The Sparkle in his Eye

by Tatsurou

Nexus: Haunted

Twilight felt herself floating, felt her armor activating the environmental protections for space. She quickly realized she'd been blasted out of the ship, probably out the front windshield. She felt no motion, but as she opened her eyes, she saw she was actually moving away from the wreckage of the ship at a rapid rate. Looking around, she caught sight of a magnetized surface and was able to pull herself to it.

As she reached it, her communicator sprang to life. "Twilight! Cronk! Zephyr! Anyone, please answer me!"

"Daddy?" Twilight called out worriedly.

"Oh thank god!" Ratchet gasped out in relief. "Twilight, are you alright?"

"I...I think so..." Her HUD came up, giving her a readout. "N-no injuries, and nanotech levels at 95%. Armor integrity holding. Looks like that blast didn't do as much damage to me as it should-"

In her minds eye, the shape of the shadows that had been between her and the explosion became clear. Two old warbots, loyal to the last.

"C...Cronk and Zephyr..." Twilight whimpered. "They...they shielded me..."

"Twilight, we can grieve later," Clank's voice cut through her thoughts. "Right now, Thugs-4-Less are still hunting us down as part of their 'clean sweep' protocols to avoid being tracked. Now that we're aware that we're all alive, we need to make our way to one of their ships in comm silence, hiding our signals so we can catch a lift to wherever they are going next. Once we're safely aboard a planet and can call Aphelion, then we can grieve."

"R-right," Twilight agreed, getting control of herself. "I...I'm shutting off communications."

Closing the link, Twilight did her best to focus. Already, she could feel the usual terror that had hit her when she was alone ever since her time on Yeedil, fear that had been compounded in the Dreadzone and by the Technomites. But she refused to let it consume her. She'd be able to meet up with Ratchet and Clank before long, and then she wouldn't be alone. For now, she needed to be in control of herself.

As Twilight moved, she managed to pick up the Thugs-4-Less communication signals and listen in.

"Looks like we missed a few!" one of the Thugs was saying. "Well, time to clean up-"

"Just disable their communications and maneuvering jets if you come across them," Vendra's order interrupted. "Assistance for them is likely already underway, and will be here soon. Waste no time, and cloak your engine signatures. Don't leave anyone anyway to track us."

"But...they can't track us if they're dead-"

"Who's paying your paychecks?" Vendra interrupted angrily.

"Uh...Neftin-"

"And my brother obeys me, which means you take orders from me! So unless you want to be left behind for their backup to blame for what just happened, you do what I say and no killing!"

"Y-yes ma'am!"

That's...interesting, Twilight mused silently as she made her way from magnetized wreckage to magnetized wreckage, using as little magic as possible. While Vendra's never killed anyone - or caused any deaths - it was always because it was more efficient not to. No one - not even Mervin - doubted she would if necessary. What's changed? Twilight's eyes suddenly widened as she remembered her conversation she had with Vendra on the bridge, and how much time Ratchet had spent in the cryo-brig during the six month journey. Hoo boy...I thought I was done with that checklist. Wonder if I can still find it...

Before long, Twilight was able to latch onto one of the Thugs-4-Less ships, and quickly activated her armor's cloaking field, standing perfectly still to avoid detection. To her pleasant surprise, she saw Ratchet and Clank latch onto the same ship not far away from her before activating their own cloaks.

The Thugs-4-Less communication line opened again. "No sign of those three. Guess we lost 'em...or that backup got 'em when we weren't looking."

Hearing that, Twilight began carefully making her way to a nearby airlock, Ratchet and Clank quickly following as they caught sight of her.

"Very well," Neftin responded. "I'm sending coordinates to planet Yerek. We have work to do."

The trio silently hid inside a crate in the ship's cargo hold, clinging to each other. Twilight did her best to hold back her tears.

---

As they arrived on planet Yerek, the crates were deposited some distance from where Vendra was guiding the Thugs. Once their crate was safely deposited, the trio tumbled out sorrowfully, scattering a few machine parts that had been packed in there with them.

"It's...it's my fault..." Twilight whimpered softly. "If...if I'd only reacted quicker, I...I could have saved them. Or if I'd waited to fight until you two got there..." She sniffled and let out a distressed whinny.

Carefully, Ratchet scooped Twilight into a comforting embrace. "Twilight...can I tell you something I've learned from you?"

"From...from me?" Twilight asked surprised.

"When something bad happens, there are three ways to handle it," Ratchet explained. "You can let it crush you with despair and self blame. You can let rage drive you to take vengeance. Or...you can admit to the mistakes made, learn from them, and get better." He smiled down at Twilight. "Which do you think is the best tribute to those two old warbots?"

Twilight sniffled. "I...I guess you're right. But...how did I teach you that?"

Ratchet grinned, gently bopping the underside of her chin. "Which do you think was the way I raised you?"

"Aw, that's so sweet!" a familiar voice spoke up from a suddenly shaking crate.

"Shut up, Cronk!" another familiar voice replied. "You're interrupting!"

Twilight's eyes widened in shock, and her magic tore the box open.

Cronk and Zephyr tumbled out, but they didn't look quite right. First of all, all the parts they were constructed of looked brand new, and not entirely connected to each other. Second, they were both coated in an odd green glow. Third, they were both wearing pirate hats.

"Wha...how?" Ratchet asked, confused.

"The pirate curse," Clank gasped in shock. "Because Twilight is Captain of Darkwater's crew, any robot loyal to her - who sees her as their Captain - is also under the influence of Darkwater's curse, meaning that if they die they will resurrect...as zombie robot pirate ghosts."

"So, does that mean I should be going 'Ooo-OOO-oo-oo-ooo' or 'Ceee-Peee-Youus'?" Cronk asked curiously.

Zephyr promptly elbowed Cronk. "It means we hug our Captain before she bursts into tears, idjit!"

Twilight immediately rushed forward, embracing the pair.

Comments

[Sonic Rainboom Dash]

nice chapter.

[edited] also first comment. Finally!

[KVFFour]

LOL. First, also, one view. Also, that was kinda touching.

[Nova Blaze]

I forgot about that curse. Zombie robot pirate ghosts are sure to come in handy.

[Devildogg20]

Best robots are alive!

[FTKnight]

.... I had completely forgot about that curse.... what a way to brighten up a heartbreaking scene.

Hell, This is probable one of the few times that the heroes making the Heroic Sacrifice actually get to find out if it worked.

[Ragegamer243]

7642757 same

[shinigamisparda]

Twilight's eyes suddenly widened as she remembered her conversation she had with Vendra on the bridge, and how much time Ratchet had spent in the cryo-brig during the six month journey. Hoo boy...I thought I was done with that checklist. Wonder if I can still find it...

Twi, not every girl that Ratchet makes friends with needs to be a waifu.

"Aw, that's so sweet!" a familiar voice spoke up from a suddenly shaking crate.

"Shut up, Cronk!" another familiar voice replied. "You're interrupting!"

Oh! I was wrong!

"The pirate curse," Clank gasped in shock. "Because Twilight is Captain of Darkwater's crew, any robot loyal to her - who sees her as their Captain - is also under the influence of Darkwater's curse, meaning that if they die they will resurrect...as zombie robot pirate ghosts."

Or, well... kinda wrong. But anyway, they're still there!

[Sigmacipher]

Well that was nice...does that mean that losing Zurkon the bearded is next to impossible?

[Tatsurou]

7642803
Spoiler tag those, please.

[megabyte97]

Huh... I'm still waiting to see if Agent Clank will get another season, but I completely forgot about the robot space pirates... What's next? The Valkyries showing up with Helga for a training montage to give Twilight some practice for fighting without magic? Skid showing up to provide the group with something to help them? Ace Hardlight finding them and giving them a way to communicate with Aphelion?

I've never played any of the R&C games so I guess I'm stuck with waiting until tuesday rolls around again.

[Reader Wolf]

Huh. Didn't see that coming.

[shinigamisparda]

7642809 All of it, or just the changes?

[FrostTheWolf]

Holy crap, zombie Cronk and Zephyr! xD

[Amethyst Blade]

I...Wut?

[Tatsurou]

7642817
The changes.

[Chrome Masquerade]

"Wha...how?" Ratchet asked, confused.

"The pirate curse," Clank gasped in shock. "Because Twilight is Captain of Darkwater's crew, any robot loyal to her - who sees her as their Captain - is also under the influence of Darkwater's curse, meaning that if they die they will resurrect...as zombie robot pirate ghosts."

Well, that was unexpected.

[cyberlord4444]

7642784 No they're not, they're zombies.

[reader238]

Only Tatsurou can kill off a character and bring them back using "scientifically" legitimate reasoning

Does that mean if Nefarious dies the same loophole would apply

[Tatsurou]

7642929
...
...
...technically?

[Frostgear]

7642929 if he considers her his captain...I think...right Tats?

[treegrowth]

So, wait, the curse also affects the living (Flesh and blood)
I mean, I know that it is a robot curse, but I thought it only worked on robots.
Apparently, it works on anyone who is caption at the time, I didn't know that.

[Starcat5]

7642803
Spoiler tags need to be added for every paragraph. Otherwise, only the first paragraph is covered. Found that out the hard way.

7642868

[Tatsurou]

7643058
The curse works for whoever is Captain, but it only works on robots.
So anyone can be Captain - as long as Darkwater is part of the crew - but only robots get the immortality aspect from it.

[treegrowth]

7643085 I know, I just wasn't expecting it.

[reader238]

7642951 well you he does -wink wink-

[Kenshinryuu]

Yay, Twilight has Ghost Pirate bots with her now!!! I can't wait to see how her next encounter with Vendra. I'm eager to see how the relationship between them develops, especially if she gets added to Ratchet's Harem.

[Crescent Glaive]

I had forgotten about that

Yay, for the beauty of loopholes! Rules be damned, we just go around or through them!

[Ausbrony]

7642803 - Silly Sparda. Of course they need to be a waifu. That's how shipping works.

[redsopine]

pfffff haha zombie ghosts for them 2 there gonna cause alota mayhem

[Dirty Bit]

I love those moments where a curse turns out to be an advantageous boon.

[Crux]

I kinda wish that Twilight ended up alone on this adventure, with the 2 warbots haunting her but this is still great.

[Garreon]

thank goodnes you saved them!!

[Bugsydor]

That was so sad, until you made it all better.

I can honestly say this is the only time I recall a zombie curse making a story more cheerful.

[ArchAngelGundam]

I was wondering how you would handle that. It looked like you were doing about as well as one could with the situation, until you broke the rules and made it immensely better. Looking forward to more.
Keep up the great work. Deus tecum.

[Just Defender]

Really, Tatsurou?
SHE is going on THAT list!?

When have they... by a fan...
Oh, the thoughts and feelings these fics of his do to my head.

[Tatsurou]

7647798
If you look into backstories, there's a remarkable number of similarities. With Twilight thrown into the mix, Ratchet and Vendra have a surprising amount in common.

[Just Defender]

7647809 I know that, but I've seen next to nothing supporting the ship.
Not to start an argument or anything (I really hate causing them), but this is sounding too much like the logic MlP fans put behind...
Ok, nevermind.

[alfonso_rd_33]

7642784 technically they are undead, not dead yet not alive either...

[A Spy on observation]

I'm sorry i can't resist...
Da-da-da-dum *clap-clap*
Da-da-da-dum *clap-clap*
Da-da-da-dum,Da-da-da-dum,Da-da-da-dum*clap-clap*
They're creepy and they're kooky,
Mysterious and spooky,
They're all together ooky,
The Sparkle Family.

YES I KNOW THE SHOW DIDNT HAVE GHOSTS DONT QUESTION MY THOUGHT PROCESS!

[Tatsurou]

7648958
...it's *snap snap* not *clap clap*.

[Jake Witt]

Twilight's eyes suddenly widened as she remembered her conversation she had with Vendra on the bridge, and how much time Ratchet had spent in the cryo-brig during the six month journey. Hoo boy...I thought I was done with that checklist. Wonder if I can still find it...

GAH! I KEEP OVER THINKING THIS! The thought I got is sooo dirty that I need bleach and fire to cleanse this joke! OH, LORDY WHY!
"Uh, Twilight? I'm pretty sure its the guys that are supposed to get the _____(NOUN: CAT)_____, if you know what I mean? "

That's as far as I go.

[Tatsurou]

7650079
...the list she's talking about is the "Daddy's Harem/Mommy Candidates" checklist.
So she's trying to get the (Cat Noun) for her Daddy.

[Jake Witt]

7650332 I know. Also, isn't the Lombax race similar to any other feline race?

[Tatsurou]

7650355
There are similarities between Lombaxes and Cazar, but enough distinct differences to make it questionable how viable crossbreeding will prove to be.

[dunnie_172]

7650332
7650079
The female cat noun is molly, for some reason. Don't ask me why I know that.

[Jake Witt]

7651179 Not close. Molly is a drug. How does drugs and cats even- What?! Now, I'm just going to name off different cat-related names that I can think of.

- Tabby cat
- Tom cat
- Pussycat
- Lion
- Tiger
- Liger
- Bobcat / Lynx
- Cheetah
- Leopard

EDIT: HINT: Involves a part of natural women (2016 surgeons should shift focus to real emergencies) or cowardly men both named after a cat.

[PrincessLaLa]

Yaaay i finished every chapter in a day woohoo

[SvenFoxx]

That's...interesting, Twilight mused silently as she made her way from magnetized wreckage to magnetized wreckage, using as little magic as possible. While Vendra's never killed anyone - or caused any deaths - it was always because it was more efficient not to. No one - not even Mervin - doubted she would if necessary. What's changed? Twilight's eyes suddenly widened as she remembered her conversation she had with Vendra on the bridge, and how much time Ratchet had spent in the cryo-brig during the six month journey. Hoo boy...I thought I was done with that checklist. Wonder if I can still find it...

Ha! Even Twilight can read the writing on the wall.

[erubianwarlord]

7650401
no their perfectly viable remember ratchets parents checked

7649317
I always thought of it as "click click"