//------------------------------// // [02] The Tour // Story: Remastered Reality // by Nova Borealis //------------------------------// Serena Nova bursts out the door with nothing but a silent wisp and a high pitch but brief jet sound. The ponies around me look at the area where she just was, then slowly look down as they let the crushing truth sink in. For 6 entire years they will be separated from their friends and family. Tears start to fall from some of their faces yet Dash attempts to stay strong. Necra however looks at me with a worried expression. "No need to be sad, I-I'm sure they have a time machine...right?" she asks as she looks back to V's avatar. "We have several but only a few are operational..." she says hesitantly, as if theirs more to it then that. "Well what are we waiting for! Lets go home and party!" yells Dash as she leaps up into the air with a satisfied smirk on her face. "I'd be happy to if future time travel wasn't impossible. You see, in a normal universe their is an extra dimensional structure refried to as a "tipler cylinder" This is a way of 4th dimensional interaction to a 3 dimensional universe by causing the 5th dimension to enact its quantum possibilities. In the Relay Group this process is still there but done in a limited manner so when ever A happens instead of B then a different timeline isn't created and thus a different universe. I'd tell you how it works but I don't think you would understand the math behind it." says V as her tone changes from somber to normal. "Uh....we don't understand." says Applejack a bit confused by V's explanation. "It means that time travel is possible to go forward and backward in time in your universes but the laws of nature prevent that from happening in this universe." I say to dumb it down for the ponies. "Great, then why can't Nova take us to a different universe? Or is this the only one she has..." says Twilight as she realizes it's a long shot. "Well yes and no. The Harmonic Empire is composed of about 64 centillion universes. All of which are controlled by purebloods. Naturally, inter-universal travel is available to all of them in some form but the laws of time are drastically different here then what you're used too." informs V to get a rather surprised expression from Twilight and Starlight. "So we're stuck here until the Gateway is fixed?" asks Pinkie as her mane deflates slightly with a growing sadness in her voice. "I'm sorry to say but...yes." says V with a heavy heart. A silence fallows suit as the ponies let the information sink in, Necra doesn't seem to care much though, other then Alpha Base nothing was waiting for her back in Equestria. "Nova mentioned that the Multiversal Control Room can change the laws of nature right? asks Starlight with a glimmer of hope. "I know what your asking. And the answer is no." says V bluntly, easily guessing what she was asking with her countless processors. "But why not!? Isn't the multiversal control room DESIGHNED to change those laws?" she asks, demanding an answer. V crosses her arms with a bemused expression. "Even If that was a good idea -which it's not! Then I'm not in a position to enter the MV Room." she says. Before Starlight could reply VALeRY stops her as she raises her hand. "Changing that type of law to effect a small area of space can be dangerous if done incorrectly! Thats how...Torment was..." began V, she almost continues but stops herself, as if something about this topic is stopping her. Rather it be out of fear, protocol, or even both I can only guess she is referring to the failed time experiment...and it's not like that ended terribly or anything. No. Not at all. We all hear quick paced foot steps coming from behind us, snapping us all out of this matter as our attention drifts towards the newcomer. One by one we turn around to see another pureblood running towards us with two plates of tea cups levitating by her sides and her wings retracted. "Hold up! Don't leave yet I got some tea! agh!" she yells with a 2 plates of tea cups only to trip and fall on her face right at my feet. Her skin is black for the most part with splotches of white fade into view around her face. Her hair is dark gray with red streaks. She sits up and looks at me with a sad expression. Her eyes are similar to Nova's yet a red tint surrounds them as if from the blood of her many victims. The whites of her eyes are black as void with her Irises being that of a blood red ring with a faint white glare to them. Scarlet's body is completely identical to Nova's in physical appearance but her wings are different then hers. 8 large diamond ultra thin Dileoum plates lined with nano-gravity jets on their edges. On their surfaces many energy emitters can be seen taking the form of red glowing geometrically flawless diamonds all having their points all aiming at the joints that connect them to her body. They glow both red and deep violate with various different types of negative magics to only highlight the black surface. In the center of each wing is a diamond shaped gap with small violate orbs inside of them. Energy emitters surround the gap in a geometric pattern and add to damage and power should they be used. They are in reality a more advanced version of Epsilon's energy emitters. She wears a headset similar to Nova's and strangely, a formal suit fit with a blood red tie. A single tear falls from her eye out of pain as she rubs her head. I kneel down and offer her my hand. She takes it as I pull her up. "I'm sorry let me get you another set of tea." she says but before she could turn to face the mess of shattered tea cups and spilt tea V stops her. "Scarlet, please. We have guests. Perhaps it would be best if you introduced yourself?" suggests V as her avatar teleports in front of her with her arms crossed and a deadpan expression. Scarlet turns around to face us once more with a shy look on her face and a small blush. The spilt tea disintegrates on the floor to make it completely dry as the shattered tea cups reassemble themselves only to fall into a few wormholes. "M-my name is Scarlet Rose...I'm in charge of the Empire's PR campaign and a few government agencies," she says nervously with a hint of sadness and deep regret. Necra looks at her with a deeply frightful expression of both shock and sadness, she notices this. "Um...are you ok?" she asks as she looks at the X changeling queen. Her eyes shrink to pinpoints and tries to scream, only for a barely audible stutter to come out. "What are you..." she whispers, not taking an eye off Scarlet. She recoils slightly at this with a notably hurt expression, as if her past sins are slowly creeping back up on her. The blacks of her eyes flicker faint lightning shaped cracks within them, as if from the remements of a now inactive curse. "I...I-I should just go..." she says as she hangs her head in shame. "Don't be so hard on yourself. She's never seen anyone like you. None of these life forms are even from the Empire." says V nonchalantly. Scarlet's eyes widen and swiftly turns around to look at Necra once more. "You're...from beyond the Gateway?" she says with with utter bafflement. "This is Necra, she is a changeling queen from the planet Equus. Her species is not yet fully understood but she has the ability to detect emotions with her mind." I inform her, Scarlet makes a scowl and recollects herself. Her left hand drifts up to her mouth in a fist, she coughs into it. "Y-yes...of corse...but if this is true then be prepared for things to get a little weird soon." she says in a serious tone. "Oh? Well weirdness is what I DO little lady." says Discord with a sadistic grin, this does not phase Scarlet at all. "Believe me, I know what true chaos is better then literally anyone... Both you and Necra can sense energy to some extent. I imagine you shit your nonexistent pants when Nova revealed herself." she says expecting the obvious answer. Though her first statement caught Discord off guard but does his best to hide his disturbed and greatly insulted feeling. "Heh, that's an understatment..." whispers Dash. "Well you can certainty say we were surprised." says Necra in agreement. "Now, when you entered Homebase what was the first thing you noticed?" asks Scarlet as she turns her attention to everypony, not just Discord and Necra. "Well It looked like every galaxy in the universe orbits a single point...i-in...ring...like...patterns." says Twilight with an increasingly shocked tone as she begins to theorize what force could possibly have the gravitational power to make every galaxy in the universe orbit it so harmonically. "We're heading to the Grand Capital Galaxy at the center of the universe." she says with confidence. "And when we get there you might want to wear these." says V as she materializes 2 pairs of headsets designed for a pony and a draconequus. "Couldn't you just cast a fancy spell to protect us from getting brain exploding migraines?" says Discord as he picks up his headset with his tail as if he's holding something gross. "We could but it wouldn't last long. Especially sense we're going to the capital. Do you want me to cast a dampening spell on you anyways?" says Scarlet. "Most defiantly, I don't know about you but I never did like the wearing these things. The Enterprise had better ways for communication anyways." says Discord as he clearly references Star Trek. V begins to chuckle softly as I see a very brief flicker of distortion avatar. "With that being said, I trust that some of you will want to explore Solitude as others want to ask us questions. Feel free to indulge yourselves in the many luxuries this ship provides." says V with a fake smile. Twilight jumps at the opportunity and runs over to her with a notebook and a quill. "It's times like this I'm glad I'm always prepared!" says the adorkable princess. Starlight walks over to her as some other ponies make their separate ways with pleasent goodbyes. I approach the door on the right with Necra, Twilight, and Starlight close behind. The others split off to walk into the museum yet Scarlet stays put with Discord hovering over her. ====== Scarlet "Of all the things I've seen you are by far the darkest..." says Discord as he winds his way around me with a nefarious grin on his face. A faint shiver rushes down my spine as I begin to realize what he is exactly. "So very similar to that Nova yet so very different...as if you're a part of her." says Discord as he slowly drifts away. "In a way I suppose you're right...but at the same time so very wrong." I say in an increasingly serious tone. Discord smirks at this. "A paradoxical statement. How wonderful~ However I get the impression your chaotic nature is the very reason why you exist." he inquired. "It would probably be best if don't know. Trust me when I say that...it's dark." I say in a shameful tone. "The ponies don't know the full extent of the chaos I unleashed all those years ago. Not even their precious princesses know my true purpose." says Discord in a surprisingly serious voice. "Hi, my name is Scarlet, and I'm the unholy hell spawn from the literal embodiment of negative thought itself trapped inside a mirror pool sealed by Nova's super fancy sword that's even older then she is." I say bluntly to get my point across. Discord only rises an eyebrow. "Oh really? And I suppose your going to mention a "tragic past" thing right?" says Discord with a bemused expression. "Oh screw you I was killed 99 times by her...wait how many of you can break the 4th wall?" I ask with concern. "Just me and Pinkie, but we try not to do it too much. Even I won't go that far. Although on one occasion Twilight almost fell into the end credits." says Discord with a slight chuckle. ====== Serena We walk through the door to the right of the MV room's door to find ourselves in a descending hallway to a medium sized sitting room. To our right is yet another door. V's avatar stops at the door and turns to us. "Apologize for the mess, I'm doing some remodeling." Says V as the door opens behind her. What we see utterly shocks us to the core. A long hard light bridge with the width of a hallway reaches far out into the distance into a massive sphere shaped structure tipped with a large amount of cylindrical machinery covered with pipes, strange lights, and upward pointing vents. The vents however are radiating so much heat they give off plasma like jets. These jets are curving into a large donut shaped device that is in reality an energy conversion chamber. The jets curve into the receivers through VALeRY's gravitational pylons. Above this is a huge collection of thick pipe like wires that merge into the ceiling. The same structure can be seen under the sphere as well, as if it she other pole of a celestial based machine. The entire thing is shrouded in a thin layer of staticky charged clouds. On both sides of the bridge are a large collection of rails in a cube fashion similar to the aperture labs of Alpha Base back on Equestria only much bigger and finished rooms are formed closed off from our view. The panels connect to one another through additional supports. One of them on our left side slides down to open a door. A bright light emerges from it only for a medical sentinel to leave it and fly off into the distance. More rooms can be seen, some are the size of buildings while others are small. Clumps of rooms are connected to one another through paneled hallways like a giant city entirely dedicated to conducting advanced and dangerous experiments. "Ya don't say." says Starlight with awe and a hint of sarcasm. "How is this even possible? This room is bigger then the island itself! Maybe even the Innovation!" yells Twilight desperately trying to cling to the reality of the sight before her. "So it's bigger on the inside? That's cool, but how is this possible?" asks Necra calmly. "Pocket universes. They come in handy when you want to build structures in a small space but need a lot of space to build them." says V matter-O-factly. "What's that thing in the center of the room?" asks Twilight as she points to the core chamber. "That is the core chamber, I usually reside inside. Powering my turbine and ejecting my power out of my poles when ever the ship needs extra power." says V as she turns to the intimidating structure. "But if you're a black hole wouldn't that mean you would prevent the ship from moving?" asks Starlight. "What do you mean?" she asks. "Well the bigger an object is the harder it is to move. Doesn't a black hole have infinite mass? And if that's the case then how can your ship move? Or for that matter, get sucked into your gravitational felid?" asks Starlight with much concern in her voice, this makes Twilight feel uneasy. "To put it simply in a way you can understand, one of the core chamber's inner most layers is composed of anti gravitite. An artificial element that cancels out gravity when energized with electricity. The stronger the gravity, the more energy is required to flow through it to fully cancel it out. Sense the core chamber is a perfect sphere, the inertia caused by my "infinite" mass is canceled out completely. This also means my own gravitational field locks me in the center of my core chamber, unable to move unless I teleport out...not like there's a door I could use anyways." says V as she begins to float down the bridge towards the power core. "That's...in...credible..." says Twilight, completely dumbstruck by the amount of complexity the core chamber alone must process to serve a simple purpose, keeping the ship powered, letting it move, and not killing us. "Will time and space distort if we got near your core?" asks Starlight as she addresses her final concern. "The space time distortion is converted into energy, a-LOT of energy might I add." says V with a hint of pride in her voice. "How much energy does this ship even need?" asks Twilight. "Trust me, you don't wanna know. But I will give you a hint, I could effortlessly blow up a star with that much power." says V with a bit of enthusiasm to humor them. After a few minutes of walking they approach the core chamber's exterior. It seems like a building surrounds it for life forms to enter as apparent by the few windows. The door opens with a swoosh to reveal the Core Command Center. The room curves inward around the central chamber. The room has a staircase off to the side that leads to the second floor. The curved wall flickers violently with electricity as apparent by the massive amount of power being generated by the turbine. Above we can see a large assortment of terminals and holographic displays. V's avatar drifts up to the second floor as we fallow suit. Once there we see a holotable in front of us. The table displays a warning message only for it flicker away as if done so by V herself. On the side of the table are a few small compact terminals to manipulate the display settings. On the other side up against the wall is a window composed of a reinforced hard light shield to prevent us from being shredded by X rays. I walk up to the window and put my hands on it to gaze at the sight before me. "It's...beautiful..." was all I could say as the others are speechless. A bright white light is seen in the center of a large spherical room covered in solar panels. The object in the center is in fact the Ultra Core with the light at her equator being sucked in and spinning the turbine at millions of milers per hour. I can only imagine what would happen If I got too close. Pain. The core is covered in a hazy felid of light that warps around it and gets blasted out of the poles. This must be the space time distortion caused by her gravity being absorbed into the ship. The light from the core washes over us all in a calming blue light. I can't even begin to calculate the amount of power being generated every second. I try and scan it for details only for the results to turn up blank. Understandable given her schematics are highly classified but I get the feeling she doesn't want to be scanned. The core flickers red for an almost unnoticeable portion of time. The others don't seem to notice, I turn around to see Epsilon with a slightly worried expression. She knows something's wrong just as much as I do. "...H-help me..."