//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 -or- A Special Connection // Story: The Red Reploid: Equestrian Tales // by Sir Mortimer of Eden //------------------------------// … Ok I might of have been wrong in saying that Manehattan was a large town because it wasn't; it was a huge ass city on an island! From my view of the city it seemed to remind me of a city in my data banks before I was created, New York was it? I looked on in awe at the tall buildings in the city as the sun’s reflection in the water seemed to shimmer on the moving waves. I wondered what kind of technology they had built, judging by how far they had advanced from that old stone castle in the forest. I decided that it might be best if I kept out of sight from the ‘locals’ as I didn't want them to run away in panic at seeing a creature (or reploid) that they haven’t seen before that was originally created to rule the world. As it felt that luck was on my side, I saw a train coming up from the bridge into the city as I grabbed onto the train and brought myself up to the roof. As the train went over the bridge I noticed how large and grand it was, as it was probably just built. As the train slowly halted to a stop at the station I dashed onto the side of the building, hoping nopony saw me and started to climb up as I thought that no one would be able see me on the roof. I hoped that there weren't any pegasi flying above the roofs of the buildings, otherwise I might have to run or be put into custody and hurting these ponies would only make me more of a threat to them and be hunted by their army or some sort of security. As I continued to jump over the many buildings I noticed that there were loads of ponies on the streets but no cars or taxis, only carriages pulled by ponies carrying ponies…weird, guess there not as advanced as I thought they were. As I continued to stare at all the things that were happening around me, I only just heard a voice at the sound of a whisper. “You there, stop!” ‘Shit!’ I mentally screamed as I started to dash as fast as I could over the roofs and through the city, hoping to lose the stallion that was chasing me. “By the order of the Royal Guard I order you to stop!” he yelled louder as it sounded as if he was gaining on me. ‘Does this stallion ever give up?!’ I mentally yelled as I jumped over several more buildings as I saw an open window. ‘Perfect,’ I gave a smug grin as I jumped down the next building and through the window at the blink of an eye as I hoped that my speed was unseen by this ‘guard’ that was chasing me. I quickly closed the window and stuck behind the wall in case he decided to have a look through. “Who in the world are you?” I heard a feminine voice asked behind me questionably as I slowly turned my head towards the voice. The pony that was in front of me had a bright pink coat as both her mane and tail had three different colours…that’s a first. The colours of her mane were pink, purple and pale yellow as her eyes shined a fine purple as she had a symbol of a teal crystal heart with a golden lace under it as my scans reported that she was only ten years old. But what confused me the most was that she was an alicorn and I thought that Celestia and Luna were the only alicorns in Equestria. I didn’t say anything to her as I awkwardly stared at her thinking she was going to scream for help but she was only looking at me curiously. “Uh…my name is Zero?” I asked in a confused tone wondering where this was going. She then started to show a smile. “Well my name is Mi Amore Cadenza or just Cadence if you want,” Cadence replied in a happy tone, she must have a lot of courage to talk to a new species that has just awakened and not run away screaming. “So I guess since you’re an alicorn, you are considered royalty?” I asked in a curious tone. “Yes I am Zero, and due to this royal status I've been under constant guard since I’m only a young filly still, as I will be traveling to Canterlot soon to visit my aunty. And due to this security I haven’t been able to have any free time to do anything so I’m stuck in this apartment.” “What about your family, aren't they here with you, to take care of you?” I asked looking around as if I thought her parents were in this room. She started to look so dejected that I was worried I had asked about a bad subject. “I don’t remember my parents. When I was a filly, I was taken in by earth ponies to their village and after a few months I was adopted by Princess Celestia as her niece,” she replied, I knew that she wasn't telling me everything that had happened in her time at the village and what about Luna, wouldn't that mean that she would of been her aunt as well if Celestia already was? “It’s not fair,” I gave her a curious look. “What’s not fair Cadence?” “I never wanted to be immortal in the first place, now other ponies will only be friends with me because i'm a princess and will have to live forever as everything around me would age away and I would be alone,” Cadence said as she started to look down. “It’s ok Cadence don’t feel sad because of your immortality and being a princess, you still have Celestia who can take care of you because she’s immortal as well and knows what its like.” “No, it’s not ok! I just wish I had someone to be with who could accept who I am and live long like alicorns instead of being alone because I know that now I’m an alicorn I’m going to outlive any of the actual friends that I would of made in the passing years, watching them die is not what I want,” She replied as a tear started to drop from her eye. “Please don’t cry Cadence, if your friends fade away you know that you spent the best of times with them and they wouldn't want you to mourn for them when they pass would they?” I spoke in a sad tone, hating myself for making her cry. But then a thought came to me, I stared off into space in deep thought. “I’m the only one of my kind left in this world you know? The only reploid to wander this world for the rest of my life, never ageing at all as other things will, so in a way we are very similar Cadence,” I said half to myself and half to her. She looked up at me in shock, her tears stopped forming. “You’re…immortal?” she choked out, as I nodded as confirmation. “But maybe…,” I looked at her directly in the eyes as I felt a sense of hope and purpose within me. “Maybe you don’t have to live your life alone, maybe all you need is someone to help light the way, someone to protect you from those who seek to bring harm you,” I said as a slight smile formed on my lips. She looked up at me with shock and amazement, hope filling in her eyes as well. “Cadence…will you accept me as your friend, a friend who will be with you and care for you for all eternity,” I smiled as I knelt down on one leg and held out my hand to her, waiting for her answer. I wasn't even able to blink at how fast she ran towards me and gripped me into the tightest hug I had ever felt as I hugged her back which was surprising since I was a reploid and she was a pony. As I looked down at Cadence I saw that she was crying into my chest but I knew that they were tears of joy and happiness but as I continued to hug her I felt a strong power pouring into me, a strong emotion which made me feel accepted…love, the love of someone dear to you. I felt happy that I had made my first friend and to an alicorn no less but I felt something within me change, but in a good way. As she separated from the hug and looked up at me with those bright purple eyes, her face turned to shock as I gave her a curious look. “What’s wrong Cadence, is there something on my face,” I asked in a worried tone. She shook her head. “No, your eyes…they look exactly the same as mine now!” I gave her a weird look as I looked to the mirror on my left and my eyes were indeed purple and had the same style as the princess’s eyes and I also felt...connected to her somehow but what I don't know. I started to panic about this situation. Had I taken some of her powers or magic to make this change to me…no from the knowledge of my data banks for my systems I had to willingly allow myself to absorb their power, but then why are my eyes like this? “Get away from the princess you fiend!” I heard somepony yell and due to my panicking I turned around a second to late. I was hit square in the face by something blunt. As I fell over I hit the ground hard, waiting for sleep to take me as the last noise I heard was Cadence yelling at the attacker.