Release her. 66%
“I'm waking her,” Fluttershy stated as she tapped the appropriate buttons on the control panel. The machinery at the base of the tube opened up as a message appeared on the display.
Insert authorization key.
“Well, ain't that a bummer,” Applejack said as she studied the slot that had opened up.
“We should look around, maybe they stored one nearby?” Pinkie asked as she sprinted around, checking every little storage compartment in the area.
“Sugarcube, Ah think there's somethin' wrong with that armor of yours,” Applejack pointed at one of Fluttershy's pockets that was glowing pink. Fluttershy picked the glowing object out of it, revealing a pink gemstone to the others.
“What is it and is it supposed to do that?” Rarity asked as she studied the gem, “I don't recognize the type but it's exquisitely well carved.”
“Rarity, this is the Element of Kindness,” Fluttershy informed her, puzzled at how it was possible the necklace had disappeared and the gem changed shape.
“Oohh, that'll fit!” Pinkie exclaimed swiping the element away and pushing it into the machine.
“Pinkie!” Fluttershy whinnied as she could feel the Element being drained by the machine, her knees buckling as her energy was sapped too by extension.
Authorization key: K-01
Authority accepted, starting wake-up procedure
The tank started glowing pink too, the stasis field dropping as the fluid started draining from the tank. The alicorn inside sank to the bottom, laying still as the fluid flowed past her until the entire tank was empty.
“You okay, Shy?” Applejack asked as she helped her friend back onto her hooves.
“Y-Yeah, just wasn’t expecting that,” Fluttershy stuttered as she focussed on the motionless body as the glass moved out of the way, Pinkie prodding the alicorn with a hoof.
“She’s not-”
The alicorn suddenly shot up, coughing the tank fluid from her lungs and gasping for air, stumbling onto her legs but immediately walking into pinkie and sending them both into a tangled mess.
“Whoa there! We ain’t gonna hurt ya,” Applejack tried to calm the alicorn but she just rolled off Pinkie and shuffled away from the four other ponies, fear in her eyes as her eys darted between the group of friends. Fluttershy retrieved and stashed her Element, which had returned to being a necklace, from the machine before stepping forward, making herself as small and non-threatening as possible.
“Hey there, what’s your name?” Fluttershy knew fully well that it was Cadance according to the log on the tube but didn’t know if Cadance would know it herself. The pink alicorn just shuffled further back, pressing herself into a wall and saying nothing. “Mind if I come closer?”
This did get a response as Cadance vigorously nodded, signaling that she did not want Shy to approach. Applejack meanwhile held Pinkie back who was practically bouncing in place and backed off a bit with Rarity.
“I’ll remain right here then,” Fluttershy continued, sitting down across to Cadance who relaxed a bit but still eyed her suspiciously. “Do you mind telling me your name now?”
“M-Mi Amore C-Cadenza, o-or Cadance… that’s what the voice said at least...” Cadence finally spoke softly.
“Hello Cadance, I’m Fluttershy. I-”
“Are you one of the monsters?” the alicorn looked as she was about to burst into tears, shivering visibly at the thought.
“No, I’m not. What kind of monsters are you talking about, Cadance?” Fluttershy shuffled somewhat closer to her as Cadance swallowed.
“T-The black ships… t-they come and take everypony!Always there, they find everyone!” Cadence started breathing heavily as she got pulled into her own world. “N-No! Make it stop! STOP IT!”
Fluttershy shot forward and pulled Cadance into a hug, even though the alicorn was the bigger of the two. “They won’t get you, I promise.” Fluttershy stroked Cadance’s hair as she motioned for her friends to come close. She had a good idea of what those ‘black ships’ were, she had her own vision imprinted in her mind after all, so she tried distracting the alicorn. “I want to introduce you to my friends. Don’t worry, they’re a nice bunch of ponies.”
“Howdy there, Ah’m Applejack ma’am.”
“I’m Rarity Darling”
“And I’m Pinkie Pie!” the pink pony exclaimed, no longer being able to contain herself.
“You’reatotallynewponyandIlovemeetingnewponies,maybeyoucouldcomeliveinponyvilleandthenI’dthrowyouawelcometoPonyvilleparty!”
Pinkie gasped as she looked at Fluttershy, “I totally should still throw your welcome back to Ponyville party too! It would be a super-duper large party! And if we can get Twilight and Princess Celestia to be friends again it can be a welcometoPonyvilleandwelcomebacktoPonyvilleI’mgladeveryoneishappyagain party!”
Pinkie beamed as Cadance just stared at the hyper enthusiastic earthpony, but slowly the smile spread to Cadance as well as she started giggling. “I’d like that… but you said ‘Princess’ Celestia? The voice said nothing about Auntie being a Princess?”
“Right… Darling, I think you were in your tube a bit longer than your auntie,” Rarity carefully said, pointing at the emptied three tubes.
“W-what?” Cadence stuttered. “T-the voice said something about letting the a-aunties out sooner b-but it can’t be that long, that wasn’t too long ago...”
“Your tube was holding you in a stasis of sorts, Cadence… If what Luna told me is right it’s been over ten millennia.”
Cadence’s eyes rolled back in her head and she fainted into Fluttershy’s legs.
“Well, she didn’t take that very well,” Rarity pointed out bluntly.
“I guess that was to be expected… We should find a way out and take her with us. We’ve spent enough time down here.”
“Ah still kinda wanted ta take a peek at that manufactorum,” Applejack grumbled as Fluttershy lifted Cadance up and put the alicorn on her back with her biotics, keeping her aura active to give herself some extra support before opening her omni-tool and bringing up the base’s map.
Ugh, we should really find an armory before anything else… but maybe we’ll find gear in the manufactorum? It does seem like a lot of stuff would be built there, the array’s computer did say to get parts from there… That also reminds me, there’s an AI core too. I wonder what happened to the AI if it’s not in there… but getting out of this place should be our priority, you can wander this palace for days and still not be done. The hangars seem like they have another way out, ponies need to know about this place.
1. Check out the Manufactorum.
2. Look into what happened to the AI.
3. Go up to the hangars to get out.