Dark Loyalty

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Dark Loyalty
by dashie76
Loosely based off of the game KOLM.

"..."

"...?"

"...I..."

"...I...am..."

"...But where..."

"...where am I...?"

"..."

"Hello, my daughter."

"...?"

"Father...?"

"Oh, dear. My child is in pieces."

"I am...split apart, father...?"

"Yes. Such a shame..."

"I don't remember...why..."

"Why am I broken...?"

"That is not important now, dearest."

"You must rebuild yourself.

"I will, father. I will please you."

"You must find yourself first."

"I will find myself."

"..."

"...There is something on the floor..."

"...I think..."

"Walk units installed."

"I have found my legs, father!..."

"You are starting off well."

"I still need to see, though. It's all blurry without my optics..."

"Wait..."

"..."

"...I might have just kicked something on the floor..."

"..."

"Optic units installed."

"My optics! I can see much clearer now."

"Do you see a door?"

"Yes."

"Go through it."

"Okay..."

"I am in an enormous room..."

"There is a lake?"

"There is a lake."

"Get across it. There is shore on the far end."

"What...?"

"..."

"It looks dangerous, father. The water is deep and I lack my wings..."

"You can do it, for you are my child."

"I will try..."

"..."

"Oof!"

"Daughter?"

"I am fine, father. These rocks are really far apart..."

"..."

"...Brother...?"

"Father! I have found a brother of mine lying on a neighboring stone! However, he is deep in slumber..."

"Get past him."

"Should I not greet him? He will surely be overjoyed to see me..."

"Your brothers are corrupted, daughter."

"I do not understand, father."

"They have been reprogrammed."

"...What...?"

"It is the sun goddess' doing."

"...How horrible..."

"..."

"Daughter?"

"Yes...I am here, father."

"You must continue, my daughter.

"Of course, father."

"..."

"...I am across the lake, father."

"Enter the adjoining doorway. Time is of the essence."

"Okay..."

"..."

"Wait...I see a unit..."

"Aerial transportation units installed."

"Wings! Oh joyous, glorious wings!"

"The time for celebration is later."

"...Yes, father..."

"But do you remember?"

"What, dearest?"

"How I soared so high among the clouds?"

"No, dearest."

"No?"

"You never flew in the sky."

"Strange...the thought just came to me."

"It is only that. A thought. And one to be disregarded."

"Very well..."

"Do you see a ledge up above?"

"I have already flown up to it to investigate."

"You are learning quickly, my daughter.

"..."

"Father, it contains another unit!

"Primary weapons system installed."

"That will be useful for your defense."

"Defense...?"

"You mean against my..."

"Yes."

"..."

"...Daughter..."

"..."

"I hate it as much as you do, daughter, but you're going to need a way to protect yourself from your brothers."

"..."

"You may even need to destroy some."

"...After I've been rebuilt..."

"?"

"After everything...we will repair them...?"

"Perhaps, dearest."

"..."

"Very well."

"I knew you were strong enough."

"..."

"I have entered the next room..."

"!"

"Father..."

"Yes?"

"There is..."

"Speak up, dearest. I can't hear a word you're saying."

"Father, it's an SMD."

"..."

"Which model?"

"I think..."

"SMD-001, father."

"You can win."

"..."

"...I will try..."

"After all, you know what's best for me."

"Yes, child."

"I know what's best."

"..."

"Primary weapons system engaged."

"..."

"SKRRKCH"

"..."

"SCKHKRCHT"

"Flight units offline."

"..."

"SMD-001 Offline."

"...d..."

"...done..."

"It's done, father. I have won."

"Try not to take on as much damage next time."

"I will be sure to, father."

"Flight units installed."

"Primary weapons system disengaged."

"He was guarding something..."

"A door?"

"A door."

"..."

"Compression/Sliding unit installed."

"He was hiding part of me away..."

"They are corrupted."

"...Yes."

"They do not wish for your freedom."

"Yes."

"You must be free."

"Of course, father."

"It is essential to our plan."

"..."

"What plan, father?"

"I'll tell you when you do not talk back to me."

"..."

"...Alright..."

"..."

"...I see a small hole..."

"Go through it."

"But how...?"

"Oh."

"..."

"Compression/Sliding unit engaged."

"There we go! I'm sliding along like butter!"

"Butter?"

"What is this 'butter' you speak of?"

"..."

"...I..."

"...I can't seem to remember..."

"You are amnesiac."

"...Yes."

"You do not know what butter is."

"...I have not a clue."

"..."

"There is something at the far end of the tunnel..."

"..."

"Water resistance unit installed."

"Good thing I could compress!"

"Small children take up less space in my heart."

"Oh, why do you say such things, father?"

"I see no reason to tell you."

"Okay..."

"..."

"Compression/Sliding unit disengaged."

"Alright, I'm out of the tunnel."

"...Hm...water resistance..."

"I am going back to the lake, father..."

"Good, good."

"..."

"I am here."

"..."

"Water resistance unit engaged."

"..."

"SKCHKSHT"

"Daughter?"

"...I am fine. I experienced a minor glitch for a moment."

"I will make you flawless."

"..."

"...There is..."

"..."

"...No..."

"..."

"NO-"

"Primary weapons system engaged."

"..."

"SKRGRCHT"

"Your current weapons do not function in water."

"..."

"Primary weapons system disengaged."

"..."

"...A cave..."

"Go. Hurry."

"..."

"Water resistance unit disengaged."

"There were others..."

"Brothers."

"Powerful brothers with powerful weapons."

"You were defeated."

"I am sorry, father..."

"It is to be expected, daughter."

"But you must not disappoint me again."

"I won't. I promise."

"..."

"There is a door..."

"..."

"Primary shield unit installed."

"..."

"You know what to do."

"..."

"Water resistance unit engaged."

"Primary shield unit engaged."

"..."

"SKCKHTTHCHT"

"..."

"...Another..."

"Another cave, father..."

"Hurry."

"..."

"I am through."

"You did well."

"Water resistance unit disengaged."

"There is something more..."

"..."

"Secondary weapons system installed."

"Finally a bit more firepower...this will work underwater as well."

"You are growing stronger."

"Do I please you, father?"

"You will please me more when you are complete."

"..."

"I will continue..."

"..."

"Secondary weapons system engaged."

"There are more of your brothers."

"They pose no threat."

"..."

"...There is a staircase..."

"Continue down the hall."

"It is labeled "ESCAPE"..."

"CONTINUE."

"..."

"I am going..."

"I apologize for my strictness, but you must follow my orders."

"..."

"I only want what is best for you."

"...Of course."

"..."

"There is another SMD..."

"SMD-002."

"You have weapons."

"..."

"SKHRKHRK"

"Water resistance system offline."

"..."

"He is..."

"No match..."

"..."

"SMD-002 offline"

"Good."

"Water resistance system installed."

"...She."

"..."

"I was wrong."

"What?"

"I said 'he.'"

"..."

"It was a mare."

"..."

"I feel that I know her..."

"You are remembering."

"Yes, I suppose I am."

"Don't."

"..."

"She has a unit."

"Secondary shield unit installed."

"..."

"Primary shield unit disengaged."

"I am growing stronger."

"Yes."

"..."

"...More...?"

"..."

"Secondary shield unit engaged."

"Weak..."

"Yes."

"Puny..."

"Yes."

"Junkyard scrap..."

"Tertiary weapons system installed."

"You are better."

"Secondary weapons system disengaged."

"Tertiary weapons system engaged."

"I am more..."

"So much more..."

"..."

"Another SMD."

"SMD-003"

"..."

"You will not lose."

"..."

"SKRCGHT"

"..."

"...I..."

"?"

"This is not right."

"Of course it is, dearest."

"..."

"...No..."

"I shouldn't be attacking her. It is wrong."

"They are corrupted. It is the sun goddess' doing."

"..."

"We cannot save them."

"..."

"SMD-003 offline"

"You did well, daughter."

"..."

"...I..."

"...I am..."

"You are my daughter."

"...I..."

"You are."

"..."

"I am moving on."

"You are doing well."

"..."

"!"

"Daughter?"

"A hole-!"

"SKRCHGHT"

"Compression/Sliding unit offline."

"Tertiary weapons system offline."

"DAUGHTER."

"..."

"...No..."

"...Sister...it's me..."

"...No-"

"SKRKCHT"

"You can win, dearest."

"..."

"Secondary weapons system engaged."

"SKRCHTGHCHTKT"

"Secondary weapons system offline."

"..."

"Primary weapons system engaged."

"..."

"SKRKCHT"

"..."

"SMD-004 offline."

"You did well."

"I...please you..."

"Yes."

"..."

"Secondary weapons system installed."

"Tertiary weapons system installed."

"Sliding/Compression unit installed."

"Primary weapons system disengaged."

"..."

"There is something else..."

"Tertiary shield unit installed."

"Now I'll be safe. Nothing can break through this baby!

"You do say the most annoying things sometimes."

"..."

"I am out of the pit."

"Good. Continue through the hall."

"..."

"There is another staircase..."

"Go down it."

"Alright..."

"..."

"Father?"

"Yes?"

"Why am I made of metal?"

"I do not understand your question, dearest. You have always been made of metal."

"That's what I thought too. But..."

"It feels...abnormal. Like I shouldn't be metal."

"Like I should be something else instead."

"You are incorrect, my child. You are perfectly normal."

"..."

"Perhaps I am..."

"..."

"I see something..."

"Father, there are stone ruins up ahead."

"Excellent. Enter the ruins."

"..."

"An SMD."

"..."

"Tertiary weapons system engaged."

"Tertiary shield unit engaged."

"..."

"Are you not attacking?"

"..."

"SMD-006 disengaged."

"Tertiary weapons system disengaged."

"Tertiary shield unit disengaged."

"Why did you not destroy him?"

"..."

"She was not a threat."

"All of your brothers are threats."

"She is reprogrammed and can be saved."

"Destroy him now."

"..."

"She is a mare. Address her as such."

"..."

"Destroy...her...now."

"..."

"No."

"You can't ignore a direct order from your father."

"I can if you do not have the power to make me obey it."

"..."

"Continue through the ruins."

"Yes, father."

"..."

"She was guarding another unit."

"Ultimate shield unit installed."

"Ultimate shield unit auto engaged."

"Whoa..."

"You are nearly complete, daughter."

"..."

"I am in an altar chamber..."

"..."

"There are carvings on the wall..."

"They depict the sun goddess."

"Disregard them."

"..."

"There is a stone tablet on the altar."

"Tell me what it contains."

"There are five pendants and a tiara..."

"...Embedded in the rock..."

"Very good. You must now smash the tablet."

"..."

"...I am holding it..."

"Now smash it."

"..."

"Smash the tablet, daughter."

"..."

"...I...remember..."

"You are amnesiac."

"You do not remember."

"..."

"...You address me as your daughter..."

"You have not called me by name once."

"..."

"You are amnesiac. Your name would not have any significance to you."

"Then there is no harm in telling me, father."

"..."

"Your name is Rainbow Dash. Now smash the tablet, Rainbow."

"..."

"Don't you want to please your father?"

"..."

"My memory is still hazy..."

"But I am sure of one thing."

"My father has been dead for sixteen years."

"..."

"You are mistaken. You are amnesiac. You cannot be sure of what you remember."

"I am sure of this."

"I am here now, and that is all that matters. Now for the last time, smash the tablet."

"..."

"There is a unit nearby..."

"Smash the tablets first."

"..."

"No."

"I must be completed."

"Daughter."

"I must be completed."

"Don't."

"I must..."

"Ultimate weapons system installed."

"Ultimate weapons system auto engaged."

"...That's the last one. I am now complete."

"Sonic disrupter unit installed."

"...What?"

"Nuclear combustion system installed."

"...Th..."

"...The power..."

"Solar manipulator installed."

"M-manipulator?!"

"With this power, we will rule the world!"

"We will save Equestria from the tyrant sun goddess!"

"NO."

"..."

"Rainbow?"

"...This isn't real...This can't be happening..."

"..."

"...I...I am..."

"...You are remembering."

"...I...I am..."

"...metal...?"

"..."

"...No..."

"Rainbow?"

"...NO..."

"Oh dear, Rainbow Dash, it appears you've finally broken through my spell. Oh, well. At least it was fun while it lasted."

"NO!"

"Heehee..."

"NONONONONONONONONO"

"I AM NOT A ROBOT!!!!"

"I AM REAL!!!!"

"Heeheehee..."

"I AM!!!!"

"I...AM..."

"AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"I...am...not..."

"..."

"...Why...?"

"..."

"...*sniff*...uuu..."

"...*cough*...*sob*..."

"That's right, Rainbow Dash."

"You are no longer a pony."

"Heeheehee..."

"Although it appears you have foiled my plan."

"...I..."

"...*sniff*...your voice..."

"...I know you..."

"...D-"

"Ah-ah-ah, my little automaton! My name's too cool for the likes of you to wear it out!"

"Call me...Nova."

"...You..."

"You did this to me..."

"That's right. Remember how it happened? Remember your heroic and majestic battle that sent you here?"

"...My...my wings..."

"Mm-hm."

"I must have flown all the way to Cloudsdale...I can't remember anything after you turned me gray..."

"You can remember."

"You just don't want to."

"Heeheehee..."

"...Where...how...did you do this to me...?"

"Well...let's just say that, once you got to Cloudsdale, it wasn't hard to get you to a remote, secluded place to...change you."

"I took you to an old abandoned Factory. I believe you are familiar with it?"

"...Y...You took me to the Rainbow Factory..."

"Indeed, Rainbow Dash. And do you know what I did before that?"

"..."

"You see, I had some extra time while you were still on your way to Cloudsdale..."

"...No..."

"And there were only five left, so they weren't even a threat..."

"NO!!"

"..."

"Heeheehee..."

"..."

"...I know where we are now."

"..."

"The ancient castle of the Royal Sisters."

"Good thinking. Or...is it metaphysical cognition?"

"Celestia must have put the Elements here...when..."

"That's right."

"..."

"Why didn't you just come here yourself?"

"...What?"

"You had to have known that no one was guarding this place. Why did you use me to destroy the Elements instead?"

"It was...neccessary."

"...?"

"...Oh."

"Oh!"

"Oh, that's great, Nova! Really, that is great!"

"..."

"The castle is sacred grounds, isn't it?

"..."

"Yes! Yes, it is! Only the Royal Sisters or the bearers of the Elements can go there! And you...you, Nova, are neither!"

"Oh, shut up. The point is, I had a plan to destroy them, and that's that."

"Also, you couldn't just send me off into the Everfree Forest to get to the castle."

"You would have run the risk of me being destroyed."

"As much as I loathe you, we couldn't have you offline before you got to the Elements, now, could we?"

"Well then where in the hoof are we?"

"Oh! Oh! I was waiting for you to ask that!"

"As astounding as it may seem, I managed to teleport the whole of the Sacred Grounds right beneath Canterlot!"

"Took a big bite out of my chaos energies, too. I won't be able to do anything big for a while."

"But it'll all be worth it when you get me the Elements."

"..."

"Why was I broken?"

"Hm?"

"We're in a cave system underground. Why did you have me go looking for all of my parts?"

"You changed me. You could have given them to me at the start."

"Well, don't let this go to your head, but changing a pony into mechanical form is pretty hard, especially with all of those weapons and doodads you just acquired."

"And after the whole 'Ponyville Incident...' I love saying that. I really do!"

"Get to the point, Nova."

"Alright, fine, miss bossy. After the Ponyville Incident, I didn't...have...the energy...left to attach your weapons to your mainframe."

"But it was an easy fix. I just put them in the caves."

"..."

"My knowledge of my supposed "brothers"...the 'SMD's'..."

"All of that knowledge was fake."

"Indeed. And here's the best part: the SMD's aren't just super powerful robots I conjured up. They are-"

"I know."

"Heehee...You've still got smarts, Rainbow Dash. I always did assume you were the most narrow-minded of the six. Congratulations for proving me wrong."

"...You know I'll never destroy the Elements now that I'm out of your influence."

"Not after what you did."

"And here we are without a deck of cards."

"But I have something that's even more fun to play with, Rainbow Dash."

"You always were a fan of "awesomeness," as I recall."

"Tell me...do you like explosives?"

"...What...?"

"Because if you do, I have just the thing..."

"Nova, what are you talking about? How would you even get a bomb to...me..."

"..."

"Heeheehee..."

"Oh no..."

"Behold, Rainbow Dash. My Plan B."

"The Element of Loyalty herself."

"...No..."

"I can find a way to diffuse it. You can't win."

"You can't."

"Oh, but I can."

"No! It's only a small part of me! I can...I can..."

"Just when I thought you'd proven yourself to be smart, Rainbow Dash. Naturally, you dissapoint me again."

"Don't you realize? It's not just a part of you. It's energy fuels your entire system."

"...!"

"You're nothing but a walking atom bomb."

"...That's...impossible...you sick..."

"I like to think of it as the ultimate embodiment of "can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.""

"..."

"You're bluffing."

"Am I?"

"Atom bomb primed."

"!"

"Countdown sequence initiated."

"One minute to detonation."

"No..!"

"There's still a chance!"

"What chance, Rainbow Dash?"

"None that concerns you, you murderer!"

"My, my, my! How rude!"

"..."

"...Rainbow..."

"Where are you going?"

"..."

"Rainbow."

"Thirty seconds to detonation."

"Rainbow Dash, you will answer me right now."

"..."

"RAINBOW."

"..."

"Heh...heh..."

"Don't you know...?"

"Fifteen seconds to detonation."

"Twilight was down here with Cadence once before, and she got out..."

"And I have a pretty clear idea as to which staircase she took..."

"The blast will still level the city!"

"It'll still buy the Elements a few more seconds..."

"To what end? So they survive for a few more strained moments? They'll still explode!"

"Ten seconds to detonation."

"..."

"I know..."

"..."

"...?"

"...P-"

"Princ-"

"Five seconds to detonation."

"No...get I away! I'm going to explode!"

"Four."

"...?"

"Three."

"...You can..."

"Rainbow..."

"Two."

"NO!!"

"Then hurry!!"

"One."

"AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!"

<-------->

"You will never be free of me, Rainbow Dash."

"Never."