//------------------------------// // Metal Madness, Part 1 // Story: Quoth the Raven: Into the Light // by LordLycaon //------------------------------// “Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.” - William Pollard -o- Canterlot was alive and bustling, with high-class ponies sauntering about running high-class errands, enjoying high-class food, and speaking high-class words (which was really just glorified gossip), all more or less unaware of a gathering of guards and other officials in the guards’ training grounds just outside of the castle. The princesses themselves, Celestia, Luna, and even the young Princess Twilight, were in attendance as well, several armored ponies flanking them, spears held to deter any who would dare approach the Royal Sisters and the Princess of Friendship. Before them, a tan-coated unicorn stallion with graying mane tinkered away at something covered by a large tarp. It appeared to be multiple, pony-sized somethings as well, five in all. Silence dominated the air, only interrupted by the occasional clink of metal from under the tarp. “What do you think he wants to show us, Princess Celestia?” Twilight asked as she leaned closer to the tall alicorn. She’d tried to sneak a peek under the tarp when she arrived, but the stallion, a scientist of some renown named Savant, “politely” shooed her away. She squirmed, her curiosity was beginning to get to her. Celestia gave a soft hum. “I’m not sure,” she admitted, “but Dr. Savant has provided us with some very innovative inventions in the past. I remember a few years ago, he demonstrated something he called a ‘telephone,’ but he seems to have lost interest in that.” Twilight nodded, remembering that herself. She was still Celestia’s student at the time, and had been fascinated by the doctor’s demonstration of the plausibility of instant, two-way communications between ponies. From what she’d heard, he’d passed it off to a colleague, who had yet to really perfect the invention. It was still years from mass production, and what they had was typically reserved for government use. Luna shook her head, her ethereal mane swaying with the motion. “I am still unsure of this advancement. Such… creations do not sit well with me.” The elder sister chuckled lightly at her sibling’s words. “It’s nothing to worry about, sister. You’ll get used to it.” “I’ve had three years now to ‘get used to it,’” the Lunar Princess muttered, only to get another giggle from her sister. “I doubt I will ever understand ‘modern technology.’” “Things have a way of changing before our very eyes, sister, and we must learn to adapt to the new changes, or be left behind to stagnate.” Celestia’s eyes swept the collected tarps. “But we must also remember the lessons of the past so that they are not repeated.” Luna’s gaze fell to her hooves and Celestia wrapped a wing around her sister’s withers. “You know what I mean, Luna.” Luna took in a breath and let it out in a huff, nodding. “I do.” Her teal irises eyed the tarps with some hostility. “But that does not mean I have to like it.” Just then, Twilight waved a hoof. “I think he’s about to start.” Sure enough, Savant had pulled himself out from under the tarp, smiling to himself with an eager glint in his eyes as a small wrench hovered in his yellow-orange magic. Setting the tool aside, he turned to the princesses with a confident grin. “Thank you for your patience, Your Highnesses,” he said in a somewhat calm voice, sounding eager and ready to get the show on the road. His strong accent made his origins in Trottingham rather obvious. “Just a few last-minute adjustments. Anyway, now is as good a time as any to begin, hmm?” Twilight and Celestia leaned forward, Twilight much more eagerly, while Luna withheld any enthusiasm as Savant cleared his throat. “Dear Princesses,” he began, “I thank you all for seeing me today and for the chance to show you my newest—and perhaps my greatest—creations yet!” His horn lit up, the tarp glowing with his aura. “Your Highnesses, I give you… the Pawns!” The tarp lifted off its contents, revealing five metal, pony-shaped… things standing rigid as statues. They looked like armor that would’ve been too small to wear for an average pony of any race. Celestia quirked an eyebrow, while Twilight tilted her head curiously. Luna began to show just a bit more interest now. “Doctor,” Celestia said, “what, exactly, are we looking at?” The inventor chuckled. “I’m glad you asked, Princess. These Pawns are whatever you want them to be! Loyal house guards, law enforcement, heavy laborers, or even soldiers on the front lines! They can perform tasks normally deemed too dangerous for ponies, such as mining miles belows the surface, handling and disposing of dangerous chemicals, fighting large beasts, you name it!” “We have magic for such things,” Luna pointed out, seeing the “inventions” as unnecessary wastes of metal that could’ve been used to forge armor, weapons, and building materials. “Perhaps, Princess Luna, but that still requires putting living ponies in peril to perform these laborious tasks. With a Pawn, you see, there is no fear of losing a life. If a Pawn is destroyed, we can simply build another!” “Question,” said Twilight, who raised a hoof instinctively. “Why ‘Pawns?’ That seems a little derogatory, doesn’t it?” “I enjoy a good game of chess,” Savant answered quickly. “And they’re only machines. You can’t insult that which lacks feelings to hurt.” “Perhaps you can give us a demonstration of what your… Pawns are capable of, Dr. Savant,” Celestia suggested, her cerise eyes looking over the collection of metal ponies. “Of course.” The inventor turned to the nearby guards. “Perhaps one of you would be willing to spar with one of my Pawns? Only as a demonstration.” The guards looked to each other for a few moments, all of them unsure, until one finally stepped forward with a frown pointed at his comrades. “Come on,” he muttered. “They’re just glorified scrap metal.” He stepped up and bowed. “Allow me the honor, Princesses. I’ll show everypony here that no metal toy is a match for the training of the Royal Guard.” Celestia gave a pleased smile and nodded her approval, and the guard turned towards Savant. “Get one of your toys ready. I’m about to break it.” Savant nodded, unfazed by the guard’s tone, and lit his horn again. One the Pawns, the one in the center, vibrated, its hollow “eyes” lighting up the same color as Savant’s magic. It turned its head to its creator, who motioned to the challenging guard and said, “You are to spar with this gentlecolt here. Incapacitation only, nothing permanent. You are not to begin until I give the word.” Amazingly, the metal pony nodded, stepping toward the guard, spreading its legs wide in a battle stance. The armored stallion blinked in surprise, recognizing the stance as the standard of the Royal Guard, albeit stiffer, and no doubt lacking in fluidity. Still, it was nothing to be worried about. “Are you prepared, sir?” Savant asked. The guard nodded as he sank into his own stance, ready to leap at the Pawn. “Very good. Begin!” With a whir of machinery and a clanking of gears, the metal Pawn charged ahead, its glowing eyes unblinking as it charged the guard. Even as he settled into a defensive stance, the Pawn brought back its foreleg in a punch and swung. The guard accepted the hit on his armored shoulder, and he felt himself skid back from the blow. “All right, so they’re strong,” he muttered and charged after the Pawn as it turned for him again. The Pawn again brought back its foreleg, but he ducked under the swing and whirled to give it a full buck in the side. A jolt of pain hit his legs, as if he’d just kicked the side of a mountain, but was rewarded with the sound of metal clanging heavily against the ground. He turned to see the Pawn scrambling on its back, its head turned at an unnatural angle. “Ha!” the guard bellowed. “Looks like your toy is—” He and others gasped in shock as the head of the Pawn rotated independently of its neck and clanked to its hooves. “By Celestia…” the guard uttered as the machine’s head soon clicked back into place, not unlike something from a horror movie, or some twisted novel. It then lunged at the guard, heartless eyes blazing as it tackled him to the ground. It pulled his forelegs behind his back with its left hind leg to just below the back of his neck. “And there you have it!” Dr. Savant said with a wide grin that hadn’t faded once since his showing began. “My Pawns are—” The sound of pained groans interrupted him, the Pawn still holding onto the guard. It didn’t take long for the guard’s groans to become pained shouts. “Get it off me!” the guard shouted as the machine continued to pull his forelegs back. “What’s happening?” Twilight asked in a frantic tone. Savant hurried to the machine. “It’s over! Release him!” The Pawn gave no indication of obedience, instead pulling harder. A sickening crack was heard, and the guard screamed in agony. “Pawn 3, I order you to—” A burst of gold struck the Pawn, blasting it apart in a shower of cogs and gears and sheets of metal, freeing the guard, who was helped up by his comrades, all of whom gave Savant angered looks. Nervously, the doctor turned to the princesses, seeing a frightened Twilight, an angry Luna with her horn’s light dimming, and an unreadable Celestia, whose own horn was still burning with her potent aura. “I-it’s new technology!” Savant assured them halfheartedly. “Th-there’s bound to be some problems! Science is eighty percent trial and—” “I believe we’ve seen enough,” Celestia said as she turned her gaze to the injured guard. “Take him to the infirmary. I will see to his injuries personally.” The other guards dipped their heads. “Yes, Princess.” As they helped their whimpering companion away, more than a few guards shot Savant a scathing glare. Celestia returned her focus to Savant, her horn’s light finally dying down. “Your ‘Pawns’ as you call them are impressive, but it is clear that they are too dangerous.” “B-but I—” “I’m sorry, Dr. Savant, but you will not be receiving any funding for this venture. These creations of yours…” Celestia trailed off, apparently thinking on her choice of words. “They clearly place no value on life,” Luna finished for her sister. “Such cold, dispassionate… machines are useless to us.” “As fascinating as they are,” Twilight added, “I’m inclined to agree. They’re not safe.” She motioned to the Pawn Celestia had blasted. “And on top of that, they’re clearly not very efficient.” She held one piece of the destroyed Pawn in her magic, resembling a large bulb. “This arcane engine is already a quarter empty. It would’ve broken down too quickly to be of any real use in extended combat. It’d need constant refueling to keep the Pawn running properly.” “Not quick enough, it seems,” Luna said with a bit of a snarl in her voice. She looked at the stunned Savant with a disapproving glare. “Aside from the mechanical problems these ‘Pawns’ possess, your automatons would devalue the cost of life in war.” He sputtered. “B-But, they would save lives! Nopony would have to die if my creations were the only ones to see battle!” “And then war would have no meaning,” Luna said, standing taller. “It would be nothing more than a simple game in which the two forces would just continue to throw away lifeless machines to the point where the true meaning of what war is would be forgotten. A war is not for machines; it is for those who have reason to fight beyond simply being told to. To show their valor and fight for what they feel is for the betterment of their civilization and their families.” “But—” Celestia raised a hoof, silencing Savant before he could start. “Take your Pawns and leave us. If you have something else to share with us in the future, we will gladly grant you an audience. Good day, Dr. Savant.” And with that, she and her fellow princesses turned and took their leave, leaving Savant to stand alone on the grounds with no company but his voiceless Pawns. He collapsed to his knees, staring at the ground. How could this be? This can’t be happening! His creations were near flawless! A minor tweak and everything would have been fine! He, the most brilliant inventor Equestria has ever seen, was snubbed! When he lifted his gaze, he bore figurative holes in the backs of the departing princesses. “I’ll show you,” he murmured quietly under his breath. “I’ll show you that my creations are flawless.” He snarled before he turned to collect his remaining Pawns. -o- Another glorious day in the city of Manehattan! The streets were crowded, the carriages ran past without a care if ponies were out of the way or not, and Swirling Line’s boss was shouting her name again. Yes, it was a flawless day in Manehattan. ‘I think I’m starting to rub off on you,’ said Nevermore. ‘Don’t start,’ the pegasus warned her spirit occupant as she weaved through the tables of the restaurant, carrying her tray full of fried foods drowned in grease that practically clogged her arteries just from looking at them. Honestly, Lou was a good cook and all, but was all that slime really necessary? Setting the tray on a table of waiting patrons, she made sure she got everything to them, checking her list and occasionally eyeing the wall clock hanging above the cash register, eagerly awaiting when she could clock out and head over to Daytime Delights for some well-deserved sweets. The thought of devouring something chocolatey was almost too much for her to bear at this point. ‘You know, come to think of it, I’ve never actually had chocolate. Always been curious, though.’ Nevermore’s confession made Swirling freeze for a moment before she forced herself to continue back to the counter to receive the next tray of food. ‘Seriously? You’ve never eaten chocolate?’ ‘Couldn’t even if I wanted to. No physical body. At least, none that your mind could really wrap itself around. Shadow spirits are physically incapable of eating.’ ‘Well… that bites.’ There was a long, suffering groan from her mind. ‘Did you really have to do that?’ ‘Yes. Yes I did.’ A loud sigh echoed in her thoughts. ‘I sometimes regret choosing you as my host.’ Swirling held back a chuckle as she heard Lou yell at her to get back to work again. Shaking her head, she picked up her notepad and headed for a table of customer who had yet to make an order. The casual drone of the chatting patrons caused her to rub at the sides of her head. Maybe after a chocolaty visit with the Days, she’ll head home and listen to some relaxing music for a change. Her ears swiveled as she heard a group speak. “Hey, did you read the news today?” “Nope. Why?” “Apparently, there’s some scientist out there that’s claiming to be working on some kind of serum or something that’s supposed to enhance a pony’s magic. Make it stronger or something.” “You mean like those muscle pills that… you know?” She glanced over and saw the first speaker shrug. “I don’t know. I’m just telling you what I read. I think it’s crazy, honestly.” Seeing how it wasn’t anything she cared about, Swirling continued towards the bar where another platter of food awaited her. The whole while, she only craved Bright Day’s homemade sweets and baked goods more and more. -o- Pushing the door to his Manehattan University lab open with a snarl, Savant slammed the door behind him, trotting past a menagerie of mechanical parts and tools, occasionally stopping to try and get his mind off his troubles by working on unfinished products. Ultimately, his tinkering failed to distract him, and he eventually found himself brooding at his desk at the back of the room. He clicked his front hooves together, running recent events through his mind over and over, his brilliance forcing him to analyze every detail of what had happened. Pawn 3 had clearly suffered some sort of mechanical error. Perhaps he made a mistake somewhere along the line constructing the machine’s head? Intelligent as he was, even he couldn’t account for every little detail in the moment. There could’ve been a misplaced wire, or a loose bolt or two within the skull casing. As he had told the princesses, this was new technology, fresh from the womb of scientific thought. There were any number of possible reasons why Pawn 3 reacted the way it did. As he mused on his invention’s flaws and ways to fix those flaws, he heard a knock on the door. Letting out a brief sigh through his nose, he said, “Come in.” The door opened, and a lanky young stallion wearing a postal uniform entered. He pulled an envelope from the bag hanging from his shoulder. “Are you…” He took a look at the envelope. “Dr. Savant? I was told this was your office.” Savant nodded, taking the letter in his yellow-orange magical aura, then waved a hoof to the mailpony, dismissing him with a mumbled thanks. The lanky stallion rolled his eyes, muttered something about snooty, uppity types, and left the inventor to his mail. The gray-maned unicorn eyed the envelope curiously, wondering who it could be from. There was no return address. He narrowed his eyes at that; he was no expert in the field of postal service, but wasn’t there a law that mail had to have a return address? Regardless, it was very clearly addressed to him. Tearing the envelope open, he unfolded the letter within and began reading: To the good Dr. Savant, We are admirers of your work, and always enjoy seeing your latest creations. Such marvels of science must not be overlooked as they are. We are especially awed by your latest inventions: your Pawns are truly an ingenious and astounding feat of engineering. He froze at that last sentence. How could whoever sent this letter possibly know about the Pawns? And how could they have sent a letter so quickly? His intrigue now officially piqued, he read on. The princesses are foolish not to see the potential in your works. We, however, refuse to let such an invaluable tool fall from the reach of ponykind. On the back of this letter, you will find an address where you will find a significant sum of bits awaiting you. You will meet an earth pony mare there who will ask you what sort of supplies you will need. We feel that you know as well as we do that Celestia, her sister, and former student are clearly no longer fit to lead Equestria. It would be for the good of all that they step down from their positions, but it is doubtful that they will do so willingly without extensive persuasion. We feel you already know by now what must be done. Best of luck, An Interested Party He reread the letter. He re-reread the letter. And he read it again. Flipping the letter over, he indeed found an address that, if he had his mental map of Manehattan right, would lead him into the slums of the city. If he were to follow this letter’s instructions, he would have to be careful going there, so as not to attract the attention of the crooks, lowlifes, and thugs that called that part of town home. ‘As if I’m stupid enough to follow directions from something so blatantly suspicious,’ he reasoned to himself. There was no way this was legitimate. He looked around at his lab, his amber eyes falling on the half-completed frame of what would be the sixth Pawn. He clicked his tongue against the top of his mouth for a moment as he studied the unfinished project, pondering what he would do with it. He eyed the letter again, his right hind hoof tapping against the floor. ‘Then again, I suppose I could stand to gain some extra funding,’ he told himself. ‘It’s not like I’ve much to lose anyway.’ He had never really cared much for his title as a professor of even one of the most respected schools in Equestria. It just didn’t feel… large enough for his tastes. Ever since he was just a colt tinkering with his toys in his father’s workshop, he’d always seen himself holding a far grander position. And that train of thought brought him back to the letter. He had made his decision. -o- “Never stop baking, Bright,” Swirling said as she stuffed her face with a chocolate-glazed donut. “You create nothing less than perfection, whether you’re baking or making candy.” The bright red earth mare smiled at the compliment as she wiped the counter with a rag before setting a jar of freshly made gummy candies next to the register. It was always a delight to have Swirling at her shop. The pegasus ate sweets like a fish drank water. One who didn’t know her would think she needed all that sugar to stay alive. “I can assure you,” the baker/confectioner said, “I won’t stop making these treats anytime soon, or my name isn’t Bright Day.” A wide, glaze-covered smile spread across the pegasus’s face. “Well, I hope it is, or I’m in the wrong place.” Bright gave a warm laugh and nodded. “So, how was work today, Swirling?” She gave an exaggerated groan. “Horrible, like every day I work. Between the customers constantly demanding this or that and Lou breathing down my neck, I’m close to just losing it.” She took a large bite of her seventh donut. “Do you know how hard it is to work with a guy like that screaming at you all the time?” Bright chuckled a bit. “Lou isn’t that bad, he’s just… gruff.” Swirling muttered. “Not the word I’d use for him.” Turning a raised eyebrow at her, Bright asked, “Oh? And what word would you use?” “A great, big piece of—” The door swung open, and Sunny, Bright’s young daughter, trotted in just as the last two words left Swirling’s mouth. She hesitated before saying, “Chocolate would be good! Yeah, a real big piece of chocolate, please!” Bright Day smirked at her, an eyebrow quirked up in amusement as Swirling saved her sentence. “Swirling!” Sunny called excitedly as she hurried over to the two-toned mare’s side. “Hey, kiddo,” the pegasus greeted, tousling the filly’s mane. “You learn anything useful at school today? Or just the same mumbo jumbo that they spout out every day?” The little light yellow filly beamed at her. “We got to spend the day hoof painting! Our teacher said that we should all get a chance to draw something we like.” Her smile somehow got wider. “Just like you!” Swirling giggled at the foal’s chipper tone. “And what did you draw?” “Oh!” Sunny quickly dug into her saddlebags, shuffling around a few items before taking out a sheet of paper and holding it up for her mother and friend to see. Bright’s smile shrank a little at the painting, while Swirling tilted her head before realizing what it was and barely keeping her eyes from going wide in surprise. The painting depicted was clearly supposed to be Sunny, complete with yellow coat, pink mane, and green dots for eyes. Next to her was a larger, jet black pegasus with large yellow eyes and no other discernible features. “It’s me and the Raven!” the filly said with beaming, giddy grin. “We were supposed to draw something we like, so I drew her, because she helps out everypony! She’s a real life superhero!” “Y-yeah,” Swirling said with an awkward smile. “I guess she is.” “She is!” Sunny bounced in place, smiling at her. “Do you think she’d join up with the Power Ponies, Swirling? I think it’d be really cool for her to team up with the best superhero team ever!” Swirling blinked at that. A grin broke out across her face at the thought, however impossible it would be. The idea of her teaming up with the coolest comic book heroes of all time? That would be amazing! Absolutely incredible! Totally— ‘Idiotic.’ ‘Shut up and let me dream!’ “Swirling?” The pegasus shook her head and turned to Bright, who was giving her a slightly concerned look. “Are you okay? You just had the goofiest smile I’ve ever seen just now.” “Er, yeah, I’m fine. Just, uh… I’m… a fan of the Power Ponies comics - I have pretty much every issue so far - so the idea of them—” She was tackled by a small form, almost knocking her off her seat. Sunny was staring at her in amazement, hugging her with a big, excited smile. “You have all the Power Ponies comics!?” “Yeah. Even that terrible clone saga and that weird time-travel series that made no sense.” Suddenly, Sunny let go of Swirling, darting over to her mother, bouncing eagerly. “Mommy, can I go to Swirling’s place to see her Power Ponies comics?” Swirling Line could only blink in confusion before the words actually hit her. She wasn’t opposed to the idea, but nor was she really prepared to let a foal into her apartment. “Well…” Bright said thoughtfully. “It is a Friday. I suppose it’s okay. Swirling?” Immediately, Sunny spun to face the pegasus again, giving her large, puppy-dog eyes and showing off an adorable pout. Swirling bit her lip, fighting against the sad eyes to really think about this, but Sunny’s expression was already wearing her defenses down without mercy and with extreme prejudice. Eventually, all she could do was concede defeat with a heavy sigh. “Sure,” she said, instantly earning another hug from the filly, who cheered happily, thanking Swirling profusely. The mare couldn’t help but smile and gently pat the filly’s head. The little thing certainly was adorable. And she was frighteningly good at getting what she wanted. Swirling shuddered to think what Sunny could do with that talent as she got older. ‘You’re thinking too much,’ Nevermore commented dryly, earning a harsh shushing from his host. “Well, Sunny, if you’re going to go to Swirling’s place, you better get your tooth brush and a few toys, don’t you think?” Bright said. The little filly’s eyes widened and she nodded vigorously. “Yes, Mommy!” She turned to smile at Swirling again. “Don’t leave without me!” At that, she darted off into the back room of the store, the sound of her tiny hooves scampering up the stairs audible from the shop itself. Bright smiled warmly after her daughter, and let out a low sigh. “She’s such a ball of energy.” A smile crossed Swirling’s face. “She is, isn’t she? She reminds me of me when I was her age.” A laugh erupted from Bright Day. “And I bet you drove your parents just as crazy.” Swirling laughed as well. “I think my dad went bald because of me, actually.” The two shared another laugh before Bright turned an appreciative grin her way. “Thank you for taking her, Swirling. I actually have a large order I need to fill tonight, and I wouldn’t have time to watch or play with her. This way, she gets to spend the evening with her ‘big sis.’” She gave Swirling a knowing wink. “Hey, I always wanted a little sister,” the two-toned mare confessed. “Thinking about it, I guess it’d be nice to have company, even if that company is filly that’s still in first grade.” ‘Are you saying I’m not good company?’ Nevermore asked in a faintly humored tone. ‘You are nowhere near as adorable as she is.’ ‘...I’ll accept that.’ ‘Besides, you live in my head. You don’t really count as company if you already live with me.’ ‘I…’ The spirit went silent for a moment before speaking again. ‘I despise when you make sense.’ Taking that as a victory, Swirling’s smile grew wider. When it came to arguments with Nevermore, she took every little win she could get. With how painfully logical he could be at times, it was rare for her to triumph in little battles like this. -o- Savant scowled as he walked along the street to his destination, ignoring the glares and continuing along his way. This seedy neighborhood (that was putting it kindly) was normally the type of place he would never allow himself to be caught dead in, but he supposed the times necessitated the measure. He checked the back of the letter again, making sure he was on the right street as he stopped in front of an abandoned apartment complex. The faded address next to the door matched what was on the letter. ‘Hmph. This isn’t suspicious in the least.’ He turned to look both ways down the street, checking to see if anypony was watching him. No one seemed particularly interested in him, so he took a deep breath and trotted forward, opening the old door and stepping inside. It was just as ugly inside as it was outside. Paint was peeling off the porous walls, the floor creaked as if one were stepping on a cat’s tail, and the ceiling showed clear signs of degradation. Why anypony would want to meet him here of all places was beyond him. If they wanted privacy, then they could’ve sent whomever he was supposed to meet here to speak with him in his office back at the university. The old floorboard creaked underhoof and kicked up a cloud of dust. He sneezed as the dust tickled at his nose. “Confound it!” He wiped at his nose irritably. “Who would have me come to such a derelict hovel as this?” “That would be me, good doctor,” a feminine voice said. He scowled darkly as the source of the voice hadn’t made itself known. Savant spun his head to find the speaker, but to no avail. Finally, he shouted, “You can come out and talk to me face to face, you know!” There was a brief silence as the inventor awaited a reply. The familiar sound of a door opening caught his ear, and he turned in time to see an earth pony mare enter the hall and approach him with a collected, almost detached look on her face. She was fairly pretty, with an azure coat complimented nicely by her midnight blue mane. She wore a white robe of some sort over her body, the kind of outfit one would expect to see a religious official wear. She carried herself like a dutiful soldier, a mare on a mission. She bowed her head respectfully. “Forgive the secrecy, Doctor. Our organization is not in the best standing with the Royal Sisters at the moment, so our meeting must be held in private. I hope you understand.” Savant raised an eyebrow at the mare’s statement. Hers was a group of fugitives from the law. No good could come from associating with such company. Still, it would likely be for the best to simply play along. For now, at least. “There’s no problem,” he said. “I just wish you’d chosen somewhere less… dated. In any case, I do believe you have me at a disadvantage, miss…?” “Arrow,” the mare answered. “Midnight Arrow. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Savant. If I may be so bold, I must say that I’m actually quite the fan of your work. The rapid-fire crossbow you invented is a personal favorite of mine.” A proud, borderline arrogant smile spread across his face. “Indeed? I’ve always seen it as one of my better creations for the military yet.” She tilted her head at him. “Save for your most recent creations, yes?” His prideful smile quickly turned into a derisive sneer. “Yes. The princesses fail to recognise true works of scientific genius when they stand right in front of them. They are utter fools for dismissing the possibilities my Pawns open up to all of Equestria!” The slightest of a sly smile danced on Arrow’s muzzle. “Indeed so. The princesses have lost their vision for our beloved country. For the past few years, our homeland has been assaulted by all manner of horrid monsters and fell abominations. It’s my organization’s belief that your Pawns will be able to even the playing field against such invaders.” A snort escaped him. “I would think so. My Pawns are more than a match for even the Royal Guard. They are not limited in any fashion as a living pony would be.” Her grin grew a bit more, and she motioned to the room she had entered from. “Come. We have much to discuss. Especially considering the nature of your Pawns, and the hope they represent for Equestria.” Savant gave a nod as Arrow led him to the room she’d been in earlier. It looked like it might’ve been an office, or a study at some point. Perhaps even a reading room, considering the large bookcase built into the wall off to the right. There was window on the wall opposite the door, though it was covered with drapes, likely to prevent would-be onlookers. A foldable table stood in the center of the room with a sizable briefcase resting on it, two chairs sitting on opposite sides of the table. Arrow nodded to one of the chairs, and Savant quietly took a seat while the mare claimed her own. The robed mare pulled the briefcase closer to herself, spinning it to pop open the locks, then facing it towards the stallion again. “Within this case is a hefty sum of bits we are willing to donate to fund your research and inventions. I hope it’s enough to satisfy.” She then opened the case, revealing what had to be hundreds of bit coins, each worth one hundred bits alone. Savant instinctively ran the calculations through his mind; judging by the size and approximate volume of the briefcase, and the average size of hundred-bit coin, along with some simple multiplication, he calculated perhaps around… five to six hundred thousand bits sitting in front of him. He couldn’t stop a greedy grin from tugging at his features. The inventor reached out with a hoof accept the payment, only for a dark blue hoof to slam the case shut once more. She gave him a glare that warned him not to touch. “First, however,” Midnight began, “my organization would like to see a full demonstration of your Pawns’ abilities.” Savant eyed the earth mare for a moment, an eyebrow raised curiously. “Is that so? What sort of demonstration?” Arrow’s odd smile returned. “We would like to see what one of them can do against a specific target. And there is one surefire way to bring her running to meet the challenge.” -o- Swirling found herself chasing after the little filly in front of her through the bustling streets of the city, said filly giggling her head off as she ran ahead for the brightly colored store ahead of them. “Come on, Swirling,” Sunny Day called back at her. “I wanna see if they have new Power Ponies comics today!” The pegasus found herself breathing hard trying to keep up with the filly. How did her mother ever manage raising this ball of living energy? “We’ll get there, Sunny. Just slow down. I don’t want you to get hurt.” Sunny reared up with a laugh. “Don’t be silly. I won’t get hurt. Come on!” She dashed ahead into the street for the store, not even looking to see if anything was coming. Swirling’s gaze darted to the side to see a cart coming down the street, and her eyes widened in panic. “Sunny!” She burst ahead with a flap of her wings, nabbing the filly into the air before the driver of the cart could see her. Sunny gasped as she felt her hooves leave the ground, watching as the cart that had nearly hit her rode by. Swirling landed on the other side of the road with a huff, setting down the filly and giving her a firm glare. “And just what were you thinking!” Sunny lowered her head and looked up at her, an ashamed look in her puppy-dog eyes. “I was just—” “You almost got hit by a cart, Sunny Day!” Swirling felt her anger rising. “You could’ve gotten hurt, or worse! What would your mom think if I had to tell her you were in the hospital because you ran into the street without looking both ways? Do you know how scared and sad she would be?” Sunny sniffed and lowered her head even more, her shoulders slumping.  “I’m sorry, Swirling, I was just…” She sniffed. Swirling watched the little filly, and she felt a pull on her heartstrings as it seemed that Sunny was about to burst into tears at any moment. Why did she suddenly feel so bad about yelling at her? ‘Because the little thing is playing you like a lyre, and you’re falling for it badly.’ ‘Oh, be quiet, Nevermore. She’s just a foal. I made the same sort of mistakes when I was little.’ ‘You were almost hit by a moving cart as a child?’ ‘...Wild clouds don’t count.’ Taking in a breath and letting it out (all while ignoring Nevermore’s derisive chuckling), she rested a hoof on Sunny’s shoulder and gave her a smile when she looked up at her. “Hey, sorry for yelling at you, but you scared me pretty badly. Promise you’ll look both ways before crossing the road again, okay?” Sunny wiped at her eyes and nodded quickly. “I will. I didn’t mean to. I was just…” “Excited?” “Mm-hmm. I know you like the Power Ponies, so I wanted to get to comic store quick so we could buy some of the new issues and talk about them when we get to your place.” Swirling chuckled, privately touched Sunny thought so much of her. “Well, then, let’s go! We’ve got stuff to find!” Sunny gave a happy little squeal, and the two dashed inside the store that stood across the street, where a clerk at the register near the entrance lazily greeted them as he read a comic book. He ignored them as they roamed the store, stopping at a wall of comic books featuring all kinds of masked heroes on their covers, some less child friendly than others. Swirling did her best to keep Sunny’s attention glued to the foal friendly books. Once they spotted a line of the newest Power Ponies comics, Swirling immediately broke out into a grin and had to fight the urge to squeal as she grabbed one, already eager to pull it open and immerse herself in the artwork and story. Sunny just as readily took a few other comics off the shelf. Each one seemed to be all a part of the latest arc, which featured a new villain constructing an army of golems to rampage across Maretropolis. From what Swirling had read from the first issue of the arc, this promised to be a good one! “Swirling! Swirling, look at these!” She tore her gaze from the comic book with some effort to see Sunny Day exciting pointing at a display case. “Look!” “What is it?” Swirling asked before her eyes widened and her jaw hung slack. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the realistic looking figurines inside the case. Hoof crafted and painted perfectly, was a whole set of the Power Ponies! She pressed her face against the glass, marveling at the craftsponyship. “Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh! Look how they’re painted, Sunny! They’re beautiful! Whoever made them is a master! I gotta have one of Masked Matter-Horn!” Sunny bounced in place, her little body shaking with excitement. “Can we!? Can we!?” “How much are these?” Swirling yelled over at the cashier. The worker barely lowered his comic book to look at her. “The figurines are thirty bits each, hundred-fifty for the whole set.” A strangled gasp escaped her, as she felt her blood run cold. “A hundred and fifty bits!?  That’s almost two paydays for me! How are they so expensive?” “Hoof-crafted and made locally,” he said with a dismissive snort and went back to his comic book. “Let me know if you want them.” ‘How can the world be so cruel...’ Swirling lamented as she looked at the figurines, her tear ducts threatening to give way. She mentally shut out the laughter of her ever-smarmy companion. “Swirling?” She turned back to see Sunny looking up at her with saddened eyes. “Are you okay? I got some bits in my piggy bank if it'll help.” Swirling had to choke back the “aww” that tried to burst out of her. The little filly was just so kindhearted that it almost made her want to scoop her up in a big hug. ‘If she gets any more adorable, I am stepping directly into the sunlight...’ Nevermore remarked, and she could almost feel the sickness radiating from him. Swirling gave the little filly a touch smile and ruffled her mane. “Nah, they’re only toys. I don’t really need them.” She cast a forlorn look at the display case. “But it would be cool…” Sunny’s smile returned to her face. “Maybe we could—” From outside the store came the terrified screams of ponies, followed by the sounds of something heaving and wood bursting apart. “What was that!?” Sunny shrieked. The two ran to the window to peer out. Swirling saw ponies running past the store in a stampede as many of them screamed of a monster. “I don’t know. I—” Her eyes widened as she watched a cart fly for the shop’s window. “Get down!” She turned and scooped up the filly and barely cleared the window as the empty cart smashed through the pane. Glass shards and display cases crashed down on them as Swirling used her body to protect the terrified Sunny Day. Outside, a myriad of ponies were scrambling to get away from something that was throwing carts and chunks of the street like baseballs. Whatever was doing this was probably huge. With a glance to Sunny, she said, “Stay here. I’m gonna go get help.” She stood and made her way to the exit. Before leaving, she turned to face the filly again. “And I mean it, Sunny! Stay here!” Sunny could only nod as Swirling charged out of the comic book store, entering the chaos that was once a bustling Manehattan street. Ponies galloped as fast as they could toward her right, loud crashing sounds going off somewhere to the left. She briefly looked back at the store, where she could see Sunny hiding behind one of the stands, accompanied by the trembling and terrified store clerk. Without a word, Swirling took flight, getting out of sight and landing atop a nearby roof. She looked up to the sky. They must’ve been in that store longer than she thought, because the sun was already almost completely out of view. That was good for her, she told herself as she changed into the Raven, shadows engulfing her body and turning her bright green eyes into solid yellow orbs. With another flap of her wings, she took off towards the mayhem. ‘So, what do you think it is this time?’ she asked Nevermore as she barreled through the air. ‘Why bother asking me? For all we know, it could just be a really angry minotaur.’ Minotaurs in Manehattan? That’s certainly a rare sight. From what she knew, minotaurs tended to keep their distance from large pony settlements, especially fully-fledged cities. ‘Well, at least that’d be interesting.’ Soon enough, she arrived at the scene, where she didn’t see a minotaur wreaking havoc, but rather a single, fairly average-sized earth pony wearing what looked like full body armor. The armor looked pretty well polished, and Swirling couldn’t stop her inner artist from admiring the simple, yet simultaneously complex style. At least, she admired it until the pony threw a half-wrecked carriage at her. “Right, art appreciation over.” With another flap of her wings, she zoomed toward the ground, landing with a loud thud that sent cracks spider-webbing through the concrete beneath her hooves. She looked up to her would-be opponent, who turned to her as well. This close to them now, she realized how little she saw in their eyes, which glowed with a yellow-orange light, bearing no emotion. She also saw that the armor looked like it must’ve been uncomfortably snug, too, as it left little of the pony’s shape to the imagination. ‘Something’s wrong,’ Nevermore said with some drop of worry in his tone. ‘I don’t think that thing is a pony at all. It has the shape, but not the form.’ ‘So, what is it then?’ ‘It may be some sort of golem, but those are usually made using rocks, mud, wood, and other things typically found in nature. They’re never made of metal, like this one is. A new model of sorts, perhaps?’ The shadow spirit muttered that question, but it did nothing to deter Swirling from her self-imposed duty. “Whatever you are, I hope you’re ready for a beating!” With a whir of machinery, the metal creature charged at her, its metal shod hooves chipping the pavement. Swirling flared her wings and rushed to meet the thing. ‘Don’t!’ “I’ve got this!” She brought her foreleg back and punched. The metal pony didn’t even bother stopping her blow, its head snapping to the side. The same time she punched it, it brought its hoof in an uppercut. Swirling felt the air blasted out of her before the creature followed it up with another punch that sent her sprawling. ‘Is today Don’t Listen to Nevermore Day?’ “Shut up…” she groaned as she picked herself up off the ground, returning to her original stance and facing her metal adversary again. “All right, so you’re stronger than you look. So am I.” When the machine rushed back at her, she met its punch with one of her own. The two blows caused Swirling’s teeth to rattle in her mouth. She ducked under its next blow and uppercutted the metal monstrosity square on the chin, flipping its head back in a way that would’ve killed a normal pony. The machine flew back and crashed into a vendor’s stand, causing the wooden structure to collapse on the metal pony with a shower of splinters and magazines. “Ha! Told you I had it!” ‘Duck!’ “What—” She grunted as the remains of the stand crashed into her. She burst from the wreckage to find the machine hoisting another cart at her. “It just doesn’t give up!” She flapped her wings to catch the flying cart in her hooves. “Here, catch!” With a heave, she sent the cart right back at it. The machine stood unfazed as the cart barreled toward it, and it smashed into the large window of a grocery store, carrying her adversary along with it and knocking large amounts produce off of their shelves. With a huff, the Raven landed in front of the store, eyeing where the golem thing had been hit towards. When several pieces of debris rumbled, she dropped into a stance. A metallic hoof burst from the mess and pulled out the body. Its head had been spun and bent to the side, but that didn’t seem to deter the thing in the least. With a series of unnatural clicks and the sound of grinding gears, the head twisted and fixed itself back into its original place, like something out of a horror movie. “Okay, yeah, that’s not creepy at all.” Swirling wanted to make another statement, but was preemptively interrupted when the machine charged at her, slamming a mechanical leg into her barrel and blasting the wind out of her. She barely had time to let out a pained grunt before the golem grabbed ahold of her mane swung her around in an arc, relentlessly slamming her into the pavement over and over. ‘Line, if you are going to pull something out of nowhere, now is the time!’ She moaned, and the machine hurled her across the street until she slammed into the side of a building. ‘What about you?! Don’t you have some sort of special shadow spell that will work on this thing? I can’t even seem to hurt it!’ ‘If it’s a golem, magic isn’t going to hurt it! They’re designed to be immune to all magic except for that of their creators!’ Just when she was about to retort, Swirling felt the cold touch of metal against her throat, pressing against her windpipe agonizingly. The machine glared down at her with those soulless eyes, watching her as she struggled to breathe under the pressure it placed on her. All she could do at this point was fruitlessly grasp at its foreleg and desperately try to move it away. ‘Nevermore!’ she screamed within her mind, her voice rising in her panic as she couldn’t begin to move that limb. She felt the shadow spirit panic just as much as she was, and she knew that he had nothing to help her with. Even as the lights began to swim around her vision, there came the sound of steam being released, and she felt the pressure thankfully lift off her neck. She managed to push the golem off of her, coughing and wheezing to get air back in her lungs. The machine landed with a loud clatter of metal on concrete, its already emotionless eyes devoid of whatever life they once held. Swirling stared at the thing nervously, slowly reaching out with a hoof and gently tapping its shoulder before jumping back, ready to fight if need be. “Is it… dead?” ‘Technically, golems aren’t living creatures to begin with.’ “You know what I mean, smart-flank.” A muffled groan left the spirit. ‘It must’ve run out of power. Odd. Most golems can run indefinitely, so long as their makers are still alive. Then again, the art of golem making is largely unpracticed in modern societies. This might be the work of an amateur trying to make something similar.’ “I’m just glad it—” She screamed as the machine gave off another burst of steam before it finally settled. She stared at the thing, her heart racing in her chest as she felt the fur along her spine standing straight. ‘That… was a very girly scream,’ Nevermore chuckled. ‘I am a girl, thank you!’ Swirling snapped back. ‘It just surprised me, that’s all.’ ‘Whatever you say, Line. Best that you get out of here before the authorities show up and blame the collateral damage on you. Besides, you’ve a filly to keep an eye on, don’t you?’ “Oh, horseapples!” She spread her wings and took to the shadows of the alleyways, flying as fast as she could for the comic book shop. -o- The chaos outside seemed to have finally stopped, from what Sunny could see from her and the comic book store clerk’s hiding spot behind a tall stand displaying a bunch of superhero figurines. The clerk was rocking back and forth in the fetal position, while Sunny kept an eye out for anything that might’ve been dangerous. After a few minutes, she finally spotted a familiar white-striped purple pegasus. “Swirling!” Sunny called out as the mare entered the store. The filly galloped toward her and tackled her in a hug, earning a gasp of surprise from Swirling. “Hey, there, kiddo,” Swirling greeted the foal with a grin. “Are you all right?” Sunny’s head bobbed up and down with astonishing speed. “I’m fine! What happened? Was there a fight? Did anypony get hurt?” Swirling’s smile widened a little. “Heh, you won’t believe what I saw out there: the Raven was fighting a golem!” Sunny’s eyes grew twice their size and she gasped. “She did? And I missed it? Tell me, tell me! Did she beat it?” The pegasus’s smile faltered slightly, but remained in place. “Uh, yeah, she beat it. But it managed to get away. The police are looking around the scene to try and find it, so it’s best to stay out of their way and let them do their jobs for now.” “Okay,” Sunny muttered in disappointment, wishing she’d been there to see the Raven in action. She looked up again as Swirling approached the store clerk, who was peeking past the display stand. Swirling knelt down to the clerk, going to eye level, and said, “So, about those Power Ponies figurines.” -o- Midnight Arrow scowled as she tapped her hoof on the floor, Savant sitting nonchalantly across from her. The unicorn was busy writing something - probably blueprints or ideas for his Pawns - that he didn’t seem interested in sharing just yet. Arrow remained distinctly unamused for what felt like several hours, waiting for something to happen. They had sent out those Pawns some time ago. Where were they? As if on cue, the door opened, its hinges creaking noisily as two Pawns entered, one of them carrying an inert Pawn on its back. The carrier dropped the inactive one on the floor in front of Savant, who immediately set to work checking the damage. “It failed,” Arrow stated plainly, with more than a little disappointment in her voice. Savant only laughed. “Hardly, my dear. The damage to its plating is superficial at most. A few dings and dents, but nothing that can’t be buffed out.” That earned a deeper scowl from the blue earth mare. “If your Pawns brought this one back, then it means that it failed to kill the Raven.” “How shortsighted you are.” The inventor’s horn lit up, and the dormant Pawn’s chest opened, revealing an empty arcane engine within. “The only reason it failed is that it ran out of power. If I can improve upon modern designs from arcane engines, my Pawns could prove even more effective.” He nodded to himself. “Yes… improving fuel efficiency is certainly the key here. Augment the armor with a sturdier alloy… I’ve been using steel. Tungsten, perhaps? No, too heavy. Although, I could make different models for different uses… yes, tungsten armored units, built larger, used for frontal assaults and sieges… use lighter materials for stealth units… I’ll have to find a middle ground—” “That’s enough, Dr. Savant,” Midnight interjected before Savant could ramble any further. “How soon can my organization expect to see the new Pawns?” The doctor chuckled to himself. “With your funding… provided that you supply me with the right materials, maybe send a few extra workers my way…” He hummed in thought. “A week at the most. I should have the new and improved model done by then. A full squad of five by the end of the month. Just as long as you keep your end of the deal, of course.” Arrow nodded. “This may prove to be a very rewarding endeavor for both you and my organization.” Savant smirked. “Indeed.” -o- Swirling Line shifted to the side a bit as she read from her book. Sunny Day lay next to her on the couch in her apartment, snoozing as peacefully as only a little filly who spent all of her energy for the day in one go could. Swirling lowered her book as Sunny gave off a soft snore, smiling at the sight. “Too adorable.” ‘Only when they’re asleep. They’re a nightmare otherwise,’ Nevermore quipped in a jaded tone. “You’re a nightmare all the time, Nevermore,” she said, glowering at the spirit in her mind. ‘Keep up the attitude, and you’ll see how much of a nightmare I can be.’ A chill ran up her spine as she set her book down. She stiffened, however, as Sunny nuzzled into her side and gave a happy little sigh, offering quiet, peaceful snores. The mare bit at her lower lip to keep from ‘aww’ing out loud. ‘I always wanted a little sister.’ She could feel Nevermore rolling his eyes. ‘Siblings are overrated. Trust me, you’re better off an only child.’ Swirling blinked at that. “That sounds like you have family of your own.” ‘I’d really rather not get into that. In fact, just forget those questions before you even think about them.’ “Wow. What’s your problem? Parental issues? Sibling rivalry?” ‘Don’t start.’ A sigh escaped her as she gently rubbed at the sleeping Sunny day, her eyes taking on a distant glint. “Still, it would’ve been nice.” ‘Maybe.’ He huffed before speaking again. ‘Put her to bed. We should take the opportunity to learn more about that metal golem we fought earlier. The more information we have, the less likely we’ll get killed fighting another.’ She bristled at the thought fighting that thing again—she barely survived the first! “What makes you think we’ll fight another one?” ‘People who make golems rarely settle for just one. Trust me, there will be another.’ “You’re just a bundle of everlasting optimism, you know that?” She slumped and looked at Sunny again. “Not that I can go anywhere anyway. I can’t leave Sunny by herself.” ‘Sure you can. Just leave her here and go out the window.’ Her tail swished. ‘You know darn well I can’t just leave her alone, Nevermore! What if she wakes up and I’m not here?’ A groan escaped the spirit. ‘Fine. Then have somepony watch her while you’re gone or something. Say you’ve got a quick errand you’ve got to run.’ Swirling sighed as she carefully lifted Sunny onto her back and carried her to the bed. ‘All right, all right. I’ll see if my landlord can watch her if I’m out for too long. That guy never sleeps anyway.’ As she slid Sunny into the bed and pulled the covers over her withers, Swirling’s ears flickered as Sunny spoke in her sleep. “Swirling…” the little filly mumbled, snuggling deeper with the pillow. ‘All right, if she doesn’t quit with the cuteness, I’m going to get sick,’ Nevermore grumbled. “Can that even happen?” Swirling asked. “I figured you couldn’t get sick at all, especially because of the whole ‘I can’t eat’ thing.” ‘Are you still on that?’ A light chuckle escaped her. Having something on Nevermore, even if it was just one little detail, was without a doubt going to be fun for her. After checking with her landlord, a tall, lanky, stick of a stallion with a voice that was like if a rottweiler could talk, she made her way outside and assumed the form of the Raven. The sky above had turned overcast from the local weather team pushing a storm through, and the rain had only just begun to fall as she took flight through the buildings of the busy city. ‘Do you think she’ll be okay, Nevermore?’ ‘Will you stop worrying and pay attention to what we’re doing? We have to learn more about that golem so that we don’t die the next time, remember?’ ‘Sheesh, okay, don’t get your magic feathers in a twist. Eat a candy bar or something.’ Hearing a satisfying groan from the spirit, she smirked and continued along her way. With any luck, Tricky might have something for her. If nothing else, she could go to a library and read up on golems. Either way, something would be better than nothing.