//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: Night Mares // by NCMares //------------------------------// Night Mares Princess Luna cast a worried glance to Princess Celestia. The two stood awestruck before a plethora of sketches, schematics and magical equations that covered an entire wall of Princess Twilight’s large study. The only wall, in fact, that was not otherwise haphazardly packed from floor to ceiling with shelves of books. The lavender alicorn had been busy. Outside of the office, Twilight’s vast arcane laboratory nested within the depths of Mount Canterlot went about its business. Which, as far as Princess Luna was concerned, meant advancing technology at a disturbingly rapid pace. Were it up to her, this facility wouldn’t even have to exist. When ponies went to war in times of old it was on equal terms – an ordeal as honorable as it was horrifying. The conflict that Equestria had now endured for nearly six months, however, was still very foreign to her. Gone were the rudimentary firetubes and spears employed by neat columns of marching ponies. The modern enemy attacked with weapons and tactics that far outclassed the Equestrian Guard’s, striking without warning or regard. Although Equestria was now finally in a position to properly retaliate the princess found herself apprehensive in fully embracing Twilight Sparkle’s proposal. She exhaled and shifted in her armor to stand a little taller. That would not do. The opportunity to level the playing field was at hoof, and if these... enhancements were the way to take advantage of it, then so be it. “Five squads of three will be allocated to both you and Cadance, Princess.” Twilight Sparkle closed her briefing. Luna looked to her. “How soon will the squads be ready?” “Two weeks.” Luna nodded, careful not to show her astonishment that these assets had been developed with such swiftness. The Solar, Crystal and Lunar guard had sustained catastrophic casualties to buy precious time for these laboratories to develop a response to the enemy. Modern firetubes – rather, guns according to Twilight – were now in mass production alongside steel tracked machines that rumbled toward the front as they spoke. The guard had all but been replaced by now with volunteers and draftees. The true war was at hoof, and she needed to be strong if Equestria was to stand a fighting chance. “I know you are unsure, Luna,” Princess Celestia muttered, “but this enemy spell matrix must be dealt with as soon as possible.” “She’s right.” Twilight affirmed. “The very air is the enemy’s tool, and if we can’t figure out how they’re doing it then the least we can do is prevent its further use. As long as the enemy can communicate instantly, we cannot hope to mount a successful offensive.” Luna sighed, then finally put voice to her concerns. “We do not doubt your intelligence, Twilight Sparkle, but We would inquire how even you were able to revolutionize the Equestrian arsenal with haste such as this.” Twilight’s eyes flicked to Celestia for a moment before returning to Luna. “We possess a certain, erm, correspondent with another species that is exceptionally well versed in warfare." She explained. "In fact, they’ve been perfecting it since their time began.” Princess Luna’s eyes went to the ground in contemplation. Nothing in the known world could possess technology of this caliber – not even their attackers. The known world… She slowly brought her eyes to level on Twilight. “Sunset Shimmer.” Twilight nodded. “Without her help this war would have ended months ago.” Luna narrowed her eyes and spoke low. “Then this technology – these tactics – they are not of this realm?” Twilight, though taken aback at Luna’s sudden shift in disposition, retained her composure. “No,” she replied with an edge to her voice, “but without them, Equestria will fall.” The princess of the night opened her mouth as if to reply, but did not speak as she accepted the cold fact that without these laboratories the war was, indeed, as good as lost. She looked again to the schematics on the wall and nodded in understanding. “Very well. If you and my sister believe it best that our little ponies wage war such as this then you have my blessing.” She bowed her head to Twilight and turned to Celestia. “I must return to the front. I bid thee good fortune, my sister and Twilight Sparkle.” “And to you, Luna.” Celestia replied. “Princess.” Twilight bowed her head. The door to the office shut and Luna began the journey with her guard to the surface. Princess Celestia looked once more to the wall and lightly shuddered. These laboratories had given them a great opportunity, but she also had reservations. She trusted Twilight, however, and if the former element of magic thought that this was the best course of action then she would back her the whole while. “May I see them?” Celestia asked her fellow princess. “The subjects? I suppose. They’re not awake yet, but you may see the current operations.” -- The alicorns made their way across catwalks that hung above the brightly-lit facility. The floor below was alive with scientists and magicians in white coats striving to find the perfect balance between efficiency, deadliness and physical limitations. Celestia thought she caught sight of a severed hoof for a moment, but as she turned her head to take a better look it was lost to the organized chaos of the laboratory. A particularly sharp *CRACK* jolted her and sent a small tremor through the metal platform. None of the other ponies, not even Twilight, seemed fazed as the sound echoed into the nether. If anything, she looked rather pleased as she gestured toward a long stretch of empty laboratory space. “That’s the firing range.” She explained. “Where the weapons testing occurs.” Princess Celestia knew that firearms were loud, but that test brought a new definition to the word entirely. She could only guess what that weapon would do to the poor pony on the receiving end. Twilight led her down a flight of stairs to a large metal door labeled in block lettering simply as ‘02’. To the left and right were similar doors spaced at large intervals counting to ‘05’. With a clearance spell Twilight set the door ajar and they proceeded inside a sub-facility that, in great contrast to the bright space outside, was dimly lit by red lights embedded within a low ceiling. The heavy door shut behind the princesses and with it the outside noise ceased. In here the ponies wore the same white coats but talked in hushed tones – barely above a mutter. “Please keep your voice down, princess.” Twilight whispered. “The technology in here is fragile and the ponies working on it must remain focused. Follow me.” She led the way down a hallway featuring glass on either wall that allowed viewers to observe the projects therein. Celestia looked to her left and quite clearly beheld a severed yellow hoof – hopefully not real – suspended by a number of cables. The ponies inside were looking over a schematic detailing the way by which artificial fingers could be implanted. She remembered that from Twilight’s briefing earlier in the study. To actually see the schematics becoming reality, however, sent a cold shiver through her spine. The next room had no scientists inside but instead held a great array of weapons on large racks. While traditional firearms were designed to be fired with hooves, the firing mechanisms on these rifles were petite – much too small for even the tiniest of hooves. The princess thought back to the hoof schematics and then to the testing range. Twilight Sparkle stopped at the end of the hallway, casting a spell toward the grey wall. When the princess stopped beside her the wall ascended to reveal a large window overlooking a cylindrical white room. A powerful light focused on an operating table where a half dozen scientists operated on a yellow earth pony mare with an apple-red mane. Her hind legs below the knee were gone – replaced instead with a metal framework and an abundance of wires. The patient’s eyes were shut in sedation as the mask over her muzzle kept her aloof to what was happening to her body. The mare’s left forehoof was also absent, and Celestia recalled with a terrible bout of queasiness that the hoof further back in the hallway was the same shade of yellow as her coat. “This war must be won, Princess.” . . . But will it be a pony that emerges from the ashes?