//------------------------------// // Temporary Friends // Story: Forgotten Data // by Lightningflash101 //------------------------------// The sound of my hooves stomping the metal floor filled the room. Running for my life from two other ponies. I can hear them running after me. They're shouting something at me, but I couldn't hear them. Fear was driving my actions. Bright shots of energy fly over my head as I continued to run. Each shot varied in color from white to blood red. Those shots would hit the tubes, shattering them without any effort. Are they planning on killing me with those shots? The thought of what would happen if one of those hitting me terrified me even more. "Stay away from me!" I shouted, ducking a sky blue shot of energy, "leave me alone!" "Aim for his legs!" Max commanded, "The bastard won't stand a chance!" It already feels like I'm running in circles. Running past numerous amounts of tubes with no end. There had to be an exit somewhere. I can hear another shot of energy flying towards me. Protocall="magic_resistant_armour"engaged All of a sudden, I feel my entire body getting covered by some different kind of metal. Starting from my back and moving to both my neck and to my legs. In sections at a time, a silver layer formed to reality. When it reached my head, the layer formed a helmet that fitted perfectly. Then the entire room lit up fast enough to blind me. Then the sudden shock of force hit me, sending me flying into the air. There was nothing I could do to stop myself, I was moving too fast. My fall was broken by a glass tube that shattered on impact. When I could finally see again, the two were on top of me. Inside some sort of shell of their own, their mane and tail hid. Their shells are more worn than mine with battle damage. Their hooves, which for some reason had a hole in the center of them, pointed at me. My helmet reverted back to reveal my face to them. "Talk." Aqua demanded, "Who are you? Are you the cyberpony that reactivated?" "I-i..." I stammered, "wh-what are you-?" " Were asking the questions here!" Max shouted, stomping his other hoof next to my head. Causing me to flinch in fear. "I just woke up in this place!" I claimed, "I don't know how I got here or what you're talking about! All I know that my name is Lightning!" "Do you think you're funny, wise guy?" Max questioned, ready to punch me unconscious "Max please" Aqua interrupted, stopping the angered stallion "let me handle this. Go keep watch." Max grumbled something under his breath as he walked away. Leaving his partner to interrogate me. As much as I was relieved that he left, I'm still terrified of what Aqua could and might do. "Im telling you the truth." I told her "Thats still up for debate." she said coldly, a small section opening on her left shoulder. A snakelike object made its way out of the opening, heading towards me. Its prong head gave me an uneasy feeling. "Wh-what are you going to do to me?" I questioned, fear in my voice. The "snake" had slithered onto my shoulder. Slowly moving to the back of my head. Fear keeping me from stopping it. "You'll see soon enough." she stated Suddenly, the "snake" pounced. Everything started to fade into black as it fastened itself onto the back of my neck. Tired. I feel so tired... My eyes open to a blinding light. Instinctively, I blinked until my eyes adjusted to the brightness. When I could see again I find myself in... A void? Around me, I can see a series of "1's" and "0's" going in every direction. Looking down at my hooves, I find myself standing on some sort of grid. I feel as though as I've known this place my entire life and yet, I have no memory being here at all. The sound of walking hooves broke me out of my thoughts. As if my body worked on its own, I began to walk towards the noise. It only seemed like a moment before I saw the shape of a mare looking threw a terminal similar to the one I saw a part of my past. Her coat a darker shade then twilight's purple, her violet mane and tail cut short. I didn't bother to look at her flank. "Who are you?" I asked, my voice sounding different then what I've heard before. As if it was...digital. The mare quickly turned to face me, showing me her eyes. They were just like Twilight's. But, those where eyes that looked through me than at me. I took a step back before looking at what she was. It looked to be like me but not at the same time. His body shape was the same, even had a pair of wings of its own. But his eyes were only black pits, his coat and hooves opposite colors of what they should be, and his mane and tail missing. I froze up. I didn't know what I should do. The only thing the creature did was stare at me. As if it lacked the ability to blink. Find our replacement core. Go to Canterlot. It spoke without moving its lips. It was clear as my own. But it switches from mine to an unnatural distorted one. Then before I or the mare could question the strange creature, it dissipated into a bundle of "0's" and "1's". Scapptering in every direction. Everything went dark a moment after. My eyes shot open as I jumped awake. I felt the "snake" pull itself off of me and returned to its keeper, Aqua. She was still standing on top of me. But now her helmet reverted to revile her face. The one I saw in the void. There was a cold sweat on her forehead. "What was that?" She demanded, "Why did it say 'Canterlot'?" "I-i don't know," I told her, "You know as much as I do." Aqua let out a sigh and stepped back a few steps. Her helm went back on before turning her back to me. "Max, come in." She paused for a moment "No, he's not with CyberStorm... Yes, I'm sure, the guy's memory is corrupted. He doesn't even remember his past and just recently relearned his name... I know they look similar to each other but you can't assume someone by how they look..." This went on for a few moments. The only thing I did was sit up. I could have ran at any time while this was going on. But for some reason, I didn't. "listen!" Aqua shouted suddenly, " I saw something in there when I was looking through his corrupted memories. It looked like him but different, glitched. It was telling him to go to canterlot... I know, I know! But we can't just leave a pony like him behind." My helm had put itself back on my head and everything brightened up. In the corner of my eyes that one of the icons were lightning in and out of reality. Open communication tab I thought suddenly before a screen opened up in front of me. Another icon was inside. It was titled "Pinkie Pie's Cakes and Backed Goods Emporium". Bypass password and connect. Master key "Equestria". A moment passed before a soft static had filled my ears "...not with CyberStorm" Max shouted through the static, "He could be infected with the virus! That would explain why that thing wants to go to that shithole in the first place!" "We both seen what the virus does to people Max." Aqua argued, "He's not one of them." My confusion only grew as I listened. "Can somepony tell me what's going on already!" I demanded loudly, a hint of anger in my voice. I felt Aqua's eyes look at me. The screen shrank down so I could look at her. "Neither of you is making any sense here! Who is CyberStorm? What is the Virus? And how the hell did I end up here?!" I had more questions flowing through my mind as I spoke. There were so many things I didn't know that I angered me. I felt like a child that everyone was ignoring. I wanted answers. The two didn't respond for about five minutes. "Fine..." Max sighed, breaking the silence, "He can come with us to the tower. But any shady business and I'll personally scrap him for parts." The connection cut itself off as my helmet retracted once more. Aquas helmet retracted as well. " I heard your voice in the coms." she stated, suspicious, "how?" "I don't know. I just did." I replied, swinging my front legs in a denying motion "honest." She stared at me for a moment before letting out a sigh. "alrihgt..." she said, "follow me. we're going to find your wings." "My... wings?" I asked Aqua rolled her eyes at me and started walking in a direction, her helmet putting itself back on once again. I followed behind her, following suit.