> Machina > by Gordon Freeman_1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > ACT 1: THE DISASTER-Chapter I: Savable, or Unsavable? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Come on you all! We have five new patients coming in and they need to be treated ASAP!” Starlight commanded her doctors as she walked around inspecting everypony. It was the middle of the day and this was the worst time for Starlight, dozens of ponies to the brink of death come in and need to be treated. More and more gangs have been popping up all around Equestria ever since Twilight got her castle. “Why doesn’t Celestia try to deal with this freaking gangs? Every day we get a minimum of thirty patients needed to be treated, it’s ridiculous,” Starlight thought to herself as she walked into her office. She sat down and looked through some of her papers. “Hmm, according to these charts,” Starlight said out loud, “today we have had less patients than ever before! I wonder why that is?” As soon as Starlight put down her paper, Nurse Redheart burst in looking like she just saw somepony get murdered. “Starlight! You must come with me! It’s urgent!” Starlight was confused but even she knew that Redheart would never disturb her unless it’s absolutely urgent. Following closely behind Redheart, Starlight looked around her at the different rooms that held different patients, some looked like they were doing well, others looked like they weren’t going to make it. After walking for several minutes down multiple hallways that even Starlight didn’t even know existed, they finally got to their location. It was a room at the very end of one of the hallways on the fifth floor which was were the important ponies were kept if they were hurt. Such as if Celestia was hurt, she would be transported to this floor. “You may remember her, I don’t know if you like her, but she needs your help Starlight,” Redheart looked like shew as about to cry. “Show me who’s in there,” Starlight said with a coming voice. Redheart nodded and pushed open the door and Starlight walked in. Multiple doctors were blocking the view of the patients. “Step aside and let me see this,” Starlight said as soon as she walked in. The doctors turned around and nodded and made a path to where Starlight could see who was here. Starlight had seen some grotesque stuff in this hospital, but she almost vomited at this sight. It was Twilight, the lower half of her body completely gone, even her wings were missing. Her stomach was wide open and you could even see her beating heart. Her upper hooves were either bone or meat just hanging on to the bone.                  Starlight regained her senses and looked the mare into her almost dead eyes. “T-Twilight?” were the only words that Starlight could think of. “P-please Starlight,” Twilight could barely speak with her lungs collapsing with every passing second. “H-help me.” Determination flared in Starlight’s eyes. Sure Twilight had screwed her over in the past, but this was now. “Starlight, she’s unsaveable! We have to put her to rest,” one of the doctors walked up and said to her. “No we don’t,” Starlight said turning around and smiling at the doctor. “We just need to use Project BX2.” Every doctor in the room gasped. “But Miss!” a different doctor called out. “The scientist just finish developing it, we haven’t even tested it out yet!” “Well she’s the perfect candidate then now is she?” Starlight called out smirking. “Now go get Doctor Bellfire and tell him the ace is in the hole!” One of the doctors stepped out of the room and his hoof steps could he heard running down the hallway. Starlight looked over at Twilight and walked over and rubbed her head. “Hold on Twilight, help is on the way. You will survive, I promise,” Starlight said smiling. “E-even af-after all I’ve done t-to you?” Twilight said barely keeping her eyes open. Starlight continued to pet her head. “Twilight, that was then, I’m a doctor now. Consider this my apology for what I did to you back at that village.” Twilight smiled as a tear ran down her cheek. “Th-thank you,” Twilight said. A dark brown stallion ran into the room with a medical team behind him carrying a massive case of some sorts. “Doctor Starlight, we are ready for Project BX2. I’m assuming she’s the candidate?” Bellfire asked looking at Twilight and then looking away. “You are correct, well, get the parts out,” Starlight said opening the case. When she opened the ginormous case, it revealed many parts to what would be a robot. It had goggles, an entire body plate, and gauntlets and boots for all the hooves. Starlight walked over to Twilight and grabbed the button that was under her body. “Alright Twilight, we’re going to put you to sleep. Once you awake, you’ll be one-hundred percent! I swear!” Starlight said holding up the button. Twilight smiled and closed her eyes signifying that she was ready. Starlight pushed the button and Twilight was out cold right there. “Alright you all we have no time to waste! She’s dying with every passing second and we need to get this robotic suit on her to save her life! Get going go!” Starlight said grabbing one of the gauntlets. “Let’s hope this works.” > Chapter II: Awakening > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Alright bring her up!” Starlight said to the doctors that were inside a control booth.              There was a large metal operating table in front of her that held Twilight on it. Twilight wasn’t who she was before, now she was almost all robot. Her torso, all four hooves, even parts of her head had synthetic material in it. “Uh, where, where am I?” Twilight said as her bed was now rising up vertically so Starlight could see her full body. Some things were added to the robotic suit, such as Twilight’s Element of Harmony star was in the centre of her torso piece. Starlight even had the liberty to colour her robotic suit purple and pink. “Welcome back Twilight,” Starlight said as she inspected Twilight fully. Twilight was being held to the metal bed by four clamps that kept her hooves down. Her hind legs were pointed down but her top hooves were pointed down as well. “Am I, dead?” Twilight said, unable to open her eyes. “Far from it Twilight Sparkle,” Starlight said. “You’ve been saved by Project BX2. Open your eyes and see what you have become.” Twilight open her eyes and looked around at the dark room. There were multiple lights shining down on her and tables that held all the doctors tools. On the other side of the room there was a giant empty case that seemed pointless. After regaining her bearings, Twilight looked down at herself. All parts of her except her head were turned into robotic materials. She didn’t know if she was dreaming or not, being saved by robotic materials was anything beyond what Twilight had seen. “Is, this real?” Twilight said inspecting every square inch of her new body. “As real as you are alive right now Twilight,” Starlight said smiling. “All of your internal organs have been replaced with synthetic material. The robotic suit is attached to your central nervous system so now it’s a part of you Twilight.” “I’ve, been saved, by you!” Twilight looked up at Starlight. “I can’t believe you would save me! Even after what I did to you back at that village!” Starlight’s smiled disappeared. “That village is gone Twilight, gangs started to pop up all over Equestria and took out that small village and all the ponies that lived there. Speaking of that, do you remember how you ended up like the gory mess when you came in here?” “Um,” Twilight thought to herself for a moment. “I was in Manehatten to discuss with the Mayor about the gangs popping up like you were talking about, yeah that was it. Then there was a giant explosion, then everything went black from there. I remember waking up somewhere and seeing one-third of my body gone, I thought I was done but paramedics arrived and teleported me here.” Starlight paced around the room for several seconds. “Interesting. I have heard about the bombing at Manehatten, but I didn’t know you were one of the injured there. I wonder how many more ponies will come in asking for our help later on today. Anyways Twilight I also have a little gift for you!” “Is it my lower half?” Twilight said with a half-frown. “No, unfortunately you will never be whole again without the robot suit, I’m sorry,” Starlight said digging around in the box on the other side of the room. A tear started to form in Twilight’s eye. “I won’t? Not even fly?” Starlight stopped what she was doing and went over to a control panel right next to Twilight’s bed. She pressed one of the bottom buttons and the bed lowered to the point where Starlight was eye level with Twilight. “Twilight, I’m sorry to say, I really am, but you’ll never have your old body back. However there are benefits to being half robot now!” Starlight said as she levitated a staff out of the box and in front of Twilight’s face. “Since the Robotic Suit is pretty much a part of you Twilight, we decided for your sake to make it worthwhile in a sense. There are five gems on your suit, one on each gauntlet on your hooves, and the centre star on your torso piece is also one. There is also a gem in the tip of this staff as well. What all six gems do is power up your magic beyond levels of Celestia and Luna themselves! “However with great power comes a price, and those diamonds are no exception. If you do exceed their power, the suit’s energy will almost drain completely causing you to go out of action for about five minutes or so. I know it’s a long time but that takes a lot of power. Also there’s another thing too,” Starlight punched a button that opened the clamps keeping her against the metal bed. Twilight fell down and landed on her bottom two hooves. “I, I don’t need to stand on all four hooves! Just my bottom two! And I don’t feel wobbly at all, this is actually neat. You have to tell me how you did all this Starlight! This is beyond any research I’ve ever done on Synthetic Parts in a pony! Even then all of them were myths, never actually attempted before!” “That’s why my team and I wanted to prove the impossible Twilight. Now come with me, let’s see how your new suit functions outside,” Starlight said gesturing Twilight to follow her. > Chapter III: Feeling Great Tonight! > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight followed Starlight closely behind her through the hallways. Being that this was a private part of the Hospital there weren’t many ponies walking around to notice Twilight’s new robotic suit. The few who did see it stood in attention and saluted her because she’s the first subject for Project BX2. Starlight wasn’t going to make it known to the general public out Twilight’s ‘rebirth’ until a few weeks after she adjust to her new body. “So Twilight,” Starlight cleared her throat and said as she hit an elevator button. “How’s your new suit working for you?” Twilight moved her top two hooves, being that they weren’t required for walking anymore. “It works pretty great not gonna lie, however it does stink that I can’t fly anymore. You have to tell me more about the synthetic material used to compose this suit however, will you?” Starlight giggled. “There will be time for all of that later Twilight. Anyways I never said you couldn’t fly anymore, even though you don’t have wings.” “Are you saying I can still fly somehow?” Twilight said excited. The elevator arrived and Starlight got on. “Remember those diamonds that are all over you and in your staff?” Twilight got in with her and looked at her staff that was mounted on her back. “Yeah, can those help me fly or something?” “Yes they can! Think of it like using the levitation spell on yourself. It won’t be as hard as you think, I promise,” Starlight was watching the panel that told what floor they were on as they were going down. Twilight shrugged as the doors to the elevator opened. The lobby wasn’t too packed being that it was pretty late at night. However all eyes locked on Twilight once her and Starlight walked out of the elevator. The doctors and nurses started to clap their hooves being that Project BX2 was a complete success. The normal ponies looked at her like she was some sort of alien but clapped along with the rest of the doctors in the room. Nurse Redheart walked up to Twilight and Starlight and smiled at both of them. “Project BX2 was a success I’m guessing?” “Well I’m alive, also I feel more powerful than I have ever been before in my entire life,” Twilight said scratching the back of her head with her upper right hoof. “She’s doing fine Redheart, trust me! Now if you’d excuse me, I’m going to take Twilight outside to let her take in some fresh air,” Starlight said walking out of the elevator and Twilight followed closely. “Okay then, talk to you later!” Redheart said as she started to walk out of the hospital door to go home. “Alright Twilight, follow me to the beautiful courtyard outback!” Starlight said as she proceeded down a hallway directly in front of them. “You lead the way Starlight,” Twilight said following behind Starlight, still walking on two hooves. Both of them walked down the hallway pass many rooms. The doctors and patients looked at Twilight as they passed their rooms. All the doctors knew what Project BX2 was but the patients thought she looked cool as she passed their rooms. “I think I have become more famous Starlight, not sure how I feel about this,” Twilight said with a slight frown. “Twilight,” Starlight said sighing. “You’re three-fourths robot, one-fourth pony, how couldn’t you be famous? Also for the fact that you are a princess after all,” Starlight said as she walked up to the door that lead outside. Twilight thought about her castle and all of her friends. She thought about the map that was supposed to lead her to other places to spread friendship. She also thought about going home, but decided not to ask Starlight about that. “Well Twilight, Princesses first,” Starlight said opening the door for Twilight. “Thank you Starlight,” Twilight said as she walked out and smelled the fresh air for what seemed like the first time in forever. “Man it feels great to be out here again!” “I bet,” Starlight said walking out and closing the door. “So what do you want to do first? Go on a walk? Fly? Learn about your robotic suit?” “Actually, I just want to go on a walk, a peaceful walk,” Twilight said looking down at Starlight and smiling. > Chapter IV: New Machina > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- There was a trail not too far from the exit of the hospital, this was implemented specifically for patients that wanted to go on a walk when they got released from their rooms. The trail didn’t go on for very long but a lot of patients loved the trail.   Twilight and Starlight started down the trail. Twilight admired all the pretty trees and the flowing leafs in the night like she’s never seen them before. Of course she’s seen plenty of pretty leafs and open trails in her lifetime, for example the running of the leafs. However this was different, much different. Twilight had survived a bomb hitting her, and she couldn’t be more proud to stand here today, alive and kicking.   “So Twilight, how do you feel?” Starlight asked looking up at Twilight as they walked down the trail.   “I feel,” Twilight was lost in her words. “Great actually, I feel so alive. I know it may sound weird, but, I’m like, extremely happy to be alive today!”   “I mean, you did survive a huge bombing after all,” Starlight kept a smile. “By the way, do you want to tell me more about that possibly?” Starlight stopped in her tracks.   Twilight stopped and turned around. They found a bench not too far from them and decided to rest there while Twilight told her the story.   “So I was called to Manehatten to speak with the mayor about gangs like I said before. And apparently at the door they said watch out for any possible gang members that may sneak up and try to get you. Well while I was talking to the Mayor, there was a giant explosion that came from under his desk.   “The shock caused me to fly back and hit the other side of the room really hard, even some of the desk flew at me and hit the lower half of my body. By the time paramedics were able to arrive, they had to amputate the lower part of me. And I didn’t even know my wings were gone until I woke up from having this robotic suit,” Twilight inspected her new metallic body.   “I like this robotic body, but I also don’t at the same time. It’s a symbol for how I survived a terroristic attack! However it’s also a reminder that I’ll never have my old body back,” a tear formed in Twilight’s eye.   Starlight sat next to Twilight on the bench. “I’m, sorry Twilight, I understand completely. Also as a mini-FYI, this suit, is also called Project Machina. You may have heard us say ‘BX2’, that’s just kind of a code name for it. We called it Project BX2 back in its early stages of development, however we switched to Machina soon after. The doctors still call it BX2, but that’s only because they’re used to it.”   Twilight looked at Starlight weirdly. “I don’t mean to be rude Starlight, but what was the point of telling me this?”   “You are Machina, Twilight,” Starlight said looking up at her. “You are the robotic being that will rid Equestria of these darn gangs. You are much smarter, much more agile, and fast, you’re like a super pony! You’re million times the pony you use to be Twilight!”   Twilight looked up at the stars. “Dang, I never looked at it like that. I’m like a, like a Super Pony! I like that!”   “It sounds good on you Twilight, but I don’t think we’ll call you that,” Starlight said giggling.   “No, no. I’d rather just be called Twilight if that’s okay,” Twilight said rolling her eyes.   “That’s okay, well, would you like to continue our walk?” Starlight asked getting up.   “Actually I would like to go back to Ponyville, just to tell my friends I’m okay,” Twilight said also standing back up.   “Actually there’s one more order of business you have to attended to before going home Twilight,” Starlight noted.   “What’s that?” Twilight asked rather confused.   “Princess Celestia and Princess Luna would like to see how you are holding up before you go home.” > Chapter V: Celestia's Sympathy > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Are you going to take me there?” Twilight said following closely behind Starlight.   “No Twilight, you’re going to fly yourself there!” Starlight said turning around.   “What? Are you coming with me? Besides, I don’t know how to fly with this suit yet,” Twilight said looking down at herself and at her staff which was still mounted on her back.   “Twilight, I have many patients too look over here at Canterlot Memorial Hospital.  I would love to come with you, but I can’t! Too busy!” Starlight said with a slight frown as she continued to walk towards the entrance of the hospital. “Besides, flying isn’t as hard as you think! You just have to set your mind towards it.”   Twilight stopped in her tracks. “Are you absolutely sure about this Starlight?”   Starlight stopped and turned around. “Yes Twilight Sparkle I’m sure. I helped develop this suit, well kind of.” Starlight started to become unsure of herself. “The point is, you can do it, I promise! Just try to put your mind towards it!”   Twilight took what Starlight said and closed her eyes. She thought about flying, how majestic it was to soar through the air. Her eyes reopened and they were white as heavenly lights. She started to lift up into the air with her top two hooves pointing towards the air.   “Now you’re getting it Twilight!” Starlight said cheering her on. “Now go! Go tell Celestia you’re okay. And if you need any help whatsoever, come and find me! I’ll most likely be here at the hospital!”   A tear ran down Twilight’s eyes. “Thank you Starlight for saving my life. I never knew you had goodness inside you.”   “We all have goodness inside all of us Twilight, we all do.”   Twilight nodded and took off towards the stars. Starlight watched her as she quickly faded from sight. “I’m surprised that actually worked, none of us thought Project Machina would be a success!” Starlight said out loud as she walked back into the hospital.   Twilight flew high in the air so nopony on the ground could see her, the last thing she wanted to happen was for somepony to question why she’s a robot now. It was still late at night so not many pegasi were out flying during this time of day.   Canterlot Castle wasn’t too far from where Twilight was. Her eyes still beamed white light as she continued to soar through the air. She could feel the diamonds in all parts of her body start to glow as they gave power to her so she could fly through the air.   Twilight touched down on the balcony right outside of Celestia’s room and her eyes returned to normal. She contemplated in her head on what to say when she was going to go meet Celestia. It was a tough battle for the robotic mare being that she was unsure about how Celestia would react.   “I have to be strong!” Twilight thought to herself. The only way to conquer this next obstacle was to be optimistic, which was something Twilight wasn’t too great at.   “You got this Twilight, you got this!” Twilight continued to fight with herself inside of her mind on what to say. She looked down at her upper hooves and down at her lover hooves.   “Should I walk on all four hooves? Nah, I want her to see me at my full potential with this new body,” Twilight thought as she inspected herself again.   After coming to a final consciences, she pulled out her staff and walked down the hallway. Celestia’s room wasn’t too far from the balcony that Twilight was on so she didn’t have to worry about running into any night guards.   After approaching her door, Twilight raised a hoof to knock, but lowered it. Going back into her thoughts, she thought about what she was going to say once she walked in.   Twilight took a deep breath and pushed opened the door. When she walked in, the room was as dark to the point where you couldn’t see one foot in front of you. Twilight raised her staff to produce a light that instantly illuminated the room.   “Huh, wha-?” Celestia groaned as she tried to shield herself from the light. Eventually after getting annoyed with it, she perked her head up to see who it was.   Twilight lowered the staff and dimmed the light to where only her face was visible. Celestia was able to regain her bearings and notice her.   “Twilight!” Celestia said getting out of bed and flicking on a light switch. Celestia almost fell backwards when she saw Twilight.   “Twilight, you’re, you’re alive?” Celestia was inspecting Twilight’s body.   “Alive and kicking Celestia!” Twilight said putting away her staff. “Now this is me, an almost completely robotic mare.”   Rubbing her eyes, Celestia made eye contact with Twilight. “Starlight told me about Project BX2, however she never told me you were the candidate.”   Twilight started to walk around the room. Celestia couldn’t bare the fact that Twilight was walking on only two hooves. “Well I am Celestia, and thanks to it I’m alive and kicking. Do you not like it?” Twilight said stopping and turning towards her former mentor.   Celestia nodded and walked up to Twilight. “Of course I am, I just thought it wouldn’t work. When Starlight told me about Project BX2, I thought she was crazy. But seeing how it actually worked, I may give her a reward.”   Twilight smiled. “I’m glad you don’t think any less of me Celestia.”   “Of course I wouldn’t Twilight. So how is the suit treating you so far?”   “I see it two ways: As a reminder that I’m alive and more powerful than almost anything, however a reminder that I’ll never have my old body back,” Twilight looked down and closed her eyes.   “Think about this Twilight,” Celestia said lifting up Twilight’s chin. “You’re unique now, you’re powerful! You’re a figure to everypony saying ‘hey, I survived a massive bombing’! It’s nothing to be ashamed of Twilight, I don’t think any less of you, and neither will Luna, Candence, your family.”   Twilight froze at family. “My brother, my parents, will I have to inform them of what happened to me?”   “I’ll arrange a meeting so you can speak with them. How about tomorrow since it’s late out?”   “Sure, that’ll be nice,” Twilight said smiling. “So tomorrow I get to speak with my parents and brother?”   “Yes Twilight, and I’ll make sure that your wonderful personality is one-hundred percent unchanged!” > Chapter VI: Families are Forever > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight sat in Celestia’s throne room waiting for her to walk in with her parents. Morning had just arose so Twilight was in a relaxed mood being that she was up almost all night last night, getting use to her new body.   “It feels weird sitting like this,” Twilight thought as she crossed her bottoms hooves. Being that she only walked in two hooves, she sat with her back against the seat, and her bottoms hooves hanging off the bottom of the seat.   Just then, the door to Celestia’s room opened.   “She should be in here,” said Celestia as she guided Twilight’s mother, father, and brother inside. Twilight stood up straight to prepare for the worst. Celestia then flicked on a light switch. “Ah, there she is!”   “Twily!” Shinining Armor said running past his mother and father but stopping once he got almost face to face with Twilight. “Wha-what happened to you?”   “Twilight,” both her mother and her father said as they walked around Celestia. “What, what happened to you?”   Twilight took a deep breath. “There was a bombing in Manehatten that I got caught in the middle of. I was almost shredded to pieces, in fact I was pretty much. I lost the bottom half of me and my wings. I was taken to Canterlot Memorial Hospital where they implemented Project Machina. Basically it’s the robotic suit that’s a part of me right now.”   All three of them looked at her like she was dead basically. “So, you’ll, you’ll, never fly again?” Shining Armor said through tears.   “Well not really, you see these diamonds all over me and on my staff,” Twilight raised her hooves so they could see them better. “What these diamonds do is basically give me more power. They also allow me to fly.”   “I, I can’t bear to see this!” Twilight’s mother said and she ran out.   “Mother!” Twilight got up and raised her hoof out.   Her father walked up to her. “Twilight, I know what you’re probably thinking. She doesn’t think any less of you, it’s just hard for her to bear I think. I still love you, Shining Armor?”   Shining Armor looked at her father then back at Twilight. “No Twilight, I don’t think any less of you either. Twilight, have you ever heard of the saying ‘families are forever’?”   Twilight shook her head. “I can’t say that I have.”   “Well, it basically means that no matter what happens in our family, even after you die, we will still be connected. We will always love you Twilight,” Shining Armor embraced Twilight.   Twilight hugged him back as a tear ran out of her eye. “I love you too Shining Armor.”   Twilight’s father joined in on the hug. “We all love you Twilight,” he broke away from the hug. “Let me go find your mother Twilight,” he said as he ran out.   Shining Armor looked at Twilight and walked over to her. “So Twilight, how do you feel now with that suit?”   Twilight banged her hoofs together and against one of her lower hoofs. “Pretty good, I don’t feel pain anymore except for my face! Plus don’t tell Celestia this, but with these diamonds I can be more powerful than her!”   Shining Armor stepped back a couple of feet. “That’s awesome,” Shining Armor said as both his mother and father walked into the door.   “Velvet, I know you feel right now,” Night Light said walking in. “But she’s still your daughter.”   “I know Night Light,” Velvet said looking up at Twilight. “Twilight, you’re still in there right?”   Twilight bent down to get to eye level with her mother. “Of course I am mother, I still love you too.” Twilight kissed her mother on the forehead.   “Oh Twilight!” Velvet yelled and embraced her daughter. Twilight wrapped her metal hooves around her mother and started to cry. Soon later Night Light and Shining Armor joined in on this group hug.   Twilight broke away. “Remember everypony, families are forever!”   “Families are forever!” all of them said in unison.   “I would love to stick around and chat with you all, but I must get back to Ponyville,” Twilight said walking over to the door. “My Ponyville friends are probably worried sick about me.”   All of them nodded. “We understand Twilight,” Velvet said. “Will you come see us again soon?”   Twilight smiled. “Of course I will,” she then pulled out her staff. “I’ll see you later everypony.”   “Bye Twilight!” all of them said before Twilight’s staff hit the ground and she was gone instantly.   “Our poor baby,” Velvet said before going back to crying. > Chapter VII: Friends Until The End > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight appeared at the gates of Ponyville. She was slightly tired from all the commotion that happened a little while ago, but she’ll live.   “Controlling my new power isn’t as bad as I thought,” Twilight said out loud as she put her staff back on her back. “Now I have to find my friends.”                Soaring up into the air, Twilight inspected Ponyville all over, trying to find her friends. She flew fairly high up so nopony on the ground could spot her, but low enough to where she could visibly see everypony that passed below her.   However she stopped when she saw her castle. It looked so good during this time of day that she had almost missed it while she was in Canterlot.   “I’ll go in, for all I know they could be in there,” Twilight said as she pulled out her staff and teleported inside.   Appearing right next to the map room, Twilight looked around a little and quickly saw that nothing had changed.   Suddenly, she heard voice coming from inside the map room.   “Ah’m tellin’ y’all, we need to get dis place all set up for Twilight’s re’urn home!” Applejack said out loud to everypony.   “Well I’m sorry that it appears that a certain rainbow pony is so picky!” Rarity exclaimed, sounding annoyed.   “Well I’m sorry that I’m not all ‘oh everything MUST be perfect!’ Rarity!” Rainbow Dash yelled back. Arguing started to rally up from all of them inside.   “Enough of this,” Twilight said as she walked in, pulled out her staff, and shined a bright light to make them all stop.   “What the hay?” Applejack said before turning over and seeing Twilight after her vision returned to normal. “T-Twilight?” all five of them looked at her like she wasn’t actually Twilight.   “Hello everypony, and yes, this is me,” Twilight said putting away her staff and looking at everypony. “I have turned into this because of a terrible bombing.”   All of them gasp and ran towards her. “Are you okay? How are you still here?” all of them started to ask her inspecting every inch of her.   “I must say darling those diamonds look very valuable,” Rarity said poking at her chest piece.   Twilight backed up. “Don’t touch those! Sorry, those diamonds are very important. They give my magic a major power boost, I also have one in my staff.” Twilight rearmed her staff to show everypony.   Everypony looked in awe at her. “So tell us Twilight,” Rainbow Dash said. “How did you get like that?”   “Yeah Twilight,” Pinkie Pie said jumping up to get to eye level with her. “Tell us, tell us! Then tell us why you’re walking soooooo weirdly.”   Twilight pulled Pinkie away with her magic. “So remember when I was called to Manehatten to discuss gangs getting out of hand?”   “Yes,” all of them said in unison and nodded too.   “Well while I was talking to him, a bomb went off from under his desk. The wooden shrapnel tore me to shreds and almost killed me, but guess who saved my life?”   “A, medic?” Fluttershy said softly.   “A GYPSY!??” Pinkie Pie yelled.   “No Pinkie, it was Starlight Glimmer!”   All five of them gasp. “I though’ she was crazy evil Twi?” Applejack said confused.   “Yes Applejack but Celestia caught her, and made her work for the Canterlot Medical team. They used this experiment called ‘Project Machina’ to suit me up with this amazing metal suit and basically brought me back to life!”   “Wowww,” all of them said in unison again.   “You, guys don’t think any less of me, right?” Twilight said rubbing her arm.   Rainbow Dash flew up to get to eye level with her. “Of course not Twilight! We’ve just never seen a half robotic mare before. We love you Twilight and we will always be loyal too you!”   All of them nodded and walked up and hugged her. “I love you too girls, now then.” Twilight said getting up and walking over to the map. “It’s time we get some payback on those gangs that made me this way. First stop, Manehatten.”   All of them had looks of determination and nodded in agreement. “WE’RE GOING TO KNOCK THEM OFF THE FACE OF EQUESTRIA!” Rainbow Dash yelled. “Are you sure there isn’t a, better way of settling this?” Fluttershy said hiding behind her mane.   Twilight walked over to her and bent down to get to eye level. “I wish there was Fluttershy, but I’m afraid not. We’re going to either have to scare them so they run off for the hills, or just flat out kill them.”   Fluttershy squeaked. “I could never kill anypony!”   “Neither could I,” Rarity said next.   “Nor I,” Applejack said.   “There’s no way I can’t,” Pinkie Pie said looking down.   “Sorry to say Twilight, but neither could I,” Rainbow Dash said falling back down to the ground.   Twilight looked around her at all of her friends. “I understand completely, looks like I’ll be doing this on my own then?”   Rainbow Dash flew up to her. “Afraid so Twilight, just let me say one thing. If you are going to kill them, don’t do it for revenge, do it to save other ponies other than yourself.”   Twilight nodded. “Thank you Rainbow Dash.”   Rainbow Dash punched Twilight’s arm. “Don’t mention it Twilight, so you heading out right now I’m guessing?”   “The sooner the better,” Twilight said pulling out her staff. “I’m going back to Canterlot Castle to let Celestia know what I’m doing, then I’m going to head out to Manehattan.”   All of them nodded once more. “Good luck Twilight!”   “Thank you girls, I’m going to need it trust me. Oh and I almost forgot, where’s Spike?” Twilight said looking around.   “He’s still in bed I think,” Fluttershy said. “I had asked him if he wanted to join us here to plan out a little surprise for when you return, but he said he would join in later I guess.”   Twilight shrugged. “Tell him I said hi and I love him okay?”   “Okay! Bye Twilight!” all of them said once more.   “Bye girls!” Twilight said before her staff hit the ground again and she disappeared once more.   “Let’s hope she doesn’ get herself killed again girls,” Applejack said. > Chapter VIII: For the Greater Good > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight appeared right outside Celestia’s chambers. She took a deep breath in and walked inside.   Celestia was sitting at her reading desk writing several letters and just finished a book. She turned around to see Twilight standing at the entrance.   “Oh hello Twilight,” Celestia openly said. “What brings you here?”   “Celestia, I just wanted to let you know I’m going to Manehatten to eradicate all those gangs and especially the one who caused this to me!” Twilight yelled.   Celestia was intimidated by Twilight’s tone, however understood where she was coming from. “I understand why you want to do this and I’m not stopping you Twilight. Just please remember one thing, don’t kill them out of revenge, do it to make sure more ponies around you are safe.”   Twilight nodded. “I understand, you’re actually not the first pony to tell me that,” Twilight thought to herself for a moment. “Will you send some help to assist me in this conquest Celestia? Please?”   Celestia nodded. “Sure I will, however this will be mainly on your own I hope you know that. But I will have your brother send guards to help you,” Celestia started to walk towards Twilight.   Twilight nodded. “Thank you Celestia,” she turned around to walk out the door before she was stopped by Celestia.   “Wait Twilight,” Celestia said raising a hoof so it was on Twilight’s shoulder.   Twilight turned around slightly confused. “What is it Celestia?”   “Take care, and don’t get yourself killed again,” Celestia said smiling.   Twilight smirked. “Don’t worry about me Celestia,” she said as she pulled out her staff. “I’ll be just fine, you’ll see!” Twilight’s staff collided with the ground and she was gone instantly.   Celestia smiled. “Get ‘em.” > Chapter IX: On the Hunt > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight appeared in Manehatten Square, generally where all the bad stuff goes down. She looked around to find any trouble but so far didn’t find any. In fact, nopony was out and about.   This confused her a lot being that there was always something gone on in Manehattan where a new movie just released, a play was being put on, a murder just happened, something was always supposed to be going on.   That changed when she took a look around and saw the buildings around her. They looked like somepony just tossed a million bombs all around the city. Many of the building’s outer walls look like they were either ready to come down, or have already came tumbling down.   “What happened here?” Twilight said looking around as she took out her staff. She was ready just in case somepony came out of nowhere and decided to try to pop one in the back of her head, it has happened before.   “Who’s the-” somepony whispered before going silent because Twilight was just about to spot him.   “WHO’S THERE?!” Twilight shouted readying her staff. “I’m armed and dangerous!”   “Yeah right!” the same voice said as it popped out from behind a broken down building. The Solid Red pegasus pony landed in front of Twilight. “Man, don’t you look like you took a couple of bombs to the chest Princess?”   Twilight glared at him and pointed her staff towards him. “Who in Tartarus are you and what are you doing here? More importantly, what happen to all the ponies that lived here?”   The red pegasus laughed. “You really think that stick is going to make me feel scared? What are you going to do? Hit me with it?”   Twilight grinned. “Worse,” the staff’s tip lit up as the red pegasus was lifted off the ground by it.   “Hey what th-” before he could finish his sentence, he was slammed into the ground. Then Twilight picked him up again and flung him at a nearby building. His collision caused the building wall to collapse on top of him, causing more pain and internal damage.   Twilight started to laugh. “Had enough?”   The pegasus crawled his way out and on top of the debris of the fallen building. “You, can’t, get, me, tal-aahhhh!” he was once again lifted and flung him at another building. He collided with the building but the wall didn’t cave in on him this time. However he fell to the ground and started to spit out blood.   “Uncle, uncle! I give up! I’ll talk!” the pegasus cried as he started to cough up more blood.                  Twilight picked him up with her staff again. “You’re such a baby. Now then, tell me what happened to this city?”   “Shortly after the bomb went off in the central building you were in, more bombs went off around the city. Ponies started to flee the city or get crushed by the debris falling on them! Now please let me go!” the blonde headed pegasus pleaded.   “One more question then I’ll let you go,” Twilight said. “Who’s in charge around here now?”   “That would be Mr. Rockefeller. He’s were the mayor’s office is now,” the red pegasus exclaimed. “Now can I go?”   Twilight nodded and released him from her staff’s grasp. He quickly got to his hooves and ran off, tripping being that he was badly injured. “Let’s get down to business,” Twilight said as her staff collided with the ground and she disappeared. > Chapter X: Of Robots and Pawns > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Alright you all! We’ve almost got Manehattan under our full control, now get to work!” Mr. Rockefeller said commanding his guards around.   Twilight appeared right outside the door to his office and was standing right by the entrance. He was having an important meeting with his Secretary so she knew she could get some good information off what he was about to say.   “Now then, Burns, come over here for a second please!” Mr. Rockefeller said as he shuffled some papers around on his desk.   “Yes Mr. Rockefeller? You seemed stressed,” Burns said cleaning up the papers on his desk with his magic.   “We might have killed a Princess Burns,” Mr. Rockefeller said. “Are intended target was only the mayor, not the Princess. Now Celestia is probably going to make us her prime target. Great, she’s going to have her whole Royal Guard on our ass for killing Princess Twilight! So yes Burns, I am stressed.”   “You know Mr. Rockefeller, there is a chance that she could have survived that blast,” Burns said cleaning up the papers in one organized stack.   “In one piece, not in a million years Burns. That bomb had ten pounds of C4 in it! The only why she would have survived it is that the blast for some reason went all around her and missed her completely!” Rockefeller said slumping back on his seat.   “I guess that’s a good point Mr. Rockefeller. But you still got us! And we will defend you until our bitter end!”   “Yeah!” all of Rockefeller’s guards said in unison.   “We’ll see about that,” Twilight said as she stepped in the doorway and pinned everypony in the room against the wall their backs were facing.   “P-Princess Twilight!” Rockefeller said trying to get a good view of her. “You, you survived the blast?!”   “By the skin of my teeth,” Twilight said walking over to where he was.   “Why are you walking only on two hooves Twilight? And why are you almost completely robot now?” Rockefeller said looking confused.   “Well, you see you dirty scheme. After your little bomb went off, it tore me to absolute shreds! My wings were gone, the freaking bottom half of me was also, you pretty much killed me right there and then. Thankfully a medical team was able to rescue me and took me to a hospital in Canterlot where the only way to save me was to turn me into a robot. And now look at me!” all five diamonds on Twilight’s suit were glowing like a starry night. Her staff was also just as bright as her diamonds.   “Look Twilight, you know you weren’t our target right?!”   “Oh I know Mr. Rockefeller, but you should have thought about that before you detonated the bomb!”   “We didn’t! It was under a timer! There was no way to stop it! Come on Twilight can the Princess of Friendship, the kindest and the most forgiving Princess in Equestria forgive us this one? You did survive the blast after all! You’re even more powerful than before!”   “I don’t-!” Twilight was cut herself off and thought about what Rockefeller said. “You’re right,” she said as she dropped all of them. “I am the Princess of Friendship. And robot or not I shouldn’t be treating ponies like this. It was an accident after all, dang.”   “Tell you what,” Rockefeller said scrambling to his hooves. “We’ll work for you! You’re now our leader! We’ll help you get rid of all the gangs in Equestria! Think of it as a ‘we’re sorry for almost killing you!’”   Twilight put her staff away and walked around the room for a second. “I do like what you’re offering. I like it a lot actually. Alright, I’ll accept your offer. However if you turn your back on me! Even for a second! Yours, and all your little goon’s throats will be on the outside of your necks! GOT IT?!”   Rockefeller stepped back intimidated by Twilight. “Got it M-Miss Sparkle! Now, do we have a deal?”   Twilight nodded. “Yes, we do.”   “Okay, good. Now then, shall we begin?” END OF ACT 1 > ACT 2: LIVE TO DIE-Chapter XI: Gather your Allies > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight and Rockefeller were standing on top of the tallest building in Manehattan, looking at the once beautiful city now an almost desolate wasteland. Of course it could be rebuilt, but nopony wants to do that until all the gangs in   “We’re going to possibly need some help Mr. Rockefeller,” Twilight said scanning the entirety of the city.   “What help? All the other gangs in Equestria hate us,” Rockefeller said shaking in his boots.   “No other gang’s help, Royal help. As in, from the royal guard,” Twilight said smirking.   “You know the Royal Guard as tried to eradicate some of these gangs on multiple occasions but failed right?” Rockefeller said still shaking slightly.   “Well, now we have me, and you. How much do you know about these other gangs Mr. Rockefeller?” Twilight said looking down at him.   Rockefeller looked up at her not shaking anymore. “I know there are three other gangs in Equestria that are the main causes of all this havoc. First of all, I’m the leader of the Gang, ‘Hooves on the Ground’. The name means that we don’t do that air attack crap, we do everything on the ground. Hence why everypony in my gang is either a Unicorn or an Earth pony.   “As for the other Gangs, there is one called: ‘Masters of the Air’ which mainly consist of Pegasus Ponies and lead by a Pegasus named Jervvis. The next gang is called: ‘Starswirl’s Ghost’ which are mainly unicorn with some Pegasus and they’re lead by a unicorn named Wikiis.   “The final gang, and this one is the big problem may I add before telling you. They call themselves the Soldiers of the Seventh Element. They think they’re ‘the seventh element of harmony’ and think they’re all badass and what not. They’re actually very powerful however, the other two gangs or mine want nothing to do with them. They’re the main cause why so many Royal Guards have been slaughtered for the past several weeks.”   Twilight took everything in that he said, then she started to think. “Where’s what I purpose. Since the Soldiers of the Seventh Element are our biggest problem. Why don’t we force the other gangs to ally with us and take them down! We’ll go to the other two gangs’ headquarters, threaten their leader, and make him join us!”   Rockefeller nodded. “I think that’s a pretty good idea Twilight. And with you as our leader, there’s no way we can lose!”   “Let’s hope,” Twilight said, starting to doubt herself slight. > Chapter XII: The Plan > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight and Rockefeller went back to the main base of the gang were all the gang members were hanging out and talking at. They had a plan that they wanted to tell all of them about before they try to convince Celestia to give them support.   They got to the central building of Manehattan and rode the elevator up to the main office where some of Rockefeller’s officers were at.   Rockefeller went over to his desk while Twilight just hanged out by the door to the elevator. “I want everypony in this entire building to report to the conference room immediately! I mean it immediately!” Rockefeller said over the intercom system.   Twilight had a concern look in her eyes. “Do you think they’ll like the plan Rockefeller?”   “They should Twilight,” Rockefeller said walking towards the elevator. “But if they don’t, I’ll make them like it dang it.”   Twilight stepped into the elevator with Rockefeller and both of them rode it down to the very bottom floor. When they reached the bottom floor there was a hallway to their right that lead to the conference room that Rockefeller was talking about earlier. They both stepped into it and saw almost all of Rockefeller’s gang piled in it.   Most of them heard Rockefeller walking in and turned towards the door. They immediately covered their heads when they saw Twilight. Everypony in Rockefeller’s gang knew what happen to Twilight and how it was their fault.   “Don’t worry my colleagues, she is on our side!” Rockefeller said walking down the center isle while Twilight followed closely behind.   Most of the gang members sighed in relief and looked up at her metallic body and were also entertained for the fact that she was walking on only two hooves.   There was a large stage at the end of the room were Twilight and Rockefeller stood facing towards the crowd the huge crowd.   “My loyal members, today it’s time I introduce a new plan that my alley Twilight and I have discussed. We are going to kill the other three gangs that rival us!” Rockefeller said sounding determined.   Nopony spoke a word. They couldn’t tell whether or not he was serious or not. They knew how strong the other two gangs were and were afraid to even cross paths with them.   Twilight stood walked up next to Rockefeller. “Rockefeller is serious when he says this everypony! And for added support I will make sure Princess Celestia provides us royal aid against our attacks against the other two gangs!   “She may not be two fond with working with you all at first, but she’ll want to if she finds out that you all want the other two gangs gone right?!” Twilight shouted with an evil smile of determination.   “YEAH!!!” everypony in the conference room shouted. Then they started to cheer and dance around but soon calmed down when Twilight raised a hoof.   “Now I know you all are stronger than two of the gangs, so those two we should be able to take on our own. However with the Soldiers of the Seventh Element, we’re going to need Celestia’s help. Besides, with me leading this charge on those gangs, we should have them at our mercy within mere minutes!   “Now I know you all think I’m crazy, but look at yourselves. I see a soldier that’s blood thirsty. Now I know my role as a Princess in Equestria is to spread Friendship throughout the land, but I simply cannot do that if these gangs are killing innocent ponies left and right. I really don’t want to kill anypony, but unfortunately I have too. So, WHO’S WITH ME?!” Twilight yelled raising her hoof again.   Everypony in the room started to cheer once more. Twilight smiled and stepped back as Rockefeller stood forward. “We head out for Las Pegasus tomorrow morning, our first targets are the Masters of the Air. Since they’ve killed more of our members than the other gangs combined. Thank you everypony for standing by Twilight and myself for tonight. I promise when this is all over we will have a celebration of the goddesses! Thank you everypony!”   Twilight and Rockefeller stepped down from the stage and walked back down the center isle as everypony started to cheer as they passed by. Eventually they got to the door and walked out.   “I really don’t want to do this Rockefeller, but we have to unfortunately,” Twilight said closing the door behind her.   “I know Twilight, now go get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow.”