Nano Swarm was to stay with Rainbow Dash. But before that she had to stay with the princesses in Canterlot. She got a guest room and the capsule found a nice place to stay idle in the courtyard.
Celestia sits on her throne listening to the complaints of a few nobles about Nano Swarm being a human and not banished yet. Luna found a place beside Nano Swarm in the castle labyrinth.
“So what is it like to be human?” Said Luna desperately trying to fill the silence between them.
“Well I don’t really know. I’ve been a Utopian longer than a human so I can’t say I know much.”
“And what is this Utopian that you speak of?” Questioned Luna.
“I am a former human. When you become a Utopian it means that a superior race comes to pick you up and take away your mortality and you become immortal. You also have to do what Utopia says. Which in this case I’ve been asked by Utopia to come here and save this universe form collapse.”
“Collapse? Surely you don’t mean Equestria? We have lived in peace for a thousand years.”
“By collapse I don’t mean social collapse. I mean all of reality is going to be destroyed if I don’t build a machine to stabilize it.”
“Why should we trust what you say is true?” Luna said skeptically
“Why shouldn’t you? I’ve came here on a ship you haven’t seen before. I’ve done nothing to harm you or your citizens. Hell you even attacked me and instead of fighting back I ran to save you from harm. Why do you still hate me?”
Luna paused for a moment and looked around and examined the hedges trying to think of an answer. “We believed humans are the same…That you are violent without reason.”
“That’s a terrible assumption. If a pony kills another pony would that mean all ponies would kill each other if they had the chance?”
“N-no.”
“Then why did it make sense when you applied it to a human?”
“Because humans fight each other a lot. They have war machines far more advanced than our own and they tend to use them to kill each other more often than we do.”
“That’s because there are more nations in the human worlds than here. Equestria is divided into only…What ten? Five? But human nations are counted up all the way to over 200. More since the discovery of other planets to live on. Some countries are even founded in the middle of no where in space. So the more countries there are the more chance that they won’t see eye to eye with at the very least one of them. If ponies didn’t have you or your sister I’m sure the different tribes would still be warring with each other.”
Luna thought for a moment. “I’m sorry Nano Swarm. We did not think through our assumptions the first time we met.”
Nano Swarm smiled. “Hey no sweat.” She gave Luna a hug which made her jump in shock. “I forgive you moon princess. You did allow us to fix up my home in another reality.”
“S-so there are more Equestria’s?”
“Many of them really.”
They found a park like location in the maze with benches to sit on while they talk. “How many?”
“Only about a few thousand. We try to save as many as we can but its getting harder since they start having too much chaos at once. Also we have to deal with the human realities that are going into their own forms of chaos as well.”
“Have you found a solution?”
“Yea we decided it was best for the Utopians to split up and go on solo missions. I’m one of thirteen and alone we are able to end any conflict. But our ways differ. I prefer to crush societies and build my own so people can follow my rules of peace. However that wouldn’t work since people or ponies would rebel and the peace I worked for would be destroyed.”
“True I do see citizens rebelling against oppression. But since you wouldn’t do that what would you do?”
“Well I wasn’t sure. This is the first time I was on my own. Peace Keeper would talk the nations into friendship, and Sky Rider will amaze them with her flying machines to get them to work together for greater technology. Turmoil will tell stories of places worse off and the society would try to become better off. Golem God would make them conform into a religious society and present himself as some sort of philosopher or messiah and get people to work together with religious belief.”
“Hmm these methods do sound interesting. Surely us princesses have already created peace so you would not need to help us in that aspect.”
“Not necessarily. I’ve seen your politics and I’ve noticed that griffons are not loyal. And other nations wouldn’t get involved to protect you.”
Luna looks away from Nano and stares at the gravel path for a few moments. Then she looks back and says. “True. The nations of the world have yet to see eye to eye on some matters and even at times ignore others for help. We of Canterlot try our best to help those who need it.”
“In time it would work and everyone would enjoy each others company. However you need to watch what you say Luna. Last time I saw you guys you made a fatal error of using the Canterlot voice in front of a griffon. Honor means a lot to them and since you’ve dishonored them with that voice they launched war on Canterlot. Luckily the Utopians were there and we fought for you…No griffon died in our attacks and we had thousands of prisoners.”
Luna was silent for a moment. Letting the info of her fault caused a war was unsettling. “W-will this happen soon?”
“It’s ok. It happened when discussing what to do with Utopia. But it may happen again when discussing my fate with other countries. They will put me to death I’m sure. But I can’t die so approve of the decision and when they hang me I’ll be alive.”
“I will tell Celestia all of what you told me…But for now return to your chambers in the castle. I no longer will accompany you since you haven’t caused trouble…” She got up from the bench and started to walk away. Then Luna stopped and turned back to Nano. “And I’d hate to send a bad example to my citizens about your people.”
“Thank you Luna. Did you know you’re my favorite princess.”
“Keep it up and I’ll think you’re trying to butter me up.”
“Oh don’t worry Luna. I am.” She said with a mischievous smile.
“Hahaha. Farwell Utopian.” Luna’s horn glows with a blue shimmer and loud bang rips through the air. She disappears.
Nano Swarm sits there for a few more moments. “I wonder what Rainbow’s doing?”
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Rainbow was pacing in her room and panicking to herself about Nano Swarm. The idea of having a daughter was stressful on its own but to have a daughter with a human?
“GAAAAAAAAW! THIS IS SO WEIRD!”
‘Go to her.’ Said a screen that popped up in her eye.
“W-what? No! I don’t want to see her…She’s my daughter. One I didn’t want…” She looked at the cloud floor below her in shame after realizing she is rejecting her daughter. HER DAUGHTER! It doesn’t matter if she’s not a pony she still is Rainbow’s daughter.
‘She’s your daughter.’
“SINCE WHEN DID YOU GET SO OPINIONATED!” Rainbow shouted at herself.
‘Since she showed up…I couldn’t take care of her so you should.’
“…Cole?”
‘Love you Dash!’
“W-what?”
No response.
“Wait Cole? Cole!?” At that moment it was decided. Rainbow would see Nano Swarm.
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Twilight was heading out to the Everfree to study the crater that Nano Swarm dug on impact. Or was it something else? Twilight heard about Cole’s abilities in harvesting matter.
Just then the library door burst open and Rainbow flew in.
“Twilight!” Shouted Rainbow in a panic.
“Rainbow what’s wrong?!” Said Twilight with concern.
“I-I need to see Nano Swarm!”
“Nano? Why?”
“S-she’s my daughter Twilight. I-I need to see her. I may not have chosen her but she’s still my daughter.” Said Rainbow in tears.
“Oh Rainbow I’m sorry.” She embraced her multi colored friend. “Come on. Let’s go to Canterlot. I’ll send a message to the princess and we can go over to meet her.”
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Princess Celestia was finished hearing the protests of the people. She took all their courses of action into account. Some were just straight up execution. Most others were either a form of banishment or just asking her to leave. Celestia didn’t agree with most of these other than just getting her to leave. She went back to her chambers to think before her sister Luna teleported next to her and escorted her to her room.
“Tia…Nano Swarm must stay.”
Celestia froze. “W-what?”
“We were too quick to judge her my sister. She has dangerous potential and she knows it. Yet despite the fact that we attacked her and even alienated her she still has yet to actively fight us. I believe she may be able to redeem her race with her ways.”
“L-Luna? Are you sure we can trust her?” Celestia said with worry.
“Yes my sister. I am sure.”
“Then I trust your judgment…”
*pop*
A scroll appears before Celestia and she catches it with her magic before it hits the ground. She opens it up and seems worried at first. Then a soft smile appears on the sun princess’ face.
“I believe you’re not the only one who can trust Nano Swarm.” She said showing the letter to Luna. She took it with her magic and smiled warmly as she read.
“Rainbow is already feeling the effects of motherhood? Not even to the same species…And she just met her too…This will be interesting and possibly adorable to watch Tia.”
“Shall we prepare a room?” Said Celestia with a smile.
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Nano Swarm was sitting in her guest room at Canterlot castle and refusing to go on the bed. She mainly didn’t want to lay in it because it’s weak and wouldn’t support her new density. There was a maid in the hall dusting a flower pot and another one in the neighboring room cleaning it for somepony new. Nano Swarm could feel this. The swarm she created was able to surround the entire castle now. And they would be sending her important information about her surroundings. She found out the Nanobots were able to send her information about colors and for most of the time in the guest room she tried to get colors down.
“Miss Swarm?” Said a very disciplined voice. Nano looks up to see a pony who looked like some sort of butler. “My name is Proper Manners. If you need anything I will fetch it for you.”
Nano was silent for a moment. ‘I don’t eat. I don’t need things…How do I reject him?’ She thought to herself. Then after a few moments she said. “Hi.”
“Hello.”
“…”
“Umm miss Swarm?” He cocked his head to the side.
“...This will be awkward since I don’t require any basic mortal needs. I won’t require a butler while I’m here. Sorry about that. Though can you swap out this bed and replace it with a more solid surface? Like concrete?”
“…concrete?” He said with the most confused expression. “B-but why?”
“Well I weigh more than the average life form. My weight is several tons at the moment and I can go even farther. In fact that is what I plan on doing. But that means a normal bed would break under my weight. So instead of having a normal bed I have one made of concrete in my suite at Utopia.”
“Y-you live in a suite?”
“Well actually it’s a giant golden fortress known as Utopia or The Fortress of The Sun. Thanks to material gathered from the moon it’s able to shift from a solid gold to ebony black…Well not really but I can look that way. It’s also extremely powerful. We devoted our lives to peace so we could save billions.”
“N-now when you say we?”
“I am part of a group of twelve humans and one pony. We dedicated our lives to save those who need saving. Well that’s what we were told really. I believe Impulse has more in store for the Utopian core than what he’d let us believe. But I’m not going to judge him about it.”
“Who’s Impulse?”
“Some guy…made the fortress of the sun and saved me from death…He saved billions of lives and played with billions more. In a way he’s a tyrant and a hero.”
“Sounds like an interesting stallion.”
“Hah! Yea but he’s got nothing on me. I’m all bite and no bark.”
“S-so would you harm anyone if you felt like it?” His worry showed but his courage must have been very strong to ask that question.
“Would I? No. Could I? Yes.”
“T-that’s good to know. N-now anything I can get you? Other than a concrete bed?”
“Leave me I wish to stay in my thoughts for a while. Although if there are guests let them in.”
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Rainbow Dash was pacing nervously in the train car. She wasn’t sure what to say to Nano Swarm and she couldn’t figure out why she wanted to see her so bad. Was she really that into having a daughter? Did she love her?
“Rainbow are you ok?” Said Twilight with a worried expression. Her ears were flopped down.
“Huh? Oh yea…” Said Rainbow hesitantly with a hint of sadness. “I-its just…Ugh I just don’t know Twilight…I just feel…responsible. Like I have to take care of her or something.”
Twilight watches her friend go through a mental break down. “Then when we go there and you will talk to her. You will talk about what you’ve been doing and how she’s been for the years you haven’t known her.” She said confidently.
Rainbow stopped pacing and looked sorrowfully at the ground then at Twilight. “Yea…I’ll ask her about what she’s been doing…And maybe about her father if she asks.” Said Rainbow with a smile returning to her face.
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In the void Golem watches Nano Swarm’s progress in the Equestria she was sent to. Utopia hasn’t provided enough information to figure out what type of threat was being provided. Impulse assumed the reality was collapsing, which would make sense because that particular Equestria was made with a dimensional rip.
Golem goes from the observatory to the core of Utopia…its white dwarf star.
“Mother.” Said Golem to the star. “I prey for your ears to listen to me. I worry about this world past. I with to be sent to her. I wish to protect my sister.”
‘So shall it be done O’ all mighty Golem.’
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The moon begins to rise as the train reaches the Canterlot train station. Twilight wakes up while Rainbow still sleeps in the bunks that are provided.
“Rainbow wake up we’re here.”
Rainbow was shaken awake by Twilight and she shot up. “W-we are?”
“Yes now come on!”
“W-where’s Nano?”
“At the castle where she should be.”
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Nano Swarm sat deep in thought about her plan of action. The princesses are off her back for now but the population still sees her as a menace. Hours went by and the sky began to darken. She hardly noticed when Celestia came in.
“Nano Swarm?”
Nano looks up from the ground she was staring at intensely. “Yes?”
“You have a visitor.” She stepped aside to reveal Twilight and Rainbow Dash trotting in. Rainbow seemed almost overcome by joy when she saw Nano Swarm. Which made her feel very uncomfortable.
“Nano!” She dashed into her.
“Oh hi mom. You came to see me? I’m honored!” She said with a sly smile.
“Umm I. I really don’t know how to do this. Uh how have you been since the last time in Equestria?”
“This Equestria right?” She questioned. Leaving a puzzled Rainbow Dash but she quickly answered.
“Yes.”
“Well I would have to say my entire life so far! But it’s all for good cause. I’ve been fighting werewolves and vampires. Ok not vampires but I’ve been fighting a great number of different creatures. I know a guy who tames dragons. He’s pretty cute actually. Even though I kinda go both ways.”
“W-wait you’re lesbian?”
“BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!” She grinned.
“…wow did not see that coming.”
“And you expected your daughter to be human?” She said like a serious question. Everyone burst into tears because of laughter. At which point Celestia made her leave and left them to discuss amongst themselves.
“So looking at mares?” Said Rainbow.
“I see two right now.” Said Nano still grinning.
“No I mean any mares you’re interested in?”
“Oh well Fluttershy’s kinda cute. But that’s all. Twilight wouldn’t do me on the first date and we’d probably have the driest of relationships. Like sharing a book together dry.” Twilight blushed and Rainbow Dash laughed.
“Yea that sounds like Twilight. Hey how much would you bet that she will date a librarian?”
“I dunno Rainbow I kinda expect her to marry a scroll.” Neither of them seemed to want to lose their smiles. Twilight felt left out until she finally found some courage to speak up.
“Hey Nano?”
“Yea?”
“How old are you?”
“Sixty five.”
“WHAT?!?!” Both Dash and Twilight said in unison.
“What? Cole was hundreds of years older than that.”
“Well true.” Said Rainbow. Now it was Nano Swarm’s turn to ask questions.
“Hey Rainbow. Did you love John Cole?”
Rainbow froze for a moment. “…I-I can’t say.”
“Oh come on Rainbow its not like you’ll traumatize me. Did you love him?”
“At a time I thought I did. Then I hated him when he stabbed me and put nanobots in me. But I sorta forgave him when I realized he only stabbed me because he knew I would be ok afterward.”
“Ok last question…” She stopped smiling. “What drove you to come to me?”
It took a few moments for Rainbow to answer. “Well you’re my daughter an-“
“No no no! I’ve met different versions of you and you would come here to ask questions. Not because you’re maternal instincts acted up.” She glared at Rainbow. “So…What made you come to me?”
Both Twilight and Rainbow Dash froze and went deep in thought. But Rainbow was able to rebound.
“B-because a voice in my head said so…” said Rainbow sadly. “And I think it may have been Cole.”
“R-Rainbow?” Said Twilight worried.
“It’s ok. Want me to remove the swarm?” Said Nano Swarm.
“Ok…But can you show me your eyes?” Nano thought for a moment then agreed. She took off the blindfolds to reveal light blue eyes.
“Whoa.” Said Rainbow. “Y-you’re pretty Nano.”
“Aw mom!” said Nano blushing. “I wanted to hear that from someone not related to me.” She laughed and drew Rainbow in for a hug.
They separated and looked at each other for a while. But Nano didn’t seem like she was looking at Rainbow but rather looking through her.
“Umm Nano are you ok? You’re not really. Looking at me?” She said as she tilted her head to the side.
“I’m blind Rainbow. The swarm gives me sight.”
“Y-you’re blind?” Said Rainbow almost sad.
“Yea. I wasn’t always blind. Just recently so I could be more reliant on my swarm senses.”
“I-is there anything I can do about it?” Said Rainbow worried.
“Nope and I don’t want you to. Now…” She became serious. “Tell me more about Cole’s voice in your head.”
“Well it isn’t a voice. More of a screen. But it’s been giving me advice and I think saved my life a few times.”
“Yea that makes it harder for you to get rid of it huh?”
“…Yea.” Rainbow found the floor really interesting at that moment. So she stared at it.
“Rainbow…I want to know. Where exactly did you find me?”
She looked up from the floor “Huh? Why would you want to go there?”
“Because I want to know if the Trinity survived.”