Chapter 9-
Loose Ends
The harsh light of the hospital room glared down on the occupants within. Vinyl Scratch and Coloratura each lay in their beds, bandages wrapped around the latter’s shoulder while the unicorn’s eye and body were covered in various applications and wraps, her rear right leg done up in a splint.
Meanwhile, Octavia sat beside the unconscious DJ’s bed, looking worriedly at her friend, the only sound in the room the beeping of machines. She glanced up to where the cloaked NetNavi leaned against a corner, green eyes deep in thought. She hadn’t said anything since the fight with FireMan, a matter of coldness that the gray earth pony found unsettling. She’d simply stayed by their side as the paramedics took care of them, watching the entire time. The Cellist found it to be quite disturbing.
“I’m going to go grab something to drink.” The sudden announcement followed by the Navi pushing off the wall shook the posh mare. “Anyone want anything?”
Octavia’s mouth gaped open as she attempted to reply only for the creak of a hospital bed to draw her attention to Coloratura. “A bottle of water, please,” the pop star answered, pushing herself up on her pillows. “An energy drink for Vi and warm tea if you can find it.”
“Roger that,” the dark Navi affirmed before striding across the tile and ducking out of the room.
Octavia could only stare after the program for a few more moments before turning her attention back to the other mare. “Thank you,” she murmured, shifting in her seat. “Even after all this time, you remember.”
A slight chuckle escaped the aqua-gray mare, looking to the ceiling for a moment before looking back. “I’d never subject a proper Bittish mare to cold bottled tea from a vending machine,” she chortled, her posture relaxing.
A smile sprouted on Octavia’s face, and she gave a giggle of her own. “Such a sensible response,” she said before her eyes turned worried once more. “How are you feeling?”
The singer simply smiled at that, her eyes a bit hooded. “I think the painkillers are starting to kick in,” she giggled, shifting slightly.
“Ah,” the gray mare answered, rearing her head and widening her eyes in understanding. “That makes sense.” Coloratura only smiled wider at that before their ears perked towards the door, the sound of pounding hooves reaching them.
Before either could move, a vermilion poof poked through the door, Svengallop’s eyes going from narrow to wide in an instant at the sight of his musician. “Countess!” He shouted, rushing in and nearly bowling Octavia over as he ran to get past her. “Oh, Celestia, I was so worried! What on Firma happened!?”
Coloratura blinked up at her manager for several moments before her ears peeled back and her eyes started to water. “Oh, Sisters, Sven!” The mare cried out, lunging forward to wrap her legs around him. “It came back for me! It was so scar-ar-ry!”
The stallion tensed up at the sudden outburst before relaxing slightly. “Um, there, there, dear,” he comforted awkwardly, patting her head as he gave his best smile. “Everything’s going to be okay.” Then, as the mare continued crying into the shoulder of his suit, he leaned back a little and whispered to Octavia. “What exactly do they have her on?”
“Just morphine as far as the doctor told us,” the gray mare answered with a shrug. “She only just now started showing signs of being affected by it to this extent.”
“I see,” Sven mumbled, frowning a little before turning his attention back to Coloratura and trying to usher her back into bed.
“Octavia?”
The Cellist turned her head at the sound of her name, letting out a little gasp as an indigo stallion with a blue mane and light green eyes stood in the doorway. “Parish!” She cried out, getting out of her seat and rushing around Vinyl’s bed to wrap her forelegs around his nethers. “I’m so glad you’re here!”
“I came as soon as I got a call from Maestro,” the stallion, Parish Nandermane, answered, returning the hug briefly before drawing the mare back a little. “Why didn’t you message me?”
“W-well,” the dark mare stuttered, getting her mental hooves back under her. “Things were happening so fast, a-a-and Glyde got hurt fighting that fire Navi-”
“He still could’ve gotten a message to me and Snakeman,” the purple stallion interrupted, a frown crossing his face.
Octavia stared a moment before a tired smile spread over her features. “I’m sorry, Parish,” she apologized, putting one leg around his shoulders again and giving him a little squeeze. “It won’t happen again.”
Parish went to reply only to stop as the sound of voices reached them. “-ctors say everyone should make a full recovery,” Amelia was explaining as she opened the door, holding it as Princesses Celestia and Luna walked in. “I’m just worried about the implications of FireMan’s second attack and the ferocity thereof.”
“As art we,” Luna agreed as she turned the corner. “We should begin assembling a unit to track down these ‘cyber-terrorists.’”
“‘Cyber-terrorists?’” The dark alicorn’s eyes widened slightly as she realized how big their audience was, Parish holding Octavia to the side of the door with a raised eyebrow.
Silence reigned for a moment before Amelia cleared her throat. “Yes, cyber-terrorists,” she affirmed, coming around the princesses to stand at the corner of Coloratura’s bed, opposite of Svengallop. “Unfortunately, from what we can tell, the attacks on the concert and the hotel were organized by a group rather than any one individual.”
“And what makes you believe this?” The off-white stallion questioned, his expression critical.
“Several things,” the woman replied, her helmet disappearing to allow her hair to fall free. “First and foremost, there is virtually no trail to follow along the network. In order for FireMan’s Operator to log him in, move location, and engage in combat with no trace is for someone else to be covering the tracks for them while they were active.”
“So we’re looking at at least two individuals,” Celestia continued, her presence taking the center of the room. “However, according to Amelia, who is an expert on the subject, we are most likely dealing with a large organization. One with the capabilities to execute these attacks and get away scot-free.”
“But why come after the concert and the hotel?” Octavia questioned, her eyebrow raised as she stepped past Parish. “Moreover, why Coloratura?”
“Easy,” Amelia picked up, her cloak shifting slightly before she pulled out her PET. “They were after this.”
“Her Personal Terminal?” The dark mare questioned, her confusion only growing. “But... why?”
“Because, our little pony,” Luna spoke up, taking a step forward. “That is the first PET from which all others originate.”
Everpony’s eyes widened at that, all of them turning to look at the pink-haired NetNavi. “You mean...,” all eyes turned to Coloratura as she sat up in bed. “She’s the original Navi?”
Amelia grinned. “In the flesh,” she confirmed, giving a slight bow.
“B-b-but,” Octavia stuttered, ears pulled back and eyes wide. “That would make you well over a thousand years old!”
“Yeah,” the Navi agreed, chuckling. “Yeah, it would.”
“So, what do these terrorists want with you?” Svengallop questioned, turning the girl’s attention back to him. “And what does my Countess have to do with any of it?”
The Navigator's eyes narrowed before she answered. “What they want,” she began, crossing her arms. “Is to take me out of the game. I’m not only the first NetNavi. I’m also the strongest. Capable of autonomous movement and combat with an entire library of every known Battlechip at my disposal. As for Coloratura,” the young woman paused and looked to the mare, giving a sad sigh, “she’s the only one that can make me stronger.”
Everyone in the room, including the princesses, froze at that. “...Pardon?” Celestia questioned, turning to face Amelia. “How can she do that? The only one that could connect to that PET was-”
“Amber Leaf.” The firmness in the Navi’s voice brought the alabaster mare to a stop, the dark expression on the Navi’s face drawing a sad frown from her. All was quiet for a moment before Amelia finally let out a breath, silently uncurling her fist under her cloak. She lifted her head and looked at those present, her gaze stopping on Coloratura. “Only Amber Leaf could use my PET and sync with me. Her… or whoever she passed it on to.”
Celestia and Luna’s eyes widened at that while everyone else looked confused. “The one function we could never replicate…,” The eldest sister whispered, drawing the other’s attention. “The one no one could tell us the use for.”
Amelia nodded grimly at that, still looking at Coloratura. “I didn’t know what it was for either,” she admitted. “Not until I got a hold of it during my second encounter with FireMan. See, there’s a list of names that starts with Amber… and ends with you.”
This time, all eyes turned to Coloratura, the mare staring soberly at the NetNavi. No one said a word for several moments, the only sound was the constant beep from the machines in the room. Amelia and Coloratura only stared at each other, neither looking away nor blinking. Eventually, though, one of them broke.
The agua-gray mare sighed and looked towards her bedsheets. “You want answers, don’t you?” She asked, her voice somber.
“No.” The answer surprised Coloratura, who looked up at the woman as she frowned. “No, I’ve already gone digging through the net. I’ve already found everything.” The Navi started forward, going around the bed to stand on the pony’s other side. Gently, she began to lean forward, opal eyes widening as the program drew near. She let out a soft gasp as Amelia wrapped her arms around her, tenderly avoiding her burnt shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”
Coloratura froze in place, her body stiff as the woman’s arms held her. However, a second later, tears filled her eyes, and she buried her face in the tan cloak, hooves pressing into the Navigator’s back. She sobbed, her cries filling the room as the floodgates broke inside, years of pain, sorrow, and trauma rushing out in a single moment. Amelia only held on tighter as the mare cried, letting her own tears fall unseen as her mind filled with images of a different blue and purple mare.
They stayed like this for several minutes until they finally pulled apart. “What now?” Coloratura asked, wiping the residual tears from her eyes as she sniffed.
“Now,” the Navi began, leaning back a little. “We keep you safe.”
Confusion formed across the faces of those present, Coloratura raising an eyebrow. “Excuse me,” Svengallop interrupted, raising a hoof. “What do you mean she needs to be kept safe?”
“Just because we stopped FireMan doesn’t mean they won’t send another Navi after her,” Amelia answered, turning to face the stallion from across the bed. “Like I said, the organization behind these attacks has quite a few members in it. Taking one Navi down just opens up for them to try sending in even bigger hitters.”
“What do you suggest, Amelia?” Celestia questioned, raising a hoof face up.
“I could suggest witness protection,” the Navi answered with a shrug. “Keep her off the grid until we figure out exactly where these assholes are operating.”
Coloratura’s eyes widened at that. “But then I wouldn’t be able to do any shows,” the mare argued, raising up in bed.
“Nope,” Amelia agreed with another shrug. “We could probably set up a safe house with a studio, though. That way, you’d still be able to make music.”
“That’s not the issue here,” the mare insisted with a shake of her head. “Our current tour is a series of charity events. Our next gig is supposed to be in Ponyville at the Helping Hooves Music Festival. In one week, we’re supposed to raise money for the local school and other clubs and organizations in the area.”
The cloaked woman quirked an eyebrow at that. “You do realize that tonight proves that these guys will never stop,” she pressed, leaning forward a little. “If they get a chance, they will kill you and, very briefly after, me.”
Coloratura stared at the woman’s green eyes for a moment before looking away, eyes shut. “I-I know that!” She stuttered, hooves gripping the edge of her blanket. “But I can’t do nothing when there’s something I can do to help give these foals a better life.”
Amelia’s eyes narrowed at that, and she straightened back up, crossing her arms with an unreadable expression. She tapped a finger on her arm for a few moments before speaking up again. “Alright,” she conceded, her finger ceasing to tap. “So, what do you plan on doing?”
The question stopped the show pony in her tracks. She looked away again, this time in thought. What exactly could she do if a group of terrorists were after her life? "I-"
"We fight back." Everyone turned as Vinyl Scratch sat up in bed, a grimace on her face as she moved. "If these guys aren't going to back down and neither are we, there's only one choice left." Piercing red eyes looked to Coloratura. "We fight back. Every step of the way."
All eyes stared at the unicorn, each with different expressions. It wasn't until a loud laugh broke the silence that everyone turned back to Amelia. "I like your spunk, kid!" She crowed, head thrown back. She came to a stop and leveled a wide grin at the white mare. "That sounds like a plan I can get behind."
"Excuse me," Svengallop interrupted once more, stomping a hoof. "But I believe you ruffians are forgetting a very simple detail! We are on a music tour! Our security is limited to dealing with the public! Eccentric fans! Not terrorists!"
“Unfortunately, he is right,” Luna confirmed, a hoof coming to her chin. “Thee wilt need more combat Navi’s and Operators who can handle them.”
Those present fell to silence at that, the mares and Amelia dropping their heads while the stallions looked on in confusion. After a few moments, though, magenta eyes widened. “You said you were going to Ponyville next?” Celestia asked, looking up at the pop star, who nodded. A slight smile appeared on the princess’s face at that. “Then we may have a solution after all.”
“What art thee thinking, sister?” Luna questioned, stepping up next to the taller Alicorn.
“A simple solution I’m surprised we didn’t think of sooner,” the elder answered, looking to her sister briefly. “Getting together a crack team of specialists may not be something we could do in a week, but that’s hardly an issue if there’s already a group of very capable ponies already waiting for you there.”
Luna’s eyes widened at that. “Surely you don’t mean-”
“I mean precisely that,” Celestia interjected with a wide smile.
“Is there something we’re missing here?” Amelia asked, speaking the minds of everyone else in the room.
The white diarch let out a chuckle at that before turning to the woman. “Apologies,” she answered, her smile still in place. “What I am suggesting is putting the safety of yourself and the Countess in the hooves of Equestria’s national heroes.”
Vinyl and Octavia’s eyes widened at that. “No way,” the DJ gasped, sitting up further. “You’re going to call on them for CC?”
“Who better?” The princess replied, quirking an eyebrow. “This is an issue of national security, after all. If these terrorists find a way to take down Amelia, Coloratura, or both, they will be after the entire Net. Not only here in Equestria, but all countries globally.”
“Those that has’t come so far technologically wilt be forced back into the dark ages,” Luna continued, stepping forward. “Automated systems offline, lights and communication severed. We would be sitting ducks.”
“So, who are these national heroes?” Amelia questioned, looking between the two sisters.
Celestia once again grinned. “Why, the Elements of Harmony, of course.”
Aria Blaze stood in the back of an abandoned warehouse, standing on her rear hooves with her back pressed against the wall and her forelegs crossed. She kept her eyes closed as she waited, ears perked up. She played out her failed battle over and over. What kind of Navi can prevent another from logging out? The thought bounced around her head constantly, no answer coming to her.
Her train of thought was interrupted as the sound of static began to echo around the warehouse. Her eyes opened, and she looked to the side as a hole began to tear itself open in midair. She pushed herself off the wall and onto all fours before approaching the forming portal. She stopped a few yards away, standing firm as the winds whipped her mane and tail around. Slowly, two humanoid silhouettes began to come into view from within. The first was taller, with broad shoulders and defined arms. The second was almost two heads shorter, the physique slim and athletic. They became more and more pronounced as they got closer, finally making it to the edge of the portal. When they did, they seemed to have to push against some unseen barrier, light flashing as they began to pass through, changing form as they did so.
Aria’s eyes narrowed as the bigger of the two passed through, a brown stallion with salt and pepper mane and tail stumbling out, stubble distracting from his green eyes, and tan button-up and a red ascot. It took a minute longer for the smaller to bust through, a pale blue unicorn mare with even paler, almost white, mane and tail. A purple and yellow star-shaped hair clip adorned her mane, the purple matching her eyes as a darker blue cape draped over her shoulders.
“Took you both long enough,” the siren sneered as the ponies began to stand.
“We wouldn’t have had to come if you hadn’t failed, Blaze,” the stallion answered, standing to his full height, a whole head and neck above her.
A low growl escaped the pink female, showing off sharpened fangs. “Watch yourself, Caballeron,” she warned, stepping closer to him until he pulled his head up and away from her jaws. “I may look like a pony in this form, but make no mistake. Here, I am an apex predator, the likes of which strikes fear into the hearts of any Equestrian.”
A giggle interrupted the siren’s threat, both her and the doctor looking to the mare. “Oh, pa-lease,” the unicorn started, strutting up to them. “If you’re so intimidating, then why did the boss have to send Caball-”
“Doctor Caballeron!”
“-Caballeron and Trixie?” The mare finished, pointedly looking to the stallion that had interrupted her with a smug smirk.
Another growl escaped the predator, her anger turning on the smaller mare. However, after a moment, she let her lips fall to hide her fangs. “Because,” she started to answer, teeth grinding. “Exactly what the doc warned us would happen happened.”
Both Caballeron and Trixie’s eyes widened at that. “The Navi that destroyed the Life Virus is here?” Trixie breathed, receiving a nod from the siren.
“It’s just as powerful as we were told it would be,” Aria continued, looking between them. “If not more so. It even stopped FireMan from logging out before deleting him.”
“So that’s how you were defeated,” the doctor murmured, raising a hoof to his chin. “We’ll need to be even more careful than previously thought.”
Aria only nodded at that. “If not,” she continued, starting to walk past them towards the portal, “your Navis’ll be next.” She stopped just before the doorway, head bowed. “I’ve already sent over all the data we collected, including how to track the PET. Be careful out there.” With that, she forced her way into the portal, the silhouette of a girl walking away from them before the tear sealed itself up.
Trixie and Dr. Caballeron were left in the silence of the warehouse. The stallion’s lips ran a straight, tight line before he smacked his lips and began to walk away. Trixie didn’t seem to notice until he was several yards away, jerking to attention before trotting after him. “What’s the plan now?” She asked, a little fear in her voice.
The tall earth pony never stopped moving. “...We’ll have to rethink everything,” he answered, never looking her way. “We can’t afford to charge forward without a plan.” He reached over to his left foreleg and removed his blue and yellow PET from its holster. “SharkMan,” he started, flipping open the device, “do a deep dive and pull up everything you can on our targets and their known associates. Bring me everything we could use against them.”
“You got it!” A shark-like NetNavi answered, its body and legs covered in a dark wetsuit, green armor with two marine engines on the back completing its design. Then, with a jump, it dove out of sight, connecting to the net.
Caballeron nodded his head and put his terminal away before looking at his associate. “You should begin strategizing with your own Navi,” he intoned. “Something tells me even a two-on-one battle is not something we’ll win. And we both know what happens if we fail.”
Trixie gulped at that, her eyes going to the floor as they continued out of the warehouse.
Night reigned in the small village a few miles from the base of Canterlot Mountain, a storm pouring its wrath down upon the town. However, the raging winds, rain, and thunder fell limply against the crystal walls of Friendship Castle. The large structure towered over Ponyville, not like an unyielding titan, but as a giant guarding every life within its borders.
Most windows held no glow on the outside of the castle. However, at the top of one of its branching towers, a light still shone. The light came from a single lamp and a computer screen. A document stood open on the screen, in front of which laid a board with twin paddles, both connected to a tower sitting on the desk next to them. A purple mare with a darker mane and tail sat at the computer, eyes a little tired as her hooves worked the paddles to make symbols appear on the screen. A tiny yawn escaped her as she worked, her horn igniting and lifting a mug of steaming coffee to her lips. She let a satisfied gasp leave her before setting the cup back down, lifting her hooves up and stretching, the wings on her back unfurling slightly as she did.
“A message for you, Princess.” The high-pitched, robotic voice and the shining of a new light brought her attention to her red and purple Personal Terminal.
“At this hour?” The mare questioned as she picked the PET up in her magic and opened it. “Who’s it from, NumberMan?”
“The message was sent by PharaohMan, your majesty,” answered the lanky NetNavi, green armor covering its forearms, torso, lower legs, and feet while a glass globe adorned its head, lights flashing within.
The Alicorn’s lips pursed at that. “From Princess Celestia?” She muttered, a bad feeling creeping up her spine. “Open it up. Oh, and please stop calling me that, NumberMan.”
The Navi let out a little chuckle before it opened the message, purple eyes quickly reading through it. Her eyes became more and more worried as she read, her lips drawn into a frown by the time she was finished. “This isn’t good,” she murmured, leaning back in her seat. “NumberMan, take a letter.” She paused only long enough for the Navigator to get ready. “Meet at the train station at ten AM tomorrow morning. The Princesses have sent word that we’re to meet a pony there that needs our help. I’ll explain more at the station. This is an emergency. Capitalize ‘emergency’ and send that to the girls.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the thin avatar replied, the message shrinking down into an envelope that sealed itself, turned into five copies, and shot off. “Is there anything else I can do, Twilight?”
“No,” Twilight Sparkle answered, turning in her chair before getting up and beginning to leave the room. “But my research will have to wait. For now, we have to prepare for tomorrow.” With that, her horn brightened, and all the lights turned out in the room.
