Octavia and Vinyl spent a great deal of time talking together as they made plans for their future and discussed events of their pasts, trying to figure out the best way to fit themselves back into the world at large, or if they even should try. As they talked, Albert took his time looking over the technology that made his ‘Terran’ guests function, along with the advancements made available due to material developments for X, Zero, and Axl. While this was going on, Vinyl’s Guardians stood silent watch, waiting for orders as they had little else to do at the moment, and found themselves quite out of their depth regarding everything going on.
“I’d hate to interrupt happy moments,” Dynamo spoke up playfully, “but someone might want to deal with the rapidly gathering angry mob outside.”
“Angry mob?” Octavia asked curiously. “That doesn’t sound like Ponyville.”
Vinyl let out a loud cough that sounded suspiciously like, “Zecora!” Octavia countered by blowing a raspberry.
Albert moved to the window and looked out. Ponies had gathered around the castle, looking quite angry and almost ready to storm the place. From what he could see, the charge was coming from another castle in the distance made of crystal. “Hmm...think it’s the skull motif?”
“...yeah, that’d do it...” Vinyl murmured thoughtfully. “They probably think we’re some sort of inter-dimensional villains here to take over and enslave them, and think we killed...well, us, on arrival.”
“That...is a problem,” Octavia mused idly. “And given how panicky ponies tend to be, I doubt they’ll take our word that all this advanced technology isn’t mind controlling us. We’ll need to figure out a way to get some breathing room without hurting anypony...and a way to convince them we aren’t evil in the process.”
Vinyl stared at Octavia in amazement. “You seem to know your way around the battlefield,” she mused thoughtfully.
“I tended to be on the front lines a great deal,” Octavia responded happily. “Myself, and many good friends.”
“Good friends, huh...” Vinyl murmured sadly, glancing away.
“What’s wrong?” Octavia asked earnestly, deciding to take care of Vinyl before the angry mob outside.
“It’s just...” Vinyl sighed sadly. “I...I lost a lot of friends that day. Some that...well, I’d have loved for them to see the world you built. Two in particular really, but they were guests at the wedding, and...” She lowered her gaze.
“...actually, Vinyl, I think I may have a way to solve both problems,” Albert spoke up suddenly. “That is, if Zero will loan me the use of his buster.”
“My buster?” Zero asked in confusion as everyone looked up. “Well, sure. But what are you going to do?” He held out his buster arm.
Grinning, Albert went over to the computer and made a few connections between it and Zero’s buster. “Tom and I created two things that revolutionized robotics as a practical science. The first was our original power core design, which went into Protoman and every robot after him until more efficient models were developed, like those Forte, X, Zero, and Axl have. The second was the matter/energy conversion engine that was the basis of the Master Abilities, and the Variable Weapon System.”
“Where are you going with this?” X asked carefully.
“Just this!” Albert declared as he ran his hands over the console, a wide grin spreading across his face. “The true power of that conversion system...with enough energy and the right programs...”
Zero’s arm suddenly jerked up, and he fired off a blast of energy that arced out onto the ground outside the fortress between it and the angry mob. When it landed, it took the shape of Cutman. “Fear the power of three!” he declared proudly as he struck a pose.
“...you can hold an army in the palm of your hand!” Wily concluded as he pressed one last key. Zero fired...and fired...and fired...
Vinyl and the others raced to the window and watched what was taking shape down below. Before Vinyl’s eyes, every Robot Master she’d witnessed die - whether in the world conquest attempts or from the actions of whoever attacked the wedding - took shape out of pure energy, falling into line on land and in the air. Much to her amazement, it wasn’t just those she and Albert had built...but any that had been particularly close as well, any who had lived on Sky Lagoon. Her eyes locked onto a particular pair of energy charges that landed close together.
A humanoid robot in blue samurai armor took shape, sitting on a green tank that had the upper body of a young woman with gun arms in place of a turret. The samurai put an arm around the girl’s shoulders, waving up at Vinyl with his spear.
Seeing Vinyl’s tears pouring from her eyes from the sight, Octavia pulled her close to offer comfort. Vinyl then glanced towards her, a question in her eyes. Octavia glanced from the army below to the fortress they were in...and rolled her eyes. “Okay, if that’s what you need...” Vinyl hugged Octavia tight in gratitude.
“So Vinyl,” Wily asked eagerly, his mad grin still on his face, “what are we going to do now?”
A matching grin slowly spread on Vinyl’s face. “The same thing we always do, Dad...try and take over the world!”
Celestia and Luna were sitting down to dinner - for Celestia, it was actually breakfast for Luna - when a guard burst in through the door. “Your Highnesses! Canterlot is being invaded!”
“...what?” Celestia gasped in shock. “How?”
“A...an army of bipedal machines is marching on the castle!” the guard responded. “They have air support, and weapons the likes of which we’ve never seen before! Some have set themselves on fire to fly about, and others have simply lifted buildings out of the way...and several are making objects fly about at will without any visible magical fields. There’s even a giant with them!”
“Lead the way!” Luna declared, leaping to her hooves and leading the rush out to the balcony where they could see what was happening. True enough, an army of robots was on the march, each wielding powers the likes of which Equestria could scarcely imagine. And to set the cadence of the march...they were singing.
They're Vinyl and Wily
Yes Vinyl and Wily
Both are genius
Whether human or pony
This Father/Daughter team
Will make the heroes scream
They're Vinyl
Yes Vinyl and Wily, Wily, Wily, Wily, Wily!
As the lyrics stopped for a time, Celestia blinked in confusion. “Vinyl? As in...Vinyl Scratch? She DJ’d Cadence’s wedding reception...”
“Did you remember to pay her bill?” Luna offered curiously, uncertain what to make of it all as the robot army brushed aside the Royal Guard without hurting them, the song beginning anew.
The night's not yet begun
But their plan has been unfurled
They will overthrow the sun
And take over the world!
“Just the sun?” Luna grumbled irritably. “What am I, chopped liver?”
“Wait...didn’t the first verse say something about Vinyl’s father?” Celestia asked in confusion as the song, ignoring their actions, picked up as the castle became surrounded.
They're Vinyl and Wily!
Yes Vinyl and Wily
Their family campaign
They feel no need to explain
The evil throne will be theirs
Equestria taken unawares
They're Vinyl, yes Vinyl and Wily, Wily, Wily, Wily-
A high pitched whistling echoed as a blue and yellow flying saucer coasted in through the army, stopping right before the two Diarchs. As it opened, Vinyl extended her metal leg out, the buster at the end converting into a sonic disruptor. She gestured to the Princesses’ crowns. “Drop it!”