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// Arc II Prologue - Public Relations 
// Story: Project Clockwork 
// by Arceaion 
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Those who read my stories know that not everything makes sense. I've given the clues yet none have pieced together what's happening. Perhaps one day someone will but until then the story waits. 






Arc II: The Judas Contract


Twilight sat quietly watching as ponies gathered in the large courtyard outside of the castle and sighed, Celestia walked over and sat next to her a smile on her face. "Today's the day." She said as she turned to Twilight to see her frown. "What's wrong Twilight?"

Twilight sighed and looked out to the crowds. "As strange as it is, I feel as if I no longer belong." She said. "Despite all that the memories I have here this isn't home, not anymore." She said. 

Celestia frowned. "I'd have thought you'd be happy to escape Canterlot after what happened." She said her voice quiet.

"So did I." Twilight said as she rose and walked over to the balcony and looked out though she didn't enter the light. "I know you want me to but I can't stay here forever, I must return to my children eventually. Honestly I would rather be there than here."

Celestia sighed. "You could at least visit." She said causing Twilight to chuckle. Celestia rose and walked over to Twilight. "Luna should be here any minute for the announcement, afterward we can discuss what you plan to do, as well as discuss how best to integrating the Clockworks and Ponies." After several minutes a knock was heard at the door and a tired looking Luna entered the room. Celestia smiled and nuzzled her sister who grunted and leaned into her sister. 

"Late night Luna?" Twilight asked. Luna grunted again and Twilight smiled. 

Celestia shook the blue Alicorn and Luna groaned before looking up. "I'm up." she said with a yawn. 

Celestia sighed and dragged her sister into the light however Luna hissed and leapt back glaring at the light as if it had attacked. "Luna, you need to wake up." Celestia said.

"Cursed sun, why must we do this while the sun is so high." Luna grumbled as she walked back to Celestia and sighed. Twilight watched in amusement as the two sisters exited the shadows of the room and walked out onto the balcony. As they exited the ponies outside quieted and looked up at the two.

"My little ponies, there have been many rumors floating about recently," Celestia said loudly. "These rumors have ranged from the return of Princess Twilight to attacks from the nobility." Celestia took a deep breath sighed. "I'm here to inform you that they are true." She said causing many ponies in the crowd to gasp or begin shouting. Celestia raised a hoof and the crowd quieted. "Three days ago I and my sister lead a team to Canterlot to see if the city was safe, while the city itself remains too dangerous for ponies we did find that there are those living with in the ruins." 

Luna stepped forward and began to speak. "It is with great joy that we may say that Twilight Sparkle, Element of Magic and Princess of Equestria has returned to us however she is not the same as you remember." Luna said a hint of sadness in her voice. "Through her actions we have attained evidence that many nobles have planned the forced removal of I and my sister." As she said this many ponies gasped while others simply sighed. 

"Despite the changes in my formal pupal she remains the same kind mare and I ask you to welcome her back with open hooves." Celestia said as she turned and slowly a pony stepped out causing the crowd to gasp while others cheered. 

From the castle walked a tall pony with a purple coat, the light of the sun reflected off her metallic implants and wings and she walked calmly with an air of confidence, before them was Twilight Sparkle however the young princess had changed and grown. With a smile she waved to the ponies and chuckled. "It is a pleasure to have returned from Canterlot and I thank you for the warm welcome." She said, her voice echoed slightly however it was motherly and kind.

Celestia smiled. "This was only a simple announcement and a press conference will be held later this afternoon to answer any questions that you have." Celestia said as she wrapped a wing around Twilight with a smile. After a moment the three princesses turned and reentered the castle. 

Luna sighed. "You know the media is going to have a field day with this, right sister?" She asked as she looked to Celestia.

Celestia nodded. "They won't do anything till after the press conference so we will be fine."

Twilight frowned. "You're too optimistic Celestia." She said as she turned to the older princess. "If there is one thing I've learned as princess and as a mother, it's that ponies be they Clockwork or Flesh love to gossip and this is a gold mine to draw from. The scandals from the tabloids have been raining for the past two days and I've had to order HK-47 to not go on a killing spree several times." She said with a sigh as she sat down. "Were I not trying to make a good impression on your ponies I'd have done the killing myself." She groaned causing Luna to raise a hoof to cover her laughter and Celestia to frown.

"It can't be that bad." She said as Twilight pulled out a paper and floated it over to Celestia who froze as she read it.




PRINCESS TWILIGHT RETURNS AS MACHINE!
END OF TIMES OR RISE OF MACHINES?

Two days ago eye witnesses in the town Ponyville stated that Princesses Celestia and Luna disembarked a train from our former capital Canterlot with the body of Princess Twilight Sparkle surrounded by mechanical ponies. It is believed that the mechanical ponies are a new experimental operation designed to mind control their subjects. Many believe that this process was used on late Princess Sparkle’s body to reanimate her corps and create a puppet that Princess Celestia is using for sexual gr-



"WHAT THE BUCK IS THIS!" Celestia roared in the Royal Canterlot Voice as the paper disintegrated in her magic. Luna leapt away however Twilight simply chuckled.

"And that's one of the more tame articles that have been published." She said causing Celestia to take several deep breaths. "Do you want another one to read? I have several with me." Twilight said as she pulled several more out from under her wing.

Celestias eyes glowed white as she grabbed the papers, turning them to ash on contact. "When I find these publishers I will throw them into the sun!" She growled as the carpet under her began to blacken. Suddenly a maid ran in with a bucket of water that Luna took before dumping it on her enraged sister. The water hissed as it came in contact with Celestia however soon the water overpowered the rage filled fire and the fires were extinguished leaving a wet Alicorn with a killer scowl.

"Deal with the tabloid later sister." Luna said before noticing one paper still under Twilight wing. "Twilight could I read that one before my sister destroys it?"

Twilight shrugged. "Sure, it's this morning's so it fresh off the press." She said as he passed the paper to Luna who sat down and began to read. As Luna began to read Twilight went over to Celestia and sat next to her. "No killing reporters Celestia." She said with a knowing smirk as Celestia looked at her with shock.

"How did you know?" She asked and Twilight laughed. 

"Intuition." Twilight replied as she looked out the window. "If you ever have children yourself you'll learn."

Celestia's face changed to that of sympathy as she looked at her former student. It had only been several years but it seemed as if Twilight had aged by centuries. "You've grown so much these past few years I can hardly recognize you." She said sadly.

Twilight didn't respond and Luna looked up from the paper before frowning. "Twilight, may we talk later?" She asked.

Twilight shook her head and turned to Luna. "Sorry I spaced out for a moment Luna, what were you saying?"

Luna sighed. "I asked if we may talk later." She repeated.

Twilight nodded. "Sure, I wouldn't mind some company later." She said with a smile, Luna nodded and returned to her paper.





Several hours later the three princesses as well as the Clockworks stood at the entrance of the palace, a small stage had been set up for this occasion and as the town clock began to strike noon the group rose and walked out the doors The first to exit the castle was the three Clockwork Guards Mach, Scrap and Gear, As they exited the castle many of the reporters began to gossip and take pictures. Next to follow was the HK Units who quickly spread out and took up positions around the exits, after they were in position Princess Celestia and Luna exited and following them walked Twilight with Eris at her side. As Twilight stepped forward many ponies fell silent and watched in shock as she calmly joined the other two princesses, once she reached the princess they all took a seat and Celestia cleared her throat. "We are now starting the press conference, please raise your hoof and any questions you have will be answered to the best of our ability." She said calmly. As soon as she finished reporters quickly raised their hooves and Celestia selected a random one.

The Stallion rose and cleared his throat. "Big Press, Fillydelphia Press. Several rumors have started that you have been using Magitech to experiment on ponies, while the rumors may be a bit blown out with how your using them I'd like to know the truth."

Celestia frowned. "They are untrue; experimentation with prosthetic limbs was in its earliest stages prior to the Canterlot Incident and with the loss of Princess Twilight all research was canceled."

Luna cleared her throat. "With Twilight returning as well as the strides she has made we might consider rebooting the project but for now it remains canceled."

The Reporter nodded and sat down as Luna selected another reporter who rose and bowed. "Side Note of the Neigh York Times, what exactly is the state of Canterlot and will we be seeing any recovery of the city in the near future?" The Mare asked.

Luna shook her head. "The city is still unsuited for ponies and will remain in quarantine however plans for the city and surrounding land will discuss later." The reporter nodded and Celestia chose the next.

"Full Light of the Prancelphia Inquirer, I know this may be a tough question but are how did you survive Princess Twilight and are there any other survivors?" A Stallion asked.

Twilight sighed. "I survived by luck and because I was an Alicorn but even still I paid a price." She said as she gestured to her body. "There were no other survivors from the blast." The Reporter nodded and sat back down as Celestia chose the next. 

"I'm Sandy Rain of the Baltimore Zebri-questrian Newspaper, with the return of Princess Twilight many ponies believe that Magitech Research will be resuming. With your previous comment on the possible revival of the prosthetic limbs projects, will we be seeing a rise in other Magitech products?"

The princesses didn't respond for a moment before finally nodding. "It is possible, As my sister stated with Twilights’ return Magitech research will most likely be restarted but at present it shall remain canceled." She said calmly. "I will have one more question answered before I end of this press conference." She said and selected a final reporter. 

The Stallion stood and smiled, the moment he smiled the princesses knew something was off. "Full Charm, of the Our Town Papers." He said with a bow. "I'd like to ask just what the machines are that are armed with weapons."

Twilight growled however Luna places a hoof on her shoulder and she took a breath. "These 'Machines' as you call them are the Clockworks." Twilight said in a forced calm voice. "They are what you could consider my children so treat them with respect."

The stallion scoffed. "Machines are nothing but soulless abominations that should be destroyed; Equestria got along just fine without your Magitech and will continue to do so." He said as he removed his hat revealing him to be a Unicorn. "DEATH TO THE FALSE PRINCESS!" He screamed as he fired a blast at Twilight. As the Stallion fired The princesses panicked and tried to raise a shield as Mach and Gear charged the stallion and HK-47 trained his baster on the suspect. All this happened within seconds but they were not fast enough and the beam struck where Twilight was sitting, only for her to not be there. Instead Twilight calmly stood a few steps to the left of the blast a grim smile on her face.

Everypony and Clockwork looked on in shock as Twilight looked down at the stallion and unfurled her wings as her eyes glowed. The stallion turned and ran for the exit and Twilight's eye flashed gold. "Stop." 

As she spoke the world froze, every pony stopped, the wind, the air, even the debris from the blast all froze as Twilight calmly walked forward. "Honestly I was expecting this, nothing ever seems to be easy so why would this be any different?" She asked as she walked toward the Stallion, no one moved as she approached the stallion not even the clockworks. "When you tried to kill me you didn't account for two things, one of which you wouldn't have been able to because no pony, not even the princesses, know of this." Twilight said as she stopped in front of the stallion. "The first is that I'm technically not a pony anymore, I am Clockwork. As a result I can not only process information at a near instantaneous rate but I see the world much slower than any of you." She said calmly before smiling. "The second is that while I was trapped in Canterlot I discovered something... interesting. Just as Celestia controls the Sun, Luna the Moon, and Cadence Love, I control something as well. "I control Time." She said with a smirk. "Start." 

As soon as she gave the command the world resumed and the stallion crashed into Twilight who grabbed him and threw him up in the air where the sound of a single shot rang out and HK-47 voice was head by the crowd. "Your threat is here by terminated."

Twilight glared at all the ponies. "Let's get a few things straight." She said as she calmly walked forward and the crowd parted around her. "I am not the same forgiving Twilight Sparkle that you all have come to know; almost dying cam put a lot into perspective." She said as she stepped onto the stage. "The Clockworks I have created are alive just like you. They grow and change think for themselves and hold emotion. They were each created with a fragment of my soul and as such they are alive and just like any mother I will protect my children." She said as she gazed over the ponies before turning away and walking back to the castle. 

"Princess Twilight!" A voice called out causing the Alicorn to turn and look at the speaker, a reporter in a green suit. "If I might ask, when you said you controlled time, what exactly did you mean?" The reporter asked.

"As Celestia is the Alicorn of the Sun and Luna the Alicorn of the Moon, I am the Alicorn of Time and all it encompasses." She said calmly. "My duty is to protect time, and insure that what is to pass shall." She said as she turned and entered the palace.

Celestia sighed. "With this interruption done I feel it's time I explain the Event's around the Canterlot Catastrophe that occurred seven years ago." Celestia took a breath and started the story. "Seven years ago the Canterlot C.O.R.E.S was sabotaged by the Nobles in an attempt to remove my sister and I from the throne..."