//------------------------------//
// Foundations and many Pies 
// Story: Martellus and I 
// by Sentinel343 
//------------------------------//

Martellus is 'pacing' around in our mindscape. I 'watch' him walk back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, for what feels like hours. Finally, I grow bored.
'What's wrong?' I 'ask.'
'This world has no way to produce the materials I need for a proper base of operations! I cannot produce Ferrocrete, I cannot produce Ceramite, I cannot produce Adamantium, or any other material needed to produce Weapons and equipment!' He responds, still pacing.
I can feel his mind meticulously searching for a solution under every metaphorical rock of thought in our collective minds. I 'frown'. I really wished I could help him. I 'sigh'.
'Well, as a Wise Man once said, we should focus on what we can reach. And right now, that means focusing on the base and how to construct that.'
Martellus pauses, his analytical mind momentarily veering off his circuitous cycle to this new task.
'Subject: Pinkie Pie, said she is experienced in creating Concrete. While far less durable than the Ferrocrete I wish to build, it will be an acceptable substitute in the meantime.'
I 'smile'.
'Good! Let's go!'
Our minds exit our collective mindscape and return to our body, which was crouched by the entrance to our Base in progress. We stand and begin to make our way to Ponyville. As we arrive, we find ourselves surrounded by withering stares. Martellus proceeds to ignore them as I look back.
'Looks like Ponies have long memories...' I 'say' with sad disappointment.
Martellus 'nods' and we continue through Ponyville. No ponies move to stop us as we make our way to Sugarcube Corner. As we arrive, I slow us down. The Building is still, lacking any of the movement that would be present if Pinkie Pie were inside. I elect to poke our head in anyways. We glance around and find the building empty.
'Subject: Pinkie Pie, is absent.'
'Aye. We should see if Twilight knows where she is.'
And thus we stand and begin to make our way to the Library. I duck our head inside the door and find Twilight staring intensely at an Apple. She looks up as the Library bell rings.
"Oh, hi there. Who is it right now?" She asks.
"Bryce."
"Hi Bryce. How can I help you?" She asks as she resumes staring intensely at the Apple.
"Have you seen Pinkie Pie? I need her help with something."
Spike appears from upstairs.
"She said something about the Legend of the Mirror Pool."
I nod.
"Thanks."
I wave to them and then look at Twilight.
"Good luck with your transmogrification spell."
Then I duck outside.
'Now, if I recall, Pinkie should be in the Everfree right-'
I stop dead in my tracks.
'Wait, this is that episode where she clones herself!'
Martellus takes a moment to search my memories.
'This... can work in our favor. But we must act quickly.'
'Why? what do you have planned?'
'We must find a Pinkie Pie clone. If we can find one, then we will have both the workforce we need and the expertise we need to build our Base.'
'I like where your head is at! Lets do it!'
And with that, we take off towards the Forest.



We arrive just as the Group of Pinkie Pie's exit the Forest.
'Excellent, we have arrived at the most opportune moment.'
Martellus moves towards the group.
"Pinkie Pie!"
The entire group whips their heads towards us at nearly a 180 degree turn.
'That is... unsettling.' I 'say'
"Pinkie Pie, I must speak to you." Martellus continues.
"Which one?!" The entire group asks.
'Quite unsettling...' Martellus remarks.
"The original."
"Okay!" The group responds.
The presumed original makes its way towards me with her trademark grin.
"Okay guys, one 3, break! One..." She says.
My singular eye flares in shock, remembering what happens next.
"No! Wait-"
But the Pinkie Pie army has disappeared already. Pinkie Pie giggles.
"Close enough! What is it Bryce?" She asks.
'It is too late. The damage is done.' Martellus says grimly.
'Aye.'
"Nothing Pinkie Pie, we can talk later." I say.
"Okey-Dokie-Lowkie!" She says and takes off.
'Come, lets wait by the Library, Twilight will need our help to diffuse the situation.'
I 'nod' and begin to make our way towards the Library.



We arrive just as the Angry Mob does too. Twilight is busy trying to talk the crowd down.
'Perhaps we should make an appearance?' Martellus suggests.
'I got this.' I respond.
I duck us out from behind the Library and step up beside Twilight. The crowd all but immediately silences. Twilight's eyes flare in surprise. I gently tap her shoulder and nod my head towards the now silent crowd.
"Please, just give me some time to sort this out! C'mon Spike!" She says and then ducks inside.
I quickly duck inside before she can close the door. She barely notices as she immediately dives into the book shelves. Spike looks up at me.
"What can I do for you Bryce?" He asks.
"I came to help with the situation. You seem to have an infestation of Pinkie Pies."
"Yeah! She said something about a Legend of the Mirror Pond before she took off, got anything on that big guy?" He asks.
"In fact, I dont. But you do." I say and point at a bookshelf.
He looks at me with a quizzical look before he begins searching the bookshelf. Then he finds the hidden compartment and pulls out the book.
"How did you-"
I hold a quieting finger to my helmet as I nod to Twilight. He presents the book to Twilight and she begins looking through it.
"AH! Here it is! And it has the spell that will send the Pinkie Pies back!" She says.
Spike grins.
"Great! Lets go!" He says and begins to move towards the door.
I put out a hand and blocks his progress and nod back at Twilight.
"But there is a catch, we have to find the real Pinkie Pie or we could accidentally send her through the Mirror Pond." She says with a frown.
"Then how do we find the Real Pinkie Pie?" Spike asks.
I see my opportunity and take it.
"Might I suggest a test? A test only the real Pinkie Pie will pass?" I suggest.
Twilight stops.
"That's a great idea! C'mon Spike! Lets go get the others!"
And with that, the duo take off.
'It would appear all we have to do now is wait.' Martellus remarks.
'Indeed, lets head to Sugarcube Corner.'
And with that, we leave the Golden Oaks Library and make our way back to Sugarcube Corner.



We are waiting near the back entrance of Sugarcube Corner as we listen to Pinkie Pie's letter to Princess Celestia. We continue to wait as Twilight and her friends interact with her and she falls asleep. We hear the door close.
'Now, lets give her about 30 minutes. Should be plenty for Pinkie.' I 'say' to Martellus.
Martellus doesn't respond as he sets a timer for 30 minutes in our Cogitator. Martellus begins running over construction plans as I wait and watch the timer. Eventually, the timer hits zero. I take control of our body and duck inside the building and make my way over to her.
"Pinkie, wake up." I gently nudge her.
She remains stubbornly asleep. I click my teeth.
"Mm. Gonna have to resort to extreme measures." I remark and move into the Kitchen.
I search the shelves, Martellus far too distracted with his plans to notice. Then I find the Pepper.
"Perfect."
I carefully exit the Kitchen, then pour some into Pinkie's nose. Then I step back. She inhales sharply, begins to take deep breaths...
'Here it comes...'
Martellus 'looks up'.
And then Pinkie Pie exhales.
'Subject: Pinkie Pie did not awaken. What was the point of this exercise?' He 'asks.'
'Wait for it...'
And then...
"ACHOO!!!!"
Pinkie sneezes so hard she flies out the window and skids into the streets outside. I chuckle.
'I think its safe to say she is up.'
Martellus meanwhile is busy trying to figure out the physics of what he just witnessed. I duck us outside and Pinkie Pie immediately bounces up and latches onto my Cuirass.
"Heya Bryce! How are ya?!" She hollers happily in my face.
I gently extract her from our Cuirass before Martellus can attempt to murder her.
"I'm doing well. I need your help with something." I say.
"Really?! What is it?! Is it gonna be fun?!" She asks as she begins bouncing circles around me.
"It is to my understanding that you are capable of producing Concrete."
"YES SIREE BOB!" She says, continuing to bounce around me.
"Well, I need your help to make some for my Base." I say.
"Okie-Dokie-Lokie!!!" She says and begins to bounce off.
"Base is that way." I say, pointing towards Sweet Apple Acres.
She stops and giggles.
"I knew that! I was just testing you!" She laughs and begins bouncing the right way.
'Testing us?! Why would we not know where our-'
'Dont overthink it.' I 'say', cutting Martellus off.
We follow Pinkie Pie to our Base.



Work began immediately as we arrived. Martellus somehow managed to keep Pinkie Pie focused long enough to get the Base framed. From there, We began layering in the Concrete we made and waited for it to Dry. Pinkie Pie had to exit the Base due to the heat made by its solidification, but Martellus and I barely noticed. Soon, after nearly 12 Hours of working, the Base is complete.
'Excellent! Now we need merely begin construction of STC!' He 'says', about as close to ecstatic as a Techmarine can be.
"Thanks Pinkie! see you around!"
"Okie-Dokie-Lokie!!!" She says happily, then promptly leaps into the bushes and disappears.
Martellus meanwhile is already planning on how to begin building.
'First, we must begin mining. The Materials we need will be deep and hard to access without the proper tools. So we will begin to build the tools we need immediately!' He 'proclaims'.
'That's good. I'm just gonna take a break while you do that.' I 'say'.
'Very well.'
And with that, I let my mind let go of consciousness and drift off the rest.




Meanwhile, out in the Badlands...

It is quiet and still deep within the Badlands. The air is still and no movement can be found on the surface. But then, the Sky begins to light up. If one were near enough to see it, they would bear witness to a fireball plummeting down from the sky as speeds that would be considered beyond terminal velocity. And then, with a mighty 'KRA-KOOM', the fireball smashes into the Badlands. The fireball cools and reveals a massive metal ball of some kind, shaped like a massive rain drop or a Pod. On its still glowing hull is the symbol of a Black Raven with a Blood Droplet on its belly. And then, the odd metal ball opens like a massive flower. and out of the darkness of that metal ball, a towering form stumbles clear and falls into the dirt on his hands and knees. He wears odd Bone White Armor, with Red arms. He clutches at his breast plate as he looks around.
"How am I alive?"
He stands and begins looking over his armor and gear, finding his Power Axe, Narthecium, and Plasma Pistol all where it needs to be. He looks up at the night sky above him.
"I dont recognize these Stars... and where is the Eye of Terror?" He wonders.
He dismisses it and begins to scan for any signals on the planet. He finds only one Imperial Signal.
"A signal? Here?"
He scans it.
"Its one of my Battle-Brothers! Who?"
He scans it again.
"Martellus! if he is here, our Battle-Brothers cant be far!"
And with that, he begins to walk, heading straight for Martellus, determination fueling his every step.