//------------------------------// // 19 Ambling Along the Way // Story: Lyra-7% // by Meep the Changeling //------------------------------// Lyra Heartstrings - 1st of Leafdrop 13 EoH - Morning Multiverse Location: Cyberquestria, Equis #3 Chrysalis led me through the town of Ponyville towards the house Bon had been staying at. I’d expected Rose to come with us, but she decided to hang around and help Twilight experiment on some of the android pony’s ‘plants’. I couldn’t blame her. The crystalline mineral structures were backed with little solar cells! They had whole forests of roboshrubs and cybertrees to generate power! Hehe… Ah Lyra, you’re fascinated with the geekiest things. And the strangest things. Like how completely insane this town was. I’d seen this town before. Or rather, I’d seen a version of this town before. The medieval looking architecture with its cobbled streets, hay roofs, and winding spirally lanes. The gimmicky half-art half-monstrosities they called buildings which belonged in an old world theme park. The view of this place from a distance in the Censorship Universe of Evil didn’t even begin to hint at how weird of a town this place was. The mere fact that this place was a town and not a theme park blew my mind. How do you live in a place like this? This version had to be even more bizarre than the town’s counterparts due to everything being shaped and painted metal, or sculpted polymer. Everything was a synthetic material. EVERYTHING. It made no goddamn sense! If you’re going to build a city of glass, steel, and plastic, why stick to ancient styles that existed because the best building materials were rock, wood, mud, and freaking grass!? Where were the domes? The efficiently laid out housing units? The parklands? The organized shopping districts? Any building taller than three stories!? Aside from the terrifying monstrosity which was the big crystal tree holding up a castle, because uh…yeah…why… I was stepping on cobblestone, carefully fashioned from cement and colored a pale creamy yellow so it looked like Gypsum, as I wound my way through a small crowd of androids who were going about their daily business in a medieval looking market fashioned from steel, paint, and polymer. “This is so weird…” I muttered, unable to contain the emotion any longer. Chrysalis turned to look over her shoulder. “Sorry, is the crowd bothering you? I know some organics are nervous around synthetics… You don’t need to be. We're all people here.” I shook my head. “That’s not it… It’s the buildings, the road, the market stalls. Why? Why are they all fashioned after medieval designs? Why is this not a strip mall, or a shopping center? Why are androids living in plaster and stick homes made from synthetic materials?” Chrysalis flashed me a grin. “Heh, it’s Ponyville. Well, a recreation of it. Pinkie Pie lived here when Sky met her, so this is the first town he had rebuilt. This is actualy it’s third, um, version. The original town was built in the pre-Equestrian era, back when my people still had an Empire. It was burned down after a young Luna pissed off a large bandit gang by killing one of their raiding parties.” Wait, Luna? Bandits? OH SHIT! Did I do that? Please tell me I didn’t do that and this was a coincidence in names! Quick brain, distract yourself! “Uh, so what was the second version?” I asked quickly “Three centuries ago,” Chrysalis continued, “Princess Celestia wanted to rebuild her fillyhood home as a sort of living museum. The head of the historic society, who happened to be me in disguise-” I gave her an odd look, unsure as to what she meant by her statement. “What? I was plotting a raid at the time,” she admitted. “Never went through with that one, too much military presence at the time. I picked a post where I could have people from all over the nation visiting me without it seeming odd. “Besides, I’ve always been good at history. I’ve lived most of it. Heh.” “Most of it?” I asked curiously. “Yes,” she answered with a slightly embarrassed blush. “The names of eras probably mean nothing to you. Humm… I’m a queen changeling, we don’t actually age. Most changelings do age and die, well, did, we’re not organic anymore… But when we were, we Queens were similar to lobsters in that we have no limit to how long we can live for. “Er- Long story short, my birthdate is actually in the era ponies would refer to as ‘before recorded history’. Sure, by only six years… But I predate ponies having written language. Makes a mare feel old. Upside, I get to call Celestia ‘filly’. So I have that going for me.” That sounded like bullshit. Especially because while lobsters didn’t die from age, they did die from exhaustion when they got too big to molt again. Giving them an effective death from age. How the hell did I even know that random fact!? “Okay, and if you were to give me a number it would be, what?” I asked. “Er, let me think. You stop keeping track after about eighty… It’s the thirteenth year of the era of harmony, so that means… I’m about… Five thousand two hundred or so years old." “How did you avoid getting killed, or trapped, or falling ill for that whole time?” I asked suspiciously. Chrysalis laughed. “Short lived species?” She asked coyly. “Yeah, till recently. We fixed a few flaws we had,” I said proudly. “I don’t blame you for doubting me,” the changeling smirked. “Celestia and her sister only believe me because they know I am older than them due to the Crusades… We had some good skirmishes back when they first ascended to alicornhood… I miss those.” I frowned. “Alicorn… Ponies keep mentioning them. What are they?” “A page stolen from my species's book,” Chrysalis said flatly. “Unicorns were no match in arcane might for a Changeling Queen, so long ago a great pony mage dissected a fallen queen, worked out how the metamorphosis from adult to Queen worked, and created a transformation spell which upgrades a pony in the same way. “It’s simplest to think of an Alicorn as an ageless flying unicorn with the might of at least three hundred regular unicorns… In terms of magical power at least. Their physical attributes remain somewhat the same.” “Wait… So alicorns are pony super soldiers?” I asked, intrigued by the idea of ponies also going into ‘gene modding’ to improve their warriors. It would be neat if that’s something all species did. A uniting factor for all peoples. On the other hand, it meant that uh…if this did happen to be the same universe I had been in a week ago. That was probably the same Luna so um…oops. “They were supposed to be, but the magic only works on a certain kind of pony. Needs to be pure of heart, strong of will, blah blah blah,” Chrysalis muttered. “There have only ever been seven of them because of the restrictions, though thousands tried their luck before the only written copy of the spell vanished. Just before the plague, there were only five. Now there are three.” “So then, wait, if Celestia and Luna are alicorns and ageless… Could they have been alive in your medieval period?” I asked. Chrysalis nodded. “Of course, but well, that was their medieval period. It was our industrial revolution.” “So then, how old is Twilight?” I asked curiously. I mean, she didn’t seem to- “Thirty six, barely an adult for a pony. She uh… She’s sort of a magical savant. Figured out the transformation on her own a few years before the plague hit. I- I just realized we have gone off on one hay of a bunny trail!” Chrysalis exclaimed with a laugh. “Care to go back to discussing Ponyville?” “Oh! Heh, sure,” I said, nodding. “Let’s see,” she said, thinking back. “I’ve covered the first town’s destruction… Right! Celestia wished her childhood home to be remade, and because I wanted to divert spending away from her military, I suggested she rebuild the entire town so tourists could see how a pre-industrial village looked. “She ran with the idea, and that version of the village stood for just a bit longer than a pony’s full lifetime. Then, the plague came. Nothing survived that. You’d think the buildings would have remained standing, but well, no. Some more modern structures still stand, but nothing older than the last five decades. Nopony I know of is sure of what happened, and the Doc was underground for all of it. “And now, we have the third version. A repaired version of the town lost a few years ago, made from materials we know survived the first plague, just in case there ever another one.” That made sense, I supposed. Were they really afraid about another of those happening though? Cuz if so… “I know what you are thinking, and no. Nopony thinks another will happen, ever. Personally, I think if one does happen again it will be a very very long time into the future, as my personal theory is related to a- A theoretical arcane physics idea for which you have no basis to understand… Uh, the odds are as low as being hit by the beam created from an exploding star. Do your people know about-” I nodded. “Yeah, we know about GRBs. Alright, fear gone then. That’s a pretty remote chance.” My guide nodded. “Quite so.” “Right then,” I resumed. “That covers the medieval look and feel, but what about the completely insane looking buildings? Like the tree castle, or the massive gingerbread house?” Chrysalis laughed. “Bureaucracy. One of the few ways to build a unique looking building in this mess of zoning laws was to get around the historical preservation laws by using old building designs… And so a lot of ponies would find descriptions or pictures of fictional buildings from a valid era related to the business they wished to run, and have them built.” “T-that worked?” I asked, completely floored. “Yes, because somepony defined ‘designed in the classical era’ very poorly in the related laws,” Chrysalis snickered. “There’s the end of the the market, come along. It’s not far.” The android led me down a small side street, the spacing of the buildings quickly widening out until we were walking down a road consisting more of ‘nature’ than town. From time to time, in the synthetic forest, I could spot the occasional real plant, struggling to grow in the oddly gray soil. A quick question revealed the organic plants were an experiment to see if the soil treatments would allow for regular plantlife to be grown again, mostly for decorative purposes, and also for something which completely shocked me. “Wait, you can eat!?” I asked, jaw dropping. “Yes. We can do everything our organic selves could to in the past… Sure, eating isn’t necessary, but the pleasure of a good donut or cup of cranberry juice and red wine is rather nice,” Chrysalis said in a dreamy tone. “Y-you guys really were made to replicate organic life then,” I said still processing everything. “So um, if you did eat something do you have to poop or like, what?” “No. Everything eaten is broken down into usable substances, coolants and lubricants usually,” she answered. “Heh, lube,” I snickered, the juvenile joke escaping my lips due to the absurdity of the situation. “Yes. The kind you're thinking of, and also the kind for our servos,” Chrysalis informed coyly. I…oh. Okay. “So um… Everything, everything then,” I said, feeling my face warm from the sharp blush. “Everything but reproduce. That upgrade is still being worked out,” she said casually. “However, all of the parts work properly for just having fun and well, we’re not exactly in bodies that age now, are we? Offspring are not necessary, even if I would like a few… Or a lot. Changelings, we like big families. Heh.” I nodded. “I definitely saw you guys in groups of like, fifteen in the last universe I was in. I stayed in a city with a ton of changelings for a while. Might have been a hive… But there were lots of ponies too.” “Oh?” Chrysalis asked. “So we are not your first stop then?” I shook my head. “Too bad I didn’t get to go with you to that universe then. We changelings are not quite like ponies, or well, any other species when it comes to family,” Chrysalis began sadly. “To us, the entire hive is your family, you have thousands of mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers… The little ‘groups’ you saw are less like a pony family and more like... “The closest translation of the idea would be ‘I have a best mom and a best dad’. You know, like a best friend. Any changeling in a hive will care for every nymph in it, but the nymphs tend to choose individuals they like the best and stay with them most of the time. “Not to say we never form family units like other species. Just well, that’s rare for us.” I nodded, that little spiel had been unexpected, but pretty cool facts to know. “So you-” I paused midway through speaking eyes widening. “Oh god, I’m so sorry!” Her literal insect hive sized family had all died! “It’s fine, I’ve grieved and moved on,” Chrysalis said, her voice carrying a little sadness but also the truth. “Besides, I’m not entirely alone. I have Twilight and her friends who I’ve, well, made my sisters. Sure we may have been enemies once, but, the end of the world changes a mare.” I nodded in understanding. “They are people you know. So there’s a connection.” “Exactly,” Chrysalis said, looking over her shoulder with a happy smile. “It’s rare to find someone who understands that.” I laughed. “Eh, I had a similar respect for an enemy fighter squadron back home. Zuànshí quántóu, the Diamond Fist. They shot me down twice, but Bonbon and I always managed to crash land safely enough for her to be fixed up and launched again. Those guys were skilled fighters. If our nations were not at war, I think we would have liked to race them or stage a few dogfights.” Chrysalis's ears perked. “Then, do you understand the joy to be found in fighting against your equal, or a superior foe?” I noded. “Yeah. I do. It sucks that it’s a thrill. But at the same time, some of my best memories are about things I did in battle.” “I think you will be a delightful houseguest, Ms. Heartstrings,” Chrysalis sighed happily. “It’s been so long since I’ve gotten to talk to a fellow warrior and trade stories. Now yes, mine are generally about me seeking to take a territory for myself, but still.” “Meh, whatever. Everyone here seems to trust you. We all have our pasts,” I said comfortingly. After all, it’s bullshit to let what someone used to be completely cloud their futures. Besides, Chrysalis lost her whole family, and presumably command of a military… And people… And world. She’d more than paid for anything she did long ago. “That we do,” she agreed, stopping to point to a small house built into a hill so the fake-grass formed its roof. “And here we are. Fluttershy’s.” “It looks like a grassy hill came to life and ate someone's cottage,” I mused aloud. Chrysalis snickered, “Your friend Rose did that a few days ago! Heh. she’s lucky we can reverse wild magic’s effects.” “Yeah, that was ment-” I stopped, frowning. “Wait, no one told me if Bon was affected too!” “She wasn’t, lamias are notoriously resistant to magic, and her scales have already changed,” my guide informed as we walked to the door. Shit… I hadn’t seen her in so long. What could have changed? What could have happened!? Fucking physics! What sort of childhood was hopping from place to place like this? How was she going to turn out? The changeling android trotted up to the door and rapped a hoof against it lightly. “Fluttershy?” She called. “It’s Chrysalis. I brought Bon’s mother to-” The strangely pink hued door practically exploded open! I could only make out a bright olive green flash before I was tackled off my feet, chest painfully slammed by what felt like a cargo drone as something happily yelled, “Yay! Mom!” Dazed by the sudden physical assault I only barely noticed a much longer and wider Bon coil around me in a tight hug. Fortunately it was not a death hug. Unfortunately it was close to a death hug. “Urk!” I managed to say. Judging by how much of me she was draped around, Bon was easily twice as long and thick as I remembered her being. Her face also seemed flatter, less snake, more anthro, but decidedly more snake. A face you looked at and just sort of could go ‘oh, a people’, and then die of the adorables due to the silly looking perma-grin. “I missed you so much! Oh! Come over here! Auntie Flutters tells stories and they are awesome and she gives good hugs!” Bon babbled. “K-ahk!” I managed, Bon’s coils not even loosening as she unwound herself from my legs to pull me inside. The inside of the house was surprisingly not weird. Well, it was weird, just not the ‘synthetic replica of natural materials’ wierd. Whoever lived here clearly had spent a crapload of time making all the synthetic material look natural. Like, to an obsessive level. “Oh my…” A soft, buttery sounding voice quietly exclaimed. “Bon, I think you're hugging her just an itty bit too tight.” “I am?” Bon asked, looking off to the left to where I think the door was. “Yes. I know you missed your mom but you need to loosen up a bit.” “Ackk!” I agreed. “Oh! O-oops,” Bon admitted, coils loosening. Taking a deep breath of air, I gently pushed Bon’s coils off my shoulders. “Bon… Love you… But… You’re stronger… Than… You think,” I managed to gasp. “Sorry mom,” Bon said in a slightly hurt tone, lowering her head to nuzzle at my side. “I got big yesterday.” This… This was going to take some getting used to. Like, a lot of getting used to. “Um, Ms. Mom,” the soft spoken pony-droid asked. Finally able to turn my head to look I saw she was a short, butter yellow pegasus with a long voluminous pink mane and tail, and the kindest blue-green eyes of anyone I had ever seen in my entire life. I was starting to understand how pony body types worked, thanks to seeing a whole bunch by this point. As such, I was able to tell that she was cutely chubby and short for a pony. She had that body type which wasn’t quite fat, more like plush and curvy. The sort of perfect-soft for cuddling with. Judging by her body language, she was also an introvert. If she were a human I’d expect to find her in a coffee house’s quiet corner reading an actual print book. But unlike that particular kind of girl, this pegasus mare practically radiated compassion, much like how I swore that Pinkie radiated friendship. She was literally my type of girl, except quadrupedal. And an android. Wait a minute. “How is an android able to be chubby?” I asked aloud, blushing instantly in embarrassment. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean that in a bad way.” If my arms had been free to fidget with nervously instead of pinned to my sides by a snek, I’d have been waving them around in front of me. Fluttershy, as I assumed her name was, blushed lightly. “It’s okay, I understand. I’ve always been a little bit soft, so Doctor Trigger made this body with extra silicone padding. This is just how I was.“ Oh. Derp… No shit. They were built to look like their old selves… God dammit brain! Work better. Cheer.ly informed. Wait, what? I demanded. Unfortunately, the VI remained silent. I swear if she had somehow gained the capacity to make jokes... “Are you okay? Bon broke a chair last night, so I know she can hug things roughly,” Fluttershy asked. I nodded. “Yeah. I’m fine. Thanks for the concern.” “It’s okay…” Fluttershy said taking a deep breath, as if preparing herself and then trotting over, speaking to me in a serious and upset but still polite tone of voice. “Now, I really don’t want to be rude, but you need to take care of your little girl better! Make sure her shield spells are working before moving her through portals, also she really really needs to get more meals than she’s been having!” Oh my god she’s even more adorable when she’s angry! Hehehehe! How did foreign nations' diplomats ever take ponies seriously? “It’s okay Auntie Flutters,” Bon said gently booping her on the barrel with her nose. “Mom’s used to me not needing a lot of food.” “I know, but she needs to know you have to eat more now!” Fluttershy said, instantly swapping back to her normal voice. I gave the mare a smile. “Er, well, Bon here started out as a normal Anaconda. I assure you I took great care of her, I love animals. I uh, I just have no knowledge of how magic works… So her whole transformation, well, it’s a surprise. I’d be happy to learn what she needs now.” Fluttershy nodded, seemingly satisfied. “Good. Because if she’d been eating properly she’d have shed and have her arms by now. Er, Miss, what’s your name?” “Lyra,” I replied. “I’m told I share a name with somone here.” “Yes, and also mane color,” Fluttershy said with a cute blush. “Miss Lyra, please pour yourself some tea and make yourself at home. I’d like to talk with Chrysalis for a little while.” “Oh, sure,” I said politely, then frowned. “Wait, what exactly is the tea?” Fluttershy blushed again, coughing into her hoof. “Well, it’s not leaf tea. I can’t get anything to grow here anymore,” Fluttershy said, her voice hiding a pang of depression I only caught thanks to hearing it in every soldier deployed for over a year back home. “I- I like tea. So I had Dash tinker with me a bit… I uh, I make tea. Well, a tea-like drink.” She kicked one hoof nervously against the floor. I stared at her for a full three seconds before Bon decided to announce. “It’s cool! She pours it from her hoof!” “Oh! Well, that’s okay then,” I said turning around to pour myself some tea. It had been a while since I got to drink tea. Would it be as good as Miyuki’s tea? Before I could take a sip, I noticed that the coffee table Bon had pulled me over to had two cups of tea from the small tea set resting on the table. Bon and Fluttershy had been having tea. I turned to look at Bon’s face. “Hon, how did you lift the cup?” “Like this!” Bon said proudly, threading the tip of her tail through the teacup’s finger loop, wrapping around it, and taking a slip. I couldn’t help smiling at the adorableness, and then frowning in total confusion. Why did a teacup designed for ponies have a finger loop? I pondered the question as I sipped at the ‘tea’. It was a nice drink. Not as good as Miyuki’s tea though. This was a bit thick, more like a soda or a mead. But it had a very very nice flavor. I couldn’t place it exactly. It wasn’t made from whatever Miyuki made her tea from, and it wasn’t made from the three tea making plants we had back home. I did like it though. Despite the nice leafy flavor, it reminded me of coffee. I could get used to it. While I enjoyed the cup of tea, Fluttershy and Chrysalis stepped outside. The low buzz of their conversation didn’t really become intelligible. Her house was well insulated it seemed. “So, Bon… How’s Fluttershy been treating you? Are you okay?” I asked. Bon nodded eagerly, shifting her coils around me to form herself into a chair. “Yepyep! She made sure I had a bed, and a blankie, and food, and tells stories, and snuggles and she’s soooo soft! She’s softer than you are mom,” Bon exclaimed happily. I smiled. “Yeah, she does look cuddly.” “I think she’s lonely,” Bon said after a short moment. “Uh, why?” I asked, frowning. How smart should she be right now? She had the energy and attitude of a five year old, but she’d picked up on that subtle depression I’d spotted? “She tries to make her plants grow every day. But they don’t. And she misses her pets. She said a really bad thing happened here so now there’s no animals,” Bon mentioned simply. Oh. So, not very perceptive. Just able to remember things. “I see. What’s she been feeding you?” I asked curiously. “Um, stuff? It’s icky, but Auntie Flutters said I need to eat all of it so I can grow. It works!” Bon exclaimed. Hopefully whatever nutrient block slash paste was available, it wouldn’t make her sick in the long run. I somehow doubted there was a vet here. “Yeah, it seems to have… I remember when you fit in my hand,” I said, mostly to myself as I thought back about home. Why did I even think about it as home? Bon was here with me… I might be able to get Bonbon I here with me too, and I could never take Bon back there. Hell, I couldn’t go back there with my wings. Maybe it was time to rethink this whole adventure thing. I definitely should return the manipulator, if only because that was the right thing to do. But…then what? Where could I go on Earth with my sapient, eight meter long, snake girl? Biomods weren't THAT good yet. “I remember too,” Bon said suddenly, jarring me from my thoughts. “Wait, you do?!” I asked in surprise. Bon nod noded, dipping her head by making her back move. “Uh-huh,” she said. “But not good. Not like I remember when you were sad cuz the thing exploded.” I shook my left arm free of Bon’s coils to give her a tight hug. “I’m sorry you had to go through that,” I apologised. “I’ll keep you safer from now on.” “It’s okay! Auntie Flutters said once I grow all the way up I’ll be big and strong, and then I can keep mom safe instead of you keeping me safe!” Bon said proudly. “If someone tries to hurt mommy, I’ll just eat them up! Unless they have metal clothes. That would be pokey.” Ohhhhkkkaaayyy… Note to self: Lamias are apparently highly aggressive. “Bon, don’t do that,” I said firmly. “Okay,” she agreed happily. “W-wait. That’s it? That’s all it takes?” I asked suspiciously, raising an eyebrow. Bon nod noded. “You always have good reasons for saying no. Like when I ate the cold stuff. You said no, but I did, and it hurt bad.” “How do you remember that?” I asked, giving Bon a confused frown. “Um, wild magic is…odd,” Fluttershy said, having apparently just come back inside. “It's changing her, and she should have some memories from before her exposure. Animals do remember and learn things too. Though I doubt those memories will ever be clear. May I ask you something?” The mare’s face held an odd urgency to it, whatever it was, she needed to ask it. “Of course, I’m an open book., I answered. “W-would you please stay here, instead of with Chrysalis? Or let Bon stay here while you visit?” Fluttershy begged. “It-it’s been forever since I’ve had something to care for and this last week has been the happiest one in years and years.” I turned to look at Chrysalis. The changeling mare nodded at me, her voice suddenly echoing in my head. She asked. I asked. Chrysalis asked. I wondered. Turning to Fluttershy I gave her a nod and a smile. “I’d be happy to stay here. I really don’t want to leave Bon alone, well, without me. She might be growing up fast but she still needs at least one mom.” Fluttershy’s face brightened, a smile spreading across her cheeks and she trotted over to me and pulled me into a tight hug. “Thank you!” She said happily, letting go after a few seconds. “That was literally the softest hug I have ever had in my life!” I said in honest surprise. “There is no way you are padded with silicone.” Fluttershy blushed a shade darker and tipped her head hiding behind her mane. “I-I used to be softer…” I shook my head. “No way that’s physically possible. You are softer than my mattress! And that thing was made of multiple layers of different metamaterials specifically designed to be soft!” It was actually true too. Not one word of that had been exaggerated. I’d have to ask her creator to make me a pillow if I met him. “Actually, she’s right,” Chrysalis informed. “Back in the day I once kidnapped her. Personally. Like, swooped down and grabbed. She was easily twice as soft as she is now.” Fluttershy squeaked something incomprehensible, adorably hiding behind her mane. I shook my head slowly. “Sooo, I’m guessing pony names are literal?” “Um, well… Our parents name us after a few weeks or months. So they have time to spot personality traits,” Fluttershy informed, slowly moving back to a normal posture. “Well at any rate, you’re adorable. Don’t change,” I said flirtatiously, immediately blushing as I realized I’d just sort of, done it. Oh god why!? Not that I was upset with myself, but with how she acted- “Can we finish the story? Please!?” Bon asked Fluttershy eagerly, slithering over to look her in the eyes with a puppydog stare. Good Bon! I’ll find some spaghettios for you. Somehow. “Y-yes! Of course,” Fluttershy informed quickly, turning to give Chrysalis a gentle hug. “I’ll see you this evening. Have a good day.” “I will,” the changeling replied, returning the hug and heading out the door. “See you around Lyra. I’ll find some other way to repay you, I promise.” “Don’t sweat it,” I called. “Easy enough. Neither changelings nor synthetics sweat,” she retorted playfully before closing the door. As the door closed Fluttershy gave Bon a hug around her neck, promising. “We’ll finish the story in just a minute, okay? Miss Lyra, are you hungry?” I nodded. “Yeah, but don’t worry. I got a box of sandwiches.” “Oh! W-what kind of sandwiches?” She asked eagerly. “It’s an enchanted box, it has whatever kind you like in it. Want one?” I offered. “Yes, please!” Fluttershy pleaded, trotting over as I pulled the box out and let her open it. Reaching inside with a hoof, the android plucked out a grilled cheese... and hay? Eh, horse gonna horse. “Oh my, it’s been forever! Grilled mustangian cheese and hayfries with basil!” She cooed happily. I expected her to wolf it down, but much to my amazement Fluttershy trotted around the table, set the sandwich on a little plate from the tea set, cut it into quarters, then sat down, or rather, laid on her belly on her couch. I reached into the box and removed another of those amazing ‘bit of everything’ sandwiches, munching on it happily as Bon laid her head on the coffee table, looking up eagerly. Apparently she really really liked stories. “Now where were we?” Fluttershy asked politely, using the question to gain a moment to enjoy a bite of sandwich. Holy cow! They really did eat. Awesome! “You just were getting ready to go to the mountain with everypony!” Bon said eagerly, coils wiggling. Fluttershy nodded, took a small breath, and began. “The dragon’s smoke covered the sky from end to end, like a massive black quilt.” Well, that was certainly one way to start a story! This had to be good. Flintlock Rose - 1st of Leafdrop 13 EoH - Morning Multiverse Location: Cyberquestria, Equis #3 “There we go! It’s holding stable levels now. You really are good at this,” Twilight praised. I returned her smile. “Meh, this is nothing. I normally build weapons, this has like, a third of the energy I normally deal with.” She shook her head slowly, her metallic body shimmering in the light. “Well your weapons knowledge is good for improving solar power transfer,” Twilight replied. “I would never have thought to use a crude spellamp to alternate the power flow. It’s so simple, but effective! You should become a cyber-botanist.” “Heh, maybe one day. Kinda holding out for the whole ‘legendary warrior’ job to be honest,” I quipped. Yeah sure, a bit boastful, but well, I was going to be that good. One day. One day and forever! “Well, in that case, if the ooze attacks while you’re here I’ll be sure to give you a call,” Twilight said casually. “Wait, what?” I asked, ears perking up. “Oh, the organic ooze, you know, outside of the reclaimed zones?” Twilight asked. “Lots of it hasn’t been cleaned up yet and sometimes it forms monsters. We had to use the Elements of Harmony to bring all of us back, and that drained them for good. We don't exactly have an easy win solution anymore. But it’s not a big deal to have to fight them off by hoof. Even before gaining this body it wouldn’t have been too hard.” I felt my heart skip a beat. “That sounds awesome!” I exclaimed. Twilight shrugged turning back to the experimental plant. “Well, it can be fun, or a pain in the plot, and sometimes dangerio-” “Hey, Twi, is Rose still- Ah, hey Rose,” an odd two-toned voice sa- Oh yeah! Chrysalis. I turned and gave the tall changeling a wave. “Hey. How do you do that voice?” “I shape changed to have a second voice box because I thought it would sound cool,” she answered with a grin. “So, I have some news for you.” Awww… It did sound cool. And I couldn’t do my voice yet. Darn. “Oh?” I asked Chrysalis nodded. “Yeah, your friend and her kid decided to stay at Fluttershy’s instead of my place. The snake’s taken to Flutters, and they are having a good time. Lyra didn’t want to stop that. Thing is though, Flutters has a small place, there’s not enough room for you there. So you’ll be sleeping at my place.” I felt my ears droop sadly. I’d been hoping to get another chance to say I liked her soon. I couldn’t do it while she was depressed, and there hadn’t been a chance before that. “Oh, um, alright,” I said sadly. Chrysalis frowned. “Hey don’t be down like that. You and I can have some fun. We’ll go bowling!” “Bowling!?” I said, half bored, half insulted by the proposition. Twilight’s ears fell flat, her tail lashing in irritation. “You had better do it far from town! It’s nice and quiet today.” Chrysalis rolled her eyes. “I bothered you while you were reading one time.” I turned to look back at Twilight, eyes begging for an explanation. “How can bowling be that loud?” “She ‘bowls’ with 3d targets and hoof grenades,” Twilight muttered angrily. I felt my eyes widen, I turned back to face Chrysalis, and didn’t even need to ask for confirmation. “I bowl with monster targets and concussion grenades,” she repeated with a grin. “Wanna play a few rounds?” “Oh buck the hay yes!” I exclaimed jumping up to leave on the spot.