“Welcome to my humble abode!” Fisher said as they entered his little hidey-hole, disguised as an old dry cleaners. The two ponies running the shop recognized their boss right away. A wall opened, revealing a hidden staircase leading into the safe house. It was a technological marvel with high-tech machines used for analyzing data. The ex-duke beamed as his guests gapped at the drastic change between this and the rundown dry cleaners above.
“I only wish I hadn’t installed so many stairs,” He grumbled. Lemon Hearts had to help him down the flight of stairs. “I’d been a younger, more foalish stallion back then.” He laughed at his private joke.
Trixie noticed the lack of dust and clutter that plagued her safe house. She needed to convince Twilight to clean and organize the junk stored in it. A servant sat them down around an oblong table and poured her some hot cocoa.
“I see you haven’t been idle.” Greengrass sipped at his cocoa. “Let’s start at the top. What have you uncovered so far?”
“From the start? Very well. Several months ago, after my defeat, I converted this old safe house into a listening post to spy on Celestia.” A faint smile formed on Fisher’s lips. “There’s a donut shop the princess enjoys visiting almost every day, close to the castle.”
“Do princesses get fat?” Lemon Hearts asked. “Her sugar and calorie intake are crazy!”
“Considering how much Luna enjoys exercising and careful dieting, I believe so.” She’d seen her mentor try hundreds of diets to stay thin. Luna remained adamant about keeping a slim figure. Was Celestia one of those ponies capable of eating anything and remain untroubled by it? She remembered when Luna had proposed a National Jazzersizing Day to help with public fitness. It’d been unpopular with Trixie and the Night Court.
“Anyway, I knew Celestia had stolen the stones, but not where she’d hidden them.” Fisher said. “I had her townhouse carefully searched. She used it when not residing in her Moon Castle. I’d been organizing a plan to infiltrate her stronghold but then the Gala happened.”
The indirect mention of Luna’s fall dampened everypony’s mood. It still caused a lump in Trixie’s throat.
“Did Celestia have something on the stones you didn’t?” Trixie asked. “I’m still unclear how you found them.”
“Celestia had ancient knowledge and texts unseen for millennia,” Fisher said. “Even after recovering the stones, the most I uncovered were references and hints to their powers. Nopony wrote anything concrete about them. They were uncovered at a dig site in Appleloosa.”
“Where?” Trixie searched her memories but was certain she’d never heard the name before.
“Not surprising you’d never heard of it. It was a frontier town out west in buffalo country funded by the Apple Trust. The dig’s original purpose was to find dinosaur bones. A month ago, they uncovered the head of a brontosaurus by total accident. You know how enthusiastic paleontologists can be. During the dig, they found more bones, but something else as well. Even the buffalo knew nothing about it. A place they continue to avoid.”
Everypony was on the edge of their seats. Fisher’s expression had changed, becoming an intense frown hinted with worry.
“We’re still not sure who the temple belonged to. The cultists, or whoever they’d been, had lived over 4000 years ago in an age long since past. We aren’t even sure it belonged to ponies. Somehow, the temple remained submerged underground for millennia, miraculously surviving with little structural damage. Once I heard about the rare find, I funded an expedition team.”
“That first visit.” Fisher let out an involuntary shudder. “The cultists had worshiped something beyond our universe, performing dark magic in service of their god. I still remember the bloodstains on the altar. We found the bones of sacrificed ponies in a nearby pit.”
Trixie’s breath caught. Pony sacrifice. Hard to believe such things happened.
“We found the stones in a plinth attached to some ancient device. My scholars hypothesized the cultists designed it to tear a hole in the fabric of reality. But for whatever reason, nopony had ever activated it. I suspect the princess had gotten involved. The ancient inscriptions say the cultist stole the gods’ powers, harnessing them into those gems. How remains unknown.”
“About this ancient doomsday weapon,” Trixie said, but Fisher cut her off.
“Destroyed.” Fisher smiled. “I would never allow such a device to exist. Modern technology might activate it, even without a god’s power. I destroyed it before anypony could study it.”
“Really?” Trixie stared, surprised at this confession. She’d always believed the ex-archduke was a power-hungry opportunist, eager for anything that might provide him an edge over a rival.
Fisher quirked an eyebrow. “You really believe I’d endanger my world? Besides, the fact they’d sacrificed so many ponies in its creation sickened me.” He trailed off for a moment, seeming to stare into nothingness, then he shuddered, continuing. “Anyway, the stones fascinated me. Their magical power was beyond anything I’d ever experienced. You know the rest.”
“Do you have pictures?” Greengrass asked. Fisher produced a manila envelope, throwing the pictures on the table. The sight of the bloodstains made Trixie’s blood turn cold. She shook her head, overwhelmed by unheeded emotions.
“Yes, they are disturbing,” Fisher said, noting their reactions. “Many of my ponies had nightmares for months. Even the ones who hadn’t seen the carvings or the bloodstains. A pony could taste the taint in the air.”
“What’s this?” Greengrass pointed to some scribbles on a stone wall. Trixie squinted, about to make any sense of the paintings. The colors were odd, like a foal’s drawing that used a random crayon for each line. The multi-colored scribbles appeared pony-like, but their proportions were wrong.
“We suspect it’s their dark god, but we can’t be sure.”
“Is it the creature Lyra fought?” Trixie asked.
A few months ago, Lyra fought some evil worshiper of some outer being, and this pony had used some of their god’s power. It allowed the pony to control other ponies, turning them into tentacle zombies. Trixie included. She’d brushed her teeth four times a day for months afterward. She didn’t dare attempt pronouncing the creature’s confusing name, which contained many random nonsensical letters. Didn’t it attempt to eat their universe or something? According to Lyra, a small portion of this creature had entered their universe. Until Lyra made it explode, of course. Fisher shook his head, unsurprisingly understanding the reference.
“Did you ask the Princess about this?” Greengrass asked.
Fisher shrugged. “Like she’d talk to me. She was closed-mouthed in my inquiries regardless, though I’m certain she knows something.”
An idea struck Trixie. “Celestia might. We should check her castle library.”
Fisher nodded. “I agree. Shame it swarming with Lunar guards and Ranger Killers. Our queen doesn’t like ponies poking about.”
“It’s a bit of a long shot, but it’s worth a try,” Trixie replied. Not like she could make Nightmare Moon any angrier at her. No doubt, her cronies had already told her about Trixie’s escapade.
“I agree.” Greengrass nodded. “Celestia is our best lead. We can’t ask her, unfortunately, but this is our best second option.”
“So we’re going to the moon?” Lemon Hearts asked, excited by the prospect. Their previous conversation hadn’t sparked the Pluto Ranger’s interest, but this certainly did.
Trixie stood up, beaming. “To the moon, ponies! I’ve always wanted to say that!”
---
“Now Puissance, remember what the doctor said about not straining yourself.” Mind Mender said, her tone chiding. “You should remain in bed!”
Puissance snorted. “If this works, I’ll never return to that damnable bed again.” Mind Mender shook her head, worried about her employer’s safety.
“If this works, you’ll have made history, Mistress Puissance!” Solar Flare’s eyes burned with excited energy. Her secretary was prancing around on her hind legs, her wings extended. From outside appearance, it would be acceptable if you confused her for an alicorn. Solar Flare was a rare pony known as a pegacorn, blessed with both wings and a horn. Unlike the princesses, the mare didn’t have immortality but was majestic, nevertheless.
“If it works. I have my doubts, but it should prove an informative experiment, regardless.” Puissance smiled at Solar Flare’s enthusiasm. Her secretary had flown almost an entire day straight from Hoofington after hearing about her mistress’s stroke.
Puissance watched from her bed as the scientists fiddled with the machinery. The Trixie clone wore a high-tech helmet. Her scientists attached the other to a badger. It was highly unethical experimentation, but Puissance didn’t care. She was dying, so laws hardly mattered anymore. Besides, the badger would thank her if they succeeded. No doubt the new Trixie would be significantly smarter than the original.
She looked over the chamber where her new clone body was being birthed. If they proved mind transference was possible, it wouldn’t be difficult to transfer Puissance into the clone’s body. She’d read about previous mind transference experiments, but they’d all ended in failure. The subject expelled the intruder, even while comatose. A clone, however, was a meat puppet, containing neither a mind nor cutie mark. If this didn’t succeed, nothing would.
“Water, mistress?” Solar Flare asked.
“Thank you.” Her secretary produced a water bottle, putting the tube to Puissance’s lips. It was degrading, unable to do anything by herself anymore, but soon that wouldn’t matter. Luna would regret ignoring her.
“We’re beginning the process now.” Sweat formed on Doctor HO’s brow. Unlike Puissance, the doctor feared the illegality of the experiment. But Puissance was paying his salary, and he knew the consequences of refusing to cooperate.
“Still, this is quite the undertaking. Every attempt I’ve read about has failed. Even in magic-made golem bodies. More water, mistress?” Solar Flare said.
“Yes, please.” Puissance sipped at the water bottle before continuing. “But this machine should boost Mind Minder’s magic and provide a clean transfer.”
“Okay.” Solar Flare worried about her boss’s safety. It was unknown if her boss’s entire mind would transfer to the new body, becoming only a shell of a pony. Puissance shared these worries, working with her scientists to reduce the risks as much as possible.
The badger squirmed in its restraints. It didn’t know what they were attempting, instinctively realizing its dangerous nature. It writhed when the scientists placed the helmet on its head.
“Don’t worry, dear. This won’t hurt.” Mind Mender said, her tone soothing, and the badger complied. The unicorn always had such a wonderful bedside manner. Electricity sparked as the machine started, and chemicals flowed through tubes connecting the helmets.
“Beginning transfer now.” Mind Mender placed a hoof on the badger’s head and closed her eyes. Her horn sparked with teal magical energy, which flowed into the badger’s helmet.
Perfect. Once Puissance regained her younger body, Queen Nightmare Moon would look like a complete foal for discarding her. It would also allow her to test Project K for herself. She eagerly anticipated settling the score with Trixie and her friends herself. Already, she imagined Luna’s reaction coming face to face with the younger Puissance.
The chemicals started glowing a bright teal color, which stung Puissance’s eyes. The pain intensified as the chemicals became brighter. Puissance’s eyes widened as they boiled in their tubes. Sweat formed on Mind Mender’s brow and collapsed on her haunches. A gasp escaped her lips, releasing the spell, unable to take the intense strain.
“Did the spell work?” Puissance asked. The intense heat had distorted the tubes almost beyond recognition. Everypony watched the Trixie clone intensely for any sign of life. Instead, the badger groaned and chattered, sporting a massive migraine.
“Sorry, it’s more difficult than I expected.” Mind Mender said. “I stopped before the whole thing exploded.”
Puissance considered the situation, then sighed. “No matter. In science, failure only provides building blocks for future successes. Doctor HO, what happened?” She glared at her chief scientist, who gulped and nodded.
“Let’s study those readings,” HO said. “And replace this equipment. We’ll restart the experiment in two hours.”
Good. They aren’t wasting time. I might keel over any minute. It brought immense satisfaction that she’d struck fear in their hearts despite her decrepit appearance.
“Mistress.” Solar Flare gave her a nervous look after a pony whispered to her something. “Your son, Champion, has arrived in Canterlot and is demanding to see you. He tells me North Star won’t be far behind.
Puissance closed her eyes, considering the news. It warmed her heart that Champion had flown from Fillydelphia to check on her dear mother. Champion had always been a loyal son. North Star was always more prickly, but he still loved his mother regardless. The others would arrive soon upon hearing news about her stroke. Yet, Puissance couldn’t see them. She refused to allow anypony to see her so decrepit and weak, not even her family. Just a little longer, and she’d be young again.
“No, you have thirty minutes.” Puissance sent a warning glare towards her chief scientist.
“But!”
“No, buts.” Puissance’s voice became low and dangerous. “Thirty minutes.”
HO gulped and shouted orders, and ponies rushed to obey her every command. Puissance allowed herself a slight smile. While she waited, Solar Flare offered her more water.
“Take two!” HO gave Puissance a nervous glance before working the controls. No doubt worried how many failures his employers would allow before she sacked him.
“I’m ready!” Mind Mender gave a slight wave. “I have a theory where I’d gone wrong.”
“Begin.”
The chemicals glowed again but with a more measured luminance. Puissance watched with fascination as the chemicals flowed between the two subjects. The chemical had properties, making it highly conductible with magic. It didn’t bubble this time and flowed smoothly through the tubes. Yet, despite this, the clone Trixie stayed motionless, and Mind Mender grunted in frustration.
“Something’s missing.” Mind Mender tapped her chin.
“Explain.” While the experiment’s failure annoyed her, at least it hadn’t created another needlessly expensive mess.
“A spark that creates a great deal of energy.” Mind Mender replied.
“Look into it.” If transferring a simple animal’s mind is this difficult, what about a pony’s more complex one?
Mind Mender released the grateful badger from its restraints, placing it back into its cage. Puissance accepted the failure, realizing pushing the science wouldn’t help. A pony couldn’t bully science into working. She allowed Solar Flare to wheel her into a sitting room, and her assistant played a favorite old record of hers. Puissance hummed the song, taking pleasure in its simple but catchy melody. She remembered dancing to it with her late husband, Flashing Posey, many decades ago. Dear Luna, that had been lifetimes ago. Puissance started as her assistant shook her awake. Somehow, she nodded off.
“Supper will be starting soon.” Solar Flare said. “We’re having your favorite, garden soup.”
“Sounds good, thank you, Solar.” Puissance watched as cooks rolled on a tray of steaming soup. Solar Flare was gentle as she blew onto the soup before pouring the spoon’s contents into Puissance’s mouth. While beyond humiliating, Puissance allowed her assistant to feed her this way.
“I think you should see your sons.” Solar Flare said while feeding her mistress. “They’re worried about you.”
Nopony else dared speak to Puissance like that, but she accepted the challenge to her judgment. “Should I?”
“If this doesn’t succeed…” Solar Flare said, but Puissance interrupted her.
“It will succeed. It must.” Puissance knew she was lying to herself, but what choice did she have? “Look at me! I’m hideous. I only want my boys to remember her mother as the beautiful, unstoppable, strong mare who always cared for them. Not this thing that’s barely alive.”
Solar Flare wanted to argue but nodded instead. “If you change your mind, I’ll contact them right away.”
“Thank you.” Puissance realized her obstinate stupidity. In reality, she longed to see Champion and North Star. But she feared she’d break down upon seeing them. Tears were unbecoming for a mare of her stature. Solar Flare left Puissance alone with her music and self-pity.
“I think I’ve got it!” Mind Mender charged in, carrying an ancient tome.
“You’ve got something?” Puissance’s eyes turned towards the unicorn.
Mind Mender nodded, beaming with triumph. “All we need is an enormous power source to jump-start the spell.”
“Like the Planetary Gems?” Puissance asked, considering.
“Yes, but something similar should also work.” Mind Mender. “I believe you’ve made something similar in the K project?”
“Yes, I believe so.” Her scientists designed Project K to mimic the Galaxy Ranger powers. It would provide a pony power similar to the Rangers, only more powerful. It was still in the testing phase, but they’d almost mastered the power source.
“Doctor HO, you heard her. Get Project K ready. One final experiment for the day.” The lack of sunlight made it difficult to track time, but the clock indicated the hour was late.
“Yes, sir!” HO stood to attention, rushing from the room. Finally, they were getting somewhere.
They connected thousands of wires to the proto-energy source, codenamed Comet. Beneath the jumble of wires and circuits was a rare mineral, Taranium. Its properties as an energy source were astounding, capable of producing more energy than coal by over a million fold. Unfortunately, her scientists had uncovered that only 0.52ppm of the mineral existed in the earth’s crust, making it impractical.
“With this dampener, it should provide the required energy for the experiment.” Doctor Colon made the final adjustments on the Comet drive. Doctor HO nodded his agreement.
“Excellent, I expect success, doctor. My sons are waiting.” Puissance gave both doctors a pointed look, and they swallowed.
“Alright, everypony!” Mind Mender clapped her hooves together. “Third time's a charm. Everypony do their golly good best!”
The machine blazed with a shining light. The entire apparatus shook from the tremendous amount of energy gathering in the device. Solar Flare whipped sweat off Puissance’s brow as they watched the experiment. The badger squirmed in its seat, the dumb animal realizing for the first time the momentous occasion in ponykind it was partaking in.
Puissance stared at the Trixie clone, searching for any sign of movement, not daring to even blink. Despite the ruckus caused by machinery, the room was deathly silent, their breaths held in anticipation. Had Puissance seen clone Trixie’s hoof twitch? The smell of burning caught her attention, eyes returning to the Comet drive.
“Smoke!” Puissance caught a whiff of smoke coming from the dampener device attached to the Comet drive.
Ponies cried out in alarm, rushing towards the device. Somehow, the dampener had been faulty, and smoke coming from it intensified until it broke into flames. Mind Mender stopped her spell, but it was too late. There was an explosion, and Puissance screamed as her helpless body struck the wall and darkness consumed her.
---
Solar Flare coughed as she rose to her hooves, wincing after putting some weight on her back leg. She’d sprained it badly. Compared to the state of the lab, however, Solar Flare had gotten off lightly. The machine they’d used for the mind transferring experiment had burst into flames. Debris and rubble were everywhere. The force of the explosion had collapsed a large portion of the ceiling. She looked away after catching sight of a pony’s legs, blood pooling under it. Many ponies had received serious wounds. Some were unconscious, or worse.
“Mistress!” Puissance’s fate flashed to her mind, frantically searching for her employer.
“No!” Solar Flare screamed as her eyes caught the bloody form of Puissance. She’d suffered a grievous head wound after striking the wall. Worse, a piece of metal protruded from her side, oozing copious amounts of life fluid.
“Hang on!” Solar Flare grabbed Puissance’s hoof.
Puissance groaned and opened an eye. “Stupid stroke. If I had my wings, I could have flown to safety.”
‘
“Don’t talk. Save your strength.” Solar Flare gripped the older mare’s hoof tighter. “Help is coming soon!” Puissance didn’t reply and fell into unconsciousness.
Dear Luna, her mistress would bleed out before any help could arrive and Solar Flare didn’t bother holding back her tears. Only Puissance had seen her as more than a freak of nature. Her horn and wings and a passing resemblance to Corona had earned her scorn from other ponies. All except Mistress Puissance, and she was about to die!
“Uh, what happened?” Doctor HO said, groaning. Unlike most ponies, he seemed miraculously unharmed.
“This is all your fault!” Solar Flare whirled on the doctor, hate blurring her vision.
“I said there were risks.” HO backed away, hooves raised in a placating gesture.
“I’ll enjoy ripping out your heart!” Solar Flare wasn’t sure if the threat was empty or not. Her grief might drive her into doing something she regretted later, but somehow it didn’t bother her.
“Not now, children.” Mind Mender lifted her enormous bulk from the rubble and dusted herself off. “This is an emergency. Fighting helps nopony.”
“He’s killed Puissance!” Solar Flare snarled, and HO whimpered in response.
“No.” Mind Mender said, her voice thoughtful. “I don’t believe he has.”
“What?” Solar Flare snapped.
“The machine is remarkably intact.” Mind Mender muttered to herself, working something out in her head. “We just might…”
“What are you talking about?” Solar Flare snapped.
“Quick, put the headgear on Puissance.” Mind Mender pointed to the unconscious badger.
“The machine’s a flaming wreck! It will never work!”
“It’s an insane long shot,” HO said with a sniff.
“So you want her to die?!” Mind Minder snapped. “Snap to it!”
Despite the desperateness of the situation, Solar Flare complied and strapped her mistress’s head into the strange contraption. Blood coated her coat, but she didn’t care as long as Puissance lived. HO fiddled with the machine, crossing wires, tapping the controls.
“Comet seems intact, but we don’t have the dampener.” Sweat caused by the fires dripped down HO’s face. “If it goes critical, we’re in trouble.”
“It’s worth a shot if it means saving a life!” Mind Mender said with determination.
“Yeah, but a Trixie clone?” If this worked, her boss would go mental!
“Better than nothing.” Mind Mender replied. “Well, doctor?”
“It’s the best I can do.” HO shook his head, not believing they were attempting this.
Mind Mender smiled and nodded, then closed her eyes. Her horn blazed with magic energy.
Please work! Please don’t die, Puissance!
The room erupted in light, and immediately the chemicals bubbled, glowing with energy. The cowardly HO ran from the room, but Solar Flare stayed firm. If Puissance died, she’d join her. The light intensified, and the machine began smoking, but Mind Mender didn’t relent.
“Come back to us, Puissance!” Solar Flare gripped clone Trixie’s hoof hard. Sparks flew from Mind Minder’s hoof. Dear Celestia, was she over-channeling? With a final grunt, her horn burst with energy, and the chemicals in the tubes burst from their tubing. Solar Flare winced as the chemical splashed onto her, burning her fur, but she barely noticed. Mind Mender passed out a small crack in her horn.
Solar Flare hung her head. “We’ve failed, haven’t we?” A groan made her jump, and her eyes widened as the hoof she held twitched with life.