"You're certain your machine has enough power to transport us again?" asked Osteo. "I don't wish to find defeat due to poorly maintained equipment."
"Nothing about my inventions is poor," retorted Tube, running his hooves over the console. "The energy stored in the crystals is more than enough for several trips. They can be topped up easily, regardless. Everything has been considered."
"Not everything, it seems." Selena had finished taking a swig of an inhibitor potion. She shuddered as it took effect. "That's a foul taste indeed, all to simply keep control of myself."
"For which you should have no trouble now," replied Tube. "That should be good for an hour before you take the next one. Simply keep the others with you and all will be well."
"If you say so," she murmured. She had fitted bottles of the stuff to a belt, concealed beneath a shorter cloak. "So long as I have the chance of facing those who have wronged me."
"Yes, that dragon was one of them, wasn't he?" asked Grace. "Give him a lashing from me as well. The thoughtless creature singed one of my favourite puppets."
"Spike is neither thoughtless, nor a creature," she retorted. "He has a good heart, one I wouldn't have expected from a dragon."
Grace quirked an eyebrow. "You speak well of one that you intend to see dead."
"Perhaps not," she murmured. "Once he sees the strength we possess, once his friends are no more and he learns more about what the world truly is, then perhaps…"
"Do not let sentimentality cloud your instincts," said Osteo. "In battle, hesitation is defeat."
She shot him a glare. "I don't need you to tell me how to hold my own. He still has to answer for destroying the Novo Mirror and I intend to collect by seeing that pretty mare die first, while he watches."
There was a moment of silence, like they didn't completely believe her conviction. In that same moment, it appeared that perhaps she didn't either. But then it passed.
"I hope to face that Earth pony again." Osteo flexed a leg. "Even when her defeat was all but assured, she continued to hold her ground. So many others assured of their strength would simply give in. But not her."
"And yet, you were sent packing when you were outnumbered," said Grace.
"Far from it. The more challenge a fight can give, the better. That buffalo was just as resilient. A strength that stout has great potential, allowed to come to the surface. Yes…" He let himself smile. "I shall face them again and we will have a true contest, as the Way of the Beast demands."
Grace shrugged. "If you say so. I would have thought you'd want to go another round with the rainbow Pegasus and that griffin from Baltimare."
Osteo snorted dismissively. "Those who fly believe their command of the sky leaves them untouchable. They make such undignified displays when that perception is shattered, I can no longer stomach it. Those who cannot rely on wings or magic make the best opponents. They have to rely purely on their own strength and rarely show the same arrogance as that Rainbow Dash."
If anypony had been watching him, they would have seen Edge's single organic eye look around at the mention of her name. The machine eye focused too, narrowing in a manner not dissimilar to anger. Something that should have been burned out of him, yet simmered faintly.
But it passed as quickly as it came and Edge resumed his blank stare without any of them noticing. Certainly not Grace, who was already speaking of his own plans.
"I personally will be looking forward to engaging that Dusk again. You should see the images he can weave with his colours, simply beautiful!" he enthused. "Are they not beautiful, Osteo?"
"Mere distractions for simple minds from more important matters," he replied.
"Ah, you're trying to insult me, I know. But I simply have appreciation for a fellow artist!" He tapped his hooves with rarely felt excitement. "I haven't found a more fitting new candidate for my troupe in years. I simply must have him, I must!"
"So long as he dies, then do what you will," said Osteo. "Just remember your experience in Baltimare. Gloat after your victory, not before."
Grace rolled his eyes. "You sound like my old schoolmaster. He was one of my first, you know. I thought he'd appreciate the lessons he drilled into my head about diligence and working hard. But I suppose you don't always practise what you preach."
"You sound like you were one of those problem students," remarked Selena.
"Excuse you, I was a model student," replied Grace. "But my talents were simply unfulfilled in a school environment. Needless to say, I've since flourished."
"So it seems. What about you, girls?" Selena asked the twins. "Apparently, the pink one gave you a little trouble and the zebra managed to get back up again. You're not getting 'sentimental' as well, are you?"
Snick and Slash recoiled their heads back, like they were offended at the very notion of the idea. One mimicked a necklace being worn, while the other tapped the wrist of her foreleg. Like where somepony would wear a watch.
"Yes, I know, you mentioned you were both rushed," said Selena. "But now that we'll have the time to devote our attention fully to them, I have a feeling you'll be looking to make up for that."
The twins nodded together. Snick drew one of her blades across her throat, while Slash motioned a head falling from its shoulders and onto the ground.
Selena chuckled. "I thought as much. Good hunting to you both."
None of them asked Sting about his plans for payback, if any. The changeling watched from further across the room, taking note of all the things that would be likely to keep their attention. The less of them paying attention to him, the better. With them and the allies of the Princess all caught up fighting each other, it would be a relatively simple matter to escape with Samore. For now, he just had to play along.
Tube was in a similar position. He was neither part of the group, nor directly involved in the ongoing discussion. Neither was something that his ego could abide by.
"Whatever petty grievances the rest of you may have is nothing compared to what I have planned for Twilight Sparkle!" he declared. "Oh, she and her entourage will rue what they did to my creations. I've already rebuilt them, reinforced them against damage and they didn't even see their true capabilities unleashed. When they do, they will tremble before…!" He trailed off and flushed when he realised Selena was sniggering. "Stop it! Stop laughing at me!"
"I'm sorry, doctor," she tittered. "I can't help it. Your voice, it becomes very… shrill when your emotions run high."
"It does not!" he shrieked.
"Actually, it rather does," added Grace. "Though 'tinny' is the word I'd use. It's almost adorable when you get maniacal like that."
"Like a mouse raging in the face of a lion," put in Osteo.
The twins' shoulders were shaking with silent laughter. Once again, a flicker of emotion showed on Edge's face. A derisive smirk. Once again, it passed and nopony caught it. Even Sting allowed himself some mirth at Tube's expense.
Meanwhile, Tube was seething. Even now, he was mocked and derided. After all that had come about as the result of his ingenuity, they still didn't respect him. The scientific community was bad enough, when they'd called him 'immoral' and 'unhinged' but this band of miscreants? It wouldn't stand!
Well, he would soon show them. He'd show them all. He needed them for now, to do the heavy lifting. But when the moment came, when they all thought their victory was assured, then… then he'd prove them wrong.
The console before him dinged, indicating that the device was ready. Right on time. He just had to check something first.
"Edge, move to the centre of the teleport pad." Tube entered coordinates for Ponyville and realised Edge hadn't responded to his command. "Edge! The centre of the pad, now!"
For about a second, he did nothing still. Then he moved forward and did as he was told. Tube took a moment of satisfaction. He'd have to check his systems, but he evidently responded to more authority. He was a soldier, after all.
"Why only him?" asked Osteo. "Should we not also prepare?"
"For all of your supposed knowledge of combat, there is one thing that obviously hasn't occurred to you but which is plain as day to me," replied Tube. "I simply need to confirm my theory."
He activated the machine and teleported Edge. He waited about ten seconds, then sent out a recall for him remotely. Seconds later and he was back. Tube called him over and this time, he came right to him. Truly, the perfect soldier.
He rigged a wire into Edge's head from the console, taking note of the coordinates he'd arrived at. At the same time, he ran a quick diagnostic and noticed something curious. By and large, there was complete feedback for all of his mechanical systems. But in his memory, there were little… gaps. Not large ones, but infrequently, empty spaces cropped up in the lines of code.
Tube looked up at his creation. Outwardly, he seemed perfectly normal. Or what was normal for him now. He supposed this was the first time he'd been exposed to actual combat outside of testing. Like his larger robots, it was just a matter of refining what was otherwise perfect. A rather simple matter, it wouldn't take him long. But first, the coordinates.
"Ah, as I thought," he said aloud to the rest. "The location he appeared in doesn't match the one I meant for him."
"Perhaps you simply put in the wrong number," said Selena.
Tube waved a hoof dismissively. "As if I would make such a simple mistake. No, his scans also indicate a disruption field nearby. It diverted him off-course. Our enemies obviously put something in place to limit a direct teleport to Ponyville and I imagine Canterlot as well."
"Obviously," muttered Grace. "Never the operator's fault, is it?"
"We will still be able to transport!" Tube said quickly. "It simply won't be as close as before. I trust you'll all be able to manage a little walking."
"This coming from one for whom regular exercise is to the fridge for a cup of noodles," remarked Selena.
"Quiet! I will not suffer this unwarranted-!"
A nearby crystal glowed. It was one Fallen had left to commune with them at the hideout. Tube immediately rushed to it and the alicorn's image appeared.
"Master! We are ready and waiting at your will," he said, bowing his head.
"Good. I have resumed mine journey southward, back towards the town of Ponyville." He looked down at the Amulet. "This power is beyond what I dared to dream."
"I trust you will still allow us to share in the making of this new world you bring forth," said Selena.
He nodded to her. "But of course. Thou art mine compatriots in this and thou hast worked diligently to bring about this moment. It is only right thou shouldst stand at my side to see it through."
"M-Master, there are slight… complications," said Tube. "Our e-enemies have countermeasures in place that prevent me from transporting o-our allies to either Ponyville or Canterlot."
"That was to be expected. Thou wert truly so assured that thou did not anticipate this?" asked Fallen.
"Of course not, master! I merely-"
"We were actually just talking about that," interrupted Grace. "For all his talk about how smart he is, he's a little slow on the uptake."
"My thoughts exactly," added Selena.
"A sapling that believes itself a mighty oak," finished Osteo.
Once again, those gathered chuckled at the scientist, whose face became impossibly redder. But he bit his tongue and quietly simmered.
"It is no matter. Simply transport them to the location closest to Ponyville, but away from any other populated areas. With the exception," Fallen went on, "of thyself, doctor and thee, Grace."
"What? You mean I have to stay here with him?!"
Both stallions said this at the same time and exchanged identical glares.
"It is an unfortunate necessity. Our enemies are not unintelligent and they have Samore with them. By now, she will have told them of our stronghold and they may divert forces there," he said.
"Then should we not all remain?" asked Osteo. "To defend from an attack."
He shook his head. "It is unlikely to be a large force. Thanks to the efforts of Tube's mechanical creations, the Guard could not be mustered for such a battle, not if they seek to protect the citizenry. Celestia's chosen champions will no doubt await to meet us in battle and would not be diverted to an enterprise like an assault there. Thy combined efforts and sentries will be sufficient to safeguard our assets and regardless, the princesses will soon fall. That, I am certain of."
"But master-"
"Fallen, please, maybe somepony else would-"
"This is not a suggestion. This is a command. Obey."
Even from here, they could feel the weight behind his words. It may have also been their imaginations, but they could have sworn they also felt the pressure in the air change too…
But regardless, they stopped trying to argue and nodded.
"Good. I will join the rest of you soon. Tube, send them along. Our work is near completion, my friends. Soon, thou will all reap the rewards."
His image faded. Osteo, Snick, Slash, Selena and Edge made their way to the pad. Osteo offered Grace an amused look and though Tube missed whilst glaring at the puppet master, so did Edge. A few button presses later and they were gone.
A long, hostile silence passed between the two of them. Eventually, Grace forced on a smile.
"Well now," he said, "this is going to be fun, isn't it?"
"I hate you, so much," muttered Tube.
Grace's smile became genuinely amused. "Oh, you always know just what to say."