Author's notes

Great to be back. Season 4 has made it's last mark and us bronies are now entering a state of hibernation. (Except for the upcoming Rainbow Rocks film coming this September. Go ahead, throw your money at Hasbro, it'll only encourage them… I'll be a smart person and wait until it airs on the HUB) You know, there's a legit company actually doing a major documentary on the fandom, and I'm proud. Full grown men squealing over cute little ponies are now becoming the norm these days. And rightly so, because Friendship is Magic is one heck of a show, an experience that will stick with me for the rest of my life; as well as everyone elses'.

I was watching the show before I knew there was a fandom. Just got bored one day while I was home alone and just flipped it over to the HUB… Fell in love with it.

In honor of this passing season, share what started you on the show. It'll be interesting, because I'll be disappointed if people are watching it just because it's a fad.

Author's notes:

captainawsum9999: Um… I think you did, but if I didn't, sorry. I've been updating months at a time and it's been messing me up. I've been derping a lot lately.

Stache38: Don't worry, all of your questions will be answered.

That-SONICxDASHIE-guy: Well to explain what happened. Rainbow Dash had the power within her to revive the princess. She was still in her super form when she was giving her little speech, and gave those powers to the body, reviving her.

Well, without further ado, let's continue.

---

Ponyville, Library

Tails awoke from his slumber and stretched his hands as a deep yawn escaped his lips. It was only four or five hours of sleep, but it was the first real rest he had since he went to the hospital. When Celestia awoke from unconsciousness, Sonic and the others parted ways to try to get some sleep. They did have small talk with the princess, but they didn't bring any serious issues up like Eggman. They did not want to discuss business while she was still seriously resting. The mares did part shortly afterwards, but Twilight refused to leave her side until she fully recovered.

It was still dark outside. The moon did provide light so that ponies wouldn't be walking in the streets blind, but everyone is already beginning to see the consequence. Flowers around houses are beginning to wither from the lack of sunlight, and it'll be only a matter of time before vegetation becomes impossible. It wasn't to say that they weren't prepared, though. Most had food stored and ready for hardship.

Whether ponies were inside their own homes or cautiously strolling outside, they were ever waiting for the sun to rise into its full glory. The news was quick to report of Celestia's recovery… It'll only be a matter of time before things return back to normal.

As Tails took in a deep yawn and began to make his way to the kitchen, he heard a knock on the door. A quick sprint later, the fox answered and saw Sonic standing before him. He didn't exactly look too prepped, but surely looked like he groomed just a little when he rested at Rarity's.

"Caught any sleep?" Sonic asked with a small grin.

"Just enough to call it decent," Tails yawned, stretching his arms up high, "How are the other's doing?"

"Sleeping like a log." Sonic chuckled, "I didn't hear a peep out of Rarity's room when I came out of there. They were glad to have their beds back."

The fox shook his head when he felt a sleep spell gently coat him. Even if he did slept, the moon light outside was telling him to go back to his couch and sleep the night away. It felt so unnatural not having the sun out at the appointed time.

"Too bad Twilight decided to stay at the hospital," Tails sighed, "She didn't look too good when I last saw her. Even if I tried to talk her into coming with me she wouldn't leave her side."

Sonic nodded in understanding, "She'll get some sleep when she comes back." He stretched his hands back, popping a muscles or two, "Things are going to be smooth from here on out."

"Yea," Tails cheered, "All we have to do is capture Eggman and-"

He stopped himself when a dreaded thought occurred to him.

"…Go home." Sonic finished.

They stood in awkward silence as the word echoed in their minds. A deep, sinking depression laid on their hearts as their own world appeared in their thoughts.

Tails quickly shook his head and spoke the next thing that came to his mind, "What about Shadow? What are you going to say to him when you next meet him?"

That question was all it took to knock Sonic out of his sulk.

"I have no idea," He answered, "He did save Ponyville from that machine, but… There's no way he can undo his sins here. So many lives were lost."

"Maybe this town will have a second opinion of him?" Tails hopefully suggested.

Sonic thought about it for just a second until shaking his head, "I've heard some of the families here that will never see their fathers again because of Shadow's rage… Do you think they'll ever forgive him?"

Tails stared at him with so much doubt. He didn't answer that question, his frown answered it for him.

"I didn't think so."

---

Canterlot

"O.K. I want four of my stallions to take the south position of the hospital! Make sure no one comes within yards of the building!"

Shining Armor has found himself rather busy since Celestia has been transported to the hospital. Just days ago, he was for sure he has failed as the captain of the Royal Guard, sworn to protect the Princesses and their subjects from harm. With he heard of her miraculous recovery, he pushed himself into overdrive to make sure nothing else happens to her. He was given a second chance, and he was not going to fail it.

He stood on a narrow bridge that connected two watch towers over the city, watching intensely below him as Royal Guards scrambled to patrol the surrounding area. There was a large gap between the hospital below and the patient subjects that awaited around it. His one and only order was to keep this hospital secure until the sun rises again, and he's going to make sure he follows it.

There were even rumors of foreign ambassadors visiting this very hospital to see if the princess recovers properly. He may not have seen any pony go through the front door since the lockdown, but that doesn't mean that they are not in the crowds.

As he gazed upon the scrambling guards below, he couldn't help but notice the missing heads since Shadow's attack. He remembered training some of those stallions, and some of those stallions would tell a bit of their lives to him and why they joined the Royal Guard. The higher ups would tell him to never grow attach to anyone in any branch of their army, but he believed that a captain should know his stallions. Some joined to prove their actual worth to society, while others are compassionate about this kingdom. He knew one stallion in particular that fell on hard times after school. Couldn't hold a job, couldn't provide for himself, and even had a run in with the law when he had a drunken violent outburst at a bar. When his girlfriend became pregnant, he realized that he had no choice but to try to go through training to join the forces. He wasn't exactly the best trainee, the colt was always one step behind the other. He was about to quit until Shining Armor bumped into him at the recruiting station, just before going out the door.

The captain remembered saying to him that if he wanted to succeed, he had to push beyond his comfort zone, beyond what he believed to be his limits. He didn't remember what exactly he said to him, but it was enough to motivate him to go back and face the training section all over again. When the young stallion took it again, he exceeded beyond what anybody expected of him… Even his instructors were impressed by his will to push forward.

When Shining Armor bumped into him again, the stallion, now a full member of the Royal Guard, told him that it wasn't just his words that motivated him. When his mare friend gave birth to a healthy boy, he realized that he was no longer fighting for himself; he was fighting for his family. He became a very respected member of the Royal Guard, some even looked to him as inspiration.

When he was sent to the jungles with a search team to find a missing Chaos Emerald, he will never be seen again.

Shining Armor felt a flare of hatred towards Shadow. His sister has every right to hate him, all of her friends do. If he ever acts up again, he will no doubt be there with his spear ready. He couldn't understand why Luna pitied him. So what if Shadow was tricked? Those guards didn't have to die, and something inside of him knew that Shadow understood that it was just slaughter.

He doesn't deserve to live. The captain never knew that he would hold that thought towards anybody, but that hedgehog deserves to die with the rest of the guards.

"Sir," He heard a deep voice respectfully call from behind him. The captain turned around and found and elite guard hovering right in front of him, "You've been out here since this morning. Allow me to take your shift."

He would protest, but his tired mind begged for him to take the offer and rest in his private quarters. Instead of taking a long walk down the towers and to the ground, he decided to simply teleport instead. With a bit of magic, he appeared from the top of the bridge to his assigned room in a secluded area near the leveled castle. Since the castle was destroyed, they had to improvise of finding a place to rest while on active duty. Some were assigned underground while others took rest at a furnished abandoned building. Shining Armor was lucky enough to catch an old abandoned house right where the crowds were. It wasn't the most convenient place to rest, just a couple of room that were newly furnished with only the very basic necessities, but he's not complaining… There was a bed, he was happy.

After a quick shower he was trotting his way towards the bed. He figured he would only get a couple house of sleep, but it's better than nothing. As he began to lay the covers back, he suddenly felt something strike against the side of his neck… Something tiny.

Before he could turn around, he fell to the floor; completely unconscious.

Quiet, metal clangs could be heard on the ceilings. A small red laser beam could be seen leaving the captain's neck.

"TARGET SEDATED. RETRIEVING SUBJECT."

Mechanical lizards began to crawl from the ceiling and to the ground. There were around five of them, almost as big as a small colt. They crawled their way to the unconscious captain and scurried on top of him. As they mounted him, their web like feet began to glow; before suddenly disappearing in a blue aurora.

---

??

Shining's armor vision was nothing but a blare as he wakes up. He was greeted by the smell of metal and industry. As his vision became clear, he could barely make out a stainless steel roof above him. When his strength returned, he tried to move his hooves… Only to find them restrained by something metal clamping them down. He realized that he was on his back, resting against a wooden table. The captain tried move his head, but found something clamped around his neck too.

"W-where?"

Before panic could set in, he took in a couple of deep breaths to keep his head. It was just the first few fundamentals taught as a guard; never panic. A panicking guard is a dead guard.

He looked to his sides with his mobile eyes and saw strange box like metals with flickering lights attached to the top. There were screens on these, with symbols and numbers scrolling on them. He didn't understand what these boxes are, but it looked like something Twilight would have during her little experiments in her basement. Just more fancy. These two things were his only light source, anything beyond a few feet from him was nothing but blackness.

"Subject is stable. Heart rate is normal. No known ailments detected. Subject poses absolutely no threat. Running scans for other malicious data."

He heard a scratched, high pitched voice behind him; talking in a monotone with no pitch in its voice. A creature, if he would call it that, rolled beside him. It was another machine, small, with one singular camera lens staring intensely at his body. After a minute, it rolled back behind him.

"Energy detected. Property is unknown. Awaiting further instruction, Lord Robotnik."

It only took him a second for that name to click.

"Ah, I see that our patient is finally awake."

As the captain followed the voice and cast his eyes down to the foot of the table, a large figure emerged from the darkness. He could barely make out his shape, but he saw a wide-menacing smile stretching on its head.

"You!" Shining shouted.

"Yes, me." Robotnik cracked, stepping closer to reveal his full figure to him, "You must be surprised to meet me, eye?"

The captain began to struggle against the restraints, wishing to tear him down with his bare hooves. He began charging magic to his horn, but strangely; no matter how much magic he pumped, he could not unleash it. It was like some kind of plug clogging his horn, preventing anything from channeling out.

"Please, don't wear yourself out by trying to use your magic," Robotnic advised, pulling out a small, cone like device from behind and showing it to him. The captain looked up and saw the same device attached to his horn, "You will fail."

The captain continued to struggle until he felt his muscles wear out. When he realized that the metal clamps around his hooves wouldn't budge an inch, he stopped.

"Where am I?" He hissed, "Why am I here?"

"Well, I was originally planning on kidnapping one of the princesses and using them for one of my little experiments," The scientist explained, still grinning from ear to ear, "But security has become a thorn to my side as of recently, my machines could not scamper around town without raising the risk of getting caught by one of your soldiers… So they took the next best thing."

Robotnic slowly walked towards one of the control panels and began rapidly pressing buttons. Suddenly, the darkness that surrounded them became a white flash of light.

Shining Amour was staring at a cluster of pipes with drills, bolts, and torches attached to them. The devises were standing stationary above him, but as Robotnic pressed a series of buttons on his control panel, these devise turned and pointed straight at him.

"I use to have such a pleasure doing these things to my subjects," Robotnik sighed, "It's more of a chore these days."

The captain felt his body bracing itself for the worst as he stared at the sharp bits hovering above him. He quietly gulped, but gave the doctor a sarcastic glare.

"You know, if you wanted information, all you have to do is ask."

Robotnik turned away from his panel and looked to him with a raised eyebrow, "Information? Who said anything about pumping you for information?"

The doctor slowly walked around him until he was behind the restrained unicorn.

"So you're just going to torture me for the hay of it?"

"A tempting idea," Robotnik chuckled, "But I have something else better in mind."

Shining Armor heard something heavy on wheels being pulled. He suddenly saw a dark mass above him, something that has the shape of his own head. There were a large hole on each side, covered by a sheet of glass. The doctor walked back to his panel and pressed a series of buttons on the screen. The unicorn suddenly saw a series of small machines rolling to his sides, each carrying an armored plate.

"I usually have machines that do this task for me," The doctor mentioned, "But I want to put all of my talents into this project."

It only took the unicorn a second to figure out what was going on.

"So you're going to turn me into a robot?"

"What else?" Robotnik shrugged, putting his fingers on the mask hanging above, "This thing is going to surgically insert a special chip directly into your brain while I assemble you. Once it's done, I'll have direct control of all of your voluntary actions. All of your muscles will be amped and be under my complete control."

The doctor stared at the unicorn for a moment, studying his face as the captain fearlessly stares at him face to face. He could see his own reflection off of the doctor's glasses.

"You don't seem concern."

Shining Armor continued to stare this man down with a blank stare. Robotnik was used to seeing his subjects panic while assembling them, especially if they see surgical equipment hovering above them. The man leaned closer to him, putting on a frown as he inched even closer to his face.

"I'm not going to sedate you," Robotnik mumbled to him, "I going to drill right into your bones and burn metal to your skin while you scream for death. Your forehead will be cut open by tiny, sharp, steel pincers as it places the chip on your cranium. When I'm done, you'll be completely conscience, but your actions will be mine. You won't be able to eat, drink, or sleep while you're in this suit. I'm going to send you against your own friends, and you may even have the pleasure of helplessly killing them with your own hooves; or the other way around. How would you like the thought of your own sister witnessing her very best friends slaughtering her own brother?"

Shining Armor was quiet… Very quiet. His face soften, showing just a slight sign of weakness.

"Please let it soak in as I begin the process."

The doctor turned around and began walking towards the panel. Before he could press the red start button below him, he heard something from the soldier. A gasp? Maybe a crack of sadness? When he turned around to look, he saw something he would never expect from a restrained subject.

Shining Armor was laughing.

Robotnik stopped himself from pressing the button and looked to his direction with a raised eyebrow.

"What's so funny?"

The captain continued to laugh for several seconds, letting his laughter encore on until he was able to breath. He looked to the nemesis with a mocking grin.

"Do you really think you still have a chance in this?"

Robotnik was about to answer until he was interrupted by the white coated unicorn.

"Ever since you've landed here we have thwarted all of your attacks. You've turned the timberwolves into machines and tried to ambush my sister in the Everfree Forest, you've even managed to turn a Ursa Minor into a machine and set him loose on a city to try to murder my friends. You've attacked our capital more than once. Everything you sent against us failed. Discord has been turned back into stone, which, may I remind you; is the reason why your mechanical bird worked to begin with, and we still defeated that."

The doctor crossed his arms.

"The six Elements of Harmony are once again reunited with their power now under our control. The Chaos Emeralds you've desperately searched for during your entire stay is now under Sonic's possession… And this is your plan, to send me against them!? How desperate are you?"

Robotnik's face remained emotionless as Shining Armor finishes his laughs. He uncrossed his arms and shook his head, adjusting his glasses.

"Only a fool underestimates my intellect."

His statement eared even more chuckles from the unicorn, "Sonic was right when he said that you were mad… I wouldn't think 'mad' would be the right word, though. I think 'stupid' suits you best."

The doctor would normally rage with the amount of disrespect this gentle pony was giving, but he held in his anger; not willing to give the captain the pleasure of tempering him.

"I'm not going to elaborate everything that I have planned if the slight chance that you survive," He walked back to the panel and hovered over the controls. He pressed the red button, causing the tools hovering over the captain to close in, "I take back what I said about torture… I'm going to enjoy every second of this."

As the drills began to spin rapidly, reality began to set in for the Captain. The mask began to hover closer to him as the drills and bolts began to inch in on his hooves. As Shining Armor began to scream from the agonizing pain of his legs being violently skewered, the mask rest upon him with the sound of bolts concealing the captain's head.

Robotnik smiled from ear to ear as he listened to the unicorn's muffled screaming.

---

Author's notes

I know this is a very short chapter, but after thinking it over I believe this is the best way to go. This was going to be longer, but the scenes I was planning to write will be better used later.

I took some time a while back to read what I've written so far in this story. With the experience I have now, the only question that crossed my mind in some parts was, "Did I really write that!? What was I thinking!"

I had a handful of readers messaging me about posting this story on other sites like FIMfiction. I know that a lot of you REALLY love this story and want to share, but I'm not going to post this anywhere else. It's not because I don't think this is a good story, but because I didn't originally write this just to gain popularity. I wanted to practice on my writing and try to give everyone a solid MLP/Sonic fanfiction to read. This has been a very great practice and a lot of you are following this. I'm going to finish what I started; even though I have all the practice I need to write original fiction.

Also, I just want to thank everyone for the support so far and for your comments. You guys have been just absolutely wonderful. I'm not really crazy about numbers here (even though topping Sonic Generations: Friendship is Timeless in favs would be AWESOME… I'm a competitive guy, sorry.), but every favorite, follow, and comment is a small victory for me. Hearing from you guys give me something to look forward to.

Deadline: two weeks… Or at least get close. Been feeling down in the dumps lately. No friends, no one to share my interests in. Just be thankful that most of you have a social life, it can be pretty miserable alone.

Harry

Here's a verse. Least I can do in this secular story is share wisdom straight from God's mouth.

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"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Proverbs 1: 7