War of Steam: Building Pressure

by Blitz Stratus

New cloths, New faces

Twilight found her bed unbearable as she fitfully squirmed beneath the soft cotton sheets that

covered her. She had awoken only a short while ago, but she found that, no matter what she

did, she couldn't lay still. But it wasn't all that surprising to her, she had been stuck in the same

bed and same room for the pass five days now. But with a huff she to correct herself, though

she didn't understand why, she really couldn't count for three of those day's as she was only

awake for a few moments of them. There wasn't much that happened but still it did puzzle her.

She would begin to awake, her still nameless caregiver always right beside her, as the room

came into focus, then the feeling of a sharp prick in her right foreleg and slumber quickly

remembrance her. But, for the moment, the source of that pain, or her quick lapse of

consciousness, wasn't her biggest concern. With a sluggish shuffle Twilight propped herself

up, then as gingerly as she could, raised her left foreleg into the soft light of the over hanging

fixtures just above her muzzle. The brown sleeve was snugly secured to her leg by means

of a leather strap, with it let out scrunch as she gave it a light tug with her free hoof, black

thread shifting lighting under the gentle pull. Then with a slight huff Twilight slowly flexed her

leg at first away then back towards herself, the sleeve giving a scrunch at each return as she

repeated this motion. She found after several reparations, with her leg back in front of her

muzzle, that despite the secureness and construction of the sleeve that her legs movements

didn't seemed hindered in any way, but with any lack of feeling it was hard to judge her legs

position from her if she wasn't directly looking at it.

"I'm probably not going to have any luck holding anything with you am I?" Twilight sighed

as she gazed at the glass of water that sat on her bedside table then back to her leg.

With a long sigh she lowered her foreleg and a small chill of helplessness bubbled within her

as she returned it to her side. Twilight closed her eyes and began to concentrate, digging

within the bleakness that filled her mind.

"Is something bothering you miss Sparkle?" A voice called suddenly, causing Twilight's eyes

to flip open and her whole body to give a sharp jerk as she quickly shifted to sit up.

"Oh.. Hi ummmm."

The colt shook his head and chuckled as he took his weight off the doorways frame.

"My apologies if I startled you miss Sparkle but I believe I would be accurate to say

that something is a bother?"

".......I would be lying if I said if I wasn't having some difficulties." Twilight sighed sadly.

"Perhaps I can offer some assistance. What seems to be your quarrel miss Sparkle?" The colt

asked, as he made his way over to her bedside.

"For the past few days I haven't been able to pick up anything with my left hoof and well...."

"And you fear if you try to use your horn you won't fair much better."

"*sigh* Yes."

"Well then miss Sparkle do you feel yourself up for a stroll?" The colt asked as he came to

stand beside her bedside.

"And get out of this bed?"

"Of course, but before we disembark a few thing must be addressed, such as the removal

of the hypodermic needle inserted in your upper right quarter." He signed, releasing one of

the beds steel rails. "Do you have a phobia of needles miss Sparkle?" The colt asked as slide

open a small drawer that lay under the bed. "Because if you do this might be unpleasant."

Then with huff, he gave a swift tug to the back of the needle, it withdrawing from Twilight's

leg in silent ease. Of course this didn't keep Twilight from jolting sharply in response.

"Did you have to do that so abruptly?" Twilight questioned, annoyance heavy in her tone.

"In a word yes. Now on to the second issue, you'll be needing a different attire Ms. Sparkle,

for as the main hanger is only fifteen degrees Celsius at the moment." He replied as he placed

a cloth bandage over the slowly dripping pin hole. "Now if you would hold pressure here for me

Ms. Sparkle I shall acquire a change of cloths for you."

In a quick spin he turned towards the door and, as Twilight looked up as she held pressure on

the patch, she watched as he spun back around an gave the wall next to the door a swift kick.

There was a loud ticking noise then a ding as a tile in the ceiling slide away and a brass pipe

descended into the room, it coming to a halt just below his snout. Raising his hoof he flipped

a small wooden lid off the end of the pipe and gave a rap to the tube before calling into it.

"Hello, Petunia, I acquire your assistance." He called into the pipe.

There was silence at first from the tube but then the echo of hoof falls resonated faintly through

before followed by a huff came a mares voice. "Yes sir?"

"Yes Petunia, could you procure some clothes for miss Sparkle and bring them to the infirmary

please?"

"Anything in specific in mind for miss Twilight?"

"Something suitable for a walk around the hanger Petunia."

"Of course." Replied Petunia, as a click echoed back.

"Well then miss Sparkle has anything developed with regard's to your memory?" The colt asked,

as he turned away from pipe, giving the wall a light kick causing the tube to ascend back into

the ceiling.

"No." Twilight sighed.

"Really? No improvement at all?"

A feeling of annoyance washed over her but then an idea popped inside her head. "Did you find

anything else when you found me?" She asked.

"No, other then an air bladder, and your Id tags miss Sparkle we recovered nothing else."

"What about my clothes? Did they have anything on them?"

"Well that's hard to say, all but your vest didn't suffer being shredded or charred." He said rubbing

his chin. "You'll have to take a look at it miss Sparkle." The colt stated, as the patch work door

swung open.

"I hope I'm not intruding Hayden?" The soft crimson mare asked, as she walked into the room,

clothes neatly folded on her back.

"Oh far from it Petunia. Miss Sparkle this is Petunia."

"Hello Twilight." Petunia smiled, as she trotted over to Twilight's bed.

"Um are those clothes going to fit me?" Twilight asked, as Petunia pulled them from her

back and place them at Twilight's side.

"Miss Sparkle you know that gown your in?"

"Yes?"

"I stitched that together and it seems to be fitting you pretty well" Petunia smiled but sighed

"Of course with that came a small challenge."

"Really?" Twilight questioned. "What do you mean?"

"Well its easy to make a garment for somepony you've done work for before but I didn't

have that luxury with you." Petunia replied, as she turned to Hayden. "Hayden may we get

some privacy."

"As you wish." He said with a bow, quickly trotting out of the room, the door clicking softly

shut as he departed from the room.

"Umm Petunia?"

"Yes miss Sparkle?"

"Could you umm help me with this?" Twilight asked, as she pulled a tan dress shirt from the top

of the pile, as Petunia quickly undid the button's that held the yellow gown to her frame.

"Oh of course miss Sparkle." Petunia replied, as her horn was enveloped again in the glow of

magic, illuminating her silver mane in a pale blue glow.

Slowly a light glow covered the shirt, as it lifted form Twilight's hoof, bathing the room in a blue

tint. Then in a surge of light the surface of the shirt began to ripple as Petunia's magic surged

through the cloth, bending the cotton threads to her will. Then with a quick flick of her horn the

shirts sleeve's snapped straight and the collar folded down perfectly in to a crisp edge.

"Now miss Sparkle if would you be so kind." Petunia said, as she lowered the now crisp edged

shirt down to Twilight, who had quickly slide off her gown and had placed it down beside her.

"Just stick my legs out to the side of me?"

"Well you could do that miss Sparkle, I was just going to lower it while you held you legs up."

"I don't think that's going to work." Twilight sighed and raised her left leg.

"Oh I see. Can you put both legs in front of you miss Sparkle?"

"Umm hold on." Twilight mumbled, swinging her legs forward and moving to the edge of the

bed.

"Prefect. Now duck your head." Petunia giggled, as she began to pull the shirt down

Twilight's front legs.

"Petunia your hurting me." Twilight half shouted, as the tan dress shirt was drawn over

her head, forcing her chin into her chest.

"Sorry miss Sparkle, but could you move your right leg a little to the left I could ..... oh

there we go." Petunia said happily, as Twilight felt the pressure that was holding her

head down subside.

"Ooow." Twilight mumbled, rubbing her chest. "I think you left a mark." She groaned

under her breath.

"Sorry miss Sparkle, I guess I over estimated the amount of magic that was required."

Petunia said, rubbing the back of her head. "Will you be needing any more assistance?"

"No... I think I can get the rest." Twilight replied quickly, as she did up the black buttons of

the dress shirt.

"Oh, ok just holler if you do."

With that the soft crimson mare trotted from the room, the patchwork door lock clicking

softly as it slide close in its frame. Twilight let out a short sigh, she hadn't wanted to hurt

Petunia's feelings, but it was probably safer for her to attempt trying to put the rest of

her new cloths on herself. Twilight reached over and pulled what was the second article

of clothing that made up the pile apart from a medium size wooden box. It felt familiar in

design as she slipped it on with ease, but most vest are. It's charcoal body laying lightly

against her frame. She had little trouble with doing up its three shiny gray buttons.

"At least this is one thing I can do with a numb foreleg." Twilight mumbled, as she pushed

the vest final button through its adjacent slot that was cut into the black fabric.

"Is every thing fitting miss Sparkle?" Twilight heard Petunia shout through the door.

"Yes, everything is fitting very nicely Petunia."

"Ok and the mirror's on the table next to your bed if you wish to use it miss Sparkle."

Petunia stated, as her voice grew distant.

"Do I really what to look at myself?" Twilight mumbled to herself, as she looked towards

the table that stood next to her bed, staring at the mirror that lay atop it next to her dog

tags.

Hesitantly Twilight reached toward the table, unsure if she was really ready to see what

had frightened her very soul several nights before. With a heavy sigh she took hold of the

mirror in her right hoof and slowly brought up towards her muzzle. A small gasp escaped

her lips as she gazed at herself. She knew this was the second time of seeing the warm

brass plate imbedded in her face but that still didn't make it any less shocking to see it.

"If only I could remember." She sighed, as she set down the mirror at her side, it resting

lightly on the white sheets of the bed.

Then as if on cue, Twilight heard the door, first clicking, then swing open as she raised her

muzzle to see who it was.

"Sorry to intrude miss Sparkle but I think I may have found a solution to one of your problems."

Hayden stated, as he stepped into the infirmary.

"Really? That was kind of quick."

"Well yes but a solution it is none the less." He smiled, making his way over to her bed. "So

then shall we be going miss Sparkle?"

Twilight gave a quick shim and a shuffle along with some help from Hayden but soon her

hindhooves where resting on the warm hard wood floor, the oak boards sending a pleasant

sensation through her legs. Then with tentative movements Twilight brought, first her right,

then her left forehoof down to the warm oak flooring.

"Has your balance suffered any ill effects miss Sparkle?" The Hayden asked, as Twilight shifted

her weight from hoof to hoof.

"No it doesn't appear like it." Twilight replied.

"Good now off we miss Sparkle." He chuckled, as they trotted out of the room.

Twilight shivered a little as they meandered down the corridor that lead from the infirmary, Its

granite walls offering little warmth.

"Sorry miss Sparkle, its quite difficult to heat a mountain of rock, even with the new the boilers."

Hayden sighed.

"Boilers?"

"Yes miss Sparkle, we use them to do a multiple of things."

"And heating one of those things?" Twilight asked, as they arrived at a battered door.

"Yes miss Sparkle along with power all this." Hayden smiled, as he pushed the door open and a

rush of light an heat washed over Twilight's body. "Welcome to the hanger."

Twilight's eye's widen at the sight before her. She felt that she'd been in a hanger before but noting

on a scale like this. Copper pipes lined the walls, each line a different size with different labels on

each. Some soared and penetrated into the black stone of the ceiling, which towered far over her

head. Others seemed to sink into roughly hued slot's that were craved into the stone and, to her

only guess, ran under the very floor they stood upon. Catwalks crisscrossed what was left of the

space over head apart from spaces where lights hung from long black cables with what looked

like green tuba horns directing the light to the floor. Then there was the noise and not to mention

the smell. It wasn't a harsh smell but Twilight could defiantly tell, even if she didn't know how, the

odor of lubricating oil and grease. Along with the tinge of somepony melting metal. But her eye's

where drawn away from the expanse of the hanger and its furnishings by a high whistle.

"This way miss Sparkle." Hayden state, rapping his hoof upon the railing of a brass flight of stairs.

"What is all this Hayden?"

"This is Elixir miss Sparkle, my workshop slash research lab under about two point five six miles

of granite."

"Two point what?"

"A mountain miss Sparkle two odd miles under a mountain." Hayden chuckled, as he reached the

landing of the metal stair case, giving another high whistle as he did.

"Umm why?"

"Because we like our privacy ma'am." A unfamiliar voice rasped behind her, as a figure strode out

of the shadow of the stairs.

His arms where the first thing to come into the light, there veins clearly visible against his rippling

muscles that lay slightly hidden under his dark gray fur. But it was his towering mass that stood

out the most, his mountain of a body seemed strained under the deep emerald green of his vest.

"And we're really not fond of surprise guest." He growled, his eyes seeming to burn into her as

their yellow glow glinted off his lower fangs. "But you ma'am are different." He chuckled, losing

some of his menacing aura, as he left the shadow of the stairs.

"Miss Sparkle meet Gravel claw, the Diamond dog of many talents." Hayden chuckled.

"Pleasure to meet you miss Sparkle." Gravel smiled, extending one of his massive paws toward

her.

"Gravel don't be rude." A new voice chimed in, this one much higher and more childish, as a slight

shudder plused through Twilight's frame. "Sorry miss but my brother can be forgetful." The new

voice added, as its owner stepped from the darkness as well.

His body was much smaller then Gravel's almost to the point of being frail and that the weight

of just gazing at him would fracture or shatter it. The color of his fur was a caramel tone which

blended and complemented his soft crimson vest, its pockets overflowing with wrench's and

small shining gears.

"Soft Fang at your service ma'am." He bowed, his deep blue eyes sparkling lightly as he did.

"And I do apologize for my brothers blunt rudeness."

"How am I being rude brother? I simply offered my paw to greet miss Sparkle." Gravel rebutted.

"But Gravel you have forgotten that a injury has befallen upon her leg." Soft Fang countered.

"I did not. I simply thought that she's up and about so by that it's no longer ailing her."

Twilight was confused at the sight before her. She open her muzzle to poss a question but

another high whistle made her stop as a loud ringing filled her ears.

"Ehem, Fang, Gravel, would you to please cease this argument." Hayden calmly demanded,

a tinge of menacing firmness coating his tone.

The brothers eye's locked for a second. "Sigh...... yes sir." The brothers groaned in unison,

embarrassment bathing both of their faces.

"Thank you, now do either of you know where Titan is?" Hayden asked firmly.

"I believe he's working on the Skif sir." Fang replied, crimson still bathing his caramel muzzle.

"Do you know his reasoning?"

"No sir just that he mentioned something leaking pressure sir." Gravel stated, a bead of sweat

sliding down from his forehead.

"At ease then Gravel and back to task." Hayden huffed.

"Yes sir!" Gravel shouted, quickly turning around to head back to his work

"As of you Fang I have a task for you."

"Yes sir?"

"Make haste an fetch Titan for me, I will be needing his assistance."

"On it sir!" Fang saluted, as he dug his claws into the stone of the floor, then in flash

was off.

"Ehem now that's out of the way miss Sparkle shall we on are way?"

Comments

[Blitz Stratus]

2252641 Could you explain what your seeing on your end? Because it might be just my computer but it looks find on my end.

[Blitz Stratus]

2536153 yes. I have story idea's but no transitions to carry it to the next part of the chapter. If you have an idea it would be very helpful.

[Blitz Stratus]

5525608 Sadly no, life has been getting in the way and draining me, am now in the process of getting a new apartment.

[Ocean Man]

Was kind of hoping something like Twilight being a Alicor. So Twilight has been alive for hundreds of years to the point the technology level is much more advanced then what it was when she was a unicorn and Equestria is more of a War country now. With her being a princess but not of friendship she is now the princess of war or something alike that. Then have Twilight get into a accident like in the start of the story, She get's amnesia and only remember parts up to the end of season 4 or 5. That way she is suddenly in this whole new world where she is responsible for tons of deaths and the only people alive from the time she remembers is Celestia, Luna and Discord. With Discord being the only one having close to the same personality as he did in the show.. Maybe have Twilight of had/have a romance with one of the three ( P.s Discolight is the best romance hint hint) Hey if you really wanted you could of had her have a kid in the past. Maybe have it still be a baby and have her find the baby by going in the baby's room and finding her asleep in the crib or maybe it would be a Bloodline now from how long its been. Oh yeah and spike could now be a ancient dragon now being bigger then some castles.

But yeah was hoping something more along the likes of that with her having to go through the deaths of her friends again, Having a lover or a kid. She would also have that personality of a teenager like in the show.

That is something i would have loved to see. But with your story i do like it how it is, But some of the stuff just doesn't seem to fit. For example the pacing isn't the greatest but its not the worst. Also the formatting. I still liked how little there was and will give the story a like