//------------------------------// // Chapter 13: Discovery // Story: Macintosh and Dolphin - The Switch // by Electuroo //------------------------------// Macintosh and Dolphin – The Switch Chapter 13: Discovery... It had been almost two weeks since the accident in New Town that destroyed the restaurant with headlines bleeding away as if it was another day in the news business but this was taken aware of by the X-19 project within the confines of London, more so by the chain of events that led to the disappearance of one of their newly experimental drones that could scan energy waves and give images with almost exact detail. The General stood looking out the window to all those working in the room below he turn to his desk and walked over to it pushing a few keys brought up the only image they got for a brief second. A beep through the comm made him turn his head to it and push the button with his finger “Yes...” “Sir the Queen here...” Matthew turn to the door as it opened, two royal guards step in with a elderly lady dress in blue “Your highness” he stood and saluted “At least general” she put her hand up “I am only here because of the results you have found” He nods “Right your highness...” he push up a few keys on the computer causing a screen to lower in front of the window and metal blinds to lower and close off the window view then the screen came to life to show the image and data to Queen Elizabeth. “Is that a city of clouds?” she looked a bit puzzled by the image. “Indeed it is ma'am... we found out that on the disappearance of our drone it was taken by a force beyond anything on this planet” Matthew brought up the data “This was the energy reading just before the drone vanished and for a second there was a hole in reality itself, the power to make such a thing is beyond anyones abilities” Queen stood there looking at the results “So the drone even lost was worth the money spent?” she turn to him He nods “indeed, we know that a force took the drone but for what reason we do not know, but the same energy spike appeared only two weeks ago at the site of the accident that lead to a McDonald’s Restaurant being destroyed and one of the employees strangely enough won the Euro Millions the day after it and within a week bought the farm on the south side of the Twiosmicstar Forest ma'am” Matthew showing all the evidence that he gathered on the screen before them. “So you believe this person is connected some how to the unusually things that happened in the last month?” she look to the information “I do ma'am but there no solid proof and X-19 isn't known to anyone but a selective few ma'am, since our division is top secret” Matthew replied turn to her. “Do you wish for us to follow up on this?” “Yes but with caution, no actions no suspicion just observe” “Yes your highness” he replied and she walk to the door with her guards “General keep up the good work, this project so far been worth it, just make sure we don't lose any more drones” with that she left and Matthew sat down in his chair with a sigh looking to the screen tapping his finger on the table then taking the phone off the hook. Matthew dials a number and speaks “Clearance granted... just observe. Report any findings that are odd or strange” he put the phone down “Now we wait...” the screen rises and the metal blinds open up as he stared out to the control room. “Till they make their next move...” New Town Apple Orchard... The three main buildings, the barn, house and processing centre was under heavy construction with workmen and women working inside and out of them, Big Macintosh walked up to the place with the rest of the family, Michelle, Nigel and Hazel seeing how the progress was coming along. Michelle was surprised at the rate of work had kicked off since Big Mac bought the place lock, stock and barrel. This was the first time Michelle had step back onto the orchard and hard to come to terms that this was now their land “This is amazing... you know how to pull out a surprise don't you?” she look to him with a smile “Not only you won the big bucks but you kept your promise... now what do we do?” “Well I was thinking about buying one of those empty shops in the town high street and start up with selling the apples there, including all forms of apple products like cider, pies, fritters... you name it” Big Macintosh speaking to her 'And a promise to make the Dolphin Family happy like mah know family... Applejack would be proud of me if she knew what ah did for this family' Nigel looking to the machines lifting the new frames into place “That quite the idea bro but your cutting it close since we near the end of August.” “I know but I believe it be worth it. The processing plant be up and running by two days from now, the last of the equipment is being brought it that why I thought you might like to continue your lorry job for me” he toss the keys out of hand to Nigel. Nigel look to the keys that he caught then saw what Big Mac was looking at “Whoa... when did you become a businessman...” he looked at the new rig he be using. “This is amazing...” he was checking out the trailer and the lorry itself “This is top of the line...” he checking it out “You definitely won me over” Big Mac turn to Hazel “So that why you asked me to check up on everything to do with running a apple orchard business on the internet, pretty crafty bro” then she lean up to him whispering in his ear “Or should I say Big Macintosh” his eyes widen she said the word not that his name. 'How did she figure it out... ah was being careful... ah know those computer things are weird and still don't quite get to use them but... oh... she good...' Big Macintosh turn to her “When...” “I sort of put it all together and a little snooping around” Hazel replied with a whisper “I will tell ya later in private” she smirked “What are you two up too...” Michelle look to them both “Nothing” they said together. “Mmm hmmm...” Michelle stared at them and shook her head “You two are bad as each other...” she turn and head over to the rig to see how Nigel is doing with his check out of the lorry. Hazel turn heading down the path “Come on bro I'd explain” he was surprised she still called him that even he wasn't even her sister. Big Mac walked with her down the path alongside the road as the metal fences was still being taken away by the council. “I am still trying to figure out how you knew... and how your able to say my name Hazel...” Hazel shrugged “I don't get it much myself but I figured it out after a few things that came into question. It kind of struck me weird that you knew a lot about taking care of plants and the way you took special care of that small apple tree even buying it was odd, you don't use computers much and when you do it was for special reasons and you tossing me out of the way of the blast you some how not getting hurt much. I came up with two possible reasons, either your amnesia got your mind so confused that you was coo coo or traits of a curtain red pony came over and when we talked about My Little Pony you seem to know things that wasn't in the show so that kind of tipped it off as well” Hazel explained to him in detail how she figured it out. “Why haven't you told anyone else?” He looking to her as they walked towards the forest. Hazel glance at him then back to where they was walking “Because I saw the video Wayne left for you... I had to make sure that I was curtain of it and check on the iPad” “I see, well it best not to tell anyone else or whatever did this might do something worse then switch our minds...” Big Macintosh only thought would be to switch was the bodies completely. “Something like put you back in your body in our world?” Hazel smirked “That be kind of funny to see but not so cool at the same time, you don't have to worry I promise not to tell anyone bro” Big Macintosh smiled slightly “Guess you saw that part of the message too?” “Yes” they walked up to the forest “Since Nigel most likely to give the lorry a spin and mum keeping a eye of the workers, why don't we enjoy a nice quiet day in the forest?” Hazel then said “You can tell me all about Ponyville and Sweet Apple Acres bro” “Ok... guess that only fair” Big Mac accepts to tell her any questions she has since he was in her brothers body after all. Hazel grinned “Sweet, I know this perfect place in the forest that hardly anyone goes to and it got a really nice view as well” Hazel runs into the forest past the guards with Big Mac running after her no idea where she was leading him to. Sweet Apple Acres... Wayne checked through the paperwork as Big Macintosh did doing the books, he checking through the income over the costs and other outgoing payments, it was a monthly thing and he could understand why it needed to be done, he never really been one for business and had to do some catching up with some books he read overnight that he borrowed from the library. He place the quill on the table side from his mouth and closed the book up with his hoof “Another month out of the way” he whispered and taking the book with his mouth placed it into the slot and closed it up. 'How does Big Macintosh do all this and never seem to be out of it.' Applejack walked through carrying baskets of bad apples with Applebloom placing them into the Pig Feed barrel. “Big Mac have ya done the books?” Applebloom asked with wonder. “Eeyup” he replied “Ya and the other girls still gonna to that lake aren't y'all?” “Sure are, we want to try to get our cutie marks like ya and Applejack” Wayne knew that means he had to foalsit the three trouble makers when Applebloom said that. Applejack shook her head “Can ya give me and Big Mac a moment and he will take ya to the lake” “Sure” Applebloom leaves and Applejack closed the barn door behind her. Wayne kept a natural look on his face staring at Applejack “Is there something the matter AJ?” Applejack made sure that Applebloom wasn't near by and turn to him walking up to Wayne looking him in the eyes direction and then pull out from under her hat a rolled up drawing and place it in front of him. “Open it” He did so and saw a drawing of Ponyville but he saw the rubbed out mark that was scribbled over. 'Oh no...' he look to it and look at her in the eyes “Wayne” she spoke and saw the reaction. “Ya name is Wayne...” he sighed heavily and lowered his head “Tell me where mah brother is...” Wayne raised his head and look her dead in the eyes “In mah body... we both somehow been switched... but ah like to know how y'all found out...” Applejack smirked “Ah thought something was up from the beginning but couldn't prove it till ah saw the drawings and story ya created... don't get me wrong ya a hard working just like mah brother. In a way ya kind of mah brother as well” “Really?” “Eeyup” Applejack hit him softly on the side with her hoof “Ya didn't have to keep this from me, but the question is why...” Wayne thought about it “Do ya remember the machine Twilight made?” she nods “That sort of fixed it...” “Then we...” “No AJ ya can't... when she did it, something knew and attacked, it brought a machine from mah world to this world and used it as a missile to destroy the machine, ah do not know what it is but the less that know about this for now the better it is, ah made a promise... well that other one in mah thoughts that ah do whatever it takes to be much as ya brother ah can... that means protecting ya too” Wayne instantly stopped her from going down that road and explained to her why. Applejack was a little surprised but she understood what he meant “Ah hear ya Big Mac” he frown and she hints to her left and he saw Applebloom close to the barn. “We will talk later Big Mac” “Eeyup” he walked up to the door and opened the barn door “Ready Applebloom?” “Sure thing Big Mac” Applebloom spoke with glee. “Have fun” Applejack called out and Wayne wish he could just groan, he had to keep the act up and hope Applejack didn't do anything stupid why they was gone since he knew Applejack too well since the month he been there in Macintosh's body and she was able to say his name and still he couldn't but glad to hear his true name again. Unknown... “It seems that our prediction of events have not gone as viewed the odds seem to be in their favour” “Believe it is true, the one Applejack and Dolphin Hazel discovered the truth even with our methods” “Both lives should be removed, they are at risk of discovering us” “No doubt that they will or have, but as seen they are not spreading the word yet keeping it to themsleves and the two Dolphin Wayne and Macintosh Big... we should wait and see how this plays out” “Indeed we should” “The risk is too great, they have discovered the truth and that means discovering us and the risk of that happening is greater, they should be removed” “There is no consensuses on this matter, there will be no action. We will discuss and formulate... we will reach a consensuses till then no action” “Fine, we agree... Time in this is liner. This may take months” “Months and study is worth it” “Agreed” “Then we better not be wrong...” “What of the unknown humans” “They are still unknown and unable to be detected, they are aware of us but still unknown...” “Then if they are unknown and unable to be found then the answer...” “Why is your answer destroy the root of the problem then study and understand it, you are speaking of wiping out life of trillions on one world because of the risk of being known. Have we excised to now understand why so many live one life time while we do not live or die, we exist. To learn what the meaning of living is to study and destroying them will not answer it as it has been done many times over. “Indeed that is a point that need redirected, destroying the lives because of risk of us being discovered is became too causal for us, we will now wait till all agree” “That is a big risk, we do not agree” “Indeed action shall be taken in two of their months if the unknown is not discovered and the cost will be of two worlds not one” “That is unacceptable” “Agreed there is a even divide action can not be taken such as this” “Divided doesn't mean action and action will be taken for the threat” “Threat... we are many yet four existence with no meaning to what life is, by taking lives away that threaten this realm is a mistake” “Negative” “Action” “Consensuses!” “Study!” The swirling endless clouds caught in a mass of disagreement with flash of light and mix of colour as they continued to not come to a consensuses...