> Panzer Pony
>  by The Lutece twins
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1: A special day
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------



Initiating log protocols

Name: Prototype Aegis

Status: Asleep and recharging

Recharge percentage: 98%

Internal clock: 0300 hours

Wake up time: 0500 hours.

Location: U.S. Army base Heritage

Directives: 

1. Protect and serve your country

2. Never talk back to a commanding officer

3. If captured by enemies, initiate self destruct protocols

4. Never give up

Internal log complete, re-initialising sleep mode




2 hours later




Initiating wake up sequence



There was a sound of gears turning and an engine starting. A dark green metal tank that was in one corner of the room started up. A pair of dark blue eyes opened up in the middle of the tank. The strange tank drove to the middle of the room and transformed. The barrel slid back down onto the back and faced backwards, the treads split apart and formed the back legs of an equine just as the front legs popped up, and the front raised open to reveal a female equine face with a dark green mane. The tank pony looks around the room, before yawning and stretching.


"Ugh, how I hate mornings." She mutters as she shakes her head. As she walks to the bathroom, the sound of her metal hooves rang throughout the room. As she used her room's bathroom, she got rid of any unwanted waste, combed her mane and tail, and checked her systems for anything wrong. Once she got the all green, she smiled. Just as she walks out of the bathroom, there was a knock on her door. She looks at it with confusion.

"I wonder who that could be?" She asked. She came to her rooms door and opened it. She sees a man in his thirties with a short brown hair and a fair complexion. She recognized the person and smiled.

"Oh! Morning Daniel!" She said happily.

"Morning Aegis." Daniel said. "How are you doing?" He asked. Aegis yawns.

"Tired." She joked. Daniel laughs at that.

"Yea, but that's what you get when your built to be a soldier." He chuckles. Aegis rolls her eyes in response.

"I know that, but still." She said. Daniel smiles and boops her on the head lightly.

"Come, let's get some breakfast." He said. Aegis smiles at that and nods.

"Okay. I have been feeling a little famished. " She said.

"Well ya, you just woke up." He said. Aegis laughs.

"I know." She said.

"Well, let's get some breakfast then." Daniel said. Aegis nods in agreement.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea." She said. She edits her room and looks back, making sure she has everything. Her eyes laid on another tank, but this one was half her size and cuter looking. She frowns at the sight at it.

"What are you looking at?" Daniel asked. He looks at what she was looking at and sees the mini tank. 

"You're still mad about that April fools joke a few months ago?" He said. Aegis nods and looks at him.

"I still can't believe you guys transferred my mind into a filly version of myself as a joke." She said.

"But you were very adorable though. Hell, you made the general smile." He said. 

"That is true, I never seen the general smile before." Aegis added. She closes the door behind her and walks with Daniel.

"So, what's for breakfast?" She asked. 

"Well, it's biscuits and gravy today. But you know how they taste." He said.

"Yea, but hey, food is food." She said as they turned a corner. Daniel nods in agreement. They talked for a few minutes, then come into a room filled with people sitting at tables, eating food and chatting. Aegis yawns as she stands in line. Daniel chuckles and rubs her mane.

"Tired much?" He said. Aegis looks at him.

"You know I'm not much of a morning pony. But, that's what I get for being built to be a soldier." She said. Daniel shrugs.

"Weird. People building robot pony soldiers. It's cute." He said as he continues to stroke her mane. Aegis laughs slightly.

"I still can't believe that some of the scientists who built me were bronies from a little girls TV show from  many years ago." She said.

"Do...you mind me petting your mane?" He asked. Aegis smiles and sighs.

"It feels really nice." She said happily. 

"Alright," He smiles as they move up the line, gently running is fingers through the hairs. "Robots have come quite far. Just look at you. A talking, pony! A soldier at that! W-with emotions and everything! I know it's just codes and programming, but it's like...you're a living thing!" He said. Aegis leans into Daniel's hand.

"I'm actually glad you stayed with me after I was made." She said. Daniel blushes.

"Heh...I like you, Aegis. We're like best buds! I can't leave you." He said. He kneels down and pulls her into a gentle hug. "To be honest, I don't see you as a robot. I see you as your usual fantasy talking pony that's become real!" He said happily. Aegis smiles and lays her head against Daniel.

"Thank you." She said. She suddenly heard some snickering and a whistle. Daniel wishes he could just tell her how he really feels.

"N-no p-problem!" He stammered, blushing more.

"Get a room!" A random soldier yelled, causing everyone to laugh. Aegis blushes at those words.

"Let's get some food, alright?" He asked. Aegis nods quite quickly and stands back in line. Daniel puts his hands in his pockets and sighs, hardly looking at Aegis now. It's soon Aegis's turn next to grab some food. She looks at the cook.

"Morning Maria." She said.

"Oh, Hi, Sweetie! Having a good morning?" Maria asked. Daniel accidentally bumps into Aegis. She looks at Daniel with a slight look, before looking back at Maria.

"I'm doing good, just tired, you know, the usual." She said.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Maria said, shrugging and gives Aegis her tray of food. "Enjoy!" She said. Daniel seems to be gazing into outer space, his eyes on the floor. Aegis takes the tray and smiles.

"Thank you!"  She said. She looks over at Daniel. "You coming?" She asked. Daniel snaps out of his stupor.

"Wah?" He asked, looking down at Aegis. "Yeah, yeah...lead the way." He said. Aegis tilts her head, then shrugs and walks towards the nearest table. Daniel follows and sits on the opposite side of the table, where he normally sits next to her. He stared at his hands, fumbling his fingers.

"Daniel, is something wrong?" She asked. He looked at her, her face sincere, her large eyes gazing upon him. He loved that mare. It made him feel silly in a way. In love with a machine? After all, nobody else seemed to care for him as much as her, but it was simply part of her programming. Daniel sighed.

"It's...hard to explain...you wouldn't want to know, anyway." He said. Aegis was about to say something, when someone walked in.

"Commander on deck!" A soldier yelled. Daniel looks down. Aegis quickly gets up with everyone else and salutes. Daniel follows suit.

"At ease." The commander said. Daniel sits back down.

"Aegis..." He mutters to himself. Aegis stands at attention like everyone else.

"Listen up everyone. We have just received word that Germany has decided to invade France and Russia. Just like what they tried doing back in World War two." The commander said.

"Oh, great." Daniel mumbles. "This world is going to shit. Why should we even care what's going on with those countries?" Daniel mumbles quietly. The commander glares at Daniel.

"Do you have something to say, lieutenant Daniels?" He asked.

"N-no sir." Daniel said. But he did have something to say. Something to confess to a certain pony.

"Good. Now listen up everyone! You're being deployed near the borders of Russia! Drive back the Nazis, if Russia falls, we lose one of our major weapons manufacturer. Do not let them take Russia! You got that!" The commander yells.

"Great. More frickin drama."  Daniel said as he thunked his head down onto the table.

"Your being deployed in one hour, so get ready!" The commander yells. Aegis and all of the other soldiers, except Daniel, salute.

"Sir!" They yell. Daniel worridly looks over to the mare across the table. He feared for her. What if she got shot? Malfunctioned? He was scared for her. He loved her, yet hated himself for it. He was at war with himself. He just wanted to tell her the truth. He reached out and took hold of her other hoof in one hand. Aegis looks at Daniel with confusion as she notices that he was holding her hoof and notices his face.

"What's wrong Daniel?" She asked. He stares at her hoof for a moment, looking at detail in the limb. Shiny silver metal, nuts and screws holding it altogether. Despite her being a robot, he loved her. Again he sighed, then got up and began walking towards the exit, hands in his pockets. Aegis stares at him.

"Daniel..." She whispered. Daniel stands outside the cafeteria.

"Why can't I just tell her?!" He growls at himself. Aegis stares off into space, before shaking her head and walks out of the cafeteria, hurrying to get ready. Daniel was sitting against the wall, staring up at the ceiling. Aegis runs past Daniel as she heads back to her room. Daniel watches her run off until she's out of sight. He sighed heavily before heading to her room as well. Aegis enters her room and gets ready. She grabs her first aid pack, extra rations, made sure her mini version is put away, etc. 

"Aegis." Daniel said as he stood in her rooms doorway. Aegis looks over at Daniel and her irises spin. She smiles.

"Oh hey Daniel, just getting ready." She said.

''Aegis...we're friends, right?" He asked. Aegis nods.

"Of course we are friends. You've been with me since I was made. Why do you ask?" She asked.

"Well...its just..." He stammered. He kneels down in front of her, gazing into her eyes, remembering all the special times they've had. He cups a hand over her right cheek. "You're such a beautiful mare...I...it's..." He said. He drops his hand and looks down. Aegis is slightly confused.

"It's, what?" She asked. Daniel sighs heavily, taking one of her metal hooves into his hands.

"I...for a while now...well...since you were made...I just had this feeling that kept getting stronger. Everyday." He said. He looks down again. "I'm at war with myself over this...I...l-love you..." He said. He stares down at her hoof in his hand. Aegis is surprised.

"W-what?" She stammered.

"I know, it's silly, right? Falling in love with a robot...but I don't want to believe you're just a robot! I love you, Aegis! Okay?" He asked. A smile slowly forms on Aegis's face and she hugs Daniel. His breathing becomes choppy as he holds her tight.

"I don't want anybody or anypony...but you..." He said.

"Thank you." She said. Being only as tall as his waist, she was small compared to him and Daniel held her on her back across his arms, keeping her close.

"I love you..." He whispers softly. Aegis smiles widely. She was about to say something when a soldier stopped by.

"Come on love birds, save the lovey dovy crap until after the battle." The soldier said.

"Do I know you?" Daniels asks, standing, carrying the robot equine in his arms. "No, I don't. Therefore your statement is irrelevant to me. You should be minding your own business, anyway! So get lost!" He yells.  The soldier jumps and runs off.

"Come, we shouldn't let the commander wait." Aegis said.

"Alright...I assume you want me to put you down?" He asked. Aegis looks down and notices that Daniel's legs were straining to hold her up.

"If you want to. I don't want to hurt your legs, which they seem to be struggling." She said.

"I'm fine. I was just getting up." Daniel said. As he comes to fully stand, holds her just fine. "Does this mean...you love me too?" He asked. Aegis nods.

"When I'm near you, I fell happy, I feel safe, like nothing will hurt me." She said.

"I won't let anything even scratch your shiny paint job." He said. He smiled and kissed her cheek, walking out of the room. Aegis smiles as they walk.

"I love you, Aegis." Daniel said. Aegis sighs happily.

"Same here." She said.

TO BE CONTINUED
> Chapter 2: Battle against a monitor
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


1 HOUR LATER


The commander stands near the cockpit of the transportation plane.

"Listen up!" He yells over the noise. "We're nearing the border of Russia! You know the drill, don't let Germany take Russia! If Russia falls, we lose this war! Do not let them take it, ya hear!" He yells. Aegis is in her tank form, strapped on a cargo box.

"Sir!" She yells with everyone else. Daniel sighs and looks over at Aegis.

"If you get hurt, I'm going to be mad at you." He joked. Aegis rolls her eyes.

"Just because I'm small, doesn't mean I'm weak, remember when a group of soldier tried to attack me because they thought they would be a laughing stock with me on board." She said. Daniel remembered when Aegis beat the crap out of five soldiers as they attacked her.

"I know, Aegis. But that's just it. If you got hit...who knows how bad you'll get hurt...lets just stick together, alright? I won't leave your side." He said.

"Okay. Just don't get hurt yourself." She said. Daniel smiles and gives her a small hug.

"As much as I love you, it's a little awkward to hold you like this..." He said.

"I know, but orders are orders." She said.

"Enough belly acheing back there! we have two minutes till drop!" The commander yells.

"Wanna stick with me when we parachute down there?" Daniel asked.

"Well of course. You'll be with me of course." She said.

"Good. I won't be able to hold onto you, so maybe you can ride in my supply pack." He offered, smiling. "You're an adorable tank, Aegis." He said.

"Maybe." Aegis said.

"One minute till drop!" The commander yells as the plane starts to shake from anti air fire.

"Is it weird I kinda want to be a tank with you?" Daniel asked. Aegis giggles.

"That would be funny." She said.

"Thirty seconds!" The commander yells just as the ramp opens up, revealing a battle torn field.

"Well...people have been made into bionic robots...maybe I could."  Daniel chuckles a bit. "I love you, Aegis." He said.

"Ten seconds!" The commander yells just as the plane next to them exploded and fell.

"You know how my back aches? Your tracks would be perfect for a massage!" Daniel said. Aegis nods in agreement. A green light flashes above the commander.

"Go! Go! Go!" He yell and people start to jump out. 

"Lets go!" Daniel yells. Aegis drives off the ramp and falls past Daniel.

"See you down there!" She yelled. Daniel Smirks and turns to face the plane was going, and straightens his body, making him more aerodynamic and he caught up with Aegis.

"I will see YOU down there!" He laughed as he soared on past with a two finger salute. Aegis frowns as she fell.

"Hey, no fair!" She yelled. Seeing it'll be a good minute before he'll really need to deploy his chute, he spins around and opens his arms and spreads his legs apart to slow his fall.

"Come give me a hug!" He yells. Aegis' chute opens on its own and she drifts close to Daniel. Daniel takes her in his arms and holds her close, her chute slowing them down to a safe speed. He smiles at her.

"That was kind of fun." He said. Aegis nods.

"I'm glad I'm made of extremely lightweight, yet extremely strong metal." She said.

"I know." He said. When they touch down he's reluctant to put her down. "I wish you weren't here..." He added. He looks around, the sound of guns firing from all directions.

"I almost lost you once..." He said. He remembered the time she took a shot to the neck since her tank form was failing to work. Aegis shudders from that memory. Daniel takes cover behind a thick brick wall, tightly hugging Aegis as tears escape his eyes. Aegis looks up at Daniel with worry.

"Look at me...breaking down before I even get off a shot..." He chuckles. He eyes the M60E4 slung over his back. "Heh. You're bigger than my gun, and the gun is heavier." He said.

"That may be true, but your gun can't match my tank cannon." Aegis said.

"Then you haven't seen an M60E4 in action, my love. Where as you harnesses the power of an M203 grenade launcher, which is nice for decent holes, the M60E4 will easily cause damage faster." He laughs a little. "I'm joking. Your cannon is fucking devastating!" He said. Aegis smirks. She turns back into a pony. Suddenly, her ears start to twitch as she looks off to the right.

"What is it, love?" He asked. Aegis's eyes widen. She could see a giant gray tripod mecha with massive dual tri-barrel rocket launchers, an eye laser, and triple Gatling guns.

"We need to go now, theres a German Monitor heading this way!" She yelled. 

"Oh, really? I've watched Scarface enough times to know not to run from anything! It can't see us behind here anyway, so...maybe I can shoot its eye! Bulletproof crap don't work with the M60. A few shots to the eye, it's done!" He said.

"But we should be careful, because if it sees us, we're dead. The eye may be it's weakness, but it can cover it up until it fires it's laser." Aegis pointed out.

"We need to sneak around closer to it. The M60 from here won't hit its eye. At a distance this is a very inaccurate gun. Wanna take this thing down?" He asked. Aegis nods.

"We also have to be careful of the three rocket pods on the sides and the machine gun turrets on the bottom." She added.

"Babe. Who said we're going in to poke it with sticks? See that building over there?" He points to a three story home still standing relatively close to the monitor. "It's not too close or too far. I got a plan. He's facing away from that house there. You can hide behind the house, change to tank form, and randomly shoot something to make an explosion. There's nothing but bullets going on. An explosion is sure to attract it. The smoke will draw it to get its attention there and not the house. I can pop it from there!" He said. Aegis nods and then remembers something.

"Oh, almost forgot! Once the laser is destroyed, the core becomes vulnerable. It's underneath the machine guns." She said. Aegis nods.

"Let's go make history! Man and pony take down a monitor!" He said. He takes hold of his gun and cocks it. Aegis nods, turns back into a tank, and drives off towards where Daniel pointed. Daniel stays by her side, sheiding her from view in case the monitor spotted them. Aegis makes it to the building without the gigantic monitor nor the soldiers noticing her. Her ears flicked.

"Daniel, I'm in position." She said. Daniel heads inside the building.

"Good." He said. He makes his way up the steps, being cautious of any possible tangoes. Aegis zooms in on the monitor and her eyes widen.

"Shit! We have a problem, they heavily guarded the monitor." She said. Daniel smiles.

"Aegis. Remember the gun I've got? Besides, what are they gonna heavily armor the EYE with? Cover it in three layers of cinder block it won't do a thing." He said. Aegis looks at the massive tanks next to t be monitor. 

"Um, they have two Maus's, a Pzh 2000 self propelled artillery tank, and ten Pz III k's." She said.

"Fuck. Well, under the sound of the explosion, they might not see my shots. Luckily my barrel reduces muzzle flare so we can probably still do this." He said. Daniel looked out to the monitor, large and looming over the fields. Never ending gun shots were heard, orders being yelled, and blood curling scream ripping through the air as men were falling like dominoes. Aegis's ears flick at the sounds of rockets being launched.

"Crap, they have Panzerwerfer 42 rocket half tracks." She said.

"The Germans are desperate, huh? I can't say I'm surprised." He said bluntly. "We're Americans. Nuthin can take us down. Do your part, Aegis, this monitor is goin' down!" He yells. Aegis nods and looks over in front of the monitor. She sees some barrels and smiles wickedly.

"Perfect." She said. She aims her cannon at the barrels and fires, just as the Panzerwerfer rockets exploded, covering up most of the loud bang her cannon made. The barrels explode in a huge fireball, attracting the attention of the monitor.

"Great shot." Daniel smirks, backing away from the window a bit to keep the flash of his gun invisible to ground units. He takes aim and fires off five shots, hitting their target, and the eye's red glow goes black as blood spilled from the bullet holes.

"Gotcha." He said. Aegis notices the monitor looking in their direction.

"Fuck! The monitor sees us!" She yelled.

"How, when its eye is closed." He said as he shakes his head and begins down the steps.

"Just because its eye isn't open, doesn't mean its controlling itself. There's Germans who control it and everything." She said.

"And that eye is how they see! You see, they can't see." He said. He knelt down at her side once outside and removes her hat, scratching her mane gently. Aegis smiles at the scratch, when suddenly she hears a high pitch whine. Her eyes wide and she pushes Daniel and herself behind a wall.

"Look out!" She yells as where they once they stood, a large trench of melted stone was left behind. She looks out from behind the wall and sees the eye of the monitor is glowing red.

"Shit, that was close. We nearly got fried." She said.

"We got to get out of here!" Daniel yells. Daniel hoists Aegis up into his arms and begins to run in the opposite direction, keeping the house between him and the monitor. Aegis hears the monitor give off a couple of deep bleeps. There was a sound of gears clanking. She looks back and sees the left side of the tri pod missiles launchers was open.

"Look out!" She yelled. With his heart pumping, Daniel tosses her into a ditch

"Stay there! I won't risk you getting hurt again!" He said. He bends down and hugs her.

"I love you, Aegis. Get out of here. I'll fend them off." He said. He kisses her on the forehead then gets up and turns around.

"I got this." He said. Aegis shakes her head.

"No! I won't lose you!" She yelled.

"You won't." He said. Daniel took a deep breath and as the homing missiles shot from the monitor, he began running from where he left Aegis, firing and screaming madly at the quad of missiles, causing them to explode mid-air. Aegis sees one of the pods on the left explode, causing the monitor to stumble back. Daniel begins firing away at the ground units, spraying shots left and right, taking them down one by one, until he himself suffers a shot to the left shoulder. He helps in pain, but keeps firing with his other arm, his left now limp at his side.

"Get out of here Aegis!" He screamed. Aegis shakes her head and runs. But before she could run, the ground collapses underneath her, causing her to scream as she fell.

"Aegis!" He yells. He dropped his gun and ran after her, not caring as he jumped down after her. Aegis lands on hard metal flooring with a loud clang.

"Oof!" She said. As Daniel comes to land, he rolls over, quickly scooping Aegis into his right arm, his left one bleeding and inoperable. Aegis notices the wound on Daniel's arm, causing her to gasp.

"Hold on, let me help." She said.

"A kiss would be good." He chuckled. "We did it, Aegis. We took that son of a gun down." He said. Aegis takes out her med pack from her storage and looks over at Daniel's arm.

"We only damaged it, not destroyed it. We only knocked out one of its tri rocket pods." She said.

"As you fell down here, it caused the others to go and...it's...lets just say they were the best fireworks ever." He said happily. Daniel smiles as he gently rubs his hand into Aegis's mane.

"Such a beautiful mare you are." He said. Aegis smiles as she takes out a spray bottle.

"Now, this may hurt a bit." She said.

"I got shot. That ain't gonna- AAHHH!!" He screamed as she sprayed the wound. Aegis places the bottle back and grabs some gauze.

"I told you it would hurt, sorry I couldn't make it hurt less, but we couldn't have it become infected. And from what I see, the bullet went through, barely missing the bone." She said.

"Can you see through to the exit hole?" He asked. Aegis nods as she wraps up the wound.

"Yes." She said.

"People are gonna call me weird for falling in love with a talking equine tank." He pointed out. Aegis sighs in agreement.

"Yea." She said.

"I could care less what they think. Just..." He said. Daniel takes a forefinger and turns her tank cannon to face away from him. "Watch where you point that." He said, smiling. Aegis chuckles nervously as she slings his arm.

"Sorry. And that should do it." She said. Daniel sits there smiling at the light green colored pony.

"It's not everyday a man falls in love with a robotic pony. I'm glad I'm that man." He said. Daniel scratches her mane gently. Aegis has a happy calm look as he scratched her mane.

"Other than your programming and what not...do you...really love me...like I do for you?" Asked Daniel who bring the mare to sit in his lap. Aegis nods.

"For some reason, there's some sort of feeling when I'm with you when I was rebooted after that, incident. I feel safe, I feel like nothing would hurt me, I can't describe this sensation in me. I feel happy with you." She said.

"I'm more than happy being with you, Aegis. My sweet little pony." He said, holding her close with his good arm. Aegis smiles widely at Daniel, when lights come on, blinding them for a few seconds. When Aegis's vision cleared, she could see that they were in some sort of laboratory, albeit an old one.

"Get behind me." He said. He stands up, setting her down. Aegis does what he said, but everything was quiet. Daniel takes his Berretta M9 from his holster, and switches off the safety.

"I promise...I won't let you get hurt...not again..." He said. Aegis's ears flick around, listening for any sounds.

"It's quiet." She said.

"Heh. I got myself shot protecting you." He said as he gently rubs Aegis's mane. Aegis smiles as she leans into his hand. Suddenly, she heard the sounds of gears clanking. she sees something out of the corner of her eyes move and they widen.

"Look out!" She yells, shoving Daniel out of the way, only for her left leg to be almost sheered off, the armor plating flying off. She screams in pain.

"Aegis!" Daniel screamed. He rushes over to her, and against the pain, he uses both arms to pick her up. "It's not safe here..." He said. He keeps her close. Aegis notices a soldier walking towards them, carrying what looked like a energy like sword. She aims her cannon at it.

"Duck!" She yells. Daniel does what he is told.

"Goose." He said as Aegis fired her cannon, but the shot goes wide. Daniel fires a single shot at the soldier as he rolled, and by sheer luck he hits him in the chest.

"Can you move your leg?" He asked worriedly. She tries to move her leg, but it doesn't move, only causing her to wince in pain.

"N-no, it won't move." She said.

"Sorry...now that he's gone...lets try and find a way out of here..." Daniel says as he carries her. Aegis hears more clacking and sees more of the soldiers.

"Look out there's more!" She yells. Daniel sets Aegis down around the corner.

"Stay." He said, then smiles. "Time to put some bullets in these guys." He said. He peers out, seeing four soldiers.

"Heh...wish me luck." He said. "He takes a deep breath, then rolls across to the other side of the corridor, firing as he does, hoping to land a few shots, managing to shoot one in the neck and another in the knee. He hears the fall, screaming in pain. Aegis holds her damaged leg, which has been leaking oil onto the ground, and looks around the corner. She didn't hear one of the soldiers sneak up behind her until it was too late. She yelped as she was yanked by her neck as she looked at one of the solders holding her around her neck.

"HEY!!" He screamed. He rushed across the hall, hardly getting his armor scraped by a couple shots. "Put the pony DOWN!" He yells. Daniel holds his gun up to the soldier's head.

"Hurt a single hair on her head, you'll be dead!" He yelled. The soldier lets off an evil like laugh, then slices a large gash across Aegis's side, causing her to scream out in pain.

"YOU MOTHERFUCKER!!!" He roared. In a blind rage he tackles the soldier to the ground and begins to punch him till he passes out. He then unloads his pistol into his head, and quickly reloads, then checks around the corner to see the others fleeing. 

(Suggested listening)

"Aegis..." He said. He drops down to her side, tearing up at her injured form. "I failed you!" He screams as tears fall from his face. Aegis twitches as she can hardly move, most of her side armor is torn as oil is cascading from the wound. Tears slip from his eyes as he holds her head in his lap.  Aegis looks up at him with a small smile. 

"Daniel..." She said softly.

"Aegis, d-don't talk, I... I can save you. J-just hold on." He said. She gives him a small nuzzle. 

"Just hang in there Aegis, I can get you out of here and I can have you fixed up, good as new." He said. Aegis hears some sort of beeping and looks at the soldier, who is holding a large bomb that was attached to the soldier.

"Daniel...Look out..." She said as she gets up from his lap and jumps onto the bomb with all the energy she has left. She closes her eyes with a smile as the beeping became erratic. 

"Thank you... Daniel. I...love...you." She said, just as there was a flash of light.

"AEGIS!! NNNOOOOO!!" He cried, reaching out to his beloved mare, and watches as her body is incinerated from the blast, taking most of it and he was thrown back into the wall. After the blast, all he saw was a gaping hole where Aegis was. He walks up to the crater and falls to his knees. Memories of Aegis popped into his head, the good times, the sad times, the time she was injured, and ending on the memory when she was activated for the first time. 

"AEGIS!!!!" He wailed as he pounded the ground, tears flowing from his eyes. He cried his eyes out as he continued to bang the ground until he couldn't cry anymore and his right hand was raw.

"Aegis..." He whispers. Daniel lowered his head, noticing his gun in his hand. "I'm sorry..." He whispers. He lifts the gun to his head, and pulls the trigger.

BANG

TO BE CONTINUED
> Chapter 3: A new life
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Now, now, Angel, I know you're eager to get your steamed carrot soup, but it's nothing to fuss over!" A butter yellow pegasus named Fluttershy said kindly to her pet bunny, giving it a soft nuzzle. "We're almost home, anyway." She softly said. She suddenly heard a mare's voice cry out in pain. Fluttershy's ears perk up at the sound.

"What was that?!" She said scared. She quickly picked up Angel bunny by her ears with her teeth and places the hare in her hair and runs for home.

Aegis's breathing became erratic as her body was racked with pain.

"Mommy!" A voice, one that is a child's, sounding very far. Fluttershy quickly bursts into the house, seeing Aegis crying on the floor, something that looked like a pony, but something else entirely different. Aegis curls up into a ball as the gashes on her body bleed profusely. With quick thinking, Fluttershy runs upstairs and comes back down shortly with a bunch of lager towels. She rolls up a couple, placing them in the gash, pushing to stop the bleeding.

"Calm down." She said softly. "Listen to me and you'll be okay. Take slow deep breaths, or you'll go into shock." She said. It only fell on deaf ears as Aegis whimpers from pain.

"You're going to be okay." Fluttershy said softly. She sighs as the oil comes to a slow, leaving the towel half soaked. Aegis's breathing slows down. Fluttershy suddenly hears the call for somepony's mom.

"Whose that?" She asked.

"Mommy!" The voice rang out again.

"If you can...just hold the towels down...I'm going to go see who it is." Fluttershy said. She went over to the door and a few steps she saw what seemed to be a smaller version of Aegis. She carefully walks up to to the filly.

"Aww, are you looking for your mommy?" She asked. The filly looks at Fluttershy with tear filled eyes and nods. The yellow coated Pegasus frowns, wondering if she should even see Aegis in her current state.

"Come here, little one, I won't hurt you."  She said. She brings the filly into a gentle hug. The filly snuggles against Fluttershy and sniffs.

"What's your name, sweetie?" She asked.

"S-steel heart." the filly sniffed.

"Okay...just...wait here for a moment okay." Fluttershy said. She sets the metal pony down and goes back inside. "Um...Miss...there's a filly...her name is Steel Heart and she wants to see you." She tells Aegis. Aegis doesn't answer, because she has fallen asleep. Fluttershy sighed heavily and went back outside to se the filly glumly prodding a daisy.

"Do...you want to see your mommy?" she asked the filly? Steel heart smiles as Fluttershy said that and nods happily.

"Okay. Just...your mother..." Fluttershy said. Fluttershy sighs and carries Steel Heart inside. Steel heart has a wide smile as she was carried inside.

"Just be careful...she's badly injured..." Fluttershy said. Fluttershy nuzzled Steel Heart and set her down. Steel heart's smile fell as she saw Aegis.

"M-mother!" She yells as she runs up to Aegis. She nuzzles her slightly.

"M-mother, please, wake up." she sniffed.

"Let her be. She's only sleeping, Steel." Fluttershy sighed. Steel heart sniffs as she snuggles against Aegis.

"Mommy..." She sniffed.Fluttershy gently nuzzles the filly.

"I'll leave you be, okay?" she asked. Steel heart sniffs and nods.

"I'll just clean up..." Fluttershy said. Fluttershy watches the filly closely as she uses the other towels to mop up the oil. Steel heart curls up next to Aegis and sniffs. Fluttershy notices her small animals coming out from their hiding spots. Steel heart falls asleep next to Aegis. Fluttershy smiles at the sight, and gets a blanket to lay over them. Some tears fall from Steel's face as she slept.

"Sleep well, you two." Fluttershy whispered. Aegis twitches from the blanket, before she curls around Steel heart. Fluttershy smiles softly. Aegis has a small smile as she slept.

"you guys leave them alone." Fluttershy says to her animals before leaving. Aegis starts to wince as the pain starts to come back.

"I guess I should go get Twilight and tell her about this...creature..." Fluttershy said. Meanwhile, Fluttershy's friend, Rainbow dash was lazily sleeping on a cloud. Fluttershy took notice of the sleeping rainbow maned mare. She sighed and fluttered up to her.

"Rainbow Dash?" She asked, hardly above a whisper, only for Rainbow to turn over with a grumble. "I...I need your help...but if you don't want to, that's okay..." She said. Rainbow dash still doesn't move.

"Okay...I understand..." Fluttershy sighed, and as she flew slowly past, her tail grazed along Rainbow's side, tickling her. Rainbow dash's nose scrunches up and she starts to giggle, causing her to open her eyes.

"Huh?" she asked sleepily. Fluttershy sees that she woke up.

"Oh...hi Rainbow...if it's okay...I need your help..." She said. Rainbow stretches and looks at Fluttershy. She yawns.

"Yea Fluttershy, what is it?" she asked.

"Well...could you follow me?" She asked. Rainbow dash is confused.

"Umm, alright?" She said. Fluttershy smiles and flutters off for home. Rainbow dash flies after her. They soon reach Fluttershy's home.

"Just...don't make too much noise..." Fluttershy said as she opens the door and enters. Rainbow notices Aegis and steel heart.

"Who are these two Fluttershy?" She asked.

"The filly is Steel Heart, but...they're not exactly normal ponies..." Fluttershy said softly. Rainbow dash's eyes widen.

"Wait they're not normal. Wait, they're aliens!?" She yells.

"Ssshhh!!! You'll wake them up!" Fluttershy said sternly in a hushed voice. Rainbow glares at her.

"Fluttershy, they could hurt you, they could eat your brains for all I know!" She yelled. Aegis winces as the the loudness of Rainbow's voice, causing her to wake up.

"Huh?" She mutters.

"I asked for help, not a lecture, Rainbow. Now she's awake." Fluttershy sighs and sits over next to Aegis.

"I'm sorry to have woken you. Are you feeling better now? Your daughter was worried."  She said. Fluttershy looked down at the whimpering filly, which she is crying. Aegis looks over at Fluttershy and her eyes wide. She quickly gets up and tries to back up, only to fall to the ground in pain. She breaths heavily. This then reveals Aegis' tank form to Rainbow Dash.

"Don't move, you're hurt!" Fluttershy said. Fluttershy slowly reaches out to Aegis, and Steel Heart wakes to the sudden movement. Rainbow Dash sees the strange appendage on Aegis's back and gets in front of Fluttershy.

"Fluttershy, look out! That thing has a weapon!" She yells, getting into an attack position. Aegis looks up at Rainbow.

"W-who are you?" She asked, her voice reverberating between normal and robotic.

"Rainbow Dash! Shes hurt! What can she possibly do to hurt us?!" Fluttershy yelled quietly. Fluttershy moves past Rainbow Dash. 

"Sorry...I'm Fluttershy and this is Rainbow Dash..." She said. She holds the crying filly in her hooves, nuzzling it gently. "Do you want mamma to hold you?" She asked. Steel Heart nods and holds her hooves out towards Aegis.

"Mommy." She sniffed. Aegis's eyes widen

"Mommy!? I... I...I..." She stammered. Her head rolls back and she falls to the floor, causing the ground around them to shake, oil leaking onto the floor. Fluttershy hangs her head as tears begin to flow.

"I don't know what to do, Rainbow..." She sniffed. She holds tightly onto Steel Heart, who is crying against her. Rainbow looks at the oil onto the floor, then at Aegis. She looks at Fluttershy.

"I need to go and get the girls." She said.

"It's going to be o-okay..." Fluttershy sniffed. She keeps the filly close. Rainbow dash flies out of Fluttershy's house as fast as she could, and heads towards Sweet apple acres.

"Its going to be okay..." Fluttershy said. She nuzzles the filly, stroking her mane gently. "I have to help your mommy, okay?" She asked. Steel heart sniffs and nods. Fluttershy gently kisses the filly on the head and sets her down, then goes over to Aegis with another clean towel. Rainbow dash reaches Sweet Apple acres and sees an orange pony with a stetson hat.

"Hey Applejack!" She yelled. Applejack was helping Applebloom load buckets of apples into a wagon, when she sees Rainbow Dash.

"Hey, Dash! what do ya need?" She asked. Fluttershy manages to get the bleeding to stop, and blows gently on Aegis' face to try and wake her.

"No time! Grab your tools and some oil and meet at Fluttershy's house." Rainbow said before flying off towards Ponyville.

"Uh...alrighty then..." Applejack said with confusion.

"Are you hungry, Steel Heart?" Fluttershy asked. Steel Heart shakes her head.

"No, I-i'm fine." She said. Rainbow Dash sees Twilight, who is still trying to get used to being an alicorn, talking to Rarity. She lands in front of them. Fluttershy sighs and sits down next to Steel Heart.

"So...what are you and your mom, anyway?" She asked as she pulls Steel Heart into her lap. Steel Heart wipes her eyes.

"W-well, me and my m-mom are tank ponies." She sniffed.

"Oh...but you just look like a...tail-less pony." Fluttershy said. Twilight takes notice of Rainbow Dash.

"Oh, hi, Rainbow!" She said happily. Steel Heart sniffs.

"W-we do have tails. I-it's just hidden by our armour." She said.

"No time! Fluttershy's house, now!" She said, then flies off again.

"What was that all about?" Rarity asked.

"I'm not sure, but we should go check it out." Twilight said. Applejack arrives at Fluttershy's with the oil and her tools.

"Oh." Fluttershy said. She smiles softly at the filly, holding her close, nuzzling her cheek gently. Rainbow Dash reaches Sugercube corner and sees Pinkie pie.

"Pinkie!" She yelled. Steel Heart closes her eyes slowly and falls asleep. Fluttershy Hums softly, rocking back and forth.

"Come back anytime!" Pinkie cheered to her leaving costomer. Applejack walks into Fluttershy's cottage.

"What's all this babbling Rainbow Dash is going on about?" She asked. As Applejack walked in, there was oil all over the floor.

"Pinkie!" Rainbow yelled again.

"Yeah, yeah, there's a weird pony thing at Fluttershy's. I know. Just let me go tell the cakes okay?" Pinkie pie said. Rainbow Dash was just about to tell her that, but her mouth was wide open.

"She needs oil..." Fluttershy said. She points a hoof over to Aegis.

"What in tarnation!?" Applejack yelled. Steel Heart wakes up from the yelling and looks over at Applejack. She shivers as in fear as she runs and hides behind Fluttershy.

"Steel Heart, it's okay, she's friendly." Fluttershy nuzzles Steel Heart. "She's here to help your mommy." she said. The farmer mare looks over Aegis.

"Uh...where would I even put oil into this thing?" Applejack asked. Steel heart peeks out from behind Fluttershy.

"Y-you need to close t-the gashes along mommy's body, o-otherwise the oil will leak out." She said.

"Ah don't think even Nurse Redheart could fix....this..." Applejack said. She lightly taps Aegis' Steel side. "How would we go about doing that?" she asked.

"You need a welder or something of immense heat to close it up." Steel heart said.

"Ah got nothing like that...we'd need a dragon for that and frankly...dragons and ponies don't see eye to eye..." Applejack stated. Steel heart steps out from behind Fluttershy and sighs.

"I guess I will have to close it." She sighed.

"If ya got a torch, then by all means before she bleeds to death!" Applejack yells. she steps out of the way. Steel heart steps closer to Aegis. 

"You might want to close your eyes." She said.

"Alright." Applejack said. She closes her eyes and Fluttershy does as well. A red flame appears on Steel heart's right arm as she lowers it onto Aegis's gash, causing a lot of sparks to fly as she went along the gash.

"Done yet?" Applejack asked. Steel Heart finishes up closing the last part of the gash.

"I just need to do mommy's leg." She said.

"So, how DO I feed her oil?" Applejack asked. Steel Heart movies over to Aegis's leg.

"We drink it." She said.

"Seems simple enough." Applejack said. Suddenly, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie enter the house. Steel Heart doesn't notice them come in as she works on Aegis's leg. Rainbow Dash sees the flame coming from Steel Hearts hoof, she gets into a defensive stance.

"Look out!" She yelled. Applejack chuckles lightly.

"Oh, Rainbow, Steel Heart is just healing her mother!" She said.

"You don't know that, those things could be dangerous!" Rainbow yelled.

"...Then why did ya bring me here?" Applejack deadpans.

"Such a good girl you are." Fluttershy said. She nuzzles Steel Heart, avoiding the flame. Rainbow Dash doesn't listen as she looks like she was about to charge at Steel Heart. Steel Heart doesn't lose concentration as Fluttershy nuzzles her, but has a wide smile. Applejack moves to stand in the way of Rainbow Dash.

"Can I hold you again when you're done?" Fluttershy asked.

"Applejack, what are you doing!?" Rainbow Dash yelled, just as Twilight and Rarity came in.

"I would like that." Steel Heart said.

"Keeping you from hurting them more than they already are!" Applejack yelled.

"Girls! What's going on here?!" Twilight yelled. Steel Heart lifts Aegis's leg so that she could get the other side.

"That thing," Rainbow Dash yells pointing at Steel Heart. "Could burn down Fluttershy's cottage right now, with us in it!" She yelled.

"Good point." Applejack pointed out. Twilight walks up to Steel Heart.

"Mind if we do this outside instead?" She asked. Steel Heart jumps from Twilight's voice and hides behind Aegis. Fluttershy sighs and places Steel Heart on her back.

"Nopony here is going to hurt you, okay?" She asked softly. Applejack carefully gets herself under Aegis and slowly stands.

"Heh, she's not very heavy for a pony made of metal." She said. Aegis stirs on top of Applejack. Steel Heart notices it.

"Look!" She said happily.

"Hey, she's waking up!" Applejack said. She slowly sets her down. Aegis slowly opens her eyes.

"Wha?" She moaned. 

"Mommy!" Steel Heart said happily and jumps off Fluttershy. She runs towards Aegis and nuzzles her.

"Aww, ain't that just precious?" Applejack said. Aegis looks down at Steel Heart as a memory flashes in her mind, one she didn't have before, of her and Steel Heart smiling for a picture.

"S-steel H-heart?" She asked. Steel Heart smiles widely as tears fall from her eyes as she continues to nuzzle Aegis. Fluttershy smiles at the sight.

"How touching..." Rarity sniffed, wiping a tear from her he with a hoof. Aegis slowly gets up into a sitting position as Steel Heart is curled against her with a smile. She looks at the other ponies.

"W-who are you?" She asked.

"Well, I'm Fluttershy." Said the timid mare.

"Ah'm Applejack, but y'all can call me AJ if ya like!" Applejack said, tilting her hat.

"My name is Rarity." The fashionista pony said.

"I'm Rainbow Dash, and I got my eye on you!" Rainbow Dash yelled. Aegis looks over at Pinkie pie.

"And you are?" She asked.

"My full name is Pinkamena Diane Pie, but you can call me Pinkie Pie! Or Pinkie, or Pinks, or You can call me by my full name if you want!" Pinkie said happily. 

"And I'm Twilight sparkle." the purple alicorn mare said kindly. "Who are you?" She asked. Aegis raises an eyebrow at Pinkie, then looks at Twilight.

"I'm Aegis, Prototype Aegis." She said.

"A prototype?" Twilight asked.

"It's just my name." She said.

"Mommy, where's daddy?" Steel Heart asked. Aegis looks down at her.

"Daddy?" She asked. Steel Heart nods.

"Daddy Daniel." She said.

"Who's Daniel? Is he another tank pony?" Fluttershy asked.

"And...drink this..." Applejack said as she gives Aegis the can of oil.

"D-Daniel..." Aegis said, staring off into space, remembering the memory of when she sacrificed herself. A tear falling from her face.

"Something wrong?" Applejack asks, still holding the oil can. Aegis wipes the tear from her face and grabs the can of oil.

"It-it's nothing." She said as she drank the can dry. Steel Heart yawns and closes her eyes, snuggling against Aegis. Fluttershy places a hoof on Aegis's shoulder.

"Aegis, if there's something bothering you, you can tell us, okay?" She asked. Aegis looks down at Steel Heart.

"I-I don't want her to know." She sniffed.

"Well...I guess we can understand that...but do you think you can put away your cannon thing?" Twilight asked nervously.

"That part, I can't put away, it's attached to me. And let me ask you this, do any of you even know what a tank is?" Aegis asked.

"No idea." Twilight said, shaking her head.

"We are built for war." Aegis said. Everypony gasped.

"War? Why?" Twilight asked.

"There's been a war going on for almost sixteen years. And I was created to help." Aegis said.

"Oh, my, that doesn't sound like fun..." Rarity gasped.

"Well, there's no war going on here. But what was it like where you're from?" Twilight asked.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. What do you mean there's no war going on? Everyone knows about the war. It's strange that you don't, almost suspicious." Aegis said.

"Here, it's been thousands of years since the last war...seems to me you're not from Equestria." Twilight said. Aegis quickly stands up, accidently waking Steel heart up.

"WHAT!?" She yells.

"Is there something wrong?" Twilight asked. Fluttershy gasps slightly and quickly holds Steel Heart. Steel heart looks around sleepily. Aegis tries to head for the door, but can only stumble.

"I... I need to get back." she said.

"Back to where?" Twilight asked.

"Hey there." Fluttershy asked. She gets onto the couch, placing Steel heart down on it, then curls up around her, draping her tail over the filly like a blanket. Steel heart falls back asleep. Aegis collapses onto the ground in pain. Fluttershy smiles gently at the filly, wrapping her forelegs around her.

"Here...let me help ya..." Applejack said. Applejack tried to help Aegis get back up. Steel heart snuggles against Fluttershy. Aegis has this far away look in her eyes.

"Is something wrong? You can tell us, Aegis. We're all here for you." Applejack said. Fluttershy lays her head on Steel Heart's side, keeping her warm.

"Sleep well." She whispered. Aegis doesn't respond.

"Aegis, Darling...what ever is the problem?" Rarity asked. Aegis still doesn't respond.

"Is it...Daniel? Do you miss him?" Twilight asked. At the word Daniel, Aegis eyes started to tear up.

"Awe, the poor dear..." Rarity sniffed, wiping her eyes. Aegis still doesn't respond, but more tears fall from her face.

"Let's leave her be, girls. But Aegis, please at least don't lay in front of the door." Twilight said. Aegis moves out of the way. Applejack lays next to Aegis.

"Look...we can't help you if you don't tell us what's wrong...we want to help you." She said, hugging her. Aegis wipes her eyes.

"Y-You wouldn't understand." She said.

"What happened though?" Applejack asked. Aegis looks over at Steel heart and sees her sleeping. She sighs and begins to tell them what happened. They all listen closely. Aegis tells them about the monitor, the laboratory, and ends it on sacrificing herself onto a bomb to save Daniel.

"Oh, dear...I'm so sorry..." Rarity cried. 

"If there's anything we can do to help you get better...just tell us, okay?" Twilight said sadly. Aegis doesn't say anything, but nods as tears fall from her face.

"And I thought losing my parents was bad..." Applejack muttered.

"If...you want...you and Steel Heart can stay with me. She's a cuddle bug." Fluttershy said. Aegis wipes her eyes.

"Wh... why are you all being so nice to me?" she asked.

"You were bleeding obviously, and hardly clinging to life it seemed. It wouldn't be right of us to let you...oil to death..." Twilight said.

"Steel Heart would be heart broken if you died too..." Fluttershy added. Aegis looks down and cries. Applejack sighs lightly and hugs Aegis, along with everypony else.

"We're here for ya, Aegis. Always." She promised. Aegis notices that Everypony in the room, except for Fluttershy who was keeping steel heart company, was hugging her. She cries hard, letting her emotions out.

TO BE CONTINUED
> Chapter 4: A new way
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After a minute of adorable hugs and nuzzles, the group gives Aegis her space.

"Feelin better yet, Aegis?" Applejack asked. Aegis wipes her eyes.

"Thank you..." She sniffed.

"We're all here for you, Aegis and your daughter."  Twilight said. Twilight smiles as she sees Fluttershy laying asleep on the couch with Steel Heart in her forelegs, sleeping on her chest.  Aegis smiles slightly.

"No one has ever been this nice to me, besides Daniel." She said.

"Well, you can bet we'll all be willing to help you when you need it, darling." Rarity said.

"Well, there is one question I need to ask, is there a town nearby?" Aegis asked. Twilight giggled.

"You're in Poneville! Well, the edge of Ponyville." she said. 

"I see." Aegis said. Fluttershy wakes due to Steel Heart stirring.

"Steel Heart?" She asked. Steel Heart whimpers as she stirs from a nightmare.

"Aegis...I think Steel Heart is having a Nightmare..." Fluttershy said. Aegis quickly looks over at Steel heart and runs to her side.

"Steel Heart, I'm here." She hushed as she holds steel heart close. Steel Heart's breathing slows down until she is sleeping peacefully.

"She's absolutely adorable, Aegis." Fluttershy said. Aegis nods as she lays down, curling up around Steel Heart.

"Mind if I....you know...take her? If that's okay?" Fluttershy asked sarcastically. Aegis notices the sarcasm and glares at Fluttershy. Fluttershy flinches and hides behind her mane.

"I'm kidding! But...if you ever need it, I'll happily watch over her for you." She said quietly.

"So, are you feeling better, Aegis?" Twilight asked. Aegis nods at Fluttershy, then looks at Twilight.

"A lot better." She said.

"Then, maybe you and Steel Heart would like to get familiar with the town?" Twilight asked.

"That would be nice." Aegis said.

"Would you like to go now, then?" Twilight asked. Aegis nods and looks over at Fluttershy.

"Could you take care of Steel while I'm looking around the town?" She asked. Fluttershy nods.

"Of course!" She smiles and takes Steel Heart into her forelegs and rocks her gently. Steel Heart mumbles in her sleep. Aegis stands up and looks at Twilight and the rest of the girls.

"Let me just do something real quick. From your reactions when you saw me, I don't think the town will be happy to see a tank Pony rolling in." She said.

"Probably not." Applejack said. Aegis nods and her irises spin. There was the sound of gears turning as her back opens up and the cannon folded into the storage space in her back. There was the sound of screws loosening and the armor plates on her body fell off, revealing her green coat. Everypony in the room stared in awe. After the last bit of her armor fell off, Aegis looked like a normal pony in every way, except for the large scar on her barrel and leg.

"Wow..." Fluttershy said in amazement. Aegis looks over herself.

"Without my armor, I feel so naked." She said.

"Oh, it's quite alright, darling!" Rarity said. Aegis picks up her armor plating and sets them in a neat pile in the corner of the house. Rainbow Dash looks over Aegis's body.

"You know, for a metal pony, you have the build of a royal guard." She said.

"Are you implying she looks like a stallion?" Twilight asked. Aegis raises an eyebrow at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash blushes.

"What? No! I'm saying that because she looks strong, in fact, probably stronger than Applejack." She said.

"She's a robot pony pretty much. Who's to say she isn't stronger than Big Mac, even?" Applejack said.

"Who knows?" Twilight swan. The purple alicorn smiles, opening the door for the ponies to leave. Aegis stops at the door and looks back at Fluttershy.

"Please take good care of Steel." She said.

"Of course I will!" Fluttershy said happily.

"Let's go girls!" Twilight said. Aegis steps outside and immediately stops. Her eyes widen at the colors. The clear blue skies that are not covered in poisonous gas, the green grass that is not brown and rotting from war and the trees that are healthy with no signs of death.

"Something wrong, darling?" Rarity asked.

"Ev...everything is.... is so clean." Aegis said.

"We Ponyvillians tend to keep our humble little town sanitary." Rarity said.

"There's no death, no smog, no poison gas, it's... it's all clean." Aegis said.

"Ponies are friendly folk and we use very very very little gas if at all, so it's rather nice! Let's get going shall we?" Twilight asked. Aegis doesn't move.

"I...I must be in heaven." She said.

"Just wait till we get into town, then!" Rarity said. Aegis nods, but continues to look at the sky.

"Ya coming or what?" Applejack asked. Aegis shakes her head and follows them.

"Since you're a robot, does that mean your coat is made of synthetic hair?" Pinkie pie asked randomly. Aegis nods.

"It is." She said.

"Can I feel it?" Pinkie asked.

"Umm, I guess..." Aegis said. Pinkie feels Aegis's coat, inspecting it closely.

"It feels real but smells funny!" she giggled as they walked. Aegis raises an eyebrow and looks at Twilight.

"Pinkie, leave the poor mare alone!" Twilight chuckled nervously.

"Okie doki Loki!" Pinkie said, jumping off Aegis's back.

"Look, we're just about there!" Applejack said. She points a hoof to the town just up ahead.

"Hopefully you'll enjoy your stay while you're here in Equestria. I'll notify the princesses of your arrival, and ask if they can find a way to send you home." Twilight said. Aegis nods at Twilight.

"Where shall we go first, Twilight?" Rarity asked as the group of ponies came to the edge of the town.

"Anywhere you want to show me first." Aegis said.

"How about we just walk around and stop wherever you become interested in?" Twilight asked.

"That sounds like a good idea." Applejack said, nodding.

"I agree." Aegis said. Twilight smiles and leads the girls into town. As Aegis looks around the town, she could see everyone with a happy smile, going about there business. She could also see some stallions look at her.

"Seems to be you've got some stallions eyes on you!" Twilight whispers at her. Aegis looks at Twilight with a raised eyebrow.

"Um... Okay then?" She said.

"They like you! Which one are ya gonna go out with, first?" Twilight whispered. Aegis blushes and glares at Twilight. Rainbow Dash falls over laughing. Rarity giggled.

"Maybe Caramel!" She whispered.

"He seems like a nice stallion." She said.

"Who knows." Applejack said. Aegis glares at the other girls. Rainbow Dash rolls around, still laughing.

"We're just messin with ya, Aegis!" Applejack chuckles. Aegis deadpans.

"Its not funny." She grumbled.

"Yea it is! You should see the look on you're face!" Rainbow Dash yelled.

"Okay, girls, enough teasing!" Twilight giggled. Aegis rolls her eyes.

"So uh...see anything interesting yet?" asked Applejack as they continued walking. Aegis looks around and notices a building that looks like a castle made out of crystals.

"I see you've spotted my castle! That's where I live!" Twilight said happily.

"You live in a castle? Doesn't that make you a queen?" Aegis asked.

"Well, I'm a princess, but I don't feel exactly comfortable with that title..." Twilight said. Aegis is slightly confused. She raises an eyebrow.

"Why?" She asked.

"I just don't...it feels...wrong." Twilight said, looking away.

"Umm... okay?" Aegis asked.

"Something wrong with that?" Twilight asked, raising an eyebrow. Aegis shakes her head.

"No." She said.

"Alright!" Twilight said.

"I'm surprised Spikey Wikey hasn't eaten your castle yet, Twilight..." Rarity said.

"Yeah...since it's made of crystal..." Applejack said. Twilight giggled.

"I took a few precautions. I placed a spell on every bit of crystal so nothing can bite into it!" She said.

"That's good." Applejack said.

"Who is spike?" Aegis asked.

"He's a dragon!" Twilight said.

"Wait, what?" Aegis, not hearing that clearly.

"Oh, he's an Equestrian hero! You'll love him!" Twilight said.

"That's not what I meant, I mean why is he a dragon, dragons are nothing but myth and legends." Aegis said.

"Well, you're in a world were dragons do exist." Twilight said as she opens the door to her castle.

"I do want to explore some more, so I'm gonna walk around." Aegis said.

"Want us ta leave ya alone then?" Applejack asked. Aegis nods, then looks away.

"Yes. I just... just need some time to adjust to all of this." She said. The ponies nod in understanding. Aegis walks away from the girls in a random direction. A few of the ponies she passes either smile or give a happy wave of a their hooves. Aegis doesn't wave or smile back. She has a content look on her face as she walked, looking around.

There were many shops and stands, ponies selling various things from foods to bubble wrap.As she walked, she had this feeling that she was being followed. As she looked to the left, she looked out of her peripheral vision and saw three stallions following her. She turns down an ally way.Even the alley was free of clutter and bright green grass crunched beneath her hooves. Aegis hides behind a pair of trash cans and waits. The stallions looking for a quick date passed on by, oblivious to her hiding spot. Aegis sees them walk past her. She gets out of her hiding spot and walks the other direction, looking back, only to bump into somepony. She looks and sees that it was one of the stallions that were following her.

"Hi there!" The stallion chuckles. 

"Please excuse me." Aegis said as she tried to move past him, only for him to block her path.

"Are you new here? I don't think I've seen such a mare as beautiful as yourself before! My name is Jumper!" The stallion said. Aegis rolls her eyes.

"I don't have time for this. I already know what you're going to do." She said.

"Do what?" He asked as he blocked her again as she tried to get past.

"I'm just trying to say hi!" He smirks.

"Unless you want to lose a hoof, I suggest you back off!" She yelled. The stallion was shocked by this.

"Well fine!" He grumbled and stomped off, and nearby ponies who witnessed this glared at Aegis. Aegis has a look of anger as she stomped off, mumbling to herself. An apple orchard came into view, hills covered in trees bearing apples, yellow, green and red, the roof of a barn peeking out over the tree tops. Aegis goes to one of the trees and sits under it, a face of anger still plastered to her face.

There was a rather familiar voice nearby, chatting with another that sounded as if it were rhyming. Her ears perk up from the familiar voice. She looks in the direction of the voices. There was a tan colored stallion with blue eyes, a messy brown mane, his head low as he followed a zebra who wore plenty of gold jewlery. 

For some reason, the stallion looks extremely familiar to Aegis, yet she can't put her hoof on it. She looked at them from behind the tree. As the stallion and zebra walked down the dirt road, the stallion took notice of Aegis. He stopped in his tracks. Aegis blinks as she looks at the stallion. At about ten yards away, he took a step towards her, a familiar scar on his cheek could be seen. The gears in Aegis's head start to turn.

"D-Daniel?" She stutters. The station's eyes tear up as he slowly walks closer.

"A-Aegis?" He asked. Aegis steps closer, her mind frazzled. Daniel stops for a second, only to gallop up to Aegis, pulling her into a tight hug. Aegis is surprised, then hugs back.

"I...how...I watched...you blow up!" He yells. He stared into her eyes for a moment, feeling her face, vividly remembering the bomb going off. "There was nothing left!" He said. .ears ran down his cheeks as he held her close.

"I'm alive as you are, but not without a cost." She said, pulling him away and showing him the large scar on her leg and barrel. Daniel frowned and looked down.

"Because of my stupidity...you don't want to see mine..." he said. He felt wind blow through the small hole all the way through his head, but was luckily hidden under his mane. Aegis frowns.

"Okay, what did you do when I died?" She asked. Daniel hesitated for a moment, but moved his mane to show the clean hole through his head. Aegis 's gasps and her mind becomes even more frazzled, causing her mane to spring up in places as her eye twitches.

"W-Why?" She asked again.

"I don't know! I...I just got all these depressing thoughts! It was too much! We...had just fallen in love, and losing you due to my stupid decisions, I couldn't live with that guilt! It's like I couldn't control myself! I found myself with my gun to my head and...you know the rest..." he said, sitting down. Aegis hangs her head low, before looking at him.

"Daniel." She said. Aegis gives Daniel a good hard slap across the face, not too hard, but hard enough to leave a mark on his face.

"Don't ever! Do something like that again!" She yelled.

"OW! Aegis!" Daniel moaned, rubbing his cheek. " Steel hooves don't feel good! Hands are bad, hooves are twice as bad, YOUR hooves are three times worse than that! That hurt..." he sighs. "I'm sorry...I just...didn't know what to do...You were killed because of me..." He said, lowering his head.

"Daniel, you didn't know that one of the soldiers was going to sneak up and get me, it's not your fault." Aegis said.


"It hurt...to see him just slice into you like that...then when you saw the bomb...you died...for me. I was so selfish to waste my life after you saved it..."Daniel said, looking away. "You probably hate me now..." He said. Aegis is shocked.

"Why would you say that, just because you committed suicide because I gave my life away for you, I would hate you, never, in fact, when I woke up, I cried my eyes out, because I would never see you." She said. Daniel smiles at the robot pony.

"I love you so much." He said. He draws her into a gentle hug. "Where's your armor?" he asked. Aegis leans against him.

"I took it off." She said. Daniel smiles, running a hoof through her mane.

"Funny I'm a pony now, too." He chuckles. "Guess my wish is half fulfilled, since I'm not a tank prototype or anything like you are." He said. Aegis giggles, then looks at the zebra, who was looking at them with a smile.

"Who is this?" She asked.

"Oh, this is Zecora, the zebra version of Dr. Suess." Daniel said. Zecora chuckled slightly at that, having been told the joke already.

"She rescued me from a pack of...timber wolves...wolves made out of timber wood..." He said. Aegis gasps and has a look of anger.

"Where are they! I am gonna take care of them!" She yells.

"Hon! It's fine! I'm fine! I just got scratched is all..." Daniel said. Aegis closes her eyes and slows her breathing.

"Poor Steel Heart...she'll be alone without us..." Daniel lowers his head with a sigh.

"Umm... About that." she said.

'You...got rid of her so I can't switch your data?" he asked. Aegis shakes her head.

"She...She's here." She said.

"WHAT?! Well where is she?!" Daniel screamed, starting to get worried. Aegis holds her hooves up to calm him down.

"Don't worry, don't worry, she's safe with Fluttershy." she said. Daniel's ears perk up.

"Her cottage! Zecora and I passed right by it!" He yells. He turns tail and runs towards Fluttershy's cottage.

"Daniel, wait up!" She yells chasing after him, leaving Zecora quite confused. He was unable to hear as he bolted down the dirt road. Aegis sprints after him. Daniel soon arrives at Fluttershy's and rapidly knocks on the door. 

"Oh! I wonder who that could be!" Fluttershy asked. She turns to Steal heart. "I'm gonna go check the door, okay?" She asked. Steel Heart sleeps peacefully. Fluttershy quietly walks over to the door and opens it.

"Where's Steel Heart?!" He yells, peering inside.

"She's sleeping." She said. Fluttershy smiles and steps aside. Daniel notices the filly asleep on the couch, so he sits next to her and gently takes her into his hooves. Steel Heart snuggles against him. Aegis walks in and sees them together. She smiles. Daniel smiled softly, cradling gently.

"...Daddy..." Steel Heart mumbles in her sleep. Daniel looks towards Aegis.

"Daddy?" He asked.

"She's been saying that ever since I got here." Aegis said.

"Guess you're mommy then." Daniel chuckled lightly, and softly plants a kiss of Steel Heart's forehead and smiles. "Daddy loves you." He said. Aegis smiles happily. Daniel nuzzles her cheek, holding her close.

"Aegis, come sit with us." He said. He smiles softly at his mare, then back down to Steel Heart who seemed to be waking up. Aegis sits next to Daniel. Steel heart opens her eyes slightly, looking around.

"Hey, Steely." Daniel said. Steel heart's eyes open wide. She sees Daniel and smiles widely.

"Daddy!" She yells happily. Daniel smiles and nods, a tear in his eyes.

"Hey, sweetie." he nuzzles her gently. Steel heart nuzzles him back. Aegis looks away, trying hard to not cry.

"Daddy loves you so much." He said. He keeps her close, running a hoof through her mane.

"My little filly." He said. Steel Heart yawns and snuggles close to him. Aegis looks back and smiles warmly, having a hard time trying to resist pulling them both into a hug. Daniel answers that for her by holding her and Steel Heart close.

"I love you both so much." He said. Aegis leans against Daniel, closing her eyes and releasing a relaxing sigh.

"I love you too." She said. Steel Heart tries to stay awake, but is failing. Daniel smiles and tickles Steel Heart's sides. Steel Heart starts to giggle as she squirms a bit.

"Aww that's cute!" Fluttershy said as Steel Heart squeals with laughter. Aegis smiles happily at them. Daniel  starts to cry and holds her close and tight. Steel Heart stops laughing and sees Daniel crying.

"Daddy? What's wrong?" She asked.

"I love you both so much." He said, smiling. "I've got the best mare friend and daughter a guy could ever have." He said. Aegis could handle it anymore and cries. Steel Heart had a wide smile. He wipes his muzzle and smiles at them.

"I love you guys." He said happily. Aegis leans against him. Steel Heart starts to fall asleep. Daniel leans his head against Aegis.

"Our special little girl." He said. Aegis nods and closes her eyes. Steel Heart snuggles closer to him as she slept. 

"I love you, Aegis." Daniel said. Aegis smiles.

"I love you too, Daniel." She said.

"You're such a beautiful mare." He said, sighing happily. "I've found you more attractive than Selma Hayek, even." He chuckled. "And you know how pretty SHE is." He added. Aegis rolls her eyes.

"I know." She said.

"That makes you one fine looking pony." He said, winking at her. Aegis smiles at him.

"You've changed a lot since your activation...at first you were like any robot, but soon...it was as if you were a pony wish flesh and blood, not gears and gadgets. It's why I love you." Daniel said, smiling at her. "You're a pony to me, not some dumb old machine." He said. Aegis let's of a happy sigh.

"Thank you." She said.

"I will say you look rather pretty with your armor on and everything when in tank mode. I mean seriously! What geniuses would think to mix a tank and a pony?!" He said, blushing slightly.

"Those who would watch a little girls t.v. show." She said. Daniel smirks.

"Rainbow Dash is best pony. Well...next...to...you..." He suddenly became quiet for a moment. "Aegis...do you know where we are?" He asked. Aegis's eyes wide a bit.

"Just a while ago, before I had a tour of a town called Ponyville, six mares were in front of me." She said.

"We've watched all the seasons...why did it take so long to notice..." he said, looking at her with wide eyes. "We're in Equestria!" He said.

"Wait, WHAT!?" Aegis yells. Daniel chuckles a little.

"Yea..." he said. 

"But, that can't be right. The show isn't supposed to be real." Aegis said.

"Well it is, since we're here." Daniel said, smiling. "I've always wanted to be a pony since I got into the show." He said. Aegis rubs her head with a hoof.

"Something wrong?" He asked

"Its just all to much to take." She said.

"But we can get through this, as a family." he said. Daniel holds one of Aegis's hooves with one of his. Aegis eyes widen and has a wide smile.

"Y-You think so?" She asked.

"Of course, Aegis." He said. Daniel holds her close, nuzzling her mane. Aegis closes her eye and leans against him, tears falling down her face as she has a wide smile.

"I'm just glad you both are okay." He said.

"I'm glad too." She said. Daniel runs a hoof down her back. Aegis's breathing slows down.

"Such a beautiful mare you are, Aegis." He said. Daniel smiles at her softly. Aegis didn't hear, because she has fallen asleep. Daniel smiles happily, keeping them close. Aegis smiles slightly as she slept.

TO BE CONTINUED
> Chapter 5: What a wonderful world it is
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aegis was sound asleep, laying next to Daniel. Daniel held his mare close to him, Steel Heart sleeping on his chest. The sun shined through the window, hitting Aegis's face. Aegis grunts and rolls over. The movement made Daniel tighten his grip on Aegis. Aegis opens her eyes sleepily and looks around. She notices Daniel and smiles, before closing her eyes again. Daniel nuzzles her cheek, causing Aegis's smile to widen. The human murmured lightly and turns onto his side, causing Steel Heart to fall onto Aegis. Steel Heart wakes up sleepily and yawns.

"Nnnggh...morning you two..." Daniel grunted. Daniel gave them both a kiss on the head.

"Morning." Aegis said.

"Morning Daddy... " Steel heart said sleepily. Daniel held them both close, his tail thumping on the bed. Steel Heart nuzzles him. Aegis yawns.

"How's my beautiful little filly?" Daniel asked, returning the nuzzle.

"Tired..." Steel Heart yawned.

"Me too, sweetie." Daniel said. Daniel runs his hoof through her mane. Steel Heart smiles, then yawns. Daniel holds Steel Heart close to him and smiles at Aegis.

"We make a great family." Daniel said, pecking Aegis on the lips. Aegis smiles and nods.

"We do." She said.

"Guess we should get up, huh?" He asked. Daniel smiled back, holding Steel Heart in his hooves. Aegis nods and gets off the couch. She yawns and stretches, revealing the scars across her body. Daniel sighed and the sight of them, feeling each of them was his fault. Aegis looks at him with a smile.

"You say something?" She asked. Daniel shook his head and rubs a hoof over the scar along her side, a tear slipping from his eye.

"It was all my fault..." he sniffed. Aegis looks at him with a frown.

"Daniel, it's not your fault, you didn't know that one of the soldiers was going to sneak up on us." She said. Daniel tightly hugged Aegis, remembering everything. He starts to cry, holding her tight. Steel Heart looks up at Daniel.

"Daddy?" She asked. Aegis is shocked, before hugging back.

"You were just pulverized!" He wailed.

"Let it out Daniel, let it out." She said. He cries into her chest, soaking her synthetic fur with tears. Aegis rubs his back. Tears start to form in Steel Heart eyes.

"D-Daddy?" She sniffed. After a few moments he calms and holds Aegis close. Aegis looks at him.

"Better?" She asked. He nodded.

"Yeah...thanks." he said. Daniel kisses her cheek.

"I love you so much." He said.

"I love you too." Aegis said.

"D-Daddy?" Steel Heart said.

"Yes, sweetie?" He asked. Daniel rubs Steel Heart's mane. 

"A-Are you okay?" Steel Heart asked.

"I'm alright." he kisses her nose. Steel Heart smiles and wipes her eyes.

"Dawww!" Aegis said. Daniel nuzzles his little filly.

"Daddy loves you!" He said. Steel heart nuzzle him. Daniel held her close and tight.

"My precious little filly, I love you so much." He said.

"I love you too, daddy!" Steel heart said. Daniel smiles.

"Anypony hungry?" He asked. Aegis's stomach growls after he said that, causing her to blush slightly.

"Well, let's see what Fluttershy has." Daniel said.

"Shouldn't you think we should ask first?" Aegis said. Daniel chuckles.

"I know." He said. Aegis's stomach growls again.

"Let's get up, then, shall we?" Daniel asked. Aegis nods.

'Wanna ride on my back, Sweetie?" Daniel asks Steel heart. Steel heart smiles widely and nods vigorously. Daniel chuckled and got up from the couch.

"Okay, get on!" he kisses her cheek. Steel heart smile widens and she jumps on him.

"Daddy!" She yells.

"So cute." Aegis said.

"You bet!" Daniel said. Hooves were heard walking on the floor above and soon Fluttershy came down the steps with a yawn. Aegis looks at her with a smile.

"Morning Fluttershy!" She said.

"Good morning..." Fluttershy yawned.

"Um Fluttershy, if you don't mind me asking, do you have any coffee by any chance?" Aegis asked.

"Sorry, I only have teas and herbal drinks..." Fluttershy said sleepily. Aegis sighs and nods.

"All right, some tea wouldn't hurt." She said.

"Plain or lemon?" Fluttershy asked. Fluttershy asked as she crossed the living room.

"Lemon please." Aegis said. Fluttershy gave a nod as Daniel trotted circles in the living room with Steel Heart on his back. Steel Heart is giggling with happiness. Aegis looks at him and warmly smiles.

"Daaaw, so cute!" She said. Daniel chuckles.

"It's great to finally be a pony!" He said happily. Aegis nods.

"But we should change your name a bit, it will sound weird to other ponies, if its all right with you?" She asked.

"I like my name." Daniel said, kissing Aegis's cheek. "But not as much as I love you, my beautiful lovable mare, you." He said. Aegis blushes.

"Oh stop you." She said.

"Stop what?" Daniel brought his head back enough to make a double chin.

"Stop loving you?" He asked. "Okay!" He says sarcastically as he lifts his head and goes slowly to the front door. "Oh woe is me! How will I EVER survive out in the wilderness alone!? The agony is already too much to bear!" He says as he drops to one knee. Aegis deadpans and facehoofs, sighing.

"What am I going to do with you?" She asks. Now laying on his back, he lifts his head up and looks at Aegis.

"Take me back?" He asks. Aegis smiles and right as she was about to walk towards him, steel heart runs up to him and tackles him.

"Ooof!!!" Daniel grunted, wrapping his hooves around her. "At least my wonderful daughter still loves me!" He said.

"Daddy!" Steel heart yells happily. Aegis warmly smiles at the two. Daniel gets up and tightly hugs Steel Heart.

"Yeah, Steely?" He asked, nuzzling her.

"I love you!" She said. Fluttershy comes back with the tea for Aegis. Aegis looks over and nods.

"Thanks, Fluttershy." She said.

"Anything for a friend!" Fluttershy smiled. Aegis takes the cup of tea and drinks it. She closes her eyes and enjoys the taste.

"So, honey...what's on the to do list today?" Daniel asked. Aegis opens her eyes and looks at him, setting the cup down.

"Well, I do want to explore more of the town."  She said.

"Alright." Daniel said, smiling. "Am I a good looking stallion?" He asked.

"Minus the hole in your head, you look great!" She said. Daniel frowns.

"Can we not talk about that?" He mutters. Aegis smiles sheepishly.

"Sorry." She laughs slightly. Daniel nuzzled his cheek against Aegis' neck.

"You three are so cute!" Fluttershy smiles.

"Well, we are a family. We've been together ever since we met." Aegis said

"Yep!" Daniel said, smiling.

"What about you Fluttershy?" She asked.

"What do you mean?" Fluttershy asked with a tilt of her head.

"Do you have somepony that you like?" Aegis asked.

"My friends of course!" The cream yellow mare smiled. Aegis smiles as well and nods.

"So, me and my wonderful marefriend and our precious little girl are going to go explore the town." Daniel said, rubbing his hoof along Steel heart's mane.

"But you haven't eaten yet!" Fluttershy protested.

"Some breakfast wouldn't hurt." Aegis said. Fluttershy smiles and trotted back into the kitchen.

"Hey..." Daniel asks as he notices the oil can from yesterday and goes to get it.

"Thirsty, sweetie?" He asks. Aegis nods. Daniel gives the can to her.

"Just leave some for little Steel Heart, okay, honey?" He asks.

"I know." She said, rolling her eyes and taking a sip of the oil, but for some strange reason, instead of tasting good, the oil tasted a little funny. She looks at it with a raised eyebrow.

"Something wrong? Wait...it's not the special formula you need..." He chuckled, tapping Aegis on the shoulder, her steel frame clunking from the impact. Aegis takes another sip.

"No, I can drink any oil like this, but, somethings not right, the taste is... off." She said.

"It WAS left out over night...but then again it isn't milk...but then again we're not on earth..." he shrugged and pulled Steel Heart into his hooves, hugging her. Steel heart yawns. Aegis sets the oil down.

"Sleepy still?" Daniel asks. Steel Heart nods.

"Hehe. A good breakfast will wake you right up!" Daniel chuckles. Steel heart nods. Aegis looks around the house, admiring the place.

"I love you, Aegis." Daniel kissed Aegis softly on the cheek. Aegis smiles happily at .

"I love you too." She said.

"Not as much as I love you!" Daniel said happily. Aegis smiles and was about to say something, when a creature, one that's a mish mash of animals, wearing a night cap looking somewhat tired walks in. It took quick notice of Daniel, Aegis and Steel Heart.

"Discord." Daniel mutters. Discord yawns.

"Hmm, what is this, new ponies in town?" He asked.

"They're friends, Discord!" Fluttershy called from the kitchen. Discord looks over towards the kitchen, then back at Aegis and Daniel. He immediately knows that something is off, raising an eyebrow.

"Hmm, something's off, you are not from around here are you." He said.

"Oh, hehe..." Daniel chuckled nervously.

"I can sense a lot of chaos coming off from you three, especially you." Discord said, pointing at Daniel.

"What, why?" Daniel asked.

"I can feel this dread hanging around you, like your dead or something." Discord said. Daniel felt creeped out. Discord stares at him for a second, before putting on a happy smile.

"All well, it ain't my business! I'm in a good mood and I don't want to ruin it." He said.

"Okay, see ya." Daniel said. Discord snaps his fingers and disappears. Daniel shrugs.

"So...maybe guys night with Discord, Spike and Big Mac could be a possibility??" He asks. Aegis laughs slightly.

"That'll be the day." she said. Daniel chuckled.

'No, I belong with you.." He said, nuzzling her. Aegis nuzzles back and notices that Steel heart was wondering around the house, looking around. Daniel trots merrily over to her.

"What cha doin Sweetie?" He asks. Steel heart looks up at him.

"I'm just looking around daddy." She says. Daniel smiled.

"Just don't touch anything. Can i have a hug?" he asks. Steel heart hugs Daniel and a squeeing sound was heard from somewhere. Daniel returned the hug and turned to see Fluttershy was setting the table and had caught them red hoofed in hugging. Aegis warmly smiles at the two. Daniel turns a glare at Aegis.

"You touch her I'll tickle you to death!" he warned. Aegis bursts into laughter.

"Savor these moments, for they will be your last!" Daniel joked as he tackles Aegis tight in his hooves and nuzzles her. Aegis has a content happy look as she releases a relaxed sigh, then nuzzles back.

"Who's the prettiest mare in existence?" Daniel asked. Aegis smiles warmly.

"I am." She said. Daniel smiles.

"Good!" He said, getting off of her. "Never thought I'd uh...fall in love with a robot pony...but I'm glad I did." He said happily. Aegis giggles and stands up.

"At least you're a pony like me." She said.

"The recruits...they always knew of my love for you...they told me there was no way you could ever actually love me..." he sighs. Aegis places a hoof on Daniel's shoulder and gives him a reassuring smile.

"Sometimes I feel I'm going crazy..." Daniel said.

"Do you need to let it out?" Aegis asked.

"I'm good...I'm..not saying you don't love me...I know you do! It's just the things they've said makes me doubt it sometimes..." he said. Aegis pulls him into a hug. Daniel sighs.

"Know what else?" He asked.

"What?" She asked. Daniel giggled slightly.

"I can feel air blowing through the hole in my head!" He said. Aegis giggles.

"Well, I guess that makes you an air head." She said. Daniel nods.

"Yep!" He said. Aegis smiles, just as Fluttershy came walking back in.

"Breakfast is ready. I-I made pancakes and eggs." Fluttershy said quietly. Aegis looks at her and nods.

"Thank you, Fluttershy." She said. 

"Steely, you hungry?" Daniel ruffles Steel Heart's mane. Steel Heart's stomach growls as he said that, causing her to nod. Daniel kisses her head.

"Well, come on then." He said, walking into the kitchen. Discord appears out of nowhere again.

"Did I hear breakfast?" He asked. Fluttershy nods.

"Uh-huh!" She said. Discord smiles happily and walks into the kitchen as well. Daniel's eyes followed Discord.

"You know, it isn't polite to stare." Discord said to Daniel without looking at him. Daniel shook his head and looks away.

"I-in my defense it's hard not to...when I happen to you know...be in the presence of the god of chaos himself...when I thought he was just a fictional cartoon character..." he said. Discord stops and his ears perk up, interested.

"Wait, what did you say?" He asked.

"Perhaps I've said too much..." Daniel said. Discord appears next to him and leans against him.

"Go on, you caught my interest. You said something about me being a fictional character?" He asked. Daniel began to sweat.

"I...don't know what you're talking about, Discord..." he said, walking away. As Discord watches Daniel walk away, be notices the hole in Daniel's head.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" He said, looking at him. "If you don't mind me asking, why do you have a hole in your head?" He asked.

"Well...it's a long story I don't want to talk about..." Daniel said as he sat at the tables with the others. Discord lazily floats over to him.

"Come now, you have my interest." He said. Daniel sighed.

"I shot myself." He said. There was nothing but silence. Discord was actually surprised. 

"Discord I woke up in the Everfree as a pony...with a hole in his head." Daniel said. Discord tries to say something, but nothing comes out. Aegis and Steel Heart look away.

"Yeah..." Daniel sighed. Discord floats down to the ground and places a claw on his chin.

"Well..." he said.

"What?" Daniel seems upset again.

"This...Is new to me..." Discord said.

"I....wow...really?" Daniel asked in surprise. Discord nods.

"Huh." Daniel said. Discord nods again. With a shrug, Daniel began to eat his serving of food. Discord began to eat, except he was eating the plate. Aegis pours syrup on her pancakes. Fluttershy sat silently at one end of the table. Daniel says nothing as he ate. Discord tries to think of something to talk about to try and lighten the mood, but can't. Daniel glanced over at Aegis, a small smile appearing on his muzzle, but his head began to hurt all of a sudden, and his brain tricked him into seeing her explode.

"Gah!" he winced in pain as he leaned over, his hooves at his temples. Aegis quickly looks over at him with worry.

"Daniel, what's wrong!?" She asked. Daniel seemed to have a blank, out in space stare. Aegis holds him tight. Daniel sighs.

"Daniel, are you okay?" She asked. Steel Heart looks up at him, tears in her eyes.

"Daddy?" She sniffed.

"It's just these visions...they won't top..." he said. Aegis tries to think of something to help him, but has nothing. Discord walks up to them.

"I'm willing to bet they don't have ibuprofen..." Daniel said.

"May I be of assistance?" Discord asked. Daniel shakes his head.

"I'm...I'm fine..." He said with a dismissive wave of his hoof. Discord nods and snaps his fingers, causing a business card to appear.

"If you need any help, just call." He said.

"Sure thing." Daniel sticks the card in his mane. Discord smiles and nods. Daniel nuzzled Aegis' cheek before returning to eating.

"I'm just happy to see that you're fine." Aegis said.

"As long as you're still with me, honey." Daniel said. Aegis smiles. Daniel pulls Steel and Aegis into a hug. Fluttershy still sat at the end of the table, unable to take this all in. Discord looks over at Fluttershy.

"Well, Fluttershy, do you want to join?" He asks. Fluttershy shook her head.

"I'm okay." She said. Discord puts on a sad face.

"Oh, come on, Fluttershy." He said.

"Oh..okay..." Fluttershy got up and joined. Daniel reached his head over to gently nuzzle the yellow Pegasus. Discord hold up a camera.

"Say, chocolate!" He says. They all say chocolate. At the last second the camera goes off, he joins them with a wide smile. Daniel pulls Steel Heart close and hugs her tight. A second Discord wearing a photographer's outfit was standing holding the camera.

"Ohhh, that is just perfect!" He said. Daniel chuckled and kisses the filly on the head.

"That's it, that's the money maker!" the second Discord said. Daniel chuckled again. Discord was wearing a fake blonde wig while wearing a white dress.

"Does this dress make my butt look big?" He asked.

"No, Discord." Daniel said softly. Aegis bursts out laughing. 

"What, what's so funny? Do I have something on my face?" Discord asks.

"Not sure." Daniel said. Steel heart giggles. Discord snaps his fingers and his face was plastered with makeup.

"Is this better?" He asks. Daniel rolls his eyes.

"Definitely!" He said Discord strikes a pose.

"I'm ready cameraman!" He yells. The second Discord flies around the first Discord.

"Ohh yes baby, that's it!" He said.

"Aww, Aegis, you're blushing!"  Aegis stops laughing and tries to not blush, but it fails.

"I am not!" She yells.

"Then why are your cheeks red?" Daniel asked. Aegis looks away.

"I...I don't know what your talking about." She said.

"Maybe so, but the red on your cheeks proves it!" Daniel planted a soft kiss on her cheek. "I love you, my sweet." He said. Aegis warmly smiles at him.

"I love you too." She said.

"Not as much as I love you!" Daniel said, nuzzling him. Aegis sighs happily and nuzzles back. He then jabbed her in the side to tickle her, causing Aegis to giggle.

"You know that lady at the front desk why she hated you?" Daniel asks. Aegis thinks and remembers a lady who hated her.

"Now that you mention it, I always wondered why she hated me." She said.

"She was jealous of your mane. Like...if you'd you know...not smoke your hair wouldn't be falling out!" Daniel laughs. Aegis blinks, then laughs with Daniel.

"Plus she was always re coloring it! Dye kills your hair! Dries it out!" Daniel said.

"Well yea, due to the chemicals in the dye!" Aegis said. Daniel scrunched his nose.

"I heard they put animal pee in that stuff!" Hs says. Aegis laughs harder.

"Did...did you pee in her dye, Aegis? You're a pony, you know..." He said. Aegis stops laughing and glares at him.

"I would never do something like that." She said.

"I know! You don't urinate! But it's funny, hehe...when we have to change your oil it comes from the same place hehe." He chuckles. Aegis facehoofs. Daniel jabs her side again with a smirk. Aegis giggles again.

"You know you love me." He said. 

"I know." Aegis said. Daniel smiles.

"Wonder who I can pick on next?" He turned his head towards Steel Heart. Steel heart was looking at the two Discords with interest. Daniel sneaks up to her and shakes her from behind.

"BOO!!" He yells. Steel heart yelps and jumps up high. Daniel catches her on his back.

"Hi, Sweetie!" Daniel said.

"Hi daddy!" Steel said. Daniel nuzzles her.

"I love you sweetie." He said. Steel heart grabs his neck and nuzzles him back. Daniel sighed, knowing he isn't her biological father. Steel heart yawns.

"Awe, is daddy's little girl sleepy?" He asks. Steel heart rubs her eye and nods.

"We were going to go and see the town, remember?" Daniels asks. Steel heart shakes her head and nods, trying to stay awake. Aegis looks over at Fluttershy.

"Do you need any help Fluttershy?" She asks. Steel heart's eyes start to droop. Fluttershy shakes her head.

"Nope." She said. Discord floats the plates up.

"At least let me help, since I'm living here." He said.

"Well, alright." Fluttershy said, blushing.

"Sleep tight my sweet baby girl." Daniel said. Discord walks into the kitchen with the plates floating behind. Steel heart closes her eyes and falls asleep a few minutes later. Daniel smiles at her. Aegis warmly smiles.

"Awww." She said. Daniel looks over at Aegis.

"I love her so much." He said.

"As do I." Aegis said. 

"Our little girl." Daniel said, nuzzling Steel Heart. "Being a robot...she's stuck as a filly." She said. Aegis nods and sighs.

"Yep. Maybe soon, we can figure that problem out." She said.

"Then again...you won't have to wish you could hold her again." Daniel said.

"True." Aegis said. Discord walks back out from the kitchen.

"I heard your problem from the kitchen." He said. Daniel holds Steel Heart close.

"Oh, it's no problem, Discord. Just a statement. We're fine." He said, nuzzling her while trying to not wake her.

"When we have a problem, yes, but there is nothing to be fixed at the moment." Daniel smiles.

"I can help them become, more normal." Discord offered. Daniel glares.

"No! They're good as they are!" He yells. Discord raises his paw and claw.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, there's no need to be violent. I only gave a offer to help." He said.

"And I said no three times. You're not changing who or what they are." Daniel said. Discord nods.

"Okay. Just give me a call if you do. You have my card." He said. Daniel nodded. Discord snaps his fingers and disappears. Daniel looks at Aegis. Aegis smiles happily at him.

"What are you so happy about?" He asks, kissing her lips.

"I'm just happy to see you loving our daughter." Aegis said. Daniel sighs.

"I wish she was biologically..." he sighed.

"Oh come now, we're here and together, that's all that matters." Aegis said.

"I know, but the fact still stands and it bugs me. It'll break her heart if she finds out and...I'm basically lying to her..." he said.

"Maybe Discord can help us." She said.

"I don't trust him." Daniel said flatly. Aegis sighs.

"I know, neither do I." She said.

"Not with something like this. Not a chance." Daniel said, kissing Steel Heart's head. "My precious little filly..I'm sorry..." he said. Steel Heart leg twitches slightly as she slept.

"Daddy..." She mumbles. Daniel sighs. Aegis sighs as well.

"I guess I should tell her...before she finds out and hates me for it..." Daniel said. Aegis shakes her head.

"No, don't. Think of what would happen. Besides, she is a smaller version of me, and your with me." She said. Daniel looks down at her.

"I don't want her to hate me..." he sniffed. Aegis pulls him into a hug.

"I have too..." Daniel said.

"Think of what would happen though." Aegis said.

"She might understand...it's better if I tell her..." Daniel said. Aegis sighs.

"All right." She said. Daniel lightly shook Steel Heart. Steel heart raises her head and opens her eyes sleepily.

"Hey, sweetie." Daniel nuzzles her and kisses her head, holding her tight. Steel heart yawns.

"Hey...daddy..." She said sleepily. Daniel chuckled.

"How's my little girl, doing?" he rubs her back with his hooves.

"A...little better... still tired." She yawns.

Aww..." he kisses her head softly again. Steel Heart yawns again.

"I...I have something to tell you, sweetie..." He said.

"Yea... what is it... daddy?" Steel asks, trying to stay awake.

"Oh...never mind...just go back to sleep..." He said, looking away. Steel heart yawns and snuggles closer to him. Daniel felt a tear coming so he wiped it with his hoof as if his eye were itchy. Aegis places a hoof on Daniel's shoulder. Daniel set down Steel Heart before getting up and goes outside. Aegis looks at Steel Heart, then at Daniel. Daniel sat on the porch against the wall, thumping his head against it. Aegis carefully places Steel heart on her back and walks towards the door. Fluttershy watched with concern from the kitchen as she washed the dishes. Aegis steps outside and sees Daniel sitting there.

"Hey, honey..." Daniel said. Aegis carefully lifts Steel heart off her back and lays down next to her.

"Daniel..." She said.

"Yeah?" He asks.

"I know you couldn't tell her." she said.

"You think?" Daniel groaned angrily. "I'm gonna go for a walk." He mumbles.

"Daniel, wait. I know you couldn't say it to her, because you didn't want to hurt her feelings." Aegis said.

"Well no duh. Guess I'll have to deal with it when she comes to hate me." He said. He lowered his head and walked off. Aegis's ears flatten as she looks down at Steel with sadness and sighs.

TO BE CONTINUED