//------------------------------//
// Prologue 
// Story: Linkin Pony Recharge: The Catalyst 
// by Kaciekk 
//------------------------------//

	 It was the not so distant future. The sky was gray, like the many days before. It slowly grew worse. There was a lot of waste on the ground, and ponies didn't even bother to clean it up. The ponies were using up almost all of their resources. Was there a energy that they could use that would not hurt the environment? But unfortunately, it was too late.
Many ponies were starting to die. It was in the nature of anypony to make life easier. So they decided that technology could help them. They were equipped with armor, and mechanical parts. Some ponies even had their own weapons. It was going good for a while, but many ponies gathered into citadelles . The races were starting to lose their senses. Their minds became only ran on instincts. Each day, those ponies lost more emotion. All they wanted was to make other into the new breed of mechanical ponies. They thought if they could do that, it would help all of them. And now the new breeds take all the resources they can get, leaving the normal ponies almost bare. 
But there was an evil implanted into those ponies by the technology. The electrical currants going through into their brainwaves was corrupted. The amount of new breeds grew, and roamed around cities. Normal ponies without these mechanical parts hid away, though they could barely live. If a pony gave a threat to a new breed, they would be certainly killed. 
Still, the people wanted to make a change, and bring back some of the resources, or find new ones. But the new breed got in the way. Most of the ponies left with true minds were ponies who were environmentally conscious, or knew better then to make themselves robots. 
There was a group of ponies just like that. They had even started getting ready for fate before a drastic change. They had watched many ponies become  the new breed, and were still able to communicate with them. The group of ponies refused to become the new breed, for they knew something went wrong. They might only be musicians, but they were intelligent. They hid in the shadows preparing for the worst to come. It came. No pony knew that the new breeds would be corrupted. But they had a pretty good sense of it to start with.
But was the world at a Catalyst that nopony could change?


The air was thick with fumes, and the sun was only a glint of light behind the fading sky. A stallion walked along the streets of the city. His pale red-orange coat was hit by the shadow of the walls. He careful looked around. The street was lined of decaying wood and rusting metal. The stallion pushed his long, black mane back with his hoof. He adjusted his ears to see if there was any noise. There was nothing.
The stallion slipped away by a shop and glanced inside. There were plenty of toys and gifts from all of the world. A store that would bring ponies joy from finding their favorite things, was now depressing. 
A Unicorn stood inside. He had no metal parts, which told the red-orange stallion it was okay to go in. He walked inside; the room was dark. The Unicorn slowly turned.
"I don't need any visitors. Nothing is for sale..."
"I know," the stallion spoke "Why are you here? Don't you have a band? I'd think that you would be with them more often."	
"Unlike what you would think, we don't spend our lives together ever hour. We are like brothers, but there is other matters to be done." The Unicorn raised his head, pale light hit his gray-brown eyes. "Music is dead. Everypony thought it wouldn't be, that ponies will always want music. But look now, there are barely any ponies to play too. Most of them are robots."
"So you say..." The other stallion said. "There are still ponies, but they are hiding. I'm sure that they would like music from a pony like you, and like me."
Indigo magic lifted up a small rectangular piece from a shelf. It was unfolded into a little figurine, a robot soldier. "This is not the robot I was thinking I would see. Now, there are zombie-robots." The Unicorn said.
The red-orange stallion came forward. "You're a DJ, I'm a DJ...."
"What's your point."
The stallion gave a sigh. "I really don't know."
"Of course," The Unicorn gave a growl. "Nopony would care who we are. Life is meaningless now." The indigo aura collapsed the figure, and it dropped to the floor with a click. 
"That's not sarcasm." The stallion examined.
"My own humor was ripped away from the world's change. It's only going to get worse."
"But you shouldn't let it."

--

It was the next day. The stallion had not seen the Unicorn again. The pony knew the Unicorn, but they were not close friends. But in the world now, anypony wanted to find trust from any of the ponies they could find. 
In the dim city, the stallion caught glance of a mechanical pony. Though he could recognize who he was. An old friend, who had turned into a new breed. Maybe there was hope, that his mind wasn't completely lost.
The pony trotted toward it wearily. It was a silver pegasus who scanned the area. It's eyes flashed too see the approaching stallion. The new breed didn't do anything. 
"Hey... remember me?" The stallion said anxiously.
The Pegasus gave a grumble, covered by mechanical sounds. "You're lost."
"Huh?"
"Why are you here?"
The pony tilted his head. "I'm not sure what you mean by that. I'm just here. I guess I'm just trying to live like anypony else.
"But you're dying," A raspy voice replied "While I'll stay alive."
"I think you're wrong, those mechanical parts aren't safe." 
"The world isn't safe... neither are you." The pegasus raised his right hoof. He didn't do much, only show that he had a gun implanted.
"Hey, get that away!" The stallion smacked his hoof on the metal foreleg.
"No!" 
The new breed lunged forward and the stallion ran back. The enemy fired lasers toward the stallion. He swooped around and zig-zagged across the streets. He quickly stopped his canter by a building. Just as the gray pony came out from the corner, the pale stallion threw a barrel with his forehooves. The creature screeched as it broke on top of him.
In a blur, the red-orange stallion raced away. He was faster then the new breed. He couldn't believe that he was a pony he once knew. He didn't want to think he needed to hurt him or even kill him. But there was no right equipment to kill him. 
The pony stopped, and another figure stood by him. He was outlined by the light of a fire. He had a white mane, and olive coat. He wore a vest with dark green patterns. 
"A Hybrid attacked you?"
"Yeah... but he was my friend... I couldn't kill him-"
"There are no mercy for the new breed." The olive Unicorn replied. "They are lost, and can't be found. But we as normal ponies need to find a new way to live. I am currently trying to find a new resource. Maybe something that works with brainwaves like the hybrids, something we can use to stop them."
"I'm guessing you haven't had any luck yet." 
"I am a scientist, I am not going to give up. Even if that means I have to go face the enemy. They are not even ponies anymore." 
The stallion looked to him for a few moments. "You're a scientist, and you are still doing your job. While I can't even do anything with my talent."
"There is always a way to use your talent. You just need to find ponies to connect to, and bring out your help." The scientist reassured.


Later that evening, the stallion went back to his apartment. The lighting was dim, and his eyes had to adjust. Going through the small room he went toward his computer. There are ponies out there that will know what I want to do. I want to make a difference in the world. Music isn't dead.  He noticed how many views he had on PonyTube, but they had come to a halt because of so little ponies. Yes there are many other things to do, but music can give hope to ponies. My name is only known because I am featured with other artists. I can't make lyrics... so what ponies could make good lyrics, and agree with making a difference.
The idea had came to him. He knew the perfect ponies. He started to write an email, hoping it would go out.

	Dear Linkin Ponies,
I know that I haven't been that in touch with you. You have always been a band I admired, and I know you are fond of some of my work. I had even seen one of you the other day. I know not many ponies listen to music anymore, but what If we could make some ponies hear us. And I do mean US. I would like to do a collaboration. I have an idea for a song, but I do need lyrics. You guys would have to make lyrics. I know that you are a very caring group, always wanting to help ponies. So why not make a song to speak to the world? Email me back please
Sincerely, ElectricTone