//------------------------------// // Chapter 20 // Story: AMAZO visits Equestria // by KingDogbertXIV //------------------------------// “AMAZO, your visitor is here,” Fixit said as he and three prison guards escorted Reigns into the android’s sight and up to the cell. The warden nodded, then trotted away. “Hello,” Reigns grinned as the four escorts stepped back. “Why are you here?” AMAZO said after a moment. “I’m here to warn you that the princess plans on betraying your deal. She still has an order for her ‘little ponies’ to use the Elements of Harmony on you anyway.” “I know.” “Oh really?” Reigns inquired, raising an eyebrow. “How do you know?” “I overheard Celestia give the order.” “Then why are you upholding your end of the bargain and not retaliating like the brute she thinks you are?” “Derpy and Dinky are safe now that I’m in here. That is all that I desire.” “You don’t desire power anymore? Not even the power to withstand the full force of the Elements?” “Yes. My programming is to evolve and adapt to overcome any weaknesses.” “So you don’t need my help?” “What can you offer me?” “Knowledge. The Elements only work on malevolent magic it seems. Surely, in your travels, you found a way to disrupt magical energies. Case in point, you beat Discord and his chaos magic so you can at least damage magical beings.” “Yes.” “Hold on,” Fixit piped up, stepping forward. “How exactly did you beat Discord, AMAZO?” Without a word, the android formed the mace in his right hand and held it up to the bars so that everypony could see. Fixit then crept closer and lightly touched the mace with his hoof. “Where did it come from?” he asked in wonder. “This weapon was duplicated during a battle on a distant planet called Earth and has electrical and gravitational properties that disrupt magical energies,” AMAZO said simply. “And with Discord’s power, you can turn anything into this wondrous alloy,” Reigns mused. “Why?” AMAZO asked, retreating the mace. “Assuming that something made of this alloy could withstand the Elements or any other magic attack, you could turn yourself into this alloy to protect yourself from the Elements,” Reigns grinned. “Then what? Why would I want to fight back? Dinky and Derpy will be at peace knowing I’m no longer a threat to Equestria.” “You really want them to be happy?” “Yes.” “Then, ask yourself, what would make them happier: sitting there in your cell, waiting to be put down, or,” Reigns paused, grinning, “using your power to create a perfect world of peace and order for Dinky to wake up to?” AMAZO then glanced away and, after a sigh, asked, “What would this world look like?” “It would be whatever you want it to be. As I said before, I can help you figure out what ponies need in order to help you create that world.” “That’s not how you worded it in the forest,” the android said, turning back to Reigns with a glare. “You’re planning on using me for your own gain.” “To some degree, yes, but it’ll be worth it for Derpy and Dinky,” Reigns said. “What would I have to do?” “First, you need to figure out how far your reality warping abilities can affect. Then, you need to figure out how to alter a pony’s mind. Discord could do it with a simple touch.” “How would that help Derpy and Dinky?” “She has a problem with her eyes, correct? I imagine that some torment her about it. You could either fix her eyes, or alter the minds of those who mock her. Yes, that would be a good first step towards a perfect world, but...,” Reigns trailed off. “But what?” “You would have to leave your cell in order to do either one.” “I refuse to leave again.” “You can’t create a perfect world while in jail.” “What do you propose then?” “I’ll make you a deal, AMAZO: if you’ll somehow loan me a fraction of your power, I’ll run errands for you as long as I’m free. You get to stay in your cell and boss me around. I’ll report back here once each errand is done. Any objections?” “How do I keep you from abusing your power?” “We could set up a system where you reward each errand with more power. You could start off by giving me just enough power to quickly complete your first task, then, slowly give me more and more power. That’ll create incentive for me to keep doing your bidding.” “I accept. My first wish is for you to heal Twilight Sparkle of her injuries.” “But then, she and her friends will immediately come for you.” “We’ve already established that, if I turned into the same alloy as the mace, I would be immune to the Elements.” “True, but it wouldn’t hurt to have backup just in case the Elements put you down. Give me a sample of Discord’s power to heal Twilight, transmutation in order to create more of the alloy, and the powers of the Elements to free you if or when the ponies get to you. Give me those and I can promise backup and Twilight’s recovery,” Reigns said as he extended a hoof to the cell bars. AMAZO then reached up and touched the hoof with a finger. “Do we have a deal?” At this, both AMAZO’s eyes and hand started to glow white. Slowly, the glow spread from AMAZO’s finger to Reigns’s hoof to his arm and shoulder. Reigns grinned as the glow engulfed his neck, head, and other arm. It then crept down his body and, eventually, made it to Reign’s tail. “Yes... I can feel it. It’s beautiful,” Reigns said as the glow increased in intensity. A moment or two later, AMAZO withdrew its hand, causing the glow to instantly vanish. “You now have your desired powers. Use them well,” the android said as its eyes returned to their default red. “Oh, I will,” Reigns smirked. Turning towards a stunned Fixit, he added, “I still want your opinion on some projects I’m working on. Though, instead of the forest, let’s meet at my room at the Drop-On Inn. It’s Room 25. Got it?” “Yeah,” Fixit said shakily. “Good,” Reigns said before teleporting away in a bright flash. --- “I’m getting worried, Spike,” Twilight said. “Princess Celestia hasn’t replied to your letter yet.” “Relax, Twilight. She’s probably talking to the warden right now. I wouldn’t be surprised if they already had Reigns in custody,” Spike said. “You overestimate her,” Reigns said as he teleported into sight next to Twilight’s bed, triggering a collective gasp. “H-How did you do that? Earth ponies can’t teleport,” Twilight stammered in awe. “The android loaned me some of his power in exchange for favors. My first task is to use Discord’s power to heal you, Twilight Sparkle,” Reigns said. “Y-You have Discord’s power?” “I only have a fraction of his power. Now be a good patient and cooperate,” Reigns said as he levitated the covers off Twilight. “Get away from her,” Dash yelled as she flew into Reigns, knocking him into a nearby wall. Reigns shook his head groggily while blinking, sat up, and glared at the livid Dash. “That was uncalled for,” he said as he stood up. A bright flash later, Reigns had Dash in a headlock and was floating with her. “Promise to be a good girl and I won’t snap your neck. Agreed?” “Fine,” Dash choked. “Good,” Reigns said as he let go, still floating. Turning towards a mortified Twilight, he said, “Don’t be shy; I’m a doctor.” Floating over to the bedside, Reigns put one hoof on Twilight’s chest and another on her stomach where then both hooves quickly flashed and, instantly, the bruises on Twilight’s chest and stomach disappeared. Withdrawing his hooves and floating down to the floor, Reigns said, “Now to brainwash the doctors into quickly discharging you.” Reigns then turned towards the door and trotted out. --- “That meeting was longer and more stressful than it should have been,” Celestia muttered to herself as she exited one of the castle’s many ornate conference rooms and turned right down the hall where she noticed a royal pegasus guard waiting with two pieces of parchment in his hooves. "Your Highness, there are two letters awaiting you from Twilight Sparkle," the guard blurted out as he started flying at Celestia’s side as she continued to walk. “A janitor found them in your ‘urgent’ inbox and gave them to me to give to you after your meeting. The first letter reports that a pony named Reigns attacked Soarin’ and Spitfire and put them in the hospital.” “I see,” Celestia said solemnly. “What about the other letter?” “The second letter says that Reigns made a deal with the android. Reigns has some of AMAZO’s power in exchange for favors. Reigns’s first task was to heal Twilight Sparkle. She’s presumably being discharged as we speak.” “Where is Reigns now?” “We don’t know. The letter just said that Reigns teleported out of sight after using Discord’s mind control to brainwash the doctors and nurses into getting the discharge process going.” “I assume the android’s still in custody?” “Yes, princess. What are your orders?” “I’ll go tell Warden Penn to arrest Reigns. If they fail, transfer the guards that we have stationed at Derpy Hooves’s home to AMAZO’s cell. I have a feeling that the android is staying put for a while. Reigns, however, worries me. Even with a fraction of Discord’s power, he’s a threat.” “I see what you mean, but what would the guards do?” “Ideally, they would overpower Reigns and order AMAZO to strip him of his power, but I doubt we’re that lucky,” Celestia said as she stopped at a set of large, ornate double doors. To the right of the doors was a plaque with Celestia’s name on it. “Well,” Celestia sighed, opening the doors with her magic, “I’m off to send that letter to the warden.” “And I’m off to return to my post,” the guard said as he flew back down the hallway, leaving Celestia to enter her office alone.