay right behind the target. The cyberpony’s cyber eye highlighted little dots in the distance, dots she wouldn’t have been able to see otherwise. She knew they had to be the Wonderbolts sent to bring Twilight in. Flicka felt my mouth melt into a hardened line. For the very first time since finding herself in this strange land so similar to her own, the unicorn was prepared to enter combat. She slipped off her ever present cloak and let it pool at her hooves. Next, the bodyguard’s weapons slid from the dimensional pocket she used to hide them, sliding into their sockets gently with dull clicks. Two little platforms were next, unfolding up out of her body as grey purple tinged magic slid two drums of ammunition from the pocket. These, too, were fastened to where they belonged with muted clicks.

Flicka caught her reflection in a nearby window, and, like always, she was transfixed. She would have thought after months and months of being able to turn into a mobile weapons platform the nomad would be used to the changes by now, but she wasn’t. Each and every time she caught a reflection of herself, she was awed. No one could barely even recognize her. Faint lines of dark silver crisscrossed the body, almost invisible against the already grey coat. These faint lines was actually a result of the Iridium bone lacing. Whenever she entered what she called, “combat mode”, Flicka automatically dropped the illusion that made her appear a ‘normal’ pony. The cyber eye glowed an even brighter ice blue, almost like the Fremen of her world, a fantasy race in a fantasy world. Of course, the thing that made it quite obvious the mare was not ordinary by any stretch of the imagination was the weaponry. Twin machine guns are mounted on swiveling turrets just behind the shoulder blades. They are, to Flicka’s eyes, quite beautiful. MH-74 Dragonfires, aptly named due to their quick cyclic rate and formidable stopping power. She could hit a target hiding behind drywall from fifty-five yards out.

The other changes that weren’t apparent instead made themselves known across her cybervision. All four of the foot docking clamps were primed and ready to be launched. Between those clamps and the hardened firing mounts, there wasn’t a thing she couldn’t hit if she tried hard enough, and good luck trying to move her from whatever position she had locked down. In addition, both Dragonfires can fire separately, on the move, and in any direction she tells them to, thanks to their shoulder mounts and the cyberpony’s smartlink, wiring them directly into her mind. In other words, she was a weapon. She has been ever since Technia rebuilt her. At one point in time, that notion had bothered her. She didn’t like being viewed as nothing but a highly advanced turret. In time, and with her Rarity’s help, she came to understand that she wasn’t some piece of machinery that killed things. She was a Marine. More specifically, she was a member of the Emergency Response Team. Flicka killed to save lives that mattered. Whether she was saving colonists from a natural disaster, or saving another squad of Marines from a man made catastrophe, the unicorn still did everything in her power to make sure those unable to protect themselves were well defended.

Flicka was finally pulled from her musings by voices right outside the front door of the Sparkle household. Silently berating herself for the lax in concentration, she cautiously approached the door. Flicka paused, ears swiveled in concentration. It was almost child’s play to hear what was being said.

“Soarin’.” Came the voice of Rainbow Dash. “What are you doing out here without the Captain?”

Another pony, a stallion, replied. “I am here for my own reasons, Captain.” Flicka could almost hear his shake of the head.

“Captain?” Dash repeated. She sounded bewildered. “Why did you… What are you all doing here?” She asked instead of whatever she had been going to say before. It sounded like she had just now noticed other ponies she recognized.

A new voice, a young mare’s, answered. “Is it true Twilight is now a changeling Queen?” The voice was cautious.

“Yes,” Dash answered curtly. “And I’m there Princess.”

“Our orders come from Princess Celestia. She directed the Wonderbolts to find Twilight. But most of them don’t know where she disappeared to after attacking Celestia. But we knew that if we find you, we find Twilight. Where is she?”

Dash’s voice grew chilly. “Already on her way into hiding. And if you expect to go after her, you’ll have to go through me first, Flitter. That goes for all of you.” Flicka silently agreed with her princess. With a simple thought, the cyberpony primed her Dragonfires and prepared to burst through the door with weapons blazing if need be. But then the one named Flitter snorted.

Flitter snorted in slight annoyance. “Forgive me Captain, but sometimes you are so dense. We have no intention of bringing Twilight in. We’re here to help her. Celestia has declared all out war on any changeling who follows Twilight. She’s going to need all the help she can get.”

Dash snorted this time. “I’m to believe that all of you are here to ‘fight’ for Twilight? I’m not buying it. Especially with some of Spitfire’s own squad present here.”

“Spitfire is no longer our commander. She has forgotten her Oath, the same that binds us all. Until such a time Spitfire and the remaining ‘Bolts come to their senses, they are no longer worth anything. Do you recall your Oath, Captain?” Soarin’s voice was unforgiving.

“‘The duty of the Wonderbolts, first and foremost, is to ensure the protection of the Elements of Harmony. Should they fall, one of Equestria’s only lines of defense fails. The second duty of the Wonderbolts is to ensure the safety of the Princesses of Equestria. Should they fall, Equestria will sink into chaos. In the event of wartime, it is to be assumed that the almighty Princesses of Equestria are capable of ensuring their own well being, and as such, the Wonderbolts must make the Elements of Harmony their top priority.’ I remember, Soarin’. Is that why you are here? You believe that Twilight is still the Element of Magic?”

“We know she is,” came several voices.

“So long as magic remains in the world, the Element of Magic still lives.”

“That’s right!”

“Our Oath is clear!”

“And so you are our Captain, Rainbow Dash.” There was a small hint of admiration coloring Flitter’s words. “You have remained true to your Oath, whether you mean to or not. I doubt you’ve left Twilight’s side since this ordeal started.”

“You say Equestria has declared war on any changeling who follows Twilight. What exactly is the deal with that?”

Another new voice piped up. “I saw it. I saw the evil changeling take the form of Twilight Sparkle and attack Princess Celestia. I tried to warn the Princess of the deception, but I don’t think she’s in her right mind. She wouldn’t listen to anything I say; and she always listens to the Wonderbolts, even the least of us. The next thing I knew, she had sided with the evil changeling, formed an alliance with her, and ordered the ‘Bolts to track down the Element of Magic and bring her in. I sent the general alarm and the true of us responded.”

“So for the first time in years and years, Equestria is about to go to war again. What of the other leaders? What did they think?”

“Most of them were unsure what to believe. No one could understand what transpired between Twilight and Celestia, and they were confused. Even as Equestria’s allies, I’m not too sure that they would have picked sides. The Dragons, they are still neutral. Their leader believes that there are pieces to the puzzle no one knows about yet. Officially, the Griffons and Zebras have sided with Equestria after the ‘attack’ on Celestia by Twilight. But there are pockets of them who are ignoring the call to arms to aid Equestria. These pockets are more likely to seek out Twilight and offer her aid. As for the ponies… I’m afraid us Wonderbolts are it. Even Shining’s Legion won’t listen to him, and he’s the one who created them from the hoof up. Ignoring the Princess when she gave them an unreasonable order was one thing. Siding with the Changeling Queen after she attacked Celestia is another.”

“Come on then, all of you. Lets see if we can convince the others you’re on our side.”

Flicka had no time to hide her weaponry, or anything else that made the pony abnormal. With a sigh and a slight shrug, she decided it didn’t matter much anyway. With the way things were progressing, having a little bit of real firepower on their side was going to be needed. The look on Rainbow Dash’s face as she came through the door was priceless. The alarmed expressions of the Wonderbolts who followed her was simply icing on the cake. “Flicka? Is that you?” Dash sounded like she couldn’t decide if she wanted to be nervous or curious.

Flicka’s only response was to nod her head, and then say, “Come. We must catch up with the Queen. My scanners sense that there is a cave-in that’ll prevent us from going the way we want. We might have to find someplace else to turn into a headquarters.” She didn’t wait to see if they would follow. They would, or they wouldn’t.

“What in Equestria is that?” one of the Wonderbolts whispered, undoubtedly thinking Flicka wouldn’t hear.

The cyberpony, however, flicked one ear back and offered a reply. “I’m a ZX73 Gammaware cyborg. Otherwise known as Flicka, Savior of Equestria, Defender of the Alliance, Lieutenant of the Emergency Response Team, Commanding Marine of Accord Squad, Codename: Ghost.”

Rather than answering the question, the unicorn’s cryptic reply only served to confuse the pegasi behind her. They bit back their questions for the moment, although that may have been because one of the Dragonfires swiveled around on its platform to aim at a spot somewhere above their heads. Facing forwards so they couldn’t see her grin, Flicka led the group right to the same secret hallway her Queen had taken moments before. Her keen ears could even make out the sounds of dismayed voices; it seemed as though the rest of their little resistance had ran into the cave-in. Sure enough, Flicka had barely trotted for five minutes before she caught sight of her Queen, surrounded by everyone else as they attempted to decide what to do. Twilight Sparkle glanced up, and Flicka saw her eyes widen. She stumbled backwards, a look of pure shock on her face, and the cyborg finally understood what the Queen was seeing: she thought that Dash had betrayed her.

Before much else could happen, Dash stepped forward and held up a placating hoof. “Its okay, Twilight. These guys are on our side.”

Twilight’s eyes widened even further, if that was possible. Then the light of understanding lit within them. “Their oaths. They’ve come into effect, haven’t they?”

It was Dash’s turn to look surprised. “How do you know about the Oath?”

The unicorn hybrid merely gave her best friend a look. “There is a reason I’m probably the most learned pony in Equestria, Dash. Of course I know about the infamous Wonderbolt Oath, even if very few others do.”

Flitter stepped forward. “That’s why we’re here. The Oath states that the Elements of harmony come first. We’ll help you get through this, Queen Sparkle.”

Twilight visibly shuddered at last words. “Ugh, just Twilight, please. I get enough of this ‘Queen’ business from Flicka. I don’t need it from the rest of you, too.”

Flicka stepped forward. “My Queen,” the cyberpony inwardly grinned; this was what they had just discussed, “We won’t be able to get to the Equestria Intelligence base any time soon. My scanners indicate this landfall is huge. It would take days to clear it out.”

It was as she spoke that the non Wonderbolts noticed her for the first time. There were muttered exclamations and a general shifting backwards movement. Princess Luna seemed to be the only one unaffected by Flicka’s drastically changed appearance. “I was wondering when you would finally reveal your true nature, cyberpony.”

Flicka spared a glance at the Moon Goddess. “You know what I am?”

“I do. I am more aware of what transpires in the desert than my sister is. I was aware of your presence almost the instant you arrived here.”

“Yet you’ve not apprehended me, nor taken me in for questioning? I’m practically an alien in your home planet, here.”

Luna shrugged. “There was no reason for me to. You never gave me one. You never threatened any of Our subjects or Our allies, and instead strived to hide who you were. We left you be because we had no idea exactly what you were going to do. But now you’ve helped Twilight and protected her, and are ready to do so again, by the looks of things. I do not know from where you hail, but for now, you are welcome in this quest.”

Flicka turned back to Twilight and saw the questions burning deep in those violet eyes. The nomad shook her head. “I’ll answer your questions later, Twilight. Right now we need to figure out where exactly we’re going to go.”

Twilight Velvet spoke up. “We could return to the mansion. Night Light and I still have a few favors with EI contacts. We can find some other place to set up operations.”

Flicka shook her head again. “Going back is out of the question. Even as we speak, Celestia’s and Vizio’s forces have already invaded the Sparkle Mansion.”

“They what?” Night Light sounded infuriated. “They can’t just storm into our home without a warrant!”

Twilight nudged her father gently, trying to hide her worry.. “They believe I’m a dangerous criminal now, or something worse. They don’t need a warrant if they suspect you’re hiding me. But Flicka, how do you know this?”

“My scanners,” came the clipped reply. “A nearly indestructible body and alien weapons aren’t the only thing I have. I can detect friends or foes in a hundred and fifty yard radius around me. Even now, they’ve discovered the secret passageway and will be on the way to meet us.”

Dash looked to Twilight. Everypony did. “What do we do, Twilight?”

Twilight, for her part, looked to be on the verge of panicking. Her eyes darted from place to place and she looked close to just breaking down. However, she took several deep breaths and instead turned to Flicka. “What you do suggest we do, Flicka? You’ve kept me safe this long. Judging by your physical makeup you’re more accustomed to battle than I.”

Flicka nodded in approval. It was good that Twilight was willing to turn to others for aid if need be. “I’ll distract them. The rest of you will find an exit and get out of here.”

One of the Wonderbolts stepped forward. “We’ll help you keep them away from the others.”

Flicka was quick to disagree. “No. These guys could be dangerous. Until I can get you guys properly equipped, just run. I’ll rendezvous with you once we’re out on the Sparkle grounds. Its a big place, we should be able to shake them off. Once there, I’ll take you to my own camp. Wait until you hear them attacking me, then go!” Flicka didn’t wait to see if they understood. She was already taking back off down the way they had come, Dragonfires ready. She burst from the hidden painting and bowled over a couple of changelings who stood there. The cyberpony paused there for a moment, surveying the situation.

Firstly, they were all changelings. And judging from the green of their eyes, they were following Vizio. Secondly, all of them were carrying guns. Well then. It looks like someone’s been supplying these guys. Before the slightly surprised cyborg could act further, she was immediately peppered with gunfire. Round after round tore at Flicka, the reports nearly deafening. The shots eventually stopped. Flicka still stood in the same place as before, this time with a smirking smile upon her lips.

“You guys forgot to equip your armor penetration rounds, didn’t you? Want a little tip? Easiest way to kill a cyborg is to use rounds that’ll penetrate armor. Of course, such bullets won’t stop me anyway, but its the thought that counts.” Then it was Flicka’s turn to engage. Bullet’s tore up the surrounding walls, and Flicka winced inwardly at the damage; she didn’t have time to engage her docking clamps, and her accuracy was paying for it. Nonetheless, the Dragonfires did their job, mowing down the changelings who threatened her Queen. It also attracted any other forces in the immediate vicinity. Flicka took off, bowling through startled changelings, headed for the front door. Her scanner warned her that Twilight’s posse had exited the hidden hallway and were headed to the back of the mansion, presumably to access the back entrance. The cyberpony slammed into the front door, throwing it off its hinges and into the changelings stationed outside. Sometimes, having super strength was awesome.

Flicka tore through the grounds, using the neatly placed trees to her advantage. She ran faster and faster, a silver bullet travelling through the foliage. Her Ward had headed towards the farthest rear corner of the sprawling estate, undoubtedly waiting for her to arrive. Gathering her magic in her horn, Flicka winked out of existence. She then exited out of her teleport in a long, controlled slide a few yards in front of the other group, all four legs locked. She threw herself forward, enveloped the group in a dome of grey tinged purple, and teleported again.

The party reappeared in the desert. Flicka was panting hard, running high on adrenaline. However, the cyberpony immediately went over to a well concealed cave entrance. She glanced back expectantly at the still stunned ponies, then ducked inside. Naturally, the first to follow her was Twilight. Rainbow Dash came next, then all of the others. Even Princess Luna stopped her head to walk through the opening, before straightening back up once inside. Their hooves rang, not on rock as they were probably expecting, but on what appeared to be metal. On and on they walked, the passageway sloping gently down. No one said a word for whatever reason, although Flicka thought Twilight was going to explode from curiosity. At long last they entered a huge chamber with a high ceiling, and every single other pony except for Flicka and Princess Luna gasped. Honestly, the nomad could tell why.

Everywhere one looked there was something strange that they had never seen before. Against one wall of the chamber was several somethings that were rectangular in shape, with screens full of vibrant colors. Against another wall was what appeared to be weapons similar to Flicka’s own she carried on her back. A third wall was covered in various wires nopony but the cyborg seemed to know anything about, and the fourth had some sort of metal table set against it. And then, from the ceiling, there was hanging what appeared to be several…. pony harnesses, of all things.

Flicka cleared her throat, a bit self consciously. “Welcome to my workshop, guys.”