Michael was left a bit torn as he departed Twilight's home. He barely heard the chaotic crashing as Twilight continued to chase down the two toys of Discord. Much to the entertainment of the Princesses. The Ponies were giving him a wide berth as he crossed the town back to his faithful Mobile Suit. Looking up, he saw it looming over everything. Like a great Knight at rest. Right now it was the only piece of Home he had. This was a lot to take in one day, and he was sure it was going to be a while before he can come to terms with the reality of the situation.
As he approached his Zaku, he noticed a flight of those bat winged ponies returning. Pricking up his ears, he heard the lead one speak to Calm Night. "Sir, we found two strange objects in the forest. Both are very large, larger than our ability to carry. The markings on them are similar to those upon the green Giant." The Thestral informed.
"Was one in the shape of a long tube with two handles?" Michael asked as he came up upon the group with surprising speed. Causing several of the night guard to grab for their weapons.
"Y-Yeah, it was." The lead guard stated as he looked up at Michael. Having to crane his neck completely to see the giant before him.
"What about the other?" Michael asked even as his brain was working to process how to describe it. "It would be smaller than the first one with a disk on the top. It would also have two handles, and one third of its length would be crooked." He stated, hoping he wasn't sounding like an idiot.
The Thestral's eyes grew wide in astonishment. "Yes, that is exactly it! How did you know!?" The pony asked.
"That is the first bit of good news I heard all day! Sounds like you found my suit's weapons." Michael stated with a predatory gleam in his eyes. "So where are they?" Michael asked as he looked back at the batpony before him.
"In the Everfree forest, near a large depression, and broken trees." the Pony stated without really thinking. All the while Calm Night was trying to shut him up. Now that it was known the strange objects were the Giant's weapons, he would have rather talked with the Princesses before letting the "Hoo-myn" have them back.
It was too late for that now as Michael started to rush back to his Zaku. He shouted his thanks to the ponies without even turning back. Approaching the Zaku, Michael called out to it. "ZAKU AWAKEN!". Instantly the reactor spooled to life as the red eye glowed once more. That distinct electrical hum that was a trademark of all Zeon mobile suits could be heard by all in the area. Michael reached the Hand, and stepped on when heard the sound of hurried hoof beats behind him.
Looking behind, he would see those same three fillies from earlier. They looked up at him with large doe-like eyes. While Michael did not have any children of his own, he had enough experience with them to know that these three wanted something. "yes~?" he asked suspiciously, his body leaning away to make an escape should he need too.
"Whar are ya going?" The one with the bowtie in her mane asked as she was seemingly bouncing on her hooves.
"I'm going to collect the rest of my gear in the forest." Michael replied, still suspicious about where this line of questioning was going.
"You're gonna come back, right?" The darker orange one with the purple Mane asked with big pleading eyes.
"I guess. There really isn't anywhere else for me to go." Michael answered honestly. Which was something he rather not think about at the moment. It was too depressing, and worrisome.
The three fillies looked fit to be tied as they seem to burst at the seams with excitement. They looked at each other, and then back at Michael whom got the distinct impression that something big was about to be said.
PLEASE TAKE US FOR A RIDE!
"Please.Please. Please....." the three fillies started say it a chant. Each one alternating, and hopping up when it was their turn to plead.
Michael couldn't help but feel like he was before a children's amusement park attraction. He blinked stupidly as the three young ponies continued their pleading. "My God, they're so damn adorable!" He gasped as he already felt like he needed to visit a dentist for cavities. He was about to speak when another voice cut over the three.
"Sweetie Bell, Applebloom, and Scootaloo. What on Equestria do you think you're doing? I thought I told you three to stay away from that thing." A primp white unicorn with perfectly styled royal purple mane, and tail asked as she came trotting up. Her trot was prim, and dainty as her voice had an almost aristocratic lilt to it. She would have fit in well with the Parties of the upper echelon in Zeon Society.
"Awww, we were just seeing if Mr. Black would take us for a ride in his Zaku." The white Filly with purple steaks in her hair stated as she drew circles on the ground. The other two lowering their heads. Just like Human children with the name of Dinosaurs, The Cutie Mark Crusaders seemed to easily pick up the name of Michael's mobile suit.
"Sweetie Bell, be reasonable. We do not know this pon....er, person." The Unicorn, Rarity, if Michael understood correctly when Twilight introduced them earlier, stated with concern in her voice.
Michael couldn't blame her. If an Alien with a war machine was standing before him, and his daughter and she wanted to go for a ride. He'll be probably be concerned as well. To be honest, Michael wasn't sure he wanted to babysit three exuberant fillies in a tight cockpit where there was a lot of buttons that could accidentally be pressed. He opened his mouth to speak, but what came out actually surprised even him. "I don't mind. I'm only going into the woods, and coming right back. So it won't be very far. But, if you're that concerned, and I don't blame you, You're welcome to come along as well." He offered.
Rarity's ears flopped back against her skull as her eyes widen. She opened her mouth to politely decline, but the three fillies were now turning the combined might of their Cutie Ray upon her. "Pleaseeeee~" They all chimed in unison. Upping the power from their combined Cutey Beam upon the fashionista.
Rarity was helpless against such an onslaught, and let out loud groan. "Fine~" She finally relented as she hung her head in defeat. Michael could only pity her, and feared what he just got himself into. Rarity then turned to Michael sighed. "Do you promise to take care of them, and bring them right back?" She asked.
"Yes, of course. They'll be perfectly safe with me, Ma'am." Michael replied respectfully, without hesitation. Though he was quick to see that Rarity was not entirely convinced. However, she nodded her head.
"Now you be good Sweetie Bell. That goes for the rest of you as well." Rarity stated as she started to groom Sweetie Bell's mane out of habit. Once she was finished she walked off, but would glance back occasionally as the three fillies waved bye to her.
"Hopefully, I won't worry your mother too much, Sweetie Bell." Michael said offhandedly before stepping onto the Zaku's waiting hand. His hand coming to rest on the index finger and trying to make as much room for the three fillies.
He watched as the three girl's heads slowly turned towards him, he was curious if he said something wrong. Suddenly all three burst out laughing. "Rarity, my Mother!?" Sweetie Belle laugh the loudest. She was having trouble breathing along with her friends. It took about 5 minutes before the three could get their laughter under control. "Rarity is not my mother, she is my older sister." Sweetie Bell explained.
"Yeah, best not let her hear you call her that. She'll accuse you of calling her Old." The orange filly said with an exaggerated shiver.
"Okay, thanks for the heads up." Michael stated as he motioned for them to step onto the Zaku's hand. "Okay, I know her name, but what about you two?" He asked as he pointed to Applebloom, and Scootaloo.
This seemed to make their day. The First would be the Yellow Filly with the bow in her hair. "Ah'm Applebloom!" She declared with an adorable southern twang. She was beaming with a grin that was stretch from ear, to ear.
Almost immediately afterwards was the Orange filly with the Purple Mane. Her wings were buzzing like a humming bird. "I'm Scootaloo!" She said hoping up into the air, wings buzzing away. Michael couldn't help but chuckle at the display.
The first two Fillies were quickly joined by Sweetie Bell. "I'm Sweetie Bell, together we are...." She stated as she looked at her friends to signal them to join in.
CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!
Michael had to cover his ears as the three fillies declared their affiliation. "Adorable, and loud." he muttered with a smile. "Okay Girls, stay in the middle of the palm." He instructed before looking up at his Mobile Suit. "Zaku up!" He called, and the Three fillies let out squeals of excitement as they felt the servos whirring to life.
The Zaku raised its hand to just beneath it's chest. There a panel opened, and revealed a chair. Micheal sat down, and buckled himself in. "Alright, Come across one at a time." he instructed. The Fillies, seeing how high up they were, even kneeling, were very nervous. however, the crossed one at time, and climbed onto Michael's lap. tapping a button, The three girls let out a startled yelp as the chair was pulled back into the cavity, and the panel slipped down, and locked into place. The chair gave a slight shift to the side before locking into place. There was a soft hiss of air that showed the cockpit was being pressurized. This is what allowed the zaku to go underwater for limited periods of time as well as survive nuclear fallout, and biological attacks. The darkness of the cockpit was quickly banished as three large screws illuminated, showing a panoramic view of Ponyville.
The Girls all went wide eyed at the array of controls laid out before them as they looked around. "WOW! Button Mash would be in heaven here!" Sweetie Bell declared. Her two friends quickly agreeing with her.
"Okay, I'm going to need two of you to get off my lap. I can't operate the controls with you there." Michael explained. There was a note of disappointment as Applebloom, and Scootaloo slipped off, and sat on either side of the chair. They still had a good view, but they lost their comfy cushion. Sweetie Bell gave them both victorious grins before she snuggled back up against Micheal. "Alright, here we go~!" Michael declared as he gently pressed on the foot pedals.
The others watched as the Zaku slowly, gracefully rose to its feet. The heathawk still clutched in its right hand. Inside, the three fillies were bursting with excitement as they felt themselves rising up. The sensation much like standing in an elevator going up. Michael moving the control stick turned the Zaku in the direction that he used the previous night to enter the town.
"Whoa!" Scootaloo gasped as her wings buzzed, circulating the air within the Cockpit. Her eyes tried to take in everything at once. The ponies on the ground looked so small.
The denizens of Ponyville continued to watch in fascination as the giant seemingly lumbered toward the Ever Free Forest. Though as it reached the edge of Ponyville, Michael smirked. "Hold on." he said as he pushed the throttle forward till the massive machine was in a full sprint. The Fillies cheered as they felt the machine gain speed. Small quakes resulting from each heavy foot fall. Sweetie Bell being pressed further into Michael's chest, and harness, which caused Michael to have to move his head to prevent being jabbed in the chin by her horn.
Though the surprises were far from over as the next moment, The giant machine came to a skidding crouch before the three fillies heard a rumbling as the Backpack thrusters ignited, and the suit rocketed skyward. The fillies squealed with excitement as they watched the ground fall away beneath them, even raising their hooves and waving them around. The Zaku burst through a cloud overhead, scaring three pegasi that were moving it away from Ponyville.
The upward climb slowly gave way to the light weightless feeling of falling as the fillies screamed with excitement as if they were on the downward side of the big hill of a roller coaster. Michael concentrated as he was setting the timing in his mind. Shortly before they landed, he gave a sustained burn from his thrusters to gently cushion the landing. Yes, it was a waste of fuel, but it also kept the the three fillies from getting injured. Even still, the mobile suit landed with an Earth shaking thud.
As the Moble suit came to its standing position, The three Fillies were speechless after such excitement. Michael could feel Sweetie Bell's heart racing through her back. All three fillies were panting as if they just ran twenty miles. Michael didn't move the suit to give them a moment to catch their breaths.
"That was...." Applebloom started to pant as her eyes were the size of dinner plates
"AWESOME!" Scootaloo finished for her friend.
Michael chuckled as the three fillies looked up at him like he was their new hero. Michael couldn't help but feel a sense of pride at that. "Let's go." he beamed as the Zaku started to make its way through the forest once more. The girls watched as the the passing of the Zaku stirred up the forest. Timber wolves bolted from their dens along with one or two manticores. There was one familiar cockatrice that was startled out if its bush. Bravely it tried to stare down the massive green titan, only for it to almost get intimately acquainted with the bottom of the Zaku's foot.
Soon, they reached the area described. Michael quickly recognized it as the area he woke up at the previous night. "Okay, so they're suppose to be around here somewhere." He mused aloud. He wondered why he couldn't find them last night. Maybe they hadn't arrive till recently, or perhaps he simply over looked them in his confused state before. Even the three fillies could be seen swiveling their necks to see if they could find anything.
"Oo, There!" Sweetie Bell shouted, her voice cracking and squeaking for a moment, as she pointed to the screen with her hoof to a black rectangular object jutting out through the canopy of a tree.
"Good eyes." Michael stated as he patted Sweetie Bell on the head. His middle finger, and ring finger split by the young filly's horn. The young one beaming with pride. Moving the Zaku over to the spot, he reached down, and grabbed the object. Pulling, a long cylinder with two flared ends appeared out of the forest. It was almost as long as the Zaku was tall. The 280mm Zaku Bazooka, a mainstay heavy weapon for the front line mobile suit.
"What's that!?" Scootaloo asked, her eyes drinking in the large greyish-black object with fascination.
"It's my Bazooka. I use it against particularly tough opponents." Michael explained as he manipulated the weapon to inspect it for any kind of damage. It didn't look too bad, but he'll still have to look at it later. The Zaku started to move the Bazooka to the back where a tab on the suit's rear armor skirt panel lowered to receive the weapon. Soon as the Bazooka was laid into the cradle, pins slid into place to keep is secured. "Okay, now we have to find the machine gun." Michael stated. Once more, the four started to look, the Zaku slowly turning in place. Michael narrowed his eyes to see better, and even the Ponies were leaning towards the screens. Since the Machine gun was smaller, it was a bit more tricky to locate.
"I think I see it!" Scootaloo announced as she pointed to something to the Zaku's right. It was glint of something shiny. Michael looked around, and saw it too.
Moving the Zaku over, he pulled away a tree that was blocking it. Turns out what Scootaloo saw was the sun's reflection on the Machine Guns's scope. "Way to go, Scoots." Michael chirped as the Zaku picked up the Machine gun from the forest floor. His hand giving her mane a happy toss. "I couldn't have done it without you three." He added, making sure to include Applebloom in the praise, and head pats. The three fillies cooed in happiness at Michael's words.
"Now then, I have to make sure my Machine Gun still works properly. What to test it on?" Michael mused as he looked around for a suitable target. The Three Fillies couldn't believe their ears. Michael was going to fire the gun, and they get to watch! Looking around, Michael spied a large tree with a tall hill behind acting as a backstop. "Excellent." Michael smiled as he brought the machine gun up to the Zaku's shoulder. The Fillies watched expectantly as the left hand came around, and grasped the forward handle. A targeting reticule appeared on the main screen, and Michael moved it to sit right in the middle of the tree. Squeezing the trigger, the group was rewarded with a resounding crack as the chest of the Zaku jerked a bit from the recoil. The very next instant, the tree literally exploded as the 120mm round slammed hard into the trunk, obliterating it.
"WHOA!" All three Fillies gasped at once.
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Back at Ponyville, the ponies all were looking up when they heard a peal of thunder. There was not a cloud in the sky, and the Weather team hadn't anything scheduled for another week. Though those thoughts faded as the green form of the Zaku was making its way back to the village. Though it was now carrying what looked like a very long stove pipe on its back, and something else in its hand. The Zaku moved back to where it was that morning, and slowly, deliberately knelt as before.
Seeing the Zaku return, Rarity moved as quickly as fashion would allow her to. She was worried about Sweetie Bell, and her friends. Though she didn't get very close before she was nearly bowled over by her sister. "THAT WAS AMAZING!" Sweetie squealed with delight as she hugged Rarity whom seemed like she was in a daze. Soon all three Fillies were hopping around her excitedly.
"Wha, what happened?" Rarity asked. The last thing she saw was the mobile suit rocketing into the sky. Whether she realized it or not, Rarity just threw open the floodgates as the three fillies regaled her with the tale of their latest adventure.
While Rarity was getting an earful, Fluttershy approached Michael as quietly as a shadow. "Welcome back Michael." She said softly. Her voice as quiet as a summer breeze, and a smile just as warm.
Just behind her was Applejack. "Well ah'll be. ah ain't never see Applebloom so excited before. Ah don suspect she'll be getting a wink of shut eye tonight." She stated with a matching drawl like her younger sibling.
"Sorry it it will be any trouble." Michael stated to the two ponies, giving them both a sheepish smile.
"Oh, don't think nothing of it. Now come along, thar is one more thing before this day is complete." Applejack stated as she bumped Michael with a surprisingly strong hoof, and herded him away from the Zaku with Fluttershy in tow.
The two ponies were leading Michael to what could only be described as a building fashioned into the shape of a huge cake with a cupcake on top. "What is that place?" He asked, though he had a theory.
"That is Sugar Cube Corner, the local sweet shop, and Bakery." Fluttershy explained. She didn't seem as Timid as she was earlier. Michael was thinking that perhaps she saw him more as a curiosity rather than someone to be afraid of. That was a good thing. Michael didn't like people being afraid of him.
"Okay, I like chocolate as much as the next guy, but um...why are we going there?" Michael asked. Yes he loved chocolate, but it was one of those things that he couldn't have too much of, otherwise he will feel sick for hours afterwards.
"Now don' you worry bout nuthin'. Just leave it to us!" Applejack declared as she continued, her tail swishing side to side. Leaving Michael in having to find that delicate balance of a pace that worked with them. The rest of the walk would be carried out in silence.
When they reached Sugar Cube Corner, AppleJack opened the door part way, and gave Michael a very suspicious grin. "Afta' you." She said. Fluttershy's gentle smile not easing the sense of dread that was coming over Michael right then. Swallowing thickly, He took a deep breath, and strode right in. He was a Soldier of Zeon, not a coward.
Inside was darkness. The two other ponies entering after him. The moment the door closed all the light shut out with it. Michael was preparing for anything when the Lights flicked on. "SURPRISE!!!!" an obnoxiously bright pink pony shouted as the entire room was revealed to have denizens of Ponyville there. The Pink pony came bounding up, and pulled on a cord that had a great big banner unfurling that read "WELCOME TO PONYVILLE SPACE INVADER PARTY!". A couple of balloons seemed to appear out of nowhere, and several of the ponies were even sending off party poppers.
Michael was stunned speechless by all this. No one has ever thrown him a surprise party. They had a "Throw-Him-In-The-Stockade" Party, several of those in fact, but a party just to welcome him was probably the most unnerving spectacle yet. The only thing that he could respond with was "Well shit."
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There are very few things in Equestria that can travel faster than a certain cyan colored pegasis, and one of those things being News. Within a day of the Zaku being in ponyville, news, and pictures were traveling all over Equestria to the major News entities in places like Manehatten, and Trottingham. The News would even travel as far as the bad lands.
With the Initial test of the Golem complete, and a success, the creator was quite happy with his accomplishment. He put the Golem to sleep so it wouldn't completely consume the Unicorn trapped within its crystalline imprisonment. She would not last much longer, and he'll have to find a replacement. However, the continual abductions of Unicorns will draw too much attention. He'll have to find alternatives.
Pacing in his lab, he continually muttered to himself. He did have one other power source, but he couldn't use it. it was too unstable. Yet, it was still an option. However, there was something in Ancient Equestian lore about a being that was sentenced to Tartarus that could siphon the magic from not only unicorns, but Earth Ponies, and Pegasi as well. The being"s name was Tirek, if he recalled correctly. A creature from another realm that terrorized Equestria before he was subdued. "If i can only figure out how he did it. then I can expand my resources exponentially." He mused as he moved over to his workbench, and looked upon the shelves all around the room..
On the shelves lining the room were numerous small yellow crystals of various shapes, and sizes. Each one pulsing with power. It was part of his Experiments, powers of Chaos that he siphoned from Discord when he was still imprisoned within his stony prison catalyzed into Crystal form. A soft aura surrounded his Hood as it was drawn back to reveal a coat the color of dust, and a gray disheveled mane. Gold eyes were intense with concentration. He looked over his notes as his stubby horn glowed, levitating some of the papers for him to look at.
It was about this time that an intruder with an uncanny knack for bypassing any, and all obstacles put in her way appeared. A flash of grey, and blond. the after image of Bubbles floating. Quickly, a Grey Pegasis was hovering by the unicorn. "I've got ya Mail, and paper, Mr. Shard." She stated in a cheery voice. It was a Pony named Ditzy Do, but everyone simply called her "Derpy".
"That is DOCTOR Shard! Doctor Crystal Shard!" the Unicorn snapped. "I didn't spend nearly 8 years at Canterlot University post-graduate program to be called "Mister"." He barked to the innocent pegasis. His magic snatching the Mail, and Newspaper from her hooves. "Now, begone!" He commanded as he opened the paper.
Derpy shrugged, and turned to leave. She would make it to the door before a magic aura tugged on her tail. "HOLD IT!" Dr. Shard commanded as he left the Mare dangling in mid air. Swinging like lazy pendulum by her tail. Dr. Shard approached with said paper in hoof. "What is this!?" He demanded as he held up the paper. Which looked upside down to the inverted Pegasus.
"Um...the Afternoon edition?" She asked. She really had no clue what he was going on about. This unicorn always seemed rather angry when she delivered his mail, and paper.
Dr. Shard growled as he pointed to the very large picture of a large creature in the center of Ponyville that dominated the front page. The Headline reading "ALIENS AMONG US!". "No! This, This!!!" He demanded. His hoof tapping on the picture so hard it threatened to go right through the paper.
Derpy squinted, and tried to focus though it was rather difficult considering her walleyed affliction, and that she has not ceased swinging. "Um...a rather large picture of the main story." She said proudly.
Dr. Shard's eye began to twitch as he was just barely keeping from blowing his stack. "No. What. Is. The. Picture. of?" he growled, stressing each, and every word through grinding teeth.
"Oh~! That." Derpy replied. "That is a picture of that big thing in Ponyville! It just beat the snot out of a Dragon last night! With a Pow, and a Boom!" Derpy stated as she swung her hooves around like she was boxing. Coming dangerously close a couple of times to hitting Doctor Shards in the Nose.
However, all this was lost on the dust colored Unicorn. What he saw in that picture was vindication! Vindication for his life's work. A chance to throw it all back into the face of that pompous princess. She'll have to get off that ever widening plot of hers, and finally acknowledging him for the genius he is. With a Magical flick, he flung Derpy right out the front door where she landed on her butt in the dust.
Derpy blinked, and looked at the large cave behind her. "I just don't know what went wrong. I answered his question." she stated before gathering all the scattered letters, and parcels to continue on her route.
Crystal Shard galloped back to the main cavern of the mine. "Creature!" He bellowed as he looked into the dimly lit cavern. Soon, what looked like an entire wall of the cavern moved as sickly yellow veins pulsed. The Creature turned, and approached its creator. Crystal held up the newspaper, and pointed to the Picture. "Destroy!" He commanded. The Creature leaned in, its beady little eyes looking at the picture, the Zaku kneeling in the center of Ponyville. "Go to Ponyville, and destroy this invader to our Sacred lands." The Doctor commanded. Inside the crystal heart of the Golem, the Unicorn Mare whimpered as the creature pulled the knowledge from her mind. The Knowledge that would lead it to Ponyville.
The Golem let out a deep bellow before standing up, and turned to exit the Cavernous mine. Dr. Shard grinned as he looked upon his creation. Only him and his creation can truly protect Equestria from all threats. The Princess will have to see that. She'll have to return all that they stripped from him.