+————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————+
|                                                                    |
|    Looking for the archived update with all the spelling errors,   |
|    lore discussions, shitposts, and images of cute cartoon         |
|    horses? Follow this link:                                       |
|                                                                    |
|    https://archive.moe/mlp/thread/24062414/#24067216               |
|                                                                    |
+————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————+
 
>You’re Anon.
>Currently, you’re in shock.
>And who wouldn’t, after watching Twi and Trixie kicking THAT much ass?
>Also the fact that you’re bleeding out of your leg doesn’t seem to help much.
>Neither does Twi’s aggressive driving.
>You almost bang your head against the window as the truck lurches upward.
>She does realize that she can’t just tank through rocks, right?
>This has got to be doing numbers on her suspension.
>She ought to stop and let the springs cool down befor—
>Another lurch.
“OW!”
>You can *feel* the bruise spreading where your ribs are broken.
>Being pierced to death by rainbow beams is one thing.
>But dying from a car crash?
>Twi howls like a maniac.
>When did it all go so wrong?
 
>”WATCH OUT FOR THE— DITCH!”
>Ignoring Trixie’s suggestion, Twi floors it.
>The large gas guzzler plunges downward, but doesn’t crash.
>The RPM rises sharply as Twi shifts down a few gears and rockets up the incline.
>Twi grins.
>Streaks of blood are still caked around the bandage over her neck.
>That maniac.
“We could’ve taken the paved path to the lab, Twi”
>”Too risky,” she shouts back. “We can’t afford to get stuck in traffic right now. You’re bleeding.”
“That’s what ambulances are for,” you groan.
>After the... horse magic shenanigans at the school, the rainbow burst finally stopped long enough for you three to haul ass to the parking lot.
>Twi insisted that they had to get to the lab ASAP, to build a “defuser” or something.
>Against your better judgment, you chose to tag along.
>Maybe it was just a feeble attempt by your loins to be with Twilight.
>Or maybe it was the inner weeaboo in you that wanted to see this real life DBZ-tier shenanigans play out to the end.
>Whatever the reason may be, it might be the death of you.
>Yet another adventure with a science-obsessed Twi, battling incalculably powerful entites.  
>You sigh.
>You only live once, right?
 
 
- - - - - -
 
 
>”TRIXIE HAD NO IDEA MISS SPARKLE HAD SUCH—“
>The truck fishtails into a power slide.
>”—SKILLS IN OFFROADING.”
>Twi shrugs.
>”You learn to take shortcuts when your livelyhood is so far away. Come on.”
>Trixie and her both hop out.
>Twi opens your side of the door from outside.
>”Upsie-daisie, math whiz. I need you.”
>She pulls your arms over her shoulders, and gently leans you forward until you awkwardly collapse on top her.
>She grunts at the sudden weight.
“Sorry. I-I’ve... lost some blood.”
>”I know,” she pats you on the back.
>You feel her breath close by your ear.
>“It’s time for me to carry you.”
>Is it just hemorrhagic shock or are you actually blushing?
 
>Trixie blazes the trail towards an abandoned shipping container, swatting branches away for the rest of you.
>Twilight is carrying you on her back rather handily.
>She doesn’t seem to be too tired.
“I thought you were spent after you... saved me?”
>She’s silent.
“I, uh, thanks for that, by the way.”
>”The human body works just like a rechargeable battery,” she blurts out.
“What?”
>”N-nothing.”
“Sperg.”
>”I could make you walk the rest of the way, you know.”
 
>Trixie turns around and gestures at you.
>Both hands raised in a—
>Oh, you clever, wicked autist.
>’DO IT,’ she mouths.
 
“Twi?”
>”Yeah?”
>You put both hands on her shoulders and squeeze gently.
>She mews quietly in delight.
“Don’t be mad at me, Twi, but I’ve got to do this. For science.”
>”Hmm?”
>Here we go.
>You squeeze her thighs with your feet.
“Giddy up.”
 
>You limp the rest of the way down the path.
 
 
- - - - - -
 
 
>Trixie unchains the doors into the abandoned, half-buried shipping container.
>You notice some unfamiliar markings and hidden wires about.
>Twi must’ve refurbished this place ever since you “broke up.”
>Was it actually a breakup? Can extra-close friends break up like couples do?
>You set these thoughts aside as the door hinges outward, bathing you with cold air.
>And there it is...
>...an old couch and a TV with some dials missing.
“It’s uh, a lot less furnished than I remember, Twi.”
>”I got busy with remodeling to keep my mind off of— things.”
>She glances at you before looking away.
>Trixie interjects.
>”TAKE A SEAT ANONYMOUS, YOU’RE IN FOR A SURPRISE.”
>Uh, surprise?
 
>You plop yourself on the couch. Why not.
>It’s surprisingly springy and not as dirty as you thought it’d be.
>Twilight walks up to the TV and cranks something to the right.
>She then turns to face you.
>The container’s doors shut close, leaving everything in complete darkness.
>Then, you feel the floor sinking.
>It sounds like the chains they use to drive rollercoasters upward.
>Twi’s face illuminates as a beam of light shoots up from below.
>You turn your head to the source of the light.
>The gap widens, then—
>You gasp.
“Holy shit, Twilight Sparkle.”
 
 
- - - - - -
 
 
>You are sitting in a container-sized elevator, furnished with a couch and a TV.
>Twi’s lab has grown considerably since last you’ve been here.
>In her typical fashion, the entire floor was spotless.
>Shelves bristling with components.
>Windowed-off section housing an automated assembly line.
>The walls are lined with arrays of whirling tape drives.
>Is that—
>Is that a fucking Stargate?
“Twi, you magnificent genius.”
>Your eyes well up with tears.
>It takes all your strength not to kneel and kiss this hallowed ground.
>Her “main desk” was immediately identifiable by its size and the “organized chaos.”
>Schematics weighed down by a coffee mug.
>Magnifying lamp swung aside haphazardly.
>Oscilloscopes, power supply, some metering thing or other.
>And a beige box with screen attached on it.
>It looks like a computer.
“It looks like a computer.”
>”Yes. It’s a computer. Now hold still.”
>You scream as Twi jabs you with a syringe.
 
>You rub your neck.
>It stings like hell.
“What the hell was THAT for??”
>”3 mL of cure-all. From T-17.”
>You feel flushed and dizzy.
>Something cracks in your side.
>You poke at it, right where the rib was broken along with a massive bruise.
>It doesn’t hurt anymore.
>The solid bone fragment that probably caused some serious internal bleeding has decidedly reattached itself.
>The bruise is gone, too.
>Your thigh has stopped bleeding, as well.  
“Whoa.”
>”Yeah, I know. Traded her a box of bonbons for a batch of that stuff. Aaand it’s a... mild carcinogen, apparently.”    
“The bonbons?”
>”No, the cure-all. About as much as an unfiltered cigarette.”
>Eh.
>You’ve smoked worse with Tree Hugger.
 
 
- - - - - -
 
 
>Twi begins to pull out various parts and begins assembling something.
>”You know, for a science savant yourself you aren’t too big on technology.”
>You really weren’t.
>But you had taught yourself a thing or two to keep busy.
>The “break-up” had been an odd catalyst of sorts. Driving you to achieve something. Anything.
“Yeah well, I’ve began to dabble in it to keep my mind off of— things.”
>Things.
>Really?
>Nice going.
>She notices the pause and gives you a concerned look.
>Lock eyes from across the lab.  
>You open and close your mouth, but only spaghetti comes out.
>Twilight does the same, then puts on a sad smile.
>She probably knows you missed her terribly.
>You stare at each other for what feels like an eternity.
 
>Trixie takes it upon herself to stem the flow of spaghetti by typing loudly on the computer.
>She’s such a bro.
>”I hope you don’t screw like you type, babe~” says Twilight.
>Trixie gives her the bedroom eyes.
>Twi smiles at you smugly.
>These girls.
 
>”IT HAS A KILLER REFRESH RATE. SEE, ANONYMOUS?”
>You watch in awe as Trixie hacks the Gibson in ten seconds flat.
>Jesus. Did autism enhance one’s hacking abilities as well?  
>Twilight grins.
>”Yep, P6 chip. Triple the speed of the Pentium.”
>Wait, you know a little about the P6.
>You stammer a little, trying to show off some of the computer knowledge you’ve accumulated.
“Y-yeah it’s not just the chip. It has a PCI bus.”
>Twilight looks at you, clearly impressed.
“B-but you knew that.”
>She takes one step towards you.
>Her eyes are half-closed and dreamy.
>Intellectual fetishism is a thing, right?
>”Indeed. RISC architecture is going to change everything.”
>You notice a seductive emphasis on the word ‘RISC.’
>You begin sweating.
>This is it.
>Say something meaningful for once in your life.
>Don’t screw this up.
“Y-yeah. RISC is good.”
 
>Fuck.
 
 
- - - - - -
 
 
>You’re Anon.
>You’re currently having a tea with someone who vaguely looks like Han Solo.
>[Do Anons dream of eccentric Twilights?]
>What?
 
>Trixie taps your shoulder gently, jolting you awake.
“Wh-where am I?”
>”MISS SPARKLE’S LAB. SHE IS ALMOST FINISHED”
>Out of the corner of your eye, you notice Twilight huddled over her latest creation.
>She’s wearing something that looks like a pair of headsets with propellers on the cups.
>In her hand is what can only be described as “motorized chopsticks.”
>”—yes, yes, the sealant should hold just long enough for—“
>You smile as your heart flutters.
>That lovable dork.
>Trixie coughs for your attention, and hands you an ugly piece of blue plastic.
>It’s your cell phone.
“Where— How—“
>”TRIXIE RESCUED ONE OF THE TEACHERS, WHO THEN DROPPED THIS WHILE RUNNING AWAY.”
“Running away? From you?”
>Trixie scratches her head apologetically.
>”GLOWY-EYED AUTIST WITH RAINBOW POWER FISTS SMASHING THROUGH DEBRIS TENDS TO HAVE THAT EFFECT.”
>She jokingly does the spooky hands thing.
>You laugh, but you also feel kind of bad.
>Someone ran away from her even while she was saving their life.
>That’s just cruel for an autist who’s had people more or less running away from her for her entire life.  
>She can be annoying at times, but she’s got a heart of gold.
>You hadn’t been all that amicable towards her through the years, but she’s been a real big help lately.
>Chemistry tutor, in lieu of Twilight.
>Liaison between you and Twi when things got really bad.
>And now, this.
>You owe her a big one.
>Multiple big ones.
 
>”NO MATTER. WHAT’S IMPORTANT IS THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE A PHONE CALL.”
>You frown.
“I don’t think 911 would help much in this situation, Trixie.”
>”No, she’s right,” interjects Twi. “There’s someone who can help us. Six someones, actually.”
“Wait, call the Human Six?”
>”Yes.”
>Oh.
 
 
- - - - - -
 
 
>”The defuser won’t do anything unless the avatar is basically on top of it. It’s not an intelligent being, but it can “sense” intents of creatures at a very basic level. It’ll defend itself or run if threatened.”
“So, we need someone to steer the horse, basically.”
>Twilight nods.
“That is just about the weirdest thing I’ve said all day.”
 
>”TRIXIE DOESN’T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU TWO LOVEBIRDS—“
>Twilight blushes.
“We’re not—”
>You’re interrupted by Trixie stomping her foot rather loudly.
>She points her finger at the television.
>It’s a live helicopter broadcast of the alicorn avatar.
 
| —confirmed reports of fatalities and property damage.
| Once again, there is a mandatory evacuation order on
| all residents in the following counties—
 
>You listen intently at the list of counties marked for mandatory evac.
>”Those are all in a 60-mile radius of our school,” Twilight observes.
“Is it moving in a circle? Why?”
>”MAXIMUM COVERAGE OF AN AREA,” Trixie notes.
>Twi mentioned that it was supposed to be anchored in one place.
>Then why was it moving now?
>Defend itself or run, she said.
>Fight or flight.
>Something clicks in your head.
“Twi, you said it would defend itself if threatened. Fight or flight”
>Twi nods.
“What if it translates to survival instinct? Wants to defend itself from dissipation. To live. Got desperate enough to expend its remaining energy to dislodge itself.”
>Her face goes pale.
“The rainbow power is its sustenance, so if it could move around and siphon some—“
>”Maximum coverage of an area..." she echoes Trixie.
 
 
- - - - - -
 
 
>It’s dark.
>Twilight flips the light switch.
>You wince as the armory begins to glow pale white.
>You wince again as you pinch yourself.
>This is not a dream.
>If that gun rack scene in The Matrix had futuristic laser-this and plasma-that, it wouldn’t be adequate to describe Twilight’s armory.
>There’s enough hardware in here to stage a planetary invasion.
>She growls.
>”The timetable has shortened considerably. We move in force. You’ve got 5 minutes. Gear up.”
 
>You spot a hollowed-out robot in the corner.  
>In silent awe, you climb in.
>It begins to power up automatically as it detects your presence.
 
| ALL SYSTEMS NOMINAL
| WELCOME, PILOT
 
>This is just like one of your mecha animes.  
 
 
 
- - - - - -
 
 
>You are Sunset.
>Someone named Anonymous had called you minutes prior, about the same event you’re watching anxiously on TV.
>The six of you had prepared for this contingency, even though you yourself didn’t believe it was even possible for that *thing* to return.
>But you stuck around.
>That’s what friends are for, right?
>Now, it’s time to test just how prepared you were for this.
>You send out a mass page to five contacts marked “EMERGENCY.”
 
| IT IS HERE GET TO STAGING POINT NOT A DRILL
 
>You emerge from your apartment wearing a somewhat tarnished crown.
>It’s adorned with a massive purple star-shaped gem.