//------------------------------// // 62 // Story: Yonder Wandered Fluttershy // by Darkonshadows //------------------------------// Despite her explanation that the pod grenades were mostly harmless, the exception was the fact that she just brought down a Star Command Cruiser with a single lucky throw, Fluttershy noted that Bonnie still looked greener than her fur should be. Roller seemed to be watching as buildings and landscape pass by at high speeds aimlessly whirring in interest at all the things he was seeing. He was lucky to have been fast enough to keep up with the hover train. “Are you alright Bonnie? You don’t look like you’ve been shot…” Fluttershy would worry about Mira and the others later, they were trained Space Rangers and could take care of themselves. She was idly trying not to think about that four armed alien that attacked people who weren’t even in his way. “Yeah, I’m just peachy Sweet Cheeks.” Bonnie mumbled as she sat in the shadow of the containers with the two other beings. “Torque only grazed me a hundred or so times, never directly touched me.” “I’m guessing that there’s a bit more to what you want to say.” Fluttershy shyly guessed at that being the next thing Bonnie brought up; while Bonnie hadn’t been directly hit she did witness her getting blown around by those weird explosive devices. What was weird about them was that they didn’t create huge explosions. “If you don’t mind me saying this, you need to tell me if you’re hurting right now so I can maybe figure out a way to help you.” “Yeah I doubt you can immediately help me with my internal injuries, but I’ll be fine since daddy doesn’t make quitters where it counts.” Bonnie’s breathing was heavy and she started coughing a bit. “Whoa, those concussive rockets really messed up my insides. That’s what Torque was actually hitting me with, I can’t really dodge shockwaves. I can only really minimize the damage they do to me. It’s one of my more obvious design flaws when it comes to my specialty for evasion. Hah, a few more of those and my internal organs would have turned completely to mush and then where I would I have been? Some perfect evasion I happen to be.” Bonnie tried to stand and fell down; Fluttershy was immediately at her side helping her up. “Don’t talk like that; I don’t think anything can be absolutely perfect and I think you did your best. You need some rest.” Fluttershy was slowly petting Bonnie like she was wounded animal and Bonnie didn’t disavow her of that idea. On some level Fluttershy knew Bonnie was just trying to see her as a means to an end and she could tell that the alien was failing horribly by the affectionate nickname. “Can’t rest, we need to steal cargo on this train before it reaches its destination and that requires us to force our way through security.” Bonnie tried to shove Fluttershy away and she stumbled about a bit before she latched on to the plant suited equine. “Darn it, my adrenaline went down and I’ve lost some of my finer motor controls. That’s another one of my flaws. Torque may seem like a dumb thug, but he was constantly wearing my ability to evade down. I can’t stay in my high speed movement state like that for too long. Ugh, I’m practically useless like this and I still need to pull off this heist as everything else is counting on it!” “I know I’m going to regret asking this, but maybe I could um…” Fluttershy was meekly staring out at the passing blurs as the train hovered its way forward, after she steeled her nerves she looked at a dizzy looking Bonnie currently being held up by her bat wing. “What would you need me to do?” - “Oh you have got to be…” Lyra started only to be shushed by every pony watching the two differing spectacles. Many a pony had witnessed some of the weirdest things they’d never thought they’d see such a sweetheart like Fluttershy would do; admittedly it was pretty good entertainment if it wasn’t as horrifying that the kindest mare they all knew and loved was suggesting that she could even commit a successful train robbery. Discord had his attention split between Fluttershy’s ranger friend’s battling with Torque and Fluttershy dealing with her captor in the most amiable of manners possible. He had a strange look of contemplation on his face as he looked at Bonnie’s internal injuries. It was surprising how well this Bonnie held up to being within close proximity of those rather nasty weapons. A normal pony would have died in one or two near misses and was glad Fluttershy hadn’t been anywhere near one of those rockets. It was hard to protect ones internal organs after all. - “Kidding me… you? Oh, please tell me you’re joking because I doubt you’d handle the train’s security as easily as I could have. Whelp we’re screwed, there’s no chance I can even steal what I need to in my condition.” It did wonders for one’s mind when you felt like your entire universe was snapping in half. This left Bonnie to contemplate what was hurt worse, the fact that she was going to fail her brother or the fact that Fluttershy, as innocent as she could be, was suggesting she could do this. She didn’t even know why she felt bad that Fluttershy suggested that she do the job, since even the pony by this point should know she loved stealing! Maybe it was the fact that Fluttershy didn’t take the same joy in the adventure of theft? From the way she understood it, Fluttershy was one of those greater good types that only stole within reason and for a good cause. It was somewhat touching that Fluttershy was actually asking to help her with all this, since Bonnie thought she had a pretty good gauge of her moral code. It was nuts enough that Fluttershy actually made the promise in the first place, but to actually make her follow through on it? For the life of her Bonnie actually felt bad for any thought of actually abusing Fluttershy’s promise and trust, she hadn’t even thought twice about doing that with ‘little girl’ and her youngest brother. Now that Bonnie looked back on the Star Cruiser going down, it had to have been a complete fluke that Fluttershy had managed a lucky chaotic chain reaction like that given that she would had to of been originally aiming for one of the many Torque’s with that ‘mostly’ non lethal weapon. Fluttershy and the wheel just sat there in silence staring at Bonnie, she inhaled slightly with her eyes closed and let out a heaving breath that turned into a coughing fit. Fluttershy didn’t look like she was going to take back her offer to assist; in fact she had something to say about it. “So what do you want us to do?” She would be cringing internally the entire time and likely be having more nightmares about this later; the stolen Head Hunter was still quite a shameful thing she still regretted slightly. “Um… is that guy biological?” Noticing she was getting a flat look for trying to change the subject or attempt to misdirect the pony, Bonnie couldn’t help but sigh and say what had to be said. “Okay fine, you want to help? Don’t come crying to me when things get too rough for you and Mr. Wheel here.” Mr. Wheel revved that danger wasn’t something to be avoided if you wanted to be big and strong like the big bad wheelie warriors of his species. “Yeah, yeah, face your fears and everything. Obviously the size of a predator doesn’t scare you so much as the inability to move likely does, am I right?” Her comment was right, since Bonnie watched Roller freeze slightly and shiver a bit. The wheel whined that not moving was what happened to many who wouldn’t do so anymore or those who disappeared forever into the pink void creature. Bonnie acknowledged that the barely sapient animal had a good concept of death and wasn’t as fearless in that respect. “Yeah, death is something we definitely want to avoid. Especially with you Sweet Cheeks, I need you alive and well or did you forget what Evil Emperor Curd wants me to do with you?” “I know I can help you Bonnie, I’m your friend and you need to trust that I can do what you need me to. You can barely stand alone, with me and Roller helping you I think we can stand strong together.” If Fluttershy concentrated hard enough she could actually hear Twilight mumbling something and scribbling down what she just said, likely as a friendship lesson. “If you’re already regretting this, then we’re on the same page.” Bonnie shakily took a few steps and climbed on top of Roller, she took a seat on top of him which annoyed the wheel somewhat that she didn’t ask. “We need to start moving forward now, we’re wasting time. Oh, and whatever you do, don’t fly above the train. The heavy anti-air guns would waste you with a single blast if they detect you, they’d do that even to a Space Ranger’s suit. Take cover behind something when we start getting shot at and then we’ll wing it from there.” “Right, come on Roller!” Immediately Fluttershy was galloping for the front of the cargo flatbed and leapt to the next one with a hop, skip and a simple thruster enhanced boost from her suit to make the gaps between pallets. Eighteen flatbed pallets later and three pallets before they would have reached an enclosed cargo car, a beam flashed through the air and Fluttershy quickly backpedalled and ducked behind the left end of three cargo containers sitting right next to each other that reached up to fifteen feet up. Poking her head around the container she quickly pulled back as five shots passed through the space her head occupied seconds before. She had caught a glimpse of several spindly humanoid forms with rifles standing on top of the enclosed car. “Okay, that has Compu-Klerm written all over it. At least the things we’re here to steal don’t technically exist, they can’t complain about what they shouldn’t have to the authorities anyway. Stay here I need to see what exactly we’re dealing with here, because I certainly don’t remember this being included in the security details I got.” Slowly Bonnie gripped the right container lifting herself off of Roller who was taking cover at the right side container and poking out slightly only to pull back when he got shot at. Bonnie crawled up at an angle towards the top of the middle container and poked her antenna up over the edge, slowly her head and eyes followed. Getting the barest glimpse of what they were dealing with she pulled back as several blasts scorched the edge of the container as she slid downwards. “Compu-Kill Guard Robots, who in the hell did they bribe to get those on the train? That’s definitely not standard security measures and they have us pinned.” “Are they really bad?” It was unlikely for Fluttershy to know the depths of the danger they were in, she hardly understood machines and it seemed like Bonnie was better at understanding how they worked than she did personally. “They are damningly accurate, have incredibly reflexes and you should never try to get up close and personal with them. Fortunately they have a very short range of operation; they won’t be able to come after us since they can’t go too far from their activation point, what range they can work in still makes them quite deadly even if they can’t come to us. There is no reasoning with them, so just know that your friendly face isn’t going to help here.” Letting go of the container looking a bit weak, Bonnie looked at Fluttershy with wilted ears and antenna. “So, got any bright idea’s Sweet Cheeks?” “Actually I do, but I need a minute to talk to my friends. The memory stone gives me connections to everyone back on my home planet and I currently have it in my ear. Rainbow I could use a little help.” After a moment Fluttershy sighed and then said it slightly louder. “Rainbow, I’m sorry for being loud with you, but I really need your help right now! Rainbow, I know I heard you were there, please answer me.” - “Whoa, the big red guy is going to feel that one later. The little mechanical dude is pretty cool too.” Yelping Rainbow felt a sharp jerk on her tail and she looked away from the rangers still fighting Torque, it was awesome how they were handling the dangerous four armed guy who had a lot of weapons and clones. Why was Applejack pulling on her tail, she was missing all the action. “I know you hate having your tail pulled Rainbow, but Fluttershy is asking for your help and you better answer her or I will throw my hoof across your jaw like last the time we wrestled.” The stern farm pony had taken some time off to come see how Fluttershy was doing, just to see she was in another fine mess they probably couldn’t help her get out of. She started asking for Rainbow Dash for whatever reason and Applejack decided to help expedite the process of getting Rainbow’s attention. “She needs you, so get on it.” “I’m here Fluttershy what do you need?” Fluttershy on the screen pulled out something while pointing through the cargo container while asking Discord to show them the problem. They could see the five spindly humanoid death machines all aiming high powered laser rifles around the back ends of the metal containers Fluttershy, Roller and Bonnie were taking cover behind. There were four on the roof of an enclosed car and there was one in the doorway, the next car beyond had a large structure slowly rotating and pointed at the sky on top. Looking back to Fluttershy, the equine quickly mumbled out what she needed and pointed at the water container she had pulled out, Rainbow looked at the water with scrutinizing eyes. “How pure is it? Hmm… okay, it should be possible. Thankfully you have one of the best weather mares in Ponyville helping you out and you know I’m awesome Fluttershy. However doing what you want to do is going to be a bit tricky.” The other ponies just sat and watched as Rainbow mentally prepared to start instructing Fluttershy. - “What the… whoa, how in the world are you…” Bonnie stumbled backwards out into the open and Roller quickly bumped her back into position behind the containers before she could get shot by robots. Their reaction times were much faster than before and nearly just as deadly. “Okay yeah, that’s pretty neat Sweet Cheeks. Provided all this doesn’t end in hard feelings, I’ll introduce you to Sparky as he would love to see something nifty like that.” Fluttershy was visibly shaking as she held a roiling black cloud in her hooves away from her face, with a frown and a bit lower lip. Rainbow was pretty clear in her instructions and it didn’t even use a little more than half the water she had on her. She hoped this was enough to do what she needed it to. “Okay, thank you Rainbow. Roller I need your help, move there and stick you tubes straight out like this.” The wheel monster rolled up the side of the container and stuck his tubes out like Fluttershy wanted him to. Fluttershy carefully got a tight grip on the cloud in her left hoof and reached up with her right hoof to wrap it around his right hand tubes. “Please move up slightly, a little more, now stop.” Fluttershy’s rear legs were now dangling; she was hanging from Roller with one hoof. Doing a mental calculation she hoped she got his right the first time, as three of her legs were going to be in danger of being shot and she was the only one of them that could handle clouds. “Okay, thank you very much Rainbow. Roller I need your help, move there and stick you tubes straight out like this.” The wheel monster rolled up the side of the container and stuck his tubes out like Fluttershy wanted him to. Fluttershy carefully got a tight grip on the cloud in her left hoof and reached up with her right hoof to wrap it around his right hand tubes. “Please move up slightly, a little more, now stop.” Fluttershy’s rear legs were now dangling; she was hanging from Roller with one hoof. Doing a mental calculation she hoped she got his right the first time, as three of her legs were going to be in danger of being shot and she was the only one of them that could handle clouds. “When I tell you to, you will flick your tubes up as hard as you can and then flick them back straight down.” Taking a deep breath to prepare her body for this dumb stunt, even then Fluttershy knew this was going to sting even if she didn’t get shot. She hoped the Rhizome suit takes the brunt of it. “Be prepared to catch me if I lose my grip Bonnie. Okay Roller, now!” Fluttershy body went upside down and she extend the cloud she was holding in her left hoof while she curled hind legs up to meet it while keeping a tight hold of Roller’s tubes in her right hoof to make sure she didn’t go flying off. Her rear end came up and over the edge of the container and her hind legs struck the cloud forcefully while she was completely upside down and a bolt of lightning flashed out. Fluttershy grit her teeth as her three suited legs got scorched. She was quickly pulled back down as a laser flashed by her right hind leg, only to be slammed into the cargo container back first where she lost her grip and fell forwards only to have a pair of arms go around her waist to make sure she didn’t tumble off the back end of the platform they were on. “Ouch, that looked painful. You okay there Sweet Thing?” It didn’t surprise her that she was worried about the pony’s health, what worried Bonnie was that the worry was a bit more than it should be for someone she was just using as a means to an end. “…” Inhaling Fluttershy lifted up her scorched left hoof as the Rhizome suit grew over the damaged burnt section. “I’ll be okay… did I get them all?” Four bouncing piles of metal quick flew by the cargo containers, three on their left and one on their right, which certainly answered the question quite readily. “You missed one, I’ll take care of it. I just got to find out which one though.” Bonnie poked her head out of the left side of the containers and then pulled back while a laser scorched the fur along the left side of her cheek. “The one in the enclosed cars doorway, of course it is. At least you got all the ones on the roof. Stay put this will only take a second.” “BLITZNAK!” Bonnie screeched on her side as she quickly sheathed her remaining gun and used her left hand to try and cover the wound bleeding an odd colored turquoise fluid. A second later the fifth and final robot bounced off the top of the containers spooking Roller into Fluttershy’s hooves, looking up for the barest of moments time seemed to slow down. The spindly humanoid robot had three holes in it, one in the dead center of the head, one dead center of the its chest and a particular spot on its lower torso between the legs. After a moment of watching it bounce away Fluttershy got to her hooves and almost immediately regretted it, she made her way over to Bonnie who had her eyes clenched shut as she held her wound. “Need to keep going…” Bonnie stood up and started trying to stumble forward only to be pulled backwards into Fluttershy’s embrace. “Look at you; you’re hurting even worse now! I think you might have stolen something that I can use to cover the wound.” Fluttershy searched her suits bags and pulled out her glass knife to start tearing apart the one of the shirts Bonnie had stolen off the back of some thug. Leaving someone lying naked in an alleyway stripped of all their belongings was something Fluttershy would rather forget. Cutting strips from the shirt while keeping Bonnie held between her stinging hind legs, she forced the slightly struggling Bonnie to let go of her wound so she could tie the strips of red cloth tightly around her right arm. “There there, are you okay to keep moving?” “That’s my entire family’s favorite color, just so you know.” Bonnie mumbled as Fluttershy kissed her forehead making the pain go away slightly. Bonnie let herself be hefted onto Roller’s back and Fluttershy took the lead hopping across the flatbeds. They reached the enclosed train cars where they cautiously picked their way through them where Bonnie looked over each container with a scrutinizing gaze. They didn’t run into any trouble, though they did find tons of illegal Galactic Alliance black market contraband that definitely warranted the deadly robots. Three cars later they finally found what Bonnie had been looking for. “This is it; this is what we’re looking for. They’ve got to be in here, please help me crack this thing open!” A minute later the excited Bonnie got her wish when Roller broke the container open and inside were three metal barrels each with green, red and blue highlights of varying sizes from smallest to largest. “Now that’s what I’m talking about, we hit pay dirt Sweet Cheeks!” “They remind me of cider kegs.” Fluttershy was wondering why these three metal barrels had Bonnie so happy. “They’re not, trust me. They’re called DOK’s.” An eerie smile crossed over Bonnie’s face as she started rubbing her hands together despite the small twinge of pain she got from her arm for doing it. Her internal organs were also a reminder to how she felt like crap at the moment. “They are from a line of observation robots called Clyde’s; the irony should not be lost on you as to why I want them. There are three model types used in this particular brand and they are all rare, powerful and really hard to find. They look like they need some repairs as only one looks even remotely operational, but when I get them all running…” After Bonnie left that hanging in the air, Fluttershy couldn’t help but feel a chill run down her spine from head to tail. It wasn’t hard for her tell that Bonnie was taking whatever Zurg was doing, has already done or will do to her brother rather personally.