//------------------------------// // 3 - Far Beyond Determination // Story: Far Beyond Different // by Motion Reflux //------------------------------// Chapter 3 Believe in yourself for only you can push yourself to greater heights. But one falter will make you fall all the way back down. A stubborn talk with a heavy heart, Can only stalk those who cannot start. I woke up once more and I knew that today I was scheduled to hang out with that rainbow mare as well as sleep over at her place. "Flow!" shouted the purple alicorn. From hearing that I immediately jumped out of the bed I was laying in. That wasn't smart because now my back slightly hurts; ugh... I hate these pain receptors. I slowly looked up to see a small dragon and I quickly remembered that Twilight Sparkle said her assistants were a small dragon and owl. I think his name was... "Hey! Twilight's calling you." the small dragon interrupted my train of thought. Oh right, she told me his name was Spike. I shooed him away with my forehoof and stood up and I could tell my mane was a mess but I didn't care and so I walked towards where Twilight Sparkle was. As I entered the room I saw a certain rainbow colored pegasus being talked to by a purple alicorn. Twilight Sparkle seemed to be telling Rainbow Dash something and I wonder what it was. I waved towards Rainbow Dash who in return just gave me the cold shoulder. That made me frown... Twilight Sparkle then visibly sighed and I saw her give Rainbow Dash a serious stare and then walk up to me. She said to me, "Rainbow's being a bit stubborn as of lately, Flow, try to be understanding okay?" I nodded. I've answered my own question of if robots can feel real feelings as of late and what I'm supplemented myself was a yes. The reason for this answer is that I've come to realize that I've been crying during my moments of memory, to which it seems something that has prevented me from feeling emotion had finally been either destroyed... or maybe just disabled temporarily. Twilight Sparkle then walked passed me and gave me a small pat against my back as encouragement I presume; I then walked up to the rainbow mare that was at the door. I then looked at her and asked, "What'dya wanna do, Rainbow?" She turned and glared at me almost menacingly and pulled me outside of the library. Then she gruelingly whispered to me, "Don't you 'What'dya wanna do' me! We're going to fly and I want you to tell me why you're really here!" Her words were as cold as her stare and it hurt, my wings stiffened as if they were scared and I replied to her, "I-I'm not trying to hurt any pony!" "Yeah right... we'll just see..." she turned away and hovered upward, she then shouted to me, "Keep up. Now." Geez... I thought she'd have warmed up to me by now but I guess she isn't as trusting as her other friends... Just as I thought that, I felt my cheeks burning but also felt the left side of my face brimming with heat. That isn't a good sign but I'll try to keep it under reps... I looked around a bit cluelessly for a moment and then hovered towards where Rainbow Dash had gone. She was quick, and her angry tension made it feel like she was moving even faster away from me. What'm I getting myself into now? Don't think that... I'll be fine... Right...? As we were moving through the skies we were stopped by that orange earth pony. I looked over to Rainbow Dash who began descending towards the other pony, so I continued to follow behind. Stay away from her... Huh...? I will keep you on this path forever... W-wha...? YOU CAN NEVER GET AWAY... ... YoU WilL sTAy oN tHiS paTh fOrEVeR... ...forever on the path of the unknown... I couldn't feel anything except the wind of my face; it seemed that my eyes were shut and I didn't know what was occurring. I felt a spark of electricity move up my spine and my eyes flipped open. "W-WHA?!" I shouted, I was falling from the sky and I couldn't feel any part of my body. This wasn't my mechanical body shutting down but I felt that it was something behind the scenes that was affecting me. I felt a large shockwave overcome me during my fall, it was incredibly uncomfortable. "Flow!" I heard somepony shout. I didn't know who it was because of my stiffened state, even when I looked around from my limited vision. Am I going to die? It would be nice to die... Then I began to think to myself that if I died, I would get to be with Embrace again... We could be friends once more and this time I could protect her from anything in the afterlife... Don't die, Flow... But I would be with you again... Don't... you have much more to look forward to... I can't see anything to look forward to... Look towards the Rainbow, Flow... I must be clueless then... because I can't see it... You're going to have to see it... if you really... want to protect me... Find the Rainbow that you've desired to reach for such a long time... I shook my head and finally snapped out of my trance, it seems that I wasn't falling at all but it was all just my imagination... What a weird imagination then, for a robot that is... I landed behind Rainbow Dash and stood back, listening to their coversation. I did my best to be respectful as they had conversation with each other but that was interrupted when that orange earth pony walked up to me and said, "Howdy partner', ya think ya could also lend me a hoof here?" "Uh..." I trailed off in thought... What am I even going to help with anyways? I looked at Rainbow Dash to see her staring off to who knows where, then I turned my vision back to Applejack and replied to her, "What'm I gonna help with?" I felt a cooling sensation in my wings and then felt a rush of air blowing out of them. Oops, I think that's another revealing factor past my fake feathers... Set internal notes to ON. Applejack caught my attention and she pointing with her forehoof over her farm. Oh dear, there were so many storm clouds over them! Why were they so pink...? HEADS UP DISPLAY ACTIVATION SEQUENCE On my heads up display it showed me the photo of that cloud, then I swiped over with the flick of my eyes and looked at the connection. It seems that those clouds are connected to the Spirit of Chaos, Discord. Then the display shut off and I saw Fluttershy a distance away having a bit of an small argument with the spirit of chaos himself, who was sitting back on a beach chair. It looked kind of ridiculous to me, in my opinion. I heard Applejack say to me, "Seems Discord doesn't wanna dispel his fancy clouds'of his, even with Fluttershy talkin' to him. Ya think ya could destroy those 'fer me?" I looked over at the clouds and saw that they were raining chocolate milk. I thought ponies would like that... but I guess it isn't good for growing crops though. I nodded to Applejack and she gave me a nice smile in return and the three of us approached closer to the problem. When we got near Discord, I think Rainbow Dash begun to argue with him as well and it kind of left me with the work of destroying all those rampant clouds. They looked like they were pretty strong, for being made of cotton candy, and I could see a small shimmer like they had been enhanced with magic. I flew up and aimed myself towards one of the clouds, my right foreleg extended outward in an attacking position and as I flew closer and closer I also picked up speed so that I could punch it out. Then when I hit it, I stuck to it horribly and it was disgusting. I looked down to see Discord laughing at me but I couldn't hear what he was saying to the others. I got myself out of the cloud and hovered back down, preening my wings and wiping off the excessive cotton candy. Then I heard Discord say, "You're new here aren't you? What's your name, if I may so ask?" His voice sounded mischievous but I replied, "Motionne Flow, and I already know who you are." "Oh? So you know that I'm the spirit of chaos-" I saw him wave his paw around as he spoke, "-and that I'm 'reformed'?" "Well... didn't know 'bout the reformed part, but otherwise yes." I said in return. He looked at me even closer and then reared back in surprise, "You... are cursed? Hah, I didn't think that such potent curses still existed in this time!" He laid back on his beach chair and a flash appeared over his eyes and when they disappeared a pair of sunglasses had magically formed. I heard Fluttershy say, "Discord... you've really gotta stop those clouds of yours..." Then Discord said in return, "And I'm telling you, Fluttershy, I didn't make these clouds nor can I control and dispel them, but it is fun watching your friends try to break them, ha ha!" "Why don't you get your princess-friend, Twilight Sparkle? I'm sure she can get rid of those clouds for you." he said and a then a bag of popcorn appeared on his lap that he began to eat. I turned away and looked at the clouds, there must be a better way to destroy them... Wait... "Activate, Winged Fear." I said and I think everyone that heard me began to stare at me. I knew what happens now, Winged Fear is part of my robotic form and was a painful process to install. My wings began to expel clouds of air and a moment later my fake feathers fell off, revealing my metallic wings. Then I knew exactly that the bladed parts on my wings had changed to a color of bright red, filling them with accursed energy, and I felt my left eye change in heat which told me that it was glowing bright red. Once the formation was complete, my wings became deadly swords that I could fly around with without moving them. I checked behind me to see a surprised look on everyones face's except for Rainbow Dash's. Even Discord had been surprised by this and I think it was because now he knew that not even I was just a normal pony just like the other two now saw. Then a tear came out of my cursed eye and I flew up. I promised myself that I would never use these blades for anything and it was recommended that I never use them for anything other than a powerful princess. When I fought with the Elements of Harmony I didn't realize that Twilight Sparkle had just become an alicorn princess because my database wasn't updated. My wings began to extend in size, but not with real wings but with tendrils of accursed energy that oozed out of the blades on my wings. The purpose of these extensions was for maneuverability and to cut past the deepest of magical shields with an equally powerful accursed energy. It came with the cost of when I used it, my body would be weakened and fatigued when the ability had run its course and it corrupted my form by destroying cells in my real body. It slowly would kill me if I wasn't careful, but I guess that's what happens when you try to utilize a curse that was powerful than most magics. Now I felt my right eye heat up and that signalled that the pinnacle of the blades and my curse has now been reached. All I had to do now was control the rage that would try to overcome me. These weren't normal clouds, they were enhanced with a powerful magic that only I could probably counteract. I need to sacrifice myself in order gain the trust of everypony... I'm sure this will work... Even if it kills you? Even if it kills me. The tendrils emitted from my wings extended out and moved on their own and I only just hovered forward so the clouds were in my range. They sliced through the clouds quite easily, quickly destroying each of them one by one. But what mystified me was when I did slice one I heard a scream... like a shrill scream that would come from pain. I needed to destroy all these clouds as soon as possible now, so that I can release this ability without much damage to myself. I flew faster and the accursed energy from my wings sliced through all the clouds in an instant. So many screams... I then turned back and landed, dispelling all the energy that was being emitted from my body but when I was doing so I had my eyes closed. When I had them open, I saw Fluttershy look away and heard Applejack say to me, "Are... are ya okay, sugarcube'...?" Discord was just as surprised as they were and he didn't say a word, nor did Rainbow Dash say anything. The yellow pegasus approached me shyly and said, "F-Flow... your hind-leg... is..." Rainbow Dash shouted, "B-Bloodied!" "I say..." Discord stood up, "...what in Celestia's name were you cursed with, My little Flow." My vision had began to become hazy and I said... ReGreTs... Regrets... Regrets... "A curse concluded with the unknown..." Then I saw Discord take a closer look at me, it was hard to see but I could also view that he had his claw against his chin as he was lost in thought. Then when he was done he said, "That spirit was banished so long ago by Celestia." I heard Fluttershy say, "You know her problem then...?" "Yes I do." Discord answered, "But I don't know any cure as there had only been one fatality to ever occur to it and no other known victims before its banishment." That draconequus stood back and continued, "The death of that one victim though... was just as what looks like has happened to the hind-leg of your friend there... Bloody." Then I said one word... "Power." I saw every one turn to look at me as I continued, "In exchange for power... I slowly die..." I sighed and said, "Hey draconequus spirit, can you conjure'me up some bandage or at least heal it up if you can?" "I'm sorry, Flow, but the power of your curse is much stronger than even the magic of the spirit of chaos himself." Discord stated, and then I saw him whisper something to Fluttershy which made her perk up slightly. Fluttershy then approached me and said, "Maybe you should stay with me... I can ask Twilight to fix up your schedule for you so I can tend to your injury..." "No wait!" Rainbow Dash shouted, "She's staying with me for the day!" Applejack interrupted, "But sugarcube', I think Fluttershy's better at tendin' to that there wound." The multicolored mare contested, "Fluttershy can do that at my place too, ya know!" I sighed in the sidelines, my vision had began to steady once more during this period but I was getting a headache from just listening. Discord had already disappeared to who-knows-where, but I guess this isn't really in his domain to be here. Fluttershy nodded, Applejack nodded, and Rainbow Dash hovered back with a smile. Wait a second... what just happened while I was lost in thought? I also thought that Rainbow Dash didn't trust me, or did she change her mind during this event? My hind-leg was weak but I could still walk so I approached the group and said, "So then what's the plan?" Rainbow Dash, "Well, Robot-pony, you'll be staying with me still as Twi's schedule says but Flutter here is going to hang around and then to your bloodied leg; Applejack's going to notify Twi in the meantime." "B-But... d-don't take it in any other way than as a friendly gesture!" she finished her small speech. Applejack had already started a walk towards a large red stallion and told him something to which then he proceeded the farm and she left my vision in just a short amount of time. Then I felt some pony pick me up from underneath me and saw that it was Rainbow Dash who did it. It made my cheeks heat up only slightly, b-but that was from that awkward situation of being picked up and carried. I-It was embarrassing! But... It reminded me of something... I closed my eyes and lost myself in thought... "Hey Flow..." the soft rose colored earth pony asked her friend, "Do you think you'll ever find love?" "Love? Pfft, that'll come later! My goal right now is to become a Wonderbolt!" the dark blue pegasus responded. Only at that moment I realized what she was really asking. "Heh... right, Well... I've already figured out who my special somepony is, but I'm too afraid to ask them." the soft rose colored earth pony smiled. The dark blue pegasus looked at her and asked, "Really? Who is it, Who is it!" "I'm not telling you~" that earth pony teased her friend. They were both on a high hill that extended out of the forest, the forest that ponies were not allowed to pass into. The earth pony was laid back against the hill and the pegasus was pestering her for an answer. That dark blue pegasus finally gave up after a minute and laid back beside her friend; they both looked up to the skies. As they watched the passing clouds there was an uneasy silence... then right as they were perfectly relaxed a large explosion had occured and a spectra of rainbow had expanded across their vision. A sonic rainboom... "Woah...!" they both admired the amazing sight which then disappeared before getting to their town, luckily they were both in the forest on a high hill. The soft rose colored earth pony then said, "That's a... sonic rainboom!" "Sonic rainboom?" the dark blue pegasus asked. Of course... I didn't really pay attention a lot of the time in class... The soft rose earth pony smiled but didn't answer the question that was asked, which kind of annoyed her friend slightly. "I want to... reach that rainbow..." the dark blue pegasus stated, "...that'll be my new dream..." Rainbow Dash reminded me of my dream... that's what it was... I woke up, it seems that I fell asleep on Rainbow Dash's back while she was carrying me and it seems now I was located in a home that was really white and looked like it was made of cloud but was solid like a normal home. There were some parts that were colored a bright blue around the room I was in and I was laid down on a bed. Then I saw Fluttershy enter the room and Rainbow Dash follow behind. Now I remember what was going on. "Oh! You're okay!" Fluttershy joyfully clapped her hooves together and then said, "I carefully wrapped up your injured leg for you after I very carefully disinfected it and washed it thoroughly." "Well... uh... thank you Fluttershy." I stuttered because I was still in a bit of a hazy state from waking up. "H-Hey! I helped too!" Rainbow Dash protested in the background. Fluttershy gave a small cute giggle and said, "Yeah... Rainbow brought all the needed medical supplies." Rainbow Dash walked forward and I could see an incredibly hidden blush as she said, "I-It was no problem for the fastest flier in Equestria!" Fluttershy smiled at me and said, "I'll see you two later... I need to go tend to my animal friends too at the cottage." "See ya, 'shy." I said, finally returning to her a smile of my own. Rainbow Dash waved to her friend as she left and said, "See you later!" Then when Fluttershy exited the room, Rainbow Dash approached me and her expression changed immediately. I heard her say to me, "Just so you know, Flow, Fluttershy also examined your metallic body and it seems that the metal just covers over your real form but somehow was broken after that move you just pulled earlier." "Which reminds me... I know that I should trust you like every pony else but I want to know if you were planning on using that move against my friends and I!" she pressed her forehead against mine and it seemed she was getting slightly frustrated. I answered truthfully and responded, "I wasn't... I... I was going to use it on Princess Celestia though... but... it was my orders..." "Then why now is it that you can disobey your 'orders'? Hm?" she said to me. I didn't know how to respond... so I went with what I could think up and said, "Twilight freed me somehow..." "Ugh... I know that! But I still believe that you could turn on us at any moment!" she shouted angrily at me. I felt a heat roaring up to my face... oh no... "Grr..." I clenched back tears, "It's not like I would! I was given a chance and I'm taking it!" There are no chances... You will die here... "I'll put up with you today, Flow... but don't count me in on anything else the next time we see each other..." she said to me bluntly. "I don't count you as one of my friends..." she stated and then left the room, leaving me on this bed without a chance of saying anything in return. I saw a small tear fall down her cheek before she fully made it out of the room... But her words... It really hurt... I was so determined to make her trust me that it ended up backfiring... Why though... Why do I feel so hurt... YoU AReN't ONe oF MY FriENdS... Why... DOn'T cOUnt mE In oN AnyTHiNg ELsE... But... What's going on...? The skies were dark and gloomy, the stars weren't in the sky and the moon was dimly lit. The dark blue pegasus stretched out her wings and looked around to see if any pony was watching. She made sure that no pony was awake and immediately flew off. This was... after you lost at the big race... Her speed wasn't all too great as her flight was fumbling but she flew through the forest entrance. But behind her was the shape of two other ponies that seemed to tailing her... a pegasus and another earth pony. You ran away... into the forest... we... we had a fight and you ran and then... The dark blue pegasus had taken refuge in a cave deep within the forest, it was dark and lonely... She cried to herself so much there... but there she met a wisp... a ghostly figure that was glowing a dark red. ...you met... it... It approached her and comforted her and asked what was wrong. It seemed like it had good intentions and tried to make her stop crying. She then explained that she was weak and that she could never amount to anything. ...you were... so depressed... The ghastly entity then said something but wasn't audible from where we were listening from. But it seemed awfully familiar... What is your wish? A life filled with regret or a curse concluded with the unknown? "I don't want to feel regret all my life... but a curse... I don't want that either... but what choice is there? Both suck badly." A life filled with nothing, A life filled with a need to remember, A life filled with no friendships. "No..." Or... A curse, lost memories... lost vision of the future... a venture into the unknown... "I..." "I choose the curse... I just don't want to ever remember anything... I don't care if I just venture into the unknown, I just want to forget everything!" As you wish. But that... was just a part of the story... there were more emotions implemented into just a simple two choice wish but the effects never happened until later... All that was left to be seen was the two tailing ponies following behind into the cave but the vision begun to become hazy. I realized now that the spirit had tricked me... it tricked me by putting both choices onto me in secret... but only making the strength be revealed normally while I was younger... You're right... but there's something you don't know yet, Flow... Huh? What is it...? What don't I know from this...? You weren't the only one with a wish... I had been on the bed, sobbing to myself in incredible amounts as if rivers were flowing down my cheeks. I really wanted to fight in the argument but... but... I couldn't... It was so open and shut and the only thing that was left in my mind that I couldn't shout out was... I thought you finally trusted me! Flow... continue to remember those memories... the bad and good will lead you to the rainbow... that rainbow you so desired... The voice of Blush Embrace was soothing and it helped me calm down a bit with what she had said. I want to reach that old dream of mine... even though I don't know exactly what I even meant by it... ...and I want to protect my best friend... I began cycling through my thoughts and began to think about what had happened today; and what had went wrong... I thought that Rainbow Dash had begun warming up to me, especially when she carried me to her place before I fell unconscious... But why... why... why! Why can't she trust me? Is it because she thinks I'm still a danger to all her friends?! I'm not! I'm not!!! I felt the tears trailing down my cheeks again as I continued my train of thought. I'm not a danger to anypony! Why would she think that?! All her friends trust me but why can't she! Why can't she?! I started to feel worse than how I felt yesterday... Maybe tomorrow will be better... I hope that white unicorn mare, I think her name was Rarity, is okay with me... But I was so determined to be friends with that rainbow mare... I was so... so determined... ...I don't need to sleep... I'm just a robot after all... Just a robot after all... Besides... robots can't dream... I'm... I'm sure of it... I wiped the tears away from my eyes and just laid there on the bed, staring into space. Such deceitfulness will never be true, Even truthfulness will occlude thy view.