//------------------------------// // Chapter 19: Training Begins // Story: Warframe: Equestria // by Urimas Ebonheart //------------------------------// POV: Karn / Location: Equus - Equestrian Plains - Dojo The others placed their temporary Warframes into their pods and left for their homes. After meditating all night, I use my transference to literally step out of my warframe. I take a few steps away and do some stretches after sitting down for too long in my chair. The door opening gets my attention and I turn around to see Twilight entering. "Good morning, Karn," Twilight yawns greeting me. "Ordis knows how to speak Equestrian now. I'm surprised he learnt it so fast," she tells me. "Why are you out of your frame?" she then asks confused. "That's good. Now I can have Ordis teach me, maybe I'll be able to at least understand it. I doubt I'll be able to speak it though. As for why, I'm able to transfer myself from my chair to my warframe and vice versa," I reply. The thought of trying to neigh, whinny, and snort just sounds... ridiculous. "Oh..." she says with a confused expression. I just had a thought. "Twilight, remember that Data Pad I gave you?" I ask her. "Yes, what about it?" she asks back. "On it was a program to teach Orokin. I think Ordis can redesign it to show Orokin words with Equestrian. This way you can teach the Princesses Orokin," I tell her. This way I can talk to them on my own. She gasps and starts jumping on the spot. "Oh! Yes yes yes yes yes YES! I'd love to teach the Princesses! Do I have to bring that pad back to Ordis?" she asks. "No. You can keep it for yourself. I'll have Ordis make three new ones for you and the Princesses," I reply. Twilight keeps jumping for a few seconds but stops when she looks to the corner. She walks over to the still out cold Lianna. "Karn... Why is she missing a talon?" she asks slowly. "She pulled a hidden knife out and tried to kill Lamar over there," I tell her and point to the other corner. "He was willing to tell me what I wanted to know. She wouldn't, and what you see is the end result." She looks from Lamar to me. "She's not dead is she?" Twilight asks. "No, I used a healing Canister to close her wounds," I reply. "Wounds!? What else did you do to her?" she asks shocked. "I asked for their names. Lamar gave his, but she refused. To prove I was serious, I put a bolt in her leg," I tell her. She looks at Lianna's leg and spots a patch of missing fur with a scar. "You're not going to hurt them anymore right?" she asks. "No, I got what I wanted. The Princesses guards can have Lianna, but Lamar stays here," I reply. "Why is he staying here?" she asks in confusion. "It was part of our deal, he tells us what he knows and we offer protection. Tenno keep their word and the gryphon King would have him killed for telling us apparently," I tell her. "Okay, but why not Lianna as well?" Twilight asks pointing Lianna. "She didn't tell us anything apart from her name. She's done nothing to earn our protection," I tell her. "So what did they come here for?" she asks. "For my technology. Lamar says the King wants to arm his army with my kind of weapons... to invade Equestria, he thinks," I reply. Twilight stays silent for a few seconds, then walks over to Lamar. POV: Twilight Sparkle / Location: Equus - Equestrian Plains - Dojo I walk over to this Lamar and poke him a few times with my right hoof. Rainbow told me what he said, but I want to find out myself. He snorts as he wakes up. "Huh? Wha?.." he says as he blinks a few times, looking up at me. "GAH! DON'T KILL ME!" he yells and curls up on the floor. I'm stunned that he would react this way. Was what Karn did to the other gryphon the cause to his behaviour? "I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to ask you a few questions, alright?" I ask him politely. He peeks out from between his front legs and looks at me. "So you're not going to kill me?" he asks in reply. "Celestia no! I just want to know more about your King's possible attack on Equestria," I tell him. "A-As I t-told the tall creatures. I-I only heard rumours f-floating around the labs under the castle. Ever since the old K-King was killed and the new one took over, the kingdom has b-been falling apart. He's obsessed with war and his war machines," he tells me. "War machines? What war machines?" I ask him. "I'm n-not sure. I saw some new looking cannons being placed on an airship... but other then that I don't know. I was just the guy who did what he was told to do," he replies. "Thank you, I'll make sure you're treated well while you're here," I tell him. "Erm, thanks?" he says. "Err, Just asking, but what will happen to Lianna? Is she alright?" he asks. "Yes, she's fine... Apart from the missing talon, but Karn said he's turning her over to the guard," I reply. He suddenly looks worried. "Please don't! She may be a hothead but she's still my sister! If she leaves she'll be killed... We didn't come alone," he tells me. POV: Karn / Location: Equus - Equestrian Plains - Dojo I just stand back, watching them talk. Twilight suddenly turns around and jogs over to me. "Karn, we have a problem! Lamar says there's another gryphon out there, and that he or she is to kill Lamar, Jango, and Lianna should they fail in returning without the extractor or get captured," she tells me. I frown at that. "Who's this Jango?" I ask her. "He was the gryphon you shot in the forest," she replies. "Ah, and how does he know that there's another Gryphon out there?" I ask. She turns back to Lamar and they talk for a few seconds. Twilight then turns back to me. "It was part of the deal his sister made with the King. Should they return with something of yours, they get a large reward. Should they fail... they'll be killed," she tells me. I hum in thought. I could get Ordis to scan the area for other gryphons. "Ordis, scan the area and look out for any other gryphons," I tell him. "Yes, Operator. Beginning scan," he replies. After a few seconds he speaks up. "I've detected a faint signal, but it's being jammed by an unknown energy signature," he tells me. They have something that can block the Orbiter's scanners? I sigh. "Keep trying. In the meantime, can you get the drones to build a couple of cells in the back of the clan hall for now? If there really is a gryphon after them, I want to keep them as safe as possible," I tell Ordis. "Drones have been sent. Estimated time of completion, twenty minutes," Ordis replies. The Dojo doors open and the Drones fly off to the back of the Clan Hall. "So, what do we do now?" Twilight asks. "Did you get any sleep last night?" I ask her. She nodded. "Yes. I went back home once I finished teaching Ordis. I've never met anypony who could learn so fast," she tells me. "Alright then, keep an eye on these two, and don't talk to them. I'm going to check up on the others Warfames," I tell her. I transfer myself back into my somatic link chair and regain my control of my Rhino, I then head into the clan hall. In the back right near the Oracle, the drones have started on the two cells. I probably could turn them into guest or VIP quarters after they're done holding the gryphons. I head to the right and enter the oracle. Accessing the panel, I check the frames over and see they've been fully recharged and ready to go. One by one the others slowly arrive and enter their pods to transfer over. "Have you all eaten this morning?" I ask them. They all say yes in their own ways and step out of the pods now that they're in their frames. "Alright then, gather up in front of the Dojo and prepare for lessons on how to use your frame's energy," I tell them. "Okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie says and skips out of the room, followed by a grumbling Pinkamena. The others also exit with their melee weapons as well. I head back into the entrance and tell Twilight to get in her Mag while I watch over the gryphons. "Karn," Twilight says getting my attention. "When exactly would you like me to bring Spike over?" she asks me. "Now if you want. Are you sure you want him as a Tenno? From what I understand he's still young," I ask her. "He's young but he's reliable. Besides, since he won't actually be fighting with his real body is the only reason I'm letting him do this," she replies. "I see, very well. Go and get him once you're in your frame. We'll wait for you to return before we begin," I tell her. She heads into the Oracle and then comes back out in her Mag frame. We both head out and I inform the others that we'll be waiting for Spike to come before we start. It takes Twilight thirty-four minutes to return with an excited Spike next to her. He says something in an eager tone to Twilight then gawks at everyone present in their frames. "So is he ready?" I ask Twilight. She nodded and pats Spike on the head. "So he says," she replies. "Alright, tell him to follow me and we'll give him a shot," I tell her and make my way over to my Orbiter. They both follow behind me and into the facility room where Spike is looking at everything in awe. "Alright, tell him to get into the pod and we'll begin," I tell her. She talks to him and he nodded. Spike sits on the padded floor and then gulps when I hold the syringe up. I walk over to him and lower it to his neck. Spike clenches his eyes shut and grits his teeth as I jab him in the neck between his scales. POV: Spike / Location: Equus - Equestrian Plains - Inside the Orbiter Karn jabs me with the needle and I go wide eyed at the burning pain it brings. I grit my teeth and clench my claws as it spreads throughout my body. I'm not sure how long it lasted but it finally stops and I sigh in relief. I look down and notice I've grown taller, I think I'm as tall as Princess Luna now, I also have small horns on my head! The pod opens and I look up at Twilight who looks just stares at me, hard to tell what she’s thinking without a face. "Operator, the serum has successfully adapted to his DNA, I have scanned his body structure. I can begin fabricating a somatic link suit at any time," I hear a voice say. "Ouch, I don't want to go through that again..." I say and slowly stand up feeling slightly light headed. "How do you feel?" I hear a stallion's voice ask me. I look up and see Karn looking down at me. "Whoa, I know the others could understand you when they had their injections, but that's just freaky," I reply making him chuckle. "So what made you want to join us?" he asks me while checking me over. "I just wanted to help my friends, they've always left me behind since I was too little to help, but now I can help without putting myself in danger," I reply and stretch my longer limbs. "I see, I think I have an idea what frame will suit you already," he tells me and I perk up. "What one?" I ask with excitement. He walks over to a table with a moving metal arm on it and presses some buttons. A floating screen pops up with an image of one of his armours I haven't seen yet. "This is the Chroma, he's based off of dragons from human mythology. He can spray out a continuous plume of one of four elements, fire, cold, toxin, or electric. He can also place a ward on himself and ally Warframes which changes how it functions again depending on the element he wants to use. He has a special armour that makes him tougher and stronger the more hits he takes. And lastly, he can separate the pelt on his back which will hover in the air with energy wings, it'll emit a high pitched wail stunning nearby enemies not protected from the sound and then spray out flames at anything you consider an enemy," he tells me what it can do. I just stare at the image with wide eyes, I'll get to be that? "Yes please!" I tell him and again he chuckles. "Very well. Twilight, please take him to the Somatic Link Chamber and settle him in a spare seat. I'll get the Chroma ready," he tells Twilight who nodded. "Okay. Come on, spike," she tells me and I eagerly follow her out. "Oh this is so exciting! What's it like being so tall?" I ask Twilight as we pass the others who are just talking to each other. But they stop as they spot me and just quietly watch us walk by. Twilight leads me into the large metal building and to the back, we enter a room where I see Twilight and the others sitting on chairs like I've seen Lyra do a few times. "Twilight?" I ask the purple mare who looks like she's sleeping while poking her in the belly a few times. "Hey! Cut that out!" the armour says behind me with Twilight's voice. "But, how?" I ask confused and look at what I thought was Twilight. "It's how the armour works, you sit in the chair and it transfers your mind into the armour," she tells me. "Oh... so I just sit in a chair then?" I ask and walk over to an empty one. "Yes, so get on it and just relax and close your eyes," she replies. I do so and hop up onto the chair and lean back. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I then feel like I'm being pulled out of my scales and stuffed into something else. I open my eyes and see Karn looking at me. "Spike?" he asks as the thing I'm in opens up. "Yeah, wow this feels funny," I reply and take a step out. I wobble slightly from being so tall now and having much longer legs. I look down to my claws and see I have four claws instead of three now. "At least you look like you have better balance than the others started with, let's get you outside and to the others," he tells me and walks towards the exit. I look back and see a smaller version of him sitting on a larger chair before shaking my head and following him out. POV: Karn / Location: Equus - Equestrian Plains - Outside the Dojo The others are all gathered and Twilight is here with them. "Alright, spike. Line up with the others," I tell him and he walks over to them easily enough. Twilight raises her hand quickly. "Where are the Gryphons? I didn't see them inside," she asks me. "In the hall and in their new cells. What do they eat by the way?" I reply and ask. "Oh. Well as for what they eat, they mainly eat... meat... but they can eat various fruits and vegetables as well," she tells me. "Okay. I can feed them with my protein pills then. Ordis, is there a clean water source near us?" I ask Ordis. "Yes, Operator. There is a large reservoir of spring water underground, eighty-two metres down and sixty metres to the west of the Dojo," he replies. "Great, build an elevator going down at the back of the Clan hall. Dig a hallway to the water, then build a basic living area down there. Dormitories, Training facility, Mess Hall, Hydroponic Labs, Duelling Room, another Reactor to replace the one up here..." I look over to the door leading further in. "Proper cells as well," I tell Ordis "Yes, Operator," Ordis replies. More construction drones fly through the front door, then into the back hall. "I think we should feed the gryphons before we do anything, I don't think they've eaten this morning," Twilight suggests. "Very well, come with me then to translate," I reply and head into the Orbiter to get some protein pills and water. Once collected we head into the back of the clan hall and I open Lamar's cell first. He goes wide eyed and stiff as a board at the sight of me. I slowly hold out the pills and bottle of water. He slowly reaches out and takes them with confusion. "Twilight, ask him if he's doing okay," I tell her. They talk for a few seconds, then Twilight looks at me. "He's scared, but otherwise doing fine. He also says this is the nicest prison cell he's ever seen," she replies. I guess so. It has a bed, rest room, and is always at room temperature. "A neglected, ill prisoner isn't very useful. I take it Canterlot's dungeons are damp, dark stone rooms with iron bars in front," I tell her. Maybe I should visit Chrysalis so I can get her to draw me out a map of the Hive. She just stares at me for a few seconds. "You just pretty much described it perfectly," she says surprised. We leave the room and the door locks behind us. I enter the next cell and see Lianna has woken up now. I hold out the pills and water to her. She growls and tries to slash at me with her remaining talon. I drop the pills and grip her wrist. Hard. She squawks and falls to her knees. Twilight talks to her and she calms down. I let go and hold out the bottle I'm still holding. She takes it and picks up the pills, then sits on the bed and after looking at the pills for a few seconds, she swallows them. "What did you tell her?" I ask Twilight. "I told her we'll offer her protection from their assassin if she just cooperates. She agreed to stop being aggressive but won't tell us anything still, I also explained those pills were her breakfast," she replies. I look back at Lianna to see her just staring at her arm with the missing talon. She takes a gulp of water and I leave the cell with Twilight. I order the Drones to begin fabricating the top of the elevator just to cover the gap, we then head back outside to begin their lessons. POV: Twilight Sparkle / Location: Equus - Equestrian Plains - Outside the Dojo Before Karn could say anything he looks up into the sky and we all look up as well to see a carriage flying towards us. It lands and out steps Princess Celestia, Cadence, and my brother. "Princess! Cadence! Shiny!" I say and rush over. "Twilight?" Cadence asks confused while Shining is staring at me with wide eyes. "Yes it's me," I reply and turn to Shining and Celestia. "Why are you all here?" I ask. Celestia speaks up after getting over her mild surprise. "Shining Armour here has something to ask," she says, giving Shiny a little push with her wing. He looks from Celestia to Karn, then to me. "I... I wish to join the Tenno," he tells me. I just stare at him in shock. "You do? But I thought you didn't like Karn?" I ask. "It's not that I don't like him. It's just that I don't know him. If I can join you now, I can get to know him better," he replies. I look back to Karn, who is just standing with his arms crossed. "Shining wishes to join the Tenno," I tell him. He looks to Shining and walks up to him. He crouches down and looks Shiny in the eyes with his nose barely an inch away. "Ask him if he's ready to give up his old life to do what's needed to be done," Karn tells me. I ask shining the same thing. He looks to Cadence, who just nodded at him with a smile. He turns back to Karn. "Yes," he replies with resolve. I tell Karn my brother's reply. "Alright then. He'll get to see what he's getting himself into then when I start your training," he says and looks back to us. "Line up, It's time I teach you the basics of a Warframe's functions!" he tells us.