Chapter 1: Mission-1: Recon
Slowly, after seeing static for approximately fifteen minutes, my optics began to snap into place. Sunlight, through a thicket of branches and leaves, showered me in it’s magnificence. Jumping up, I looked around.
“No longer on the Egg Carrier. Scanning for data.” I spoke aloud, beginning a scan. The trees were different from the ones on Earth. The dirt was also different, as well as the very combination of the air. It resembled the ‘vision’ I had during my mission to capture the frog, free from contamination.
“Location unknown.” I paused, and closed the scanning software, “This presents a problem.” With my heavily clanging feet, the I went to scout the area, and formulate a plan. I found a path that led out of the forest. Taking up a sniper-esque position on the hill, I scanned the settlement at the bottom.
There were three kinds of quadrupeds down in the village, making use of medieval-like tools with the most advanced tool being a train that ran through. While it was like the Echidna settlement I walked in and documented in my memory banks, it wasn’t as untechnological as them. If I was one of the blood-thirsty bots, they wouldn’t be able to do much to stop me... But, I wasn’t, meaning they could breath easy.
They all resembled the ‘horse’ of earth, except smaller and with two with extremities.
The plain horse, presumably called an ‘Earth Pony’(if my lip reading was to be believed), seemed to have the most strength of the three types. While no military presence was present, the way they worked in everyday life led me to believe they’d be the backbone of the military...
Not that blunt brute strength would be very effective against my alloy... I thought, keeping an eye on the road as I continued to dissect the information being fed to me by observing the town.
Then there was a winged horse, a ‘Pegasus’. This proved the most interesting. They manipulated the clouds, and could even stand on them. It didn’t seem like they had to think about it, as a cyan one was sleeping on one, rather adorably. It warmed my metallic heart so much, I took a picture. Getting back on track, they were the most agile, even being able to boast having the best daredevils in Equestria, the country I was in. I didn’t want to say ‘world’, as there was talks about ‘border skirmishes’ with the ‘Gryphon Empire’. Continuing the body analogy, they were probably the tissue around the bones of the Earth Pony, allowing them to ‘move’, or, in this case, grow crops without having to migrate water. It was at this point I noticed the unusual grammar they used.
Where I would say ‘body’, they’d say ‘pony’. Where I’d say ‘male’, they said ‘stallion’. ‘Female’, ‘mare’. ‘Boy’, ‘colt’(which was weird, as their equivalent of ‘gentleman’ was ‘gentlecolt’), and ‘girl’ was ‘filly’... Maybe I got the wrong translation somewhere?
The horned horse, presumably called a ‘Unicorn’, could use telekinesis at their youngest ages. I couldn’t say for certain when they started, but while observing the lips of the ponies they seemed impressed at a young one being able to manipulate a pencil at the age of four. If I had to finish the body analogy, the unicorn was probably the nervous system of the metaphorical body. They seemed like born leaders, and most of the ponies respected the council of the unicorn.
One of the younger groups of children asked why that was, much to the silent thanks of the scoped view of myself. Apparently, next to the other two races, unicorns lived the longest. About two hundred years was the average. Earth Ponies were expected to live a hundred, and Pegasus were lucky to see ninety, their average being eighty five. It was also this talk that led to the discovery of another race that I hadn’t been able to observe, for good reason.
The Alicorn. I thought, checking my corners as I snuck around the town, having abandoned my position to get a closer observation. The ponies seemed to be in a frenzy, chasing a large red stallion, creating the window for me to enter. None of the quad’s saw me, except maybe... nah, there’s no way... Anyway, despite my weight, I was able to get the jump on more than a few people back on Earth, so a stealth op in a small village...
If I get caught, it’s not my weight to blame... I jokingly thought, observing the sun descending upon the horizon. Before the sun had completely set, the village was all but abandoned, and I was able to sneak around a lot better, allowing me to ‘breath some more’, as the saying went. There was one thing I wanted to know, and only one way to find out about it.
Primarily, I needed to meet the ruler of this land, the alicorn Princess Celestia. To do that, I needed to contact her student, the unicorn, and ‘Element of Magic’(apparently some big deal around here) Twilight Sparkle, and make her set up a meeting. I knew where she lived, and I knew how to make her set the meeting up immediately. A bit impatient by the turn of events that happened today, I wanted immediate results. So, I’d take a bit more of a violent approach than I was used to... Not really, now that I think about it. I guess this is as violent as I’ve gotten on a stealth op, though...
Secondarily, I needed to speak to someone, be it pony or otherwise. It may be because of my guilty conscience, but I needed to get a lot off my chest. Pretty much my entire life, really. It was rather short, though. That objective, however, wasn’t crucial. I needed to figure out where I was, and why I’m here and not dead. Getting my previous life off my chest was a nice bonus, but not one I’d bend over backwards for.
I approached the open library, though the sign said it was closed. My IV vision told me that there were seven ponies inside, all around a single one, emitting the most heat from its horn. Opening the door quietly, I found the lavender pony I was looking for. Better than that, none of them were facing me, and she was within hostage-taking rage.
"...but we thought that the thing she was worrying about wasn't worth worrying about." my hand reached out.
"So when she ran off all worked up, not a single one of us tried to stop her." I got into a perfect posture for the situation. I'd rather not interupt such an intimate moment, but...
"As Twilight's good friends, we should have taken her feelings seriously and been there for her!"
"Please don't take her away from us just because we were too insensitive to help her." Quite the speech. However... I thought, making the grab.
"Looks like you all-"
“Twilight Sparkle.” Everything in the room stopped when they heard a loud buzzing sound, and a yelp. I grabbed her and pulled her close, my cannon inches away from her head shot ready to fire(not that I would. I needed answers.), “I need you to help me meet somepony. Failure to comply with my directive will result in some... issues.”
Slowly, with heavy static, my optic sensors began to work. First testing my arms, I was pleased to see they were working. Getting up on a knee, I looked around. Beta was nowhere to be seen, and we were descending fast. Knowing my job done, I looked down, and held the good-luck charm those creatures gave me. Opening it, I ‘smiled’, and held it close.
I’m sorry, my friends... Especially you, Rainbow. Even after I promised I’d return safely, I...
“E One-oh-two, Gamma:” An explosion sounded off next to me, before I could continue. Looking in that direction, I saw a heavily injured Beta, who could hardly stay afloat.
“E One-oh-one, Beta.” Beta mimicked, “Glorious, isn’t it? Our war is... over. However, we are not yet... free.” Beta floated over to me, “This is it, brother... The battle may be over, but you and I...” he stopped a few meters away, on the opposite side of the circle that spotted the center of the raised platform. His auto-repair sequence began, and I did the same, closing the locket, “Still have a score to settle!” Our repairs were finished at the same time, and we both pointed our advanced weapons at each other, as the red setting sun poked through the heavy smoke. His advanced targeting system locked on as my primitive one locked on multiple weak points on my brother.
“E One-oh-two, Gamma: Mission: Protect and save.” My gun was straight and still, and his dual spiked shield cannons were as well.
“E One-oh-one, Beta: Mission: Conquer and destroy!” Beta shouted, “Show me what you’ve got!” We both fired at each other, “Gamma!”
