‘ugh...’ Axton thought, slowly standing up to find a large expanse before him, covered in dust, old cogs and machinery dwarfing him, looming over him like giant metal monsters. The floor below was covered in a thick blanket of dust and strange markings adorned the walls, somehow being complex and intriguing at the same time. He slowly started walking along the dust and machine filled corridors, and as he passed each machine it rumbled to life, gears grinding and clanking as the age old machinery came to life around him, filling the air with a rhythm of clunks and clanks. He continued walking and looking at the strange stone statues, guardians of what looked something old, and long lost into the endless web that was time itself. Looking up, he saw a light at the end of the corridor, emanating from a door, looking like it had not been used in centuries. As he approached the door, it glowed even brighter, a blue light emitting from underneath the cracks of it.
“Who goes there..?” A voice reverberated through the door and echoed in the corridor around him, causing the very ground beneath him to shake. What he had noticed though, was that he was no longer standing upon the dusty old floor that he had been standing on recently. What had once been dust-covered brick was now a polished silver floor glittering and shining like the finest steel plate in all of Equestria... remembering that great, earth shaking voice, he looked up at the door and answered in the bravest voice he could muster.
“M-my name is Axton Coglink, son of Axel Wrench and Bright Mane, brother to Eagle Eyes...” A little more nervously now he added “W-what is it you wanted?”
Yet again, the voice rumbled around the corridor again “Ah, we have been waiting for you, machine heart” the voice struck a chord in Axton’s mind making him confused. As if reading his mind, the voice spoke once again “You have no need to be confused, young one. Enter...”
And with this, the giant mechanised doorway started to open, cogs clunked and the sound of a bar of the inside was being raised came from inside. The blue light that was seen from those cracks in the door now bathed Axton in its glow, making him squint slightly as everything that surrounded him gained a blue tint.
Entering what looked like a humongous dome shaped room, Axton took a good look around the room. What looked like a giant blue Diamond floated upon a pedestal within the room, which left Axton awestruck. ‘That diamond’s the size of two minotaur!!’ Axton thought, stepping further into the room.
“Welcome to the room of Apparatus Guardianus, Machine Heart.” The Voice said again. Turning to where the voice came from, Axton faced what looked like three metallic bipedal creatures, clad head to foot in heavy bronze looking armour, looming him over him (they were at least quadruple his height and triple his width). However each one was different. The one who spoke was blatantly the leader of the group, carrying with him a large staff, which had was adorned with more of those strange markings, complete with a diamond on the top which emanated energy from it, and Axton could literally feel its power.
The being had glowing blue eyes in what seemed like its helmet, although his two companions differed greatly from him. The one on his left resembled a more female machine, and unlike the other two, did not have a helmet, instead donning what looked like hunting gear (still made out of the heavy bronze metal), and light looking boots. In her hand she held a gleaming bow which had forest green emeralds upon the limbs of the bow, matching her eyes which glowed within the same earthy green colour. The female metallic giant being struck awe and terror into his heart at the same time. The guardian upon the leader’s right bore a duo of two handed broadswords in his hands which had rubies in them, and just like the other two guardians weapons, the red glow upon his weapons matched the glow of his eyes, which appeared red and burning; forever burning hot coals in the darkest pits of his horned helmet. Like the female guardian, he was slightly shorter than their leader, but unlike the others, his glare held only anger, making Axton quake slightly and avoid eye contact.
Snapping out of his trance, Axton looked up at the leader of this trio of metallic gods. The leader looked at him with a fatherly smile, and spoke yet again in his earth shaking voice “Welcome to our home Apparatus Cor. My name is Magus De Praeterito.” He gesture to himself with the point of his staff, then to his left which made his staff glow green, where the machine huntress stood “This is Venatrix De Nocte, the huntress of the night.” Next he gestured to his right, again with his staff, this time the giant staff glowing red, like the hot coals that of the warrior god’s eyes “And this, is Fortissimum Draco Berserker... Although you can probably guess what he does!” The giant mage god said this with a chuckle, as his staff regained its bright white glow.
“However,” He continued, coming back on subject “We have entered your dreams to tell you one thing. When the time comes, you must sacrifice yourself to save this land you call Equestria. You may survive, you may not. That will be Hades choice, although none of us here like him, to be honest.” The warrior god on his right grunted his agreement, making a movement with his head and neck which caused a sound like that of crunching metal. Judging from the snarl on the warrior god’s face, he seemed to be holding a grudge against whoever Hades was.
“But enough idle chit chat young Machine Heart. It is time for you to wake up from your slumber. And should you need us, look to your dreams where the world is entirely your own...” The Great metal giant explained this with the care of a father and after uttering the words, the giant diamond upon the pedestal started to glow again and a white light enveloped Axton waking him from his slumber.