//------------------------------// // True Home // Story: A World in Chaos // by Mocha Star //------------------------------// The mice gestured for Fluttershy to go in the trap door leading down, and smirked when the now timid mare shook her head slightly. (Very well, I’ll lead the way. Follow close and no fall on me.) “Oh, alright.” The mouse led the way and 7 gestured for her to go so the door could be closed behind them. Fluttershy took her time entering the door, as the darkness began to envelop her she trembled, but followed as the mouse walked on the creaking stairs descending into the earth. I hope this was a good idea to trust a creature I just met. The stairs stopped creaking ahead of her and she froze in place, her ears swiveling every which way as her fears began to flood her mind with a vicious attack in the darkness. There was a loud clunk and a light pierced the stairs startling her. She opened her wings and screamed toward the light as she flew ahead. She shouldered a door and it pushed up making the mouse squeak as he fell forward. She stopped and hovered in place and tried to understand what she saw as the mouse got to his feet and called her to him from a metal grid walkway no more than two lengths wide. (Flutters. Come here. You are not to fly in this place we call true home.) “True home? What is this place?” She landed by the mouse who was leaning on a guardrail and then gestured to the massive city. (True Home, welcome.) She looked at the city that was a rival for Canterlot in size but made of metal and glass that shone in an artificial light that glowed from every floor of the spiraling tower in the center of the gleaming city. She looked ahead and followed the tip of the spire she was looking at down the way and gawked. “It, it’s bigger down there? How many of you are down here?” (We do not keep count anymore. All are welcome in peace. Violate that law and you will have your rights revoked permanently. We have only four laws. Do not steal but you may trade Do not harm another outside of a fair challenge Do not speak of True Home to any creature that will violate the rules Help the needed as you can Follow the rules and you may come and go for the rest of your days.) “I don’t want to live here forever, I just want to get my friends and go home to my cottage with Rainbow Dash. Can you help me?” (First Flutters we eat. Then you may seek what you need, follow.) Joe led the way down the catwalk to another catwalk leading to the spire. Looking around, Fluttershy noticed dozens of other walkways connected along similar catwalks across the cavernous space that was domed with a material she couldn’t identify. She could barely see across the cavernous space with her Pegasus eyes telescoping to their best which impressed her briefly as she listened to Joe begin to talk as he led her. (We didn’t build this place and few creatures know of it outside. Not even the sun and moon goddesses. When we were given this land we were attacked several times until a mole was found digging into the ground. We decided to make tunnels to connect our homes and to have a place hide and then,) he paused his speech and pace and looked to the ceiling. “What happened?” Fluttershy asked. (A family of squirrels broke the barrier right over there,) he pointed a crooked finger at the far edge of the cavern where a tree was planted into the wall. “How is that tree growing from the wall?” she asked as he started walking again and she followed. (It is fake. It is a reminder that we are eternally indebted to their loss. They found the city and our ancestors have lived here for the past 850 years.) “How is it that nopony has known of this place? Some rumor should have come by that much time.” (Simple, every creature that lives here is implanted. Any creature that visits could easily be considered foolish or misinformed and any creature that comes looking will find our village.) “That’s actually really smart.” (We aren’t fools and the system helps us.) “System? Like a social justice system or your civil system of rules and laws?” (Well, kind of. But we follow rules by the ones who built this place. A lost tribe of ponies from ages past who were advanced to the point where they had nothing to do and, of all the silliest ways to die, they died from boredom.) Fluttershy smirked as they reached a door that opened as he approached. He entered with her right behind. The door closed behind her and she felt a movement she knew to be falling. She held her breath and looked quickly to Joe who smiled at her with his crooked gapped teeth. (It’s called an elevator, used to transport us around the city. We’re going to the market first to eat then I will take you to the ‘hub’ to ask your question.) “Oh,” she said quietly, “I was hoping to be on my way soon. Can we go to this hub first?” (We will wait. Eat first, I’m hungry, and 7 is not a good cook,) he joked making a click noise as he laughed. “Why do you call your mate 7? I’ve heard mice talk and names aren’t important for the most part but never numbers.” (We’re almost there so I’ll be quick; we number our mates. She is my 7th and she calls me 3.) “Oh my,” she said blushing lightly, “so you’re just breeding mates and not life mates?” (Pretty much. It’s the way of us mice and our aggressive cousins the rats, but most others mate for life. We just like to have fun and the system says eugenics is not logical for mice.) “Eugenics,” Fluttershy said startled as the doors opened, “but that’s an awful way of reproducing. It was a system banned hundreds of years ago in Equestria by Celestia herself.” (Well system has it worked out and euthanizations are cheap too.) Fluttershy stopped just outside the door mouth agape at Joe as he walked away. “Euth-, you? That’s awful, how can you be okay with that as a society?” Joe turned to look at her and laughed with an occasional clicking noise leaving his wide open mouth. “Are you teasing me Joe?” (You believed it though, didn’t you? Oh I haven’t laughed like that in weeks. No, we don’t reproduce with multiple partners or use eugenics. Her name is 7 because she’s from the seventh generation of her clan. I am indeed the third but with how long we live having children isn’t very important,) he said gesturing for Fluttershy to follow. (Even though you may not notice it being this close to the city center has increased my mental abilities and as you eat you may not notice the effects right away but there will be an increase in all your abilities.) “Um, why, exactly?” He shrugged. (No one knows. There are parts of the city locked to us ‘rodents’. However since this was pony built maybe you can answer that for us. One problem at a time though, first we eat.) I hope he’ll stop pestering about food soon, she thought as she looked ahead. “This is amazing,” she said as she let her eyes dart from structure to structure. Signs hovered in midair in front of shops and stores that translated to Celestian when she looked at them from whatever language they were a blink before. Every shop was made of polished white metal that seemed to be made of hexagonal bricks and each brick emitted an energy that, while not magic, was noticeable in how they shimmered as she passed. All types of rodents and even small pack of Diamond Dogs in the distance were making business and trading across the distance she could see. She opened her wings and prepared to hover before Joe placed a hand on her withers and looked at her shaking his head. (Griffons were once here and tried to fly away with some denizens. System stopped the griffons and instituted a no flying sub-rule. Flying is allowed but it must be either an emergency or you have clearance.) “Oh, and how did System stop the griffons and how would I get clearance to fly?” (System removed their feathers with fire light. To get clearance now you have to simply ask the air. System hears everything, sees everything, and knows more than any of us combined could know.) Fluttershy wiggled her wings before they pressed to her body. “I guess not flying is something I’m used to. You see-” Joe turned and scurried on all four legs to a stall selling pies. He stood tall again and beckoned Fluttershy over. (These are the best mince pies in the undercity. Try one,) he said taking one and holding it to her with a toothy smile. “What’s in it?” (The aborted fetuses of fowl and various capsicum vivisected and chopped into fine pieces before baked into a crust. Delectable,) he said taking a bite from the one in his hand. Fluttershy looked, staring at him as he swallowed and licked his lips with a long thin tongue as it brushed his teeth. The sales creature laughed and leaned out to peek at Fluttershy, gasping before ducking back inside her shop, and opening door just missing the mare by a hoof width and squatting next to her. “It’s a quiche. Teasing you, that one is. Can the pony speak or are you mute?” Fluttershy blinked quickly and looked at the creature. A diamond dog, female. “You speak Celestian?” “I speak Diamond Dog, as it’s called now. A great many things this one has learned from System and I cannot leave without the knowledge, truth of the past, staying.” “So, being here makes you smarter?” Fluttershy asked. “Well, this one can ask questions and remember it better, easier, than when this one leaves. The pony will see this itself when it leaves, if it leaves.” The diamond dog turned and stood tall to the mouse. “Four credits for the pie. Pony will have one free as a welcome,” she turned back to Fluttershy and smiled, “My name is Trall. The pony has a tongue so it has a name.” “F-Fluttershy. I’m Fluttershy,” she said standing taller and loosening her wings. “And a flying pony at that? Mouse, you are in luck with this one. Pony, take a pie and enjoy. We are equals now, enjoy the times.” The diamond dog turned and reentered the room closing the door and reaching a pad out to the mouse. With a smile Joe touched his palm to the pad and a chime was heard making Fluttershy’s ears turn to the stall. A large set of paws held a pie out and held firm as Fluttershy trotted to it. “The pony will take it, yes?” “Yes, the pony- I will. Thank you Trall,” she said taking the pie on her left wing and moved it to her mouth and took a small bite of the crust and smiled. “This crust is really goof. I mean good,” she blushing slightly at the crumbs that littered the ground from her spitting them. “I’m sorry,” she said as she took a larger bite. She giggled and her knees buckled sending her stumbling to her left and almost into the practically hidden door. She sat on her flank and closed her eyes in blissful chewing as the flavors danced across her palate in every best way possible. “How is this so amazing?” she asked opening her eyes to see a small group of creatures giggling at her. (Her first meal?) one said as they dispersed smiling at her. “This one recalls her first meal. Most embarrassing it was. Took four other beasties to pick me up and help me see straight, I had to see a medical provider. This one would give anything for that again,” Trall said, resting her muzzle on her clasped hands. “The pony will recover shortly but will rarely enjoy this much again. Try many foods while here but be careful,” she looked to Joe and they shared a grin, “too much will make you fat.” Fluttershy looked between them and cocked her head. “Oh, okay. Thanks for the pie, it’s amazing and I’ll finish it on our way. May we go now Joe?” (My word is as good as the stone we walk upon. Follow me,) he said walking ahead and making a friendly gesture to Trall as they parted ways. (Flutters, we make for the hub. You may ask your question there.) “And I can meet System finally” she said as she took the last delectable bite of the pie and began to lick her wings clean from crumbs. “Can we get a few of those before I leave? Wait, you didn’t use bits, how do you pay?” Joe snickered and looked back at the mare preening her wings. (You’re new here so you have 500 credits allotted to you every month. The pie was 4 credits; basically everything you need to survive here is 450 credits a month. Any work you do extra goes into your chips for your personal needs.) “So, basically it’s just a magic currency?” Joe smiled and looked ahead on their path. He had taken a less traveled street and there were less creatures to gawk at the pony. (Yeah, if you wish to simplify it to a method you can understand then yes, magic.) Fluttershy scowled at him. “I’m not simple, I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology and I’m treating a mentally regressive pony at the moment with intensive in-house care. Just because I don’t understand how this place works doesn’t mean I’m stupid, only ignorant of the facts that have been given to you as opposed to the knowledge I was taught through years of hard work in a difficult environment.” (Well, I didn’t know that. I have no advanced education, so I respect your education, and apologize for implying you-) “Apologize? You insulted me and now you’re just acting like I’m a foal? Ready to accept your apologies like it was an accidental slip of your tongue?! If I had my way I’d… Oh my, I apologize,” Fluttershy said blinking quickly and looking around at the gawkers going by. She looked at Joe who was standing slightly leaned back with his arms in a defensive position. She fell forward and closed her wings from a flared position and shrank behind her bangs. “I’m really really sorry. I don’t know what just happened, I’ve never said anything like that before in my life.” (Flutters, you have emotional problems and now they’re being fixed. When you’re here and this close to System you become truer to yourself and your species. Are ponies aggressive often?) “N-no, we’re a peaceful race. Unicorns, Pegasi, earth ponies; we all live in harmony with the planet.” (Ah, I see. You must walk with me and I will explain,) he said picking up his pace as she stood and trotted closely behind him. (You are Pegasi. The war ponies, in your blood swims the battle cries of a thousand generations of soldiers from before the time you were at peace with each other. You may know some tales of your past but I know a lot more. I studied in history when I was a kit until I was fifty.) Fluttershy stopped suddenly in shock before catching back up. “Fifty? You’re not that old, are you?” (System helps us live longer. I am nearly 110 years old now and I have twelve left before I have to choose to continue to live or to die. I may not have advanced knowledge but here, in True Home, most of us are quite versed in many things.) Fluttershy looked ahead at a large domed building coming into view from the streets and buildings in the distance. A sign over it flickered and the words changed to ‘The Hub, System Access Point’’. “So, System is in there? Is he nice and knowledgable like you?” Joe snickered. (Well, that’s a matter of opinion. Facts and honesty based on years of memory are what System uses to answer questions. You will have to find out yourself… Wait, ‘he’?) Joe laughed again and pointed to a mobile walkway in the street letting Fluttershy take the lead. (Walk on it and it will take us the rest of the way faster. My legs grow tired from all this, I am not a pony after all.) They walked into the domed building and were greeted by a simple sight that almost disappointed Fluttershy. Books opened sideways on tables rows by rows and columns by columns with creatures sitting at them with headsets on their ears and glasses over their eyes waving their arms and forelegs like they were painting in the air. “Is this an asylum?” Fluttershy whispered. (No, go to a terminal.) Fluttershy cocked her head. Joe rolled his eyes and went to an open computer and sat by it patting a seat for her to sit at. Handing her a set of glasses and earphones from under the table he placed a set on himself and waited for her to follow suit. “This is kinda different. Is this going to test my vision or-” she stopped as a large horse appeared before her making her scream and fall off the seat with a thud onto the floor. “Joe, that’s a horse here! Where’d it come from?! I’m sorry mister horse…” The sound of laughter vibrated the entire dome as a voice called out. “System virgin at 8 o’clock!” Fluttershy turned a shade of red, not from shame from from anger as she jumped into the air hovering in place. Teeth bared and face in a sneer she looked to the horse before her and growled gutturally before the horse flashed away and a squeal filled her ears making her fall to the floor. Aggressive actions detected. Activating moral discipline deduction. Chipset not found. Identity unconfirmed. Visitor tagged. Please begin guest inquiry. “Um, Joe?” (Say hello to System. A device that runs the entire city and knows just about everything. Ask any question and I’m certain there’s an answer.) “Anything?” (Anything.) “Like, I could ask ‘why is sky is blue’ and…” A clear cloudless day-time sky is blue because molecules in the air scatter blue light from the sun more than they scatter red light. When we look towards the sun at sunset, we see red and orange colours because the bluelight has been scattered out and away from the line of sight. There are many events that can affect the color of the sun however such as- (That’s enough System. Thank you. So you see Flutters, anything.) Fluttershy blinked and looked in awe at Joe as she adjusted her glasses and the horse reappeared. “Y-you’re System? I thought you were a pony or something.” I am the system that controls the city, environment, defensive systems and global information relays. “Global? So there’s more than this city out there?” System flashed a message across her visor and spoke. Identifying guest. Please hold still. … … … Identity confirmed as pony; Pegasus. Class: Warrior/Defender. Granted Access Permission Level G-7 Place hoof in slot by entrance/exit portal immediately Joe and Fluttershy looked to each other wide eyed and then turned to the door where a light lit by a small hole that opened, a yellow light illuminated from it. “Should I?” (Do as it says, I’ve never seen, heard, or read anything like this happening. You’re the first pony here, who knows what we can learn now.) Creatures stood and looked at the doorway waiting for anything to happen and let their eyes trail to the pony walking slowly to the yellow light. She looked back to Joe who was at his seat a mere fifty meters away, she felt like he was galloping away at top speed as her anxiety flared. Just do it ‘Shy, Rainbows voice called from the back of her mind as she reached the doorway and placed her right hoof inside. The light turned green and the small slot closed on her right foreleg, sending the nervous mare into full panic. She screamed and flapped, twisted her foreleg and pulled her best as other creatures ran to her to help in any way they could only to run into an invisible field of energy that appeared from the wall encircling the struggling mare. The room turned sky blue briefly before Fluttershy was released, the field fell, and she tumbled back into several creatures knocking them down as they broke her fall. She scrambled to her hooved and curled into a crying ball of feathers and fur as System spoke aloud through hidden speakers across the room and flashed messages across the area outside the building. Owner Operator Detected. Activating System Override Protocols for User Full System Access Granted at Level G-7 Access and Clearance Scanning for higher level access across global net … … ... … No other users located at remaining (4) facilities, current pony has been granted temporary Level A-1 Access; full control authorized Please speak your full name… Fluttershy lay frozen on the floor as she felt every set of eyes on her and looked up and around at the various rodents looking at her in awe. “Um, my name is Fluttershy of Cloudsdale formerly. Currently Outside Ponyville.” There was a click followed by a rumble beneath the dome that grew louder and heavier. It took less than thirty seconds for the entire dome to be evacuated by the scurrying crazed rodents before they huddled outside; Fluttershy stuck in the middle somewhere watched as the dome trembled then stopped. The doors opened and several robotic ponies that glittered with shining polished metal , sealed joints and that moved as fluidically as a real creature trotted out and into the growing crowd until one located the yellow mare, trembling behind a garbage container. A beam of light surrounded Fluttershy as she was pulled to a growing group of five robotic ponies that surrounded her and placed metal bands on her forelegs and one around her neck. She shouted as she struggled then screamed as the bands pinched and pulled her fur. She opened her wings and whinnied at a volume she didn’t know was possible for her tiny body before the robots released her, backed away and lowered to their fore knees, bowing. The other creatures didn’t know how to react since they didn’t have royalty they simply stood by for the long moments as the robots bowed before they stood tall again. “What are your orders Fluttershy?” they asked in unison in commanding robotic voices. “Uh-h-h-h, where’s my element?” she asked as she looked at them in front of her standing imposingly. “There are 217 elements on the periodic table of elements in Equestria. Please specify.” “Oh dear,” she said looking around to the creatures who were whispering, some taking pictures and video, “I mean my element of Harmony? A jewel that looks like my cutie mark on a necklace. The element of Kindness?” “Seeking device; harmony gem 35491774.0025. Located in city named Canterlot.” “Oh my, if my element is there then why am I here?” “My my my Fluttershy. So many questions and finally you have all the answers at your hooftips,” Discord’s voice came from one of the robots as it stood tall and morphed into a metal version of himself. “You have the ability and power to know everything about everything about the entire non-magical facts of the world,” he grabbed a nearby robot that was completely stationary and compressed it into a ball as the onlookers scattered back to watch the interchange. The robot was morphed into a tactile three dimensional globe that hovered between his hands and began morphing between different creatures, lands, plants, and animals as he continued. “Will you stay and rule a city of thousands for the next ten thousand years and better all of Equestria and the world? Or, will you give it all up to stop little old me? A creature that wants the same thing as you do, dear Fluttershy. A world in balance.” “You don’t want a world in balance with anything. You want to rule a globe of nightmares and chaos. To turn every hope and dream into a perversion of their owners reality.” She opened her wings and took the most aggressive stance she could and lowered her voice while raising the volume artificially through her technological band. “I will stop you and nothing, not even the end of everything and everypony I know will ever stop me from bringing peace back to this land.” “Oh my, the Royal Canterlot Voice, somepony sure has scared me now,” he said rolling his eyes. His eyes rolled from his face and fell onto the floor where they popped and confetti began floating up. He grabbed the bits and pulled them into a string and began flossing with it before he pulled it into his mouth and through his head severing it. His head clattered on the ground with a loud clang and several thuds as his body crumbled into complete robotic pieces and circuits. He reappeared from the ground below Fluttershy with a grin rising from the sidewalk only a few hooves tall. “Dearest Fluttershy, you hold no royal powers and this technology you possess is more ancient than I,” he didn’t notice she had motioned every creature back and had distanced herself from him slightly, “the abilities these machines possess is nothing compared to the grand chaos I can offer and control. You see-” A beam of green light pounded into him from a reflected spot on the dome on top of the cavern. He screamed and reverted to his true form shaking and trembling, fighting against the beam, each shield he created was shattered. Dozens in a row pounding him into the ground as he struggled to move without avail. The beam stopped and he fell forward to the floor, light wisps of smoke leaving his body. He lifted his head and raised a claw. “That’s one for old technology versus chaos magic.” He fell face first melting into the concrete. A flash of light brought the robots back to normal and Fluttershy groaned. “Great. Back to Canterlot I gue--,” a flash of light engulfed her before she could finish.