//------------------------------// // A.I. bad I.A // Story: When Scars Heal // by gelorum //------------------------------// 20 minutes. I've been wake twenty minutes, and I've heard more questions than a kindergarten student. “How do you know I’m male, further still where are my clothes?” “Your clothes were torn up pretty badly, so we cut them away and made you some replacements!” She answered. Sounding so pleased with herself. “What did you do with the remains?” I asked, a sense of sudden dread encroaching. “Well,” she says dragging the word out. “We burnt most of them to keep you a secret, the last thing we need is more panicked stampedes here in Ponyville.” She finished. While I couldn't argue she wasn't right in that aspect, it still hurt to lose some of my most prized memories. “Oh.” I said. “But we did save a few things!” “Really!” I chirped, betraying my feelings. “Yes, I found this in the ashes after the fire had gone out.” She replied, Handing me a small, smooth, metal box. I smirked holding the small vibranium protection case. “Oh, I also kept this. It wasn't damaged like the rest of your clothes.” She states. She reaches behind a box on a shelf to reveal a black hat. I take the hat from her hoof and hold it in both hands. A tear rolls from my face and lands on its rigid brim. “Thank you.” “Are you okay?” She asks, genuine care apparent. “Yes. Do you have a shower room where I could clean up?” I asked, knowing she did. “Sure! Follow me.” She says walking towards the rooms open door. I stand from the bed and notice a seemingly extra weight on my shoulders, I shrug it off as being sore from resting for so long. Ha resting, who am I kidding I was dead. “Ok here you are, cold is on the left, hot is on the right, towels in the cabinet, and when you're done just go to the room at the end of the hall.” “Yes Ma'am.” I said closing the door. I begin to unbutton my shirt and realize the weight in my shoulders still isn’t gone, I finish unfastening my shirt and go to pull it off when I catch something and feel a tug of skin. What in the world is wrong with me? Sighing I begin looking for a mirror. Let’s see nope no mirrors in the towel cozy, hmm...not in the cabinet above the sink either. Oh well that’s a stupid place for a mirror! I think to myself retrieving a small hand mirror from the floor beside the sink. Raising the mirror above my head, I am slightly surprised to see wings on my back. Shape or slice them, that is the question. After mulling the thought over for a while I decided on slicing was the better option, I could always grow them back and it would be less mass to have to deal with when shifting into smaller forms. Grabbing my “Metal box” as Twilight called it, I began sliding my fingers across it in a pattern memorized by heart since I was little. “How the sandman sways.” I recalled, a smirk appearing on my face. It was a code I had made in my early adolescent years, like a secret handshake you did with those you trusted the most. Opening the airtight container and retrieving some clothes, soap, lighter, and a knife I replaced my storage deck back in the vibranium case and sealed it shut. This is going to suck, big time. I stepped into the tub and raised my arm behind my head. “Welp, here goe-” “Everything okay in there?!” Flinching I hastily answer. “Yes everythings fine, just a bit weak kneed from all that sleep!” “Do you want some help?” “No thank you Twilight, I am completely capable of performing hygienic subroutines on my own!” I replied, with a slight snap. “Okay.” “Sigh! I need to hurry up so I can leave.” In one fell swoop my wings were trimmed and, the ends shaped off to stop the bleeding from my back and the hot water started. laying the freshly trimmed wings at the end of the tub, I began to rinse off the dirt of a two year sleep. Man. You’d think in two whole years they would try to bring me out of a coma at least once. Once I finished cleaning up I grabbed the wings and began pouring the blood down the drain. “I’ll just drain these out and give em to Twilight for study, and be on my way.” Computer! How far to the checkpoint that you’ve been pointing out for the last fifteen minutes. “Three hundred and twenty miles.” Scan the map for a forested route, maximum stealth is imperative. After setting my trenchcoat properly upon my shoulders and placing my things back within my pockets, I grabbed my freshly ‘trimmed’ wings and opened the door out into the hall. “Thank you for the wonderful hospitality Twilight!” I chimed as I entered the room. “You’re quite welcome Sir. I assume you have some- Ahhh!” “What’s the matter?” I asked, knowing full well what she was shocked about. Yo- your wings! You cut them off!” “Well, yes. They were cumbersome, irritating, and now you can pull feathers, experiment, and scrutinize them all you want without any moral implications. Especially with your friends telling you it would be wrong to experiment on an injured creature, suppressing the desire to do science!” I sneered in her face, having inched closer as I spoke. Dropping the wings at her hooves, I walked over to the windows, and stepped out onto the railing. “But honestly, thank you for the care while I recovered. Until next time, Twilight Sparkle!” I crowed as I jumped down and sprinted off into the forest. Approaching the Everfree, two-hundred miles to target, approximately four hours till sunset. Briefly slowing to a walk to rest and take a drink from a small brook, I scan the area for any resources that may come in handy later. The only thing that stood out was a patch of grayish flowers. Peculiar little plant! “It’s a patch of wolfs blood.” I see. Well time to get moving again! Sprinting off again, Jenny begins running figures for arrival time and a quick systems check. “I’m detecting many weak and slowly fading life signatures.” Change course to stop at their locations, we’ll see if we can’t lend a hand. “Course changed, twelve signatures closely grouped and one further from those.” “Oh puke!” I stated. “Changelings, blood is dried, bruising is apparent, all are still breathing but unconscious and dying.” “Any idea how much longer they have?” “A day at the most.” “You said thirteen, wheres the last one?” “Fifteen meters to your left.” Stepping around the defenseless changelings, I walked briskly over to the next area. “No!” I Gasped, Running over to the downed changeling. “Chrysalis, queen of the changelings, strongest-” “I know that already, tell me something useful!” I bellowed. “ Original checkpoint is within one hour’s distance at full speed, full medical facilities available.” “Tag all bodies for emergency retrieval.” “Already done.” Jenny replied, markers appearing on my hud glasses. “Good.” Spinning on my heel and rocketing off towards the original destination. “Maximum Speed achieved.” NOT EVEN CLOSE! I roared inside my mind. Throwing my jacket away, turning my hat around, and activating the hidden visor, all in attempting to increase my speed. “Adrenaline shot administered, speed increased by 20%.” Feeling the incredible burst of speed my determination increased, but with a cost. “Ground stability at critical levels!” The immense pressure exerted by my footfalls was causing me to unwittingly destroy the thin layer I was on. “Base door opened and is 2 minutes away.” Looking up I could see a large mountain, atop a sheer cliff face, with no door. “Why is the ground cracking ahead of me?” “Pressure fissure has begun to outpace you.” For the love of taxes! “No one loves taxes.” Shut up! She wasn’t kidding a huge sink hole began to open up ahead, forcing me to jump for it. Al-most there! I thought straining to reach the edge. “Critical fa-” “Shut Up! I made it!” I screamed, trying to pull myself up. Suddenly it cracked, causing me to slip. trying again to pull myself up resulted in total collapse. “Noo - !” I screamed as I fell. “Critical Fault Detected!”