Chapter 4
A Friendly Visit
"The Earth Ponies farm the land. The Pegasi control the sky. What do the Unicorns do?"
-“Soapbox” Sal
“So... how was it seeing her again?”
“It did not feel good if that's what you are thinking.”
“How long as it been since the last time?”
“Too long, Sir.”
“Is this going to make things difficult for you?”
“No, not at all, Sir.”
“Good. Remain vigilant. The time will come.”
Harvester Base, Ponyville Warehouse District
If there was one thing that Star-Metal had learned over the years, backstory is everything. Nopony within the Harvesters knew the truth about Star-Metal's origin. Some believed that he was a mercenary that fought on both sides during the Civil War and was injured by the Loyalists after being discovered. Others said that he was a former Loyalist that had been betrayed during the war. Others believed that he had worked alongside General Salamander Red before killing him during the Siege of Canterlot. They were all false of course. All rumors that he had allowed to spread like wildfire. Star-Metal enjoyed them. They worked to build an image that he could use to his advantage in his construction of the Harvesters. All of them painted him as somepony that could use any opportunity that was presented to him in order to get ahead. And that was the truth. The invention of augmentations had given him the opportunity to truly make something of himself. And he had enjoyed it.
As Star-Metal lay on the operating table, he bit his lip in anticipation of the inevitable pain that would follow the joining of his nerves to his brand new leg. He'd never gotten used to this. The Mechanic, an old grey mare, noticed him and rolled her eyes.
“Don't worry, Boss. Two seconds and it will all be over.”
Star-Metal looked at her, his eyes flashing red for a brief second. “I'm not scared. All right? I'm just cautious.” He laid his head back on the mat. “Nine years and they still haven't done a thing to fix the pain part.”
The Mechanic kept her eyes on the leg as she inspected the wires. Sweat started to form on her brow. This was the most difficult part of the procedure. If one wire was disconnected or out of alignment during the bonding process of the implant and the nerves, then the implant would not function properly. Everything had to be perfect. There was no such thing as a “harmless mistake” in this business.
She lifted her head and nodded to Star-Metal who in turn tilted his head away and breathed silently. The Mechanic's hooves split open to reveal a part of hooks that gripped the leg and aligned it with the metallic stump of Star-Metal's right foreleg. As she fitted the stump into the leg socket and twisted it until it locked into place, Star-Metal winced as electrical impulses flooded his shoulder and spread across his body. He hopped off the table and flexed his new leg. A souvenir from the Ministry job. He loved the perks.
The door swung open as the spike-hoofed Unicorn trotted in. She stopped and saluted. Star-Metal returned the gesture. “What is it, Rain?”
“We got a call from our... business partner. He's demanding to speak to you.” Her salute faltered as a worried look crossed her face. “And he sounds pissed.”
Star-Metal sighed. This was the part of the job he hated: business negotiations. “Let's get on with it then.”
As the two Harvesters marched through the base, Star-Metal allowed himself a feeling of pride. Seven years and this small-time group had turned into an empire. 3300 Ponies under Star-Metal's command. 3300 Harvesters across Equestria. He had eyes and ears everywhere. Whenever the law was on his tail, he was aware of it. Nopony could get the drop on him. Not even that Police Chief, Applejack. He'd be damned before allowing himself to be taken down by a country bumpkin like her.
When they reached the terminal, Star-Metal could see that Rainy had left it on. The face of Doctor August Rain glowered at him. Star-Metal put on his business face and smiled. “What can I do for you, Doc?”
“For starters, you can tell me why the Buck you and your Harvesters decided to hit the mare so close to the damned Ministry,” he barked. You couldn't have waited until she was closer to her home or out of the Business District?”
Star-Metal shrugged. “The job got done didn't it? You got the stolen data back and I got this nifty new leg.”
“The problem is that not only is the Ponyville Police investigating her death, but now the damned Princess is in on this! She actually visited my office to inform me of the possibility of somepony in the company working with you!”
Star-Metal sneered. “That's not my problem nor part of our arrangement. Whatever happens to your company is your problem. Besides, they'll never trace it to us.”
Rain's face moved closer to the screen. “Are you an idiot or are you just naïve? Think about it. If they investigate me and find anything, they will trace it to you. And I am sure the police will be willing to cooperate in exchange for information on the Harvesters and where they could possibly find them.”
Star-Metal's eyes narrowed. “You wouldn't.”
It was Rain's turn to sneer. “I go down so do you. Do not test me.”
Star-Metal sighed. “What do you want?”
“Stay off the streets for a while. Continue with your end of the project and for the love of Celestia, be more careful. You can afford to lay off the aug-jacking for a time.”
Star-Metal nodded. “Got ya. But just so you know, this project is even more risky than aug-jacking. How many can disappear until somepony notices?”
Rain's face receded back from the screen. He rolled his eyes. “Nopony will notice them. They are not important enough to be noticed. Just remember that the project hedges on your success. We need the data otherwise we cannot move forward. August Rain out.”
The screen faded to black. Star-Metal growled. He hated this. The perks of working with E.A.T. were fine and all, but answering to that bastard wounded his pride. When the job was done, he'd better get his reward. He had more than earned it.
Sweet Apple Acres
“Appleseed, you come down here right now,” Fluttershy cried out in a voice a couple octaves higher than normal. The young pegasus ignored her and continued circling above the treetops. His only reply was a soft “Nnope.” An exasperated Fluttershy turned to her husband as he back-hoofed an apple tree, sending its contents into the carefully positioned baskets. “Would you please control your son?”
Big Mac stopped for a second and gave her a puzzled look. “Let the young'n be. It's good for 'im to get some practice in now and then. Besides, if'n yer so worried about 'im, why don'cha just fly up and grab him yerself?”
Fluttershy was taken aback by this comment as if Mac had asked her to strike him. “We can't use physical force. The book said that a parent must be assertive in order to establish authority. Force just sends the wrong message and will cause him to be afraid of that parent. And if they are afraid of us, that means they will avoid us. And that means they will fall in with a bad crowd, and then they will get arrested and put in juvenile hall and then their futures will be over! Is that what you want for our children?!” Her breathing became more and more erratic as her eye's widened.
Big Mac shook his head. “Fluttershy, a lil' discipline never hurt no one. Just fly up and bring him down gently. Just... only do it if he does get himself into trouble. Don't pressure the colt. Let 'im have fun.”
Fluttershy slowly took a deep breath and nodded in agreement. “Ok. All right. I'll... let him be.” She called upwards, “Just be careful, Ok, Sweetie?”
Appleseed smiled and waved down at his mother. He began flying loop de loops until a shadow fell across the orchard field. The young colt halted in mid-flight in front of a violet Alicorn. She looked down at him and smiled.
“Hello, Appleseed. I'm Princess Twilight Sparkle. Do you remember me?”
The little colt, wings still flapping, lowered his head and nodded giving a tiny, “Eeyup,” in response. Twilight patted him on the head, still smiling.
“You're doing great at flying. Keep it up. Soon you will be as good as your mother or Rainbow Dash.”
Appleseed raised his head and gave a small smile. He turned and flew back to his parents, peeking from behind his mother. Twilight hovered down and gave Big Mac and Fluttershy each a big hug that they both happily returned. “I've missed you both so much.”
Fluttershy gave a smile and hugged her best friend. “We've missed you too. You hardly ever visit anymore. In fact, I don't think you've ever been here since the wedding. How have you been? You must tell us. I'll make some lunch.”
With Appleseed on her back, Fluttershy lead the way back to the cottage. When they got to the kitchen, it was a short time before Fluttershy had a meal of mixed vegetables and fruits on the table. After the meal was completed, Big Mac went upstairs with Appleseed to check on Zephyr while the mares stayed to chat.
“How's the hospital doing, Fluttershy?
“Oh, it's been wonderful. I thought it would be difficult to treat both Ponies and Animals, but thanks to my experience with the war, I've been able to balance out the workload. Between you and me, the schedule has been difficult on the kids. What you saw out there is one of the few times we've been able to spend time together as a family. I'm worried that Zephyr and I won't become too close because of it. Big McIntosh has had to balance working the orchard with Applebloom and the kids. It's been difficult. ...So, Twilight, tell me, how have things been with you?”
“Well, the Ministry has been opening up relations with the Zebra Nation and we are looking to find a way to upgrade the Terminals nationwide without having the customers bring them into the stores. And... one of my employees was murdered by Harvesters.”
Fluttershy covered her mouth in shock. “I'm so sorry, Twilight.”
Twilight smiled. “Thanks. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and I have been investigating her murder and so far we've come up with a couple of leads. We believe that E.A.T. might be connected to it. But nothing's concrete.”
Fluttershy gave a brief smile that quickly faded. “Ummm, Twilight? About Applejack... I've only seen her a couple of times over the past month, but... I've noticed the faint scent of hard-cider on her breath.”
Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Wait. You think that Applejack's been drinking?”
Fluttershy nodded. “You know how during the war, she was always on the front lines? I think that might have had a lasting impact on her. Oh, but don't tell her I told you. The last time I tried bringing it up... she yelled at me a bit.”
“It's not her fault, Fluttershy. She's under a lot of stress. The Harvesters have been tearing Equestrians apart and they always seem to be ahead of her. If she drinks a little to relieve stress, then it's understandable.”
Fluttershy shook her head. “I'm really worried about her, Twilight. She's not just my best friend, she's my sister-in-law. For Luna's sake, she's Appleseed's Godmother. Please, keep an eye on her.”
Twilight smiled and extended a hoof forward. “I promise you, Fluttershy. I'll keep an eye on her. Now, I have a favor to ask. I have a plan to find out more about this case and I need your help. I need you to get me Pinkie Pie's and Rarity's communication numbers. Also, if you want some other work that will help you keep an eye on Applejack, I could get you some work with the Ponyville PD. That is, if you think you could make the time.”
Fluttershy smiled. “I'd like that. Big Mac's been worried about her as well. You know, Twilight, I remember when we were younger, you had a lot of trouble with stress. You would always freak out over every little thing and almost faint after ranting about how things could go wrong. Now... you seem calm and collected. I'm impressed.”
Twilight Sparkle blushed slightly. “Well, what can I say? I guess I... grew up. Now, do you have Pinkie's and Rarity's numbers?”
Fluttershy nodded. “I'll see what I can do.”
Twilight smiled. Things were starting to come together. She had a plan and she needed the help of Equestria's biggest fashion magnate and the Party Pony of Equestria.
Cloudsdale
As Rainbow Dash settled into her apartment, she switched on her terminal. She extended her cyberhoof's jack cable into the port. “Flight school,” she muttered. Almost at once, a stream of images flooded the screen, all of Rainbow Dash at the Wonderbolts Academy Flight School, the place that made her Captain of the Wonderbolts. She rolled her eyes and clarified. “Flight School, Lightning Dust.”
The images disappeared and were replaced with fewer new ones. This time of her and Lightning Dust, her former wing-pony and... friend. Images of her, Lightning Dust and her other wing-ponies, her and Lightning Dust toasting their first night at Flight School, and finally just Lightning Dust. She sighed. What the buck was Lightning Dust doing at E.A.T.? First the washing out of flight school, joining the Equalists, and now this. What the Hell was she playing at?