//------------------------------// // III. // Story: Equus Wars-Episode I: Knights of Harmony // by Metal-Max1991 //------------------------------// Canterlot Royal Laboratories. 0315 hrs. "Fascinating!" Dr. Lyra exclaimed, her voice brimming with unbridled joy. The royal laboratory hummed with the whir of instruments and machines as she gazed upon the alien specimens before her. "Simply astounding," she continued, pacing around the examination table where the armored bodies lay. Even as the days passed into a full week, Lyra's eyes still sparkled with childlike wonder as she ran a delicate finger along the edge of one trooper's armor. "The biological and technological implications are staggering. There’s enough here for weeks, months of discovery.” Her short reverie was shattered by a loud crash from across the lab. Whirling around, Lyra watched in horror as Beaker, one of her colleagues, fumbled with a strange metallic cylinder, accidentally activating some sort of energy blade that sliced clean through his arm. "Beaker, no!" Lyra cried, rushing to his aid as the poor stallion clutched the cauterized stump, wailing in sheer agony. "Somepony, call the medical team! We have an emergency!" Dr. Bunsen Burner and one of the young interns answered the cries of help, the intern immediately setting to triage the wound and numb Beaker’s pain. However, Bunsen’s intrigue lay with the device his foolish colleague had fiddled with. While the intern and Lyra tended to Beaker, Bunsen knelt down and carefully grabbed the alien cylinder by the middle, his eyes gleaming with a hunger for knowledge. As he traced his fingers along the device, he pressed a button, which sprang to life a searing green energy beam with a hiss and thrum. Bunsen’s lips curled into a grin, enthralled by the alien technology. The doors to the lab hissed open, catching the attention of all as Princess Celestia strolled in, with Princess Luna following close behind. The small infant, now known as Loki, was cradled in her arms sleeping peacefully. “By Faust, what happened here?” Celestia inquired, her tone like that of a worried mother as Lyra and her intern got Beaker back to his feet. “Apologies, your majesties,” Lyra began, bowing as best she could while steadying her injured colleague. All the scientists in the room followed suit in the royal sister’s presence. “It would seem our friend Beaker triggered some kind of energy blade,” Bunsen began, the joy of discovery in his voice overriding any empathy for Beaker’s condition, who was being escorted out of the room to awaiting medical staff. He pressed the button, causing the blade to disappear with a hiss. “Furthermore, our analysis of these creatures has revealed some intriguing results.” Luna’s brow furrowed with interest. “Oh? Do tell, Dr. Heartstrings.” Lyra’s expression brightened, barely able to contain her joy that her moment to shine as the authority in extraterrestrial life was coming true at last. “Yes, your Majesties,” she beamed, running towards a large console at the other end of the room, motioning for them to follow. She excitedly began typing on the keyboard, bringing up three separate files on the monitor as the Royal Sisters made their way over. “Alright,” Lyra started, pointing to the middlemost file titled ‘Equestrian Anatomy.’ The image displayed was the full body anatomy of a Tellurian stallion. “First, let us consider their anatomy. As you see here this is the baseline anatomy for all Equestrians, regardless if they’re Tellurian, Re’em, or Pegasi.” With a few more keystrokes, Lyra shifted the screen to show off the second file, dubbed ‘Unknown Female,’ before continuing her lecture. “Now this is the scan of the female creature that crashed into the gardens.” She pointed to the chest as she elaborated. “Note how everything is compared to the first chart. Heart, lungs, stomach; it’s all arranged in the same way as ours is.” Both Celestia and Luna stared intently, mouths agape as they were transfixed by this discovery. “However,” Lyra continued, carefully typing in more commands to the computer as the images were enhanced, showing off the heads of both charts. “There are some significant differences as you can see with their skull shapes.” She drew attention to the Tellurian head first. “Notice how our skulls are more elongated, with the eyes positioned on the sides of the head and the ears resting at the top. Their skulls, on the other hand, are more rounded and flattened, with the eyes positioned at the front and the ears lower on the head - almost reminiscent of a primate.” Lyra further enhanced the images, highlighting the dental structures. “Now look at the teeth. Equinoid teeth are flat, and suited for a herbivorous diet. The alien’s teeth meanwhile indicate an omnivorous diet, note the canines and carnassials.” As Lyra continued her enriching lecture, Luna turned her attention to the now-deceased female. She trepidatiously approached it, a mournful sigh escaping her lips. “How did she die?” She inquired, gently caressing Loki’s sleeping cheek. “Oh, yes,” Lyra replied, sorrow in her voice. “Such a tragedy.” She entered a new series of commands into the computer, the monitor zooming in on the female’s abdomen, highlighting the burn marks. “It seems that some strange form of projectile struck her here and here. These projectiles seared the flesh as they entered and exited.” “What of the males your team removed from the crash site?” Celestia interrupted. “That’s the interesting part,” Bunsen Burner interjected, typing his commands into another monitor opposite Lyra’s. “As we were conducting the autopsies, we did some preliminary blood work as well and-” With a final keystroke, several electropherograms were displayed. He pointed out the first two, dubbed ‘Unknown Male 1’ and ‘Unknown Male 2.’ “Now without getting too technical about it, we discovered that these males had exact matching DNA.” He beamed, typing in the necessary commands to display more charts. “And with every test, the DNA of all the males has been an exact match, down to the chromosome. This could only mean they’re clones.” The Royal Sisters stared at the charts, perplexed yet entranced at the results. “Clones?” They gasped in unison. “I know,” Lyra exclaimed, bouncing up and down like a school filly as the excitement surged. She typed more commands into the monitor, highlighting the clone's cellular structure. “There’s more though. Take a look at these.” Luna and Celestia stared at the monitor, their faces equally perplexed at the latest find. The screen displayed a complex web-like network of cells, which seemed to pulse with some sort of energy. “What are these exactly?” Luna pondered, turning to Lyra. “I’m not sure,” Lyra answered, her tone uncertain but no less thrilled. “My best guess leads me to believe that they’re a highly specialized type of organelle. And the strange thing is I think I’ve seen these before.” “What? How?” Celestia and Luna exclaimed in surprise unison. “Well,” Lyra replied with more uncertainty as she fidgeted with the keyboard. “I might be foggy on it, but I believe these may be in life across the planet. I’d have to double, even triple-check my biology on that but I will get the answer.” As Lyra combed through the data repositories on life across Equus, Bunsen directed the royal sisters' attention to his screen, showing the clone’s bloodwork. “From what we gather these organelles are present in all these clones, at a count of twenty-five hundred per cell,” he began as he brought up another file marked ‘Unknown Female’. “And they’re present within the female as well, but hers are double the count per cell. This also likely means-” “That Loki also has them.” Luna interrupted, her new maternal instinct kicking into worry and confusion as she gazed at the sleeping Loki. “Can you test him to be sure?” “Yes, Your Majesty,” Bunsen hastily replied, fumbling for a sterile wipe and a lancet. “If you could just hold him still and allow me to draw a small bit from his foot.” Luna nodded, gently unwrapping the bundle enough to expose Loki’s tiny foot as Bunsen gently swabbed it with a sterile wipe. Loki soon stirred awake, his young emerald eyes fluttering open. Startled by the unfamiliar, bespectacled face looming over him, he mewled as Luna attempted her newfound motherly reassurances to keep him placated enough for Bunsen to carefully insert the lancet. As the needle pierced into his tender skin and Bunsen squeezed his foot to collect the sample, he let out a shrill cry and extended his hand. A mysterious force pushed Bunsen away, tossing him clear across the room and into the far wall with a thud. Bunsen gasped in pain as he dropped to the floor, catching his breath. “Remarkable,” Bunsen uttered as he staggered to his feet, eyes widened in awe and shock. Objects in the room were being tossed around, floating in the air and causing pandemonium as Lyra, Celestia, and Luna ducked, bobbed, and weaved, trying to abate Loki’s tantrum. Bunsen’s lips pursed into a smile, ducking through the flying beakers and thrown lab instruments as he hurried to his workstation. “I’ve never seen such incredible power before,” he mused as he ran the test. The chaos soon died down, objects clanged, crashed, and broke on the lab floor as Luna rocked Loki gently. “Shh, it’s ok baby, you’re safe now,” she whispered, tenderly kissing his strange tattoo. All ears in the room perked up as the computer signaled the test’s completion. Bunsen adjusted his specs as he scanned the new information, jaw slack in shock. “Well by Faust herself,” he uttered. “It seems your little Loki’s counts are even higher than hers. Higher than even the clone’s organelle counts.” Luna and Celestia stared at the information with a mix of intrigue and confusion. “The more we dig, the fewer answers we’re getting,” Luna spoke, shifting gaze between the bodies, the charts, and Loki, who finally drifted back into sleep. Her ears perked as an idea struck her mind like lightning strikes sand. “Where’s that machine they pulled from the wreck?” “It’s across the lab,” Lyra answered, her enthusiasm rising at the mere thought of knowledge the mystery machine could possess. “I believe Dr. Time Turner is working on restoring it with Dr. Sparkle, well assuming she’s not investigating the other artifacts.” “Well sister,” Celestia said, wrapping an arm over Luna’s shoulder. “Let us see if they have any answers for us.” Luna nodded in reply as the trio headed out the door, hoping and praying that these mysteries would be solved. ************ Twilight paced furiously around her lab office, muttering and cursing under her breath as she glanced back at her desk, gazing at one of the cubic devices she and her team had recovered from the alien wreckage. She glared intensely, a fire burning in her eyes, the left one starting to twitch. “Look at it,” she said, a hint of frustration in her voice. “It's mocking me.” “You’ve been obsessing over that thing for the last week, Twilight,” a familiar voice chimed from the doorway. “I don’t think it’ll do anything. Come have some dinner?” Twilight snapped her attention to the small purple dragon looming in the entryway, his face encased with concern. “Not now Spike,” Twilight replied, audibly frustrated. “I’m almost sure I’m at a breakthrough on this thing.” She stared intensely at the cube as she grabbed her desk lamp and shone its light on the cube. “Alright Mr. Cube, you’ve proven to be resistant to every possible technique I’ve used so far. But no more Miss Nice Mare! You’ll spill your secrets to me or I’ll send you on a one-way trip through my particle accelerator—now talk!” “Twilight, it’s an inanimate object,” Spike pointed out. “Besides, wouldn’t a particle accelerator completely atomize the thing?” “That’s ok, Spike,” Twilight replied, a twisted smile on her face. “I’ve got more just like him. After they see their friend turned into subatomic nothingness, they’ll talk!” She turned her gaze to the bookshelf that contained the rest of the alien cubes and shook her fist at them. “Sooner or later one of you will spill your guts to me!” “But what if they’re some form of book and you’re destroying probably irreplaceable knowledge?” Spike asked, rubbing his face with both hands as he felt a headache starting to form from Twilight’s madness. Twilight cackled madly, falling back into her chair. Slowly her laughter died down as she digested Spike’s thought. “I...I think I need to...to get my mind off these..things.” She replied, her voice shaken. “I’ll...I’ll go see how Time Turner is coming along with the machine. Yeah...that’ll help.” She rose from her chair and made her way to her office door. “Spike. Why don’t you take the rest of the day off?” “Sure, I’ll see you back at the house then?” Spike asked, wrapping Twilight in a gentle embrace. “Don’t stay too long or dinner will get cold.” “Ok, sure, sure,” Twilight replied, patting his back as she exited her office and made her way to the main lab floor. As the doors slid open, she could see Time Turner fiddling with a mass of jumper cables, attaching them one by one to the strange machine they retrieved. “Everything alright here, Dr. Turner?” “We’ll soon find out won’t we?” Timer Turner answered, clamping the final cable into place. He stepped off the platform, crossing the room to reach a large electrical switch box. “I’ve always wanted to say this,” he said in joy, wrapping his hand around the lever. “I command the heavens, give my creature life!” With a quick jerk, Time Turner threw the switch. Sparks and currents of electricity arced, cracked, and danced as the energy surged into the machine, causing many to stand back in fear. He reset the switch, shutting down the power as he trepidatiously approached the machine, eager for any sign of progress. The machine's fingers twitched and the “eyes” began to flicker with light. Time Turner smiled as the alien device appeared to be rebooting. “Yes! Yes!” He exclaimed. “It’s working!” The droid's eyes flashed on, reactivating with a jolt. As it tore itself free from the mass of cables, with a swift motion it grasped Time Turner by the neck, lifting him off the ground. The droid let out a series of garbled electronic noises as if attempting to communicate while the other scientists hurriedly fled the lab in a panic at the sight. “What is the meaning of this?!” Celestia exclaimed, rushing over with Luna as Time Turner gasped for air, weakly kicking his feet against the metallic chassis. The droid turned its gaze to the two princesses, distorted sounds continuing to emulate from its voice box. It reached for its neck, attempting to adjust something as the noises soon became clearer. “Where am I?” It asked, its voice heavily modulated but deep. “What planet is this?” Time Turner attempted to answer, choking out air as he clawed and kicked at the droid, desperate for air. The droid, turning his attention to the anguished stallion in its grasp, lowered him to the ground and lessened his grip on Time Turner’s windpipe, allowing him to inhale gulps of air before properly responding. “Equus,” he gasped out in between breaths and a coughing fit. “You’re on Equus.” The droid stared, tilting its head as if confused. Its eyes rapidly began to flash and after a minute or so, the flashes stopped. “Does not compute,” it replied, scanning its surroundings. “Equus does not appear on any Republic or Separatist Star charts. Curious.” Before it could ask again, the small coos of little Loki drew its attention. The droid focused its gaze on the infant, and something seemed to shift in its demeanor as it approached the apprehensive Luna. “The child is unharmed?” it stated, almost with a sense of relief. “Oh thank the Maker you’re ok.” Luna raised a brow in surprise, instinctively tightening her grip on Loki. “Yes, the child is unharmed,” she replied cautiously. “Who are you, and how do you know this child?” The droid paused for a moment, as if processing the questions. “I am Arbee-ExSeven, BX series Commando droid and combat medic for 77th Clone Battalion,” it responded. “My Jedi master, Belle’Sara and I were fleeing with the child when…” Arbee trailed off, an almost pensive quality in its voice. “Please, where is Belle’Sara? I must find her.” Arbee’s response created an immediate unease in the room. Celestia and Luna exchanged a concerned glance, unsure how the droid would take the news. Celestia sighed, taking calming breaths before resting her hand on Arbee’s chassis. “I’m afraid we have grave news,” Celestia said solemnly, a tear running down her alabaster cheek. “Your master, this Belle’Sara, didn’t survive her injuries. Our medics did all they could to save her, but it wasn’t enough.” Arbee’s body language shifted, his posture slumping slightly. “Then…she is one with the Force,” he said, a hint of sadness in his modulated voice. “I had hoped..” He trailed off, letting out a mechanical sigh. Lyra tentatively approached Arbee, patting where she guessed his shoulder would be. “I…I’m sorry for your loss,” she said, her voice soft and empathetic. “If I may ask, how did you, this Belle’Sara, and Loki end up here?” Arbee turned to face Lyra, his optical sensors dimming slightly as he stood to attention as he recalled the events, a large three dimensional projection enemated from his flashing eyes. Lyra and the others present stood transfixed in awe as the projection showed Belle’Sara cradling the young Loki in her arms. Her expression was one of warmth and tenderness as she passed the child off into Arbee’s arms. Without warning, Belle’Sara’s brow furrowed, a pained expression crossing her features. As Arbee tended to her, a chilling, raspy voice called out from the background. “Execute Order 66,” it demanded. A clone complied, raising his weapon to the back of Belle’Sara’s head. Before he could pull the trigger, Arbee got a shot off faster, nailing the trooper square in the chest. “Hurry Arbee,” Belle’Sara yelled, igniting her energy blade as she deflected the strange projectiles. “We have to get to the bridge, make contact with the temple and warn them!” The projection continued, showing scenes of Belle’Sara and Arbee cutting down clone after clone as they worked their way up. The projection shifted to Belle’Sara engaged in a fierce duel with the treacherous clones as they breached the doorway, with the last clone firing two shots into her. Ashe advanced, she quickly dealt the fatal blows. The scene concluded with Arbee gently placing her and Loki inside the escape pod and launching it. The projection faded, leaving the room in somber silence. Celestia and Luna exchanged a weighty look, the gravity of the situation hitting them all like a ton of bricks. “They were our friends,” Arbee broke the silence, anger in his voice. “We served alongside them, mourned our losses, took joy in victory, and they just turned and betrayed us.” He slammed his fist into a nearby shelf, breaking it in half. Luna approached him, placing a comforting hand on his cold chassis. “Arbee,” she began softly, her voice tinged with sorrow. “If there’s anything we can do to help, please just-” “I have only two requests.” Arbee interrupted, staring her down. Luna nodded in reply, motioning for him to continue. “First,” he began. “I wish to perform my master’s burial rites as dictated by her people’s customs.” He paused, observing the sleeping Loki tucked in Luna’s arms. “Second, I wish to continue my primary duty as the youngling’s caretaker under your supervision.” Luna contemplated Arbee’s request, turning to Celestia for sisterly support. Celestia, though her body language read unease with the thought of what was recently confirmed to be a weapon of war caring for a small infant, gave Luna a nod of approval. “Very well, Arbee-ExSeven,” Luna responded, meeting Arbee’s mechanical gaze. “I, Princess Luna Artume, Diarch of Equestria, do hereby dub thee Royal Guardian and Nanny to Prince Loki Starfallen.” Arbee inclined his head in a slight bow. “By your command, Mistress Luna.” The room fell silent, the weight of the situation bearing down on all present. Celestia stepped forward, placing a gentle hoof on Arbee's chassis. "We will honor your master's memory, Arbee," she said solemnly. "And we will do everything in our power to protect young Loki, as well as you, in these uncertain times." Arbee's optical sensors flickered, a hint of gratitude in his modulated voice. "Thank you, Princess Celestia. I will serve the youngling and your realm with unwavering dedication." With a renewed sense of purpose, Arbee turned his attention to the sleeping Loki, his circuits humming with a newfound resolve to see the child safely through the trials that lay ahead.