//------------------------------// // Operation: Save Babs Seed! // Story: Aspects of Harmony // by kwr2k13 //------------------------------// After the group was kidnapped by General Harrison’s troops, they encountered a hostage situation involving Brian Smith, who revealed herself to betray the group in exchange for a cure for the anthrofication that turned several people into various My Little Pony characters. Ashley woke up in one of those holding container, and tried her best to break free, but her Earth pony strength was nullified. “What in Tarnation?” Alex woke up in some kind of container with restraints meant to hold a human sized prison surrounding her. “Okay, you guys want to play that way?” She said before releasing a ki pulse that destroyed the container they had placed her in. She looked up at a camera then said. “Okay General you want to play with fire? IT! IS! ON!” A laser thin ki blast obliterated the camera. She then looked around and saw several cylinders using her ki senses she located the ones with her the Apple family, Daring Do and her sensei, Ayumi. She then got them out, healed and revived them. As Ayumi recovered Alex scanned the ki field and smiled, then said, “That general didn’t count on my recovery rate is faster than a human's nor that my human size isn't my natural size. We're still in the base they brought us to after they kidnapped us.” Ashley walked up and said, “They got somethin’ that saps magic. How’re we gonna get away if’n they use it again?” She sighs, “Ah cannot believe Brian betrayed us like that. What did they do t’ her?” Alex smiled and said, “The general caught us off guard with it. Now he's going to learn he can't use the same thing to win twice.” Ashley checked on Apple Bloom and the others. “Ah cannot believe Brian would do somethin’ stupid like betray us! Does she know we are family, and we want to help her?” Apple Bloom said with anger in her voice. “Calm down.” Alex said. “She has had her life disrupted. That can make her susceptible to being manipulated.” Ashley nodded, “That’s totally understandable, but how can we get through to her that we care for her and can help her with this whole bein’, well, this character she’s become without all the anger and sidin’ with the enemy?” “One thing at a time.” Alex said as she walked to the door. “And I think the good General will turn the tide in our favor without us doing a thing but head out of here.” Ashley sputtered, “But, Brian? We aren’t just gonna leave out o’ here without gettin’ answers and hopefully get through to her we aren’t her enemy.” Alex smirked and replied, “We aren't; he's going to bring her to try the same stunt. He's the type that'll use what works to get every advantage.” Just then a person in a lab coat stepped in muttering. He came to a stop when he saw the anthros. Ashley was ready for a fight, “Howdy! Ya know anythin’ ‘bout nullifying magic?” She asked the lab coat person. “The n-n-nullifier project?” he stammered. Alex nodded as she cracked her knuckles. “It's supposed to allow us to handle magic using terrorists like you. But how're you free? The holding cylinders have magic dampeners to prevent magic use.” “Let’s just say my mouse friend’s got a few surprises.” Ashley said, smirking. “Now, Ah wanna know why mah cousin’s workin’ with you guys. Sure, she’s a scared filly who is unsure o’ her place in this world, but we offer her a family who cares fer her.” “G-general Harrison is using the prototype nullifier to suppress her magic and make her mind open to his suggestions. It's small enough to wear on his belt. But, we just found out background energy has been rising.” “No wonder she didn’t take kindly to mah hug! She’s not actin’ like herself!” Apple Bloom surmised. “Ashley nods, “Thank you kindly fer the information. How can we shut this do-hickey down and save mah cousin?” “The prototype can only be on for three minutes before background energy burns it out.” Their prisoner said. “The field generator will burn out after activation if it's not maintained soon.” “So we need to get that generator shut down or remove the nullifier away from the general to keep him from manipulating my cousin?” Apple Bloom asked. The scientist nodded. Ashley tipped her hat and then went over to the other Anthros. “What’s the game plan, Alex? And what are we gonna do ‘bout that there lab coat fella?” “Knock him out and stuff him in a closet.” Alex suggested, smirking. “Big Mac, ya wanna do the honors?” Ashley asked her brother. “Eeyup!” The red stallion anthro grabbed the lab coat scientist, “Thanks fer yer info. Here’s yer payment.” He took him to the nearest closet and shoved him in there, taking his communications device. “You aren’t gonna need this in there.” He shut and locked the door. Ashley nodded, “Uhm, they took our cell phones when they nabbed us. We could try to send a message out t’ Twilight and the others, or maybe not, since they may be captured if they try to help us.” Arriving back at the facility, Harrison and Brian walked back through the base and arrived in the interrogation room. There were all 4 captured anthros, locked in place in storage tanks. They were all visibly struggling as the doctors monitored their vital signs. “I would give up struggling if I were you,” Harrison told them. “Why do you fight us?” Apple Bloom asked. “The same reason I fight any enemy of the United States,” Harrison replied. “Well Ah’ll be!” said Granny Smith. “How is spreadin’ friendship against American values?” “You have no idea what’s really going on here. You guys are simply paving the way for an invasion!” Ashley looked shocked. “Babs, how could ya believe such hogwash! The Princesses-!” “See us as scum to be wiped out! They forced the Aspect of Honesty on you, just as they forced this form on me!” Harrison took up the lead. “Well, the tables have turned on them. The USA and NATO have both declared war on Equestria. All we need is a way to get there, and repair the damage already done.” “We ain’t a disease!” said Big Mac. “How do ya propose correctin’ the problem anyway?” “Doctor Maynard!” “Sir!” “Please explain to them how this antidote works.” The doctor stepped forward. “The method used by the Analysts was a mutagenetic virus. It rewrote portions of your genetic code. Now, in order to reverse the mutations, we simply needed a sample of your DNA as it was before it was rewritten.” Harrison interrupted. “Luckily, he’d already had a demo run.” He waved his hand. The soldiers from the previous day stepped forward. “Did you think that you were the first?” the General asked. “No, we were. We were the ‘First Six’. We were to be used to clear the way for Equestria. Until we realised the truth, that we were simply brainwashed.” “Hogwash!” Ashley blurted out. "That's a downright lie if Ah ever heard one before. Yer brainwashin' mah cousin!" “Let me prove it. You may have heard of ‘Tempest Shadow?’” Harrison removed his mask and stood straight. Strands of his hair were still purple. “After they successfully changed us back, we retained our abilities, and became able to interrupt the magic of others. Those generators were developed, by studying us.” He smiled. “But now, to test the antidote. Brian, considering the situation, I’ll let you choose the test subject.” Brian smirked. “Ashley,” she said, pointing at her cousin. Ashley gulped, “Sugarcube, think about what yer doin’ t’ yer own family! Ah’m still yer cousin, whether Ah am Kurt or Ashley. Ah’m still the same person, er pony regardless of who Ah look like now. That’s the honest truth! An’ Ah should know: Ah’m the Element o’ Honesty!” Just then her element glowed a bright orange and fired a beam towards Brian, hoping it would open her eyes to the truth. The beam ground to a halt in front of her. The field produced by the General and his men was simply too strong. "You really thought we wouldn't anticipate your little ploy?" Harrison asked mockingly. "We came here with our weapons loaded and our safety's off." Brian just shook her head. "Ashley," she sighed. "You really are so honest you've forgotten that ponies and people can lie." He signaled Dr Maynard, who opened Ashley's containment chamber, and jammed the needle into her arm. He injected the contents, and stepped back, closing the lid as he did so. Ashley screamed as a blast of pain shot through her body, the transformation she had gone through a year earlier suddenly going into reverse. Within the space of minutes, where the Element of Honesty was once held, was now plain old Kurt Smith. Harrison nodded. "One down, 19 to go." He glanced back at Brian. "You made a good choice. Your actions have, in all likelihood, saved humanity." Ashley, now Kurt, was placed back in the containment chamber. The clothes that he wore as Ashley seemed too small for her, as they would have fitted an athletic girl like Ashley, being an apple farmer. "Ah'm so sorry, sugarcube." He said to Brian. Apple Bloom was showing a mixture of anger and sorrow, letting out a sound that was somewhere between a shriek and a sob. "What did ya do to mah sister?" she begged. "You mean your brother," Harrison corrected. "I'm putting an end to this unnatural fuckery." He pulled a switch, and a rift began to open, revealing a portal to Equestria. "The portal is open," he radioed. "Commence the invasion."