//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: A Battle Droid Saves Equestria // by LinktheLazy //------------------------------// .XXX. <<>> This was bad. <<>> <<>> This was very bad. I yanked on the steel hatch that sealed off the innards of the dam. The slightly out of place looking door was jammed shut with a layer of rust so thick it was like the door was trying out a new hair style. I braced my leg against the wall and pulled with every bit of force my dangerously underpowered servos could muster but only accomplished slipping and launching myself into the dirt. Didn't these creatures know how to properly maintain their infrastructure? Such a disregard for a vital installation like the dam was almost unthinkable to my logic processor. The loud squeal of rusty hinges drew my attention to the hatch that was now slightly open. With a thankful sigh that once again had my logic processor throwing up Error - Cyclic Behavior I pulled myself to my feet and made my way into the interior as fast as my waning power would allow. Inside was worse than anticipated. All around me defunct machines lay in hasty piles and broken heaps. It was obvious now why the dam was so poorly maintained; It was completely defunct! “Well there goes that idea.” I moaned. After that one droid pity party I quickly set about looking around for something that could be repaired or altered to recharge my batteries but the equipment was not only primitive, it was rusty, and broken. After several minutes of searching my visual sensors finally spotted something more promising than the rest. In the center of the space lay a large mint green casing that was covered in caution tape, warning signs and various gruesome, yet sanitized to the point of being almost ‘cutesy’ depictions of natives dying to electrocution, drowning, dismemberment, bifurcation, crushing, and defenestration... to name a few. Many beings in the galaxy had a poor opinion of the Droid Army and even more so the OOM series battle droids in particular. But I could recognise the main turbine of a power station when I saw one. .XXX. (Meanwhile in Ponyville) Seven friends sat in a booth ruminating on the day’s events and the ultimate fate of their unknown savior in particular. “Oh I hope those mean old changelings didn't hurt that poor puppy.” Whispered Fluttershy. Applejack who was sipping on a milkshake on the other side of the table nearly choked. “Seriously?” The country mare asked with an eyebrow climbing to hide behind the rim of her hat. “Changelings Invade Ponyville, trap us all in balls of goo and had everypony dead tah rights only to be stopped by some critter ticking off a king timberwolf so bad that it chased it all the way to town and the timberwolf is what you're worried about?” “And that goo went everywhere.” Rarity pipped in. “Everywhere.” “Well... I mean... if...” Fluttershy sank lower and lower until she vanished under the table. The other five ponies and one dragon rolled their eyes and went back to their drinks. “I wonder about whatever it was that timberwolf was chasing though.” Twilight pipped in between slurping her almost empty shake and gazing out the window as if looking for something. “Now don't you start Twi.” Applejack pointed a hoof at her. “It’s over and done with and wasn't any ah our business tah begin with. We all know how you get when you get into one ah your moods and Ah for one have had enough excitement fer one day!” Twilight blushed and fiddled her hooves. Just as she was about to reply the door to Sugarcube Corner opened with a jingle and admitted a pony in a voluminous cloak. Said pony was walking with a limp and rubbing the side of their face with a hoof as they slinked over to a booth. As they passed Twilight overheard the mystery pony mumbling something about “Why would a mare with candy for a cutie mark know ponjutsu?” before taking a seat and signaling for service. Rainbow Dash must have overheard it aswell cause she narrowed her eyes and slowly drifted in the direction of the muttering pony. Looking over his shoulder Rainbow could see a short list of names all crossed out. “Hey.” Rainbow said, finally addressing the mystery pony she was spying on. “Oh great.” The pony replied. “I’ll have a deluxe cookies and cream milkshake with nuts, extra chocolate sauce and an extra wafer if you please.” “Hey I’m not-” Rainbow began before her vision was suddenly filled with pink. Pinkie Pie appeared from out of nowhere with the pony’s order, hoofing onto the table. “That’ll be three bits~” Pinkie sang. The pony slid the coins onto the table and took his shake, raising his glass to salute Pinkie before sipping at it. “Ah, just what I needed.” Rainbow’s eye twitched but a deep breath let her relax enough to regain her train of thought “Hey!” She said hovering down until she sat opposite the cloaked stranger. “What do you know about what happened today?” “Hmm?” The stallion muttered, straw still held in his lips. “Oh uh, something with changelings? Right? I was a bit occupied worrying about my friend.” The stranger said smoothy. “You wouldn't have happened to see where they went would you?” He flipped to another page in his notebook. “They are ah, tan...thing.” The conversation had quickly caught the rest of the mares’ attentions. “Wait.” Twilight said, teleporting herself out of her seat and next to the table. “You mean you know the creature the timberwolf was chasing?” ‘Sure sure, old pals, travel around a lot, keep to ourselves.” The stallion said, leaning back a little and propping up his head on a hoof in a rather blatant effort to appear casual. “Now, you happen to see which way they went?” “What exactly are they?” Twilight continued, ignoring the stallion’s question. “I don't remember ever seeing anything that looked like that in any of my books.” “Ah... They’re... a... thing. Ya’know didn't talk much about themselves... Now about that direction-” “I mean I think I would remember hearing about such a strange creature! It boggles the mind how something so thin-” Twilight continued on before an orange hoof suddenly wrapped around her muzzle and forced her mouth shut. “Sorry about Twilight stranger, she can get a little... carried away.” Applejack said as she pulled Twilight away from the table. “As fer your friend ah think ah saw them heading up the road to the old dam.” “The dam you say?” The stallion said, quickly getting up and leaving his half finished shake. “Well it was a lovely chat but I better-” Just as the mystery stallion was about to make his way out the door it flew open with a loud bang, startling everypony present. “Twilight!” Roseluck barrelled into the bakery in a panic. “Twilight come quick there’s something on fire!” The six mares, and a dragon shared glances before bolting out the door, quickly being followed by the cloaked stallion. Outside all appeared normal until Roseluck pointed them at the old set of power lines that led from the town all the way to the damn. All along the distance the transformers were shooting fountains of red sparks into the sky while the electrical cables danced around like angry, electrified, eels. Off in the distance a huge pillar of smoke rose from the dam’s location, blotting out the evening sun and casting shadows over all of Ponyville. Almost as one the six mares turned angry looks to the cloaked stranger. The stallion backed up a few steps chuckling nervously. “heh heh, umm... I really didn't have anything to do with this.” The mares shared a glance with each other before Applejack pulled out her rope and they took a menacing step towards him. The stallion backed up further before bolting in the direction of the smoke. “Uh... GOTTAGOBYE!”