Act 2 Finale Recap · 10:05pm Nov 15th, 2014
It's finale time people! Better get comfortable, because this chapter is the longest one yet!
Previously on IAIMAY
“...‘Memory is the key’ means there’s only one thing with the memories needed to bring down the Meta and Project Freelancer,” Tex explained to the gathered ponies and blue soldiers. The group was standing in front of the derelict dropship under the stars. “The Alpha. We need to unlock it.”
Twilight took a step forward. “The Alpha? But, wouldn’t that mean… going back?”
Tex nodded, “Yes. Back to Repertum. Back to Freelancer Command.”
“Listen guys, I know this looks bad, but trust me! I used to be stationed here! I was part of the Blue Team!” Church tried to explain to the squad of soldiers threatening him.
“That’s impossible,” the man with the green stripe said.
“Yeah, the Blues here were wiped out, I know. But I survived, you can look at the records if you don’t believe me!”
One of the soldiers in white armor deactivated the alarm, returning the room to silence. The man with the stripe tilted his head and looked at Church curiously. This time he didn’t seem suspicious, though. He looked genuinely confused.
“No, that’s impossible because there was never a Blue Team in Sidewinder to begin with! The records themselves say so!”
“It just doesn’t make any sense…”
“What is all of this?” she asked, stepping closer to Sunny and Tex. “These… things all look just like Church!”
Tex was silent. It was at that moment, looking at Tex’s enraged image that Twilight remembered exactly who’s ex-girlfriend she was talking to.
“It’s Church, isn’t it? He’s at the center of all of this!”
At that, Tex’s avatar shrank back down to its normal size and hue. Tex looked at Twilight for a long time before answering, “I don’t want to have to do this, okay? I just wanted to leave Church alone so he could live out his days in peace. But Wash said this is the only way, and… it’ll kill Church when he finds out…”
Twilight turned around to go back to her spot next to Fluttershy, but another agonized whimper from Sunny stopped her.
“Can… can you see what she’s dreaming about?” Twilight asked Tex.
It took some time for Tex to answer. “Her friends, her family…” Tex paused, “the Meta…”
Twilight turned back around. Tex’s avatar was still there. “How often does she dream about…?”
“Every night.”
Twilight was about to respond when Sunny was suddenly overtaken by a particularly violent spasm. Her sleeping face was a contortion of terror, and suddenly Twilight wasn’t looking at the calm, stoic soldier but a scared filly. Armored hooves thrashed at the air around her, and soon enough Sunny’s moans of despair became words.
“She’s traumatized...” Twilight suddenly realized. A little stab of pain entered her throat as she said it. “She shouldn’t be out here! She needs help! She should be at home with her family!”
“So, uh, why exactly did you summon us?” Grif asked.
Celestia’s easy smile disappeared. “The two of you arrived at this planet on board a large warship, did you not? The Mother of Invention?”
“Yeah…” Grif said, deciding no longer to question what the regal white pony knew.
“I won’t lie… its presence here worries me greatly. Already I’ve sensed their forces’ presence on this world,” Celestia leaned forward, her face a mask of calm, but the slight tremor in her voice betrayed her unease. “They’re here. Somewhere on Equestria’s surface right now. They’re operating in secret for the time being…”
“Doing what?” Simmons asked.
Celestia hesitated for some time. She seemed to be looking for the right words. “Searching. But they won’t find what they’re looking for, and I’m worried about what they’ll do once they realize that.”
Wyoming’s mustache flared as he grinned. Something told Donovan the man knew exactly who Sunset Shimmer was talking about.
“Had a change of heart, has she?” Wyoming chuckled. “I suppose the Director was right after all!”
“On that note, I was wondering if I could arrange to have a chat with him?”
Wyoming frowned. “The Director’s not had much time lately, I’m afraid. Not even for old friends, Sunset.”
Sunset Shimmer grinned up at Wyoming confidently. “I think he’ll want to hear what I have to say. Someone who can get information from a Princess has got to be worth his time!”
“Uh, Rarity?” Rainbow Dash asked as she helped Rarity to her hooves. “Did CT just get away with the Monitor?”
“I’m afraid so. But don’t worry, I can easily track him down!” Rarity answered.
“How?”
Rarity gave the pegasus a confident grin. “With the tracking enchantments on Spike’s ruby now sitting in the back of CT’s vehicle!”
Everyone smiled with a bit of relief. They were down, but they weren’t out yet!“So… did that asshole just take off with our only ride out of here?” Church asked. The smiles all vanished.
