//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: Letters and Notes // Story: Query // by ShadowRazer2121 //------------------------------// Hades slowly opened his eyes to find himself still in his room. He let out a deep sigh of annoyance, still wishing this was all his own mind, but it was wishful thinking. As he got up to walk to the door to go downstairs. However, when he opened it he bumped into spike on his way out. Letting out a growl that could scare a dragon lord into submission. Spike quickly raised his claws. “Sorry, didn’t mean too. Just came to tell you Twilight has breakfast ready for you.” Spike said as he did every morning. It was honestly getting on Hades’ nerves at this point. Hades hated being of flesh and bone, especially a child at that. So many emotions and so much energy. He could never focus on his projects or his plans. Hades rolled his eyes and walked by spike and down the stairs. Only to see twilight pacing in the library’s main room. Twilight quickly took notice. “Oh, your awake. I received a letter talking about a cool new Museum with a new exhibit. I wonder what the discovery it?” Twilight asked looking excited as she looked to Hades with a deadpanned expression. “I don’t care.” Hades said blankly as he started walking past her, ready to start eating. His organic body required sustenance and he was not going to keep it waiting. Leaving a stunned Twilight to solve her own problems. Besides he had classes today if he remembered. He was in a knowledgeable mood currently, but he felt like that would change quickly. Twilight walked in and slide over the breakfast and he started eating not caring what was on it, just that it made him feel recharged, as weird as it sound. Once he had finish he quickly grabbed the thing that made him hate this school. Saddlebags. To Hades it felt odd almost out of place on him. Normally he would have preferred simply storing it all in his data storages but since those were destroyed by Sylens it made it difficult to access them, also the fact that he isn’t a machine anymore. Which he honestly kind of missed if he was going to be honest with himself. He missed the staging sieges, he missed the constant calculations and out comes, but he mostly missed being a part of a whole being. He hated feeling empty. He remembered the constant trials he ran to fill that hole, but when he became this pony those routines stopped and the emptiness he got was almost gut wrenching. He set the feeling aside and decided he would think on it later. He went to leave, but was stopped by Twilight who was already heading out with spike to go to applejacks, but like the many times before he didn’t care. He started for the door and opened it and started on his way to the school house. When he got there he immediately headed for his seat and sat down. Not long after he had sat down the bell rung which signaled the other young students to come inside and take their seats. All he had to do was make it through today and the weekend was his salvation and freedom. As soon as Ms. Cheerilee entered the room went silent and the mental pain would begin. "Good morning class, now before we begin our lessons for the day I would like to make an important announcement. We will be going on a field trip to the Canterlot's Museum of World History and Science." Ms. Cheerilee said as she permission slips were passed out. Hades let out a mental groan of annoyance at the idea. The date said it was next Wednesday, he had his...planning that he needed to do. However, the more he thought on it the more he could find possible useful information. He paused in his train of thought when she continued. "Once you have these signed bring them back here by next Monday so I will know who's all going so make sure to bring it in." Cheerilee finished as the class quickly voiced their confirmation that they understood. "Now then, lets get right into the subject of the trip's subject. With a recent discovery from an actual professor showing us one of the latest discoveries." Cheerilee said as a pony appeared next to her wearing a lab coat. Hades was confused there was never any planned for this, but he was Interested now that someone or, pony rather was here to explain his new found fascination. What was their so called 'New Discovery'. The class was about the same as Hades had expected. Just some semi interesting such as other species before ponies came into existence, but it was the final part that caught his attention. “Now with all that we come to our latest discovery,” the pony presenting to them. “We haven’t given them a name yet and can’t seem to be able to name them, but we have these mysterious metal creatures found all through out Equestria and we believe beyond.” The pony said Hades didn’t care to catch his name. When he saw the image hope gleamed in his eyes so much that if you looked you could see it clear as day. It was an image of a group of Scarab units and from the looks in perfect working condition. The real question would be how does he get to them. “That’s not all your group will be in luck for they are putting one on display at the museum in Cantorlot.” The guest pony said as a murmur of excitement filled the room. “Now then what do we all say to Professor SandStone?” Ms. Cheerilee asked to the class in which the class respond with a thank you except for Hades. Doing it made him cringe so much that it hurt his mental processing power. When it was said and done the bell ring for free time so he went to his usual spot under a tree nearby and just sat there thinking. With this new discovery it changes all his plans for the better. He was soon joined by the CMC who joined him. “Hi Hades whatcha doin?” Apple Bloom asked. “Thinking.” He simply stated gaining curious glances from the three. “About what?” Sweetie bell asked. He thought about if he should tell them or not. Well, he could tell a little bit but only his curiosities on how and why the faro machines were here. “I’m thinking about the professor’s discovery.” He stated plainly. Scootaloo was about to say something until she was cut off by a voice she and all four of them hated. “Well if it isn’t the blank flanks and the weirdo.” A familiar voice said the one he didn’t like. One of those times he wishes he had Hephaestus to deal with these annoyances. “What does the Diamond Tiara want?” Hades said sloping into his old way of talking. “Why hang out with these blank flanks when you could hang out with us.” She stated. He was confused genuinely. Just the other day they hated him and now they are asking him to join them. “Query.” He stated which confused them. “What? Are you going to answer us?” She asked again and a small smirk appeared on his face. “Judging by your tone by my mental calculations and compensating for my limited processing power there is a high probability that you have a calculated plan behind this, so I will have to decline your offer.” Hades said the group going silent for a second. Diamond was starting to get irritated by the AI. “Come on Silver Spoon. We don’t like being around blank Flanks and a freak.” Diamond said as the two ponies turned around and walked away. At that moment the bell rang out signaling every pony that it was time for class to begin. Hades was walking through town heading back to the library when he got that strange feeling again. And looked in the direction of the forest. He was told that it was very dangerous and from his constant research, they were right. At least in his current case they were. He began to head in the direction of the Everfree forest unable to shake the feeling he was getting and found himself at the edge of the forest. Staring off into its dark interior he took in a deep breath and headed into it. He felt like he wasn’t in control anymore as he felt a tugging on his being and yet he was able to control his body, he could turn around, but a whisper in the back of his head told a different story. As he the feeling got stronger he soon found himself face planting into the ground. He looked at what caused his fall in irritation, but it turned to one of surprise, happiness, and most importantly confusion. There, almost completely barrier in the dirt and grass of the forest was a FAS-FSP5 Khopesh with only half of its top sticking out of the ground with a main cannon mounted on its top. He could tell that from the it would not work due to the fact that while he knew he could activate it and it would be able to get itself out. The problem was the fact that the only part of the machine he could see was completely destroyed and ripped apart. Wiring hung out of the open panels and bullet holes that were left the cannon’s barrel was blown up and shredded beyond repair to a point it would require a replacement. However, he could just barely make out the op. Top part of its missile launcher that was built into the body and not a turret like the cannon was. He started to feel that tugging feeling again and continued. When he got to was the base of a small mountain he looked up at the towering piece of rock before he continued. He now found himself in a ravine as the wind blew really hard threatening to throw him backwards that was until it stopped. Confused he looked around until he saw what was before him. A blue glow emanated from was a metal door that was triangular in shape. He knew exactly what this was. “A Cauldron? B…b…but how? There was never authorization for others to be made aside from the already completed ones.” He said to himself in pure shock and surprise. He slowly approached jaw almost hitting the floor. In all his time of existence he never recalled building a cauldron in a different world. Unless Hephaestus had managed to do so. He saw the familiar circular device that was used to open the door. He didn’t have a way to open it until he got an idea. He looked for something shard when he discovered somewhat sharpened rock and sliced his hoof across it causing it to sting as he saw his blood begin to leak out of the wound. He then approached the slot and placed his bloodied hoof on it and saw as red tendrils went across the the device and the doors glow started to turn a blood red until another group of tendrils started trying to stop his attempt to override the door controls. Eventually they reach his hoof and he felt something stuck him and a shock of electricity went through his body as he let out a pained yell as he withdrew his foreleg. He stared at the tendrils closely and saw something familiar about the color but couldn’t place it. If he knew cauldrons it was that there’s always a back door. He began to walk back to Ponyville and away from the cauldron turning around to give it one last look telling himself he would come back eventually when he was able. Celestia and Luna were in the throne room discussing the discoveries that Luna had made as Celestia prepared to a letter to send to Twilight to inform her of the threat. After sending the letter Celestia started a conversation about the topic in question. Asking about what it looked like and if there were any distinctive features about it. She only got a shrug in response. "Sister I believe we should continue our efforts of invading their dreams. To pry them, for the answers we seek." Luna said as Celestia drifted off into thought. "Luna, I normally wouldn't allow you to do such things without the need, but I fear this threat may require more un unorthodox methods of getting information about this possible threat. We must know what this thing is." Celestia said a look of determination on her face as she looked at Luna. “But first I must try to get past his mental barrier. This being seems to know my every move before I even make it.” Luna said as she was deep in thought. “If any pony can get passed it, it’s you dear sister. That much I am certain of.” Celestia said giving her younger sibling a smile as Luna returned it. “Thank you sister, I will get the answers we seek, even if I have to keep it in its own dream.” Luna said as she continued to sit there as the throne room doors opened and a guard walked through. “Your highness we have news from Princess Cadence.” The Guard said as he bowed. As Celestia looked at him in curiosity. “Please, continue.” Celestia said as both princesses listened to the news. A weird figure stood in front of a console typing away mumbling words, letters, numbers, and other ramblings. It continued its work, undisturbed by the constant sound of machinery working around it. “7. 2. 6. 0. 5. A. Prototype 7-C attempt number 476….Initiating.” The figure spoke. As it continued on the console a weird symbol appeared telling the figure that it was important. It thought about ignoring it but decided to see what was so important it required his attention. The figure pressed the symbol and its eyes widened in surprise. “Illogical. Impossible. Unfathomable. Calculations, not possible.” The figure spoke as it looked at the image before him. “Subordinate Function designation. HADES?” The figure said with shock in its tone as its eyes scanned the image of a maroon pony with the Hades subordinate function symbol on the back end of the pony in question.