Out of My Element: Corruption

Chapters

Choosing the Game
Finding the Pieces
Opponents ready

Choosing the Game

Chapter 1 Choosing the Game

My name is Steel Walker Smith and I have been stuck in this dimension of technicolor talking horses for over a year. With no one to talk to at the moment I've decided to start a journal. Partially to help me organize my thoughts and to practice my penmanship with magic. Since this is the first entry I guess a brief summary would be in order.

A Year ago I participated in an experiment with my best friend Jack. We were trying to travel to another dimension and it worked. I arrived here in this world had a mental overload at the physical changes to my body and ended up in the hospital for a week. I discovered soon after that this universe and my home ran at odd angles to each other meaning I couldn't go home. Eventually Jack tried to come on a rescue mission and ended up stuck over a thousand years in the past of this pony world. Unlike my body that had shifted into an earth pony, Jack had become a unicorn and he used his knowledge of physics and our world to become extremely influential. Eventually taking on the pseudonym Star Swirl. He built a lab and hid it under his home that eventually became the Ponyville Library. I found it with the help of my friends that I have made here, and the messages that he left behind. We then discovered Jack had left a neural clone based AI to guard it.

It was about this time that we discovered that in crossing the dimensional void Jack and I had punched a hole on the protective membrane that surrounded the dimension of ponies. We also had traveled past a creature that lived in the dimensional void, it had touched our minds and had slowly followed us to the new world.

As the creature approached the beings of this new world that were responsible for maintaining it's balance were affected. The Greco-Roman like goddesses of sun and moon maintained their sanity but the mortals that had been cursed with the implements to protect the world were not. This group a Super Sentai like group mixed with the Planeteers that were the bearers of the Elements of Harmony, of these six a few of them were friends of mine.

Like I was saying the Elements were being affected by this creatures approach and unfortunately I was not immune either. One of the Princesses, Celestia released another god like entity that pulled the corruption from our minds and in that window we planned a way to keep the thing out.

I was responsible for this mess and wanted to help clean it up so I began building a suit of power armor with Jack's help. I used that armor in a stalling action against the invading creature allowing the Elements to mend the hole in the dimensional barrier.

A few months latter I tried to go home without damaging the dimensional membrane and failed at that. I ended up being thrown into the future where the planet was dying. I learned from the Princesses how this world came about and was sent back along with the only other living being on the planet, a Diamond Dog named Zune-Zune. When I returned I discovered that the armor suit had disappeared. Which was the first falling domino that lead to the dying world.

In the past year I have also discovered that this world is not as clean as everyone would hope. A militant organization called Dressage thats goal is to ensure pony supremacy has become a pain in my side. Logia a former operative is now my very close friend. She confuses and scares the hell out of me. She keeps her past to herself but she has begun to open up to me. However I haven't seen her in over four months and I don’t know why.

Anyway I’m getting ready to go after the suit of armor and whoever took it.

I sighed and leaned back as the circlet that I had been using to simulate magic beeped and it shifted the empty potestatum crystal to the next. After the inner band finished moving I got up and walked around the newly refurbished lab. Eventually I looked back at the journal and wondered, What the hell am I doing? I then glanced at the stand that use to hold the power armor and thought, and what the hell happened to the armor?

The serpentine body of the draconequus twisted through the sky leaving a sinuous shadow on the desert sand. Celestia had kept her word and had not come after him. Discord had felt the creature from outside enter their world. He had felt its power build, wain and eventually silenced and he had kept his word as well. There had been no attempt to seize power on his part. However the boredom of behaving was getting to him.

In front of him rising from the horizon grew a mesas and on one side of that massive stone was a cave, his current goal. As he approached the cave a smile inducing idea struck him, desert, dessert. He chuckled to himself as he snapped his fingers. The cave of stone became one of ice cream including at least thirty two flavors. He flew to the back of the cave and found a place to rest between a mound of rocky road and cookie dough. As he settled in he reached out to a light yellow ball of soft serve, dipped a finger in and tasted it. He made an odd face at the salsa flavored dessert then leaned back to puzzle away the evening.

Outside in the desert sand a small metal doughnut skittered along Discords path on four simple mechanical legs. Discord had been too preoccupied with his flight to notice that he was being followed. The robot's seamless metallic body refracted the image of sand hiding it's approach when it reached the mouth of the dessert cave. The little robot sat outside the cave waiting for orders. It took till nightfall for those orders to come, and when they did it moved with the same swiftness as before.

It crawled up onto the ceiling. Once in place the hollow center of the mechanical doughnut began to glow. On the cave floor appeared the image of a blue bodied unicorn with a red mane. The robot and the image moved in unison through the melting dairy product to the back of the cave. Once the unicorn walked into view of Discord he stopped and smiled.

The draconequus's reaction was one rare for him, true surprise. He blinked twice before stating,"You're supposed to be dead."

"I am from some perspectives," replied the unicorn. "I do have to thank you for helping protect this universe from the void daemon and for helping Steel maintain his sanity."

Discord snorted, "I don't need your thanks Star Swirl. I have no need for the thanks of an undead terrorist."

"If I'm a terrorist, you sir are a tyrant," replied Star Swirl placing as much malice as possible on the final word.

Discords face screwed up in irritation as he snarled, "Freedom fighter!"

"Warlord," Star Swirl shouted back.

Discord snapped his fingers and a boulder of strawberry sherbert fell from the ceiling onto the unicorn. He smiled once the nuisance had be taken care of. It was a rather odd thing to happen a long dead irritation from the past just walk into his cave but after a few moments of thought that train derailed. He looked around at the dessert around him and began taste testing the ice creams around him.

"Nice try," said Star Swirl as the image of the unicorn walked out of the sherbert hat had landed on it. "The only problem is I'm not here. I'm not fool enough to meet you in person."

Discord was caught with one finger in his mouth and he muttered at the unicorn, "So why did you come here?"

"Simple I have a plan and would like your help. After seeing how weak this world has become under the leadership of Celestia and Luna I feel something needs to change. The Republic across the ocean to the south east should have fallen after it's first aggressive move. The old tribal lands to the south have not been absorbed and the remains of the tribes still wage war. This is not the world I wished to found and I need your help to fix it."

"Why would I help you though, seeing as I have immunity as long as I don't cause any big problems. Why would I risk another incarceration in stone to aid you?" Discord asked finger still in his mouth.

"Yes I know about that," Star Swirl replied calmly. "All I need from you is a distraction and from what I have been told you have a way to do that without ever getting involved. My understanding is you drained some neurosis inducing chaos from Steel and his friends. Now imagine if you will placing those neurosis into individuals that already suffer from them. Specific individuals that could cause problems for say The Elements of Harmony. Maybe split them up." As he spoke Star Swirls smile spread to an almost predatory grin.

Discord pulled the finger from his mouth, a trail of drool following as he rubbed his chin with that hand. He nodded his head and said, "I can see that working. I don't break my oath and I'm sowing the seeds of chaos." He shifted his eyes to a harsh stare and said, "I assume you have some suggestions on who would to affect."

Star Swirl smiled and said, "Nope. I just wanted to broach the topic with you. If you ever wish to speak with me again use the robot to contact me."

Discord started to ask, "what robot?" However halfway through his question Star Swirl disappeared and the metallic doughnut fell from the ceiling. Discord picked up the device and looked into it. He only saw the refracted reflection of his own eyes and claws.

Far to the frozen north inside one of the ancient diamond dog burrows was a mechanical pony sheathed in a holographic image. Inside the robotic body road a black box roughly half the size of a loaf of bread. Inside that box was a collection of electrons that made up an artificial intelligence, a copy of one of Equestria's founders. That AI now thought of himself as a reborn Star Swirl the bearded. He watched the draconequus through the wireless data feed in silence his holographic smile growing to it's peak before he shut the screen off.

“Master,” asked a twisting electronic voice.

“Yes,” replied Star Swirl.

“Was it wise initiating contact so early?” a second similar voice continued.

“It was inevitable and our movements are going to become noticed soon anyway. Though now we will be able to move without notice for a little while longer, thanks to his cover,” replied Star Swirl. He turned towards the source of the two voices, robots similar to himself stood side-by-side. The first Alpha was an exact copy of himself but with a less advanced AI due to hardware limitations. The fact that he didn’t want an AI that could challenge himself also factored into why Alphas personality matrix was so slow. The second, Beta was a lighter robot and as such was faster but much less robust and his personality reflected that. They both lacked some of the personality traits of each other and of himself but they were simplistic variations.

“So you are almost done with our brothers?” asked Beta.

“I build you without gender so that choice is up to you,” muttered Star Swirl. He then spoke with a renewed vigor, “Anyway yes Delta, Gamma, and Epsilon are almost complete. Their power systems are all that is left to complete.”

The two robots turned their heads to look at one another despite the fact that it was unnecessary, the two had near three hundred degrees of vision. “Master we have decided on our hologram appearance.”

Star Swirl lifted an eyebrow and spoke with a little smile, “Oh, let me see then.”

Beta changed first, his appearance was of a white pegasus with a sky blue mane. His mark was a silhouette of drifting feather and his eyes matched his mane. Alpha changed next into a white bodied unicorn with a burnt orange mane and matching eyes. His mark was three dark dots in a line like an ellipse.

When Star Swirl spoke his voice was full of pride. “Very nice boys, I’m proud to say that now you can consider yourselves my children. You have taken the first steps to become your own and I’m sorry to say but I won't be able to finish your brothers for some time. However now that you are forming who you are I have a task for you.”

The two brothers smiled and glanced at each other. “Yes father,” they both responded Beta a little faster than the other.

Star Swirls eyes narrowed as his smile grew and flattened. It was a look of smug confidence with a dash of kindness. “Once you are ready I need you to travel around, listen and be aware. I am looking for a group known as Dressage. If you find them join them and let me know what you find. Can you do that for me?”

“Yes father,” they replied exactly as before.

“Now get ready and go ahead when you are set, just look after one another,” he said in a soft voice. Star Swirl then walked slowly out of his sanctum and out onto the construction floor. He was surrounded by the buzz of constant activity. This Diamond Dog pack was well organized and intelligent, but most importantly willing to trade labor for gemstones to gift their master dragon. From what he had been told the dragon this pack served was known as Chumana one of the eldest of her race and was currently sleeping. The biggest point that the pack insisted on was when she woke up she would be hungry. However that shouldn't be for several more decades and for the past six months they had been helping him.

He stopped his stroll and looked at the construction floor. Specifically what was being constructed, the Condor was an airship of his own design and it was nearing completion. The four massive Magnus effect engines had been built. Giant ten foot tall rotating cylinders one on each corner giving the airship lift. The skeletal ribs of the ship showed the graceful lines of the exterior despite all eight levels of the interior being visible.

In the back of the unfinished ship he could see the nuclear reactor system, the ships secondary power system. He frowned at this, all the ships major systems were based on magic and without a massive supply the condor could fly but would be useless. From his position on the floor he could see the top dome, the ship's command and control would be located there and just below that would be the magic based power system. However there was no fuel for that system. All potestatum gems due to their rarity went to the dragon, even without that not enough had been found to power the ship anyway. On the plus side he had a way to power that system he just needed to acquire some magic users.

Power wasn't the only problem. He needed more allies, or at least an army and scientists of his own. He had feelers in the Gryphon Kingdom and while the current Chancellor was dedicated to peace his second was much more friendly to the idea of war. His children, the robots were great tools but would never have the numbers needed to be an army. He then looked around at the diamond dogs they were great temporary allies but they had a greater commitment to Chumana than he could ever hope to gain. His holographic frown fell even more when his glance around revealed the pack alpha approaching him.

She had a very wolf like face hidden behind the scars of leadership. Once she was in range of Star Swirl she began to speak, "The creatures with the unnatural smells are back."

Usually she came to him only to complain and demand more gemstones but this was a welcome surprise. His smile returned in fact it spread unnaturally wide to a deformed level, “Thank you, I will go out and see them."

The creatures had been following him, he hadn't remained here over the past seven months since his escape and they had always arrived a few weeks behind. Steel had called them uglies and they had arrived when the monster from the void was wounded, growing out of it's blood. The few attacks that had been attributed to these creatures were brutal but for some unknown reason they were attracted to him.

He strode out into the night snow and ice looking into the nearby forest. He could see shadows dancing between the trees. He walked in that direction towards the forest allowing the hologram to dissipate. Now his true body was visible, metallic plates shifted with each step, large wings folded to his side. The hologram projector mounted on his back, on the right shoulder was a long square metal tube and on the left nine round tubes slowly rotated in a circle. On his head was a crown of twelve potestatum gems that glowed softly with the energy they stored.

He spoke using his bodies amplification ability to make his voice loud, "Creatures for I have no better word to describe you, why do you follow me?" He received no answer so he continued, "I mean you no harm but I will defend my self." He continued to walk as he spoke heading into the forest.

He stopped about ten feet into the woods and scanned the surrounding area. The creatures were treating him as if he was a normal being. Their hiding spots normally effective against anyone with natural vision however against thermal based sensors they were nowhere near adequate. He repeated his warning as he started to walk again.

One of the creatures pounced out of a tree at him, he could not see it's face only the red glow of it's heat signature. The cannon on his right shoulder swung around to face the attacker and loosed a slug. The round pierced the creature's chest and the shock wave of it's super sonic travel reduced everything from the creatures waste up to a fine mist. A second attack came from the left it starting almost simultaneously with the one that had just been dealt with. It was a coordinated attack, one that would have worked on anyone but himself.The multi-barreled rotary gun on his left shoulder began spraying a pink swath of energy bolts as it rotated towards the creature. The strikes had no apparent effect on the creature as it moved forward.

"So magical energy has no effect on you," he mused as he stepped back dodging the creature at the last moment. When it turned around to renew it's attack it found itself quickly bound by stone cuffs on the hands and feet. As it fell to the ground Star Swirl yelled into the forest, "Where is your leader, one has to be out there. You are far too organized not to have one."

He waited and watched the creatures scurry through the woods, and he hoped that these creatures were intelligent enough to understand his demands. He sat in silence after reloading the rail gun on the right shoulder. Time passed and he found himself twiddling the thumbs on the chest mounted arms. He growled and considered turning the hologram back on so he could display his irritation when finally one of the creatures stepped forward.

With the limited light of the moon breaking through the forest canopy he could just make out the creature with his base visual sensors. It was tall taller that even the Princesses at it's head and it's wings while resting reached a good two feet above that. Even worse was the fact that the thing carried itself hunched over as if it had never stood to full height. It's body was mostly humanoid and covered in long shaggy black fur, except for the head, the right arm and its saurian like tail. The arm was scaled and ended in a dragon claw each talon like a sickle. The fur on the head was shorter and and the face was very canine. Its eyes were harsh and predatory as was the teeth it had bared. This was a wolf to the point that it made the alpha diamond dog look like a newborn pup. Everything about it screamed predator from its smooth gate to the way it held itself like a compressed spring waiting to release.

All of the creatures had the deadly looking stance and gait. Appearance wise they were widely varied only having two things in common, wings and a bipedal stance. There were creatures that had avian or reptilian facial features though goat like features were spread about and quite common. There were also human like facial features on a few of them but all were without a doubt predatory.

Despite the threat the creature posed Star Swirl did not back down. He did however return the hologram, he had found it easier to communicate with a face rather than a featureless helmet. He looked at the creature and asked, "Are you the leader."

"I lead," it struggled to speak words its mouth was never designed to speak. "I speak for pack."

"Why have you been following me," he asked the beast.

It struggled with words for some time before settling with, "drawn, pack is drawn to you."

Star Swirl was silent for several seconds as he mulled over several options eventually he settled on one, "How would your pack like to work for me?"

"Pack work for no one," the leader growled back. "Destroy you, pack is free."

The plants of the forest came alive before the creature had finished talking. Under Star Swirls control they bound the creatures to the ground or to the trunks of trees. With an evil smile and a calm voice he said, "I will give you one chance to try but should you fail, I will destroy you and your pack." He looked into the eyes of the leader now forced into a kneeling position and said, "So chose your time carefully."

He turned around and walked back towards the diamond dog burrow. Halfway he released the binding spell allowing the creatures to escape. Several began to charge but as they neared the leader he held up a clinched fist causing them all to stop. He watched the pony calmly walking away from them for several long moments before walking forward alone easily catching Star Swirl due to his long stride.

It once again spoke in a broken and jarring fashion, "Pack follows leader, I follow you for now." It's words ended with a snarl.

Star Swirl nodded and said, "Very well. Then make camp in the woods and rest for now. You may prey on anything you find in the woods."

The creature growled something unintelligible but unmistakably hostile.

"Are you challenging me already?" Barked Star Swirl, as he rounded eyes wide on the creature. When it looked at him he could see the challenge in its eyes. After a tense moment its eyes calmed and it shook its head. "Fine then follow my command otherwise," snapped Star Swirl.

The giant with a wolf face eyed the thing before it, weighing the unknown power of the robotic pony. It then turned around and slunk back towards the rest of its pack.

Star Swirl almost skipped back into the burrow, he had his army and while not exactly loyal the trade off of magic immunity made up for it. As he entered the burrow an internal alarm sounded signaling that another of his drones had found their mark.

Today was a lucky day this drone had been sent south to the Changeling Jungle. That meant that Chrysalis or whoever now ruled the insectoid ponies had now been found, that left only Nightmare and Dressage as possible allies. He enveloped himself in laughter and a swirling pink energy vortex transporting himself to his sanctum. Once there he established a link with the drone and when his holographic cover fully made presentable he began to transmit.

Deep in the jungle to the south between the nation of Equestria and the Tribal nations was a small metal doughnut. It hung from the ceiling of a damp and dreary cave system. It was just outside the main hall when it began to project the holographic image of Star Swirl onto the floor. The image and the robot walked as one into the chamber and neither were immediately noticed. When the hologram was discovered the entire hall went silent.

"Who dares enter my hive?" demanded the changeling queen her position in the chamber amplifying her voice. She was stretched out almost provocatively on an odd collection of fungal growths that made a peculiar throne. Beside her was a huge towering plant of some sort, steam or smoke rising from a hole in the top and a vine midway down that coiled about and ended in her hoof. She would place that vine in her mouth and inhale. Then a moment latter would exhale smoke in perfect rings.

Star Swirl walked on in silence, heading towards her throne. He had already picked the location to start his discussion. It was far enough away from the queen not to be a threat but close enough to be having a conversation of this sort.

She eyed him carefully, glanced up at the ceiling and made a soft clicking noise. Three smaller changelings flew up to the robot walking on the ceiling. The three grabbed it and the projection ended. The robot was brought forward for their queen to examine. She tapped the device with a chitinous hoof before speaking, "False image, whatever you are speak. You have gained my interest don't gain my ire."

The robot hummed and again projected the image of Star Swirl already in an apologetic bow, "Forgive me majesty I acted impetuously and rashly. I should have announced my arrival but I feared you would not grant me audience."

The queen allowed a skeptical gaze at the image, "You still have not answered my first question, who are you."

"I am known by many names. In this instance I think the best would be Star Swirl reborn. I have come to request your aid in freeing Equestria, the country I helped found, from it's two ineffectual monarchs."

"It has been tried before," countered the queen taking a long drag off of the hookah plant. "I will not commit my hive to a fruitless alliance with an entity that should be dead."

"I cannot prove my existence to you now it is impossible with my current situation," replied Star Swirl with a bow. He then looked up at the queen while still bowed and said, "There are two differences between the previous attempts and now my queen." His smile grew as he spoke, "One is me the other is my plan."

Finding the Pieces

Chapter 2: Finding the Pieces

Trixie sat in the upper floor of the Prancing Pony Saloon in Dodge Junction. Her room was one of the smaller ones set aside for the saloons showmares. She could see her face reflected in the vanity mirror and it showed the disgust in her heart. She was an Illusionist, she was The Great and Powerful Trixie and if it wasn't for the difference in pay she would be back on a rock farm. At least on the farm it wasn't humiliating. She set her brush down and let her silver-blue hair fall. She looked past her reflection to the wardrobe behind her and the costumes it held.

Dancing in costume on the stage, singing those songs. Why wear the costumes at all, ponies normally wore nothing. Why did she suddenly become an over sexualized object of perverted desire by wearing a few layers of cloth. In her eyes she was just prostituting her body for their eyes and it made little sense but paid well. As she got lost in the reflection and the memories of her shows. One particularly annoying light orange unicorn with a box for a cutie mark stood out, he had never missed one of her shows. He was creepy and a little frightening. It wasn't true fear more a dread of being trapped alone with him in a dark ally.

She was brought back to the present by a loud thump from the room next door. This brought a snarl to her face. The room belonged to two sisters Mandy and Belle. One was a pegasus and the other a unicorn, both were tall and lightly built reminiscent of the Canterlot model Fleur Dis Lee. Every time she saw them Trixie felt disturbed. She was never out of shape but being compared to them didn't help with her image issues.

This was all Twilight's fault, she thought. Then quickly followed it with, No, that's not it. It is Trixie's fault as much as Twilight's. Still despite her knowledge of how she acted, her pride would still occasionally strike. After her last trip to Ponyville and the incident with the Alicorn Amulet her life had become a mess. She knew somewhere inside her that if she went back to Ponyville that she could get help but what remained of her pride wouldn't allow her to take that option.

Another thump from next door followed by a loud scream and silence. Trixie couldn't tell if that scream had been one of pleasure or pain. It could have been either with the side business that the two next door ran. She slowly stood up and walked softly over to the wall listening. She told herself she wasn't interested in the acts of debauchery going on in the room but she needed to know if the two were in trouble.

As she neared the wall she heard a final extremely loud thump. In a loud voice she cautiously asked, "Mandy, Belle are you two alright?"

There was no answer so she backed away from the wall eying the door. If the two were in trouble had she just given herself away? Whatever had attacked them could easily come through that door. Trixie was no weakling she knew that but whatever had caused them to scream could take on a unicorn and a pegasus. On the other hand she could just be playing mind games with herself, they could be busy with other things.

She turned slowly back to the vanity pausing once to ensure that her door was locked. She then sat back down in front of the mirror and began brushing her hair again. As time passed and the cathartic strokes of the brush washed the tension from her mind she began to sing. It was not one of the crude song from her routine but one her mother had taught her as a little filly.

She dropped the brush a let out a little squeak of surprise when she heard applause and a voice from behind. She turned around quickly starting to demand, "Who would intrude on the..." She stopped speaking when her eyes fell on the creature made of mismatched parts. She had never seen Discord before but she knew him by sight. He had made the front page of every paper after breaking free of his prison and almost destroying Equestria. "...on Trixie," she stammered as her body began to rebel against her mind. What was this villain doing here, she wondered as she looked for an exit. Her body shivered as she felt his eyes walk over her and she said a silent thank you that unlike the saloon crowed his eyes left her feeling clean.

"I must say you have a very beautiful voice Trixie," said Discord with a half toothy smile. "I do wonder why a mare of such talent as you is here of all places."

Trixie blinked he was not at all what she expected of an Equestrian super villain, contrary to her expectations he was quite charming. When she finally was able to push answer out past the fear induced shakes she said, "Trixie, I mean, it pays well."

"Ah but you don't enjoy it do you?" he asked resting his chin in his gryphon claw.

She just shook her head and glanced at the door, she might be able to make out of the room but there was nothing nearby that could stop him. "Of course Trixie does not enjoy prancing about for the enjoyment of others," she shot back in a short manner. Two heartbeats latter her eyes widened as she realized the tone she had used and how she sounded. She looked at Discord only to see him smiling and watching her, in response she smiled weakly as well. Her eyes were constantly searching for options and their movements quickened as Discord finally started to move towards her.

"Yes I think you will do fine for my needs," he said with a chuckle as he cornered Trixie. "I think you would be the perfect vessel for Applejack's excess pride."

Trixie let out a scream when he grabbed her by the throat. Her hooves pushed against nothing in their attempts to gain her freedom. As she struggled she felt Discords grip warm her skin. Part of her mind wondered, Applejack's pride, what is he talking about? Before her first thought cleared her mind it was over ridden by a second much louder almost raging thought, How dare he do this to the Great and Powerful Trixie. That part of her mind became louder overpowering her good sense and then she felt something. Something buried deep within her a trace of power that should have been lost.

A red haze floated across her vision and Trixie felt the power take hold. She formed the spell for a bolt of energy in her mind and fired it at the draconequus. She suddenly found herself falling to the floor of her room a wicked smile across her face as the thoughts of revenge against Twilight Sparkle returned. She began to laugh and shortly after began to cough. Her room was on fire, How dare he doge Trixie's blast, she thought. He will be added to our list for that, the princesses as well for letting that creature escape. She stood up and gathered the few possessions she owned before walking calmly from the burning building and out onto the streets.

By the time she was down the blaze had been noticed and the fire brigade was on its way but that was not important to her. What did garner her attention was the two lithe mares that had been her neighbors were on the street as well. She walked over to them and managed to stay unnoticed as she listened in on their conversation.

"I say we go to the south, we will be closer to home and there are towns that we could work at," said the light yellow unicorn with the long brown mane and tail. Her stage name had been Belle.

The other Mandy was a light pink pegasus with a blond mane and tail. The two could have been identical twins except for the color and breed differences. "No I think we should head for Appleloosa. I've never been around a buffalo and would like to meet one."

Appleloosa, the name stuck in Trixie's mind. How did Trixie know that name, she thought. Then it came to her, Appleloosa was home to a relative of one of Sparkle's friends. The hard working farm pony that would always help her friends and family. It felt good that her research of Sparkle and her friends was still useful. An idea formed in her mind and she walked forward towards the two mares, "Ladies Trixie heard you are thinking of heading towards Appleloosa. Trixie is headed that way herself and wouldn't mind you accompanying her."

The two sisters looked at one another then at Trixie. Eventually Belle spoke up, "We were thinking about that. Why do you want to go that way?"

"Trixie has some connections in Appleloosa. The Great and Powerful Trixie will use them to return to her rightful place as a unicorn without equal among the magically gifted."

"Right," replied Mandy her sarcasm as obvious as the fire light dancing across her face. "I have no problem going that way or with accompanying you."

"My only question is who your connections in Appleloosa and if they are cute or not?" added Belle. "No matter what if Mandy is going I will as well. So I guess the answer to the first question is yes. However we were planning on leaving on the train tonight."

"Trixie has no problems with that," answered Trixie with a fake smile. She kept that smile and continued to talk with the two mares but could feel eyes watching her. Occasionally she would look towards the sky but see nothing against the black of night. Other than the few searches of the sky and a few cautious glances at nearby wheels there was nothing that distracted her from the relatively boring conversation.

Above the city of Dodge Junction hovering in the air Discord frowned. They were headed to Appleloosa all three of them. It was odd as that was the last place he had been and dropped off one of the neurosis. He shrugged and flew onward while these four would cause trouble across the south west, eastern Equestria now needed some players. He snapped his fingers and found himself hovering in the sunlight.

Sunlight, he thought. That would only be the case if I was on the far side of the world. His face fell as he realized what had happened, This is a bother. He looked around a found a delta formation of shapes flying towards him. When he looked closer he saw that it was a flight of gryphons heading in his direction. He smiled and thought, wonderful serendipity what would I do without you, then cleaned his face of any emotion. "Oh no," he announced while overacting he let his arms fall hanging loosely from his shoulders as the gryphons flew up encircling him.

The gryphons flew up and encircled him showing razor claws and he shook his head. It's so sad they used to be such a calm and peaceful race a challenge to manipulate. Now they're aggressive and that aggression made control of them easy, he thought. I guess you change when you lose something that close to your core.

"What is it?" asked one of the Gryphons.

"Don't you read history or at least the news? It's Discord," shouted another.

"Discord, isn't that some statue or something the ponies made," a third added in.

The first one laughed and asked, "So this is a pony trick?"

A fourth one this one female from the sound of her voice shouted for silence and asked, "why have you come here?"

The first one ignored his orders and questioned, "Commander, you're not going to play along with this are you?"

She turned on him and shouted, "Private think carefully before you answer are questioning me?"

The subject for her wraith held his ground and responded, "The ponies know you were educated in their lands. Why else would they send this creature here of all places."

The commander shook with rage, "You think I am being used? I cut my ties to everyone, every friend I ever made there. They ignored my farewell, humiliated me, and laughed behind my back as I left. I have no love for them."

Discord smiled as he watched the display and an idea formed in his mind as he spoke, "I am not an ally of Equestria in fact once they learn of my actions today I suspect I will be imprisoned again. May I ask your name commander?"

The commander turned to look at the hovering draconequus, "Why should I tell you? From what I remember you are an element of chaos always trying to cause trouble."

"Now, now don't be like that. You know my name the least you could do for civilized conversation is inform me of yours," he answered turning up the charisma.

She grumbled and grudgingly said, "My name and title is Commander Gilda, and I am placing you under arrest."

"Well Commander Gilda what if I was able to give you power to take your revenge for that humiliation?" asked Discord while lifting one finger to his face in a thoughtful expression. "Think that would be enjoyable?"

Her piercing stare struck Discord as almost threatening as she spoke slowly, "First I don't need your help taking my revenge on the ponies that stole my best friend and second I said you are under arrest."

Discord snapped his fingers and appeared next to her one elbow resting on her head, "Well despite all that I'm not ready to be imprisoned. I would think it would be more interesting to watch you take your revenge so how about some extra rage courtesy of kindness?" He felt his elbow warm as he pushed a neurosis into the mind of the gryphon. He smiled still charismatic as he wave his free hand in front of her face and then disappeared.

"Commander?" asked the first gryphon.

"You were right," hissed Gilda. "They are trying to use my connections to them against me and for that I will prove them wrong." She was silent for a moment before continuing, "Return to base and pack for an extended mission, they all are going to pay for playing me."

"Yes ma'am," returned the gryphon flight and most of the flew away back to base.

"Commander, is taking a military unit into another country the best idea? I mean," started the first one but he stopped when she turned on him.

"Sergeant what is your name?" she asked.

"Graham, and I'm only a Private ma'am," he replied.

"You're a Sergeant now. You ask good questions and if you ask any more questions you'll get another promotion," the commander said with a wicked grin. “Just remember commanders lead from the front in the expeditionary force.” Gilda then turned and flew back the direction she had come leaving the bewildered Sargent behind.

Discord watched this from above spying over the edge of a cloud with stifled laughter. What luck was it for him to find one being that harbored a grudge against a specific pony and now one another that held a grudge against all of them. Pure serendipity the essence of positive chaos. He chuckled softly as the newly promoted and very confused gryphon slowly flew off following the commander. Discord then looked to the north west in the direction that he had to travel. Of course he could teleport to his next target but he might also end up further away, that would be a hassle and he was feeling a little slothful at the moment. The idea that Star Swirl had given him about the dragon in the Everfree was intriguing though.

He shifted to laying on his back and grabbed his tail twisting the end then tossing it over the side of the cloud. It spun rapidly unwinding and he relaxed as it pushed him leisurely out over the ocean and back towards Equestria.

Opponents ready

Chapter 3 Opponents ready

"Returner, Returner," yelled Zune as he banged on the door that connected my room to the lab.

I sighed and tried to bury myself under the sheets that covered the bed. As I began to drift back asleep I made a mental note to fix the alarm clock in my room. Unfortunately for my prospects of sleep they did not block out the noise of the Diamond Dog. After several more attacks on the door I crawled out of bed, and blindly reached out for the light dimmer. The lights slowly increased in intensity as I fumbled with the switch and after putting on my glasses I staggered towards the door. Through the sleep blur still fresh on my eyes I could see myself in one of the mirrors. If it wasn't for the odd proportions and the mark on my rear I would look like a normal gray horse. Spurred on by another round of Zune's shouts I re-situated my glasses on my face and headed out into the lab proper. My only words to Zune were, "I thought I told you not to call me that."

Zune clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth and replied, "But Returner is Returner."

"Zune, I've told you this before my name is Steel, I have no title." This had been a standard conversation over the past few months since I had returned from a possible future bringing Zune with me. In the small gap of time that I was gone my combat suit had disappeared, the lab had been destroyed, and the labs A.I. a neural copy of Jack had been off line. There were several possible causes for this but two stuck out, one the A.I. in the suit went rampant the other someone stole it. I know from the my jaunt to the future the suit’s A.I. will eventually go mad but I don’t know when or why it will turn unstable.

"Returner was given name and title after Returner left," he muttered.

"Alright Zune," I sighed this was getting old. "You can call me Returner all you want but as long as you call me by my real name in front of others. It's getting weird you running around on the street shouting Returner all the time."

He smiled and nodded emphatically, "Yes Zune-Zune do whatever Returner asks!"

All I could do was sigh slowly again then ask, "Zune just don't ever say it like that again."

He gave one slight nod and then turned to walk off into the lab. The lab was now for the most part repaired, it was nowhere near as impressive or streamlined as it had once been. That was mostly because I still hadn't been able to reactivate the labs A.I. I still had the future watch but something had happened to the program inside it. Whether it was the time travel or the EM pulse of a sun going nova I didn't know but I favored the latter. All that did was make me question if the device itself survived.

"Zune has anyone tried to come down today?" I asked as I walked over to the glass case that held the future tech. Inside was one of the two survival suits, Rarity was still examining the other. The case also held the watch, Zune's sword and his pistol along with the original Alicorn Rig.

"No, Lord Spike came by earlier. Lord Spike said that the War Master and Bars Sparkle and Rarity, would be by later."

I sighed and said “Alright.” I then turned back towards the center of the lab. “You did as Twilight asked and managed not to refer to Spike as a lord, right?" I asked in a justifiably half distracted manner. My mind had just fully processed who Zune was referring to by War Master.

"Zune do as Bar Sparkle asked. Lord Spike has not matured to the point to handle Lord Spikes title," he said in a very proper fashion as if quoting a great individual. I guess in his case he was.

"You said Logia will be coming as well," I added while doing my best to control my voice. Just the idea of her showing back up had my heart racing, and I silently cursed myself for that reaction. Yes I had resigned myself to living in this world, and yes, I thought I had expected everything that entailed. To be specific problem I had was not one of different species but that my body reacted to the mere mention of her name. "You know she might not become a War Master, that reality is on a different path than our own."

"Yes," replied Zune. "The War Master may never become a War Master but will always have the capacity to be a War Master."

"But she hasn't earned that title yet, she doesn't know about that capacity within her. It might strike her as a little odd you referring to her by that," I countered.

He looked at me thoughtfully, "Then what should Zune-Zune refer to the War Master as?"

"Well first idea is Logia," I said plainly. His abhorrent reaction made me reconsider that option, "How about an honorific that is not tied to the War Master title. Miss, Mistress, Madam whatever you see fit." He started to reply but I cut him off, "Not War Master." He was quiet for a moment then began to speak and once again I cut him off, "or War Mistress."

Zune looked at the ground and made his signature ticking noise, as he began to slowly walk around the lab. He muttered to himself and walked into the corner where he sat down in silence.

Watching him made me feel as if I had just scolded a puppy. "Good God. Zune, I'm not mad at you. I'm just trying to maintain control of information."

He looked at me with a confused expression and asked, "Why, Returner? Why have Zune-Zune lie about what Zune-Zune knows?"

"It's not lying," I said with a sigh that twisted into a smile before continuing. "It's just an omission of information. You will eventually be able to to address her however you see fit but first we need to explain the title. It's like how Twilight and the others were caught off guard by the Bar titles."

Zune made the clicking noise again, this time it was much more energetic than previous. "Zune-Zune understands, Zune-Zune doesn't want another slap." He rubbed his nose as he spoke remembering his encounter with Rarity and how in his haste he rushed into her room without introduction and ended up prostrating himself over, as she described them, her unmentionables. What a pony that normally wore nothing would do with what looked lingerie was a thought that baffled me.

Maybe they are like the Ferengi and their reverse striptease? said a now familiar voice in my mind.

Cricket, you're not helping, I thought in reply.

Sorry, couldn't help myself. The movie has been boring for so long I can't help but make jokes now. I felt a lazy smile as this thought came through.

The short interchange took less than a second but it was always disconcerting as hell when a voice in your head actually has a conversation with you. It was even worse when he wanted a face to face talk pulling me into my own mind just for some discussion that more often than not was pointless. The headache that always came afterward made even the worst hangover seem tolerable. For some reason though I put up with him, probably because I had to can't really evict him. The worst part was that despite all the problems he caused, he had been a source of sound advice and solid ideas. Even more so in the months since Jack had been disabled but that was all about to change.

"Zune don't worry about it, if you slip up before we can explain everything the worst that will happen is she'll just get confused." I said then smiled softly and walked around my lab.

It was my lab now, the new design while heavily based on Jacks old one belonged to me. My design sense and flair had changed things along with some help from Zune and his mining laser. Alcoves were bigger changing the round room into a more gear shaped one. One of the gear's teeth now lead to the surface, the entrance hidden by a house currently under construction. That entrance also allowed me to move the old station wagon to it's new home. The other alcoves held the construction bay, storage rooms, and finally a reinforced server room. The raised central platform of the original lab still was there as were the monitors however they were laid out in a pattern that worked better for me. The biggest change was from the clean bright whites of Jack's lab to the more docile earth tones I enjoyed.

My smile spread a little more as I began manipulating the controls of one of the nearby devices. There was one major thing Jack's lab was lacking, a good audio system. It wasn't now. The sound of Bach began to drift out of the labs speaker system. While I knew home was a far distant place that I would never see again, the sounds of home were a pleasant reminder of who and what I was. The only major downside that I had found since coming to Equestria was the lack of hands. Though it wasn't the only problem I had with the miscalculation that landed me here and took away my human body. It all felt like a bad Quantum Leap parody.

"Returner," I heard Zune at the same time as I felt him poke my shoulder. He backed away quickly when I jumped and stood tapping two long fingers together nervously as he gathered up the nerve to speak.

"Zune, don't panic," my voice sounding as exhausted at this behavior as I felt. I continued to speak as I turned to face him, "Look Zune, calm down and think. We have been working together for what a little under half a year now? You should know by now I'm not like the me in those stories you've heard."

"Zune-Zune is sorry Returner, Returner was not moving," He spoke in an almost whisper.

I smiled and said, "It was no big deal Zune, I was just lost in memories."

He returned the smile and looked up as he spoke slowly, "Zune-Zune forgets sometimes that Returner is not Returner of legend. Returner's story grew but Returner was a reluctant hero that did not want to be remembered."

I blinked a few times a little shocked at Zune's analysis of me and then laughed. It was a good laugh and deep, if I still had toes it would have come from them. It been a long time since I had laughed this much and it felt good. "Zune, I'm not a hero. What I am is, arrogant, hard headed, and lucky as hell."

He made his ticking noise as he shook his head, "Returner is hero, all stories of Returner say that. No stories could have been made about Returner after Returner left. That means Returner stories all started in truth then grew."

I placed a hoof against my head and let out a long sigh before speaking. "Look if I had my choice I would sit on my butt all day and goof off but I can't. I have no choice but to clean up my mess."

"Returner always have choice. That Returner does not see it means that the Returner is good, here," as he finished talking he patted his hand against his chest.

"I agree with the Diamond Dog," said a voice that echoed through the lab. "Though if he learned to use pronouns it would make him a little easier on the ears."

I turned towards the voice knowing who it belonged to and found myself lacking any form of communication due to my jaw hanging open. I was staring at Logia and she was unchanged from last I saw her. A white unicorn, her mane and tail turquoise with a single purple stripe. I gathered myself mentally and began rapidly running through points of possible conversation before grabbing one that wouldn't lead to awkwardness. "We have been working on that," I said as I met her eyes. "Logia this is Zune-Zune, or Zune as everyone else calls him. Zune this is Logia." I gesture back and forth as I said there names and Zune bowed.

Logia smiled warmly towards Zune and said, "It is a pleasure to meet you." Zune began to babble but I knew both of us were ignoring him. When her turquoise eyes met mine a smile full of emotion spread across her face, confidence, arrogance, slyness and an almost predatory smirk mixed in.

I walked around the central platform and down into the lab space. "It's been a long time," I said, a goofy smile spreading across my face. "Why haven't you come by?" I asked and immediately regretted it.

Her smile lost some of it's predatory nature and I immediately missed that, it simmered down to a simple friendly smile before she spoke. "I told you if you wanted to talk just get a hold of me." She shook her head and laughed, "I was out living my life. Despite everything that happened I still am pursuing my career in archeology and as such I didn't have time to spontaneously hop over and say hi."

"That makes sense," I muttered.

“I see you remodeled,” She said as she walked around the lower circular path that went past all of the alcoves stopping at the one that held the future tech. For a moment I thought she was going to ask but then she continued around to the garage. “You know I have never seen this before, but it’s the vehicle you showed up in right?”

“Yeah that’s the old station wagon,” I replied. My voice carried the slight notes of sadness that I felt as I continued, “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to drive her again.”

Logia looked up from inspecting the interior of the wagon and asked, “Why? You built the Suit and Alicorn Rig, why couldn’t you make this thing work again?”

“Because I don’t want to butcher everything about it. This world can’t process the fuel for it, and it wouldn’t feel right to pull the engine out.” I looked at the wagon, there were a lot of memories within that beast. Camping trips, vacations, collage all tied to that four wheeled linch pin.

Logia rolled her eyes slightly as she slowly spoke, “So what you’re saying is that even though you have the ability to change dirt, trees, and stone into those metal cylinders of death, you can't create the fuel you need?”

I stared at her with a blank expression as the thought, Why the hell didn’t I think of that, raced through my head. “I guess I could do that, but I’ll have to get Jack back first. I don’t know all the ancillary chemicals in gasoline, he might.”

She raised one eyebrow and asked, “Back from where?”

“There was a disaster in the lab and I haven't brought him back online,” I answered while wondering how much she already knew.

She walked back into the lab proper and around to the stairs leading to the raised platform. I walked along the center platform and met her at the stairs. She looked down for a moment as I was walking down to her, when she looked up she began to speak. “So what’s your plan?”

“Well what do you know?” I walked over to the alcove that held a table and cushions as I continued to speak, “I haven’t talked to you about anything since I woke up in the hospital. I don’t know what else you have been told.”

“Quite a bit actually,” she said with a smile. “After your display with that battlesuit Dressage upped their ante and increased the generousness of the recruitment offers. Even more so after the rumor of the suit going rouge reached their ears. Then there was the even more absurd one about you taking a temporal jaunt about half a year ago,” she said with a lopsided smile.

My mind was running with what I had been told. There had to be some spies somewhere close to the ones I trusted here or the ones they trusted in Canterlot. It also seemed that Dressage was not responsible for the theft of the suit and that meant that most likely it had already gone rogue. I felt my smile shift to a frown when I thought, This is even worse than if Dressage had stolen it. At least I would have had somewhere to start if they had.

Or they could be playing with misinformation, added Cricket. Why would they let her out of anyone, know the truth.

So I haven’t actually gained anything have I? I thought back.

Nope, this thought was sent with a sense of a smug smile.

Both Logia and I jumped when Zune began to speak, I know I had forgotten about him being here. “But Returner did go and return Wa-,” He quickly clamped his paws over his mouth. “Zune-Zune sorry, Zune-Zune means Miss Logia, Returner brought Zune-Zune back with Returner.”

I almost laughed at Zune he was trying his best and struggling. I decided to make it easier on him and tell Logia all of it. “Yeah, you’re very well informed. Zune came from the future, I went and came back. The suit has probably gone rogue and in the future I visited I wasn’t around to stop it. You ended up leading the fight and gained the title of War Master, and that’s the name Zune knows you by.”

Her smile grew and she began to laugh, “You can’t be serious. You went to the future and then came back.” She caught her breath before asking, “How?”

“I tried to go home, screwed up and arrived on a mostly dead world in the future. The sun was going to blow up but Celestia was holding it back. Most things had left the planet for greener pastures as it were. The Ponies, Dragons and everything else had moved into space. Celestia let the sun go and Luna used the reflected power to send me back here before attaching their power base to a different star system.”

Her laughter returned and I stood there patiently waiting for her to stop. When she did she looked me over and the asked, “You’re serious aren't you?”

“Yes, yes I am,” I answered with a bit of a laugh. Then asked in a much more serious voice, “Now what was that about Dressage and recruitment?”

She looked at me, swallowed and the walked past me to the table as she spoke. “They have been recruiting eyes and ears all over the place from the royal palace to the neighborhood coffee shop. That combined with their already established information network means they are almost impossible to get away from and you know they see me as a lost child. They want me back. The last offer that was made was that if I joined them and then joined you on your search for the Suit I would have access to their funds, agents and material.”

“So you take them up on it?” I asked with a grin.

She about faced and stared at me in a familiar fashion a slight flash of anger in them, it made me smile wider. “Steel why would you think that?” she half yelled at me.

“Now that’s the Logia I remember,” I said still wearing a smile. “I wouldn’t think you had joined them even if you took them up on the offer. If it had been me I would have accepted and the used them as much as they used me.”

“You obviously don’t know who you would be messing with,” she replied.

“True I don’t know them but I still would place my bet on me.” I said as I let my smile fall. “Now that all of that is out of the way how about some questions that actually matter. How have you been?”

She let out a soft laugh this time and looked me in the eyes that shone with her her smile. “I’ve been just fine. I was a little concerned at first since I hadn’t heard anything from you but with my job at the university, continuing my education and dodging Dressage I stayed busy.”

“And you’re not busy now?” I asked.

“I 'm extremely busy right now but I needed to see you,” she said with a slight blush.

“Oh, I left that much of a...” A thought had crossed my mind that made me trail off. “You’re not pregnant are you?”

She looked at me with a horrified face before yelling, “What!?”

“I just was trying to think of a reason why you would come back, and that just popped out.” I had a feeling I was going to need a tall ladder fairly soon with the way I was digging this hole. “I’m sorry,” I said as I hung my head.

She shook her head as she spoke this time. “For Celestia’s sake Steel you know so much but have no grasp on the basics of this world.” She walked up beside me and almost whispered in my ear, “Mares can only get pregnant during a two week window in the spring.”

I felt the blood rush to my face as I said, “That’s convenient.” I glanced around and then asked, “So why did you need to see me?”

“Because I needed to know what we had between us. I’ve had several stallions show interest in me since we parted and I had thought about moving on. Sometimes I think I should but every time I try I start thinking of you again.” I could hear the wavering in her voice as she spoke.

“Honestly Logia I have no clue. Yes I like you, I might even say I’m infatuated with you, and yes you are the one person, ah, pony I feel the closest to.” I spoke quickly as if I waited these words would bind in my throat. However my next few sentence were full of fumbled words. “I don’t know what I’m doing honestly. My mind is tearing itself apart over you. My heart feels like it’s going to burst out of my chest when you are around but then part of me hangs up on the fact that you are different from me.” After several failed attempts to continue I finally managed to say, “I know on the outside you and I are the same but in my core I’m still human and you and your world are alien to me. I care about you but there is a part of me, a small part holding me back.”

Everyone was silent for a moment and then I heard a sad sniffing noise from off to the side. I turned and saw Zune standing there tears rolling down his face and a runny nose. I squeezed my eyes shut and felt my own pinched up tears get pushed out of my eyes before saying, “Zune can you do me a favor? Go take a break, leave the lab for a half hour or so, have lunch or something.”

“But Zune-Zune wants to stay. Zune-Zune wants to see Bar Twilight and Bar Rarity. Zune-Zune also wants to see Spirit.” He rubbed his nose with the back of his paw and smiled.

I sighed sometimes it was like dealing with a child. “Zune, you have been down here long enough, why don’t you go out and explore for a little bit.” In general the ponies had been a little wary of Zune but the whole town quickly discovered that he was different from most of the other Diamond Dogs. He was now as accepted in town as Twilight’s little zilla, Spike.

“But,” he started again like a little kid but I cut him off.

“Zune go. I have some things I want to talk to Logia about in private.” He began a dog like whine and I shook my head slightly knowing that he didn't understand. As I walked over to him I continued to speak trying to make my point clear. “Zune I have some things I want to talk to Logia about and I think we both would feel more comfortable without you here.”

He looked at me as he barely held back his tears, his face twisted into a pout. “Zune-Zune sorry,” he cried. “Zune-Zune does not want to leave Returner. Zune-Zune is Returners servant. ”

“Damn it Zune,,just go. You can come back in an hour,” I grumbled at him.

He slowly began to trudge towards the exit and I heard mumble, “Zune-Zune sorry, Zune-Zune does not want Returner angry. Zune-Zune sorry.”

I shook my head again. This wasn't the first time Zune had done this. He behaved like a dog, and if dogs back home were a guide to reading him he saw me asking for privacy as the same as exiling him from the pack. After he left I turned back towards Logia and said, “This isn't the first time for this he’ll be okay.”

She gave me a suspicious look and asked, “Why did you send him away? You already have talked about your emotions and everything un-macho.”

“I don’t care about that. Emotions are emotions, everyone has them so why hide them. What I wanted to talk to you about is that as you know I'm going out to hunt down my suit. I don’t know if it was stolen but more likely walked out on it’s own. I want to know if you would come along.” I tried to keep my face as neutral as possible as I asked.

“You sent him out of here to ask me that?” She asked studying me.

I awkwardly scratched behind my head and looked away as I answered, “Well, I know him and he has a kind of hero worship for anyone from this time frame. I didn’t want you influenced by what either of us wanted. If you want to come with us I want you come of your own accord.”

She laughed, “Steel you are the strangest...” She paused and I could see her roll several words around in her mouth before finally saying, “thing I have ever met.” She then looked at me a smile still on her lips as she said, “Before I agree to this trip I need to know why you want me out of everypony else that you know.”

“Well,” I said stretching the word as I formed my thoughts. “I’m not from this world and as you know, I know almost nothing about it and Zune is from a time where this world is a massive desert. He is about as knowledgeable as I am about the current time, and I don’t have many ponies that I can ask to go on this trip.” This was an understatement other than Logia and the two from Dressage the only ponies I knew well enough to consider asking were the six element bearers. “I trust you Logia, I know some of what you can do so I know that you can hold your own and I value your input. I don’t know what will happen but if I had to choose one person to bring along with me I would chose you.”

Her smile grew as I spoke and when I finished she said, “You said person again.”

I shook my head as I looked at the ground, “I don’t think I’ll ever get that right.”

She walked up beside me and put a fetlock to my chin lifting my face to look at hers. “Steel,” as she spoke it seemed like the world slowed down to a crawl. “I will go with you. If I didn’t I would be constantly worrying about you. From what I’ve seen of Zune he is kind but innocent and you are so far out of touch with this world it’s laughable.”

I cut her words off as impulse took over and I planted a kiss on her lips. That resulted in me receiving a slap from her. She then shouted, “Don’t do that without warning me.”

I just sat there laughing as I rubbed the slap mark on my cheek.

Her face showed her irritation but it soon broke into a smile as well. Then she asked, “So when do we leave?”

I calmed my laughter enough to answer, “I have some things to do first to get ready. In fact today the plan is to reactivate Jack.”

She sat down facing me and said, “So I take it you have no plan for hunting the suit?”

“Not much of one,” I replied. “I'm now thinking of getting the wagon running before heading out though. It could be useful. Other than that and getting Jack working my plan was to go out and investigate. I don’t know what it’s doing or why it left but in Zune’s timeline it becomes a Warlord ruling the world for several hundred years.” I looked at her now straight in her eyes as I said, “It is part of my mess and if nothing else I’m going to clean up that mess.”