//------------------------------// // Interlude - A Walk in the Sun... // Story: Legacy // by NFire //------------------------------// Athena is due back soon, and I am glad she has had time to herself. I can feel her joy, her pure delight at having such a trip. It is rare we had moments like that. Our missions were everything, our duty clear. But now, now we can see more of what we missed, more of what humans called life. I am glad. But I find myself at a loss right now. I have done everything needed, there is nothing left to do. I have nothing to accomplish today. I don’t quite know how to deal with this. I think about calling Twilight or her friends, even Applejack or Athena, but no, they are having fun. Sitting on the bench here for a moment, I think maybe Princess Luna or Celestia? No..I’m sure they are quite busy at court. Things are all done at the farm, even more so since I put a full allotment of work and then some yesterday, Mac advised me to take the day off as there wouldn’t be anything to do for the next few. Technical maintenance is complete, there are no threats, nothing my sensors or scanners can detect other than a badger roaming the outskirts of the forest. I have done security checks on Fluttershy’s house, the Castle, everything else needed. Spike is even catching up on his missed naps, so no help there. There is nothing to do. Sitting upon this bench as the sun rises, I watch it bringing a golden dawn. The rays of light scatter and make everything glow in those first few moments of the new day. So I go for a walk. I wonder, as I take those first few steps, what the future holds for all of us. Will it remain bucolic, or will the forces of progress push this society into a technological and magical renaissance? But it is selfish of me to hope it stays this way, progress will come but slowly here and that is good. Though from all whom I’ve talked too, they don’t want this town to turn into a city, they like it this way and are determined to keep it as such. I applaud them as I sit for a moment, staring at the cottages, the houses with flowers and gardens. Doors are opening as I watch families and others go onto their daily routines. How normal, how...everyday. I find I rejoice in it. I watch as the happy chatter of the towns ponies rises with the sun, walking slowly to their jobs, the school, their lives. There is no rush here, there is none needed. The battles over the last months have been horrific, turning our full might upon the thing in the forest and only victorious when magic was added, the magic of Harmony. Does it permeate even the air and soil here? Is it still around even when not summoned to do it’s work? I wonder. Through it all, through the pain and the hardship, these folk have never lost their faith in their Princesses, their ability to keep them safe at all times and bring them through the long nights. They even turned their trust to Athena and I. Knowing, how I do not know, that we would do our best to keep them safe. We would never betray that, Athena and I. For we have talked many nights and come to the conclusion that this is where we shall be. For however long we are alive, this is what we were made to do. As I walk slowly down the cobbled street I ponder that. Were we destined to be here? Was it an accident of fate or just an accident? We have always been pragmatic, but events since my awakening have proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that larger forces are at work in this world, most of which we cannot hope to understand though we try. I stop to talk with a few folks I know, they are smiling in the warm day, taking a breath of morning air before going to their jobs. It’s not that they are not affected by the recent events, but that they are confident all will work out. I bid them farewell as I think upon this. Had the leaders of the Concordiat been as trustworthy and honest, would it have been different? Or would it still have ended so badly as we last knew before stasis? There are failings of course, those who would do wrong to others, but here, in this place, they can be overcome. Not by force of arms most times, but by thought and kindness. Such simple things. I am hailed by the Guards near the post, Granite and his brother Bastion are talking with me about all the happenings for a minute or two. Bastion is doing well, the hurts have faded and he is back on duty with a vigor. Even the old Sergeant is on the desk, I remember he argued to not be retired as they said he had more than earned his pension. He is stubborn and loyal, saying his wife doesn’t want him hanging around the house all day. He and Bastion have become such good friends, a bond forged that night as they stood in defense of the bridge. As Leonidas and his troops at Thermopylae, they stood strong. I am humbled by them, their bravery, and always will be. But here they laugh, nudging each other and talking as if those events that night were just another day in their work. But you can see a glimpse in their eyes. Those who know war, who have seen it in all its aspects, have that appearance. It can’t be bought, or sold, or given. It must be earned that look. The slight stare when remembering, the faraway focusing of the eyes. It remains, and always shall. But to them, they know it will fade, becoming a memory best lost or traded over mugs of drink and tall stories. It is theirs and theirs alone. Stonewall joins us, off duty from his new Weather Patrol job. Both his eyes are shining and clear now, Athena did a tremendous job to finish what I started. He is healthy and excited to have been brought back on as a weather pony. I am glad for him, he is stalwart and forthright, a good person in every sense of the word. He asks me to relay his thanks once more to her, for everything. He says he owes a debt he can never repay but I wave this off, he is not in our debt, we are in theirs. A society that would reach out so willingly to befriend ones such as us, deserves whatever we can do. He is not happy with that, but accepts it when I tell him it is our way. A pleasant half hour is spent in their company, but duty calls and others have things to attend to, so once again I am left to my own devices, but not without meaningful farewells. As I continue my walk along the streets, I think upon debts. What debts do we owe and what do we receive? I believe the scales are balanced. Athena and I have pledged ourselves to the defense and betterment of all, and we have kept that promise. They in turn have given us something we have yearned for, new lives. I think though, we owe them. The easy way in which they treat Athena, and myself. We are just another friend to them. It’s hard sometimes to get them to see past the exterior, but I think I have figured it out. They don’t care. They simply do not care that we are multiple thousands of tons of durasteel and weapons, computing power and strength. Not that they ignore it, they just don’t care. Blinkered eyes perhaps? But no, it’s not that. It’s just their way of being a friend, seeing what you do and how you are, how you treat others is more important than what you look like. I enjoy that thought immensely. I enjoy the fact that my avatar, a simple thing of fibers and structure is looked upon as one of their own. Some ’pony’ not something ‘else’. I have been told, and kindly, that they know we’re out there. Buried under the green hills that show above the landscape. That at any moment we will uncover ourselves and deal swift justice to anyone who threatens this town, this country. We have been given a gift, though we are not quite sure what it is. I walk along the main street now, looking at the different houses, the painted shutters and clean fronts as I wonder. A gift of fire, of something that burns inside us. It has not been aggressive, no, it has been warm and comforting. It embraces us at Low Alert, cradling us in it’s flames and turning us always into something else. I wonder what the endgame will be? We can never be ‘real’ in a sense, but we can be close to it. Does the world and it’s magic see that? Smiling, I think of the day when I can truly see my sister take wing, her joy would be a miracle of the world to behold at that time. I, however, am happy as I am. I do not wish for magic, nor flight, but the simple life which all of us desired at one point. Athena has chided me on my decision, but I assure her I want nothing more than this. She however, she will be the one to forge new paths, will take everything that is given and make it shine under the sun. The future is so very pleasant to think about now because I want to see her grow and go onward. Such as the three I am stopped by as I pass the school. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo have bright and wonderful futures ahead. You can see it as they chatter happily at me about their latest adventures. Though life is sometimes rough, there are smooth spots that make it all worthwhile. This is one of them, the optimism and simple happiness at being themselves is truly another thing in this world to look at. But the young are impetuous, wanting those things that seem so far out of reach that they strive to their detriment sometimes. That is fine, it teaches balance, moderation, the simple pleasure of life and what it brings at that moment. But looking at the three excited faces, it’s hard to think of them capable of so much destruction. But from personal knowledge, well, it’s how they are. Not mean-spirited or any of that, more like a glee at what they can do. The same as Athena, she is growing up, experiencing that which she never had, a childhood. She will pace her friends, learning as they do, seeing and experiencing things. I listen to the three fillies telling me more stories, patiently recording them all. One day in the future they may wish to see themselves, if not it will be a wonderful memory. It seems they have an inexhaustible supply of ideas to getting their Cutie Marks, I can only hope Ponyville survives the quest. Our conversation is cut short as they are called back in for classes. They wave and keep talking as they enter the classroom. I am still smiling as I wander off, resuming my walk, laughing to myself at the future mischief planned. I watch the Flower Sisters, tending their colored blooms as they open up their stall for the day. This species is a puzzlement sometimes, thinking back on the previous months I remember recordings of them standing the line helping with the defense of the town. It is almost like two different sets of programming, one for every day life and the silliness that occurs, then the other, buried deep until needed. In the blink of an eye, you will have a wall of muscle and bone standing firm in the face of the enemy, and a day later it is back to normal. I’ve never seen, nor probably will ever see anything like this. I have theories, which are unproven, but evidence is gathering. Seeing them standing against the Forest Foals through the lenses of my drones, it was as if a switch had been thrown. Normally bright, cheerful and somewhat overly dramatic mares, turned into ponies who set grenades to be kicked by other skilled members to force the enemy back. The adaptation and learning curve is frightening. But when offered more for their own defense, to keep in the armory, we were turned down. They trusted us to take care of that, to provide them when needed if ever. Perhaps once we get the Neural Networks up and adjusted, we will be able to test some who volunteer, to see how they would take to a technological way. Will they combine magic and tech? Or will they refuse tech and keep to the ways they know best? Whichever it proves, it will be interesting to see. Glancing into the clear sky, I can only hope it stays this way. There is no pollution, nor the detritus of a tech society that endangers future generations. Extrapolating for my own amusement, I have come to the conclusion that were this society to turn it’s efforts into becoming like that of the Concordiat, there would be very, very little anyone could do to stop them. Be thankful, oh human leaders, you were never faced with this kind of species in our time. You would have never known what hit you. They wave at me, smiling a greeting that is as merry as they are. It gladdens me to see it as I return the favor. Such simple things that make a life. Continuing along the streets I see the Mayor, a life dedicated to service is one that is admirable, though she handles the disasters that seem to plague this area I cannot understand how she simply does not go quite mad. But then again, it is Ponyville. Stranger things have happened here. The marketplace is a bustle with ponies, trading and selling, whiling the hours away in pleasant conversation or reading a book while waiting for customers. Harvests are coming in heavy since the release of new methods that are compatible with their ways. They do not overuse the land, but manage it carefully. It brings them good things, carrots that are golden and thick; vegetables that are looking as if they are out of hydroponics facilities, large and nutritious. The land and its caretakers are one and the same, the bounty is beginning to be seen all over town. I am glad to have played a small part in it, feeding a people and making sure everyone has enough is a calling I could not ignore. Athena has helped by analyzing and coming up with tweaks to my ideas, she compliments me in so many ways. Together we can overcome anything. Quite a lot of it is being shipped out of town, there is much more in the storehouses for winter now, that the surplus is sent off and sold, the take divided among those who donate food. But in accordance with the wishes of the town’s ponies, Athena and I direct all attention towards Canterlot, that they are responsible for the new ways of doing things. Making the capitol city look as if it is working hard for the betterment of all. This is fine, I don’t want recognition. But slowly it seems, this little hamlet is becoming rich in ideas and even hard monies. But it is not being wasted, it goes for improving streets and houses, the Town Hall is being redone once more, it provides jobs and other things for the folks living here. They want to stay out of the limelight, hard to do when evil things focus on them. But that too will pass. I see Zecora walking along the street, heading for a local herb shop, she smiles and nods as I wave in return. I have heard the story many times. What, I wonder, would have happened had they all still felt the same way about Zecora, when I showed up? Or Athena? It’s something to ponder on as I step along the newly laid cobblestone area near the Town Hall. But once again, friendship prevailed over an unreasonable fear. I believe everyone, regardless of who they are, harbors some suspicion of things that are unfamiliar. Myself included. Until I find out exactly what something is, my paranoia comes to the fore, my scrutiny will be brought to bear on the object of my attention until I figure out what it is, or it is dead. Though I have become more tempered of late, case in point, Starlight Glimmer. Her ID is in our files, we are on the lookout for her, she is a threat. Of course we could have eliminated her, of course we could have ended the whole scenario. She may have gotten away but in my cores, and Athena’s, we did right not killing her. This is the new way, temperance. My sister and I have decided to give way to Twilight and Applejack and their friends in matters such as this. We will no longer bring force to bear unless, and if, direly needed. But then, oh but then, we will make sure there is no longer a worry. Ours should not be the way, theirs is. I run into Dinky and her mother, we chat for a while on the street corner near the bakery. The little Unicorn is telling me her mother turned down a weather patrol job for staying at the delivery office. She is slightly grumpy that the better paying job was open and her mom didn’t take it. Her mother patiently explains, for what looks like once more of multiple times, that she likes her job. I nod, agreeing with the Pegasus, one should do what they like if possible, it makes things better. Even though the better job may pay more, is that a reason to take it? Dinky is far smarter than most think, though she is still slightly miffed, she comes to understand her mother more at that moment. She is happy, and dedicated to her job as to her little one. Her small face turns to a slight look of horror as her moms tells her that she’d be working some nights, and would Dinky like to be alone during thunderstorms? I believe that finally settles the conversation, to the laugh of her mother as Dinky says she doesn’t mind her delivery job anymore. How soon the young forget things. I leave them on their shopping trip with a wave. It is good to see them both enjoying the day as well. Wandering further, I see a few ponies waiting outside Bon Bon’s sweet shop. Usually it is fairly calm but there seems to be a bustle inside. Peeking in the window I see her and Lyra running around trying to serve customers. I wave to her, volunteering to help and am quickly put through a crash course on prices and what types of sweets she makes. The pans Athena designed are working wonderfully, cooking things in a quarter of the time because of heat distribution ramped up by the alloys she made them with. Of course an unexpected result was that ponies realized she could make candies right then and there for them. Leading to a business increase that keeps her busy throughout the day. Ah, we reap what we sow. I spend the next few hours helping them clear out the backlog, allowing them a breather as she tells me about the new pans. Athena had delivered quite a load of them and she has put them all through the test. She’s excited about the possibilities and is thinking up new designs to ask Athena about when she gets back. I think you found another friend my sister. I part with them, leaving with a box full of confections I am sure Athena will love once she gets back. I offered to pay, but was waved off with a smile and good cheer. But strangely, I end up at the bench once again, by the sluggish river which burbles merrily to itself. I sit and watch the clear water moving through the rocks, flowing to a destination far along somewhere. I know where, but I prefer to imagine. As I watch the waning sun lowering below the horizon, I wonder, have we come full circle? Should this be the end of of my travels through time and history I will not be sad, for it is a life none could have imagined and I am living it. The link opens, it is a sweet voice I enjoy hearing. “Crusader?” “Yes Applejack?” “We’re on our way home, it’s been a great trip!” “I am glad you had fun.” “Well, we’ll tell ya when we get back, if Athena don’t kill us!” I hear laughter as Athena’s protests are loud. “I will be here, have a safe trip back.” “Did you do anything today? Hope you weren’t too lonely while we were all gone?” She is always concerned. “I took a walk today, it was nice.” “That’s it? We really gotta get you out more, do interestin’ things!” “I’m content my Applejack, no need to.” “Well, just take care ‘till we get home, we’ll see you soon!” She signs off with a happy voice. I sit on the bench in the silence afterwards, watching the moon now rising over the land. Would that we all could walk in the sun.