"There's a storm comin'."
Peace.
Peace is something we all desire, no matter what the situation is. We all have to relax at some point, but there are many things in the world that will make you work and fight for it.
I had to make friends to make the land of Equestria better, I had to fight foes bent on turning the Wasteland into their own twisted version of our old nation, I had to take on missions from my enemies to take them out, and I had to take control of the weather to stop the Enclave and allow the people of the Wasteland to work together in rebuilding Equestria.
And today, I had been through one hell of an adventure. And for the moment, I could finally take a break.
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It'd been about two days since I'd been fixed up, my forearm pipbuck-free and working as good as new. The pipbuck, however, was worse for wear. Fluttershy had to take it apart piece by piece to perform the surgery, leaving my old friend I'd had ever since my Cutie Mark Party back at Stable 2 as nothing but pieces of metal, wires and screws. Fortunately, I used some of my recently acquired engineering skills and rebuilt it, giving it a few upgrades such as the ability to scan and analyze minerals, display holographic images as well as create temporary photonic guards for a rough situation, and of course, gave it the ability to communicate with any allied signatures, thanks to a touch of my magic being added to its repaired spell matrix.
As for Little Macintosh, it was easier to fix. I had taken it apart, gotten the damaged barrel fixed, and rebuilt the gun into a bullet/magic firing hybrid. The gun still had its trademark scope, as well as the old three apples on it, but now there were two barrels, one for bullets, and another for magical energy blasts.
As for the survivors, the alicorns and Blackjack's team have offered to help us in stopping J'ula, Wedge recruiting the two captured soldiers into the U.A. and heading off with the Alliance starship Freedom's Dawn. I'd contacted Daniels to have Steelhooves up for recruitment as a new agent, and was accepted, the two of us assigned to the Harmony to assist them in their missions.
We'd arrived at Twilight's Equus for our break, it was beautiful down there, Steelhooves and I were shown around by Twilight and her friends, met her world's Ditzy Doo, and even visited the Princesses! It was one memory I'd never forget, the only issue being that I wished my other friends were here to see it all. (And yes, I treated the students to a set of Sparkle Cola for their efforts, fresh from the replicator!)
In my quarters, Steelhooves and I sat and examined the data we'd acquired from the Lukara two days ago, with the assistance of Snowdrop, of course. Some of the files showed new starship designs and revealed new assets that J'ula had acquired. But I found one that caught my attention.
"I think I've found something here." I said as my two friends walked up to the console I was using, reading the log I was looking at.
"Starship Log, Stardate 4471.5, Lady J'ula commanding: I've made plans for the new worlds we've discovered with the assistance of the Multiverse Sphere, we will expand the empire to every universe we can conquer! With the new structure my adversaries call the "Star Forge", I can build a limitless army for my house. The Alliance will be forfeit the moment they discover my new weapon. As for our list of targets, Starfleet's newest temporal operative has shown quite the capabilities that could threaten my operations. I believe it is time we begin our campaign against the multiverse. We shall make our first assault on Universe #3127, then make a stronghold within Universe #2537, take control of or wipe out the towns and cities there and build a new, powerful fortress over the planet. It is time that House Mo'kai has it's vengeance against those who dare to challenge us!"
I heard Snowdrop gasp as I stared at the log, Steelhooves looking to me as I spoke. "They're heading for our home, Velvet, Calamity and Xenith are all on the chopping block."
"This isn't good." Steelhooves said as I tapped the console, the log disappearing from the screen as I walked to the window.
"She's insane." Snowdrop said as I turned around and faced her.
"Snowdrop, could you please let Twilight know of our findings? Steelhooves and I need a moment." Snowdrop nodded with a smile as she trotted out of the room, a PADD clutched in one of her wings.
After she was out of the room, I looked to my old friend, smiling faintly. "Well, it's time to revisit the old folk's home, huh?"
"Yes." Steelhooves said as I walked over, my smile turning into a frown as I spoke to him.
"Steelhooves... I'm sorry."
"For what?" Steelhooves questioned, not knowing what I was talking about.
"About your friend, Star Sparkle. I... I failed to save her, the Enclave destroyed Canterlot and wiped out all but two of the residents... Star wasn't among them." I said as I looked to the Applejack's Ranger, seeking forgiveness.
"...You are forgiven, Littlepip." I raised an eyebrow, I was expecting a scolding from my old friend for failing in saving one pony he cared about deeply, not this. He continued. "I saw what happened at Canterlot via J'ula's recordings, and while I was disappointed that she was gone, you were not at fault, Littlepip. Neither you nor your friends expected such a travesty to happen."
I nodded in understanding as he finished. "And besides, she's in a better place now... at peace."
"With her daughter, I believe." I said as we both turned to face the window.
"Yes, and as far as I know, she would want us to help our friends, before our new enemy strikes again." I nodded in agreement as we looked back to each other, myself wanting to change the subject after tying up that loose end.
"So, about your suit, what did J'ula do specifically?" I asked as he cleared his throat.
"From what I remember, they sent an away team to Stable 29 and recovered my body from the grave. After doing so, they surgically removed the suit from my body, rebuilding it into an improved variant. This new version has an upgraded EFS and also allows my missile launchers to shift to micro phase cannons." He then tapped a section of his helmet, his visor glowing a bright green similar to my pipbuck's screen. "It also has a scanner built into it."
I stared in amazement, my jaw on the floor. I stole a valuable asset, alright. "Wow." Was all I could let out as Steelhooves let out a chuckle.
"Yeah. As for myself, my corpse was too decayed to be repaired, so they took a sample of my DNA from the least damaged area and, through several attempts, cloned me. I was then told of J'ula's plan and made into one of her soldiers. And... there's something else." He said as he pointed to his helmet, making me confused.
"You... want me to take off your helmet?" I asked, to which he nodded. Reluctantly, I separated the helmet from the suit's joints and lifted it, revealing the head of a stallion with a bright green coat and yellow hair, along with yellow irises in his eyes. I was looking at the face of Applesnack.
I stared with surprise as my friend was no longer a ghoul, he was a normal stallion. "Wow... You look great." I said with a smile as Steelhooves replied, his voice no longer metallic like it was when he had his helmet on.
"Yeah, I feel one of the crewmen on this ship will be having quite an interesting time with me." I nodded as I knew he was talking about Applejack, oh how surprised she would sound when he told her about his past.
Our moment of bonding was interrupted when the two of us heard the Red Alert klaxon go off. "Red Alert, all superior officers to the bridge!"
"Looks like it's time that we get ready." Steelhooves said as I nodded and put his helmet back on, the two of us grabbing our supplies and heading for the Harmony's bridge.
(||||)
As the turbolift doors opened, Steelhooves and I walked up to the bridge, the crew were all at their stations, the two of us joining up near Applejack as Twilight saw us. "Ah good, I hope you're ready for another fight, Littlepip. Long range sensors have detected J'ula's fleet nearby."
"We've made a new station for ya, Littlepip." Applejack said as she pointed a hoof at a console on the right side of the bridge, I looked at it and made my way there, Steelhooves taking a moment to talk to Applejack.
"When we finish up at our Equus, I need to tell you something important." My friend said as Applejack gave him a quizzical look, but nodded as Steelhooves made his way back to my station.
"From here, I can reverse shield polarity, eject plasma out of the nacelles, and emit an unstable warp bubble." I said as I analyzed the controls, Steelhooves looking on as Blackjack, Morning Glory, P-21, Boo, Rampage, Lacunae and Scotch Tape all entered the bridge, trotting over to me.
"You didn't think we'd let you seize all of the glory, did you?" Blackjack said as I smiled.
"Of course not, and I'm glad to have you all along." Blackjack and her friends all gave smiles as Twilight talked to the crew.
"What's the Stratus' status?"
"She's all set, along with her escorts." Rainbow Dash said as Pinkie Pie spoke up.
"Shields at 100%."
Rarity was the next to give her status. "All weapons are charged, Torpedo inventory is full, and the deflector array is at full power... perhaps a photonic fleet will bring a good fight to J'ula?"
Twilight smirked as she replied. "Definitely, and the warp drive?"
"Purrin' like a kitten, Twi." Applejack said as Twilight faced the viewscreen, her face as stern as ever as she gave the order.
"Take us out." With that, Steelhooves and I looked to the screen as the ship moved forward, leaving the large drydock as it joined up with the Stratus and her fleet.
Rainbow Dash tapped the console as the Harmony's deflector dish fired a blue beam of energy at a spot in space before it turned into a wormhole of sorts, the portal that would lead to our Equus.
"The portal's been deployed, we're ready on your word, Twilight!" The rainbow-maned pegasus said as the Princess of Friendship gave the word.
"Take her in, Rainbow." Rainbow nodded as she tapped her console, the ship and it's escorts heading into the anomaly. We we're surrounded by a glowing tunnel of blue a moment later. The moment we came out, we would head into battle once again with J'ula's forces, trying to save the rebuilding Wasteland on the planet below, not to mention my old friends. And not only would I save them, I would ask them for their help. I would need it if we were going to stop J'ula once and for all.
TO BE CONTINUED...