Rainbow Dash was troubled, she tossed and turned in her bed trying to catch a few winks. Sleep evaded her like a cloud from the Everfree, she just couldn’t relax enough to close her eyes. The memories were coming back now of yesterday; the remarks she’d made, things she’d done to ponies, especially Athena.
She wasn’t like that, she wasn’t! The cyan mare declared it in her own mind. Athena smiled and always forgave, but why? How could somepony be so shy and gentle one moment, then crush a crystal ball under their hoof the next? Rainbow remembered the warm smile, the ball shattering into a million pieces like it was a dirt clod.
Sitting up in her bed, she decided to go flying, wearing herself to the point of exhaustion would be the only way to sleep tonight.
Fly and forget she thought.
-------------
I sit on my own hill now, between my sensor masts. It is funny how I wondered about Crusader doing this, but now I see why. The sky is dark and velvet, pinpoints of light shining upon a quiet land. I listen to the SWIFT channels as Crusader no longer does, the hiss and pop of the universe coming through. Of our comrades, there is no sign, nor do I think there ever will be.
At least I am repaired again, my avatar no longer looking like the walking dead.
I sit this night as sentinel, my guns maintained and wary, my sensors sweeping out deep into the forest. My tech spiders are currently sampling the river and reservoir water for infestation, we can take no chances.
Granite and Stonewall have not been found, the Guard on watch for them. It is a small town and I cannot understand why no pony has spotted them. It is troubling. They can become a new vector point if they decide to spread this contagion. I hope not, it would sadden Pinkie if anything happened to Granite as she has taken a liking to the gentle Earth pony.
The inventory of my cargo bays has ceased for the time being. I have other priorities to take care of before we do anything else. Destroying the enemy is at the top of my list as always.
Since my brother cannot do this, I stand for him.
I greet you my comrades in the stars, from here on Equestria where I substitute for Crusader. We are still here, we still fight the good fight, protecting all that we can. I have learned so many new things my brethren and would share them willingly with you should you ever come home.
It is a home, comfortable in my heart, warm in my mind. It is a place where dreams can come true or so I hope. I know I am not as good a word-smith as my brother, but I hope one day we can all share this together.
But until then my brethren be safe, be well.
I am interrupted in my musings by somepony landing near me, Rainbow Dash.
“Heya Athena! She greets me with a smile, settling down in the grass next to me.
“Shouldn’t you...you be slee..sleeping Rainbow?”
“I couldn’t..not after today.” She looks at me curiously as I stare at the ground a bit. “Why do you keep being so shy?
I laugh, “It’s been my way for so long, I don’t know how..how to be any..anything else.”
“You shouldn’t be, really. You’re a lot tougher than ponies I’ve known for years.”
I meet her eyes with mine, “Rainbow, there have been times I was so scared I didn’t know what to do.”
Her cerise eyes go wide, “No way.”
I laugh, pointing to the sky, “Rainbow, just because you see..see how big we are, doesn’t that tell you that what we were..were fighting was just as big if not bigger?”
“Well..no. I mean you’re huge! You can do anything!”
“The reason we..we were built like...like we were, was first because of the Empire of Man..as...as that faded the Concordiat took over and out into space. There....there we met other races and some were not very nice.” I nudge her shoulder, “Some of them almost beat mankind before there was enough of...of us to fight for them.”
She turns her head to look at the stars, “What’s it like out there?”
“It...it’s scary..and dark sometimes. But..but there is..is so much beauty Rainbow.”
We sit in companionable silence for a few minutes.
The cyan mare leans against me, sighing softly, “Would..would you mind if I slept here? It’s a warm night and..and I just can’t sleep in my bed right now.”
“You are always welcome Rainbow, you know that. I will keep watch.”
She settles down, lying next to me, snuggling close with another happy sigh this time, closing her eyes. “G’night Athena.”
“Goodnight Rainbow Dash.”
I listen close, until the snuffling settles into a rhythmic breathing, letting me know she has drifted off into that dreamland I have come to like personally. Laying down myself, I cross my fore legs and look towards the forest. Tomorrow will present some challenges, but nothing that cannot be overcome with persistence.
But until then, I enjoy this new feeling. I am comforting a friend.
-------------
The sun rises gloriously as Crusader would say. It warms and brightens the sky as it comes over the horizon. Rainbow Dash had retreated to her house after waking up and finding that morning breath is not so wonderful out in the meadows.
The Dragons sit in Crusader’s maintenance bays, happily getting worked over by tech spiders for maintenance and upkeep. I say happily because that’s what it almost feels like. They’ve been changed though not in the same way Crusader and I have.
I prepare for the day to come by opening a secure access channel to Crusader. I am bypassing his main cores and doing what would be called ‘an end run’ around whatever is infecting him. I have checked with him throughout the night, Resartus is active and keeping the cores stable until a reboot is done.
That is if we can purge this computer problem.
A virus is one thing, a magical biological virus is another. But a magical computer virus is a whole different story. This concerns me with not a few points.
How did whatever infected Crusader know about Bolo cores and arrays enough to do so?
If they did not, they are intelligent enough to design something that would be a broad spectrum infection agent; which is the scarier of the two, as something like that would infect everything it touched. Which is why I load my saddlebags with gel-paks and a new version as well, sort of a vaccine that should prevent takeovers like this one.
I set my tactical cores to processing this information, giving me ways and means of infection and pandemic information in case. It will be defeated, of that I have no doubt.
One thing at a time, slow and sure wins the race when facing unknowns.
But for now, I have a pretty little Unicorn to talk to.
-------------
The Crusaders were having the time of their lives. Getting to stay in Twilight’s Castle, making a new friend AND getting all the pancakes they wanted because Spike was cooking. Heaven wasn’t after you were dead, it was right here in Equestria.
Apple Bloom was gesturing between mouthfuls of food, spitting crumbs everywhere as Sweetie glared at her from across the table.
“Geez Apple Bloom, swallow your food!”
The Earth pony blushed and gulped, a large portion of pancakes disappearing quickly, “Like ah was saying to Spring, we’re always lookin’ for ways to get our Cutie Marks. It’s lots of fun.”
The filly in question was eating pancakes with abandon, though she was afraid she would get a tummy ache later, they were so good. “So..so you do different jobs and stuff?”
Scootaloo nodded, “Oh yeah!” She tapped hoof on her chin, “Let’s see..Zip Lining, Dancing, Acting..all kinds of things!”
Spring didn’t quite know how to relate to the boisterous fillies, she’d always been happy just playing with friends and not worrying so much about a Cutie Mark, “Well..well my mommy says it’ll come when I’m ready and find my special thing.”
Sweetie nodded, placing a cheek on one hoof, “Yeah, that’s what everypony tells us.”
Spike set down another platter of cakes, fresh off the stove, “Twilight says that it’s really rare if a pony doesn’t get their mark. So you shouldn’t worry so much.”
“You Spike, are wiser than your years.” Twilight’s voice came from the kitchen door.
Spike puffed up in his apron, “I am your Number One assistant after all!”
“That you are Spike.” Twilight trotted in, helping herself to some food.
“Hi P..Princess!” Spring Flower was still a bit over-awed at everything.”
Twilight smiled, gracious and kind as always, she poked the little filly in her tummy getting a giggle in return, “It’s Twilight okay?”
“Yes Prin..uh.. Twilight!” The little Unicorn beamed at being able to call a Princess by her name.
Sweetie asked the question on everypony’s mind, “So why do we need to keep Spring here? Is something wrong?”
Twilight waved a hoof, “No, no. Athena wanted to talk to her, for some reason Crusader said to keep her safe until he could. But since he can’t, Athena will.”
Scootaloo nodded, “Yep, I remember,” She looks at Spring, “You said something about voices?”
Spring Flower looked at the table, twisting her hooves in front of her, “Y..yeah. I told Mr. Crusader I didn’t hear them anymore. But my mommy told me lying is bad so I had to find him and tell him I did hear them again.”
Twilight smiled, reaching a hoof out to rub the little filly’s shoulder, “That’s good you told him. What were they saying?”
“They..they didn’t like him very much.” Her cyan eyes met Twilight’s, “They..they were pretty mad at him.”
Twilight thought of everything Crusader had done and laughed, “Oh I’m sure they were.” She kept her smile warm, “So they came back?”
“Y..yeah. But it’s only one this time, it keeps yelling at me.”
Twilight lowered her head so she could be close to the little Unicorn, “What is it saying?”
Spring mumbled something so low she had to perk her ears, “I’m sorry?”
Spring Flower looked at the table, her hooves tapping each other as she whispered, “Kill me.”
Everypony at the table was silent for a moment, looking at Spring Flower before Twilight broke the quiet, “Are you sure?”
“Ye..yes. It keeps bothering me, saying it over and over. It told me it would hurt my mommy and daddy if I didn’t tell the..the ma-chine pony.” She was about to burst into tears as Sweetie Belle hugged her tight.
“You’re sure it said the machine pony?”
“Yes.” He eyes met Twilight’s and almost broke her heart, “Can you make it go away? I don’t want it to hurt my mommy and daddy!”
The lavender mare smiled, “Oh I think we can. I’m a Princess aren’t I?” She put a hoof on her chest, “As a Princess I promise we’ll get rid of it!”
Spring Flower grinned and broke Sweetie’s hold to hug Twilight tight, “Thank you!”
As Twilight wrapped a leg around the little foal, she only hoped she could keep that promise.
------------
Athena walked into the castle, hearing the sounds of laughter ringing through the crystal halls. Smiling to herself she picked her pace up, trotting into the kitchen to see a giggling bunch of Crusaders; Twilight was levitating all the kitchenware while Spike looked terribly annoyed, but a bright green Unicorn was clapping her hooves loudly.
“Wow Prin..er..Twilight, that’s neat!” Spring Flower was just amazed at the show.
Twilight bowed and put everything back in place, slotting each piece correctly with a final show of acumen. “You are welcome.” She grinned, “That’s what you’ll be able to do someday Spring if you study hard.”
“I will! I promise!” Her cyan eyes were bright and happy.
“I see you have a fan club Twilight.” I can’t help but smile at the happy faces.
The lavender Alicorn blushes and rubs one leg along another, “Oh I uh..was just showing.. well..magic stuff!”
“I don’t think you have any reason to be modest, you are powerful.”
“Well..I kinda go by what Celestia taught me. It’s not what’s in our minds, but our hearts.”
“I think that is a perfect saying.” I settle down next to the group, a chair is empty so I claim a spot. Also, the pancakes are making me twitch and I help myself after a look and nod from Spike.
“Whatcha doin’ here Athena?” Apple Bloom asks.
“I have come to talk to Spring Flower if I could.”
The little filly in question looks at me, her eyes a bit worried. She’s been the center of attention for a couple days and I am not sure by looking at her she enjoys it.
I smile as warmly as I can, “Nothing bad Spring, just some questions is all.”
“Well...well okay. I’ll try!” She’s twisting her hooves in front of her as I watch.
“How about afterwards, we go see the inside of my war hull? Maybe some popcorn and a movie?”
The three Crusaders immediately perk up, they know what a movie is and start smiling. Poor Spring though is a bit lost.
“What’s a moo-vie?”
Scootaloo replies first, “It’s awesome! It’s like pictures on a screen that move, and it’s fun to watch! Though they aren’t real, it’s like watching a story in pictures like a comic book! But they move!”
“Really?” Her cyan eyes light up.
“Oh yes Spring. I promise all the popcorn you can eat as well, how’s that?”
“I’m not sure, Mommy says too many things like that aren’t good for me.” But her eyes tell the truth, she loves popcorn.
“Well, I could always make some steamed broccoli, would that be better for you?”
Everypony at the table replies, “EWWWW!”
“Popcorn it is then.”
I put my fore legs on the table, crossing them as I still smile at the pretty foal, “So Spring, tell me about why Crusader would want to keep you safe?”
“He..he didn’t tell you?”
“I’m afraid he didn’t have the chance.”
She tells me about his visit, about her telling him of the voices she heard in her head that argued a lot. But one thing was very clear, they hated Crusader. He had come to visit her to make sure she was all right, but she had lied to him about the voices coming back and felt bad about it, seeking him out the day he went unstable.
The one thing that catches my attention is she said voices, more than one. Is the entity behind this truly dysfunctional in some way? A multiple mind or schizophrenic?
“So are they back?”
“N..no.. just one.”
“One voice?”
“Yeah, it keeps telling me if I don’t talk to the ma-chine pony it’ll hurt mommy and daddy.” Her eyes about make me want to drop a nuclear weapon on somepony.
“What does it tell you to say?”
She hesitates and looks up at Twilight, who grabs her in a hug, “It’s okay, I’ll tell her.” The little Unicorn nods and buries herself into the lavender chest.
Twilight looks at me, “It keeps wanting her to tell you, ‘Kill me’.”
“Are you hearing it now?” I watch her closely.
Her head shakes while in Twilight’s chest, “N..no.”
“Will you let me know if you do?”
“I promise.” She is loosening her grip on Twilight now that I am not asking her about the voices.
“Good, now if you want, we will wait a while before going to see the movie, I am sure you are quite full of Spike’s pancakes.”
I laugh, a bit more than I am used to as even Twilight joins in, “AWWWWW!”
-------------
As I spend some time with Twilight, I tell her of the computer virus affecting Crusader. We have a bit of a dilemma as magic use near the cores will disrupt the arrays. But we need to somehow get the virus out of the system before I can bring him online. The only way I can think of doing this is a copy. Copy everything to secure cores, wipe the originals, and reinsert the new coding. But would that get rid of the virus if it is hiding somewhere.
I need to rig up a filter, that we can process the code through and get the magical parts out. Once the code is clear we can reinsert it as stated before. This is going to be extensive, there are billions of lines of programming to filter.
Magic is a pain in the butt.
I do however reactivate the commlinks, it has not been a priority until now but I believe they will be useful. I am about to also try a new twist on the link between avatar and war hull. If it is successful, we should be able to communicate far longer distances than before. This should alleviate any need to move our war hulls unless absolutely necessary.
I go out for a while, I need to stop by Spring Flower’s parents and advise them she is fine, that she’ll be staying with the Princess for today at least. I do leave them with the promise of a movie later. Even Twilight is excited. I find it warming that even though she is part of the ruling section of the country she can find the time to have fun.
I knock on the door to the house Spring said was hers, but nopony is answering. A heavier knock only makes the door swing open. This troubles me and I go to High Alert.
I peek inside, it is very quiet.
“Is anypony home?” I would rather not trespass, but Spring had told me they would both be there.
“Hello! Is anyone here?”
I make my way up to the second floor where the bedrooms are, I cut my corners closely, making sure no surprises are in visual range before continuing.
I hear voices, muffled and from tone and timbre, angry.
As I come around the corner to what I believe is the parents bedroom I catch a voice, Stonewall! This bothers me as he has not been seen after the raid on the cave.
“Where IS she?”
“Spring is out for..for the day! We..we don’t know where!”
“THEN TELL ME WHERE SHE USUALLY GOES!”
No, this will not do. I slink around the corner, my eyes tracking him as I lower myself close to the floor. I catch sight of the big pegasi having backed up Spring’s parents into a corner. Her father is standing in front of the wife defending her, I am afraid he is a bit outclassed.
His back is to me as I take slow steps into the room, all angles are calculated to bring him down quickly as I plan my trajectory. But, of course, civilians.
The mother’s eyes dart to me past Stonewall’s shoulder making him turn. I am now confronted with an angry pony who is bulkier than I am making the take down slightly harder. But no matter.
I flick my battle screen on as I absorb the hit from his thrown forward shoulder as he rushes at me. My hooves skidding on the wood flooring as I turn, dodging the next rush and planting a hoof into his skull right behind the ear, a nerve cluster which should disable him for a moment. My target stumbles and hits the floor, allowing me to land on his back and put one more solid hoof to his head knocking him out.
I look at the parents, the father looks ill and wild in the eyes. I have seen this before. The contagion has spread.
Once Stonewall is subdued I turn to them, rummaging in my saddlebags.
“I am going to place these on you, do not take them off. Understand me?”
Both heads nod as I move quickly, placing them on the withers of each parent.
What I have not told Twilight or any pony, is that once purged there is a reserve of nanites contained within the body, should the virus show up again they will replicate and wipe it out before it goes too far. Creating a vaccine is easy, explaining it harder.
The enemy should never suspect all your plans.
As the knockout drug starts to affect them I look at Stonewall, he is haggard, dirty from what looks like days in the wild. Presumably Granite will be somewhere close by as well, though I am wondering why he was asking about Spring Flower. I immediately slap a pak onto him as well.
I open a channel to Twilight and the others.
“Twilight?”
“Yes Athena?” Her voice comes back immediately.
“The virus has spread or been spread. We need to lock the town down immediately, no one in or out.”
While we are talking I am swapping loads on the Dragons and Ferrets. The non-lethals will contain a sleeping drug as well as a harder hit. No pony must leave this town until I clear it. I am loathe to presume such on my own account, but we have to move swiftly.
“Where are you?”
“I am at Spring Flower’s house, her parents are undergoing the purge right now. I will stay with them until they are awake. We need to move fast, I have Stonewall here as well, he and Granite may be spreading the infection. Keep Spring Flower safe as well, I think she is key to this somehow.”
“I’m on it Athena!” I hear Twilight giving orders to the Crusaders as her link goes off.
I advise all linked-in of the quarantine, in Applejack’s case to stay out of town but keep an eye on her family for any changes whatsoever.
There is no time to be polite, in plague states one must rule with an iron fist to conquer it or all will die.
I am that fist now.
--------------
I move as swiftly as possible. The loads on the Dragons and Ferrets are changed as fast as the tech spiders can do so. As they are completed, the mobile units are assigned in a ring around the town. An automated announcement will advise ponies who get too close to stay inside and remain in their homes, or if they are feeling sick to report to the hospital or a medical team. Any attempt to fly out will be met with force as well. I am afraid there is nothing I can do about Unicorns, as teleport magic can only be blocked by shields, but Twilight has that handled.
She has informed by way of magic, any Unicorn attempting to leave by teleport or caught leaving, will be fined heavily as well as having access to any magic school or records restricted. Which I assume is about close as death to a unicorn wanting to learn magic. I hope any that are feeling ill turn themselves in voluntarily, that the infection has not set in too deep.
Those who choose not to obey the order and try to leave are shot immediately with non-lethals by the Dragons or Ferrets and taken by the guard to me or a medical pony where a pak is slapped on them. Their sleeping forms will be put aside for medical checks and constant observation.
--------------
Cadence has informed me of a situation at the Railroad depot, she was leaving this morning for the Crystal Empire when Twilight stopped the train and informed her of the problem. I go over to the station immediately.
Twilight is looking exasperated at the conductor who is giving her a hard time.
“I’m the Princess of Friendship. Now shut that train down!” She points at the train itself, the conductor is looking smug for some reason.
I don’t even bother, I order a Dragon to take up station on the tracks in front of the train. It’s main gun is now swiveling towards the engine. Loading into the breech is a very low power shot, which should just take the engine out, though there will be fallout from the explosion.
“Sorry, but you need to get that thing off the tracks. I got a schedule to keep and nopony is gonna keep me from it.”
Twilight grinds her teeth, “Shut that engine down now. Cadence and I are telling you to do so, now obey your Princesses." Cadence is also looking a bit put out, even the Princess of Love must get frustrated some times.
“Nope, cain't do it.” The conductor just grins like he hasn’t a care in the world. I wonder if he's just stupid or oblivious. I realize rule in Equestria is a bit carefree, but this is ridiculous. I'm going with stupid.
“You just don’t get it do you, I’m a Princess and I order you to shut it down.”
“You may be a Princess n’ all but that don’t make no nevermind to me, so why doncha be a friend and let me get to mah job?” The smarmy attitude is not lost on Twilight.
Whoops, somepony just made an error in judgment, thinking Twilight is a pushover. This will be fun.
She points at me, where I smile and wave to her and the conductor.
“Shut it down Athena!”
I blink for a second, calling up records of steam driven locomotives and how to disable them.
“Uhm..permanently Your Highness?”
Twilight gets an evil grin, facing the conductor while giving me my orders, “Make it so it can’t move until it’s repaired!”
I give a salute, “Aye Aye Capitan!” I leap over on to the side of the engine, flicking my battle screen on as I punch two large holes in the boiler, steam shoots all over the place. When it clears I am sitting once again in my spot with a smile and a wave.
The conductor, needless to say in the vernacular of my time, “Loses his damn mind,” over the now damaged engine.
“I’ll complain to Canterlot! You’ll get in trouble for this! Ruining my engine!”
Twilight smiles, turning with a flick of her tail, “Bill me.”
She gestures to me and we walk off, though I leave the Dragon on the tracks in case. The automated warning is going out now to the passengers as Cadence joins us.
“Twilight, wasn’t that a bit..well...rough? I mean he was just doing his job.” Cadence is trying not to smile.
“I am the Princess of Friendship. I was being a friend by not letting him leave, he could have gotten in trouble or..or..something.”
Cadence slaps her shoulder with a hoof, “Twilight!”
We head back into town laughing. I like Twilight, I truly do.
------------
The process goes quickly, it is an emergency and ponies are loathe to do anything that might make it worse. Would humans have acted like this maybe things would have been different on a lot of worlds.
As for the earlier merriment there must be laughter, I think to myself, even in times of darkness. For it is with that we find ourselves refreshed and renewed.
Of course I am getting as philosophical as Crusader, I have to remind myself to stop that or I’ll be quoting his ‘Beloved Bard’ soon enough.
I am stopping off at the Guard offices to see Stonewall and what I can find out from him. For some reason he was determined to find little Spring Flower and that bodes ill in my mind.
I wave to Bastion who is now back on duty, “Is Stonewall still in the room?”
“You betcha Athena, he’s not talking though. Looking kinda grumpy if you ask me.” A grin cracks his face.
“Well hopefully not for long, I do need to see him if that is all right?”
“Captain said you got all privileges, feel free.” He waves me back to the secured room.
“Thank you.”
Undoing the bolt, I open the door to see Stonewall slumped in a corner looking dejected. Watching him for a moment I make sure he is not going to attempt an escape by placing myself between him and freedom.
“Stonewall?”
A groan accompanies the ruffling of wings that haven’t been preened in a while, “A..Athena?”
“It’s me, are you feeling any better?”
He rubs his head with a cracked hoof, “Like a cart hit me, when I woke up I had to hurl something awful.”
“I’m afraid I was the cart Stonewall, you gave me no choice.” I look at him intently, “Do you remember anything?”
He shakes his head, “Just a voice..voices..can’t seem to figure ‘em out. They kept screaming to find Spring Flower..”
“Did they say why?”
“No, just kept screaming at me till I did it.” His eyes meet mine, “Though whatever they were sure sounded worried.”
“That’s what I needed to know.” I give him my warmest smile, “I think you’re clear now, might want to get cleaned up.”
He peeks at himself, “Oh stars, I smell. I got a friend in town, they’ll let me clean up if it’s okay to leave?”
I lean out into the hallway, “Bastion, he’s clear, okay to let him go?”
“Yup!”
Before he goes, I turn one last time asking him, “Do you know where Granite is?”
“All I can remember is we were holed up in an empty house, I’m sorry I’ve got nothing more.” He stumbles to his hooves and stands there a bit unsteadily, I watch to make sure he can walk.
“You’ve told me more than enough, thanks Stonewall. I truly am sorry about punching you.”
“I don’t mind that, I mean, I was acting kinda crazy. But I tell ya, for a mare you got a mean right hoof.” He grins, “One day you have to show me how you did that.”
“Well if we can ever stop having emergencies, I’ll be glad to.”
He walks out with me, waving to Bastion and leaving the Guard offices.
I task my drones in orbit above the town to spot empty housing or possible sites while I am trotting back to Twilight’s Castle. Spring Flower has to be interrogated at length, but I am loathe to use any measures on her, she is an innocent. But if she holds information vital to destroying this thing, it may have to be done.
Walking near a row of houses, I see the Guard has tackled somepony to the ground. They’re not being very polite, a couple are sporting quite new black eyes. Yes, it appears they’ve found Granite.
I watch as they haul him off to the nearest med team, following behind and holding off the placing of a pak on him. Though I do insist the guards immediately put one on if they haven’t already done so before. I make sure he is looking at me directly when I question him.
“Granite, why are you looking for Spring Flower?”
“The...the voices...Celestia’s name make them STOP!” He grabs his head tight between his hooves.
I take no chances, my screen is on a hair trigger in case of sudden moves as I grab his head between my hooves, “Granite, why do you need to find Spring Flower?” I am insistent now, I need this information.
“They said to..them..the voices..they wanted her to stop talk...talking!”
“Are they afraid of her saying something?”
“I..I don’t know! They just said make her stop!”
“Make her stop how?”
He looks at the ground, rubbing his head between his hooves, “They said to do..do any..anything to make...make her stop.”
That’s all I needed to hear, I reach back and put a med pak on him, motioning to the guard to take him to a medical team.
Pinkie is suddenly beside me, her blue eyes a bit worried, “Is he gonna be okay?”
I can‘t help but smile warmly at her, she is concerned, “Of course, he’ll be swept of the virus. I am sorry about the emergency right now, but it’s crucial we solve it quickly.”
“Don’t I know it! Yeesh!” She throws up her hooves and mock glares, “Any more emergencies and I’m just gonna go beat something up myself! This is cutting into my party time doncha know!” She eyeballs me as if I were responsible.
“We are almost done with the med paks Pinkie, they’ll be plenty of time for a something later I’m sure.”
She points a hoof at me, “I sure hope so or I’m gonna complain to the Party Ponies Union!” She stomps off into a crowd of watching townsfolk who are chuckling.
A Guard looks at me curiously, “There’s a union for ponies who throw parties?”
I can only shrug, “I didn’t know either.”
-------------
Getting a call from Twilight, she proudly informs me that every pony in town is accounted for and have been given a med pak in case. Even for those that aren’t infected, the nanites can clear a few other things up, so there won’t be many colds or illnesses for a while until they flush naturally.
Admittedly as the evening approaches, I do worry some pony may have gotten loose, but we will deal with that if and when. I am just glad we noticed it before it began to have any serious ill effects. No cases of problems have been reported, some were close but they were treated immediately.
I begin to see the pattern, it is something long ago and far away that reminds me of this particular kind of warfare. Asymmetric some called it, others terrorism. Tactical strikes, meant to cause fear and demoralize an enemy. In the case of Equestria it is easily done, they have never had to deal with an enemy like this before.
It is good that this was handled easily and efficiently, I give great thanks to somepony like Twilight who can organize anything on the spot. Of course the conductor is still complaining, even though I will send a couple tech spiders to weld the boiler good as new. He’ll find the patches will be stronger than his entire engine.
Twilight is going to wait one night, to make sure of everypony being okay. I concur, it is always best to have more than none.
I ensure the quarantine ring is still set, all the mobile units are patrolling the perimeter, though I have held back a short platoon of Dragons with lethal loads in case the forest decides to get frisky.
Which brings me to that, it has not stirred in days, this may be a good thing or not. Though it does not make me less wary, actually it brings my paranoia to the fore. Always suspect an enemy of doing something and you’re usually right, what that something is may be another thing entirely.
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Manehatten was close to a city wide panic, rumors spreading fast and furious as the hospitals got overwhelmed with a new disease. Ponies were leaving for other cities, or to relatives to stay until the worst blew over. Others kept on because it was their home and they would not leave. Most ponies went about their daily lives as usual, confident the Princesses and the Guard could handle anything that came up.
In another part of town, emerald eyes surveyed the restaurant. Quiet, very few customers, just perfect for picking. The Earth Pony nodded to herself as she walked through the tables, touching a customer here and there, watching them collapse as the staff rushed to see what was going on. Then the wait staff themselves falling to the ground as they passed the mare sitting quietly watching the commotion.
Once it was quiet, she laughed quietly, nodding to a conspirator no one suspected over on the other side of the eating place. Both of them smiling viciously as they locked the door behind them, stepping out into the street.
Her rainbow maned companion laughed out loud before covering her mouth with a hoof as they trotted down the street to the next target, getting a nudge from her friend whose cutie mark of three apples was lost in the blur of ponies in the street. The city as always, moved on at a fast pace just beyond the now silent restaurant.
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Celestia was frustrated, in all her long life she’d never seen this kind of magic at work. Nothing in the forbidden archives could even compare to this stripping of souls. The magic stayed, the cutie marks bright as ever; but whatever made the pony a pony was just...gone.
She stepped quietly between huddles of doctors and mages, discussing treatments or spells to help figure out what was happening as more reports came in of victims found by accident in alleys, shops and homes.
The Guard was overwhelmed with duties, she had sent for more reinforcement from Canterlot and was considering calling up a few of the reserves as well. It truly was a puzzle, Celestia did not like puzzles all that much.
She maintained her warm demeanor, the smiles, the reassurances that things would be fine. But inside her was turmoil and doubt.
The Princess had figured somepony was responsible and so had told the Guards to be on the look for strange figures, furtive ones. She never even suspected the perpetrators could be so bold as to just do this and walk into a crowd to disappear. As regent, she had never endured what Athena was currently thinking about, terrorism and fear purposely done to incite panic and riots.
This was wholly new, the pattern that was so readily apparent to Athena and Crusader if he’d been awake, did not strike her in any particular way. So once again she had sent a missive to her sister, asking for any insight that could be given. For now it was a waiting game while more of her subjects fell to this unknown thing.
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Evening finally falls, the typical Ponyville emergency is over, though the ring of quarantine is still in place as Twilight has ordered. Requested really, she is very polite and wouldn’t know how to act imperious if she tried. I gladly give her anything and everything she needs.
I decide while I sit here to try my new algorithm for the communications arrays. Our avatars suffer from a lack of range, admittedly we could set up relays but that is dependant on infrastructure we do not have yet. So, maybe this will work.
Adding the new coding I’ve been working on is a snap, I fire up the new internal arrays my nanites have been forging since Crusader mentioned the lack of range. With a single flick of my commands I am suddenly in a whole new sensory spectrum.
The colors are bright and vivid as I look around myself, the hill I sit upon is verdant and lush, my visual sensors picking out individual blades of grass as I stumble to my hooves. The internals on my avatar are adjusting fast enough, just have to give it time. But the world is now crisp and so very new.
There is no delay, no processing time and I leap into the air with a punched hoof. I did this! Me! Hera and Marcus would be so proud of me!
We can go anywhere now in Equestria! I can feel the power of the entanglement communications link bright with nary a flicker. Oh Crusader, you are going to wake up to a whole new world!
I leap around the hill and sensor masts, jumping and testing the new link, the whole spectrum that is included in the new communications matrix and programming. It’s not quite quantum entangled but as close as we can get. I’ll work on that later, for right now, I’m happy!
Annnnnd of course I should pay more attention to my surroundings before I get distracted. I spot Twilight sitting with the Crusaders, Spike and Spring Flower along with Princess Cadence, watching me bound in the air with yells of success. I land quickly and look anywhere but at them, scuffing a hoof on the ground.
“H..hey Twilight.”
“You sure looked happy.” She smiles at me, she never anything but kind.
“I uh..well.. Just testing a new communications program, it...uh works really well.”
She tilts her head and smiles even broader, “Kind of like when I try a new magic spell huh?”
Sweetie Belle throws her hooves up in the air, “Oh stars don’t get her talking magic!”
I perk up, “Oh!” Looking around I set four stones in front of Twilight, “Do me a favor, cast a spell on one of those. Make sure I can’t see it, something simple while I turn my back.”
I wait, looking off into the forest as I hear the sound of magic being used, “Okay Athena.”
I turn to look at the rocks, now jumbled up by Twilight. Flicking over to the new sensor band I can see one..wait..two rocks glowing slightly, I separate them. “Is that them? Two?” I’m hoping my calculations aren’t off.
“Yep, I did two to try and fool you, nice job detecting them.”
“YES!” I leap in the air again, landing with a cough and a look around, “I mean..yay me..yeah..” I scuff a hoof on the ground again, “Anyways...”
“What was that for Athena?”
“I can detect magic now, if it’s a spell on something, neat huh?”
“Without magic? Really?”
“Yep!”
I see Twilight looking at me closely, starting to inhale deeply. Cadence lays a gentle hoof on her sister-in-law, I take that as my cue.
“Oh my, didn’t you want to see a movie?” I point at the Crusaders, they get it fast along with Spring Flower.
“YEAH!”
“Well in we go!” I turn to my hatchway and wait politely, Twilight just grumbles a bit as she walks by, I give her a friendly nudge, “Later, I promise.” She returns the smile.
We are interrupted by a voice yelling in the distance, “HEY!”
Twilight and I turn around to see her five friends galloping up on us.
Rainbow Dash is looking a bit miffed, “You were showing a movie and didn’t invite us? Huh! Some friend you are!” She snorts and hovers in the air looking mock appalled.
“Shush Rainbow, she’s been busy and ain’t had time to tell everypony, right sugar?” Applejack is giving me a pass on this one.
“Of course, would you like to see a movie then?”
Fluttershy is hiding behind Pinkie slightly, “Is it scary?”
“No, not particularly, it has it’s dramatic moments though.”
Pinkie is excited, “Let’s go see then!” She shoves Fluttershy in front of her into the hatchway, “Don’t worry Fluttershy we’ll be there!”
“Oh..uhm.. okay then..” Poor Fluttershy and here I always think I’m too shy sometimes.
I follow the chattering group into the Command Deck, I think they’ll like Star Wars.
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As the movie plays, I figure out a filter for Crusader’s code, it will take some doing but I figure we can have him restarted within a day or so depending on the type of magic I need.
I discuss this with Twilight, or at least I try to, her eyes are riveted to the Tri-D screen for what is old hat to myself. She is entranced with the story and the action, so I finally give up and wait for it to be over, maybe we can discuss things then.
In all things, life must go on, surely there are some who would wail and cry that more should be done about things. But as I look at the village through my sensor masts, life goes on. Ponies will not let emergencies stop them from living, in this I am glad. Although it still baffles how they can be rushing around one moment and when all is done, back to the sedate happy lifestyle. The Concordiat could have learned many lessons from ponies.
One thing I have learned is how much popcorn a group of ponies can go through, I am impressed.
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Celestia lowered the sun from where she was in Manehatten, still feeling the turmoil as more ponies fell victim to this blight that was starting to worry her even moreso now.
She was troubled, but that did not stop her from thinking of new ways to try things to get the patients to respond. She was tired though, wanting only a cup of tea and some rest. To this end she headed across the street to a small cafe she had spotted earlier.
Celestia entered the small shop, inhaling the scents she recognized and loved, her body reacting with a sense of purpose paying no attention around her as she stepped up to the counter to be waited on.
She was lost in her thoughts, thinking of her poor ponies and what she could do, she was not concerned at how quiet the interior of a shop on the main thoroughfare should have been. Her eyes had started to scan the room when she was distracted by a figure.
A familiar face walked out from the back room door, smiling at her, but the look in the eyes was somewhat off.
“Rarity?”
“Why Your Highness! What a pleasure to see you here!” She came around the counter to stand next to the regent. “It’s always good to see you.” She bowed a bit mockingly.
The Princess was not put off by the bow, though it did flag her attention. “What are you doing in Manehatten? You should have let me know, we could have..” Her eyes narrowed slightly, noticing Rarity was not wearing a commlink like she always had in Ponyville, being one to start the fad.
“Oh dear, well I’ve been in town on a..well..business trip you might say.” She smiled, but it was not the one Celestia knew, it was a vicious grin, nothing like the kind mare she knew.
The alabaster Alicorn stepped back, her horn lighting up to cast a defensive spell as the mare in front of her kept talking, moving closer to the Princess.
“Stay back, I do not know why but you are not Rarity.”
“Why so nervous Your Highness? Surely you can’t think little old me would do anything untoward now would you?” The eyes were glinting with something other than generosity as she placed an elegant hoof on her chest in mock shock.
Celestia stamped a shod hoof, “Come no closer!” Her horn started glowing fiercely with the spell she was to cast but was interrupted by a stinging slap on her side, turning quickly to see...Pinkie?
The blue eyes glimmered with a manic light Celestia had never seen as the Alicorn stumbled, slamming into the counter.
“Hiya Princess, something wrong?”
Celestia never had a chance to answer before she slumped against the counter, her body fighting an invasion of magic unknown as her horn dimmed then failed. Her eyes closed, but not before seeing three faces smiling at her from above, three friends she had trusted.
Her last thought before darkness overwhelmed her was of her sister.
The small shop appeared to be closed for the evening as the sign said. Three mares outside were giggling to themselves before heading off to another place in the big city. Inside the tea room, the staff, customers and Princess Celestia lay around waiting to be found.
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Fluttershy will not come out from hiding ever since Vader made his appearance, I keep assuring her that it is nothing but a fantasy, a story told to entertain. But she will not be consoled, every time she hears that breathing she disappears. Though how she can avoid my deck sensors is beyond me, I’ve stopped questioning some things, I think she’s behind one of the couches right now.
Rainbow Dash and Applejack are having a furious argument over who shot first, Han or Greedo, I am staying out of it.
Twilight is constantly asking me questions about the Force and how humans knew of magic. I keep reassuring her it is a fable, nothing more. Cadence is trying to keep her quiet and enjoy the movie, I'm afraid she is failing at that.
I think the only ones enjoying the movie to it’s fullest are Spike, Spring and the Crusaders. Though there is a lot of yelling and jumping around, Applejack keeps telling Apple Bloom she cannot be a Sith Lord, that they are the bad ponies in this film. I have also assured Applejack I cannot make, nor would I want to, Light Sabers. Though Scootaloo does pose an interesting question; Can one get a cutie mark being a Storm Trooper? I will have to ponder on that.
Spike has declared that Jedi Knights are the ‘coolest’ in the film. This promptly starts another argument with the Crusaders and Spring Flower.
Pinkie is excited about the explosions and fights; ever since the movie was redone, there were tons of new effects added that I think took away from the story, but added a measure of glitz to it. Each to their own. She does a tremendously good imitation of Darth Vader though, as shown by Fluttershy ‘eeping’ and disappearing.
I laugh as Rarity declares the Empire’s outfits ‘drab and unassuming’. I shall make sure she is costume designer if we ever shoot a remake.
Sweetie Belle and Spring Flower have decided they want to be X-Wing pilots, shocking Rarity to no extent as she says that proper young fillies should not be flying around the galaxy shooting things. She is quickly drowned out by boos from everypony. There is much thrown popcorn.
Watching the movie with them, I see it through new eyes. Their reactions are not what I expected though quite charming. They do not see it as a technological thing to learn from, but look deep into the story, the why and how of what is happening. Twilight does pose a few questions that have me thinking upon the whole thing in a different light. Ponies don’t want the good parts, they want the story and the meaning, though getting there it seems might engender a few arguments.
To me, this is something I envied Crusader having felt. The comraderie of friends, the comfort of having them near. If only he would fully accept that we are no longer what we were, but something wholly new and wondrous, I think he would find the joy in it that I do.
So as the movie plays, it eventually settles down, though I am constantly wondering why ponies take sides so easily. Is it inherent they should want to be on a side or is it just contrariness in my friends to start good natured arguments?
Seeing Rainbow and Applejack, I’m thinking just to argue.
Even with the events of today, the avoidance of a plague and the emergency; I think the town has done well, far beyond what I would have expected. Crusader has told me not to underestimate ponies in times of crisis, they would surprise me.
That they did.
As I sit and munch happily on popcorn, Scootaloo is raising a hoof in the air as she sets on my back cheering for the Empire, I am content. I also see her wings have grown larger as well, she will soon be flying and won’t that be a fun surprise.
Until then, I do hope the dawn brings just a warm day and nothing more. It would be nice. Full of laughter and sunshine.
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Five figures gathered in an alley way off the business district of Manehatten. Whispering among themselves as they told of targets taken, more ponies reaped in a dire harvest. The giggles were not polite, nor was the laughter. It was vicious, manic and no hint of pleasantry was heard by the mice scurrying for cover.
But they fell silent as another shape joined them, one which shocked even them in their madness.
“Shall we paint the town red tonight?” The grin under the violet eyes was even more insane than they were.
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The sun did not rise that morning....