//------------------------------// // Chapter 22 // Story: AMAZO visits Equestria // by KingDogbertXIV //------------------------------// “The warden and Twilight Sparkle are here to see you, AMAZO,” a guard announced as the two ponies trotted into the android’s line of sight and up to the bars. “The warden and I are here to talk to you about Reigns,” Twilight started. “While I appreciate you sending him to heal me, let me just say that we’re both apprehensive about what he might do with his powers.” “In fact, he’s wanted for attacking two Wonderbolts,” the warden added. “I’ll just bottom-line it and ask that you take his powers back.” “Then what?” the android asked. “He promised me backup in case that you follow through with Celestia’s orders of using the Elements on me.” “I’m willing to try to talk the princess into changing her mind about that if you agree to take your powers back,” Twilight offered. “What of my imprisonment?” AMAZO asked. “I honestly don’t know. We’ll see after you deal with Reigns. Technically, you’re still a criminal,” the warden said. Just then, another guard escorted four more ponies and a baby dragon into AMAZO’s view. Dash was at the front of the group; followed by Rarity; then Spike; then a bright pink pony with a brilliant raspberry mane and tail, light cerulean eyes, and flank markings of three balloons, two blue on either side of a yellow one; followed by the orange pony that the android recognized as Applejack, the pony from the farm. All ponies were wearing their respective Element of Harmony necklace. “Girls, this is AMAZO, the android that I told you about,” Dash introduced. “AMAZO, this is Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack.” “He’s so shiny, like a caramel candy,” Pinkie squealed. “Howdy,” Applejack greeted, tipping her hat. “Charmed to finally meet you,” Rarity said. “Hello,” the android said after a moment. “How can he talk with no mouth?” Pinkie asked with a puzzled expression on her face, earning stares from everyone present. Noticing the looks, the pink pony blurted out, “What?” After a moment, Applejack turned towards Twilight and asked, “So what are we all doing here anyway, Twi?” “Good question, my little pony,” a regal voice said from behind the group. All heads turned to see Princess Celestia approaching. At the sight, everypony and Spike bowed respectfully. “What brings you to Ponyville, Princes?” Twilight asked, rising up after a moment. The others followed suit. “I came to offer guidance, my faithful student. As things stand now, Reigns is the bigger threat here. AMAZO, having indirectly healed you at the risk of his own safety, has proven to me that he deserves a second chance,” Celestia answered. Turning towards the android, she continued, lowering her head, “I was wrong to double cross you after we made a deal. I deeply apologize for that.” “I accept your apology,” AMAZO said. Lifting her head back up, Celestia offered, “To make amends, I am willing to grant you a royal pardon and make you an honorary citizen of Equestria if you agree to help us arrest Reigns.” “I accept your offer,” AMAZO said. “Thank you,” Celestia said. Turning to face the warden, she asked, “Warden Penn, would you please open this cell and escort us outside?” “Yes, princess,” Warden Penn said as he fished a key out of his coat pocket and used it to open AMAZO’s cell. Pocketing the key and pushing past the group, he said, “Follow me.” --- Night had fallen by the time the group had completed the prisoner release process for AMAZO. As they reached the front doors, Celestia held up a hoof called out, “Wait.” All eyes turned to her. “I have a bad feeling about what lurks outside. I sense a fraction of Discord’s magic nearby.” “Reigns,” Dash growled. “Yes,” AMAZO said. “What do we do?” Spike asked nervously, fidgeting. “You stay here out of harm’s way,” Celestia ordered. “AMAZO and I will go first. Twilight, you and the others form waves of two ponies each that come out five seconds after we go. AMAZO, can you super speed up to Reigns and drain his powers?” “Do you mean the ones I loaned him?” the android asked. “What others would the princess be referring to?” Warden Penn asked. “He means my inability to die,” a voice said from the back of the group. All eyes jerked backwards to see the winged Reigns appear next to AMAZO in a bright white flash, raise his right hoof, and fire a blast of rainbow-colored energy pointblank at the side of the android’s head. All present watched as the android almost instantly disintegrated, nanobot by nanobot, into a fine, gold cloud that slowly settled onto the floor into a pool of thick, gold liquid. Lowering his hoof, Reigns said, smirking, “I’ll be outside.” He then teleported away in a bright white flash. “What...just happened?” Spike stammered. “Reigns just took out our trump card,” Twilight said, still in shock. “We’re doomed,” Pinkie wailed, flailing her front hooves. “The Elements of Harmony are our only chance now. Problem is that Fluttershy isn’t here yet. What’s worse is that Reigns is between us and her flight path. I’ll go out and fight him until she shows up. You ponies stay here until Fluttershy shows up,” Celestia ordered. “I’m going with you,” Twilight said. “I can’t let you fight him alone.” “It’s too dangerous,” Celestia said sternly. “You’re staying here” “How is this different from Discord? You trusted us to take him out and we delivered,” Twilight countered. “Fair enough,” Celestia relented. “You and only you can come.” “Thank you, your highness,” Twilight said, bowing her head. “If I may, your highness, what were those silver wings that he had on?” Rarity asked. “The android gave Reigns transmutation powers after they discussed a certain magic-nullifying metal,” Warden Penn explained. “Those wings may be made out of said metal.” “Fascinating. I never knew such a metal existed,” Twilight said, glancing at the warden. “Apparently it’s from a distant planet or something,” Warden Penn shrugged. “Alien metal or not, it’s still an unknown. We must be very cautious, my little ponies,” Celestia warned. “I’ll go first. You stay behind me, Twilight. We’ll play this on both fronts. I’ll shield us while you take potshots at Reigns.” “Yes, princess,” Twilight confirmed as she got behind Celestia. The princess then cast what appeared to be a gold, see-through sphere around herself and Twilight. Celestia then opened the front doors and slowly exited through them with Twilight in tow.