//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: AMAZO visits Equestria // by KingDogbertXIV //------------------------------// Oddly curious to see if these “Sisters” were doing anything to soothe the child, the being lowered its visibility, floated up next to the abode and peered through the window at the filly. Using one of its earliest abilities, the being concentrated on examining the filly’s head. Beneath the flesh and bone around and in the horn was a mass of infected nerve cells. The invading virus had already inflamed most of the nerves beyond repair and had already worked its way into the front of the brain, causing irreversible damage. Locking onto a stray virus microbe that hadn’t have found a host cell yet, the being looked closer, studying and memorizing the virus’s RNA. Shifting its gaze to an unaffected specimen of each type of the targeted cells, the being studied and memorized the cells’ structure and role. The being then examined how the virus attacked and corrupted each type of cell. Zooming out, the being scanned and mapped the filly’s entire physiology. The being could, in theory, alter the sub-molecular makeup of the infected cells using advanced telekinesis. Subatomic particles, after all, were merely building blocks to be moved and arranged. By reconfiguring the genetic code of the infected cells at the deepest level, the being could rewrite the cell’s programming and tell it to behave normally. The being would then break any stray invaders down into extracellular fluid. There would be no more threat to the filly. Research complete, the being returned to its thoughts. Why was it concerned for this filly? What had triggered this desire to help these creatures? Ever since scanning the equine at the farm, the being had felt a longing to interact with these creatures. That desire intensified significantly after scanning the lavender mare. Hearing the grey mare’s prayers had pushed the being to figure out a solution to avert tragedy. Did the being truly want to put aside caution to save a life? The being reflected on these questions as it watched the grey mare, letting tears flow freely, feeding her filly some cold soup. “I love you, Dinky. I always will love you whether you’re with me or not,” the mare whispered before kissing the filly’s head. The being’s eye indentations instinctively drooped in sorrow. For the first time in weeks, the being felt something other than objective curiosity. These creatures were unlike anything that the being had ever seen. Up until now, the being felt as if it was above other creatures. In the past, any sentient creature that it had seen was consumed with their own desire for victory over their enemies, fame and glory, or similar pathetic goals. These creatures only sought peace and happiness through self-sacrifice and cooperation. This winged creature was desperate, but not angry at the world like so many others in similar circumstances. It appreciated everything that the lavender one had done that evening. She had not uttered a single demand or threat to force the lavender one into helping. In fact, the lavender one helped of her own free will. Perhaps these creatures deserved the being’s powers after all. Putting any leftover reservations out of its mind, the being made itself visible and did something that, had the grey mare’s words not been so moving, the being thought it would never do. It gently knocked on the window frame to alert the grey mare. Snapping her head up to see who was knocking at the window, the grey mare’s eyes grew wide in fear and uncertainty. “Wh-Who…? Wh-Who are you? What a-are you?” the mare stammered with fearful, but still crisscrossed eyes. “Do not be afraid. I mean no harm,” the being stated plainly. “I am an android, or, in simpler terms, a living machine. My creator called me ‘AMAZO’.” “Okay,” the mare trailed off, still afraid. “W-What do you w-want with me?” “You have nothing I require,” the being said, glancing at the sick filly. “Then why are you here?” the mare asked. Suddenly noticing that the being was glancing towards her child, the mare flew up to the being’s face with daggers in her crisscrossed eyes. “What do you want with my filly?” she snarled. “Your child has nothing that I require,” the being stated, showing no reaction to the mare’s hostility. The mare, fearing that her and her child was in danger, had an understandable and, frankly, justifiable reason for the fear and hostility. To her credit, the hostility only appeared when she thought her child was in danger. “Then why are you here?” the mare spat. “You and the lavender one are concerned for the child’s condition,” the being stated. At this, a look of sorrow washed over the mare’s face. “Yes,” the mare sniffed. “For the past month, Dinky, my filly, has been slowly dying. Everypony has all but said that it is terminal. I expect her to pass on at any moment. I…,” she trailed off. “You can come in and sit down if you want,” she offered, wiping away a tear. “I’m Derpy Hooves, by the way,” the mare added. At the offer, the being shifted through the wall into the room and found a seat on a cloud-formed chair that was facing the filly’s bed. Derpy took a seat by the bed. “Why was the lavender one assisting you?” the being asked as it leaned forward, hands together, and resting its elbows on its knees. “You mean Twilight Sparkle,” Derpy confirmed. “She wants to help take care of Dinky in her final days. Twilight’s studying the magic of friendship here at Ponyville. Helping friends, even through tragic times, is part of her studies. Though, even if it wasn’t part of her studies, she would gladly lend a hoof to anypony in need,” she explained. “Why?” the being asked. “Why help others if they have nothing to offer you?” “Because it feels good to help others,” Derpy said. “Have you ever helped somepony in need?” “Yes,” the being replied. “And?” Derpy asked in anticipation. “He lied to me and used me,” the being answered as its eye indentations furrowed in anger. Contempt had crept into its normally emotionless voice. “That’s horrible,” Derpy exclaimed. “Why would he do that?” “He wanted me to use my power to destroy his enemies,” the being said. “He destroyed my home to cover his tracks and only saw me as his pawn. He tried to kill me when I turned on him. His pitiful pleas for mercy were the only thing that saved him. I left him at the mercy of his enemies. I assume they incarcerated him.” “I’m so sorry,” Derpy said in a sorrowful voice. “How did you find out about his evil ways?” “I read his mind,” the being answered. “It was the last ability I needed to complete my first evolution. My programming allows me to permanently copy the abilities of any living creature I see and evolve to overcome any acquired limitations. Over the past few weeks, I have traveled the cosmos to acquire any and all abilities that the universe has to offer. This planet is my current destination.” “Y-You’re an alien robot?” Derpy stammered. “In a sense, yes,” the being answered, default expression and tone returning. “That is the one description of what I am.” “So…what sort of powers have you gotten?” Derpy asked. There was no visible fear or hostility at this point. “Telepathy, telekinesis, flight, shape shifting, density shifting, x-ray vision, macro and micro vision, heat vision, super speed, super strength, perfect memory, energy manipulation on the subatomic level, invulnerability, an energy-disrupting mace, a ring that can create temporary solid constructs at will, and countless others,” the being listed off. “Wow,” Derpy gasped. Lowering her crisscrossed gaze to the ground, she awkwardly mumbled, “C-Can you h… I mean… Would y… I…” The mare’s desire was obvious enough that telepathy was not required. She had offered shelter and expressed the ideal reactions to the being’s tale. She even confirmed the lavender one’s altruism. These creatures were worthy in the being’s eyes and deserved its help. “I can help Dinky,” the being answered. “You can?” Derpy shrieked in awe, her head snapped back to face the being with an ecstatic expression. “How?” “I can repair her damage at the sub-molecular level,” the being answered. “I can eliminate all traces of the sickness as well. It will take no effort.” “When can you do it?” Derpy blurted out excitedly. The being then got up, walked over to the ailing filly and put a finger on her forehead. Its eyes glowed white as a bright gold aura spread from the spot that the finger was touching to surround the filly. Derpy watched in awe as the filly’s colors darkened to a healthy hue and her face lost its pained look. The gold aura then faded as the being withdrew its finger and looked towards the speechless mare. “Done,” it said as it sat back down and its eyes returned to their standard red color. Derpy, still reeling, cautiously leaned closer to the filly’s bedside and gently put a shaking hoof on the filly’s head. “D-Dinky?” she quietly called. “Still needs her rest to fully recover,” the being interrupted. “All will be well in the morning.”