Searching your crib, they can't find no evidence
The screen of the terminal dimmed the room in a green haze that seemed almost relaxing. The slight chirping of readings, and the hmm of the machine created a cozy feeling for any pony. Dawn could almost decompress here, forget the tolls of being the Angel her followers need, and reminisced on older better times. But she and her goddess had a bright future to plan for.
She stared at the screen for what seemed like minutes, finally uttering the phrase. “I theá pánta vlépei”
The screen buzzed and flickered, stopping when the image of an Alicorn appeared on the monitor. She was perfected, perfectly flowing rainbow mane, glowing sunny eyes, and a smile that seem so welcoming. She was the perfectly designed pony, as if someone took thousands of images, took the best of all of them, and fuse them together.
“Hail Princess Cognitum, restorer of the land.” Dawn bowed her head as she addressed her monarch in a pray-like fashion.
“Rise my faithful student.” She commanded with a gentle motherly voice. “The faithful day is quickly approaching, we must have everything in order if our vision is to see fruition. Are the preparations ready on your end?"
Dawn nodded a little nervously. “Yes, but. Is there no other way we can do this? Can we not simply keep searching for the Demon Mares and their hidden base?” When she had first heard the princess’s plan she protested vehemently, it would destroy half of what they had built over the decades. Even now Dawn couldn’t understand the princess's reasoning. “Surely we can wait to defeat them.”
The Alicorn’s warm smile became a disapproving frown as she explained. “We had time, but we wasted it. For two years we searched for EC-1101 only for those…’ Demons’ to return with the keys in toe. We could have fought them in a war of attrition at first but they were smarter than we predicted. Our attempts at finding them and stopping their influence? Failure. Our need to maintain control over the other groups and tribes of the Hoof? Lost. With the Hoof now allied with them, they have put us into a stalemate we can’t win.”
“Then why don’t we simply outwait them? Slowly bringing balance back into our control? We can hire more gangs like the Gears if need be bring in some warlords from the surrounding regions.” Dawn parlayed.
“Because they have forced our hooves, my student. In a week’s time, that filly will attack us, and if we act or not half our achievements will be undone regardless. However, this will leave her exposed and her ‘Demons’ easy to trap. We must take this advantage while it’s open.” Cognitum kept a level tone but clearly, the decision didn’t sit right with her either. “Is the trap for them ready?”
Dawn dejectedly nodded. “Yes, I’ve seen to its construction myself. I’ve placed the trap in a hidden vent in maintenance. None in the temple know but I.”
“Good. When the Demon Mares come put on a good show but flee with your daughter as soon as possible. I can not afford to lose you, my faithful student.”
“I will see your will carried out my princess, My champions are prime and waiting for my orders.” Dawn bowed as her ‘princess’ grinned at her.
“So it shall be.”
Glory’s ears fluttered at what she heard, her own mother was planning to destroy this place somehow, thousands of ponies and other creatures would just die all so that she could kill Blackjack. Glory almost couldn’t believe the mare downstairs was her mother, whatever happened to her in the Wasteland, whatever this Cognitum did to her created a monster. She shook her head, her mom was truly lost.
She unhooked her plugs, wrapping them around the personal crafted pipbuck of hers, and then sled them under her bed. She had made the thing from scrap metal, unused spell matrixes, and whatever mom left around from her repairs. Her proudest achievement was connecting it to her mother’s personal computer downstairs without being noticed. They didn’t know she was snooping in on all their calls.
But now she needed to act and fast, her wife’s life was depending on it. “Time to pull a little prank on mom.”
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Mods:
Glory rebalance: Glory’s skills are expanded in all things nerd! She is now more useful in Science, Repair, Medicine, Energy Weapons, Doctor, and Barter. With added questline options.