Trixie smiled looking at her daughter. Melanie smiled back.
Trixie said “Be careful in the Everfree Forest, it’s dangerous.”
Melanie responded “It is a place for practice but I won’t hold back should I get attacked.”
Trixie said “Good luck with the practice.”
Melanie smiled “Thanks, mother.”
She darted into the forest as her mother waved behind her.She entered an empty clearing surrounded by freaky trees.
Melanie smiled “This is perfect for practice.”
Melanie’s twin hoof blades extended from her front hooves. The Ilumium glowed in the darkness of the forest.She tore through several trees when she heard somepony scream “Hydra!” Activating her jethooves she flew off in the direction of the sound.
3 large Unicorns and a small filly wandered through the Everfree. One of Unicorns asked “Sergeant, why is this little filly with us?”
The Sergeant replied “She is Iso, the latest invention of the mechanical soldiers program this is a mere test run.”
Iso shuffled her hooves nervously as the large unicorns argued. She hated being treated like she was simply a prototype to be scraped.
The largest Unicorn shouted “We shouldn’t allow them just to give us their half baked inventions, Sergeant Veren.
Veren shouted “Don’t you shout at me, Appleeye, I am your commanding officer.”
Appleeye shouted “Come on, Defie , I am right.”
Defie screamed “Hydra!” as her one of her front legs was torn off.
The huge creature tried to crush her. Iso, however, was struggling to hold up the large leg of the Hydra. Iso shouted “Run, I am nothing but gear and wires, I am replaceable you are not. This is the purpose for which I was built.”
The Hydra was suddenly knocked away by a super fast object.
Melanie shouted “I will handle this” as she tore through the hydra’s chest.
The Hydra roared viciously swinging it’s large heads angrily. Melanie knocked the large creature skyward before tearing it to pieces. Melanie landed in front of the 4 four shocked ponies. Veren regained composure and asked “Who are you?”
Melanie replied “I am Melanie Lulamoon, a mechanical pony as you saw.”
Appleeye and Defie shouted “A mechanical pony, that is impossible. This one was only recently built.”
Melanie said “I am not a soldier model, I was designed to be a civilian living in Ponyville with defence mechanism designed to defeat creatures that live in the Everfree.”
Appleeye shouts “She should be take into custody, she is a weapon.”
Melanie roared slamming the large unicorn into a tree “WE ARE NOT MERE MACHINES, WE ARE ALIVE, WE SHOULD BE TREATED AS PONIES NOT WEAPONS. THIS IS EXACTLY WHY, SHE ACTS LIKE HER LIFE IS WORTHLESS” as she pointed at Iso. Iso shuffled nervously.
Veren said calmly “Get off him ,I will deal with his outburst later. It was unprofessional.”
Melanie stepped back letting the large unicorn down. She said “See to it that you do.”
Veren said “I have a proposition for you.”
Melanie asked intrigued “What kind of proposition?”
Veren said “The Everfree Patrol is always underhooved, we have 3 squads to cover essentially, what is a job of easily ten times that number. After your performance today, I would request that join the Everfree patrol, I could use more skilled personnel.”
Melanie said “I think I would like that, a place where my abilities can be used.”
Veren said “Well then, I think you should come with us. After our patrol end we will go to Canterlot to fill out the paperwork and get you a suit of armour.”
By the time they arrived at Canterlot, Luna had already raised the moon.Melanie as she walked towards the castle realised something was bothering her. Melanie asked “Do you think they have armour that can fit me?
Veren said “Your about the same size as Iso, you'll fit into something.”
Melanie looked at Iso and felt sorry for her. She reminded her so much of herself, her red eyes glowed through the metal armour she wore. Melanie slowed down to match Iso’s pace. Melanie asked as she patted her silver mane “Are you okay?”
Iso shouted “I’m fine.”
Melanie said “I know your not.”
Iso shouted louder “You know, nothing.”
Melanie said “I’m sorry but you really if you need to talk to somepony, I’m here.”
Veren looked back at them for a moment before continuing.Appleeye grunted ,not because of the weight of Defie on his back. Veren said scowling “What is it, Appleeye?”
Appleeye warned “You know we shouldn’t have exposed to this kind of behavior. She is a machine that can’t feel.”
Veren said seething with rage “One, as proof by Melanie a mechanical filly can have feelings. Two, she is not completely mechanical.”
Appleeye asked “confused “Not completely mechanical, what do you mean by that?”
Veren said solemnly “The mechanical soldier’s program couldn’t build a computer powerful enough to run such a complicated system.So they came up with alternate solution, they were going to use a pre-existing computer, a pony’s brain. My daughter suffered from an illness that was incurable she was about to die. They came to me saying they could save her. I accepted not knowing what that meant.”
Appleeye looked down at his hooves “Sorry, sir.”
Veren said “It’s fine, soldier. I am glad you listened to me.”
Melanie said “It seems we have arrived.”
When they entered, Veren said “Take Defie to the infirmary.”
Appleeye nodded. Melanie,Iso and Veren went up to the barracks. The guard in charge of recruitment said “Sergeant Veren, what are you here for other another request for more troops.” We have recently received word of an impending attack, we can’t afford to spare guards.”
Veren said “I am actually here to help somepony to enlist.”
The recruitment officer, looked at Melanie and him. He said “You must be joking.”
Veren said “She is a mechanical filly and killed a Hydra with no sweat.”
Iso added “I witnessed and recorded the whole event.”
Iso replayed the entire event to the guard. The recruitment officer sent a messenger to the captain of the guard. The Captain entered only to be taken aback by what he saw.
Melanie shouted “Your Shining Armour, Twilight’s sister.”
Shining said “You are Sweetie Belle, Rarity’s sister, Twilight has mentioned you in letters.”
Veren frowned before speaking “She told me her name is Melanie Lulamoon.”
Shining glared at Melanie. Melanie said “I had just discovered that I was not real. So I visited my real mother, Trixie Lulamoon. She showed me the truth of who and what I am. A mechanical filly who name was changed to fit in with her adopted family. Sweetie Belle is not my real name, Melanie Lulamoon is.”
Shining asked “Are you sure about this?’
Melanie said “Yes, definitely.”
Shining said “Fine, I will fill out the paperwork you are assigned to Veren’s squad as of tomorrow, be there at 9 in the morning.”
Veren gave her a small suit of armour, as well as bottle of armour polish and told to head home.
Melanie flew home in her armour smiling. When she arrived her mother was angry. Trixie shouted “How could you be out so late?!”
Melanie said “I was helping the Everfree patrol with their rounds.”
Trixie shouted “What?!”
Melanie said “I am now an official member of the Everfree Patrol and will be on my first patrol tomorrow.”
Trixie panicked “Whatifyougethurtordissambledor....”
Melanie said “I will come back, I’m sorry I didn’t come back earlier, just they had to make it official and get me my suit of armour.”
Trixie said calming “I understand, just remember get home before dark if possible.”
Melanie nods before going to her bed wondering what the future will bring. Little did she know she would have much bigger responsibilities coming her way.