//------------------------------// // Something Never Seen. Manipulation. // Story: Legacy // by NFire //------------------------------// After yesterday’s little escapade, Applejack is still not pleased with me. I can understand she cares deeply for her sister, but there is nothing I would not do for my first commander. I am sure in time she will see that. We have talked a bit today, about the birthday party, which was a rousing success as told to me by Applejack. I am still not quite sure how the cupcakes got into the Dragon Tank, but cleaning them out of the gun barrels was not something that I wish to repeat, I think I should ban Pinkie from any more rides. Twilight, somehow figured out how to traverse the turret, aiming the Hellbore at anything she wished, I only took over when the barrel almost smashed into a tree. I remind myself I must not underestimate ponies any more. However, I am told that Rarity will make a full recovery once her nerves have settled, she did quite enjoy the ride, although it was a bit bumpy and you can get a bit seasick in a moving tank sometimes. Fluttershy would not enter the vehicle no matter how much prodding, I assured her over and over it was fine, but I am afraid she sat on the sidelines. Rainbow Dash on the other hoof, took to it like a natural born tank commander, she shows a bluster that belies something underneath, it will be interesting to see what that is. -------------- In the aftermath of the party, the countryside is quite torn up, this allows me to use my tech spiders during the night to set up more perimeter sensors along the forests edge. That they also double as signal controlled mines is not the point. As an ancient Roman philosopher once said . “Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum.” So you want peace, prepare for war. The ponies of Ponyville and beyond shall have their peace. I have shored up the tunnel leading to my cargo bays, this will now allow me to deploy the platoon of Assault Tanks from the cargo area in record time. The entryway is hidden and I have not advised anypony about it, it is better this way. Until they are needed, they shall be ready to deploy, another vicious little surprise for my foe. -------------- During my morning maintenance of the drones, I receive a call from Command, Princess Celestia has advised me her and Princess Luna need to talk face to face with me. I assure her that the combat channels are secure and encrypted, but she appears to be wanting a meeting anyway. I shall be glad to talk to her again. She is a shrewd politician, though in my day calling someone that was tantamount to implying their mother was a llama. I finishing refueling and deploy the drones back on their assigned routes, awaiting the royal visit. -------------- As they enter the command deck, I notice they are both wearing a bit of a frown, it seems something has disturbed their normal calm and smiles. This is not a good beginning I believe. “Good afternoon Your Highnesses.” “Good afternoon Crusader, I hope you are doing well?” Something in her tone of voice makes my audio sensors perk up, something is definitely bothering her. “I am well Your Highness, what is bothering you today?” I see a bit of a start, I believe she is not used to anyone discerning her moods. “It appears as though the word about your battle with the Everfree forest recently, has made the rounds.” “As to be expected your Highness, I’m afraid I couldn’t keep that a secret if I wanted.” Princess Luna settles on a couch, nodding, “But it has found the ears of those who would make a fuss about it.” “Oh?” “We have other nations around us Crusader, the Griffons, the Dragon nation, others that see us as either something to conquer, laugh at, or ignore unless they want something.” “So, pardon me for being a bit obtuse Your Highness, what do they want?” Princess Celestia settled into the couch alongside her sister, she tilted her head, thinking for a moment as she raised an elegant hoof, “While we are just us, please, call me Celestia.” “Yes Celestia.” The hoof lowered, as she thought of a way to present her quandary. “It seems they think you are destabilizing to the peace of all nations.” “I can surely see why.” Princess Luna, a bit more blunt than her sister, “They want us to share anything about you with them, technology, discoveries, everything.” “That will not happen. We have an agreement about technology, admittedly the ride in the tank was fairly close to breaking it, but it was a special occasion.” The darker mare laughed, her voice and face showing a suspicious glee, “Oh we heard about that, and seeing the countryside out there looking freshly plowed, I assume it was a lot of fun?” “Apple Bloom and her friends had the best time of their lives. Apparently Twilight and her friends did as well.” “I wish we could have seen that my sister!” Celestia smiled warmly, “Oh I’m sure Crusader took pictures.” “I did indeed Celestia.” The alabaster mare smiled once more, then returned to the task at hand, “We do not have a standing army Crusader, we handle threats with diplomacy and goodwill. We placate those who have a problem with us and work towards peace in other ways.” “Then what would you have me do Celestia? I am a citizen here, I am under your command, I promised to do nothing but protect and serve as would any citizen I am assuming.” “You have, and you have kept to it honorably and well Crusader. My little ponies are not interested in high technology, they do what they will and are happy, I do not want them disturbed.” “As do I Your Highness.” “Eventually the day will come when these things are learned and accepted, but they will do so at their own pace. Even with all your demonstrated capabilities, have you noticed nopony wants to know how?” “I have, and that is fine. It should come slowly.” “It is as it should be.” “But you fear these other entities will take advantage of anything given correct?” “I do, some are warlike, some are just greedy, some just want the knowledge to hold over others.” “This does not make me happy Celestia, I would choose to be left alone.” “I would do so if I could, unfortunately politics is an ugly thing some time.” “What would you want me to do?” “Do? Why Crusader,” Here I see a very large smile, “I want you to be yourself.” -------------- The parting comment before they left, has given me pause. Does she wish me to be like I am, a machine of war, or as a new citizen of Equestria, humble. She said she wanted me to be myself, true to form, I will be myself. The meeting of diplomats is in two days, I have that much time to plan something that will forever lay to rest any thoughts of using me or my technology as a pawn. -------------- Bronze Shield and Spear Point were not happy Royal Guard Pegasi, ensconced in a big metal box traveling quite a lot faster than anything they’d been in was an unnerving experience. They’d had experiences before, but wearing an odd looking helmet, with a voice that talked to you, and not being able to control this Celestia danged thing was seriously getting their feathers ruffled. Bronze on the other hoof, was annoyed by Spear, who was sitting up in the top opening yelling ‘Wheee!’ every time they hit a hill or jumped a hole in the badlands, it was bad enough not being able to fly, but putting up with the whooping was getting on his nerves. “Tell me WHY we had to do this again?” A smooth voice answered them from the helmets, “I need witnesses, somepony who can attest to what they see, and be unimpeachable. You two were suggested as Royal Guardsponies.” “Remind me to thank the Sergeant when we get back.” The sarcasm dripped off his reply. Crusader chuckled over the combat link, “No worries, I’m sure he will know.” “WHEEEEEEEE!” “SHUT UP SPEAR! For Celestia’s sake can’t you stop doing that?” “But it’s fun Bronze, c’mon we’re not standing around doing boring stuff, we’re out here in a..uh..what did you call it?” “A Dragon Assault Tank.” “Yeah what he said! Relax, we don’t have to do a thing!” “Please relax both of you, it will only be for a few hours, we are already in the Badlands, this is the only safe place for a show that might convince the rest of the nations to leave Equestria be.” A weapons test was the only way to prove anything to doubting diplomats. My experience with them is they tended to disbelieve anything they didn’t wish to. Typical blind arrogance, my filming of this test, plus the witnesses of the two Guards, should be more than enough. Celestia advises me they have truth spells they can use to prove anything as well. A demonstration of this sort is nothing they can ever glean any technology off of, plus, hopefully, it will frighten them enough to let the matter lay forever. As Celestia said, I am being me. My job, crush the threat forever. “Okay, we got plenty of room here, so whats going to happen now? It’s pretty bleak so nopony can get hurt right?” “Correct. I want you to pick a large rock, or even something larger, leave the rest to me, but I need you to watch from the top hatch, that is imperative. No matter what happens, you must watch.” “You got it!” The tank rocked to a halt as Bronze pointed out a large rocky hill off in the distance, there appeared to be nothing living in or near it as far as the drone could see. A perfect target. “Bronze, please close the hatches and move upwards to the turret, the top hatch.” “Done Crusader, just let us know!” I wait as the Guard closes the gunner and drivers hatches, squirming his way up beside Spear Point in the turret, I advise them to keep a hold of the turret and hang on as I power up the Hellbore for a shot. Spear turned to Bronze, “So what ya think’s gonna happen? Some really cool magic?” Bronze shrugged, “I dunno, after that Everfree forest battle, Luna knows what this pony can do.” “I’d advise you to hold tight. Your helmets will protect you” Both Pegasi grab the sides of the hatchway and lean out, peering over the barrel of the main gun. Bronze spoke into the radio, “So what ex..” The breech clanged shut on the war shot, the barrel traversed slightly as it rose upward by a few degrees. The tanks treads locked in place as suddenly for the first time on this planet in a million years, a Hellbore shot was fired. The ground lit up around the tank, rocking it severely back on its shocks and treads, the two Pegasi were blasted with the concussion as the two megaton per second shot boomed out over the badlands, completely destroying the hill in front of them.The shock rolled over the land, kicking dirt and dust up in waves as it exploded from the epicenter. The two Pegasi were covering their heads as debris rained down on them while the tank shifted gears, moving out of range before they could be hurt. As the dust cleared, the two Guardsponies peeked out from under their helmets, seeing a smoking crater where a very large, rocky hill once stood. Their faces covered with dirt as they shook themselves, seeing something that had never happened before. “Luna’s dark blessings..did you SEE that?” “I uh...oh Celestia I gotta hit the little colts room bad..” “Stay where you are, there is one more to be done, the blast shields on the helmets will protect your eyes.” I swivel the turret once more, slamming another round into the breech, I warn the two Guards as I let another shot roll off the tank, into the side of a different rocky hill in the distance. Once again, the result is the same. I let the rain of debris finish before clearing them, warning them to stay away from the blasted areas. The two Guard ponies rushed off into the bushes, coming back in a few minutes as they looked out towards the ruins of what once had been two very prominent hills. As the tank rolls quickly back to Ponyville, the two guards are quite silent, thinking about what they’d just witnessed and hoping they never got chosen for anything like this again. I feel extremely bad that I had to subject two ponies to that, but I needed live witnesses. Celestia had told me of the stalwart guards and suggested them. Though I do not think these two will want such an experience again. I try to comfort them as the tank makes its way back to Ponyville, they refuse to talk with me, taking the helmets off. When we reach the town, they scramble out and do not even look back. I do wish them the best though. -------------- I work through the night, putting a film together I may be able to show the representatives of the various races. It is not in my nature to be diplomatic, though I have learned in the past month or so, how to be. By listening to my friends, by seeing how they act and comport themselves, I believe I can bring this to the table at the meeting. I have stood honorably to defend Ponyville, and by extension Equestria, as I have pledged to do. I am not pleased that Celestia has brought me into this, I am not one for mincing words, but it appears that I am to be the bad guy, while she smiles warmly and reassures the diplomats that it will be fine. We will definitely have a talk after this is over. Manipulation has never been in the best interests of anyone.