Interlude: Stars and Stripes
Angela Cross stopped by the Megapolis apartment for what she was certain would be the last time. Her light knock on the door was quickly answered by a cheery looking filly. "Angela!" Twilight greeted happily. "Come on in! Daddy's not awake yet, but I think he'll be happy to see you when he wakes up!"
Angela winced. She hadn't been looking forward to this conversation today with Ratchet. She definitely wasn't looking forward to having it in front of Twilight, or with Twilight. "So how you holding up?" she asked, walking carefully to avoid tripping. "Fully recovered from what happened?"
"Pretty much," Twilight replied. "My magic is taking a longer time than usual to return to full strength, but all things considered, that's probably to be expected, right?"
Angela chuckled, shaking her head. "Someone as young as you shouldn't be talking about an event that resulted in such total exhaustion as 'usual'."
Twilight giggled. "I don't exactly live a normal life, that's for sure." Twilight focused as she levitated some tea out. "So how are things with you and Daddy?"
Angela flinched visibly. "Twilight...I really didn't want to talk with you until I'd talked with Ratchet about this..."
Twilight gasped happily. "Oh my gosh, are you pregnant?"
"No!" Angela said quickly. "No, I'm not pregnant." Seeing Twilight's disappointment and confusion, Angela realized she was going to have to tell her. "Twilight...I'm afraid I'm going to have to break up with Ratchet."
"What? Why?" Twilight asked, her ears flat against her head. "Don't you like him?"
"Of course I like him," Angela hastened to assure the distraught filly. "He's a swell guy, really sweet. He'll make somebody really happy someday. But...just now, that somebody can't be me. Even if he weren't ten years younger than me..."
"That shouldn't be a problem!" Twilight pointed out. "I mean, he's a Lombax, just like y-"
Angela's hands shot out, covering Twilight's mouth. "Don't say that!" she hissed quietly. "Don't ever say that! You have no idea how dangerous that information is!"
Twilight's eyes went wide in surprise and fear.
Angela sighed. She hated having to scare Twilight like this, but there was a reason things were like this. She decided to be as vague as possible. "Look...there's...a danger. Something that makes it not safe to be a Lombax. Ratchet is safe enough in Solana, and hasn't made a big enough name for himself to draw attention, especially with how young he is. I'm a different story. I don't dare draw attention to myself, and two known Lombaxes would draw attention like nobody's business, and I'm old enough to draw attention all on my own if I was known."
Twilight pulled away from her hands. "But it can't be that bad-"
"I cut off my own tail to hide!" Angela hissed. "Without my tail, my balance and stability is whack, but I can pass for any other felinoid species in the known universe, and there are plenty. Not only that, no one who knows anything about Lombaxes would believe one would cut off their own tail, because it doesn't grow back...ever." She took a few calming breaths, hating herself for terrorizing Twilight like this. "So...as long as that threat exists...as much as I like Ratchet, we can't go any further than we have."
Twilight stared at her for a time, and Angela feared she'd traumatized the poor filly. But then she spoke up. "So will you look Ratchet up after we've destroyed this threat?"
One of Angela's eyebrows shot up to her ear while the other tried to fold over her eyeball. "Excuse me?" she asked in disbelief.
"Daddy heard about Drek taking planets apart in Solana, and we saved the galaxy, stopping Drek," Twilight explained. "Then we learned about everything here in Bogon, and wound up dealing with that. Logically, if there's a threat that's going to be focused on Daddy at some point, Daddy, Clank, and I are going to end up dealing with it so it isn't a threat anymore!" Twilight beamed with the strength of her conviction in this regard. "So if we eliminate this threat, will you look Daddy up again?"
Angela chuckled, shaking her head in disbelief at the filly's innocent optimism. She wasn't sure how Twilight could still have it after everything she'd been through - Ratchet had talked a lot about Twilight on their few dates - but it was reassuring that it was so. It almost let Angela believe that Ratchet could pull off the insane achievement Twilight had suggested. "Tell you what: if you do pull it off, I'll happily join Ratchet's harem. How's that sound?"
Twilight tilted her head. "What's a harem?"
Angela laughed, having forgotten momentarily that Twilight was only seven. "In this case, it's when one male has several females as romantic partners."
Twilight gasped. "You mean I'll get lots of Mommies?" she squealed happily.
Angela rolled her eyes. "You just might," she joked.
"I'll hold you to that!" Twilight said happily. Then she blinked. "Wait...does that mean I could get a harem of boys?" she asked eagerly.
Angela chuckled again. "Aren't you still in the 'boys are icky' stage of growth?"
"Of course I am," Twilight countered. "But I've read enough to know that won't last forever, and the notion of lots of guys fawning over me and waiting on me wing and hoof has a guilty sort of appeal, you know?"
Angela smirked. "Save the galaxy enough times, and you'll get one whether you like it or not."
At that point, Ratchet came down from the bedrooms. "Oh, Angela, you're here." He looked somewhat nervous and sorrowful. "I...need to talk to you. Twilight, could you excuse us-"
"You're going to ask to just be friends because you feel your priority right now should be taking care of me, aren't you?" Twilight asked piercingly.
Ratchet winced. "I didn't want to-"
"Talk about it in front of her because you didn't want her to blame herself for us breaking up?" Angela interpreted.
Ratchet face palmed. "And there's reason two. One woman reading me like a book is more than I can take. Two is more than any man should have to deal with!" He grinned at Angela to show he was joking.
Angela smiled. "Actually, it's kind of a relief for me that you've made this decision." She stood up and scratched the back of her head. "I actually came here this morning to tell you that I didn't think things would work out between us because I didn't think either of us were ready for a serious relationship at this point in our lives."
Ratchet smiled sheepishly. "Well, I suppose that at least makes it easy for us to part as friends, right?"
"Yeah, it does," Angela agreed. "But hey, if we're in the same neck of the universe in a decade or so, maybe we could try it again?"
Ratchet's smile became more confident. "I'd like that."
They shook hands happily.
"See you around!" Angela said happily, making her way out.
Ratchet headed into the kitchen to start making breakfast. While he was in there, however, he paused. Taking out a tablet, he made a note to himself.
Identify threat to Lombaxes.
Eliminate threat to Lombaxes.
Harem get! :D
A hero he may have been. A loving and responsible father as well. But he was also 17.
Later that day, there was another knock on the door. Clank opened it, revealing a suave looking bearded sophont with yellow skin, dressed in a dark brown jacket and blue shirt.
"Clank, baby, there you are!" he said eagerly, shaking Clank's hand. "I've been looking all over for you! Have I got the deal of a lifetime for you!"
Clank stared at him for a time. "I'm sorry, but I don't believe we've met. Who are you?"
"Derek Tovid, biggest director in Solana and Bogon!" the man introduced himself. "My card!" He handed over a business card. "But let's get to business, Clank baby! I want to make you a star!"
"A...star?" Clank asked, surprised.
"What are you talking about?" Ratchet asked curiously. Twilight also walked over, intrigued.
"I've got this brand new holovision series lined up, and it's just perfect for you! Take a look at this!" Derek showed a title card.
"Secret Agent Clank!" he proclaimed proudly. "You, the suave, debonair, super spy versus anything the forces of evil - and the writers imagination and film budget - can throw at you! I'll make you the star everyone wants to see! What do you say?"
Clank thought about it for a time. "Can my friends participate, too?" he asked.
Derek looked over Ratchet. "Hmm...well, I suppose I can work him in somehow. Any super spy needs a staff-"
"Oh! Oh! Me too! Me too!" Twilight squealed, bouncing happily. "I can be the Penny to his Gadget! Or the Jade to his Jackie!"
"The who to what?" Derek asked in confusion.
Twilight sighed. "Old Earth television series. Very successful in their day. Basically, I'm the smart and spunky little girl sidekick who never stays home when she's told, sometimes has to be rescued, but also sometimes bails him out!"
Derek scratched at his beard. "I don't know..."
"It would really bring in the parents-with-kids crowd since it gives the kids someone to identify with," Ratchet pointed out.
Derek shrugged. "We'll give it a reel and see what happens," he allowed.
By the time the pilot episode aired, Secret Agent Clank was the hot new show in Solana and Bogon, and there was a major legal battle between Gadgetron and Holostar Studios over who, exactly, had the rights to make and sell official Twilight Sparkle plushies...although in the holo-films, Twilight's character was called Sparks and wore a rather adorable half-robot mask to imply she was a cyborg filly.
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Is it just me or does every one of these stories hit the feature box on every chapter?
*checks faves* Oh hey, that one updated. *checks time before throwing the clock out the window* Don't care, ponies need me to read.
5884988 Does it really surprise you. Tatsurou has quite a few followers and his stories are tracked by many for a good reason.
I loved ratchet's little note there
also I always hated that in up your arsenal People would refer to ratchet as clank's chauffeur
Ratchet,with some help from clank,saved two galaxies 
I mean SERIOUSLY
I understand that was the character he played in that show but cmon give the guy some respect
I'm sorry for going off topic
great chapter can't wait for more
He's literally an intergalactic hero. How much bigger a name can he get?
Then again, I never played the series and thus have no idea what else is out there.
5885025
The specific attention he hasn't drawn is scientific attention, regarding inventions, as that's the great danger Lombaxes present to their enemies...what they can build.
KAWAII DESU!
5884988 Just like they should.
As such things go, I expect that Eiken Fixxit and Derik Tovid will reach a compromise, with Mr. Fixxit being more interested in looking out for Twilight's interests as she is both a friend and a valued employee. Some product placement get's Gatgetron a foot in the door in the Bogon Galaxy market, and Ratchet on hand to make sure that Twilight is not unfairly exploited.
With Ratchet apparently having overheard the conversation between Twilight and Angela (excellent explanation for Angela's occasional klutziness, by the way!), he's going to be less interested in having an actual roll in Clank and Twilight's holovid series, simply so he can stay out of the limelight. Maybe a bit role here and there, but he'd be more likely to be on hand to protect his daughter than to be on screen. Heck, this time he might even get a kick out of having a low key role such as being Clank's chauffer. Especially if said chauffer, Jeeves, ends up being Spark's sidekick and bodyguard (making Ratchet both a virtual and actual bodyguard for his daughter, on screen and off).
Very nice. :)
...
I wonder what Dr. Nefarious will think of the "cyborg" "Sparks"?
5885034
Well, Twi will always be taking the credit for that most of the time.
5885092
derpicdn.net/img/view/2012/6/28/23543__safe_discord_reaction+image_artist-colon-briskby_jaw+drop.png
>mfw my readers give me brilliant ideas I hadn't even considered but absolutely love!
I was actually thinking Ratchet would - in this iteration - play the Alfred to Clank's Bruce, being butler, chauffeur, and the one who is supposed to be keeping Sparks out of trouble.
5885034
So...are we talking more or less advanced than the stuff that Twilight comes up with on a daily basis for what Lombaxes can build? If less advanced, than, shouldn't the threat to the Lombaxes be just as interested in Twilight? If more, than by how much? Or does what she build not count, as she is taking already built stuff most of the time and repurposing it to do other things?
5885197
If you've played Tools of Destruction, you'll know why it's only Lombax inventions - specifically Lombax technology - that the threat is concerned with.
If not, wait four games.
I would totally watch this show. But Twilight should eventually try to get Spark's character to develop into a Q type, maybe making new inventions for Clank to use on the show or having her inventions get stolen by bad guys.
Ratchet's plan to make Twilight happy is awesome! And Twilight's reaction to a Harem meaning she gets lots of mommies is adorable. I can totally see her evaluating all the women they run into as potential mommies.
Oh, and the companies better make a special medicine that helps victims of cuteness induced heart attacks from seeing Cyber Filly Twilight.
i read this chapter while on the toilet......huh that strange
Female Lombaxes actually don't have tails. In fact, there are plenty of species where the female doesn't have the same anatomy as the male.
5885304
Same here.
5885203
I actually haven't played any of the games...so yeah.
Why they gave the director a Lucas beard, I'll never know.
there was a major legal battle between Gadgetron and Holostar Studios over who, exactly, had the rights to make and sell official Twilight Sparkle plushies...although in the holo-films, Twilight's character was called Sparks and wore a rather adorable half-robot mask to imply she was a cyborg filly.
I require said fluffy.
5885476 you mean like all of them right as ever species has 1 difference between the male and the female
5885203
To avoid spoilers for the series I'm going to send you a PM discussing this further, but that bit of logic sounds kinda flimsy. "Threats" don't just leave the main character alone just because said character hasn't made something that can stop said 'threat'. If bad guy hates your guts, bad guy gonna kill you.
The part with Ratchet's checklist
Not to mention Twilight's excellent show references
5886048 I know. Gadget made my day.
Hmmm, this makes me wonder, what role will 'Sparks' play in the Secret agent Clank side story?
I was really hoping for a mini non-canon chapter with Twilight, Ratchet and Clank exploring the bugginess that is the Wall Climbing Glitch in R&C2, as well, you can sequence break extremely hilariously with that, I.E Beating the game in 11 minutes with the Insomniac Museum shortcut to skip to Planet Boldan of course, but that's besides the point. It would be hilarious to see how the trio react to however the hell throwing a wrench at a wall boosts your vertical momentum
I was singing the KMFDM song along with the chapter because of the title.
5885476
As the games have never shown a female Lombax, I refuse to accept that detail as canon, because of one line from Tools of Destruction.
The Dimenstionator lab states quite plainly that it only would allow a Lombax in based on recognition of their tails. If only male Lombaxes have tails, this would imply that Lombaxes think only males can be scientists and warriors. I refuse to accept that the species is that sexist.
Besides, assuming Angela Cross is a Lombax, there is no logical explanation for her to be that clumsy...except the removal of a tail, as the tail is central to feline balance.
5886548 good point, it... Really makes since, now that i give it thought thanks. but side note maybe she just has it hidden in her pants like it was with ratchet in deadlock.
5887659
A distinct possibility, and binding her tail would also explain her clumsiness.
However, removing it makes for more dramatic story telling.
The threat to the Lombaxes...Tachyon is coming...
Poor Angela.
Ratchet's harem? Kind of a small one, there's just Talwyn, Angela, Sasha...
The universe just has to bitchslap people sometimes
Tachyon, try not to make twilight REALLY angry.
You wont be humiliated and turned into a chicken like drek did or who knows what she could turn you into if not a chicken
Tachyon wont come out unscathed after this is over
5889476
I know it was Xelos. The you tube clip I put in my comment had nothing to do with the actual reference. I was referencing a reference to show how happy I was that I got the original reference, which was unrelated to the reference I was referencing.
5886261 That would be hilarious, I used to do that to skip entire chunks of maps...
5887891 true very true.
I forgot to comment on this chapter...
Twilight is getting SNEAKY! And Ratchet has his priorities STRAIGHT!
Here's to the awesome future!
No...
You did not...
You did...
First, Ben 10 with the plumber reference...
then, an old ninja t.v. show with mouser robots... TMNT...
now...
wait for it...
5...
4...
3...
2...
1...
Now Inspector Gadget and Jackie Chan Adventures?!
Me likey
Also, you must be old dude, cause Gadget is, like, '80's classic.
5885476 I understand that reference.
5888053 Vendra?
6087756 He doesn't have to be that old. Cause I remember watching it in the early 2000s so it has been going on for a while.
I laughed far too hard at this than I should have at 4 in the morning.
Inspector Gadget reference is win. I loved that cartoon so much.
6188477 though considering Ratchet is portrayed as the 'bumbling' one in Secret Agent Clank, not quite show accurate is it?
6087756 even i know gadget and i am from the 00s
6375560
Oops, sorry.
I was just commenting on the cartoon references that Tatsurou just loves to make. I just recently noticed that there is a CGI version of Inspector Gadget that has appeared on Netflix.
The original version was one of my favorite shows growing up. Wasn't trying to say that you, Tatsurou, or anyone else was that old.
It was more a joke on me, cause I am that old
wow ratchet way to keep priority you playboy
I can see this as an anime now, but instead of Ratchet disliking the harem Clank and Twilight will, causing fights and rivals-for-attention.
"Identify threat to Lombaxes.
this line of thoughts was absolutely hilarious. Step one identify threat step two eliminate threat step three profit. 
I am very much enjoying this fic. 
Eliminate threat to Lombaxes.
Harem get! :D"
I know of the former, but no clue about the later.
7569673 Inspector Gadget and Jackie Chan Adventures. Tatsurou currently has a JCA PWNY story as one of the newer ones with the CMC as the stars.
7605781
I was starting to piece some of that together from the comments, somwthing about the three of them being a full shi mage or something, followed by a relisation of somebody being able to handle those three.
(Also having all PWNY stories on the to read list helps to keep track of how far behind I am with these stories)