//------------------------------// // Introduction // Story: Mega Mare II // by Bound2theGround //------------------------------// In the year 2000, Discord rose a third time to conquer Equestria. Far from where previous searches were conducted, one scavenging mare found the Elements of Harmony within an abandoned laboratory. They were not in their last form, however. They had been embedded into a single object: a blue helmet emitting an aura of both magical and technological power. The headpiece was the perfect fit for the aquamareine pony's head. When she put it on, she felt a sudden weight on her and turned to find that a small laser cannon had materialised to each side of her. Not knowing what this weaponry was capable of, she stashed it in her bags and made the trip back to her territory. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A radio signal reached my green tent, which I had specifically chosen to blend in with the sun-filled plain which it sat upon. I was crouched in front of it, preparing my breakfast over an open fire. A voice crackled to life inside, making me straighten up in surprise. Nopony could have gotten in, could they? I was right here; unless they teleported or were invisible... "This is the same method I use to find my phone... Do you hear it, Doctor?" "No. It would be right here if nobody took it..." Looking inside, I realised the commotion was coming from the helmet I took -- I mean, found -- yesterday. I didn't see any speakers when I inspected it earlier... I stepped towards it to take a closer look. "Doctor, I'm hearing hoofsteps through the helmet." "What?!" I froze. Could they hear me? Oh geez, it has a mic too, doesn't it? There was some fumbling from their end; it sounded like the device they were speaking into was almost dropped to the ground. "Hey, you! You know I'm talking to you! Where are you?" "...Home." This was my home. I lived here. I'd set up a couple hours from the nearest city, but it was worth it for the quiet and to be... here. I was actually planning on seeing what I could get for the helmet when I made my weekly bartering run the next day. If it could be used as a radio too, I might be able to get a lot more for it... "Luna's shud-- I told you somepony took it. Now, do you even know what that thing is?" I looked at the helmet for a second. "Some tech that might get me a new generator if I play my cards right." I hadn't had electricity for a while. That might be a good idea... The voice groaned, muffled as if he had his hoof against his face. "That helmet contains the power of the Elements of Harmony. They're the only thing that can defeat Discord!" His voice rose. "And you destroy my lab and take it to sell!" I blinked. The place was standing when I arrived and when I left. Well, except for the wall I tested the laser on. How do you make a laser shaped like a lemon anyway? But I hadn't torn the building down. Suddenly, the sound of a large firearm interrupted our friendly conversation, followed by a metallic crash. "She didn't trash the place, Doc. That was Discord's bot." "Shit. Did you put the helmet on when you found it?" I rolled my eyes. This should be obvious to anypony. "Well, duh. I don't take something without checking it out first. I can only carry so much." "That helmet sends out a small signal when activated. I was never able to eliminate that. Discord's robots will be able to detect that signal and will raze everything in the area in their search for the Elements." H-had I put on the helmet recently? I was almost certain I had. I'd been trying to see what it could do, to get a fair price when I traded it. "Wh-who is Discord?" He'd ruin my home just to get this helmet? What was going on? "He's taking over Equestria, and you are the only one we know who can defeat him." It sounded like saying that last sentence hurt him inside. I had to sit. The weight of his words was pushing me to the ground. "The Elements will only allow the chosen to wield them. Everybody else -- not just everypony -- who tried to put that helmet on before you failed." "Doctor, we need to leave. More bots will close in on this position." "Hold your bananas. I need to use this terminal. Look, mare. Neither of us are happy about how this turned out, but now that we're here, we can at least try to make do. From the helmet's tag -- " Crap. The helmet had a tracking device too? " -- it seems that you're near one of his strongholds. If you take it down, you might slow his army from destroying whatever it is you're living in." Just put the helmet on and I can teleport you to its boundary. But you'll be on your own from there." I stepped out of my tent. I had lived here for a while now. Not only that, but this was where... No. This place wasn't dying any time soon. I walked over to where the helmet lay and prepared to put the damn thing on. "Alright, but if you're fucking with me, I'm getting that generator." "I'm not lying. Pinkie Pie swear." I heard him tap a button on the terminal before I disintegrated. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Footnote: Level up! New perk: Spark of Realisation - Who do you think you are? A Fallout protagonist? You do not gain any more levels, but you're so accurate anyway that it's almost as if the third dimension doesn't exist.