//------------------------------// // Chapter Five: Fast forward a few months... give or take a few hours. // Story: Equestria: A retelling of the story. // by xombiekilla //------------------------------// "Well, it has been four months since that incident with Dr. Bruner. Things have been rather peaceful in Equestria as of late, which does make Celestia's and our job easier." Twilight was thinking aloud as she wrote in her journal to keep track of the events that had occurred so far. "It's nice not to worry about fighting some gigantic machine or robot for a change. It gives me plenty of time to plan what I want to do in the meantime." Then, satisfied with her work in her journal, she closed her book and trotted downstairs to see Spike cooking breakfast. "Ah, there she is." Spike greeted Twilight as she stepped down to meet with him. "I'm sure you'd be hungry. So I took the liberty of making you your favorite pancakes." Spike then set the hot plate on the table for her. Twilight wasted no time but to take a seat. "Oh wow. These are so good. Blueberry pancakes. Yum." Twilight was hopping in place excitedly in her seat. "Spike, my eyes are bigger than my stomach right now." "I'm sure they are. Enjoy." Twilight used her magic to drizzle some maple syrup over her flapjacks as she dined on them. After breakfast, the drake and the unicorn ventured out from their tree home to explore Ponyville. "Alright then, Spike. What's the first thing we should do today since we expect nothing significant?" Twilight and Spike were walking through the streets of Ponyville, talking to each other. "I dunno. Maybe go to continue training with Celestia or something?" "As much as I'd enjoy doing that, Spike. I've been doing that for the past few months, and maybe she'd want a break." "You? Passing up an opportunity to learn with your mentor? Who're you, and what have you done with Twilight?" "Everything is fine, Spike. I'm all still me. But I must consider Celestia, as her job is sometimes difficult." "Well, I'm glad you're taking this as well as you were then." "Of course, Spike. I'm not unreasonable, you know." "Yes, of course. I'll be sure to approve the commissioning for your new orphanage." "Thank you, Your Highness." One of the mares said in Celestia's day court as she bowed before leaving. 'Isn't this nice so far? A wonderful morning, a greeting to my beloved sister, a delicious breakfast, and now I'm opening an orphanage for my little ponies. And- oh no. Not the nobles. Just when you thought your day was going swimmingly, well, at least we don't have to deal with that Doctor. The silver lining, I suppose.' "Yes, Your Highness. We're hoping you can amend the taxes the wealthier must pay to the crown." 'Typical, greedy nobles. There was a reason why I had agreed to this before.' With a roll of her eyes, something that didn't go unnoticed by the noble currently being heard. "I know this might not be what you want to hear, My princess-" 'Understatement of the century, my annoying noble.' "-But it was unanimously decided by our social circle to allow for lesser taxes onto us and balanced taxes onto the middle class of Equestrians." 'My my, you all act as if your social circle makes all the important decisions in Equestria. So what am I, chopped liver?' "So then, with your permission, Your Highness, we'd love to continue with the amendment to the tax bracket." "No." "I-I beg your pardon?" "I do believe that I was abundantly clear with you. No amendments shall be made to the tax bracket as that'll make your lives easier but at the expense of other hard-working ponies who, honestly, pay for your lifestyle as it is now." "B-But, Your Highness... please, if you'd reconsider, you wouldn't regret this decision." "This is no longer up for negotiation. I do believe that we're done here." The noble then scoffed visibly as he trotted away, head hung in dejected shame as he was escorted out of the throne room. "And this would conclude daytime court for me. I'll tend to the papers to confirm the orders for constructing that orphanage. Good day, my loyal soldiers." They all saluted as Celestia left the throne room and was then on her way to her office. Meanwhile, at the Doctor's Everfree Headquarters... "Of course, this is brilliant after nearly four months of preparation. I have found a way to stop that wretched Rainbow Dash for good! But, to complete this, I'll need some friends to do some of the work of operating my machines. If they can have friends with them, I see no reason why I can't." The Doctor reasoned to himself as he was then mulling over the designs for two henchbots that'll be brave, intelligent, loyal, strong, and most of all, belong to him and him only. "Perfect. I believe I've got just the robots in mind to make. I'll call them Decoe and Bocoe. They're perfect for the job." The Doctor then went to work making his two new companions. One was shorter and grey, while the other was taller and yellow-colored. After he finished building them, they were completed; they just needed some form of energy to keep themselves alive. "There's only one problem right now: finding a reliable energy source to keep them both alive indefinitely." The Doctor stroked his chin in deep contemplation as he remembered that he still had some leftover crystals from that toasty tortoise mech that was most recently destroyed. "Yes, those just might work out nicely." The Doctor then retrieved two of his crystals with some remaining solar energy converted into magic to place into both robots. As they both came to life, they sat up and looked around the room; then, they fixed on the Doctor. "Are you the one that created us?" Said the shorter and grey one, who was known as Decoe. "I am. You two have a grand purpose of serving. I am delighted that you two are aboard the train to the Bruner Empire." The Doctor exclaimed with glee. "We're happy to serve you, Doctor. What will you have of us?" The yellow-plated one, Bocoe said. "I have a special plan for a very unpleasant blue pegasus. She's a mare of action, adventure, and competition. I could capitalize on this by taking advantage of her ego. I was taking the first two months of preparation to stake out Ponyville- to defeat thy enemy; one must know thy enemy." "Pardon us, Doctor-" Bocoe said as he continued, "But blue pegasus?" "Her name is Rainbow Dash, and believe me, you'll know her when you see her." "Yes, Doctor. So then, what's your plan?" Bocoe asked as they both looked to the Doctor for his guidance. "Simple. We challenge Rainbow Dash to a race." The Doctor chuckled as he continued, "It'll be rigged. I now understand her greatest strength- her intense speed." "So you're deciding to take advantage of her competitive streak and then find a way of slowing her down, Doctor?" "Exactly, Bocoe. I'll create a special mecha-muck as an adhesive and bonding agent. It'll stick her hooves to the ground like flypaper. Then, my mobile shall be outfitted with a wrecking ball to squash her like the bug she is. I call it the Checker Wrecking Ball." "Kinda brutal and slightly ironic, isn't it, Doctor?" "Well, the ends justify the means, Bocoe." "I guess so. So then, when shall we depart?" "Patience, you two. I'll need first to establish the racing track for her. Then, I'll create a racing robot that will carry the mecha-muck used to glue her to the ground. Then, you two will be piloting that racing mech. I'll be waiting in ambush when she gets stuck, then no more pesky pegasus!" "Brilliant, Doctor, we'll be ready when you're," Bocoe said as both robots were ready to receive their first order. Rainbow Dash was yawning as she woke from lounging on a branch in the Apple Family Orchard. She stretched as she flew down to see Applejack bucking trees and apples falling into the barrels below the trees. "Hey there, AJ. Working hard as always, eh?" "Yes, I am, Rainbow. Care to help me out? I'll make sure you get some ice-cold cider as a reward." Applejack's offer couldn't be refused. "Aw, sweet. I'm totally in then." Rainbow wasted no more time as she got busy and helped Applejack with her chores. A few hours of work later, they were taking a break. "How about some nice, ice-cold cider for all your trouble, Rainbow?" "You don't have to ask me twice." Rainbow then grabbed the frosty beverage; she took a sip and cooed at its cold and frothy texture, then sighed in bliss. "This drink is the greatest." "You darn tootin' it is, Rainbow." "Alright then, the racing track is completed. Is the Speedster-O-Matic ready yet?" "Yes, Doctor, we're in position and ready to burn some rubber!" Decoe said as Bocoe was checking the mecha-muck tanks in the racing mech. "Provisions have been thoroughly checked and primed, Doctor," Bocoe said as he confirmed that everything was ready. "Excellent. Then my plan is ready to be put into action." The Doctor prided himself as he prepared a message bot to be delivered to Rainbow Dash. "So then, AJ, after working, what are your plans for the rest of today?" "Nothing much. I'm just kickin' back and relaxing after a day of hard work. Huh- what's that in the sky up there?" Applejack squinted as she focused on the slight anomaly gradually approaching them. "Well, it looks like it's here for a reason." The message bot arrived shortly over to Sweet Apple Acres as it stood before Rainbow Dash and set down a TV in front of her while slowly backing away. "Hehe. Message for you. It's from Dr. Bruner." The message bot said in its cheerful voice. "Oh? This ought to be good." Rainbow huffed irritatedly as the screen came to life, and she saw the face of the Doctor. "Hello there. I assume this message has successfully reached Rainbow Dash, so I'll brief you on this. I hereby challenge you to a race to show me exactly what you're made of. Refuse; all you'll have to lose is your honor and dignity. Win, and you'll receive a grand prize." "So then, do you think you have what it takes to be the fastest flyer in Equestria?" The television began to tick as if counting down, "This message was brought to you by the Bruner Empire and is not responsible for any of its content, except this part." The television began to spark as it blew up in Rainbow's face. "G-Gah!?" BOOM! Rainbow's entire body was covered up in soot as she coughed some of it and growled. "Grr... Doctor Bruner is going to regret that!" "The nerve of that guy. Are you okay, Sugarcube?" "I'm fine. So then, Doc wants another helping of humble pie, eh? I'll be happy to give that to him." Rainbow shook her body to get all the soot off of her as she flew up and saw what appeared to be a flare shooting up, marking its position for her. "You're even marking where you want me to go, too? You're making this way too easy for me. I'll be right back, Applejack, after I teach the Doc some manners!" "You go get him, Sugarcube!"