//------------------------------// // A Unexpected Encounter // Story: Cybernetic Wanderers // by Echo Derp //------------------------------// A Unexpected Encounter Ron had just activated the SAM site that was reported to have gone missing back on earth. Only the sound of an explosion from the sky echoed loudly into this unknown world. Ron continued to walk despite the commotion from behind, all he thought about was heading towards the valley he believed had purpose to get him somewhere. He was entered a forest that lead him out of view from the open, but before he continued, Ron looked back at the Sam site that was still aiming randomly. "Perhaps I should should shut it down to keep a low profile, but then again it would keep those pesky Wonderbolts to the ground." Ron stared at his only Brotherhood of Nod 'friend' that scanned the skies, but suddenly the Sam site aimed somewhere and fired its missiles; another loud explosion was heard. Ron grinned again under his faceplate. "I guess I shouldn't disable it. It proves useful and some entertainment, hahaha!" Ron turned back into the forest and continued his journey. The forest appeared abandoned, no signs of any creatures or sounds: a very dead silence. His mechanical joints swiftly moving in his legs were the only sounds that were created. Ron thought about where he was, the questions that made him wonder if he was the only one on this world or what was going on back home. Ron realized that if he was the only living Brotherhood of Nod, he would be the only living image of Nod on this world. A explosion was again heard from the sky, and there was a scream of pain. Ron had a look of disapproval with a smirk as another victim of the Sam site was fired upon. As Ron traversed in the woods, he observed the natural life here in this world. The vegetation appeared very healthy by their dark shades of green, the trees weren't dry or corrupted by Tiberium, the sky was just a magnificent shade of blue. But Ron knew that all this could be destroyed by the dark secret that dwelled within him. Suddenly he heard something piercing the air from behind. Ron turned around and saw it was a missile coming straight towards him. He maneuvered quickly to the side, and the missile zoomed by down the path; it struck a large tree. The tree slowly collapsed to the side and slammed onto the forest floor, creating a large sound that could've been heard from afar. Ron leaned his torso outwards and checked the direction from where the missile came from. All that Ron saw was a small object in the distance which was the Sam site. "Odd, a SAM could've not aimed at me. I'm am marked as friendly even if I'm not an air unit, but if it did aim at something." Ron checked his surrounding to find the likely target the Sam aimed at. "Then where is it?" "Up here!" a voice yelled. "What the? Oomf!" Ron felt something collide on him from above. He perked his head back at up and saw a cyan pegasus land in front of him. Ron realized the rainbow-mane it had was the same one on he saw earlier, the posture it had, the look in its eyes, it was all obvious to Ron. "Why do you interrupt my journey?" "You're the one who attacked the Wondrbolts and that other thing that was with them!" the pegasus yelled. "They were simply beaten for siding with GDI and going against me themselves, however, if you leave me and never return in my presence I will let bygone be bygones, whoever you are," said Ron. "My name is Rainbow Dash, and why should I let you go! You'll just cause more damage to other ponies and that box thing back there! Do you what that thing has done!" Rainbow Dash yelped, remembering the unfortunate loss of pegasi that were shot down. "They were a factor that got simply erased. They shall be replaced by your race in short time, for your race is large and thrives on this world," Ron coldly stated. "They can't be replaced! Were not produced right away! It takes years for us to develop!" Rainbow explained. Ron ignored the pegasus, and made his way down the path. Rainbow Dash was still yelling at him from behind, but he still continued to walk and observe the features of this forest. But he also wondered how Rainbow Dash escaped his nets to capture personnel. Ron looked down to his legs, and noticed a small bright pink flower that he was about to crush. He lowered himself down to obtain this peculiar plant. The petals had a golden line streaking vertically, the filaments were a light-yellow shade. "Are you done looking at that flower?" a voice asked. "Huh? What the!" Rainbow Dash was hovering in front Ron's face, her forelegs were crossed and stared at him with disapprovement. Ron stared back at her with a scowl look. "How persistent are you?" "Very persistent," Rainbow replied, in the same tone. "What do you want from me?" Ron asked irritated. "I'm not gonna to let you go anywhere!" Rainbow harshly stated. Ron crossed his metallic arms, he went through his weapon systems again and selected "Capturing Nets". Ron felt a mischievous smile upon him, and placed the targeting crosshairs on Rainbow; they turned red. "So what were the actions you won't let me do?" "I said-Gah!" Rainbow was caught back in the nets she was lucky to get out of, but this time they proved to be a challenge. Ron simply passed by her without turning back to look at her. He could hear the thrashing she made to escape the trap. Ron fired another at her to double the difficulty to escape. "That should keep you down for awhile." "Get back here! You think you're so tough because you could do all of this! I'm not afraid of you!" Rainbow shouted from behind. "You've lost, 'Miss Dash', Muhaha!" The voice of Rainbow diminished as he kept proceeding further away from her. Ron saw the area was getting more open with few trees around him. He turned back to make sure he wasn't being followed by Rainbow Dash or other creatures as well. But also noticed that he was leaving the forest and into the open the world again. Ron traversed these vast lands of green, nothing was in sight, but only a hill with a tree standing above it. "Perhaps it may be a vantage point to survey this area." Ron made his way towards the hill, he begun to move upwards and stared at the tree in the process. He placed a leg on the top, then, Ron now saw everything in these lands, his cybernetic eyes focused in on spots that looked interesting for him. Ron went through his systems to locate the navigational directions of this world, he continued to observe for anything when the report notified him. Ron accessed it and learned the North, South, East, and West of this planet. "Now my task should be less difficult. It appears I'm facing the east." Ron looked up to the sun; it was lowering itself down from the sky back into the horizon. "Nightfall will soon arrive, and I must find more about this world and its species who habitat it." Ron suddenly saw a pegasus fly over him, it stopped and floated there appearing petrified. Ron stared at it placing the targeting crosshairs in it, but noticed it wasn't Rainbow Dash but some other pegasus. The pegasus let out a shriek, then took off flying away at high speed. Ron took off the crosshairs and saw two missiles chasing the pegasus. The pegasus dissapeared behind some mountains. Ron wondered if the missiles had a affect on their targets as they too also dissapeared. BOOM! A sound of an explosion echoed from behind the mountain. Ron grinned at the sound he considered "Sweet". "How foolish they are to fly in the air, they will only meet their dooms. But I must continue to locate the valley I wish to meet." Ron was about to take a step forward, but noticed the valley he seeked was ahead not that far away at all. "Nevermind that, I have already arrived at my destination." While he made his way towards the valley, he was able spot a town that was placed right in the center of it. The town was getting darker as the sun descended, the mountains were turning to a color of dark purple, the clouds were turning to a hot pink in the orange sky, the starry night sky was persuing the remaining day light. Ron was now nearing the town, a river that waś crossed over by a bridge which was the direct route to enter. "A direct entrance will not suffice to remain hidden, but a indirect approach might do." Ron scanned for another entrance to the town without getting seen, the houses were closley bunched up together. Ron checked to the houses that were slightly further from the town; there was plenty of space to keep hidden and maneuver freely. Ron looked up to the sky to check if darkness was large enough to conceal him; it was. Ron travelled along the outer areas of the town, the river ahead was a natural barrier he needed to overcome. He crossed the river with splashes of water every step he took, his legs dripping water as they came back on the dry land. The windows that glowed from the houses revealed shadows that crossed into their light behind them. Ron dissapeared into some small vegetation, then reappeared again pushing some brush to the side to sur vey the area. A two-story house was ahead of him with a wooden fence that surrounded the backyard. Ron saw shadows that resembled a unicorn and there was also a shape of a pegasus by it, he approached the property without being spotted. Ron concealed his lower body in large bushes that grew by the fence and his torso was exposed but only his shoulders and head could be seen over the fence. Now that he was closer he was able to notice the unicorn was the same one he encountered earler in the day. It was inside the house talking to the same male pony that accompanied it after the encounter and there was also a grey pegasus with a similiar mane to the unicorn. But there was also a pale pink unicorn that had a dark purple-mane with the slight shade of lavender, it stood there to the side of the smaller unicorn. "I wonder what they can be communicating..." ******* "Are you ready to go, Derpy?" asked Doctor Whooves. "Yup, I'm ready!" Derpy excitingly replied. "Well then, Sparkler we're likely going to be gone for about an hour an a half. So you'll be taking care of Dinky for the night," The Doctor announced. "Sure, I hope you two have fun tonight," said Sparkler. Derpy and the Doctor headed to the front door, the Doctor exited out but Derpy turned around back at her two daughters. "If you girls get hungry there are two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the kitchen." "Thanks, Mom!" Dinky happily said. "We'll be back, bye now!" Derpy shut the front door, now it was Sparkler and Dinky in the house. "What are we going to do now?" asked Dinky. "Hmm, I don't know actually, but do you want eat?" asked Sparkler. "I guess so." Dinky and Sparkler entered the kitchen, the two sandwiches were placed on plates on the counter waiting to be eaten. Sparkler levitated the sandwhices with the plates onto the table. They both took their seats on the small kitchen stools. Dinky used her magic to place the sandwich in front of her mouth and bit into the sweet treat. "Thiz is weally gfood." "Dinky, don't talk with your mouth full," Sparkler reminded. "Okay..." Dinky finished her sandwhich first, then placed her plate into the sink. Sparkler came up to her and placed her dish into the sink. "Dinky, I'm going to go to my room, if you need anything just tell me." Sparkler let the kitchen and made her way up the stairs to her room. Dinky was alone in the kitchen, she wondered what she could do insider her home since it was too dark to go play outside. "I guess I could go see the stars outside." Dinky headed to the backdoor and opened it, she exited to the backyard with the cool night air floating everywhere. Dinky stared upwards at the darkened sky. I wonder how it is to fly up there...? BOOM! The sound of an explosion echoed afar from the sky. Dinky came out of her thoughts and stared at the direction of the sound. "Huh!? What was that?" A star appeared from behind silhouetted hill; it was traveling at a high speed across the night sky. The star suddenly expanded and glowed a dark orange light, then faded away into the night. "What's going on?" Silence remained after the star dissapeared. Dinky felt that she was staring at the location of the vanishing star for hours, but only a minute passed by. "Must be a shooting star or something?" Dinky turned around to head back in to tell her sister about this event, but the sounds of something shuffling in the bushes on the otherside of the fence was heard. Dinky immediately turned her head back at the sound, but there nothing in sight. "Must be my imagination." Again, the shuffling sounds were acting up. Dinky was becoming frightened as the thoughts of whatever it was flooded her mind. What's moving in there!? A bear, a crocodile... a manticore... Two pairs of three red-dotted eyes suddenly appeared over the fence, Dinky felt her heart skip a beat and her legs shaking. The eyes stared at her menacingly, Dinky made a quick look at the door as the thought to escape was becoming more closer to act. The door was wide open, and Dinky made the final act: run. She galloped as fast her filly legs could support her, the doorway to safetyness was so close, but suddenly the door was slammed shut without nopony or even Sparkler there to close it at such force. "Uh oh," Dinky whimpered. Dinky slowly rotated around at the eyes that stared at her. The eyes continued to stare at her, but then they dissapeared. Dinky felt glad that they went away but was still frightened that whatever it was could've gone to. She heard something moving around in the darkness beyond the wooden fence, it sounded like machinery but at a quiet tone. The sound disappeared, Dinky took steps backwards to the closed door to escape back to the safe inside of her home. The gate that was also bulit with the fence was suddenly heard being opened, Dinky turned her head back at the gate, and the sound of machinery was heard again. The eyes also reappeared and stared at her. Dinky couldn't move her body at all, she felt it was all frozen, the sounds got louder as it came closer. A mechanical leg emerged into the light, then another. Then 'it' emerged; the metal monster from before towered over Dinky and the door. It turned its head down at her with that same menacing stare. Dinky felt she was going to fall unconscious in the presence of this monster. It leaned its torso at her; its face directly infront of hers. "Name?" it asked. Dinky was shocked by the voice it spoke it in, but mangaged to answer it back. "Dinky..." " 'Dinky'? Is that the name you are called?" it asked again. "Uhh... yes," she whimpered. "But what is yours?" The monster stared at her for a long moment, then replied; "Ron." "Uhm... Hi..?" "Greetings, Dinky," Ron replied. "So, uhh... how are you?" Dinky was unsure what to say to Ron. "Where are you from?" "This unit originates from the Brotherhood of Nod. I am but machine," Ron stated. "...I guess that works...?" Dinky stared at the body design it had: a faceplate covered his face with small carnivorious teeth, the nasal area was gone, some of the skin showed around his head and chest collar area but was very thin; this creeped out Dinky, the body was separated in two parts: lower and upper. But it was made out of metal that had a color of silver. Three dots illuminated in each eye, its legs were spider-like, and had a tail or piece that stood upwards on his back. Neon blue lights stretched across his legs and there was also lights that circled around the different sections of his torso; almost like a spiraling column. The other lights were placed in different areas on him. Ron had box on his right shoulder that was raised with small holes on it, and he also had another one lowered on his left. But the one caught the most of Dinky's attention was the tube he had under his left forearm. Dinky was shocked by Ron's machine anatomy. "Are you okay living like this?" "Indeed, I am superior than average cyborgs," Ron stated. "Cy- who what now?" Dinky asked confused. "A unit that is lesser or downgraded than me," Ron explained, knowing the true meaning was too complex for her mind. "I kind of get your point there. But Ron...?" "Yes?" "Why are you here?" Dinky asked curiously. Ron stared away from her as he thought of an answer to say to Dinky. His answer would determine his next big step in this world. "Dinky, I am lost and do not recognize these regions. For I need guidance to aid me," he explained. "Hmm..." Dinky dragged her right foreleg across the ground at a idea she had in mind. "I guess you could stay with us, it's just me and my mom and sister. And also The Doctor... I think they'll let you stay," Dinky said unsure. "But if you do, you'll need to stay out here since you are too big to stay inside." "That does not matter, as long as I have a per- pony to trust," Ron said. "I wish you could spend the night here, but I think it's best if you went somewhere else for now since you might scare my family, but come back here when it's morning so you could meet them," Dinky explained. "Very well then, I shall leave your presence for now," Ron turned around and dissapeared back into the darkness of the night. "Stay safe," Dinky said, but no answer came from Ron, she turned back at the door and entered her home. Dinky closed the door behind her. Dinky looked back up, and her heart skipped a beat when Sparkler was standing in front of her. "Hey, Sparkler, what's going on? Hehehe," she nervously asked. "What were you doing out there?" Sparkler asked suspiciously. "Just looking at the stars that's all." Dinky made a sheepish smile. "How about you?" "Well, first of all, did you slam the backdoor?" "Uhm... yes...?" Dinky was sweating beads at the difficult questions. "Dinky, you no you're not suppost to do that," Sparkler scolded. "And who were you talking to out there?" "I wasn't talking to any giant metal monster out there! Hehehe..." "Okay...? But it's time for bed, Dinky!" Sparkler announced. "Ahhh... I don't want to go to bed!" Dinky complained at her bedtime. "Sorry, but mom told me to." "Fine..." Dinky travelled up the stairs to her bedroom hanging her head low in defeat, she was about to enter her room when Sparkler reminded her of something from down the stairs; "Make sure you brush your teeth because you have an appointment with the dentist tommorow!" "Okay..." Dinky entered the bathroom, and opened up the cabinet, she levitated the toothpaste and toothbrush. Dinky placed the paste on her brush and begun brushing. While she was brushing her teeth, Dinky looked at herself in the mirror and went through her mind over her encounter with Ron. I can't believe I offered a monster that came out of nowhere to stay with my family because it doesn't have a place to go to! I hope my mom and the Doctor don't have a problem with Ron since he does look scary the way he looks... Dinky levitated a cup of water and dumped some water inside her mouth; she gargled it and spit back out into the sink. Dinky left the bathroom and went to her bedroom, she closed the door and climed onto her bed. Dinky was under the covers, she stared at the area through her bedroom window where Ron had dissapeared to. Only the moon faintly lit the lands under the night sky. Dinky let out a yawn and felt her eyes slowly closing upon her. "Dinky!" a voice whispered to her. "Huh?" Dinky raised herself back up to see who whispered to her. Nothing. Only silence filled the room. "I guess I must be hearing things." Dinky went back to her process of falling asleep, here eyes again were closing on her, everything was becoming dark around her. Dinky was now asleep for the night. "Goodnight, Dinky, you'll be in a world full of consequences tommorow..." a voice whispered to her again.