My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Wish Weaver : Chapter 6
Robot Alicorn Attack!
Several hours later, the ponies found themselves deep in the midst of a place all too familiar to them. In every direction the towering trees and the unsettling magical nature of the forest spread out, yet no matter where they looked, no one could find a trace of the silver alicorn. Though the daylight was growing thin and their hooves tired from walking, the Mane Six could not find the will to give up. Their shame at how they’d behaved over the last few days was pushing them onwards in place of the energy that had long since been spent.
“Equinox? Equinox, are you there? Apple Bloom? If you’re with Equinox, can you tell her we’re sorry for everything? Like really, really sorry!” Pinkie Pie called, hearing only the mocking echo of her own voice in response.
“Ah jest don’t understand it. Why would she take Apple Bloom of all folk? The two o’ them ain’t exchanged more than ten words between them since Equinox first turned up in Equestria.” Applejack commented.
“She had to have her reasons. Let’s just find them and make sure they’re safe first.” Twilight said as she flew up to where Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were circling the canopy. “Anything?”
“Nothing visible in the direction of the Tree of Harmony, or the Mirror Pond. I don’t know, Twilight, I’m running out of places where they could feasibly be.” The blue pegasus replied.
“Oooh we’re never going to find them at this rate. It’s like looking for a needle in a stack of hay.” Fluttershy lamented as she touched back down with the others.
“Well we can’t give up. Ponies don’t leave other ponies behind, be they living or metal!” Twilight proclaimed.
“Here, here!” Applejack declared. “Ah just wish we had a sign or something to follow. So we weren’t searching this place blind.”
As if taking her words as cue, a terrible roar suddenly erupted from the foliage, giving all of the Mane Six a fright.
“What was that?” Rarity hesitantly asked, straining her ears to get a fix on where the sound had come from.
“Whatever it was, it was big.” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “Uhh, maybe we should head back now?”
“No wait…Ah can hear something else.” Applejack joined her unicorn friend in listening intently. They were met with a second roar shaking the trees with its power, but neither gave in to the urge to flee. There was indeed something else under the monstrous cacophony: a tiny, frightened voice screaming to make itself heard above everything.
“No…oh my stars, that’s Apple Bloom!” The brown mare cried. Without thinking she took off in the direction of the noise, trampling over roots and butting branches aside in her haste to reach her sibling.
“Sounds like the needle wanted to be found after all.” Spike commented as he jumped onto Twilight’s back. The remaining ponies gave chase, some on foot, some in the air, their own fear and apprehension now forgotten in the wake of knowing one of their own was in danger.
“Apple Bloom! Apple Bloom, where are ya?” Applejack cried, tearing her face from side to side for some sign, some indication she was heading in the right direction. All she could hear was more screaming, which was quickly muffled by more roars, and the crash of trees as something truly huge and monstrous knocked them over.
“I see something. Up ahead, it looks like there’s a clearing…” Rainbow Dash yelled. She tucked her head in and flapped to make herself go faster, weaving in and around trees as they were sent her way by whatever was fording through the forest. For what felt like an eternity the ponies ran, seeing nothing but foliage and darkness everywhere
In reality, though, it was probably no more than a few minutes before they all crashed through into the clearing, but the sight of the little yellow foal running towards them still hit with the same impact as that of sailors who’d finally disembarked onto their home port to meet their family after years away at sea.
“Apple Bloom!” Applejack cried.
“Sis!” The tiny pony cried as she threw herself into her sibling’s arms.
“Oh thank Celestia, are you okay?” The brown earth pony cried, hugging her little sister.
“Ah…Ah’m fine, but Equinox…” The foal looked back at the thicket. “Oh sis, Ah’m sorry. Ah jest, she wanted some place to practice and then we came here and…”
“Equinox? Is Equinox still with you?” Twilight asked. She felt horrid for the question, but the relief at knowing one of their number was okay was now only adding to the pain from the other still being unaccounted for.
“She…she stayed behind…to make sure Ah could get away….” Apple Bloom replied.
“Get away? From what?” Pinkie Pie asked, just as the trees thrashed heavily again to herald the approach of even more danger. “Actually wait…do I really want to know…?”
The Mane Six looked with great reluctance at the collapsing foliage. All of them backed away as something twinkled in the dark.
Then finally it seemed the trees could hold back the terror no longer as they promptly fell from their roots towards the ponies, permitting their destroyer to finally reveal itself. Its body was literally as black at the night sky, translucent in nature with a myriad of shimmering lights across its fur that resembled stars. Claws the length of full sized swords adorned each of its four paws, and in its short muzzle was a full collection of huge, razor sharp teeth. Its eyes burned like small moons in the recess of two black voids on either side of its skull, the space above them decorated with a huge jagged star shape like some manner of regal mark.
“It’s an ursa major! A real one!” Rarity cried as the giant beast roared and swiped its claws at the ponies. They promptly scattered and ran for the edge of the clearing as their enemy voiced its disapproval and pursued them.
“Holy Celestia, Apple Bloom, what the hoo-hah were yew doing to attract that thing’s attention?” Applejack demanded.
“Ah…Ah dunno. We were just….EEEEEEEK!” The tiny foal screamed as the deadly claws came at her again. She dashed to the side, jumped over the brambles and tried to keep pace with her sister as the trees were torn down behind her.
“Jest tell me later. We gotta get yew outta here!” The brown earth pony said. The two caught up with their friends and galloped as fast as their weary hooves could manage, with the giant beast just behind them.
“Equinox…” Apple Bloom gasped as she jumped a stream, and then watched it be crushed by the ursa major’s paws.
“I promise we’ll go back for her, soon as we get away from this thing!” Twilight assured. She flew ahead to try and pick out a safe path for her friends, however, suddenly every avenue of escape looked to be equally treacherous. Feeling her lungs burn with the demand for air, the purple alicorn picked one at random and guided everyone to follow her. Through briar patches and bushes, across valleys and hills the ponies tore through the forest. Ahead of them, the trees seem to thin, light peeking through the cracks to offer blessed salvation.
“This way! We’re almost out!” Twilight cried…right before those of her friends who lacked wings promptly dropped out from underneath her. The ground just seemed to swallow Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack and Apple Bloom whole, leaving the panting mare above only had a moment to contemplate what had just happened, before she felt herself smack face first into an immovable barrier. The scent of fresh pine filled her nostrils as Twilight looked up and beheld the looming branches of a tree. With a silent gasp she felt her back lighten as Spike lost his grip and fell off her, right before she tumbled down to join him the void. Whatever sense she might have salvaged from the crash, she lost when she hit the ground. The world spun in a violent haze as pain exploded across her head. For a second, Twilight prayed she would black out so her suffering would end.
Then, however, she remembered she was still in danger and clawed her way back to consciousness. Feeling someone grab her by the shoulders, the alicorn violently shook her head till things seem to settle. She opened her eyes to see the world swim back into sharp focus, and her friends standing before her.
“Twilight! Speak to us, are you okay?” She heard Rarity ask.
“Yeah, fine. Got a serious headache though…” She bleated while feeling over the bruised parts of her skull. “What happened?”
“Looks like this here ravine is what happened. The plants on either side musta’ hidden it from view.” Applejack lamented. “Come on, we gotta climb back up before that ursa major catches up to us!”
Sadly no sooner did these words leave the earth pony’s mouth than she heard the horrible sound of trees falling and rocks being kicked down to join them in the ravine. Though she told herself not to, Applejack still looked up, and felt her heat sink as the beast’s nocturnal visage greeted them.
“I fear it’s too late for that.” Rarity whispered as the usra major tore away the plants blocking its path and began to descend into the ravine.
“Okay, all isn’t lost yet. We’ve been in this situation before….uh, sorta.” Spike said in an attempt to lighten at least some of the dread descending upon the group. “Don’t suppose we could see if a lullaby will have any effect like last time can we?”
“There isn’t anything around here for me to make music with.” Twilight said as the beast bared its teeth. She shot a look up and saw Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were hovering helplessly above, unable to swoop in and rescue their friends due to their enemy being in the way.
“Well we gotta do somethin’!” Applejack cried as Apple Bloom clung tightly to her.
“Indeed. Twilight, you and I are going to have to try. We’re the only one’s with magical abilities!” Rarity said. Grimly, Twilight nodded and willed her horn to charge up.
“You’re right, okay on three we’ll blast it together.”
Rarity nodded and charged her horn too.
“One…”
The ursa major drew back in preparation for the kill.
“Two…”
It lurched forward, ready to finally savor the rewards of its long chase.
SCHWOOOF!
Both Twilight and Rarity halted their attack as their enemy suddenly drew back again, clawing at a smoking hole on its face. Roaring in pain, the ursa major looked around, and promptly received a second blast of energy in the face.
"What the? That wasn’t from one of us!” Twilight said, having momentarily forgotten to be scared as now she was too confused by what was going on. The beast stumbled back against the side of the ravine as a third blast nailed it in its chest, the acrid smell of burned flesh growing thick as it thrashed blindly at the air.
Sensing that they now had an opening to rescue their friends, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash swooped down into the void, dodging the ursa major’s flailing claws as it lashed out at whatever was attacking it. They managed to reach the rest of their group, but no sooner did they have a steady grip to carry them out of danger, than the danger was upon them again. In the midst of its pain the ursa major seemed to realize its prey was about to escape, and it duly tried to prevent that by flattening them underfoot. The monster raised a limb into the air, doom seemed to once again be imminent….
….and then once again it was thwarted, this time by a veritable comet materializing out of nowhere to hit the ursa major in the stomach. It gave a raspish wail as all of its breath was forcibly expelled out, then because it had three of its limbs in the air, the beast toppled onto its side. The ponies followed its lead as the shockwave knocked them off their hooves.
“What? What is…” Twilight bleated as she shakily got back up and saw her enemy was trying to do the same. It clawed at the side of the ravine for purchase, but another energy blast had it yank its paws back. It tried to roll over onto its other side, but something seemed to prevent that from happening too. As the Mane Six rose and stared in utter bewilderment, the ursa major stared at a patch of empty air about a foot away from its muzzle, giving a surprise roar then the air suddenly filled itself in to reveal that of the silver metal alicorn.
“Equinox!” Rarity exclaimed as the beast tried to savagely bite her. Equinox nimbly dodged and punched the gnashing teeth away, giving their owner new cause to wail in agony.
“She…she can turn invisible too?” Pinkie Pie said in amazement.
“Not only that, she can fight!” Applejack cheered as the ursa major tried to bite again. This time Equinox caught its jaws with her hooves, and gave everyone another shock when the hooves separated out into sharp, claw like appendages. The ursa major growled as these sunk into its flesh, struggling against the robot’s solid grip. With a cold glare from her glowing eyes, Equinox wrestled with the beast, keeping its jaws immobilized as it violently tried to pry her off.
"Looks like she might still need some help. Come on Rarity, as we were before!" Twilight commanded. Nodding frantically, the white unicorn charged up a shot and blasted the ursa in the stomach, giving it something else to focus its attention on. Roaring in greater agony, the starry bear attempted to find purchase on the ground and regain its footing, but Twilight saw to that by snaring one forelimb with a magical beam, while Rarity snagged the other to keep it immobile. Realizing this gave her a much needed opening, Equinox pulled her enemy’s head up, then forced it against the ground. The ursa major gasped in choked silence as the impact made everything spin, giving Equinox the time she needed to fly up into the air, then come down like a comet again on the beast. She hit it square on its starry forehead, causing the giant monster to lurch back from the force of the blow, before flopping lifelessly into the ravine. Landing on the ground, the metal alicorn stared down her foe, daring it to rise again for another round of combat. As the minutes ticked by, it gave no sign that it was in shape to keep fighting, however, and after giving it a nudge with her horn, Equinox finally stood back, satisfied that the beast was out for the count.
Silence held in the ravine as the robot walked over to her friends, looking at all of them with a shameful expression, as if she were the one at fault here instead of the giant monster lying comatose behind her.
-I trust none of you are damaged?- She asked.
It took another moment before the ponies realized they should respond.
“We…uh…no, no we’re fine. Um, few bruises here and there, but frankly that kind of pales in comparison to what yew jest did.” Applejack responded. Equinox hung her head in resignation.
- Yes, on that I believe I owe you in particular an apology, Harvester Applejack.-
The brown earth pony was about to respond, only to then feel her mind hit a dead stop.
“Well Ah…Ah…wait, what?” She asked, getting a guilty nod from her cybernetic friend.
- I abandoned my section of the orchard in the middle of my work. I saw Scholar Apple Bloom playing with a hula hoop, which triggered another data echo in my circuits. I witnessed images of myself flying through hoops of a similar nature, thus, in an effort to replicate the result, I asked Scholar Apple Bloom if she would permit me to try a similar action. To summarize: I wanted to see if I could jog my memory. -
Still feeling her brain grind against the barrier, Applejack turned to her sister who was now looking very uncomfortable.
“She really seemed to like mah hoop, and she’s quite good at jumpin’ through it. Ah didn’t wanna disturb you or Big Mac while you were working so Ah suggested we find somewhere with more space to practice. The forest seemed perfect…but….Ah guess Ah didn’ realize we picked a spot that was right next to that big monster’s cave.”
All eyes turned back to Equinox who nodded.
– I accept full blame for endangering Scholar Apple Bloom. It was not my intention, but I will agree to whatever punishment you see fit.-
She closed her eyes and awaited the expected scolding. Silence thus descended again as everyone tried to wrap their heads around the proceedings.
“But…but that isn’t right. WE were coming out here to apologize to YOU.” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “Um…weren’t we?”
“Yes, um, look Equinox, there has been a serious misunderstanding. We’re the ones who’ve been in the wrong here.” Twilight explained. Equinox cocked her head in confusion. “These last few weeks, we’ve all been demanding more and more of you, making you do all our work for us. We realize now that was unacceptable and that we had no right to make you our…well...our…”
The robot looked even more bewildered as Twilight struggled to find the right words.
– While efficiently scheduling my time to accommodate all your requests has proven problematic, I assure you the actual workload has not been overly taxing on me. - She said.
Rather than soothe the alicorn this just made her more upset.
“Yes but it still isn’t fair!" She said. Equinox cocked her ear in concern.
-Have my efforts proven unsatisfactory to your needs?- She asked.
"Wha...no..no that's not it at all! What I meant was, even if you don’t tire easily you can’t be everywhere at once for us. You’re our friend, not our…um…look we promised we were going to help you, and obviously we dropped the ball on that. We should’ve asked you what you felt comfortable doing, not demanded you cater to our every whim.” Twilight felt her eyes start to burn again, the shame finally returning now that her adrenaline had been expended. “So, from all of us, we’re sorry we’ve been treating you so badly, that we didn’t take your feelings into account. Can you forgive us?”
Tears threatened to spill over the alicorn’s cheeks as the silver machine processed her words. She seemed hesitant, uncertain of how to react.
But then, then there came the up turn of the lips, the soft crease of the plates around her mouth as she smiled. A smile that told so much, without any need for words, that neither Twilight nor her friends could hold back their tears.
- Of course I can, Princess Twilight. While I do understand your concern, I should confess that, in truth, I had my own reasons for doing everything you asked of me. It permitted me to analyze my reactions to various stimuli, to see if anything would trigger another echo or some other unknown skill of mine. Additionally, even if your demands were great, I still felt a surprising amount of positive feedback knowing I was being of use to you all. It pleased me. -
“Yeah well, Ah think we all might have let it go a little too far.” Applejack commented.
- Indeed. I see now that I was wrong to encourage you all to continue requesting my assistance. However, I still feel a need to establish a suitable role for myself. Fortunately, thanks to the aid of Scholar Apple Bloom, I believe I have found one. -
The robot turned back to the comatose ursa major.
- While I was engaged in combat with this entity, I experienced an even greater number of positive sensations than when I was performing your other jobs. Protecting you from danger, and knowing that I have triumphed gives me feedback you could most accurately label as ‘pride’ and possibly 'glee'. Out of all the roles I have performed, guarding your lives and keeping you safe from harm seems the perfect application for me. -
Twilight blinked frantically to stem the wetness flowing down her cheeks as the robot approached her and knelt.
– In your library there is a history of the organization known as The Royal Guards, those charged with protecting the princesses and the ones they care for. If by any chance you have such a position available, Princess Twilight, I wish to announce my candidacy for it. –
Though her face stung from the tears and the guilt they carried with them, Twilight still found the will to smile, to take her fellow alicorn’s hoof and bring her up to where the two could hug and express their relief.
“If…If that’s truly what you want to do, then yes, I think I have just the role for you, Equinox!” She happily replied.
“Don’t think we need to question your abilities either after seeing what just happened.” Rainbow Dash added. “I don’t know if you realize it, but that was an almost legendary feat you accomplished there. While some may claim to have done so, there’s no official record of anyone having taken out an ursa major!”
This knocked the robot back into confusion as she regarded the beast.
- Strange, it did not register as an exceptional threat. Indeed, once my combat systems kicked in it was simply a matter of analyzing its movements and determining the right moments to strike. -
This earned her a round of laughter, which only grew more mirthful as she looked even more puzzled.
“Yew truly are somethin’ else, Equinox, and that’s why we’re glad to have yew as part of the group!” Applejack tipped her hat to the machine. “Jest, from now, I think we’ll go back to doing our own jobs and let you focus on yours.”
“Indeed, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to respect myself as a proper lady if I force others to do my work for me.” Rarity replied.
“And while they could have been more polite about it, my friends are right: I’m meant to be the leader of the Wonderbolts so I need to actually do some leading!” Rainbow Dash said.
Equinox nodded at all of this in turn.
- While I agree with all of your logic, I still insist that I am here if you ever require assistance. Knowing that I can be an viable asset remains one of my top priorities. -
The ponies all shared an uncomfortable silence.
“Well we’ll keep that in mind. Just remember that you can always tell us to take a hike if we get too pushy.” Twilight replied, earning herself another sweet smile.
- I will be more than happy to add that to my programming parameters. – Equinox said as the beast behind her gave a small snort. – Now, however, I believe we should take our leave. I cannot predict how much longer the ursa major will remain unconscious.-
“Sounds good to me.” Rainbow Dash declared as she helped carry her friends to safety.
***
Later that night…
..and so, as of today, I have appointed Equinox as the castle’s official Captain of the Guard. She seems very keen to undertake her duties, and I’ve no doubt we will all be a lot safer with her in charge of security.
Twilight wrote on a scroll, taking a moment to ponder before adding the following.
I think, in the process, all of us learned one of the most crucial things about friendship yet: friends should always be willing to help out friends, but there are limits. A true friend should know never to abuse the kindness and the generosity of another, and likewise they should know when to tell others that they are being unfair or unkind. With this in mind, we are all looking forward to the celebrations that will soon be upon us. Pinkie Pie has done away with the routine she was practicing, deeming it’d be better to just let Equinox do her own thing. Equinox in turn has been working with Apple Bloom and the Cutie Mark Crusaders on a talent show that they hope to debut at the celebrations. At present she is keeping us in the dark on what they’re planning, but I have a strong feeling it’s going to be nothing short of unforgettable.
Regards, and looking forward to seeing you and Princess Luna soon,
Princess Twilight Sparkle
Setting aside her quill, the alicorn rolled up the scroll and handed it to Spike who duly sent it off with a blast of his fire breath.
“How do you think Princess Celestia’s going to react about getting a Friendship Report after all this time?” The dragon queried.
“Hopefully as pleased as I am to have cause to write one again. It’s refreshing to know there are still things about the power of friendship that we haven’t learned yet. That in spite of how far we’ve come, there’s still a whole undiscovered world out there to explore.”
Spike smiled and stretched as he headed for the doors to the study. “Well even so, it’s nice to have some nice familiar old ground to stomp around on too, even if it is just organizing books.”
Twilight snickered that the dragon was suddenly sounding so pleased at having work to do again. Deeming she was done for the night, the purple alicorn cast a glance out her window to see Equinox standing to attention on the walkway outside, keenly scanning the area as a loyal sentry should.
All was again right with the world, and as the princess retired to her bedroom she felt that they were going to stay that way.
Well, for a little while at least. Hopefully.