“What the-!?” Lavina shouted, waking up from the dream that felt all too real. She felt a minor headache, but also slightly wet… and a bit sticky. Her vision came and she took a not that was left on her chest.
Lavina,
I apologize for that dream last night, but that was more or less a distraction to get you to come with me. And, again, I apologize, I couldn't resist your flavor. The others would join, but one would hurt and the other would just go through me. Hope your new room will work.
Sincerely, Princess Luna.
P.S. Good morning
Lavina only blinked. “She… ate me... “ she only spoke, right before hearing a knock, which made her jump a bit.
“Good morning!” A cheerful voice spoke. “Breakfast time!” Lavina shook her head and looked around her immediate surroundings. All around her were shelves, each filled with books, many of which had a strong, magical feel to them. Her bed was nearby a glass stained window, showing a classic star ending wand, that brought in the sunlight, illuminating everything, but there were candles around, as well as a classic fireplace that had a kettle over it. Some more knocking interrupted her.
“Your breakfast is getting cold.”
But instead of being in awe over the almost Hogwarts-like bedroom, she was quick to get out of bed and start running to the first door in the room. When she went through the door, she was almost caught by surprise when she saw the giant hallway that she saw once she went through the door. She saw some white pillars with gold trims at the bottom by her room, but paid no mind to them. “Where’s that damn princess? How dare she kidnap me from that village! I’m gonna kick her fat ass!” She shouted, quick to start running from one side of the hallway.
What she didn’t realize was that those ‘pillars’ were not pillars at all.
“Which one are you talking to?” The same, motherly voice asked, now sounding stern. Lavina froze and turned pale. She looked up to see she was under Princess Celestia herself, holding a very small plate in her magic.
But her fear eased down once she realized it was just Princess Celestia. “I’m obviously not talking about you. I’m talking about your dumb little sister that thought that kidnapping me was fine cause she is royalty.” She said the last word with venom in her voice.
“I apologize on Luna's behalf, but even I have to agree this is for the greater good. Please, enjoy your breakfast, and you'll soon meet your, hopefully, friends.” Celestia lowered the plate to Lavina. It was a small stack of pancakes with some precisely cut blueberries and strawberries, with a small dab of whip cream at the top, making it look like a happy face. “Please, eat up, you’ll need your strength for today.”
“Oh, I need my strength alright, to send that princess back to the moon for what she did!” She shouted angrily, snatching the plate as she sat down on the floor and started eating it. But after awhile, her anger slowly vanished as the sweet taste of pancake, syrup, followed by the fruit and whipped cream seemed to calm her down. Celestia sat down herself with all legs on the floor and tucked under her body.
“Hmm… so, you're a human who really uses magic? Or are you just good at fooling others to think it's magic?” Lavina eyed at the princess. “Just saying, I’ve dealt my fair share of impostors.”
“Why should I answer that? It seems that my magic isn’t good enough for your bratty sister, so bad that she forced me to come here and learn things ‘the pony way’.” She huffed, clearly not happy that even with magic, she was looked down upon both figuratively and literally.
“You are talking to a pony who's seen and live much more history than your ancestors. And humans suddenly using magic, while unique, might end disastrously if not under the right supervision. So it's not really a bad thing, but it could've been executed better. I mean, you are still only a child like the other two, right?”
“What? I’m not a kid, I just look young!” She shouted angrily, not liking how she couldn’t get away from being accused as a young girl.
“And I’m sorry, it's just the way you dress and… well, look like… take it as a compliment, though. I do.”
She only glared at her with a pout as she went back to eating the rest of her pancake in silence. “And what do you mean by meeting my friends? I don’t have any friends as of yet, and Luna is definitely not a friend.”
“Hopefully, they'll be your friends. They're quite special. Tinker and Perma… never thought I'd see such a human looking robot and the ghost of a human.” Lavina gave a quick glare. She didn’t have to say anything as she knew the glare meant she was highly doubtful of what she said. “Anywho, I think it's time for you to meet them. They'll be your neighbors for this mission Luna has until it's over. From what Luna has found, it sounds serious, and might be worth the investigation.” She picked Lavina up with her magic and walked to a different part of the castle. The witch noticed all the guards patrolling around, human and pony, with servants, working to maintain the castle. Escape was going to be next to impossible.
Lavina watched the place and the workers, thinking that escaping would be difficult, but not impossible with what she can do. ‘I swear, I’ll come back to that village and work harder than ever before as an apology.’ She thought, wanting nothing more than to go back to that tiny village. A set of doors opened, and Celestia gently dropped her off.
“There we go. If you need anything, please, feel free to speak up. Enjoy making your acquaintance with Tinker and Perma.” Celestia backed away and closed the door behind her, followed by it locking. The sounds of chains were heard as something was arriving. Lavina looked up to see what was a metal box being lowered at a somewhat uneven pace. It fell onto the floor with a loud clanking noise. Lavina quickly readied her wand, quickly assuming it was some sort of monster inside. Probably a test from Luna to see if she could defeat this creature and survive.
It didn’t take long for whatever was inside to start breaking out, hearing something hit it, and a dent being seen. Then another, and a third one before the side of the box bursted off. Lavina was quick enough to cast a shield as the metal part bounced off of it and over her. She looked over to see that it was a tall girl, her black hair tied up into a messy ponytail. Her eyes widened a little when she saw a wind up key behind her turn.
“Where is that dumb alicorn?” The girl said with the soul intent of killing whoever that ‘alicorn’ was.
“Are… are you talking about Luna?” Lavina asked, to which the girl’s eyes widened as well.
“How do you know?”
“I’m guessing you were taken by her as well. I have a few things I want to say to that dumb horse.” Lavina crossed her arms as she glanced away.
“Hmm… why are you wearing that? Isn't Halloween another 8 months away?”
“What? No. I’m wearing it cause I’m going to be a witch.” She explained. “With magic real in this place, I can actually cast magic and make all of my fantasies become a reality.”
“... Do those fantasies include having warts, green skin, and be surrounded by cats or crows?”
“That's only stereotypical! If they were really like that, then they would've really died off.” She said, liking more of the realistic witches that aren't all that.
“So your fantasies involve making other people's, mostly males, fantasies a reality?”
“That’s not it either!” She shouted angrily. “I just want to wield magic, is it that hard to understand!?”
“Yes.” The sound of glass breaking could be heard… metaphorically, and literally, with the voice of someone saying ‘Whoops!’. A glass jar had missed them, with the glass turning into millions of small pieces upon impact with the floor. A low groan came from the pile of glass, followed by the pile moving a bit
“Do you think it’s that ghost thing that Celestia told me about?” Lavina ask, prepping her hand to grab her wand in case it would attack.
“There’s no such thing as ghosts.” Tinker shook her head, soon after a girl-like spirit rising up from the glass shards as she looked up at the two. “Okay, that’s a ghost.”
“AHHHH!” Lavina shouted before she fell back on the floor, quick to back away from the spirit.
“Wha-!? Where am I? This is not the castle.” Perma spoke, looking around before turning to them. “Oh, hello. Who might you both be?”
“Lavina!” She was quick to answer, thinking she needed to so she can ‘appease’ the spirit.
“Tinker.” The other simply answered. “And what should we call you?”
“Perma. Aww, are you afraid of me, Lavi? Tinky here seems to be alright in the presence of a ghost.”
“That’s cause she’s a freaking robot! She probably can’t even smile!” She shouted, knowing by the fact there was a giant wind up key sticking out from her back.
“I can smile.” Tinker replied, making an exaggerated smile that, if done by anyone else, would most likely call for an exorcist.
“Oh, but I don't hurt anyone.” Perma added, floating to Lavina. “I might scare them, but I don't want to unless it's an emergency.”
‘How can she even hurt someone..?’ She couldn’t help but ask in her mind as she felt there would be no real answer.
“So, did Luna take you in here as well?”
“Yes.” They both answered.
“And whatever she wants to do with us, I’m not listening.” Lavina proclaimed.
“Without an apology.” Tinker added.
“Wait what?” The witch was really confused after that. “A small apology won’t change anything.”
“But it is a good start.” Perma agreed to the robo-girl.
“I’ve already gave you my apologies,” The voice of Luna spoke “but this is important, not just for Equestria, but perhaps the survival of humankind as we know it.” Walking into the room was Luna… but not herself. It looked like Luna, but she was now a human, wearing dark blue royal robes with a black cape, and wielded a rapier, but still had her flowing hair and crown. She was only a foot taller than them, though Perma easily flew up near her.
Lavina didn’t say anything as she turned away from her, clearly not listening to that excuse of ‘already apologizing. Same went for Tinker, who turned her torso, before she turned her head away.’
“I know you all have something to say. Speak it now, or let yourselves lose control to the end.” Luna simply spoke.
“Did you hear anything?” Lavina simply asked.
“My hearing sensors are muted until what we request is granted.” Tinker said, the two still waiting for an apology.
“Oh yeah, I deserve an apology too, I’m not sure if it’s normal to you ponies, but kidnapping someone for your own personal gain isn’t what we call ‘a special greeting’ to us humans… and ghosts.” Perma said, soon after turning away from the human-turned alicorn.
“Entire human villages are disappearing.” Luna spoke bluntly. “I took you all because not only are you all unique in your own way, but if I asked you, this threat could easily take you away for their own agenda. The Tiny-Nappers might be involved with this, but entire human villages disappear overnight is too difficult. Every man, woman, and child, gone, no trace left behind. I may not seem like it, but I am greatly concerned for your kind; being treated as second rate citizens is one thing, something my sister and I are trying to fix, but with our size, we will stick out more in this investigation. I intend to make you all much better, individually, and as a team, with this form I made to keep track of your progress in the day as my body rests. Am I making myself clear?”
“I’m still not hearing anything, but whatever it is, they better hope it’s not important.” Lavina spoke again, it seeming like they won’t listen until they hear what they want to hear. Luna's right hand glowed with her blue aura, grabbing Lavina and turning to her.
“Your village is in danger! Imagine just walking around one day, then on the next, you, and everyone you know are taken away! For all we know, these people are being experimented on, or processed into something! Do you want everyone you know to be tortured with you soon joining in!?”
None of the three responded, still waiting for their apology.
“... Look, I’m sorry, ok? I have to do what's necessary. Being a leader means you have to make the tough calls and live with those consequences. I’d rather have you all be angry at me rather than do nothing and let your kind be abducted. This isn’t some political, publicity stunt my sister does. This is me taking initiative and getting people with special talents to rescue innocent civilians. Can any of you forgive me? And… maybe understand what's at stake?”
“Maybe not forgive, but seeing how nothing has changed, you are just as useless as your sister.” Lavina turned back around, to which the other two followed.
“I can accept the forgiveness, but the memory will not be erased.” Tinker spoke next.
“Eh, doesn’t matter to me, not like I have much to do with my life.” Perma couldn’t hide the smirk she had on after she said that.
“Ok, I will have a word with you about that, Lavina,” Luna spoke with a sigh of relief. “But I’m glad you’re all able to work with me on this. Now, this is something my sister and I used to do back then, back when Starswirl was our teacher, but we had a pocket dimension we entered to train. You will all be in this pocket dimension practically everyday, get your training on with each other, myself included. I’m still fairly new to this body, even if it’s temporarily. During the nights, I will seek other special people, find their locations, and, maybe, send you to get them… maybe. And questions?” All three just blinked. “Ugh, this a place where we can train without causing damage!”
“Oooh!” All three of them got what she was talking about.
“But wouldn’t it be hard for me cause of,” Perma asked, phasing her front half through Tinker’s body, to which the robot girl didn’t react, but Lavina jumped a little at the sight. “You know.”
“... Lavina, do you have any spells that can harm ghosts? Or, at least, stun them? Because I do.” She snapped her left finger, making both a portal behind her, and a large, nearly invisible hand, flicking Perma inside. “Would any of you like to enter, or be flicked inside as well?”
It was strange to see the transparent hand phase through Tinker, and hit Perma as she went spinning out of control into the portal. “That was unnecessary!” She shouted.
“Like we have any choice.” Lavina crossed her arms as she took a seat on her broom, which seemed to be able to follow her wherever she was, and flew into the portal. As for Tinker… she just walked through. Luna entered, closing the portal behind them. The dimension was where they were at, but it looked like they were looking through some window, with large cracks running through their immediate sight.
“Ah… it’s been a long time since I’ve been here.” Luna spoke, walking in, picking Perma up, and smelling the air. “Think of this as the place where anything can happen. Anything can enter, anything can be changed, and we can be anywhere… if you excuse me.” Luna’s hands glowed as she made the world they were in shrink to a more comfortable size. “There, much better… unless, you want a different place.”
“How about back at the tiny village where you kidnapped me from?” Lavina said, a knuckle on her chin as she felt that whatever the princess had planned was rather pointless.
“...Anybody else have a different location they want to go to? Perhaps the streets of Canterlot market? Ponyville’s fields? Or, rather, play out a possible scenario I have in mind?”
The other two stayed quiet, never seeing or hearing about Canterlot or Ponyville. Only blank and confused expressions as they tilted their head to the side.
“... You know, we should jump ahead and go into a possible scenario.” She began to move her hands around, making everything disappear, leaving an empty void, before a field emerged around them, which soon became the village Lavina was from. But, nearby, flying overhead, paused in time, was 4 teenage looking dragons, spewing fire. “If you think you're able to, try to stop these dragons, and save this fair village. I will see how you do.” She snapped her fingers and was whisked away, looking like she was sucked through a wormhole. Everything began to go slow, but everything went the speed it should be… with the dragons spewing fire, burning some homes, with everyone besides them running outside in pure panic.
They were too off guard to jump into action immediately, but soon Tinker shifted her boots into rocket jets and flew up to the dragons, uppercutting the first one, making it stop spewing fire, and quite possibly making it bite it’s own tongue.
“Wh-what are we supposed to do?” Perma was the one to ask, feeling like she wanted to go up and help, but doubting herself as she felt that she wouldn’t do anything useful. Meanwhile, Lavina was watching the scene and thinking to herself.
‘Alright, so obviously that dumb princess is going to make it impossible to actually fight them, giving a reason as to why we need her help or whatever, but maybe if I tried some magic to either confuse or even stun them, Perma could help the other people escape. I mean, their lives mean more than property… even though this is all made up.’ She thought, thinking that the freestyle plan was good enough. “Perma, you help guide the people to safety, while me and Tinker try and keep the dragons busy.”
“Got it!” She saluted as she flew off, already helping the tinies to find a safe spot where they won’t be seen or caught by any of the dragons.
Lavina got on her broom once more before she flew off, flipping a small book that had all the human spells she written down herself. Once she was close to two if them she chanted the phrase. “Conjunctivitis!” She shouted, saying it a little differently as bright yellow hoops went from the tip of her wand right to their faces as their wing flaps weren’t in sync anymore and they crashed into each other, as if they got confused by the sudden spell.
“Hey! There's that magic using tiny!” One of the dragons spoke, getting up and cracking it's knuckles. “First one to get her gets to eat the kids!”
“Heh, I bet she tastes like candy!” Another spoke in a more deeper, brutish voice, licking it's lips before charging at her, flaring it's teeth.
“None shall be ignored by me.” Tinker said, quick to kick the dragon that was about to clamp it’s jaws on Lavina, to which he went sent plumbing to the ground. Her key turned as she had her rocket legs back on, her arms up in a fighting stance for whoever wants to go next.
“Ha! I got this pipsqueak!” One of them cackled, getting on all fours and running to her similar to Golem from Lord of the Rings. The one pointed to Lavina charged at the witch, claws out, ready to swipe, and possibly, grab her.
The one that was heading to Tinker was surprised to see her one moment, then was gone the next. It didn’t take long to find her as he heard her voice right next to him. “Omae wa mou shindeiru.” She spoke in a foreign language.
“Nani!” The dragon spoke in sudden surprise, before what felt like a giant boulder hit him and sent him flying, but in actuality, it was Tinker’s fist.
Lavina instead turned around just in time to see the dragon, before his jaws clamped shut on her, and was quickly swallowed. But the victory was short as she heard the girl’s voice, it being another enchantment. “Diphulaniado!” Soon a large orb of orange light was shining through his scales, before it got too big, and the dragon burst from the inside. Of course, this wasn’t a real dragon, so he just bursted into puffs of magic energy.
“Oh my gosh! She killed Kenny!” The cackling dragon yelled in shock.
“YOU BASTARD!!!” The deep voice dragon yelled, running to Lavina and smacking her to the floor, right before stomping on her. “YOU KILLED MY BROTHER!!! YOU'RE GONNA PAY!!!”
Lavina was quick enough to form a shield when the dragon started stomping on her, but she could clearly see the cracks starting to form as she had to think fast. Tinker couldn’t help since she was fighting off the second dragon that was about to come for her. So in a blind panic, she shouted another enchantment. “Vera Gurasare!” And in a quick flash, she teleported a small distance away from the dragon’s foot, it not being far as she had to get up and run, trying to find her broom, and seeing that it got stuck on the ground. But she could see it was trying to wiggle itself out.
The dragon that Tinker fought against quick grabbed her and began to crush her with both of its hands.
She feebly kicked her legs as she tried to wiggle herself out, but it didn’t take long for things to get dented and broken up as crunching sounds were heard and she literally started spewing out a bright blue liquid from her mouth, her eyes glowing the same color, and the rest of the blue liquid flowing down to her pinned arms as the small trinkles fell to the grassy field. Tinker stood still for a moment, before the light in her eyes faded and turned a dull lifeless gray as she slumped over, being released as she fell limp to the floor.
Catching Lavina by surprise, she mistakenly stopped, making her an easy target for the other dragon as he grabbed her roughly and lifted her up to his face.
“Not so tough, are you!?” He roared, which was followed by some screaming. Turning, Lavina’s eyes widened and hyperventilated as she realized that the 4th dragon member didn't bother with them and instead was scarfing down on some people, with Perma unable to do anything. She only felt herself shoved into the dragon’s maw, screaming her head off, but felt nothing.
“Ok… ” Luna’s voice spoke, making everything disappear, and Tinker being fixed immediately, all the liquids going back in to her. Luna came inside, rubbing the temple on her head, looking like she was going to blow a fuse, but kept it back. “Alright… keep calm, Luna. We've got plenty of time… go with the positives. Um… ok, it was a good plan, but the execution could've been better. Perma, why did you stop at that dragon? You froze there. Care to explain?”
“Wh-what do you mean? I tried. You know… stuff.” She had a pink blush on her cheeks, recalling that she tried to push the tinies to go faster, but she just went right through them, and when she tried to fight the dragon, she also went through him… and saw some things that could never be unseen.
“Uh huh… you did ‘stuff'. Like what? Did you possess someone to get the others to move? Try to levitate some objects? Make a scary face?”
“W-well, no.” She mumbled, soon explaining what she ‘tried’ to do, but only went through them. Luna took a deep breath.
“It's ok… this is just training. If this was real, then I would be angry, but it's not… and it's not just you.” She turned to the two others. “I know you were doing everything you can, excellent job in getting rid of that one dragon, but I think you should've taken a… less violent action. And… well, keep an eye out. You can do that, right, Tinker?”
“If words and laws didn’t stop them, then violence is the only answer to the mystical creatures of greed.” Tinker said, her hand changing into a cannon to further prove that she might go all the way next time.
“Yeah, I have a spell that might finish them off, but it’s technically labeled a curse, and I don’t mess with curses.” Lavina said, deciding to not say what it was called. “And besides, one of those dragons cover my entire view. How am I supposed to look around when their fat body is the only thing I see?”
“I mean do you have anything to bind them?” Luna corrected herself. “Magic rope spells, sleep spells, or just knocking them unconscious? And yes, I know what you mean, but surely, you have something that can let you see more places than one?”
“Well, I have a few spells like that, but don’t forget that I was close to be crushed. You think I would know what to do. Of course humans know what to do without magic, and being stepped on by a giant mythical creature.” She said, a sarcastic tone in her voice at the last two sentences.
“... So… that’s a no?”
“I do have spell for that, but I really cared for my own hide at the moment.” She simply answered, not going to say that she was too scared to think straight.
“Ah. Well, at least you’re honest. Tinker, can you do the same?”
“Well, I do have a taser gun.” She said, her hand showing smarks of lightning. “But I suppose that this might not enough… maybe I should increase the volt power.”
“Only on huge creatures. Keep it at a safe level for your kind.” She took a deep breath. “Well, I think this helps a lot! We’ve still got training, but, let’s try to do this fast. We don’t want to lose any more people that we do, do we?”
The trio didn’t answer, still feeling like this was all ‘forced’ onto them. Luna rolled her eyes.
“Alright then, tell me… do you think any of you can take me on?”
Another wave of silence went over the four of them. Perma didn’t answer, cause she was still scared of Luna to even try. Tinker knew that Luna would try something that would make her vulnerable(like using water on her again). And lastly, Lavina still didn’t trust the mare after what she pulled, making their first meeting nothing but a dream as she kidnapped her and literally ate her.
“So… none of you want to take on me? In this form at your size? With nothing to aid me but my sword and magic, and all of you against me at the same time?” She readied her blade with a smirk. “Go ahead. Give me your best shots. I will let you take the first shot. I know you all want to… unless you’re all too chicken to do so.”
“We aren’t toddlers, that dumb chicken taunt isn’t going to work on us.” Lavina said, crossing her arms.
“Really, I have nothing else to lose, so why try.” Perma shrugged.
“I really don’t understand why Luna is confusing us for chickens. Is she mentally challenged?” Tinker asked, the taunt going way over her head.
“It’s a figure of speech.” Luna groaned. “And I thought I was slow to learn this ‘slang’, as our subjects call it. But this is just training. Perhaps you can all battle each other in some friendly spars? Nothing insane. I can make sure either opponent doesn’t go too far.”
‘Seriously? It’s not like we asked to do this...’ Lavina thought, feeling more like she was just here to amuse Luna or something. “How about ‘no’? Honestly, none of us really volunteered to be here. You just kidnapped all of us and now you want us to fight each other.”
“It is training!” Luna stopped herself and took a deep breath. “Look, I’m trying to be reasonable here. But-” The sound of the door opened was heard around them.
“Your majesty! We have some news!”
“Well, looks like training’s over.” She snapped her fingers and they all reappeared in the room they all meet, all in their small size. Standing over them was one of the night guards, a batpony mare with some black armor.
“Oh… uh… you’re… in your human doll self…”
“It’s to make them feel comfortable.” Luna gestured to the trio. “But, report.”
“Yes, uh… An entire Tiny-”
“Human.”
“Uh… human village has gone missing, ma’am!”
“Where?”
“Applewood!”
“An entire village gone missing in the heart of Equestria’s movie area!? And nopony saw this!?”
“Nopony!” Luna thought about this.
‘It can’t be some Tiny Snatchers. And how did nopony see this? Security it usually top notch over there, especially with the new and old human movie makers.’ She turned to the trio. “Seems training will be put on hold. We can’t let this opportunity escape to see who’s been kidnapping entire human villages. Be on the lookout for anything suspicious! We might just know who, or what, is behind these disappearances.”
“Gee I wonder who could’ve done this.” Lavina said sarcastically. “Maybe a giant magical bunny flew down and took them away to a real safe haven.”
Perma only placed a hand over her head, knowing the girl was being way too sarcastic.
“This is no joking matter! Get ready, because we’re heading to Applewood.”
“Where is Applewood?” Tinker asked.
“... Let me get the map.”
Lavina stayed silent as Luna held onto her back as she flew on her broom, followed by Perma and Tinker, both flying right behind them.
“Why didn't you put wings on yourself?” Lavina asked.
“I didn't have time to put on wings.” Luna answered. “And I don't think having wings will help me blend in.”
“Neither will having sparkly hair blowing in the non-existent wind, yet I see that was more important than wings.” Lavina rolled her eyes, the hair making an obvious recognition to the princess of the night.
“I can control my hair, you know. It just does this on it's own. I would demonstrate, but we’re in the air. Your comments aside, we have to be on the lookout for something that can be used to find out who, or what, is behind these abductions. Any signs of attacks, corpses, or even survivors. Tinker, be on the lookout for genetic material. Anything is better than an empty village. And… we’re here!” Luna jumped off of Lavina’s broom and skydived to the floor.
“... Think we should leave her?”
“My sensors scan some life forms. Investigation under process.” Tinker spoke, flying down.
“Wait! Don't leave me!” Perma added, following the robot. Luna landed on the floor, doing a pose most people called a ‘Superhero landing’... Before falling over in pain.
“Ow! Owowow! Why did I do that!?”
“Cause human legs aren’t as strong as pony legs.” Lavina plainly said, floating downwards as Tinker landed without the superhero landing, and Perma trailed behind the rest of them.
“I know… stupid idea of me… can we just investigate and not talk about this?” She got up, groaning a bit. To their immediate sight, the place was a ghost town. Besides the wind and their footsteps, the place was eerily silent. Perma phased through some of the homes, seeing meals untouched, with no signs of struggling or anything broken. The best way she could describe it was that everyone left in a hurry.
She couldn’t help but be reminded of that one home in the forest that was somewhat like this: Things untouched, nothing stolen or moved, it looking as if the residents just got up and left. Picking up a pony plushie that she could only assume belonged to a little girl, she had a bad feeling creeping over her, it being something she didn’t want to feel.
Lavina found a store that looked to be some kind of bakery, walking through, it also seemed like it was busy with customers before the people vanished. Taking a look at some of the food displayed, there was no sign of aging or spoiling, proving that they didn’t go missing for long. She checked one of the pieces of food that was on the table, it being a slice of cake. Breaking a piece off, she saw that the icing hardened, and the bread inside did too, but not too hard to make it difficult to eat.
Tinker on the other hand, was roaming through the streets, looking for any signs of life that wasn’t plant life in some of the homes. But she gathered the same data as the other two, it wasn’t like the humans were kidnapped. It was more like they all volunteered to leave the town all at once, without bringing anything but what they had on or in their pockets. ‘This is very strange… but with magic being a realistic thing here, anything could’ve happened. Self reminder, gather research on Equestrian Magic. Figure out a link to the disappearance of human village.’ Her sensors blinked as she detected some life.
“You found some goodies?” A voice asked.
“Yeah, some jewelry and whatnot.” Another replied.
“Hide.” Luna ordered, quickly standing behind a corner of a house. Tinker and Lavina quickly took the other, though Perma turned invisible. Peeking out of the corner, they saw a good dozen of people in the streets, wearing ragged clothes, breaking into the homes and collecting valuables.
“Found anything else!?” One of them asked, putting some necklaces in a sack.
“Just some pie!” Another answered. “Anyone want some!?”
“Looters.” Luna spoke. “They can't be behind these abductions. Still, we need to get rid of them; they could be tampering with evidence.” She looked at them. “Hmm… if we're lucky, we can talk this through with them. Or perhaps, we can scare them. Worst case scenario, this turns into a full on fight. Any thoughts?”
Lavina gave her options some thought. ‘Looters tampering with some evidence isn’t a good thing, but they might have some information on what could’ve happened, and if this was the first town they encountered with no one here at all.’ With her thinking, she didn’t really give an answer. As for the other two, Tinker felt that robbery was unjustified and that they should be taken down while Perma wasn’t quite sure what she could do that would be of much help.
One of the looters, with their crowbar, wedged a door open. As soon as it was opened, loud, blaring alarms were heard.
INTRUDER ALERT! INTRUDER ALERT! INTRUDER ALERT!
Popping out of the walls and roof were what could be best explained as Steampunk turrets, all firing at the looter. His leg was shot, making him wince in pain as he hid behind one of the houses. An intercom broke out, heard through the loudspeakers.
“You'll never get me! I saw what you monsters did! I’m not gonna be like them! You hear me!? NEVER!!!”
When the bullet hit one of the looters, one of Tinker’s ‘instincts’ was triggered, her eyes glowing green before she took off without the rest. “Tinker!” Perma shouted, but stayed hidden. While Tinker was on her way to the looters, one of the turrets were set off and was about to shoot for the robo-girl, but Lavina was quick to run over and cast a shield spell, the bullets bouncing off and falling to the floor.
Tinker dashed over to where the injured human was, spooking some of the others. “Sir, you are in need of immediate medical attention. I can help you get better, but only if you allow me to.” She said, eyes still glowing green, and one part of her exposed arm having a red plus on it, it not being there before.
“What the-!?” The looter spoke in surprise. “What's wrong with your eyes!?”
“We’ve been spotted!” One of the looters shouted, readying their own crowbar, charging to Lavina. “Halloween’s over, kiddo!” He swung at Lavina, the witch just dodging it, though he was pushed back by Luna’s magic, knocking him unconscious on the side of one of the houses.
“Sorry, nobody's allowed to hurt my team.” She spoke, readying her sword. “Care to show them what we got?”
“Uh, the turrets, ma’am?” Perma hesitantly pointed out.
“I’m sure you can handle some machinery, Perma. I have faith in you.” If Perma was able to, she would be sweating hard, but she nodded and flew to the turrets, getting their attention.
“Is that a ghost!?” One of the looters asked, completely in shock.
“Don't care! Let's take care of these girls!” Another spoke, taking a baseball bat out.
“Seems you and I will have to teach these brutes some manners.” Luna said to Lavina. “Ready to show them your magic?”
“I guess, though I think they might be of more help, but I guess that’s off the table now.” She spun her wand in her hand like a mini baton, ready to show some magic.
Perma meanwhile went through one of the turrets, controlling it as it was shotting all around the looters, not harming any of them, but being too close for comfort.
“Please sir, I can heal your wound, let me help you.” Tinker said, oblivious as to what was going on, more concerned for someone else’s safety than her own protection. One of the looters snuck up on her with a baseball bat, hitting Tinker on the head with it… only for the bat to snap in half. She continued without noticing the broken bat. “Sir, if you don’t seek medical attention, it might get infected.” He only nodded as the other freaked out and ran away.
“Y-yeah, whatever you say, lady!” He whimpered. “J-just be careful.”
Lavina and Luna took on the looters, back to back, with Luna using her sword for strange sword fights against their melee weapons, but both using magic to toss their opponents around, almost passing them to each other like a game of catch.
“What the hell!?” One of the Looters shouted, seeing this all go down. “Screw this! I’m out out of here!” It didn’t take long until all the looters ran away, some dropping their bags while others tried to run away with their new stolen valuables. The turrets only clicked, giving them the cue that they’re out of ammo and can’t shoot anymore.
“Well, that was fun.” Luna spoke. “And I think we found ourselves a key figure.” She sheathed her sword and walked to where Tinker was at, with Perma and Lavina following. The lone looter looked at all of them, hyperventilating.
“W-What are you all?”
“A team of special people. Now, tell me, do you know what happened here?”
“N-no! I don’t know what happened here. W-we were here a few days ago, nothing serious, really! All we did was leave to go and search for some food, and, next thing we knew, when we came here, everyone was gone.”
“And you decided to break into their homes and collect their stuff.”
“Well… yeah… I mean, these people have better lives than us, and since they’re gone, we can sell these off to someone else for something better. You ever lived your life on the streets? It’s hard as balls out there, especially since you got these huge horses that want to eat you. It ain’t stealing if no one’s around and you don’t get caught.”
“... Tinker, is he lying?”
Instead of Tinker, Lavina was the one to speak up. “Is that all? Really? You might not know this, but those people could be in danger, parents, kids, even babies lives could be on the line. We need to know everything.” She said, kneeling down in front of him. “And I think we both know a person’s life is more valuable than jewelry and money.”
“L-look, I don’t much of these people, ok?” The looter replied. “Maybe there’s a few good people here, but they’re not here anymore. All I do know is that some hollywood execs are now gone, and we’ll probably be missing out on some movies, good and bad.”
“Uh… we still have the person inside.” Perma spoke, pointing at the turret centered building, which the person seemed to be muttering to himself.
“... Think you finish this, Tinker?” Luna asked.
As soon as Tinker finished, with the lone looter hobbling away, they opened the door to turret surrounded building. Inside, they saw a lone man in there, who looked pretty scrawny with a scientist-looking hair, wearing a simple grey sweater and pants, sitting in front multiple screens and switching them around constantly. Next to him, lying unconscious was another guy, also scrawny looking, but wore a simple T-shirt with jeans. On the unconscious man was what could only be described as a large bug, about the size of his head, now dead, and a small, fleshy looking device.
“Monsters coming back.” He spoke to himself. “Creations protect me. Must hide. No Monsters. No swarm. No-no-no-no-no.”
“... Hello?” Luna asked.
“No Victor. Not here. Swarms can’t find. Monsters coming. Have to hide.”
“Something must’ve spooked him to be like that.” Perma commented.
“You’re safe. No one’s going to hurt you.” Luna spoke. The man ignored them, continuing to look at the screens.
“I’m pretty sure he’s too into this.” Lavina commented.
“Tinker?” The robot nodded, walking and placing her hand on one of the screens. In a few seconds, the screens were deactivated. Their guy looked around, finally snapping out of it, turning, but jumping at the sight of Perma.
“G-g-ghost!” He screamed.
“Relax.” Luna spoke. “Perma’s on our side.”
“...Y-you’re human? Where did you hide? How come they didn’t find you?”
“Who didn’t find us?” Lavina asked.
“Th-the monsters. The swarms. They took everyone. They… they-”
“Calm down, take deep breaths.” Luna interrupted. “Tell us who you are, and what happened.”
“I… my name’s Victor… I was… one of the producers for some of the movies. Made animatronics back then, mostly by myself… but the monsters… they…” He slapped himself across the face before taking a deep breath. He pointed to the unconscious man. “I was excited to see my old friend Jim arrive, but he was… different.”
“Different? How so?”
“He… he was usually a goofball, excited, ready to do anything, but… he was like a machine. He didn’t even react to me, ignored me for the most part, then out on this.” Victor grabbed the fleshy device. “Swarms came. Swarms… made people freeze in place. Petrified. Could only move their eyes. Can’t move. Can’t scream. I fought Jim, knocked him out and took device. Swarms ignored me… then… monsters came.”
“Who are the monsters?” Perma asked. Victor turned to the computer, pushing Tinker off a bit before typing on the keyboards. All the screens each showed a piece of security footage that became a huge video. What they saw was multiple insects like the one that was on Jim, but what they saw made Luna step back with a gasp. Flying around and crawling on the houses, with mute hisses, were insectoid looking humans that had black exoskeletons, blue or green eyes, and a few wearing armor, each putting the petrified humans in green cocoon and lifting said coccoons away.
“What are those!?” Lavina asked.
“Changelings.” Luna muttered. “But… they’re not regular changelings. They’re… human changelings.”
“Monsters. They took everyone.” Victor spoke, shaking at the sight. “I couldn't do anything. Had to hide. Hope Jim’s ok.”
“This… this is…” Luna fell to the floor, almost fainting. “Tinker! Get this information! Lavina and Perma, help take Victor with us. I… I need to…” Luna fainted. A blue aura surrounded her body, which lifted from it and flew away. The body lost all it’s features, revealing the doll was more like a mannequin than anything.
“Who… who was she!?”
“... Princess Luna.” Lavina answered. All 3 young women looked at the screen, getting a good look at the human changelings in action, how many of them bursted into green flame and took the position of the person they had stored in the cocoon. They all looked at each other with the same expression; this was much more serious than they thought.
“So the missing villages are done by changelings?” Celestia asked
“Not just changelings. Human Changelings!” Luna replied, back in her pony body. “Someone has been taking humans and turning them into those… monsters!”
“Hmm… indeed… it’s been a while since Chrysalis has done anything. This might be the perfect time for us to find her and attack.”
“Indeed… but I don’t think she’s behind this.”
“How do you say so?”
“She’s a queen changeling. She can hatch herself a new army. This has to be someone else… maybe… a King Changeling?”
“... You’re suggesting Thorax is behind this?”
“No, a different king. I just… I need to think about this.” Luna walked away.
“Luna.”
“Yes?”
“I think you’re going to need more help with this. Let me help.”
“... Thank you, sister, but you’re already busy, and I don’t want to risk your men.” She walked away.
“Oh Luna, you’ll thank me.” Lindsey walked in, with Tania in her hands.
“You wanted to see us?” Lindsey asked.
“Yes, thank you both very much. Tell me, do you want to use your abilities for something greater?”
“... Like what?” Tania asked.
Looking through a pair of binoculars, a figure in a hood watched as the three ladies flew out of the abandoned village with a shocked Victor. A tall, almost skeleton looking figure placed his hand on the hooded figure’s shoulders.
“So, you really think they will submit?” The skeleton figure asked.
“Oh, they will, my friend.” The hooded figure replied. “They will, or suffer my wrath.” Walking to his other side, a large figure with some loose rocks falling off him, stood next to the hooded figure’s other side..
“Why don’t we attack now?” He asked. “We have the element of surprise.”
“Patience, my friend. They have not noticed us. Knowing what they saw, they will train hard, and they will think they’re strong.”
“Making their cockiness their downfall? Sounds very cocky myself.”
“What can I say? I love crushing my enemies dreams right in front of their faces.” He made his binoculars vanish with a puff of smoke before making his hands glow with fire. “Let’s go. We’ve got a long road ahead of us to Canterlot.”