//------------------------------// // Survival's Cost // Story: Magic Augmentation Generator Infantry (M.A.G.I.) // by LordBarcha //------------------------------// The tower stood at the center of the city, a monument to progress.  Curving gracefully upward, its sleek metal surface was inlaid with runes and sigils.  For an instant, a glow flowed through the lines, causing the runes to flare.  Just as suddenly, the tower returned to its original metallic sheen.  At its foot, the young pony stared up at in awe. “Impressive, isn’t it?” an older, cloaked, pony asked “Yes!”  shouted the colt in excitement, “I had heard about it, but this is my first time seeing it up clo-”  He broke off suddenly, gagging. “Is something wrong?” the mare asked, catching him. “Y-you!  You’re Spiral Nexus!” “So I am.  What of it?” she asked, stifling a chuckle. “You’re only the most important spellcaster since Starswirl the Bearded!” he fawned. “And my friends call me Nexxy.  What’s your name?” “L-lightray, your honor” “So, Lightray, what are you doing here today?” “Well, I was coming here to learn.  I had heard that they were looking for candidates to train as Actuators.” “So you want to be a warrior?”  Nexus asked, looking suddenly grave. “No.  I want the opportunity to access the libraries.  I want to learn, even if it means fighting on the front lines.” “What does this place offer that you could not find elsewhere?”  Nexus asked severely. “Access to the most advanced research on formulaic magic.  Possibly even being able to talk to my hero on a regular basis about it.” Nexus’ face softened slightly at this, “And this hero.  Might it be someone I know?” “I would say so!” She pulled a small emerald from her cloak, “In that case, I wish you luck.  The candidate application deadline was yesterday, but show them this and tell then I sent you.  I think we can make an exception to the rule for one as driven as you seem to be.” “Thank you!”  Lightray shouted, barely able to contain himself. “Don’t thank me, just show me that you deserve it.  Testing will be on the second floor, room 206”  Nexus announced.   Suddenly, the lines on the tower started glowing again.  They slowly stretched along the ground, shaping themselves into a complex array around Nexus.  With a flash, she disappeared, leaving the courtyard in darkness.                           An array of lines on the floor flared to life, bringing light to the otherwise dark room.  At the center of the array, the cloaked figure of Spiral Nexus appeared.  The crimson pony at the center of the room glanced over at her.         “Why did you meddle, Nexus?”         “His cause was worthy of attention, at least.”         “Will you meddle further?”         “Only if you try to fail him for an illegitimate reason.  I gave him a chance.  Let it be on his own head now.”         “You really don’t care about rules, do you?”         “I stopped caring about the rules long before you were created, Patterner.  Dying might have had something to do with that.” “And if something goes wrong because we gave him a chance?”         “Then it is on my head for giving it to him.”         The door was massive and intricately carved.  It stood almost three times his height, as though it were meant for something much larger.  It slowly opened, revealing a small, crowded, perfectly cubic room that was anything but elegant.         “You are Lightray?”  an aging mare asked.         “That is my name, yes.”         “Then we will begin.  Have a seat.”         As Lightray sat down, the mare tapped the wall, which began to glow. “It has come to my attention that at least three of you are unfamiliar with the history of the Actuator program, so we will begin with the basics.” An map labeled “Equestrian Territories at return of NMM” “Roughly 400 years ago, Equestria was a peaceful, agrarian society.  We were protected by two immortal soldiers, the alicorns.” Pictures of Celestia and Luna appeared on the screen. “Based on the surviving accounts, they were both immortal and ageless.  Indeed, their physical bodies acted as limiters to their true power, which was unparalleled in both war and peace.  No army ever so much as reached a mile into the kingdom.  They were either reduced to ash on the wind, or sealed in prisons of absolute cold.” A new, much smaller map appeared on the wall, labeled “Equestrian territory c. 50 RNMM” “Roughly fifty years after Luna’s return, the pair abruptly disappeared, leaving Equestria almost defenceless.  The royal guard proved completely ineffective against the aggressive dragon and griffon armies.  All but two of our cities burned within a month.  The only reason Equestia survived a single year was because of two figures.  Twilight Sparkle, the Element of Magic managed to use the Elements of Harmony as an amplifier, something thought impossible.  This power source was used by her brother, Shining Armor as fuel for the most powerful spell ever cast by a mortal.  This spell took on the form of a massive shield over what was left of Equestrian territory.”         Abruptly, the screen blinked out and the wall split, drawing away to reveal a shining metal figure.         “Shining Armor poured his very life into the shield.  It bought us almost fifty years..  In that time, we developed the first Magic Augmentation Generator Infantry, or MAGI unit, and began mass production.  These machines allow sufficiently skilled pilots to fight on the same power level as a fully grown dragon.  They are the front line units in our continued war for survival.  Over these last hundred years, we have reconquered almost all of the original Equestrian territory.  You are here because you think you have what it takes to become Actuators, the pilots of these machines.” Lines of light etched themselves into the walls, which retracted, pulling back to reveal a massive depression in the floor.  Stands rose out of the floor on either side of the depression and flood lights flared on, casting the room in an almost painful light.  Doors opened along the walls, each one labeled with a letter and a number. “Our reasoning is simple.  If you want to pilot, you have to prove you are the best.  there is no better way to determine who is best than to pit you against one another.  You will each be assigned a MAGI unit and you will participate in a tournament.  The top four will be accepted as Actuators.  You will find a file under your seat.  It contains your MAGI assignment and schedule for the upcoming tournament. ” Nexus strode into the dark room, Unlike the rest of the tower, the floor was thick and transparent, allowing the occupants to look down at the arena below. “Nexus.”         “Patterner.”         “I thought you hated MAGI.  What changed?”         “I called in so many favors a minute ago that you wouldn’t believe it if told you.”         “Whatever for?  You’re usually so calculating.”         “You know exactly what I did.”         “That still doesn’t explain why you are here.”                  “I want to see if it was well spent.”         “I think I know the real reason you are here.  It’s because you want to teach the commanders a lesson.”         “And if I you’re right?”         “By all means, go ahead.  I don’t like them a whole lot more than you, after all.”         “I think that I hate you, Patterner.”         “The feeling is mutual.  We should get married.” “I’m going to make you wish you could die!” Nexus cried, eyes flaring green.  The tower responded in kind, runes appearing on the walls. "And here you had me convinced you preferred a non-violent approach."         The sound of Patterner’s screams actually reached volumes loud enough to travel through the vacuum sealed and soundproof walls, scaring a passing janitor half to death.         Glancing down at his envelope, Lightray immediately noticed a number hastily scrawled across the front.         “E-32,” he read aloud.         A nearby filly glared at him, “So.  What’s your deal?”         “I don’t quite know what you mean.”         “How did you get in?”         “I walked in through the door.”         “You don’t get it.  I’m from a noble house.  I’m a direct descendant of Blueblood for crying out loud!”  the filly cried, her voice increasing in volume, “I had to go through psychological checks, physical checks, magic checks, and an entire mountain of paperwork!  I had it easy too!  My status all but guaranteed me a spot and let me cut most of the application process!  How in the name of the black gates of Tartarus did you just waltz in here!”         “I was told to show up here.  I never even got around to applying.”         The increasingly guttural screeches of the filly drew the attention of one of the other colts, who quickly pulled Lightray off toward the arena.         “Who was that?” Lightray asked.         “That was the appropriately named Boiling Blood.  Trust me, just stay well away from her.”         “What is your name?”         The colt bowed sarcastically, “I go by Iron Wing, my liege.”         Lightray then noticed the marked lack of wings on the grey pony’s back and couldn’t hold in a snicker.         “Yes.  I am completely aware of my lack of any actual wings.  I’m directly descended from Rainbow Dash.  It’s tradition.”         “I go by Lightray.”         “Nice to meet you, Lightray.  I can’t wait to thrash you in the tournament.”         Opening his envelope, he unfolded a tournament schedule, “What number are you?”         “R-23”         “In that case, we won’t be meeting up until the finals.  What do you say to a friendly truce until then?”         The slate grey earth pony grinned, “Of course.”         “I’m going to go find my MAGI unit.  You might want to as well.  You seem to be in the first match this round.”         With a friendly nod, Iron Wing set off toward the door labeled R-23.  Lightray scanned the room, but found no doors labeled with his number.  Then, he spotted it.  A rusted sign with what might have been an E on it.  The door looked shabby and unkempt, a far cry from the rest of the facility.  With a groan, it opened, releasing enough dust to send him into a coughing fit.         “It looks like this one hasn’t been used in a while,” he muttered.         The MAGI unit inside didn’t look much better than the room.  It stood on three rusty legs atop a raised platform.  The armor plating on the wrecked machine still showed flecks of its original color, a soft pink, but it was missing in places, exposing the full extent of the ruin.  This came with the sudden realization that steel had been replaced by an alloy much less prone to corrode at least a hundred years ago.         “They expect me to win a tournament with this thing?  It should be the pride of a museum!”   A/N: Preread by ambion, who was great help, as usual. Reviews and critiques are always appreciated.