//------------------------------//
// An odd conversation 
// Story: Rise of the Elements Epidode 0: Silent over Time 
// by Dream Volt 
//------------------------------//

"If it is the size of a moon why call it a star?"

I looked out at the strange vehicle zooming about as I thought over Luna's question.  It currently appeared spherical, but when not in operation it was far more boxy, even vaguely resembling an armored chariot.  Those details were currently covered by a bright white glow, clearly intended to resemble the moon.  It was a sort of tank.  Powered entirely by magic and floating just over the heads of most ponies but that was its purpose.  It used a wand on a swivel point as a weapon to greatly enhance the destructive power of the unicorn powering it.  Of course since it was hidden by the glow as well it reminded me of something else.

"I do not know y… Luna.  It is especially odd as Darth Nightmare was clearly based on Nightmare Moon, or at least her legend."

"Also why did there seem to be so little magic, and why is it that one earth pony seemed to have unicorn magic?"

"It's called something else for a reason, and magic is for the most point ignored.  It's a tendency of much scifi.  Magic is living things and it's known in space…"

Luna rolled her eyes.  "We understand that, even though it's silly.  Though artificial anything of such size filled with ponies would produce more than enough magic for the unicorns in the film."

"Yes, though despite that it became a staple of the genre even though it's been disproven.  Recently the idea of an overall small amount of magic has replaced it."

"Yes, the first trilogy uses it, but the second doesn't.  It's odd."

"The first was made after the second.  Oddly such an idea on a large scale with slightly less severity seems the likely cause of the magic issues with other races correct?"

"Indeed.  Though more research is needed, and more time."

"Wheeeee!"

Firecracker's shout was quite loud as she sped past us, the red beam burning the non flammable dirt into glass in places.  The field we were in outside Canterlot was filled with black spots and lines.

"What bothered me most was the clones." I said  "A unicorn in heavy armor with those sorts of weapons would have made far more sense.  It's no wonder the earth ponies miss so often with their weapons.  Most of the time they aren't even back turrets."

"Yes, it's very odd.  Back mounted weaponry is standard for earth ponies in the army correct.  Or are we confused and that is that only other nations."

"Equestria has less dangerous ordinance than some nations, but yes."

"That reminds me of something else.  Those craft, why were almost all of them piloted by pegasai when that seemed to no way be a requirement."

"No idea.  It's almost as silly about making such a big deal about the jetpack."

"I thought that was, as Dash would say, cool.  Though impractical obviously."

"I suppose.  Oddly enough the laser blades make some sense.  It is far easier to simply enchant a sword to have roughly the same properties, but in the context of the story a pure technological solution…"

"Yahooooo!"

I think Firecracker was melting specific bits of the ground now, but I couldn’t be sure.  The moon lookalike vehicle still at least seemed to be zipping about at random.  Real tanks were relatively unaffected by terrain, but this thing only bobbed up and down slightly, never slowing at all.  It was amazing it was made over a thousand years ago and in storage for most of that time.  Luna really knew how to make an artifact.

"She is something special, isn't she?"

"Firecracker?  Yes, mostly likely the second most powerful unicorn alive."

"Most likely?"

"Not all unicorns have been tested.  Most of the time a reading is only taken if they seek higher education.  There may be some unicorn with a talent for floral arrangements mightier than Celestia herself and we'd never know."

Luna laughed.  "I doubt it, but she's really second behind Twilight?"

"Yes.  This is raw power only you understand.  Obviously Twilight's most dangerous not because of her power, no matter how great, but her ability to learn anything she sees."

"Wait, what do you mean by…"

"It wasn't always easy for her but increasingly if she sees a spell cast, she can replicate it.  We can't measure it entirely accurately, but what we know is bad enough."

"What do you mean bad enough?"

I blinked.  "Oh, sorry Luna.  Of course you wouldn’t know.  I am in charge of the Rouge Twilight Sparkle task force.  Our goal is if Celestia were to vanish for whatever reason we could stop an out of control Twilight."

Luna sighed.  "Because my sister loves being prepared, even for the most ridiculous of scenarios.  So what is your current level of preparedness."

"We have roughly a 3% chance of subduing her by force, and that's being generous.  We would also suffer heavy losses.  Our current best plan of action is to give her a kitten, some pie and a book, and hope she calms down on her own."

"Would that work?"

"Psychological tests say a it's our best chance.  I should point out this was all before factoring in what being the element of magic might mean.  Not to mention even though there is data suggesting otherwise she is not at the level of an alicorn."

"The level rather than actually being one correct?  I should point out if I'm right killing her, as traditionally defined, might just result in making her very angry and countless times more powerful than she already is."

"We came to the same possible conclusion.  In fact at this point I actually have more confidence in the daymare protocols being successful than stopping Twilight if she truly lost it.  Or more accurately I already did before your return."

"And now things are far worse.  Firecracker was forced into the military much the same was as Blossom, correct?"

I shook my head.  "No mam.  She joined willingly after asking Celestia for advice.  I am still not sure if, joining the military would be the best option if you want to destroy as much as possible, was really meant as serious advice."

Luna laughed.  "You know she shouldn’t even be able to make a firebeam with it."

"I’m aware."

"I don't mean she doesn't have the power I mean…"

"I know.  It's a weapon any unicorn can use and should create a pure white destructive beam.  I read the specs.  I also choose this field for a reason."

"Hey Captain.  I have to tell you something.  The…"

Dream Volt had just come down in front of me when the floating tank hit him.  I immediately looked the other way.  That couldn't be pretty.

"I wonder what that puts him up to?"

"What do you mean?  Also are you certain that he's alright?"

"Deaths.  I think it is at twelve, but I am not sure."

"That does answer both to a degree I suppose but doesn't that hurt?"  Luna was looking in the direction of the now no longer humming device."

"You are like the coolest pegasus ever." Said Firecracker

"We are not sure his ears have reattached yet."

"He said it does hurt, but sometimes gory can actually be better because having your spinal cord liquidized instantly removes the pain."

"Surely that is not the proper term."

"In at least one case it was entirely accurate.  Somehow no matter how small the pieces are he can regenerate.  Even if he has fallen into an industrial grinder."

I saw Luna cringe.  "He does not have the best luck, does he."

"Actually he's also won the Canterlot lottery three times.  It seems to veer back and forth on both extremes."

"I see."

"Well I think we can go home now, clearly it still works quite well."

"Uh, yes."  Luna cringed again.  Though in truth it's designed with a crew of five unicorns not one.  I'm still surprised.  Very few have such power."

"You forgot a wing.  It's over there." Said Firecracker

"Thanks.  Ow ow ow ow.  Never hurts any less."

I kept my head turned away.  "So Lt. Volt what information do you have for me?"

"Nothing worth getting hit by a bus for.  Even though that thing isn't really a bus but it sure felt one."  He sighed.  "I wish I didn't know what it felt like getting hit by bus."

"I still might as well hear it."

"Yea.  Anyway it's uh…"

I sighed.  I suppose getting splattered like that could distract anypony, but odds were he forgot.  I turned hoping he was in one piece again to see him hovering there.  Once he saw me he got a great big smile on his face and put one hoof behind his head.  I sighed.   He forgot.  There is no doubt in my mind of it now.  Hopefully it really wasn't that vital or urgent.