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The Mastermind

by GalacticJam

Chapters

Act 1: Chapter 1

The Master Mind

By Platinum Shift

Chapter 1

Stars are beautiful things, they twinkle way above the ponies' heads, seeming to be impossible to reach. Twilight was outside on her balcony, observing the radiant night sky above. She sometimes went to her notebook, where she scribbled down her observations of the night. Twilight was an enthusiast when it came to astronomy, but it didn't hurt if she kept an eye out for anything special to report to the full time astronomers.

The night sky was in it's usual form, being radiant but dark at the same time. Twilight looked eagerly through her telescope, hoping to find something odd to report; it had been a while since she did. Sadly, nothing anomalous shown itself. Twilight growled to herself in anger.

"Why isn't anything showing, is this all that there is in the night sky?" Twilight asked herself. "There's the stars, the moon, the unusually bright meteor, the...wait, what?"

Twilight saw a bright shooting star, not racing across the night sky, but instead getting brighter every second. Suddenly a low pitch rumble could be heard across the town. The meteor glided across the town in clear view and hit the edge of the Everfree forest, causing a loud boom. Dust and dirt ejected itself towards the sky, but settled quickly.

"Just a relief that it hit the far edge of the forest," Twilight said, wiping some sweat off with her hoof. She suddenly saw ponies waking up. She packed up her telescope and quickly recorded the impact on her notebook and headed out towards the site. No way is anypony getting their hooves on that.

The forest was deep, dark and most of all, scary. The trees arched over the ground, causing near pitch blackness in the night. However this didn't stop Twilight getting her hooves on a rock from the stars themselves. She trotted towards trees that were singed by the heat from the meteor.

She found herself at the impact site, to her surprise she found a much larger rock than she had expected. The meteor was approximately eight feet in diameter and 10 feet long. The rock was mainly composed of a shiny metal and glowed with a purple aura. Could this be the discovery of a new material?

Twilight reluctantly walked up to the edge of the crater and attempted to get a closer look without being in the crater itself, who knows what the unknown material could do to ponies. She couldn't see anything, she had to inspect it further. Twilight breathed in heavily and muttered to herself,

"Well, only one way to find out".

She walked closer to the metallic rock, almost tripping on the small shrapnel the meteor expelled. The meteor seemed to hum quietly in sync with the pulsing purple aura. Twilight cast a levitation spell on the meteor, trying to extract it from its crater. However the purple aura followed across a path to Twilights horn, which then caused Twilight unbearable pain. When she stopped casting, the pain ceased.

"What the buck?" Twilight asked in panic, putting her head close to the purple aura. She attempted to touch it but the meteor seemed to have a electric charge as Twilight suddenly felt a shock. Rubbing her hoof, she was determined to get this back to her house.

"Celestia save me, I've turned into Rarity with Tom!" Twilight shouted to herself, putting a hoof to her head. She finally admitted defeat and went back home.

The Next Day

Twilight woke up, and did her daily routine. She couldn't stop thinking about that meteor,

"I wonder if anypony managed to go it from its crater?" She asked herself. She was met by Rainbow Dash who flew up to her.

"Hey Twi! Woah, loving the new horn. How'd you get it done?" Rainbow complimented, pointing at her horn. It hadn't occurred to Twilight that she should look in a mirror.

"What? What's wrong with it?" Twilight asked with concern, she looked into a shop window and screamed. The entire town looked at her while she panicked. Rainbow then managed to snap her out of it.

"Don't worry, It looks awesome!" Rainbow reassured.

Twilight's horn had turned from it's usual lavender to a metallic, grey colour. Twilight tried to cast a spell but it was futile as the horn was unresponsive. She then remembered the meteor had touched her horn with that aura, and then she ran to her library. She looked around for the Cures and Curses book, luckily Spike woke up due to Twilight's frantic search and handed her the book. She searched around but found nothing, no curse told about a horn turning into metal.

Suddenly, Spike belched out a gout of flame, revealing a scroll from the princess.

Dear Twilight Sparkle

I request your presence alone at Canterlot Castle I require your knowledge in magic. Please bring any book relating to Celestial Bodies. Thank you and please hurry

Princess Celestia.

Twilight grabbed all of then necessary books and flew to Canterlot Castle, even though the Princess would be slightly alarmed by her horn, she couldn't turn down her summons. She flew over the impact site and found that the meteor had gone.

"Looks like somepony was lucky," Twilight sighed, looking at the empty crater.

She landed in Canterlot Castle, next to 2 guards who were about to fall asleep on duty. They stood to attention so fast that one of the guard's helmet fell askew. They bowed.

"Princess Twilight, Princess Celestia requests your presence at the Throne room," One guard said.

"Thank you sirs," Twilight replied, walking off.

The throne was surrounded by scholars of all kind; Astronomers, Biologists and Chemists all debated. When Twilight entered the room, the room dropped to a dead silence. They stood there. Silent. Staring. Celestia, as predicted, was slightly alarmed but then broke the silence.

"Ah, Twilight. I thank you for coming," Celestia calmly said, but still looking at her horn in concern.

"It was no problem, so why did you call me here?" Twilight asked with concern, looking at the other scientists.

"A meteor passed through Equestria at 12:34 in the morning, several parts of the meteor broke up and has impacted throughout all of Equestria," Princess Celestia explained, pointing to several pictures of different parts of the meteor in separate places.

"Ah, that," Twilight muttered.

"We believe that the meteor contains some sort of magical countermeasure, which is why you are here Princess," A scientist said.

"Twilight, may I ask what happened to your horn?" Celestia asked with concern, walking up closer to her and observing her horn.

"I tried to lift one of the meteors with a levitation spell, however the meteorite must of put some sort of curse on me which rendered my horn useless," Twilight explained, touching the metallic surface of her horn.

Suddenly Twilight collapsed on the ground and her head began throbbing, like a migraine had suddenly assaulted her brain. She began hearing mutters of voices in her head but they were distorted. Only a few words were understood from the distortion. Prison. Freedom. Help.

Twilight regained her senses and stood up slowly, she looked around and everypony was staring at her. The pain had subsided like nothing had happened. She touched her horn and it had restored to her former lavender, bone like form. She looked on the floor and trod in a metallic powder. The metal was just a coating, not a curse.

"OK, this is more than just an meteorite storm," Twilight panted, breathing heavily.

"Get a metallurgist to study that powder!" A scientist ordered 2 of his subordinates, they quickly ran out of the giant door.

"Twilight, what happened? Why did you faint?" Celestia asked with a large amount of concern and urgency in her voice, she wrapped her wing around Twilight to comfort her.

"I...I don't know, all I heard was 3 words; Prison, Freedom and Help," Twilight stuttered, still in slight shock. "Princess, I feel different".

"In what way?"

"I feel like I know a new spell, I'm not sure what it does though". "I feel that it is linked with the asteroid I touched, it was in the Everfree forest".

"I know that one, It caused a lot of trouble when we tried to extract it. It even went as far as causing a electrical surge amongst my subjects," Celestia said.

"If I could cast this spell on it, we could finally see what it contains!" Twilight shouted with glee, learning new things always made her happy.

"I trust you completely Twilight, so I will let you do this," Celestia said, "but please be careful and tell me everything that happens".

The Everfree meteorite was locked in the lower levels of the castle, next to the other pieces. Twilight walked up to the Everfree meteorite, which was the only one glowing with the purple aura. Twilight began casting the spell, the meteorite suddenly began to shake. As the spell began to charge up, it shook more vigorously. She then fired a large beam at the meteorite, the purple aura grew and filled the room. Suddenly the aura dispersed and nothing had happened, the meteorite was still intact. Twilight sighed.

"Well this has been a waste of time". Twilight walked out of the basement and locked it. Suddenly the meteorite began to pulse purple a lot brighter.

1 Week Later

Twilight woke up, got ready and then began her work at the library. The day was slow and quiet. And boring. Twilight closed the library and headed out into the town to visit her friends. Cruising through the day, nothing seemed that exciting. The day seemed lazy and calm.

Twilight gave up on the meteorite business as it was just a lost cause to find anything. Although she asked herself one question repeatedly,

"Why in the world of Equestria do I know that useless spell?"

She tried to cast the spell on other things but nothing happened. It just created a fancy beam. So why did she know it? Twilight was deep in thought before she was interrupted by Spike.

"Twilight you have to come quick, something has just flew into the town!" Spike panted, trying to catch his breath. She got up off her seat and ran as quickly as she could to the town square.

There it was again, the Everfree meteorite. Pulsing with it's purple aura.

"What the hay?" Twilight asked herself, looking at the meteorite. She noticed that it's glow had intensified but no other changes were seen. She touched the meteorite hesitantly and suddenly saw something. Several pictures had flashed into her head of unknown context. She could only make a few of them out. Flashes of battle, destruction and death came up. She was then met by a strange scream.

"FREE ME!"

She flew back and then regained her senses once more. She quickly cast the useless spell on the meteorite, but retrained that beam on it. The metal began to split in response, releasing a large amount of steam as a result. Twilight stopped casting the spell and observed the contents. A smaller pod containing a large amount of opaque liquid. Twilight studied it further. It was made of metal plates containing some markings on it. Presumed to be the serial number of the container. Twilight heard the voice talk to her again.

"Good," it spoke, its voice was soft and calm, "now there should be a keypad, press 2445 on the pad in order". Twilight responded by pressing the numbers with her horn. Suddenly 4 pipes appeared out of the floor. Twilight ran back out of the meteorite.

Several pipes plugged into the mysterious canister. The liquid began to drain out of the pod, revealing what was inside of it. Everypony gasped of the contents, for it was a living being.

It had a short brown mane on top of what appeared to be its head, a tiny nose and a small muzzle. Its body was large and wide, resulting in a predicted size of what Princess Celestia has. Its legs were extremely long, connecting to the torso of the body and had very tiny fur on its body. It was a bipedal creature and by looking at the rest of the body, it was obvious that it was male.

The tank stopped draining and the canister opened, releasing a small hissing sound. The wind blew at the creature, making his mane flow with it. He took in a deep breath and walked forwards. He opened his eyes and instantly had a look for shock upon his face. He laughed loudly and fainted.

Act 1: Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The night sky glittered. The light from the houses lit up the town and several guards could be heard patrolling the town. After the reveal of the meteorite's content. Ponyville was put under protection by the royal guards themselves as Twilight resided there.

In the library, a fire warmed up the room. Twilight was lying down, reading a book, and a unconscious bipedal creature was stirring on the sofa. Absorbed in her book, Twilight took no notice of the creature until he would wake up.

Creature's POV

I opened my eyes and I had a massive headache. Was I drunk last night? I feel like someone has smashed my head in with a sledgehammer. I was sleeping on a sofa with a blanket over me, and I was in a library. Odd. Like my dream, I imagined I was in Equestria and I was in some sort of tube, naked. Not much happened after that, just blank. I got out of the sofa and...what in the wide wide world of fuck is that?

A lavender unicorn was lying down, reading a book. Next to a green and purple dragon. OK this is ridiculous, I thought I can't do lucid dreams. I pinched my arm and felt the sharp pain along with it. I am not dreaming. Twilight is right there in front of me. Well, this is interesting. Stuck in Equestria. Is this a dream?

"Hello?" I greeted, the unicorn looked at me in surprise.

"You can talk?" Twilight said.

"Yeah, so I guess you can speak English then?" I asked

"English? I am speaking Equestrian," Twilight corrected. Brilliant, 2 languages are the same. This is fortunate.

"Well, OK then. My name is Lucas, and you are Twilight Sparkle I presume?" I introduced myself, Twilight had a suspicious look upon her.

"How do you know my name?" She asked.

"I just know. Say where are the other 5?" I replied, hoping to meet the mane 6 themselves.

"5? You mean my friends?" She nervously said. My knowledge must of freaked her out a bit. Oh well.

"Yeah; Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie. They are your friends, correct?" I interrogated, her eyes widened. She gave me a cautious look.

Twilight's POV

How does he know this? How does he know of my friends, my life, my name even. I don't even know him. Oh well, I must respect him and treat him as an equal, even if he is a bit weird.

"They are, I guess you know them too?" I asked, still wondering how he knows all this. Was he a stalker? He can't be, he was sealed in that meteorite for Celestia's sake!

"Indeed, I would like to meet them. If that is OK with you". The creature asked, his eyes glittered with excitement. I guess they must be known well where he comes from.

"Of course, anything to help out a friend," I agreed. If I declared that I was friendly, he would be too. His mouth gave a massive smile. I don't know whether to be freaked out, or humbled.

I brought the 5 girls outside of the library. They asking why they are meeting him, and more importantly, how he knows them.

"I don't know myself, all I know that he does," I replied, they looked at each other in confusion. "Be easy on him, he is alien to this world and we want to make a good first impression. However Rainbow Dash, being Rainbow Dash. Flew straight into the door and tried to tackle Lucas. However the small device upon his head seemed to make some kind of barrier, and stopped Rainbow in her tracks.

3rd Person View

"What the hay!" Rainbow exclaimed, standing back up from her collision. She managed to cut herself on something. Lucas knelt beside her, she growled at him but Lucas put his hand out.

"Here, let me help," Lucas said softly. Rainbow Dash had none of it and stood up on her own.

"Thanks but no thanks," she spat. Lucas sighed and stood up. The other 5 were watching him, slightly angry from his defensive move.

"Please, let me introduce myself properly," Lucas pleaded.

"Alright, but don't do any funny buisness, ya hear?" Applejack replied sternly. Walking inside and sitting down. The others followed her, even Fluttershy.

"My name is Lucas, I am 19 years old and I am a Human," Lucas introduced himself to the mane 6.

"Well, three quarters human. Some of my organs were replaced," Lucas corrected himself.

"And what are you doing here?" Rainbow Dash asked angrily, rubbing her cut on her underbelly.

"Well, I'm not sure. All I can remember is being back home, then poof. Equestria".

"What is...that on your head," Twilight asked, looking at the small device implanted on the left side of Lucas' face.

"This is a little invention of mine, the Portable Assembly Device," Lucas replied, tapping it with a finger. "It can construct known machines or make new blueprints, very useful in my line of work".

"And that is?"

"Inventing, of course!"

"How do you know about us?" Rarity asked suspiciously.

"You are famous in my home world, due to you being in an international television programme. A television is sort of like moving pictures on a screen. And programmes would be the pictures".

"So you're spying on us!" Rainbow Dash asked, flying up to Lucas and poking him with a hoof.

"No, no! Nothing like that, the whole thing requires you to know boring stuff like the multi-verse theory," Lucas reassured, backing away from Rainbow.

"Well I hope you don't mind but I informed the Princesses about your existence and they have arrived," Twilight said, looking out of the window at a carriage. Lucas' jaw dropped and his eyes widened.

"Princesses! BOTH of the Princesses!" Lucas shouted. Celestia and Luna walked.

Luna and Celestia walked into the library, slightly shocked of Lucas' presence.

"Hello, I am-" Celestia said, before being cut off by Lucas.

"Princess Celestia, I am honoured to meet you," Lucas bowed. He looked at Princess Luna and did the same.

"Well, it's nice to know that people outside of Equestria know us".

"Indeed, are thou friendly and looking to bring peace," Luna asked cautiously, not knowing the intentions of the human.

"I desire peace with those who desire it as well, I do not fare well with warmongers," Lucas declared. "My name is Lucas and I am a human. The best way to recognise my species is a taller, hairless ape".

"I knew you looked similar to an ape," Fluttershy finally spoke, observing Lucas' body, "I haven't seen other Humans though".

"That's because he is from another world," Twilight stated. Suddenly Pinkie Pie began zipping across the room.

"Omigoshthisissoooooawesomewehavetothrowyouaworldcomingparty," She shouted, taking breathing heavily after. It took Lucas a few seconds to process the sentence.

"That is if you will allow me to stay on this world," Lucas said, looking at the 2 Princesses. Luna and Celestia looked at each other and stepped outside.

Luna's POV

"What shall we do big sister?" I asked. This seemed like a bad idea, who knows that that human will do.

"We shall let him stay, go back to Canterlot and set up a room," Celestia ordered. Really? Are they going to let that beast roam free in the castle? If that's what my sister wants, that is what she will have. She knows best after all.

"Of course, he shall be with me," I replied. Although I regret this, he is staying in my room so I can keep an eye on him. No more. My sister raised an eyebrow at me.

"Whatever for? So you can keep an eye on him?" Celestia teased, she had a large grin on her and winked when she said it.

"Not in that way! I am making sure he doesn't try anything devious," I stammered. OK OK I did take a liking to him, but only a small bit.

"OK sister, whatever you think is best. Oh and I can see you blushing," she teased yet again. For bucks sake!

Lucas' POV

Well. This is awkward. I guess ponies don't know about robotics. Staying with Princess Luna? I'm fucked. Well at least I'm staying somewhere instead of my head being under a headsman's axe. Or headspony's I don't know.

"We have decided that you can stay Lucas. On one condition," Celestia decreed. Oh fuck, I hate contracts.

"Twilight has notified me about that small device on your head," She pointed at my PAD(Yeah, I use acronyms because all hi-tech devices use them!), "I want you to work as the royal pioneer". Simple enough. At least it isn't something ridiculous like build a spaceship out of grass and some double sided sticky tape.

"Reasonable enough Princess. My profession is inventing and I could cook up a few bits of tech," I activated the projector on my PAD and put up a very simple project. Fusion power.

I gave a small presentation on Fusion power, not surprising Twilight's jaw dropped. Everyon...pony else was just bloody confused. Rainbow Dash was just asleep. She's as ignorant as a child, or foal.

"So there, that is the principles of fusion," I finished up. Twilight raised her hoof and asked.

"What's an electromagnet?" Well I give up. I'm losing the will to live. I explained what a electromagnet was and everything relevant, hoping not to miss something out. She gave a slight 'aah' noise and scribbled on her note book. The 2 Princesses seemed bored out of their brains, so I woke everyone up using a screamer grenade. Everypony jumped out of their skin. That was my last charge, but it was worth seeing Rainbow Dash bounce around like a pinball.

"What was that for!" Rainbow shouted. I just laughed in her face. Pinkie was laughing with me.

"That was hilarious! We gotta hang out sometime," Pinkie shouted, still laughing. I looked at the clock and...bloody hell! 6am!

"The sun must be raised soon princess," I stated, pointing at the clock. Luna yawned as she was nocturnal, being Princess of the Night and all that jazz.

"Indeed it must, come along Lucas. You must be tried," Luna said. This is gonna mess with my sleep cycles for a while.

Act 1: Chapter 3

I said my goodbyes and thanked Twilight from releasing me from that prison. Rainbow still had a grudge against me. I need return to Ponyville one day and make proper friends with them. I waved goodbye and left the library with the 2 princess. I noticed that the carriage only had space for 2.

"We still have my carriage sister. Lucas may ride along with me," Luna offered.

"Are you sure sister? He can ride along with me," Celestia replied. Clearly stating that I would harm Luna in some way. Can't blame them. Not everyday you get an alien hitch-hiking with 2 royals.

Luna's ride arrived. With 2 pegasi guards that reminded me of Fluttershy when she was a bat. If they go near my neck I will drive a stake through their heart. Old style. Still hesitant, I climbed onto the dark blue metal carriage. We was in the air soon enough and was inbound for Canterlot.

"So, Lucas. What is it like in your home?" Luna asked, breaking the minute long silence. I sighed. Of all the things to talk about. Home was the one subject she had to ask.

"Not like this I can tell you," I mumbled, "My world is a cruel place, full of hatred, greed and corruption. The qualities of humanity which I despise". I felt a bit of anger rising but I managed to suppress it. Last thing I needed was to anger or scare Luna five thousand feet in the air.

"We see that thou has had a hard life in your home. Is it worth leaving it though?" She asked, turning to me,"That is the question you should ask yourself".

"More than worth it my dear princess," I replied, turning my body towards her. Fully engaged in a conversation. "Enough about me though, I want to know about you," I saw a look of surprise on her face.

"Me? Thou wishes to know about...me?" She muttered. I think I just caused the Princess of the Night to have an emotional breakdown.

"Yes, I want to know about you," I said softly, "Why are you crying? Surely many ponies want to know about you". Suddenly she broke into tears. I could just about understand what she was saying. I put my arms around her to try and comfort her, and before I could say I'm sorry, we were in a full on hug.

"No, no-pony wishes to know about me," She sobbed, "They call me the outcast princess, the outsider. I overheard some stallions say that I will never have no pony to..." I couldn't understand the last part of her sentence, they were shrouded in a storm of tears and sobs.

I managed to calm down Luna to a degree that she wasn't constantly sobbing. We broke from the minutes long hug. She had a look of embarrassment.

"I'm sorry," She squeaked, "I don't want to burden you with my problems". I put my hand on her shoulder, she looked at me and smiled.

"The problems you have are not a burden to me though," I comforted," However you didn't answer my question". After that tear-storm she finally spilled the beans.

"Well, as you know I am the Princess of the Night", she stated, "I like to help those who are facing distress by communicating to them by their dreams". All of this I knew. However I didn't want to make it look I was disinterested.

"What type of distress do ponies commonly have?" I asked, I could see her looking into my eyes. Staring into my soul. I squirmed a bit and she finally came back to Equus and registered my question.

"They...usually have a problem with relationships," she muttered, "Usually trying to impress somepony". I don't know whether this is a hint or not. Then I saw her again. She looked like she was admiring me. When I looked at her directly she turned away quickly, I don't think she knows about peripheral vision. We were silent for a few minutes. Either the guards were going in circles or Canterlot was really far, either way this was taking the piss.

Luna's POV

I thought nothing of it at first. I thought it was just a standard youth crush. Liking someone because they look nice. He seems to care about me though, he even asked about me. No pony ever did that in my lifetime, and I had a long life. Is he the one?

"Lucas?" I got his attention, he looked at me. Those light blue, angelic eyes were set upon me. His luxurious brown mane waved with the wind.

"Have you ever had a marefriend?" I asked him. Please not let this be to awkward.

"I did, one time," He replied, however his voice went deeper. Now I wish I didn't ask.

"She was everything I could of ever asked for," He followed on, "Kind, sweet and beautiful. She was perfect".

"What happened?"

"She left me without any reason. Just broke my heart with no valid reason," He muttered. I saw a tear form. I went for a hug and he soon returned it. Yet again we were in an embrace in the moonlight night.

"Thank you," He whispered into my ear. We broke the hug and he smiled at me.

We arrived at Canterlot finally. The guards set us down near the castle gate as planned. In the night, Canterlot was peaceful. We entered the castle and several guards stared at Lucas. Some even attempted to apprehend him but luckily Celestia called them off.

"Ah, how was your journey?" She sniggered. I guess she is the reason why the journey took unusually long.

"Fine sister. No disturbances I assure you". I could see that she wants me and Lucas to get friendly, well I don't think she is helping putting us in these awkward situations. Lucas yawned.

"Oh right. Your bed".

"Yeah. You said I was sleeping in your room?" He asked. I couldn't help but feel nervous.

"I did, shall we go?" I walked off and Lucas followed.

"Good night sister". I shouted behind me.

The room was expansive, big enough for me and Lucas to sleep in. Separate beds of course, so far.

"Wow, this is wonderful," Lucas complimented, "Surprised you don't get lost in here". He walked up to a much larger bed which I ordered via Spike sending a letter to the carpenters.

"I guess this is mine?" He asked.

"Indeed it is". He looked at me and cleared his throat intentionally. In the way to state something.

"What?" I asked with concern. I wanted him to be comfortable.

"I...need to dress into something more suitable for bed".

"Clothes? For bed?" Human culture sure is peculiar.

"Yes. I don't like exposing myself to others," He shifted his eyes to say get out.

"As you wish," I walked out of the room and closed the door.

My eyes shifted to a keyhole. No! I will not stoop that low! However I found myself gravitating towards it. I tried to resist but I found myself looking through it. What I saw was...magnificent. Sadly it didn't last long as saw me through the keyhole.

"Like what you see?" He shouted through the door. I shifted back as I heard his hoof, or whatever they call what he stands on, steps. He opened the door and looked at me.

"It's OK now," He smirked. He wore a black vest with some sort of clothing that ended at the middle of his long legs.

"Goodnight Luna," He climbed into his bed. I exited the room and left to do my duties for the night. I hope he doesn't tell Celestia, I would never hear the end of it.

Act 1: Chapter 4

The Next Day

Lucas' Pov

I woke up to find that it was about noon, I guess the capsule was enough sleep. Luna had a bed that was large enough for me in her bedroom. I sneaked out of the room, hoping not to wake her up. I looked in a full length mirror. I asked the PAD to construct some clothes. It created a hoodie, a simple shirt and some combat trousers. Made from Carbon Nanotubes as carbon is very common.

I entered the throne room and I was swarmed by a wave of what appear to be scientists. They looked me up and down, like freaks. One tried to grab my crotch.

"Hey! Get your hands off there!" I shouted, turning away from the groping scientist...freak.

"I apologise for the scientists behaviour, they get excited when they find new things," Celestia apologised.

"You're not kidding," I replied. I looked at the several pictures of what appeared to be autopsy of some stallion. He had a yellow coat, brown mane. Oh and not forgetting the big fuck off hole in his chest. I pointed at what seemed to be a before picture.

"What's this?" I asked.

"The scientists report that more meteorites are opening, most contain nothing. However a few contain unknown items," she pointed to several meteorites that had opened. Those weren't meteorites. They were transport pods.

"This stallion died from a unknown fungus, we believe that the meteorites contained them," A biologist stated, pointing at a picture with fungi growing on the stallions chest region. It was disgusting I can tell you that.

"Any witnesses?" I asked, going back to my days watching CSI.

"Just 1, said that the stallion went insane, before going to the alley where he died," A detective recalled. I turned to Celestia who was panicking.

"Princess? Are you feeling OK?" She was in shock as she was presented with the brutal death of one of her subjects.

"This...fungus is more dangerous than anything we have ever encountered. Not even Discord took the lives of my subjects," she stuttered.

"I apologise Princess, but you needed to know of this," A scientist said.

"Do not be sorry, I thank you for bringing this to my attention".

"So what are you orders Princess?"

"Isolate the neighbourhood that the unfortunate victim died in. Burn any traces of the fungus and check all of the other ponies that reside there," Princess Celestia ordered.

"I know it will panic my subjects, but that is far less worse than having my entire country overrun by this fungus. Please, do be careful with them though," The scientists began to leave the room and the acting Captain of the Royal Guard rallied his reserve forces.

I watched as the force marched into the neighbourhood and isolated the neighbourhood from afar, using Luna's telescope of course.

"Do not panic, by order of her royal highness, Princess Celestia. This neighbourhood is being quarantined and checked for a new contagion that will cause harm to pony kind," The commander of the force decreed. The voice boomed all cross Canterlot. I left the telescope and went back inside. I was to remain in this tower until Celestia says it is safe.

Luna walked upstairs saw that I was fed up. I wanted to go out an explore Equestria a bit more.

"Luna, why don't we go somewhere?" Luna looked at me.

"Are you crazy? Who knows where that plague is?" She shouted, "No. I want us to remain in the castle and not to risk ourselves in the name of fun!"

"I thought you would want to spend some more time with me," I said. She was resilient at first but mentioning that caused her to give.

"Fine. We shall go to the small village of Ponyville," She decreed. She called for her personal carriage which finally came along. As it landed the two guards looked at me in suspicion. I climbed on and took flight to Ponyville.

In transit to Ponyville, I thought about the force moving to that small neighbourhood. It was clear that Celestia cared for her subjects if she was willing to contain that small area with her full reserve force to protect them. Luna was looking nervous. I put my hand on her shoulder to comfort her.

"Don't worry. Villages of this size would usually report an infection much sooner than cities," I reassured her. She smiled at me and seemed a bit better. I couldn't blame her though, that fungus is some deadly shit. The rest of the journey was quiet as we thought about the future.

We landed next to Twilight's library. Twilight soon burst out of the door and welcomed me back to Ponyville. We were invited inside of the library, but before we entered Luna turned towards me.

"Say nothing of the stallion to Twilight Sparkle, she must not know," Luna whispered.

"Why?"

"The more people that know of it, the worse. We must not burden her". I simply nodded and walked inside with her.

"So what brings you to Ponyville Lucas?" Twilight asked.

"I wanted to explore more. Canterlot is nice but I would like to go out once in a while," I replied. A look of excitement was on her face as she began drafting a schedule. We were to go to Sweet Apple Acres first, then visit Fluttershy in her cottage just outside of town. For lunch we would go to a restaurant. I just hope they got food I can digest before I have to tell them I eat meat. Afterwards we will go to Carousel Boutique. Apparently Rarity wanted to make me a suit. Then me, the mane 6 and Luna will go to a Picnic in the park. A drama free day, finally.

We set off to Sweet Apple Acres, we had to cross through the town first, this will be fun. As I walked through the town, everypony panicked. They rushed indoors, closed windows and mostly just screamed. I looked at Twilight, who was slightly embarrassed. Not exactly the best first impressions of a town.

"Guess it's like Zecora all over again," I muttered.

"Not exactly," Twilight screamed, pointing a hoof towards a pack of Timber-wolves stampeding the town.

"Time to put a leash on these hounds," I shouted as I activated the PAD. Bits of metal and wood were salvaged off several items. They were moulded into shape to form a rifle. The villagers looked at me panic as they saw the deadly contraption form in my hands. Lead was salvaged from the windows and formed rounds, which fed itself into a magazine.

I pointed the rifle and looked down the sights at what I predict is the alpha. Focus. Squeeze annnnnd...

BANG

The shot rolled across the hills and silenced everyone. The round landed into the Timberwolf's head and it stopped running. It's eyes stopped glowing and it ultimately, stopped breathing. Everypony stared at me in shock. The timberwolves knew what they were dealing with as they retreated back into the Everfree forest. I walked up to the dead timberwolf and confirmed the kill.

I unloaded the magazine and put it in my pocket. Suddenly the entire town burst into life and panic filled the streets once more. After a few seconds, the place was a ghost town. I looked around and saw no danger.

"I guess now they are running from me?" I asked jokingly. Twilight simply nodded slowly. She was looking at the rifle I had made, analysing it's works.

"These weapons are for humans Twilight. Ponies can't hold them, never mind operate them". She had a look of disappointment as she was told this. Suddenly a look of panic then came across her face once more.

"Oh no! I forgot that I had Twilight Time with the girls. Sorry, we will have to arrange another meet up again Lucas," panicked Twilight. She then flew off towards her library.

"Finally. Now we can have the day to ourselves Lucas," Luna said, nudging my leg.

"So. What now?" I asked.

"That is easy, I wanted to do a picnic by ourselves in the nearby plains".

"Then there is where we will go".

It took some debating but we found the perfect spot. A flat plain with a lone apple tree on a small tree on a small bank. We decided that we will have it under the tree. Luna took out the supplies from her saddlebag and I helped her prepare. Soon we had a small picnic with several types of food...that most of them I couldn't bloody eat! I mean daffodil and daisy sandwiches? Who the fuck eats those on a sandwich! At least apples were in the banquet. Suddenly a deer come across the plains and stopped. I put my hand on my rifle but Luna suddenly took it away. She shook her head and frowned at me. Damn. I never tried venison.

We finished our lunch and found ourselves resting under the apple tree. Finally after 2 days of drama. I can finally rest in a peaceful place. Something weird suddenly happened. I was about to close my eyes until Luna snuggled up to me. I then nuzzled her. She wake up and stared at me with her turquoise eyes. They were hypnotising. Our lips attracting each-other and they were locked. It only lasted for a few seconds before we noticed what we were doing. We spent the rest of the day cuddling while we watched Celestia lower the sun. Luna then activated her horn and summoned the night.

"You come from the stars? Is that not true?" Luna asked. I sighed.

"You could say that". Luna looked at me curiosity.

"What is it like to walk amongst the stars?"

"I don't know. I was frozen in transit, I woke up in Equestria when Twilight freed me," I explained.

"A pity. We could learn a lot from you Lucas".

"Do not be mistaken though Princess, my PAD is alien to me as well," I said, "So it comes with spacecraft plans, just needs the resources". A look of excitement appeared on Luna.

"You mean it is possible for us to travel among the stars!" She shouted. Luna began to hop around like a filly on Hearth's Warming Eve morning.

Suddenly we saw a faint light come from the town. It was moving towards us. I climbed up the tree to get a better view, to my despair I saw a mob searching the area. Guess not everypony is welcoming after all. I climbed down the tree fast and rushed up to Luna.

"Luna, we must hurry! The villagers have formed a militia," I urgently whispered, "They are coming for me".

"Leave this to me". Luna flew up to and looks over the crowd of angry ponies; hateful words of fear flow forth like the tides of an ocean. Upon finishing gazing at the crowd she holds up a single hoof and silence quickly follows. Her calm exterior is replaced with a deep frown and her brow tightly knit together "Is this how you pay your respects for the one that single-hoofedly(Not having hands I'm not sure of the proper term to use in place of single-handedly) stopped a threat to your home. Saving lives he has no stake in all from the kindness of his heart, not for profit but to protect because it was the right thing to do... and this is how you repay him? I expected better of you Ponyville." Turning around before she could see the remorseful looks on the faces of the crowd. Quickly trotting back to Lucas, "We better leave" she says. Giving no response Lucas falls into place next to Luna as they make their way back to Ponyville.

"Hope I didn't scare you too," She giggled. I re-styled my hair which was swept back from the shock wave of Luna's voice.

"Not at all," I squeaked. Real manly Lucas. Luna returned with another giggle.

One Hour Later

Luna was upstairs doing her duties, Celestia was asleep and I'm stuck in this bloody castle! I need some fresh air. I tried to exited the tower but was met by the usual 2 guards. They finally remembered that I'm not bound to just the tower and moved out the way. Idiots.

I found myself in the Royal Canterlot Sculpture Garden. Looking at the fine sculpture work fine at these statues. They looked fabulous. One caught my eye more than the rest. It was a vile looking creature. It was a bipedal creature with long arms and giant talons. Its gigantic jaws were open but the most intriguing part was the cluster of cysts on its face. I looked at the plaque but just found illegible scribblings.

"Ah. Finally," A deep, dark, crackly voice boomed. I looked around me and saw nopony around.

"You will not find a single mortal here but yourself".

"Who are you!" I demanded. The voice just laughed at me.

"You desire my identity. Very well," The voice said, "I am Pestilence. God of disease, conditions and pathogens!"

"I need a champion to unlock my blessings upon this world. I need a Master Mind".

Act 1: Chapter 5

Chapter 3

"A Master Mind?" I asked with suspicion. I don't trust this guy as far as I could throw him.

"Yes. You see, certain ponies in this land contain a small potential to command my army. However you. A human have the biggest potential to command my army and more," The voice explained.

"You want me to command the army I'm guessing?"

"Yes. You are my champion. You will help me spread my blessings upon this impure world!"

"You must be mistaken, now, if you don't mind. I'm off," I scoffed. Not before his shifty voice called me back.

"I have a proposition for you, my worshippers have retained my good name by spreading my blessings across the land. Ah but that is not enough, you see, that fungus requires a hive mind.".

"So it's you! You are the one who caused the death of that innocent! Well you can go fuck yourself. I'm not being your hive mind!" It just laughed though.

"My friend, you do not have a choice". I felt a sharp pain in my hand. A red fungi developed on my hand. I could feel it crawling inside my arm. Suddenly several cysts popped out of my head. A guard was patrolling and saw my infected body developing. As my eyes laid on him I could only think one thing. Food.

"Halt! Identify yourself!" The guard demanded. He walked up to my hesitantly. I grabbed his head and he dropped his spear. I saw the nutrients from his body pumping into mine. I have to admit, this feels good. The guards was no more than a shrivelled pile of skin. Another guard soon walked in. Bloody loud-mouthed guard. Seeing his comrade having the structure of an old towel. He tried to run, but suddenly my instincts caused my tongue to extend, and biting him on the neck.

"Buck! What are you?" The guard asked, rubbing his neck from the pain. I grabbed him by the neck and breathed spores onto him.

"I am the Master Mind, and Equestria will fall". The fungi had grown on his face and caused him to lose control. I dropped him as he lied down in a death like stillness.

"Good. Now use your powers to command the carrier to explode," The Disease God commanded. I was no more than a primal beast, Pestilence being my master. I imagined that the guard would explode in a green mist. Which is what exactly happened. The guard released a cloud of spores. I heard Pestilence's voice, this time with a sense of satisfaction.

"You are exactly what I have been searching for. Congratulations my champion. Now for the catch". Why is it that everything good comes with a catch!

"You must transform once a day or more. You must also cause harm with your abilities to at least two other beings. Otherwise you will end up like the hunted and explode. You will also forget everything you did at the time of being the Master Mind. You will, however know that you must go to a secret location my worshippers have set up once a night". Brilliant, so it's either infect the innocent or blow up like a firework.

"I have consumed 2 beings master, may I return to being one of the hunted?" I said, my voice was much deeper in this form.

"Yes my child, go forth blend in with the flock". I imagined my former self, and began to transform into myself again. The Master Mind's memory was still in my head for a few minutes, allowing me to go back into Canterlot Castle.

Luna's POV

Flowers, chocolates, candles and other trinkets that Cadence told me to set up. If this doesn't show my affection, that I don't now what will. I hope Cadence's advice helps. I saw Lucas come through the door. He looked around and saw everything, including me on the bed.

"Ok...what is going on Luna?" He asked. I could see it now, he would just freak out and run away. Lets just hope that he doesn't go full on ballistic and scream at the top of his lungs. I closed my eyes, waiting for a reaction.

"This is lovely Luna," He softly complimented. He saw the rose petals and gave a 'aww' sound. Then, of course, I go redder than a dragon's inferno.

"T...Thank you, do thou like it?" I stammered, I feel like a timid teenage filly.

"No". My heart suddenly plummeted.

"I love it". Back up it goes. My heart was beating so fast it felt like it was going to eject out of my chest. Lucas went up to me and sat on the corner of the bed. He planted a small kiss on my forehead. We hugged each other and landed side by side on the bed. We stared into each other's eyes and were mesmerised in

The Next Day

After my duty, I fell asleep. I felt warm inside, and outside. I couldn't stop thinking about him. Where could this go? More importantly; what should I do? As I lay deep in thought, my mind was interrupted by a high pitched scream. I flew up instantly from my bed and went over the balcony. I went to the source of the scream and saw a gardener looking at something on the floor. I wasn't close enough to get a clear view of it. I flew closer and saw...What the hay!

I landed next to the frightened gardener.

"What happened?" I asked her calmly, it helps not to scare those who are in shock.

"I...I don't know, I was just cutting the hedges until I found these 2 on the floor!" The gardener screamed, she was hyperventilating and was frozen in shock. I saw a pile of skin, which belonged to a guard. Next was a pile of organic matter. With a familiar fungus growing on it. I picked a tiny bit with magic and looked at it closer.

"Not again!" I shouted. The symptoms seemed clear enough. It was spreading. Suddenly Lucas ran beside me. He saw that I had the fungus in my grasp and he sighed.

"Another one, this is going to get bad. I'm going to try and find a cure for this fungus, whether it kills me or not!"

"No. You will not! I will not take the risk of you getting hurt. Go to that tower and stay there!" I shouted. Lucas stormed off back to the tower which I had told him to stay in. I could what I could only guess as human cursing.

I flew to the throne room quick as a flash and landed in front of Celestia.

"Big sister. We have an urgent matter!" I shouted, trying to overpower the petty bureaucrats. A look of serious concern was on Celestia's face.

"What is it little sister?" She asked.

"That fungus. It is present in the gardens!" Celestia froze. She ordered the guards to take the politicians out. The acting Captain of the Royal Guard was present by Celestia's side.

"Evacuate all the staff. We don't want it spreading!" Celestia shouted. The captain responded and ran outside as fast as he could. Celestia got off her throne and wrapped her wing around me.

"I'm scared sister," She said feebly. I returned the hug but was then interrupted by Lucas running in.

"Lucas! I told you to..." I shouted.

"Princesses. I have a plan that I drafted in the event of this happening," Lucas interrupted. He held a piece of paper in one of his hands.

"Let us hear it then Lucas," Celestia said.

Lucas cleared his throat.

"In the event of Canterlot Castle being under serious threat where life is in constant danger. The current royal and their co-rulers will relocate to the city of Manehatten for safety. A temporary base of operations will be formed and emergency protocols will be initialised".

Me and Celestia looked at each other.

"I'm sorry Lucas, but I will not leave my subjects in this state," Celestia declined.

"Celestia, if you stay here. You and Luna will more than likely die here. If that happens, the country will fall into chaos and anarchy!" Lucas shouted.

"He has a point big sister," Luna agreed, looking up at her frightened sister.

"No! I will not leave my subjects to face this alone!"

"If you stay, then all of Equestria will face more dangers than just the fungus. I'm surprised the Changelings haven't launched another attack," I saw his fists clench and the mention of Changelings, "If they hear that you are dead, they will take the chance to do so!"

I saw Celestia stunned, she was lost in thought. She then looked at Lucas.

"Fine. Prepare for evacuation to Manehatten," Celestia muttered, she held me tighter and began to cry.

"This is too much sister," she whispered in my ear. All I could do is comfort her as she sobbed. I saw Lucas run out of the throne room but I heard a thud.

I tried to struggle out of Celestia's grip but it was too much.

"Big sister, I heard a thud," I stated.

"I'm afraid Lucas will not be accompanying us to Manehatten yet," Celestia informed me. Still sobbing at the thought of leaving her subjects.

"What! No! Why?" I squirmed.

"Lucas is not from Equus. Neither is this fungus. It is only common sense that we test him".

"No! I will not allowed it," I screamed. It was futile as Celestia's wings restricted my movements. I saw Lucas being dragged by 4 stallions. I feel tears form on my face as I saw Lucas' limp body being dragged.

"No! Let him go!" It was useless, they already have him. My body went limp and finally gave to Celestia's grip. Celestia then tried to comfort me.

"It will only be a week and he will come to no harm. I will make sure of that little sister".

Lucas' POV

I woke up in a bubble. This is weird, I expected a dungeon. My vision was blurred but I focused on a stallion. He had a white coat with a sky blue mane.

"Whoa, easy there. you had a pretty nasty fall," He said, his voice was a soft German accent. I rubbed the back of my head where I got hit.

"Where am I?" I asked, the stallion seemed friendly so I guess he won't hold back information.

"You are a Mycology lab in the National Research Laboratory in Canterlot," He replied.

"Why?" I groaned, still having a searing pain in my head.

"We theorised that the fungus that is causing so much distress was from your homeland. We want to know if you are a carrier of it due to you being close to the Princesses," The stallion explained.

"OK, I get that. You could of just asked me".

"I apologise about that, we wasn't sure if you would cooperate so we had to knock you out. You will come to no harm here..." The stallion explained, trailing off in a way to know my name.

"Lucas".

"I am Mystic Bloom, the head researcher of the Mycology labs. If you have any questions or need anything, call for me."

"I have questions," I notified.

"Go ahead".

"How long am I staying here?" I asked.

"Ah, yes. You will stay here for a maximum of 1 week. Providing that you are passed negative for the fungus, then, we don't know yet," Mystic Bloom replied.

"What kind of tests will you do on me?" I went into a defensive position, readying plans of escape just in case it's something like a vivisection.

"Blood tests mostly sometimes we will do skin tests".

"Oh OK. I was expecting like you to sharpen the scalpels or something," I joked, Mystic just chuckled to himself.

"Anyway my friend, I must leave to analyse the first set off blood samples. See you soon," He walked out of the room that the bubble was in. Looks like I better get used to this then.

Later That Night

I woke up and remembered that I had to go to the abandoned Canterlot mines. I set up a small workshop there and have to check up on it daily. I called for Mystic and he came.

"Hello my friend, are you feeling well?" He asked. He was a nice guy, always checked up on me. However, he seems too nice. Guess I haven't adjusted to being in a world full of colourful ponies yet.

"Yes thank you. I just remembered that I must go to the abandoned Canterlot mines to check upon a project I am working on," I explained.

"OK, we shall go to this mine," Mystic said.

"What?"

"I said OK, wait there while I put this on," He put on a necklace with a black rune stone. Suddenly a small shield enveloped around him. He deflated the bubble and opened up the back door. "Quick, we must hurry".

We sneaked throughout the several alleys and side streets. Luckily, Canterlot has no police force. Just the royal guards who are assigned to ground zero. We arrived to an abandoned mineshaft, I walked up to it tapped the giant metal door I placed to stop nosy ponies. A keypad extended out of a loose brick. Camouflage, a Human's forte. I typed in the combination and the door lifted, revealing a old, wooden, ancient mineshaft.

Mystic trotted along side me, I came here every night to check upon my new projects I build. Celestia just restricts me to inventions she sees fit, but I can build anything I want here. We entered that main room, a large, open room with several shipments of raw materials I 'borrowed' from the main supply lines to Canterlot. Hey being the royal pioneer gets you first dibs on parts!

I moved to a giant metal room. Every part of it was reinforced, from the walls to the keypad itself. I typed in the combination for this door and entered it. Mystic was wondering what I was doing.

"I am just putting on my workshop gear, metal is sharp you know". I walked up to another giant steel door. This one was much bigger than the rest. I used it for storage of inventions that are confirmed to work. I was about to tap the keypad release mechanism before I felt a sharp pain in my hand.

"Ow!" I exclaimed.

"What is the matter my friend?" Mystic said cautiously.

"Nothing it's just..." The pain got worse, it felt like I had something crawling out of my skin.

"Lucas!" Mystic shouted. Trying to pry open the door. "Wait".

I feel on my knees, feeling pain all over my body. I looked at my hand, an infamous fungus grew out of it. The same fungus that killed the stallion and the 2 guards. My fingers grew to lengths impossible for a human like me to have. Same with my legs. My jaw extended out, looking like a muzzle. Several cysts began to develop on my face. I wasn't Lucas any more. I was the Master Mind.

"You are your true form again my child, I see you brought company," Pestilence said to me. Finally being able to talk to me without causing suspicion. I looked at Mystic, who was laughing. Laughing? Why was he laughing?

"Pestilence's child walks upon Equus!" Mystic bowed. "What are your commands my lord?"

"Stay still," I said. Thoughts of food crossed my mind.

"No, do not consume him! He is not a heretic!" Pestilence shouted. "Sorry about that Mystic".

"Do not be sorry my lord. I am honoured to be chosen as food to your child," Mystic said, completely brainwashed by Pestilence.

"Don't you fight the blessings Mystic?" I asked suspiciously.

"No my lord. I sabotage the heretic's work. I am an agent of Pestilence. I am to sabotage the results to fool the heretics so you can keep your position with the heretic leaders".

"Ah. Good work loyal worshipper".

I got out of the metal chamber walked across to the several machines used to aid Lucas in inventing. Suddenly an idea sprung in my head.

"I have an idea master," I notified Pestilence.

"Do not tell me, you are to lead the mortals to victory my child. I am to watch over you," Pestilence shunned.

"Yes master". I turned to Mystic who was observing the workshop.

"Mystic, I have a plan. Fire up those machines, they must have plans in them". Mystic pulled down a power switch. Machines came out of hatches and several robotic arms used for several purposes were ready.

"What is the plan my lord?"

"Lets just say I have become death, the destroyer of worlds".

Act 1: Chapter 6

One Week Later

Luna's POV

Finally. It is the day that Lucas that arrives to Manehatten. This has been a tough week. Sister has been burdened with bureaucrats, military officials and scientists. It is just this day though, that she gets a rest from her worries. The day was running smoothly, now that all of sister's policies are in place.

The city of Manehatten was glorious indeed, but it isn't home. I looked out of my bedroom window, overlooking the metropolis. Carriages filled the roads and the ponies looked like ants. I just hope that Lucas is OK. I saw a golden carriage pull up to the hotel. I went on the balcony and adjusted my telescope. I saw Lucas walk out of the carriage, and several ponies looking in confusion or panic.  

He entered the hotel room and I ran towards the door. Awaiting his return. No wait, this should be a nice welcome. I ran my bedroom and took the candles I brought some time ago for Lucas. I turned off the artificial lights and lit the candles. I shut the curtains to stop sunlight getting through. I wanted it be a nice mood. Luckily, Celestia was out in the park so I had the room to myself. Now ourself as I heard a knock on the door.

"Your highness, somepony wants access to your room. It's a creature, is it your pet?" A voice asked.

"Yes yes, bring him in. Give him a key as well". A few minutes later I heard a key go through the lock and turn. A tired, angry and tense Lucas dragged himself through the door. Registering the romantic mood, he smiled.

"Hi Luna," He sighed. I ran up to him and gave him a big hug, he grunted in pain. I eased off a bit.

"Thanks, the testing wasn't exactly tension free," Lucas sighed. Dropping his bag near the door. He shut it to and began to rub his back. I pulled out a chair which he didn't hesitate to sit down on. I began to massage what I presume to be his shoulders. I could feel the tenseness of his shoulders unwind as my hooves began to work on his shoulders.

I heard his stomach rumble louder than I ever heard.

"Uh," Lucas trailed off.

"I'll call room service". I went to press a button which called a waiter to take our order.

"How has Manehatten been?" Lucas asked, looking out a window.

"OK, I guess. It isn't home though," I sighed. Lucas looked at me and smiled.

"Well, I heard that Canterlot Castle will be ready to move back into tomorrow, thanks to some over clocking". A knock on the door was heard.

I answered it to find a waiter with several menus had come up.

"Ah". I picked up the menu and scanned the choices. "I will have a Daffodil and Daisy sandwich".

"And for the sir?" Lucas was having a hard time choosing. He flipped a page his face lit up.

"Ah that's more I like it. Large steak, medium please with salad." He handed the menu back to the waiter, who looked at him in confusion.

"You eat meat?" I asked.

"I do, Humans are omnivores," Lucas stated, "How come you serve meat?"

"Griffons".

"Oh."

Waiters came in with a large bowl of salad and a...ugh. Large slab of meat. I was served the biggest sandwich I had ever seen though. I began to devour mine but Lucas looked at me, trying to hide a chuckle. I noticed how I was eating and stopped.

"You sure can put it away," He teased.

"Excuse me," I apologised.

"Don't matter anyway, food is food". He got a fork and stabbed into the meat and cut it up. Still can't believe he can eat that though.

"Lucas?" I got his attention, he looked up at me while chewing on a piece of meat, "Do you like me?"

"Of course I like you," He replied, "How can I hate you?"

"Not like friend, but, more than friends". Lucas began to cough, nearly choking on his lunch.

"Might as well be straight forward with you Luna," He said, "I don't just like you. I love you Luna". I began to cough now. Doing the same as Lucas.

"L...l...love?" I stammered.

"Yes. Princess Luna. I love you". He leaned in for a kiss but I leant back.

"Err, not being mean but, you have meat juices on your lips". He went across his lips with his finger and observed it.

"Oh". He went in the bathroom and began to remove all traces of meat in or on his mouth.

After lunch, Lucas was much more relaxed. He seemed much happier than morning. We opened the curtains and sunlight filled the room instantly. He looked upon the city skyline.

"Beautiful isn't it?" He said. I nodded as I went in for a hug.

"However, It isn't the most beautiful thing here," He flirted, looking down at me and smiling. I began to blush bright red again. Darn this human. We were staring into each other's eyes again. Wrapped around one another. Our lips pressed against each other and formed a beautiful kiss.

"Good to have you here," I whispered.

"Good to be here," He whispered back. Kissing me once more. I saw his eyes open fully as we heard an explosion on the street. Lucas dashed to the balcony and looked down.

"What the?" Lucas exclaimed. I looked down and saw panic spreading across the streets. Several explosions of green mist littered the streets. Suddenly Lucas went into high alert and smacked the emergency button.

He dragged me onto the balcony, he took out a stick with a green line on it. He pulled the top, igniting green smoke on the roof. He threw it on the floor as green smoke bellowed from it. He began to mutter to himself and walking from one side to the other. He went up to me and hugged me tight. I could only watch in horror as I heard the screams of my subjects from below. I began to cry as the screams went through me. We broke the hug and I went back inside. I couldn't stand it. I looked out of the window and saw him looking down. He just stared down at the war zone. No sadness, no fear. Just standing there emotionless.

Suddenly a white pod was seen on the horizon, it flew at a speed that even Rainbow Dash would be jealous of. It slowed down and hovered near Lucas. A door opened and it lowered platform to get inside. How in the name of Equus is this possible. First deadly weapons now artificial flight. What's next? A spacecraft made of grass and dirt! He called me out and walked on the hovering pod. I trotted hesitantly. There is no way this is possible, but there it is, hovering in front of me. I walked inside of the machine and got even more confused. The inside was hollow, and spacious. The 'front' of the machine was where Lucas sat, looking at 3 windows. I looked outside again, there were no windows!

"Lucas. How are you looking outside?" I was hyperventilating, this is way too much! He gave me a paper bag to blow in.

"I'll just say magic to put you at ease," He said. The door snapped shut and we moved away from the hotel.

He pushed a button on a piece of glass that had moving pictures.

"Lucas? What is this," I asked. This is all too much for my head, moving pictures, non piloted carriages.

"This is a Unmanned Transport Pod. I built it before arriving here but it needed to be fuelled". I simply nodded along as he talked about his contraption. Of course I had no idea what he was saying. Suddenly I heard Celestia's voice.

"Hello?"

"Princess Celestia, order your guards to relocate to Canterlot Castle. It should be clean now, Manehatten is under biological attack".

There was a pause for a few second.

"I...I can't believe it. Why is this happening?" I heard her sulk in pain. She has been having headaches for the past couple of days now.

"Do not go back to the room. Go to Canterlot Castle".

"No! I will not do this again!" Lucas then pressed another button. Celestia was quiet for some seconds before she spoke again.

"This is what is going on. Manehatten is lost! Go to the castle if you wish for your ponies to live through this!"

"Understood. I am trusting you Lucas. I believe that you know the best for my subjects", she sobbed, "Do not put me through this again please".

A force suddenly pulled me back as I saw Manehatten being left behind me. We were in the air travelling at speeds greater than any pegasus. He put his finger on a screen where Manehatten was in view. Several parts of the city filled with green mist as several attacks were made. All I could do was watch as I know I couldn't do anything. Lucas was more distressed though, clenching his fists in rage he switched off the glass. I shuffled up to him.

"Lucas, we can't do anything".

We landed at Canterlot Castle on the tower platform. I stumbled out, feeling sick from that episode.

"What was that," I panted.

"High speed travel". Lucas rubbed my back as I began to vomit. I don't know which is worse, the motion sickness or the fact that Manehatten is under attack. 2 young guards approached us.

"Your highness. You shouldn't be here for another day," A guard notified with respect.

"Tell the captain that Manehatten is under attack. Princess Celestia is safe but inbound to the castle". The 2 guards looked at me in shock but quickly nodded and ran off inside the castle.

Lucas' POV

The captain requested me in the war room. I met Mystic Bloom who was waiting outside. He had become my friend, after all, we had 1 week to become friends so I called him with me. We entered the room. Several guards were around the room but in the centre lied a table where 4 guards stood near their respectable chairs. On their chairs was a symbol that represented their job; A dumbbell which represented training, a spear which represented weapons, 2 wings which represented air support and a golden shield which represented the captain. At the end of the table was a set of chairs which were ours.

We all sat down and the 4 guards took off their helmets.

"So human, you report that Manehatten is under attack?" The captain asked.

"Yes, biological attack. I predict that they are carriers of the new fungus going around". The captain looked at me.

"And what do you suggest we do? We just have the pony power to protect Canterlot," The personnel officer asked. I grinned as I rummaged through my bag. I took out a large blueprint. I rolled it out on the table.

"What is this?" The weapons officer asked suspiciously.

"A force field generator, usually you would rely on Unicorns to generate them. However this can cause serious fatigue to the caster and as you saw from the Crystal Empire incident, they don't last long," I replied, "It requires a magic energy crystal to power the mechanism. The energy is focused onto a tablet which generates a force field," I continued, pointing to several parts of the generator.

"I see, and this helps us how?" The captain asked.

"Several generators can be used to quarantine Manehatten, it's the best choice we have," The guards looked at me in shock.

"You are not considering that surely!" The air support officer shouted. Slamming his hoof on the table for extra effect.

"I am. Unless you want everypony to die at the hand of this vicious plague," I shouted back.

Princess Celestia then entered the room. Everypony but me bowed, they then stared at me.

"Bow human!" The captain ordered.

"No no, that's OK captain," She dismissed, moving to her chair on the table, "So what are the plans?"

"This foal wants to seal off Manehatten using some weird technology that we know nothing of!" The training officer shouted, pointing a hoof at me.

"Then do it".

"Excuse me your majesty?" The captain asked in disbelief

"Do it. Seal off Manehatten".

"With all due respect your highness, but do you trust this human?"

"I do, so does my sister. Do you distrust us?"

"N...no your highness," The captain stammered.

I began to brief the officers on the plan. First the mana crystals would be imported from the Crystal Empire to Canterlot using a secure train line. Then they will be fitted into the field projection devices and then activated to surround Manehatten. Simple enough plan. After a few debates, the plan was accepted by Princess Celestia. We left the room and I went with Mystic into the gardens. The entire place was razed down and replanted, I could tell.

"Mystic, how is Project Sol doing?" I asked regretfully.

"75% complete by my calculations, we could set it up by the end of the week and it would be operational by the end of 2 weeks," Mystic stated. I simply nodded.

"Hopefully we don't have to use it. Last thing I want to do is use something that devastating upon this world, but if I must, I must."

"Should we tell Princess Celestia?" Mystic asked.

"No, she will just cancel it. We need this to be secret, not even Celestia can know".

"How do you think the fungus is spreading so fast?"

"Well it can't be spores, the pattern is too inconsistent for that," I lectured, "I'm guessing that there is some sort of migration leader, some sort of queen that leads the infected to place and then leaves". Mystic looked at me for a few seconds but then looked away.

"What gives you that idea?"

"Just a theory that crossed my mind, plus I heard that a guard saw a monster skulking through Canterlot Gardens before it got infected".

"Let us hope that we do not have to use Project Sol so soon my friend". We walked off back into the castle.

I went up to the tower that Luna requested me to stay in like a dog. I opened the door to find her crying. I rushed up to her and put my hand on her shoulder. She turned around and hugged me tightly.

"It's too much, I want it to stop. Please make it stop!" Luna sobbed.

"What? What is happening!" I asked, trying to get through to her.

"This. This plague, too many innocent lives have been lost. So many lives have been destroyed! Make it stop Lucas!"

"I will try my best my love," I stroked her chin.

"No! Do not try. Make it happen! Even it resorts to you eradicating Manehatten off the world itself!" Well that will be easy once Project Sol is finished.

"I hope you have a backup plan my love," Luna asked, rubbing her tears from her eyes.

"I do, but I do not want to resort to it unless it there are no more options".

"I know you care for my subjects, you protect them without any hesitation. Why Lucas? What compels you to do this?" She asked with curiosity. I sighed as I sat on the bed.

"I like this world. This world tries to retain harmony and fights to keep it. Unlike my world where we fought for greed," I explained, "This dedication to harmony and peace interests me. I do not want to see you in any form of harm, but this fungus kills me more than the infected. I hate to see pain in such a peaceful land".

"So you fight for peace?"

"Yes, I fight for peace".

"I guess that is a better reason than any".

"Lucus, do you mean what you said back at the hotel?" She asked.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"That you...love me?" she hesitated.

"Do you need me to declare it to the world," I joked, "Princess Luna, I love you more than anything that exists in the universe. I would rather die than see you come to harm. You are the most charming, beautiful, kind person I know in the entire universe. It is impossible not to love you." I looked down at my feet, she was staring at me. Either in disbelief or in shock, either way I best prepare for a slap around the face. I closed my eyes and braced. I felt her lips on mine and then a force pulling me forwards. I landed on the bed face first and was then pounced on by Luna.

"If that is the case then, show it," She flirted. Let's just say we had fun that day and I woke up in the night with her.

Act 1: Chapter 7

I woke up to a frantic knocking on the door. Me and Luna stirred before we finally got up.

"Who could it be at this hour?" I groaned. I opened the door to find that Mystic had a massive smile on his face.

"My friend! Sorry to wake you but guess what?" Mystic said with glee, holding a piece of paper.

"What, this better be good".

"You have been allocated to the new sample collection team that will go to Manehatten!"

"This is good news how?" I asked. Mystic went in for a whisper.

"Project Sol, we can make it progress a lot easier," He whispered.

"Well at least I'm not stuck in this tower any more". Luna come up beside me, her hair frizzy and she squinted at me. We nuzzled each other. Mystic bowed in respect.

"Sorry your majesty, I didn't mean to wake you".

"It is not problem, any friend of Lucas is a friend of mine," Luna waved a hoof.

"We shall talk later my friend, have fun," Mystic smiled. He soon trotted off back downstairs. Me and Luna looked at each other.

"Ready for round two?" I flirted. She looked at me seductively and bit her lip.

"Come and get it," Luna said, backing away towards the bed. I pounced on her and began round two.

I woke up and saw Luna cuddled up on me, I managed to slip away and sneak out of the door. I went outside of the tower and went to the old Canterlot Mines. I entered the now refurbished mine shafts. I didn't want to work in a dump so I got some drones to do some late spring cleaning. I entered the main workshop, where I saw several machines working on several parts of a mechanism which fitted onto Project Sol. I saw Mystic overlooking the machines.

"Ho there, how are you Mystic?" I asked, Mystic smiled to my return.

"Are you going to put on your protection gear my friend?" He replied. I nodded as I went to the storage room. I felt a pain in my hand. Soon I was the Master Mind once more.

"Ah my lord, you have returned," Mystic welcomed.

"Yes, is the delivery system for Project Sol complete?" I asked.

"Yes my lord, it is ready. All that remains is the cannon to be complete," Mystic informed. I walked up to see a giant metallic cylinder in front of me, set up on a launch pad that was below a large tunnel which lead to the summit of the mountain.

"What do we do now my lord?"

"My human counterpart has been assigned on the sample collection team, I guess this is a good time to finally announce myself to the world".

"Why in the world would you do that?"

"That is easy my friend, they need to know what they are up against," I grinned, "Also we need to lower the morale of the soldiers lower than it already is".

"Why not now my lord?"

"Project Sol's completion would be the perfect time, however that is too far away. So I suggest the time when my human counterpart is on his first operation".

"Wonderful my lord, may I continue working on Project Sol?"

"Take a break, you need one," I said, pointing at Mystics dark rings under his eyes.

"OK my lord, thank you," Mystic trotted off into the kitchen, "Oh and the slaughter chamber is ready my lord".

I walked to a newly built corridor, took a left to be met by a thick steel door. I typed in the code on the keypad and the giant door lifted slowly, revealing several dismembered ponies on operating tables. For my human counterpart I set it up as an autopsy lab however that is only a side product. I walked up to one of the walls and pressed a brick that I allocated as a secret button. The wall lifted to reveal a prison with several sedated ponies within the cages.

I went up to a control panel and pressed a button saying 'Feed'. 2 claws hanging from giant arms came down and picked up 2 ponies at random. They were then placed in a holding cell where a gas was sprayed in it. The 2 ponies woke up and saw their fate. They screamed and screamed and screamed but nopony could hear them, thanks to Mystic for sorting out soundproof walls around the slaughter chamber. The gas was vented and I was safe to go inside. I opened the hatch which was just of reach for the 2 ponies and I jumped in. I didn't take Pegasi or Unicorns, I can't contain them just yet.

The stallion tried to buck me, however I grabbed is leg just in time and threw him into a wall. The mare however knew her fate and just had her eyes closed. I slammed my hand onto the stallion's face and transferred the fungus. He twitched and turned but couldn't escape. He finally stopped moving as the fungus took control of it's new host. The mare opened her eyes and watched in horror as the stallion picked himself up. I grinned at her fear as I did the same with her.

I felt a peculiar power go through me as I infected the mare.

"What is this?" I thought to myself.

"Ah, I was hoping this would happen," Pestilence said, "You have accumulated enough stem cells from the hunted to create a new strain of the fungus".

"What can I do to change it?"

"Well, you can change it's take over methods, it's strength to certain environments or it's behaviour to certain stimuli".

"I'd like to enhance the infected's intelligence, allow them to use basic weapons".

"Good choice, I am pleased with your progress."

"Time to raise my army".

1 Week later

Me and Luna had visited Ponyville once more. We were met by the same angry mob who tried to drive us out. However we weren't met with pitchforks and torches, but instead gifts and smiles. The leader of the mob approached me.

"Human. The Princesses words had changed my opinion about you," The leader said with guilt in his voice, "I thought you were just a marauding creature, but instead you actually helped us defend our lives. For that I thank you and I hope you can forgive me". My eyes narrowed on him, I looked back at Luna who was beaming at me. Everypony was looking at me in anticipation. I sighed.

"Fine, I accept your apology. We started off on the wrong hoof and I hope we can become friends". Everypony began to rejoice as I saw a familiar 6 ponies walk towards me. Suddenly I saw a pink mare come behind me and surprised me.

"Do you like it? I knew you were coming thanks to Princess Celestia's letter," Pinkie asked, with her usual happiness in her voice.

"Yes, I like it very much Pinkie," I smiled. I was OK with parties. Guess I have to get used to this now, "What is this for?"

"Well I said I was throwing you a world coming party silly!"

Everypony was playing games, dancing and just having a good time. I was sitting with Twilight on one of the tables where we were talking about my knowledge of magic crystals. At least this pony can challenge my knowledge. As I finished up my lecture I saw a worried expression on Twilight's face.

"What's the matter Twilight?" I asked with concern, she put on a fake smile.

"Nothing".

"There is, what is the matter? You can tell me Twilight," I leaned in to show I was interested.

"Manehatten," She said. That very word sent shiver down my spine now, instead of seeing a big, bustling city. I see a wasteland. "Those poor ponies, I don't think we can stop it Lucas".

"I was there you know," I said. Her ears shot up and she looked at me.

"I'm sorry you had to see that. What was your first reaction?" She asked.

"Get Luna out of there," I replied, "Luckily I was on the highest floor on the hotel so I had some time". Me and Twilight sat there in a deafening silence.

"Lets change the subject".

"Can you teach me how to fire that contraption you used on your first visit?"

"Sorry, I can't. Those weapons kill not pacify".

Me, Twilight and Luna were walking in the town which was bustling with happiness and joy. Luna looked tense and on edge however. Twilight looked at me and looked at her in a way to say, talk to her. She smiled and went off to the main crowd. Me and Luna stopped on a bridge overlooking a river.

"Why so tense my love?" I asked. She sighed as she looked down at the river.

"Are you really going to Manehatten?" She asked me back.

"Only for a few hours," A look of despair and worry appeared on her face, "Do not fret though, It's only a sample collection and I will be escorted by the Canterlot Rangers".

"I trust you Lucas, but I do not want to lose you."

"You won't. That's a promise". We kissed each other before returning back to the party.

After a few hours the party was finished, a carriage came for me. Mystic jumped out of it waving at me.

"My friend, are you ready to go to Manehatten?" Mystic asked with a big grin on his face.

"Don't know why you are so happy about it, but yes I am". I gave Luna a kiss on the lips and waved goodbye and jumped on the carriage. We headed for Manehatten. The forsaken city.

Mystic pulled out some papers that included a map, profiles of the rangers that would accompany me and the battle plan.

"OK my friend, you will be accompanied by 5 of the most elite guards in Equestria," Mystic briefed, "You will then pick up samples from the suburbs, the city centre and if you can, ground zero." I simply nodded along, observing the map and plotting my route.

"Any abnormal threats?" I asked, looking at the previous reports.

"Well the infected seem to be growing in intelligence," Mystic said. I looked at him in shock.

"What do you mean intelligence?"

"Well, our previous scouting group got shot down by javelin fire".

"This is bad, how can they gain intelligence like that in such a fast rate?" Mystic shrugged his shoulders. Soon enough we landed near a forward base near a field generator.

We exited the carriage and was met by four stallions and a mare, each looking sternly at me. They were dressed in platinum coloured armour with a golden trim. On it was an emblem with two wings and a spear in the middle. The ensign of the Canterlot Rangers.

"You must be Lucas," The mare said, she had three stripes on her shoulder pads which denoted that she was the squad leader.

"Indeed I am," I replied, "I assume you are the Squad leader of the Canterlot Rangers?"

"We are. I assume you have been briefed. Not the first time we did an escort and they haven't been properly briefed," She joked. I still had a stern look on my face.

"I have been briefed. I assume you know the dangers of the infected using weapons?" She looked at me and at her squad.

"No..."

"Well then, I best equip you with some better hardware," I grinned. I called down the transport pod which delivered 5 custom made weapons from the workshop, "Take a pick".

The strongest of the five, picked up the LMG. He observed it for a few seconds and a smiled in satisfaction. One of them however asked,

"How in the hay do you use these?" The youngest of the five picked up a SMG and was observing it in confusion. I picked up five jackets that had metallic arms for the guns to be placed in.

"Here, I forgot these," I called, "Target what you want gone and it will be gone. The weapons can be used by the arms as well as you ponies using melee weapons,"

"OK, thanks. Alright everypony! Suit up!" The squad leader rallied.

5 Newly armed rangers were in front of me. The mare had a basic assault rifle in the vest with a golden hilted sword in her hooves. The heavy stallion equipped a LMG onto the vest with a war-hammer in his two hooves. The medic had a shotgun attached with a combat knife. The youngest and lightest of the group had a small SMG with a club in his hoof and finally the support member of the squad equipped a sniper rifle and held a javelin in his hoof. All of them had gas masks, newly fabriacted body armour and a state of the art battle helmet. These 5 together would make an unstoppable team that even a dragon migration would fear. I on the other hand took a very different approach.

"Woah, what kind of egghead are you?" The scout said in awe. Looking at the equipment I had brought with me. I had my trusty Lee Enfield rifle in my arms with a side arm and several grenades equipped onto my belt. What was more interesting to them was the body armour. I was like the knights of the olden days. Completely clad in metal plates. Of course it isn't as primitive. The metal is only one part of the plates I used. I took of my helmet and looked at the 5 battle ready rangers.

"Ready rangers?" I asked, looking at Manehatten.

"Ready, lets go!" The squad leader rallied. We proceeded to go up to the force field which opened for us. Manehatten. The forsaken city.

"No going back now," I muttered as I stepped into the forsaken city once more.

Act 1: Chapter 8

The city was a waste. Buildings were clad with the fungus. The scout went ahead and scoped the area.

"Clear," The scout said using the new radio communications.

"I don't understand, where are the infected?" The squad leader asked cautiously, looking up and down.

"Either piles of organs or roaming in ground zero," I replied, "These are coastal parts, even the slightest sudden noise can attract a horde on us!"

"Roger that, try to use melee everypony," The squad leader ordered. We moved forwards, the terrain was hard to navigate around. Carriages were tipped, small craters dotted the roads and the fungus itself was making it hard. It grew like grass. I began collecting my first sample.

"How is this growing so fast?" I moved it around in between my fingers. It was crisp and red dust fell off it. I picked up another and placed it into a small vial. "Sample one recorded".

We walked quietly in the alleyways to prevent a horde of infected swarming us. Several chunks of debris blocked our paths and we had to take several detours. Whatever this fungus did, it wasn't ordinary. We moved out into the main roads as every other alleyway was blocked. That's when we saw a horde of them. Hundreds of them were in one group. However they were armed with makeshift bows, javelins and clubs made from debris from former buildings.

"Contact 12 O'clock," The scout reported.

"Roger." We walked slowly through the far edge of the side walk. Suddenly a flock of infected birds came straight for us.

"HIT THE DECK"

"Airborne X-rays inbound, 11 O'clock!" We dived down into a pile of rubble and the infected birds flew straight over us. One however landed right next to us. It red beady eyes glared right at me and it's head turned. Suddenly it let out a high pitched squawk that could wake the dead, wait.

Suddenly the horde turned their heads towards and began to run at us.

"Weapons free!" The squad leader announced. Suddenly gunshots filled the silent atmosphere of the waste. Bodies fell as we backed away into the alleyways and headed for a buildings. We entered a shop and dived behind the counters. The horde stampeded down the main streets but some stragglers were left behind. One roamed inside the shop we were hiding in. It groaned and moaned as it searched hungrily for us. It readied it's club as it searched the place. The squad leader readied her sword. One chance. Wait. Wait. Perfect. The infected jumped behind the counter but landed on the sword. She finished him off in one quick swing.

"Everypony OK?" The rangers stood up but ended up finding me with my helmet detached slightly.

"Squad leader! Lucas, his helmet is detached!" I took it off and breathed deeply.

"I'm immune to it foal!" I whispered harshly, "The helmet was so I don't get my eyes clawed out by marauding infected". The rangers looked at each-other but the heavy narrowed his eyes at me.

"I'm watching you Human, I will believe you for now but if I find you nibbling on my neck I won't hesitate to turn you into soup," The heavy spat.

We sneaked out of shop and returned on our route. The horde were miles away now and we saw our next objective. A hive.

"What the buck is that?" The scout exclaimed, putting a hoof over his mouth soon after he realised how loud he was.

"From what I know, it's a hive," I stated, "It is used as a spore producer to maintain infection levels to render areas uninhabitable for ponies".

"So lets destroy the thing and get this over with!" The scout replied.

"I am collecting a sample of it, when I mean sample, I mean the whole thing".

"Are you crazy? That thing will doom us all!"

"I'll deal with the science, you deal with protecting".

Suddenly booming footsteps were heard amongst the blocks of the city. We took cover and waited for a horde to pass by. However I wish we had a horde now. A gigantic monster stomped through the town. It stood on 2 legs and was huge and I mean huge. Several cysts were dotted on it's head which barely resembled a bull. It held a makeshift flail in it's one hand and a makeshift shield in it's other. It wore armour scavenged from numerous sources, not forgetting the large number of fat on it's body as armour as well!

"Well who saw it names it," The squad leader said, "I call it a Juggernaut".

"I think naming it should be at the bottom of your list squad leader". A deafening roar filled the city as the monstrosity swung it's flail around. It began to charge at the building we hid in, we dived quickly out of the way and the juggernaut smashed into the building.

"Open fire!" The heavy shouted, firing at the juggernaut. Rounds bounced off the amour and ricocheted everywhere. The juggernaut pulled the flail out of the building and swung at the heavy. The scout dashed and knocked the heavy out of the way.

The juggernaut swiped his flail around with fury as the rangers dodged his attacks. I hid behind some rubble as I knew I would get turned into a pancake faster than you can say 'Oh god is that a giant ball heading towards me'. Of course I wasn't being totally useless, my PAD began to analyse the creatures anatomy, mostly for weak spots. Come on, come on. Work you piece of junk! Ah ha! The insides are weak unlike the outside.

"I found a weak spot and I know how to get to it!" I called on the radio.

"Well, tell us then!" The squad leader shouted back.

"Heavy and support, give suppressing fire on the juggernaut," I ordered, "Scout, get it's attention but try not to lead it to anypony else. Squad Leader and Riflecolt, cover me". I saw the scout dash across the field and began assaulting the juggernaut lightly, annoying it. It began to run at it, swiping the heavy ball in the air but landing with nothing. An array of bullets rained upon the juggernaut's back, bullets ricocheted off but some hit the soft skin below. The support fired a single round into the beasts hand, making it drop the heavy weapon in hold in it's hand. The squad leader unsheathed her sword and sliced at the kneecaps, making it drop onto it's knees. This is my chance.

I activated the jet boost module, rushing into the air. I unclipped a grenade that I had been working on for some time now. As I fell down back to the ground my momentum increased. I fell faster and faster and faster. My hand grabbed onto the creatures jaw and pulled it down. I pressed the button on the side of the button.

"One...two...five! No wait...three!" I shouted, lobbing the device into the creatures void like mouth. I let go of the mouth and ran as fast as I could.

"Run!" I shouted over the radio. Everypony began to scatter as the juggernaut regained stance. Suddenly a whirring noise filled the area. Metal plates, blood, organs and skin flew into the air like confetti, covering everything in the area.

"Yuk!" The scout said in disgust, "At least we aren't pancakes". Wiping off bits of flesh off his coat, he looked around. "Everypony OK?"

"Yeah I'm fine," The heavy reported in.

"Me too," The support replied.

"Same here," Squad leader said.

"I'm alive too," The riflecolt said.

"Where's the objective?" The squad leader asked, looking around for me.

"So you are the little group that is causing trouble," I smirked, pointing a claw at the group of rangers. Good thing that distraction allowed me to change.

"It can talk!" The squad leader exclaimed.

"Bucking great. Hunter sound good everypony?" The scout asked, looking at me. I laughed.

"I am the Master Mind. Lord of Disease." I projected, causing a winds that not even Luna's voice could cause.

"What do you want freak! Isn't this enough lives taken for you!" The squad leader spat.

"Feisty. I see you are loyal to Princess Celestia, the false leader." The squad leader snapped and attempted to buck me. Instead I grabbed her hind legs and put her face to mine. She aimed her rifle at me but I simply snatched it off the vest.

"Now that is enough," I tutted, "I want you to send a message, make it so that she can see me." I loosened my grip, allowing her to fall onto the hard, cracked ground. She limped to her group.

"Fire," She whispered to her group. I lifted my forearm towards the incoming shower of bullets. Making them hit the legs of the senders. They all fell on the ground except for the squad leader.

"I do love food, when it comes to me," I grinned. I pounded my fist into the concrete causing tendrils to burst out of my back. I consumed all 5 of the squad, leaving no trace behind.

I felt power surge through me, I began to glow. Embers began to form on my skin and fly off into the open air. It burns. I felt a searing pain in my back as my body burned. Suddenly bones emerged out of my back. Skin formed and my body stopped burning. I studied my 2 new appendages. I flexed them. I had wings now.

"That was...easy". I flew off into the distance. The sun setting on the wasteland. The deafening silence in the atmosphere filled the city. All that could be heard, were my wings flapping.

2 Days Later

Celestia's POV

I was sitting in my throne, looking upon the plans of the Grand Galloping Gala. I had to keep morale up, and it would surely plummet if I stopped hosting it. Thankfully Canterlot is in the all clear and the force fields that Lucas set up will hold back the fungus coming in. That human is a genius. I took a sip of my tea before a guard rushed into the room. He looked like he had ran for miles.

"Your Highness. We have found him!" He panted, bowing after his report.

"Really?" I asked, "How is he?" Lucas had been missing for 2 days now. Luna had not taken the news well but she always stays strong. Well tries to.

"Badly injured, I'm surprised he is alive. We have him in the hospital." I stood up and rushed up to Luna's tower. I tapped on the door with my hoof.

"What!" Luna shouted.

"Sister, it is me." I stated.

"Leave me be please".

"It is about Lucas". There was a silence but the door unlocked and opened. I saw Luna's head peer through the door. Her eyes were red with tears.

"What about him?" She sighed, wiping the last remnants of tears from her eyes.

"He has been found. He is currently in the hospital but he will be OK in a few weeks". I saw Luna's eyes widen as I gave her the news.

"He's OK! Can I see him?"

"I don't know. We could drop by the hospital and see if we can." She gasped and slammed the door.

"I'll be out in a minute!" She shouted through the door. I heard muttering and the hum of a levitation spell. I looked through the keyhole and saw Luna looking through several pieces of clothing. I couldn't help but giggle. She shot her head up and sighed.

"Fine, just let me straighten my mane," Luna sulked. After some unnecessary amount of time needed to straighten a mane, Luna came out of her room. Finally. She laughed awkwardly.

"Sorry," She smiled.

"No problem, lets go".

We walked out to the city of Canterlot. With guards of course. Me and Luna walked side by side and entered the main city centre. We were 'welcomed' by panicked citizens. Our guards managed to hold them off but the things I heard. This fungus needs to be dealt with. For Equestria. For my subjects. One mare caught my attention in the angry crowd. She held up a picture of a stallion in a royal guard uniform, and she was weeping. This cannot go for any longer! I rushed towards the hospital, swooping up Luna. I landed in an alleyway and set her down on the ground.

"Luna," I said. She looked at me in concern.

"Yes sister?"

"I fear that Lucas' intentions may not be as good as we think it is". I saw a look of disgust come across her face.

"How dare you sister! He has been nothing but kind to us. Helping our country in so many ways that even we couldn't devise! I can't believe you! A stranger helps you and you give him nothing but disrespect. I thought you were better than this sister!" She began to walk away.

"Luna," I said softly. She looked back at me.

"For once, stop having your personal feelings blind you and listen!" I shouted, flying up to her.

"It is not that I am ungrateful. Lucas has helped everypony out in this situation and I am in debt to him. It is just that whenever Lucas is gone, strange things occur". Luna then began to hover, coming face to face with me.

"Of course strange things are happening! We are on the brink of extinction!"

"I mean that there is a change in pattern!" She turned her head at me, "Just recap on the events for the past 2 days of Lucas' disappearance! When Lucas went, the patrols around the Manehatten force field reported that the infected all came together and nearly breached the field! Before, they were just in a rabble!" She looked at me angrily, I could hear her breathing much more faster.

"You are not suggesting..."

"Lucas somehow in some way, is commanding the infected. However I don't think that it is him" She began to calm down.

"Explain".

"Do you remember that we had a book on Pre-Equestrian myths in the Everfree castle?" Luna froze in thought for a few seconds but then clicked.

"Of course, I loved that book!"

"Remember the tale of Pestilence?"

"Yes, not a nice one indeed," She shuddered. I pulled out an ancient piece of paper.

"I have here, a manuscript of the myth but one bit explains the odd connection between Pestilience and Lucas,"

...and when the God of Disease, Pestilence is no longer existent on the mortal plane. Several champions shall succeed him. Nearly all shall fail, for they do not have the capacity for a God. On this world no known creature has the capacity to command Pestilence's armies. Instead, a creature from the stars themselves shall fall onto our own world and succeed the God. For that creature shall have the might to lead the forces of Pestilence.

Luna looked up at me.

"So you are suggesting that Lucas is the leader of Pestilence's army?" She asked in fear.

"Yes but it is not Lucas himself," Luna looked at me in confusion.

"How can you be so sure?" She sighed.

"If Pestilence had the ability that Lucas has too, we wouldn't be having this conversation," I looked out into the street, it was bare.

"Let us go visit Lucas now," Luna said. Moving out into the street.

We entered the Canterlot Hospital, everypony went silent as a doctor approached us.

"You must be here about the human the guards brought in," He whispered. Luna didn't look comfortable, neither was I.

"Yes, can you take us to him?"

"Of course, follow me". We followed the doctor into one of the standard recovery wards. To our amazement we found Lucas sitting upright looking at screens coming from the device. In a second Luna was near Lucas.

"Lucas!"

"Luna!" Lucas exclaimed, hugging each other lightly.

"I forgot how tall you actually are," She giggled. We looked at the screens.

"What is this Lucas?" I asked, pointing a hoof.

"Ah, I best explain what I have been doing."

"You see, I think that this fungus is artificial, or at least tempered with to make it this deadly," He explained, bringing up a screen of information that I couldn't understand.

"How do you know this Lucas?" I asked with suspicion.

"Well I'm sure you realised that I am actually alive right now instead of lying dead in Manehatten. This is because I did a bit of bio-tinkering myself," he replied, bringing out a vial of the fungus.

"Before you run, this has been tempered with so it isn't deadly. Instead it is the opposite," He held out his arm, which is what I think he calls it. He exposed a large cut on his arm. He took out the fungus from the vial and began to rub it across the cut. Suddenly it began to heal.

"The reason I think it is artificial. Is because it was so easy to temper with, nothing natural is easy to temper with." He looked at me and Luna, "I can see by your faces that you 2 suspect me in being the creator of this, no doubt from that I am actually not from this world".

"I'm sorry Lucas, but we do. However if it is you in question is debatable," I apologised.

"Ah yes, the myth of...Pestilence was it?"

"How do you know about that?" Luna asked him, going closer to him. He pointed to a wide open window.

"I should mention that I have kept an eye on you both since I was admitted to hospital," A small machine flew through the window and landed next to Lucas. He looked back at me and smiled.

"You aren't mad?" Luna asked quietly.

"Of course not," Lucas stood up and stretched himself out. He then proceeded to hug Luna, "Works like a charm".

Lucas was admitted out of the hospital soon after some tests on his body. The doctors looked at him like he was healed by a miracle. I just said I used a rare healing potion to rest their minds. He then went closer to me.

"I have to tell you something Celestia," He said quietly, trying not to get anypony else listening.

"What is it Lucas?"

"It is about my backup plan. If Manehatten is beyond saving".

"I'm afraid that as a leader, you must take everything into account. OK then let me hear it," I said, regretting it but it needed to be done.

"My back up plan consists of the deployment of an object high in the sky. So high that not even the fastest or must athletic pegasi can reach the height that this object will achieve".

"What is this object?"

"I'm sorry Princess. That is a secret that only me and my protégé can know, for safety reasons and to not worry you or any high ranks. I have a plan that has a 0.01% fail rate Celestia, which is incredibly low. This plan is last resort only. I have named it Project Sol and when it is ready, it can be deployed for your use". Such secrecy, he must take his job more serious than any being I have ever known.

"What is your next plan Lucas?" I asked, he looked at me.

"Several plans have project names". He brought up a screen with several plans of technology far greater than I have ever seen. "My next project is special as it tests the limits of what I am capable of".

"Am I allowed to know this project?" I asked suspiciously. No military ever kept information from me. I fear that he will detach.

"Yes. This new project is known as..." He said, putting up plans of...ponies?

"Project Machina".

Act 1: Chapter 9

The Next Day

Today is the Grand Galloping Gala. Finally a day of peace. This time I am actually looking forward to being bored. Me and Lucas were at the dining room eating lunch while Luna was too busy preparing a dress. Odd. I never thought as Luna a pony to do fashion. Never the less, at least this day will be peaceful.

"Do not worry princess. I got Canterlot locked down using forcefield technology. Every cart, every pony going in will be scanned thoroughly. Without using any ponypower," Lucas called across the table, looking over some blueprints.

"Now I see the purpose of Project...Machina?" I said, trying to pronounce the new words that Lucas has brought from his home-world no doubt.

"Yes, to create machines for more menial tasks such as scanning or dangerous tasks such as mining," He lectured, "These contraptions are sure to secure Equestria's future".

"Changing the subject, what is happening with Luna?" I asked. She was acting strange today.

"So you noticed too? She was sick this morning. I fear she has come down with something completely different to the fungus going around so don't worry too much," He said in thought.

Luna had finally come downstairs for something to eat.

"Ah Luna, how goes the dress?" I asked with a smile on my face.

"Fine thank you sister," She yawned. Lucas began to look at her in a odd way. Luna was soon upstairs again. Lucas soon stood up.

"I have to go back to work. Thank you for the food Celestia," He smiled. This day was perfect. Too perfect. Lucas soon walked out of the room. Luna then peered into the room once more.

"Has he gone?" She asked quietly, looking around for Lucas.

"Yes he has, want me to call him back?" I asked.

"No. I need to talk to you in private sister," She came closer to me and took the seat closest. She looked around the room. "See any machines around?" She asked quietly.

"Is everything OK Luna?

"It depends on your Point of View".

Lucas' POV

Walking once more in the alleyways and side streets of Canterlot to avoid pesky civilians and meddling business ponies looking for me to introduce them to the Princesses. I arrived at the Canterlot workshop.

"Home sweet home," I muttered to myself. Walking into metal corridors. I saw Mystic sitting on a bench at the radio computer.

"I'm home," I called.

"My friend! You are back! I knew you were OK!" Mystic exclaimed, running to me.

"Good to be back. I hate hospitals."

"So standard protocol?" He asked. I laughed. Mystic was one for doing things properly.

"I'm afraid I am limiting myself to the programming lab today my dear Mystic. For I feel that my time will here be short". A look of concern suddenly appeared on Mystic's face.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"Well you saw me in Manehatten. I don't think I can hold out much longer in this war. Therefore I am putting one project in priority for the programming labs".

"But my friend, the software for Project Sol is below 10% done. We cannot just stop!"

"Without this, no projects can be built at all!"

"Anyway, let us see if our new project works," I pulled down a switch and whirring filled the room for a few minutes. Suddenly.

"Digital Engineering Life-form booted. Ready for operations sir!" A voice called. It had a posh accent, similar to Rarity but a lower pitch, "Allow me introduce myself. I am the Digital Engineering Life-form, but you may call me DEL".

"OK DEL, I am inputting some new programs to you. They allow you to monitor the machines connected to your network".

"Yes sir, beginning upload". Only a few seconds passed until, "Upload complete, install complete. Monitoring networks," DEL's monotonous voice reported.

"DEL, I would like to create a new project. This is to stay between me and you only. Nothing can know, do you understand?" I ordered.

"Understood sir, connecting to the Personal Assembly Device". I entered the project name, "Project Rebirth. This will be my last resort if everything goes from bad to total shit-storm". I began to mentally dive into the depths of PAD's data banks. I was frozen in place, I had never used the PAD more harder than ever before. Dedicating most my concentration to the programs of the device. Plucking knowledge from the digital library, my eyes drifted to the clock.

"Shit!" I shouted, jumping out of my seat, "The Grand Galloping Gala!"

I began fabricating a suit. I wanted to look top notch in this high class event. Of course I didn't want to go, but Luna wants me to and it is impossible to say no to her. Dashing into the bathroom, I began to prepare my self. Shit, shower, shave. Old habits die hard. I almost flew out of the bathroom soon as my suit was ready. I slipped it on and began to run outside into the city until I stopped once more.

"Shoes!" I shouted, running back into my bedroom. I took a pair of highly shined shoes and put them on, squeezing my foot through the leather. "Right, now it is my time to shine!" I said to myself, looking at a mirror and having a well groomed, smartly dressed human staring back at me. I soon ran out of the bedroom, slammed the door and ran back out into the city once more.

The city was dead, allowing me to sprint through the main street without causing a riot in transit or getting rookie guards chasing me. The city was that quiet I could hear my footsteps echo throughout the city centre. I saw the castle getting closer, lit up like a beacon. Soon as I reached the bridge everypony began to stare, faint or ask questions to their friends. I burst through the large line of ponies to reach the gate. 2 guards promptly readied their spears.

"Halt creature! You shall not pass!" One guard said sternly. If I didn't just run what I felt like was a marathon I would be dying of laughter.

"Luna!" I shouted, hoping to get her attention. The 2 guards narrowed their eyes at me and I heard the ponies gasp behind me.

"That is Princess Luna to you creature!" The other guard shouted at me, raising his spear at me.

"That is quite enough guard," I heard Luna say, walking towards the door.

My jaw dropped so much I think it hit the floor with so much impact it bounced back into it's normal position. Luna looked...I can't explain with one word. I really can't explain the dress, I'm not much of a fashion expert. Her hair was tied up neatly, light blue eye-shadow and a midnight blue lipstick with a glistening effect to it made her look flawless. Which is bloody hard to do in the first place.

"What is the meaning of this!" She asked angrily, looking sternly at the 2 guards.

"This creature was trying to gain access to the gala your highness".

"That creature is my coltfriend you foal! Listen in your brief next time, I will make sure that the captain will make this clear!" I could see that those 2 guards were shitting themselves now. Luna looked me up and down and then blushed.

"Hello Lucas, you look..." She quietly said, walking up to me, "Lucas?" She waved her hoof several times in front of my face. I then came back to Equus.

"Luna...you look..." Come on Lucas say something! "You look, More than flawless. More than divine. I don't think a word exists that can describe how stunning you look right now," I stammered. Smooth Lucas, real smooth. She then blushed so much I think the ponies at the back of the line could see.

"Let's go inside shall we?" Luna asked.

"Yeah. I'm freezing," I shivered.

The entrance hall was it's standard red carpet self. A lot of ponies were lined up to meet the princess. I mean a lot. I think the line stretched back as far as the outskirts to the town. I walked with Luna as she led me up the stairs towards Princess Celestia.

"I better not be greeting everypony. I doubt you will get much conversation out of them if it was me," I said. Luna giggled.

"Of course not, you and I will be together in the main event," she replied, looking back at me and winking.

"Thank fuck for that," I sighed in relief. I saw Celestia greeting everypony. I could see she was bored. Proper bored. Like husband in clothes shop with wife bored. I approached her, that shut everypony up.

"Hey Celestia," I waved at her. She looked at me. Everypony gasped...again. "Enough with the bloody gasping!"

"Lucas, you look nice," She complimented.

"Thanks, your sister looks better if you don't mind me saying so," I teased. She scowled at me but then giggled soon after and shook her head/

"I bet you enjoy doing this for...5 hours straight." I was getting under her skin now.

"You're as annoying as Discord sometimes Lucas," She joked, "I am going to be honest. This gala is going like the others, slow."

"I can solve that problem," I pressed a button on a small, spherical device. A white flash filled the room and I dragged Luna and Celestia out into the hall.

"Lucas, what on Equus are you doing?!" Celestia asked. Still getting dragged by me. We were in the main hall now.

"Have a nice time Celestia, thank me later." I said, going to Luna once more.

"Well, that was eventful."

The hall was decorated a bit too much if you asked me. Looked like one of Pinkie Pie's parties, instead of a high class social event. The edges of the room were filled with several tables. Drinks. Drinks. Drinks. Ice Statue. Buffet of indigestible food. Wait! Is that a chocolate fountain! Jackpot! I found myself hovering towards it, figuratively of course. Suddenly I felt a pull on my suit, dragging me back.

"Oh no you don't!" Luna had dragged me back. Damn it!

"Well what now?" I asked, looking around.

"We are at the Grand Galloping Gala..."

"And?"

"What do you do at the Grand Galloping Gala?"

"Eat stuff at the chocolate fountain?" I replied, hoping to at least get a chance at it.

"No".

"Worth a shot".

"You dance," She said, looking at me. She had that look. That look like she is planning something.

"OK then, let us dance. I have to warn you, I am no good at it".

"Same".

We walked onto the dance floor. We grabbed hoof and hand and began to dance. Well, if that is what you want to call it. This is going better than expected. I am actually doing well, good in fact. I couldn't dance this well on Earth...

"You are welcome sir," DEL said through my PAD. DEL you are awesome! After the song had ended we stared lovingly into each others eyes and kissed passionately. I felt that time had stopped completely as we shared this beautiful moments. Time quickly awakened as we opened our eyes once more. Luna then started to giggle.

"What?"

"Look in a mirror," She continued. I looked into a window reflect to see that midnight blue lipstick was present on my lips as well as Luna's.

"I best go to the bathroom," I said. Luckily I can get to the chocolate fountain in transit! I skewered a few marshmallows and doused them in chocolate. Luna gave me a look. I looked back as if to say 'what?'. After indulging myself, and managing to actually get away from the fountain I headed to the bathroom to get this make-up off.

The bathroom was empty, thankfully. I looked in the mirror and saw myself looking ridiculous. I took some toilet tissue and wet it, rubbing the lipstick off with ease. I was about to walk out before I felt a funny feeling in my stomach as I walked out. I ran to a toilet, expecting vomit. However nothing came out. I began to walk back out but promptly fell on my knees. I began to change one more.

I looked in the mirror once more, this time seeing a monster staring back.

"Hey handsome," I said to the mirror.  I heard hoofsteps move towards the bathroom. I found a window and didn't hesitate to squeeze through. I flew in the air, spying on the gala through the gigantic windows. Everypony was having a wonderful time. Dancing and music and food oh my! What a wonderful party. Ugh. I waited for my perfect time to strike. Princess Celestia and Luna approached each other and began talking. Bingo. Now for the strikers to assume there position. I saw six infected ponies sneak towards the window like a special forces team. One looked at me and nodded their head. Strike team in position and the two Princesses are together. Time for the real party to begin!

I dashed towards the window shattering it as a result. Glass shards flew through the air. Screams filled the room as I landed near the musicians. The two princesses looked shocked, stunned and frozen. A guard ran at me with his spear. I used my wing to pierce him and began to consume him.

"It's you, you are the one responsible for all this!" Celestia shouted.

"What kind of monster are you?" Luna asked in disgust. I simply laughed. My menacing chuckle filled the castle.

"I am the Master Mind, lord of disease, demi god of Pestilence," I explained, "I am the one to fill this world with Pestilence blessing. You are heathens in my lord's eyes! You must be exterminated!"

"We have no quarrel with you. If you leave now we may forgive this rude intrusion!" Luna shouted back.

"Intrusion?" I said in intrigue, "I think you mean invasion" I chuckled. "Aerial team 1 engage!" I ordered, thrusting my arm down.

Several booms were heard far away. Suddenly a squad of five pegasi zoomed across the skies and curved, heading straight for the castle. A slight modification of the Changeling aerial assault tactic. The five pegasi crashed into the floor, leaving small craters. All five of them were infected. Several guards managed to hold them back long enough for the ponies to evacuate, including Luna and Celestia. Wise move. My ears shot up and tuned in. I heard the captain of the guard talking to the two.

"Princesses! Three large forces are approaching the city with great speed. One from the mountain, one from below and one assaulting the main gates!" The captain reported, panicking, "I advise that we evacuate you immediately!"

"No! This time I make a stand. I will no longer flee from my subjects. As long as that Master Mind is attacking my subjects, I will not rest!" Celestia rallied, "Captain, bring me my armour!"

"Me too sister," Luna said.

"No sister, I do not want to lose you a second time!"

"I'm already, how did Lucas say it? Ah, locked and loaded!" Luna took out a small remote, "This time, we will win!"

"What is that sister?"

"A small gift from Lucas," Luna pressed the button. Small beeping sounds could be heard and suddenly.

Bits of wall debris flew from one side of the room to another. When the dust settled a metal pony could be seen. 2 arms propped out of it's back, both wielding dual laser cannons on it's back. The sentinel heavy assault bot, made for one purpose. To kick flank! Nothing I cant handle though, I know it's weak spots. The robot set it's eyes on me and power up it's cannons. I spread my wings and flew directly up, smashing through a bit of ceiling and dodging a crazed robot firing a light show at me. I managed to lose it's sights on me. One bad thing about the Sentinel is that it wasn't meant for Anti Air so it would lose you easily. It began searching the  room. I landed quietly and began to sneak around it. I managed to get behind it. Unsheathing two claws I lined it up with the power core and... gotcha! I severed the power connector, thus ripping out a good chunk of metal. Teaches them to use my own inventions against me.

Several guards had managed to mobilise and ran out into the main hall, aiming the primitive weapons against me. I looked at the Sentinel's body and come up with an idea. I ripped off the laser cannon and attached the power generator to it, bit of licking and sticking later the cannon powered up. The guards charged at me. I fired the beam, cutting most of the guard in half. The last few knew what they were dealing with and ran away. Now, this has been fun but I got an army waiting! I flew up into the night sky once more.

"Hear my words Celestia. This day marks the end of Equestria!" I projected. I flew off into the mountain, where I had set up my command base. Today is the day. The faithful day. The Fall of Canterlot!

Act 1: Chapter 10

Smoked filled the air, fires burned across the city and the sounds of the pegasi crashing into the ground was clear as crystal for miles. Screams projected across the battle zone as civilians were destroyed under the feet, or rather hooves of my new army! This day I shall win. This day is mine! Mystic walked up to my side, he was wearing battle armour that I specially developed for him.

"Wonderful isn't it?" I asked, sniffing the air. The smell of cordite filled the air. I didn't trust my infected army with high powered laser weapons so I just gave them old rifles used on Earth.

"Soon the world will know your name my lord!" Mystic said.

"I wonder how Project Machina is doing?

"My lord?"

"You know, the automatic defences put up by Lucas". Suddenly a dart pierced my neck. I picked it off.

"What in the world?" A flurry of darts soon followed, striking me in the neck several times. I dropped to the floor. I was forced to turn back into Lucas! Mystic soon fled, hoping not be detected by Lucas as the second commander.

I picked myself up. What on Equus happened? I just went to the toilet and...mother of God. Canterlot was in ruins. However no time to soak in the scenery as several infected began to swarm me. Well, fuck. My legs began to work faster than they ever had done before.

"DEL!" I shouted, trying to avoid smashing into trees.

"Yes sir?" DEL responded, sounding like nothing is happening.

"Activate Project Machina! Canterlot is under attack, initiate emergency protocols!"

"Right away sir. Do you want me to take command?"

"Yes, I need to defend the princesses!"

"Sending transport pod to your location sir".

"If you weren't a stationary computer I could kiss you right now!" I heard several hoofsteps thunder down the hill. Time to be creative! I got some vines and tied them to a tree then tied the other side to a grenade. I predicted where they will be and placed it down there. I hid in some bushes and waited. Come on you sons of bitches! One unlucky victim snagged the wire. Click...time to get the hell out of here! I ran away and the pod soon came for me. The infected screamed at it but the grenade soon exploded, turning them into confetti. I jumped in the pod and soon plotting a course for Canterlot Castle.

The pod hovered up into the air and sped to the castle.

"Attention, message incoming".

"On screen,"The two princesses soon came up, dressed in battle armour, shit armour if I may say so.

"Lucas! Where have you been, we have tried to contact you since the attack on the gala!" Celestia asked urgently, turning once in a while to lookout for infected I presume.

"Well I woke up in the bloody command camp so I don't think I had time for a cup of tea and a chat!"

"Lucas, where are you right now?"

"About 50 feet above the castle," I set down on the roof and jumped out. I took my trusty Lee Enfield with me and ran downstairs. I then met Celestia and Luna in the throne room.

"Lucas!" Luna shouted, running towards me and hugging me.

"Glad you are safe, now what are we up against?" I asked, looking at the screen Celestia had conjured, "Interesting, good tactic. Not good enough". I grinned.

"OK DEL, time to shine!"

"Yes sir, Sentinels deploying in 3...2...1," DEL counted and soon a much louder crash was heard. Large metal ponies with several armaments attached soon littered the streets.

"Incoming transmission from unknown source," The PAD informed me.

"On screen," A text message came up. It read.

Dear Lucas.

I am the only one who knows of Project Sol, Project Rebirth and the schematics for the PAD other than you and Mystic. I even have one attached, same as you. It seems you are in a bit of a pickle. No worries, I hope this support can help you in your plight. Expect assistance soon, you will need it. Oh and good luck with Luna.

Signed, Your new friend.

"What the actual fuck?" I asked myself. Who was this guy, and how does he know about all this. He seems friendly and will not cause harm, and we need allies in this time of need.

"Sir several air units are inbound Canterlot," DEL reported.

"What, can you get a feed?"

"Yes sir, connecting..." A feed of...no. It can't be! three fighter/bomber units flew into Canterlot and began to bombard the enemy controlled areas. The guards soon began pushing back. I could only smile as victory was beginning to seem within reach. Sentinels butchered through the infected. We still suffered heavy losses though. Even though we had advanced technology and weapons, we weren't invincible.

"New message from Custom Name, The Infected Alliance". Well well, a surrender.

"On screen," A small video message soon played. A shadowy figure in a hood guarded by 2 infected in the background.

"I am the commander of the Infected forces assaulting Canterlot. You may be winning at this moment, but you will lose. For we are Pestilence's chosen and you are all heretics! Today you shall all die a heretic's death!" Soon as the message ended the sky filled with green. Oh shit.

"DEL seal off Canterlot sectors twenty to twenty nine using shields! Seal off the other sectors, separate them from twenty to twenty nine!

"Lucas! What is the meaning of this!" Celestia shouted, running from her balcony to me.

"The other sectors are doomed, the infected have used what I could only describe as a spore super-weapon. Those already affected are beyond saving. I am sorry Celestia but it is either one third of Canterlot or all of Canterlot. Your choice". I could see she didn't like it one bit. I saw tears form but soon she stood strong.

"Go ahead," She said quietly, soon going back to the balcony.

"Continue with the sealing DEL".

I walked out to the balcony and saw the force field generators activate. A gigantic bubble of energy soon enveloped the castle. Soon my PAD bleeped once more, a message from my new friend.

Lucas,

Well done, you did the best choice. Even I knew that the battle would of been a swift victory for them, no matter how much we try. I will stay in touch. I will help you once more and my force will have to return home. Good luck.

Signed, Your New Friend.

"Man of mystery, you interest me so much." Soon the three aircraft bombarded the command centre. Infected began to retreat, the guards pushed forwards. Sentinels began to slaughter infected. Infected slaughtered guards. This soon stopped as the infected began to thin out. Things were looking up for us now. Me and Luna looked out to the ruined city. Day began to dawn once more. The light shone upon the ruined city.

"Luna," I said. She then looked up at me.

"I am joining the Rangers. I want to take out this commander. He has taken too many lives, for this, he needs to pay!"

"No Lucas! I do not want you to leave! You can't leave!"

"Why not Luna? Why not! You have seen the blood spilled today for yourself! This commander cannot life no more! He must pay in blood for the foals orphaned, the mares and stallions widowed or having their children ripped from their own hooves!"

"I need you! We need you!" She shouted, she began to sob.

"We?" I asked.

"Oh buck," she whispered.

"Luna if there is something I need to know, tell me!" I shouted, still worked up.

"Please, let us go inside and rest. We have had too much on our hooves. I will tell you later today," She trotted inside. I looked at the balcony once more and saw Sentinels mercilessly exterminating the infected like flies.

1 Hour after the main wave of forces the commander finally announced a retreat. Thanks to him not using radios and literately shouting retreat. I walked inside and sat down. Suddenly the Mane 6 burst into the door.

"Lucas!" Twilight shouted, running up to me.

"Twilight, you are OK!"

"Luckily the infected were staved off by that force field in Ponyville you set up. We couldn't leave though until you powered it down".

"Y'all must be hungry. How about I bake us some apple goods?" Applejack asked. Everypony nodded in reply, including me. The other 4 accompanied Applejack which left me with Twilight.

"Twilight, I need to ask you do something". She looked at me in confusion. I picked my rifle and handed it to her, "I will be teaching you how to use these soon. I know you wanted to know how to". She smiled at me in glee.

"Thank you Lucas!"

"For the past few weeks theories have come up that I am the infected leader. I just transform into him from time to time," Twilight looked at me in shock, "If the time comes that I or rather this creature goes out of control. I want you to shoot me".

"What?" Twilight asked in disbelief.

"You heard correctly. Please do it when it happens, for Luna's sake, for Equestria." It took her several minutes to figure out what I just said. Soon she came up with an answer.

"OK," She squeaked.

"Thank you," I hugged her, "I know this is hard".

It was soon dinner, the Mane 6, The Princesses and I had gathered round the table. A deafening silence was present in the room. I could almost hear somepony's blinking. We soon finished our meals and I walked outside. I heard Luna follow me. I leaned on the balcony and overlooked the city. It was a wreck.

"Lucas," I turned around. I saw Luna in the same state as the city itself.

"Luna, what is wrong?" I asked in serious concern. What is going on!"

"I won't let you join the Rangers. It is too dangerous," I frowned.

"For crying out loud! Why! You are not telling me why! Why Luna! WHY!" I shouted at the top of my voice, my voice thundered across the desolate streets.

"Lucas..." She sobbed.

"I am so sorry Luna, but I need to know," I hugged her she then looked at me, eye to eye.

"I..." She hesitated," I... I am...."

"You are what? Sick? Injured?" I asked, trying to get the answer out.

"I am pregnant," She finally said, so quietly I could just about hear it.

"You...you...you are..." I stammered. I soon fainted before I finished my sentence.

Act 1: Chapter 11

I soon returned back to Equus. I woke up in Luna's bed. Sunlight pierced through the curtains and the sound of construction disturbed my sleep. I rubbed the back of my head as I had a searing headache. I sat up. Soon Luna had come through the room. She smiled lightly.

"Afternoon," Luna said. I still couldn't comprehend it. Luna. Pregnant!

"That the time?" Luna walked slowly to me and sat down.

"Lucas, do you still love me?" I soon shot up.

"Of course! What drove you to ask that question?"

"Well, I am scared. I am not going to lie. This war was enough. Now I am going to have a child. I don't know what to do. Last thing I want to happen is to lose you," Luna nuzzled my arm.

"Luna, I got a higher chance of winning the lottery on Friday the thirteenth when the planets align to even remotely consider not loving you," Luna had a blank expression on her face, "That means it will never happen".

"So, you are not mad?"

"Of course I am not mad. I am going to be a father! I couldn't be happier!"

"So why did you faint?"

"Shock that's all. Having a child isn't something everypony can predict". I crawled out of the bed, "Luna, now that we are having a child. I now know what I am going to do".

"Huh?"

"I need to make a haven. A safe place for our child. Canterlot is too dangerous, I don't want our child to be threatened by this plague," I looked out of the window, Canterlot was being rebuilt slowly. Thanks to Project Machina. I hope to see Canterlot reconstructed within a year.

"So you are going to imprison it?"

"Of course not. I am thinking of moving to Ponyville. That is most secure, I know you want what is best for our child. So I leave it up to you Luna. Please make the right decision". I hugged her, she planted a small kiss on my cheek.

"I hate this place in all honesty. Everypony thinks of themselves, It is horrible. I hope that Ponyville is more accepting of you now," Luna said to me. Recalling the events of our first visit to Ponyville.

"I think they will be, otherwise they will end up having you dropping on them like a ton of bricks!"

"Shall we go downstairs, I think dinner is almost ready".

"Yeah, I am pretty hungry".

We walked downstairs to the dining room, soon as we entered the room fell silent. Celestia was in her usual place at the table, this time we had visitors. A large, built stallion sat near Celestia. He had a grey coat and one scar on his face, most likely from being clawed at. My own seat and been made, instead of having a blank one. Everypony had a emblem engraved on their chair that corresponded with their profession, just like the royal guard commanders. Celestia obviously had the sun, Luna had the moon, the stallion had 5 stars on his. Must be a general. I took my seat. My emblem had a shield with 3 gears on, guess that means engineer or something. Soon the food had arrived and we began talking.

"So Lucas, what are your plans for Canterlot?" Celestia asked.

"Better defence, finally installing a electrical grid, tons of stuff. I will go through the entire list of improvements later". I didn't even finish eating before...

"So when is it due?" I ended up nearly inhaling my fork.

"They think July," Luna replied, looking and smiling at her abdomen which had already began to grow larger.

"So Lucas, what do you think?"

"About what?" I asked suspiciously.

"About your child".

"I think it's great, I couldn't be happier," I smiled, hugging Luna. I looked at the general, he seems a bit out of place. We had soon finished and entered the throne room once more. I walked along side the general.

"So haven't seen you around here before," I stated, smiling at him. I was only met with a emotionless glare.

"Indeed, I am General Armoured Javelin. You must be this Lucas I have heard so much about," His voice was monotonous, he was devoid of all emotion. Neither happiness or despair seemed to exist. Even some robot's AI drives are much more enthusiastic than this. Guess he fits in with the theme of grey.

"Yes, I am Lucas. Were you here in the Battle of Canterlot?"

"No I was in Saddle Arabia, I recently got transferred here. I hope you meet expectations, my troops call you the 'Angel of Steel'. Pretty good nickname to go by if you ask me," A small smile cracked. Some emotion, finally.

"Well, as you heard, Canterlot is being rebuilt from ground up. The technology I know will be implemented here, creating a much more secure, advanced Canterlot".

"I came here to take over the captain's job. I guess your forces are independent," Armoured stopped and looked at me.

"They are".

"Who is commanding them then?" He asked suspiciously.

"Classified. Not even the Princesses know of the commanders identity," Armoured began to get annoyed.

"You hold back information from the Princesses?"

"There is a lot I have held back. Unlike you ponies, the robots swear their allegiance to me. Not the royals," I carried on talking.

"You traitor! You are organising a coup d'etat!" He then drew his sword.

"Not at all, the robots must not be burdened by politics. For they only want orders. I know this because the AI was developed by me," I lectured. Armoured raised his sword.

"You created abominations of pony-kind! You must be brought to justice!"

"Abominations? I think it is about time you left Armoured!"

"Cease talking criminal!"

"No he is right, remove yourself immediately!" Luna sternly said. She was standing in the doorway. I turned around and smiled at her.

"Princess, do you even know what this creature has done!"

"I do, he has saved us all. Without him, we would all be gone. I suggest you go back to Saddle Arabia!" Luna began to advance.

"Yes, your highness". Armoured walked off but not before turning to me once more, "This isn't over, creature".

"So. What have you been withholding from me?"

Me and Luna walked into the empty dining room. Complete silence. Complete solitude. Perfect.

"Well, what are these plans of yours then Lucas?" Luna sat down, narrowing her eyes at me.

"I have started several projects. One notable is something I call Project Sol," I sighed.

"Project Sol?"

"It is Latin for Sun. I cannot tell you more. I can't for your safety".

"Lucas, tell me".

"Fine, here are the project plans. I will not talk to you about it in case somepony is listening". I imprinted off the entire plans for project sol on pieces of paper and then handed them to Luna. She scanned them, having looks of awe, fear and intrigue.

"This is your back up plan I presume?" Luna asked, putting down the plans.

"Yes. If all else fails, Project Sol will initialise".

"But it won't, that's the flaw with your plan". A sudden digital blip was heard.

"Excuse me for a second Luna," I walked out of the room.

"OK DEL. Talk to me, what's up?"

"Well a few things. That general was a happy chap wasn't he? The nerve to call me an abomination!" DEL was fuming. He was the closest thing to sentience I have made so far.

"He was. I assume this isn't the reason though?"

"No sir. I am sorry to eavesdrop but I couldn't help but hear that you are to be a father. Congratulations!"

"Thank you DEL. I am leaving the foundry as a result. Mystic will be in charge but you will take control if he goes mental. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir. I will continue foundry operations as normal. I assume you want Project Sol continued with?"

"Yes. Luna knows now though," I sighed. Looking inside the room where Luna was patiently sitting.

"I estimate that it will ready for deployment in 2 years. That is including resource accumulation such as fuel".

"Good enough. I must go visit the foundry one more time before I leave for a while". This is really happening. Me. A father.

"Fair enough sir. Shall I prepare a pod?"

"Yes," I uploaded my coordinates and walked into the room once more, "Talk to you later DEL".

Luna raised her eyebrow.

"Who was that?"

"DEL. Commander of Project Machina".

"I see," Luna stirred a spoon in a freshly made cup of tea, "Want one?"

"No. I need to see the foundry once more. Then you can have me all to yourself," I winked. She blushed a little.

"Fine. Just this once. I hate to nag but I wouldn't be surprised if the city is still dangerous," She said. My charms worked. Lucas you smooth talker.

I walked outside of the castle into the ruined city. The place was a shit hole. Large chunks of rubble scattered across the roads. Worker bots building or demolishing the old city. Reminds me of a Phoenix. The city is rising from the ashes. I walked along the empty streets. A few buildings stayed remotely intact. Everypony had been taken to refugee camps or evacuated to different cities such as Trottingham. Canterlot was a no go zone. Only the royals stayed in the castle. I walked up to my foundry one last time. Looks like the good ol' force field works. Well I hope so anyway. I entered the corridors and entered the main workshop. Mystic was nowhere to be soon.

"DEL. Where is Mystic?" I asked cautiously. Looking around.

"Mystic Bloom is currently in Refugee Camp #033".

"Send a squad to retrieve him and bring him here. I want him safe!"

"Yes sir".

I took in my last sights of the place. I wasn't the most beautiful place. I sure had my memories here though. Lets have a last look at the protection gear.

I entered the steel room. Soon after a now not painful transformation. I was The Master Mind once more. I broke into maniacal laughter.

"This is brilliant! Canterlot is in ruins and I have the ability to build it to my advantage! I can finally destroy them without them even knowing I am going to strike before it is too late! The game is now in my favour Celestia. I WILL DESTROY YOU ALL!" I walked out of the room, "I am going to miss this place. I can play every card in my favour. The child? Luna? All will be wrapped around my finger and they will figure out my human counter parts true identity before it is too late. This is if they actually can!" I toured the facility once more. Still talking to myself.

"I must talk with master to give me the thing needed for this plan," I closed my eyes and began to picture Pestilence in my mind.

"What! I am busy!" The disease god's dry and evil voice shouted.

"I have a plan. I need your help though master".

"Forget it. You build everything yourself. This form is enough!"

"That is the problem master. The form makes it hard for the plan to execute for now".

"What are you getting at?"

"I am saying I need this form to be dormant for some years. Perhaps 8 years?"

"I do not care about what you do. As long as you get it done! Fine, if you screw up though. I am putting your soul, not the human's, yours, into the madness realm!"

"Yes master," I suddenly felt energy flowing out of me. My body began to revert back to the human form. 8 Years human. Get friendly with Luna. My plan depends on it. Which is why you humans are so nice to play with! My body was soon this human's. Ugh, this is disgusting. I feel weak. Anyway, time to let Lucas back in this body.

Well, this old place is going down for some time. Time to turn out the lights. I flicked the switch, the lights went off. The machines still worked. DEL has things in control but Mystic, he will have a hard time following in my foot steps, or hoof in his case. I need a pony to man the station, just in-case DEL goes all kill, crush, destroy on us all. He should find the override code soon as he enters. I walked out the foundry and saw the sun radiating in the sky.

I walked back to Canterlot Castle, seeing the ruins once more. The wasteland. I think Luna has found a place. A small cottage outside of Ponyville. Royalty has it perks. Not Flutter's cottage before anyone asks. I'm not that evil. Small road leading to the town. Quite isolated but not too isolated so my child can have friends. Luna was looking out on her balcony out to the city.

"Soon we will live in peace for once Luna. Our child will live a happy life," I said.

"Indeed, the cottage I found was perfect. All we need now is the arrangements," Luna's voice was filled with hope, "We are doing this then? A new life?"

"Yes. A new life".

As the sun began to set on the horizon, the smoke began to settle. The noise of work continued on for hours. No pony lived in the ruins so noise was no problem. Me and Luna hugged each other on the balcony of the castle. We looked into each other's eyes. My future was planned out. I am becoming a father. Of a child. My child. The child of the human from the stars. The star child. I am sure that my child will make a difference in the days to come. For he is a fallen star as well. One of the human race. Another human. The war against the fungus has not stopped. I just have retired for a while. My technology should live on for a long time. At least until the star child has grown.

The world is a forever changing place. I will do my best to make my child the best in this world. For that is my duty. As a father.

Act 1: Epilogue

And so, Lucas carried on with his dream. Living out his final days as the royal pioneer. He is not however being completely detached from his duties. As from time to time, he helped invent new weapons, new medicine, new machines that helped Equestria prosper. Lucas and Princess Luna moved into the small Ponyville cottage, living out life in peace which has became a scarcity for them so far in current events. The new technology developed by Lucas, allowed them to live in a safe haven. Be it timber wolves or the infected forces. They were safe at last. After a few months, it was found out that the child of Lucas and Luna was a boy. And after a few more, he was born.

He was given the name Alex. Alex Dawn. Half human name, half royal name. Alex was a born genius. Learning new things by the day.  He attended the Ponyville school house but also gained private tutoring by his father. That way he is informed on human culture and pony culture. Alex was trained in sharpshooting, becoming a perfect shot like his father. Unlike his father, Alex does not know of his real home-world. For Equestria is his home. Earth is just a story that Lucas tells, the Human planet is now only a myth to ponies.

Due to the Master Mind's disappearance. Lucas was no longer restricted to the rules that Pestilence had set out for him. The infected army outside of Manehatten scattered, fading from existence. Manehatten however, flourished. Known as the lost city, it turned into a wasteland. Full of infected or dead ponies. The search for him continued for several years, trying to bring the beast to justice once and for all.

When the dust settled, and the fires stopped burning. Canterlot was built using Lucas' designs that were programmed into the construction bots. Canterlot became more glorious than ever, boasting the first ever city wide electricity grid. Lucas was however not useless as he helped connect electricity to other cities and towns, including Ponyville. Equestria entered a golden age. Technology flourished, leading into advancements such as the television, the radio and the telephone. Connecting Equestria closer than ever. The newly constructed city was name New Canterlot. The image of old Canterlot scarred in the survivors of the battle of Canterlot. The war that decided the fate of Equestria.

DEL oversaw the foundry with the assistance of Mystic Bloom. Project Sol was put into automated production. The mysterious, enigmatic project was completed 2 years after Lucas' retire and is awaiting his command to be deployed. DEL and Mystic soon split paths. DEL keeping command on Project Machina and Mystic Bloom starting his own life in New Canterlot as a research scientist for Mycology. They began to live normal lives, just like their superior.

The mane 6 lived there lives as normal. Encountering adventures which taught them the lessons of friendships. They filled out their diary as usual and recorded everything they did together. Lucas and Luna occasionally visited the Mane 6, going out for lunch or simply having a good time in the park. Lucas taught everything he knew about sharpshooting to Twilight, as he promised. He crafted her own rifle called the Star Shooter (Her idea). Alex also frequently visited, seeing the mane 6 as family. Going on trips with Lucas, Luna and the mane 6. Twilight and Alex had a sharpshooting contest that they did from time to time, trying to surpass the skill of their mentor.

The mysterious friend that helped Lucas during the battle of Canterlot disappeared ever since Alex was born. He kept regular contact until then. Usually giving advice or helping Lucas out with personal problems as an agony aunt. His last message was as follows;

Have a good life. See you soon.

Project Machina was in full motion after the construction of New Canterlot. The robots policed New Canterlot, keeping law and order in the newly built city. The sentinel heavy assault bots were dismissed and stored in the foundry, where they collected dust for years with Project Sol.

General Armoured Javelin was reassigned to Saddle Arabia after his outburst in Canterlot Castle. Disgruntled, he disappeared in the wide, barren deserts of Saddle Arabia. Some say he died, some say he lives on, mounting a strike force against Lucas. He lives on in the minds of soldiers as the Desert Wanderer.

The fungus itself lives on throughout Equestria. Taking lives every day. However several developments in research nearly cured the deadly fungus once and for all. Until an unidentified assailant caused the lab to explode, destroying all of the research. Few infected soldiers were arrested and executed.

And so Lucas lived on as a father. Living his dream life while his son lived his. The Master Mind's army became a bloody chapter in Equestria's history. The future holds even more mysteries. For this is only the beginning, of another chapter in Lucas' life. Lucas looks to the stars once every night, hoping for once piece of his home to come to him. However he gives up, as the Earth is an incomprehensible distance away. Looking up at the Equestrian night sky, he hopes to see his star. As stars, stars will never fade.

Act 2: Chapter 1

Seven Years Later

Seven years ago. Canterlot fell, burned to the ground. Seven years ago, Equestria was near destruction. Seven years ago, I met the love of my life. Seven years ago, I became a father. The birds chirped in the forest. The sun radiated in the sky. High noon. A cool breeze blew in my hair. A cloud blocked out a portion of the sun, restoring my vision to full for a few moments. I leaned on the wooden bar on the porch, looking out in the expansive garden in front. There I saw Luna on her own, looking for something. Before I asked what was wrong, Alex came up a small hill holding a tennis ball in his hand. Alex. He was a standard human. His long legs scaled the rough terrain with ease. His thin body moved with his body as he began to scale down the hill. His body however was completely clad with sky blue fur, waving with the wind as he slowed down. He stretched out his wings while his arms did the same. His face was smooth and kind. His eyes were dark blue. He lacked a horn but I have seen him on occasion possess some sort of telekinetic ability. Well he is the child of an Alicorn.  I have made several great things in my time here. Project Sol, Project Machina, DEL. Nothing compares to Alex. I was proud of him, so proud. He ran up the hill and smacked the tennis ball towards Luna with his racket. Luna then hit. Alex. Luna. Alex. Luna. So on so forth.

As the sun returned, obscuring my view once more. I sat on a chair that I previously sat on before. Things had been quiet for the past 2 years. This is how I imagined my life in Equestria to be, not with the fungus completely destroying it! Manehatten and the infected army have been suspiciously quiet, after the battle of Canterlot it seems that they don't have enough energy. Or the commander was killed because not a single attack on the force-fields had been recorded for 3 years. No. I am not the Lucas that fights any more. I left that life behind! Alex suddenly looked at me as I banged my fists in frustration.

"You OK Dad?" He asked, looking at me in concern.

"I'm fine Alex, just getting some thoughts that I didn't want," I waved a hand of dismissal.

"Hmm. Want to play tennis?"

"I'm OK son".

"Come on. You know I'd just beat you any way," Alex teased.

"Oh it is on!" I stood up and walked towards Alex. Luna stepped back and giggled.

"You boys be careful. Lucas, don't cheat. I know you always do". Luna walked back into the house, "Dinner will be done in 15 minutes!"

"Not even dinner can save you this time Dad. I have been practising!"

"Bring it. I played this before I even came here!"

Alex served, hitting the ball at breakneck speeds. I can't even play this sport. It was just my PAD that told me where the ball is going and I just hit it. I smacked it back, Alex returned. It lasted for a couple of minutes before I scored.

"Fifteen-Love. I'm sorry did you say you was going to beat me?"

"Only because you are cheating!"

"How do you know that?"

"You always are! Cheater!" Alex reached into his pocket, "Next time don't keep EMP projectors out". He pressed a button and my PAD turned off. Shit. Alex whacked the ball, going past me almost instantly.

"Told you!" He bobbed his tongue out. I served the ball, he returned and scored again. And again. And again. Finally he won.

"Are you even trying!"

"Yes I am trying you cheeky git!" I threw the racket in the air. Alex just laughed at me.

"I win! I win! I win!" Alex celebrated, jumping around in circles.

"Try and beat me at shooting then," I teased. Alex suddenly stopped and narrowed his eyes at me. I then bobbed my tongue out and walked inside the cottage, Alex soon followed.

Alex ran past me, sitting at the table and picking up a knife and fork. I went up to Luna and hugged her behind and kissed her. Luna looked at me returned the kiss, then going back to cooking. Alex then pointed his finger in his mouth and made a gagging noise.

"Who knew living with two humans would be such a pain!" She exclaimed in a joking manner.

"What's wrong?" I asked, still hugging her.

"Well, Alex nearly fried the electrics! All because of you. Told you he would cheat Alex!" Luna pointed a hoof at me. She then served dinner. Steak and Salad, my favourite. Alex's too by the look on his face. While Luna just had her usual salad.

We began to eat the room was silent for a few seconds until,

"I got an A+ on my Pony history test today!"

"Well done! I am so proud of you!" Luna pecked him on the cheek.

"Yes well done. Did better than me at school I can say that for sure!" I chuckled.

"Where did you go to school Dad?" Suddenly memories of Earth began flashing in my mind. Good memories which made it hurt even more. Friends playing. Awesome teachers, just good memories. Why is this happening now. It never did before! I shook my head and regained my senses.

"Well, I went to a very different school. It taught more complicated stuff than you learn. At your age I was doing more complicated subjects than I am tutoring you on right now," Alex looked at me for a moment in awe, then quickly returned to eating, "Any way, needless to say I wasn't as bright as I am now. I kinda failed school mostly. Not an excuse for you to fail though. Learn from my mistakes son. I lived a hard life until I was blessed with this," I pointed at my PAD. Alex smiled.

"Oh tomorrow is Family Appreciation Day and I am presenting! Who wants to come with me?" Alex exclaimed. This was his first time presenting judging from his excitement. Me and Luna looked at each other. One side the leader of Equestria and on the other, an Alien who possesses supreme grasp of technology. I'll stop bragging now.

"Oh, sorry Alex. Aunt Celestia wants me to visit her in Canterlot," Alex looked at Luna in confusion, "New Canterlot". Luna rolled her eyes. Alex looked at me in hope and gleamed at me.

"Fine, when do you want me around?"

"Presentation is at the start of the school day! Thanks Dad, you are the best!" Alex hugged me tight.

"You sure are getting big and strong!" I wheezed. Alex let go of his grasp.

"Can I visit Marble Collage?" I sighed quietly.

"Yes Alex. Make sure you are back before dark though," Luna said sternly. There is always one kid you just one to punch. Marble Collage is one of those kids. The kid gets Alex in trouble but he is best friend. Not forgetting being the most snobby kid in the entire schoolhouse. Worse than Diamond Tiara and Prince Bluebutt combined. I know.

The Next Day

"Come on Dad! We are going to be late!" Alex ran ahead, trying to drag me with him. I simply walked to the schoolhouse. Obviously with a big smirk on my face. After being dragged several times. We arrived at the schoolhouse. I was near the door. Enough to see Miss Cheerilee but enough to not be seen. I heard some mumbling from where I was. One voice stuck out though.

"Oh Alex, I thought you were going to be absent today. How are you my friend?" A high pitched, aristocratic voice said. Keep calm Lucas. Try not to punch him. Try.

"Please be silent students! Today we have a very special guest. Alex's father. Lucas!" Cheerilee introduced me. I walked in and stood in front of the class. The chair looked like is was going to break.

"Hello. As you know I am Lucas. Father to Alex and Husband to Princess Luna. Inventor of multiple technologies that you see today". Suddenly a hoof shot in the air. Surprise. It was Marble.

"Does that mean you are a Prince?" He said.

"Well technically I am a Prince. However I do not want that title".

"I haven't seen any other ponies like you? Where are they," A small filly asked.

"Good question. I am not actually from Equestria. Or Equus for that matter". The room gasped except for Cheerilee, who knew this when I first landed, "Yes it is true. I come from a far away land called Earth. I arrived in Equestria 8 years ago".

"How come with haven't been taught this in Pony History?" A colt asked.

"We are going to learn about Lucas after the Pre-Princess era," Cheerilee answered.

"How did you get here?"

"Could we save questions until the end of Lucas' presentation please?" Cheerilee finally broke up the flurry of questions.

"Thank you Miss Cheerilee. So let us get started," I clapped my hands together. This is going to take a bit of time.

Eight years ago. Several space rocks crashed into Equestria and the surrounding nations. Most of them was just rocks. Nothing of value. However a few contained some special items. One of them was me. I crashed in the Everfree forest. You can visit it today as it is a tourist attraction and they transferred the old rock there too. Princess Twilight freed me from the rock, allowing me to finally do good in Equestria. If you ask your parents you may get mixed responses. My arrival wasn't exactly the best.

A few years later Canterlot was rebuilt. I helped build it completely. From the ground up. Helped create the devices you use today. The television, the telephone all those funky gadgets. When I mean helped, I mean I did all the work except actually build them. I did the planning. No doubt you have heard of the Old Canterlot Foundry. That was my workshop before I retired. Now I live peacefully on the borders.

"Any questions?" I asked. Nearly the entire class put there hooves up. I pointed at one colt.

"My dad said he fought at the battle of Old Canterlot. What exactly happened?" Well...shit.

"That is too inappropriate to talk about here. I was in the battle of Old Canterlot," I said, "Yes you".

"What is that shiny thing on your head?" A filly pointed to my PAD

"Ah this. It is my secret to being the inventor I am today. It is the only thing I left Earth with".

"What is your cutie mark?"

"As a human. I do not have one. We figure out our destiny just by training in what we want to do," The students look confused but suddenly clicked. After a what seemed like an endless flurry of questions. They finally exhausted their list of questions. Most of them was about Human culture. A few was about the battle of Canterlot. School got dismissed soon as I left and I walked home with Alex.

"Dad?" Alex said.

"Yes Alex?" I replied.

"Will I get a cutie mark?" Alex looked at his thigh.

"I don't know son. Only time will tell. If you don't get one, well you can say that you are versatile".

"Yes but all of my friends have one!"

"Be patient. All I can say," I smiled at him.

"Also, what is that battle of Canterlot thing that everypony asked about?" It is about time he knew.

"Alex, sit down for a second. I need to tell you about before you were born".

A part of history of my life that I took out of the presentation was the Fungus Crisis. Soon after me and your mother met. Equestria had a plague of fungi come and nearly kill us all. It took over ponies, making them do things beyond their will. It was horrible. Soon the fungus accumulated enough ponies to fight us. They got intelligent and used the rifles me and you shoot for practice today. Canterlot was near destroyed. Only the castle really stayed intact. I rebuilt Canterlot, stripping it down and building it from the ground up. This made New Canterlot. You can see some of the pre-war buildings today that the bots left for historical purposes. Even though the war is best left forgotten. It still lives fresh in the minds of the survivors.

"Wow...no wonder you didn't want to talk about it," Alex said.

"I fought in the battle as the commander. I won obviously, barely but we still won!" I sighed "I retired from that life years ago, after the battle I found out that your mother was going to have you and I quit to look after you".

"So that is why ponies aren't allowed in Manehattan," The word resonating through my body. Echoing. Manehatten, the fallen city.

"Yes. I have been in Manehatten you know. It is horrible," I sighed. My head began to hurt.

"Dad. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Let's go home".

The days went by. Normal life still continued. Alex passed every test that was thrown at him with flying colours. I began to feel weird however. Memories of Old Canterlot began to replay itself in my mind. The pain, the agony, the despair. All of it fresh in my mind. Even though I didn't directly fight. I had to watch all of it. I think I need to see Twilight. Perhaps she can help me. Soon as I went to sleep I had this recurring nightmare. It started off as a normal day. Nothing wrong, just normal ,sunny day. Suddenly the sky turns red. Fire begins to rain from the sky. Ponies burn. Families break. All I can do is watch as I can't move. All they can do is run as the heavens fall upon them. This fire though. It isn't meteors. They are ponies, infected ponies to be precise. They are clad in fire, breathing fire and burning the town. Suddenly one turns to me and burns me. I then wake up.

It was night, I had the dream once more. Luna stirred and then looked at me.

"I've been in your dream Lucas. What is happening? You are clearly troubled," Luna mumbled.

"I...I don't know Luna. I feel like that this peaceful world will be subjected to war once more". Luna kissed me on the lips.

"You are worrying too much. You try and protect us too much that you begin to worry about the extremes. Ease off the protection a bit. We know that the fungus is long gone. Manehatten is sealed, the Master Mind has most likely died and we are safe once more".

"I guess you are right. I just don't want a reply of 7 years ago with Alex in the thick of it this time". Suddenly I heard several hoofsteps quiet hushing.

"Lucas. What was that?" Luna frantically whispered.

"I don't know. I'm going to find out". I picked up my Lee Enfield and walked slowly downstairs. I saw a pony in a cloak rummaging through my notes. I aimed my rifle at them and took off the safety. Click. The pony soon looked around and saw me aiming the muzzle at his head.

"Identify yourself spy!" I shouted, readying my rifle to fire. They remained silent, "I am not messing around. You have five seconds or you will be fired upon!"

"You...you are the Master Mind". It was a male, had a low and rough voice.

"How dare you! I am not that monster!"

"It is only a matter of time before your realise. War is on the horizon and you will be in the centre of it. Which side will you choose. Only time shall tell". I fired with rage. Several shots fired, emptying my magazine into the cultist.

"I. Am. Not. The. Fucking. Master. Mind!" The shots thundered throughout Ponyville. Luna soon flew downstairs and saw me with the rifle and the cultist dead.

"Lucas. What the buck did you do!" I only gripped my rifle tighter.

"I am not him. I am not him," I whispered to myself repeatedly. I dropped the rifle and fell on my knees. Luna went up to me and put her hoof on my shoulder.

"Lucas?" She tried to turn my around.

"I am re-establishing the foundry. I cannot allow this to go on any further. Actions must be made. This is my action. My plan," I decreed, "Today. Is the beginning of the end for this master mind character!"

Act 2: Chapter 2

Morning

Alex had already left for school and Luna sat at the table with a cup of tea. Another cup sat opposite which had been just made. Luna pointed her hoof to the seat. I sat down opposite her.

"So. May I ask what that was about last night?" Luna stirred a spoon in her cup and then placed it on the table. She then looked up at me, awaiting an answer. I looked down at my hands.

"I...I do not know. I think my human instincts went into overdrive," I quietly mumbled. Luna raised an eyebrow at me. "I was scared, angry and confused. My trigger finger spoke first".

"I hope you are not going through with your plan of reactivating the foundry". Luna gave me a cold stare. Her eyes going from warm and motherly to cold.

"I think that was me blurting out nonsense, another thing I tend to do when I am scared," I reassured. "You and Alex need me to be there with you and I can't let myself dance with death. In short, no. I am not re-opening that damned place". Luna gave a sigh of relief.

"You had me terrified for a moment. I have invited Twilight Sparkle to come round here to talk to you". I looked at her in confusion.

"Twilight? Why Twilight?" I asked.

"Isn't she your best friend?"

"Oh. Yeah. Speak of the devil," I said. Pointing at the door where Twilight's mane was only visible from the small windows on the door. I stood up and twisted the lock, unlocking the door. I opened it and saw Twilight standing there. She had her custom rifle, the Star Shooter, on her back. Twilight always took it with her, guess it's either a precaution or to show ponies that she can wield a rifle. Either way I had no idea why she took it with her, she just did. Another one of life's mysteries. I came into full view of her, she beamed at me and I replied with a forced smile. I invited her in, she looked at me in concern.

"So Lucas. Princess Luna tells me you are having some problems?" She asked. I slowly nodded. "Would you like to share them?" Twilight smiled. I nodded again. I walked across the room and went out into the porch. I leaned on my usual place on the wooden bar. I looked out into the garden. A cool breeze soon arrive. I filled my lungs with the fresh air.

"Another war is coming, I can feel. I can see it," I said. My head began to ache.

"What? You mean that the infection is making a second attack. We must alert the princess at once!" Twilight began to run but I called her back.

"This is something that not even the most powerful pony can fight. We have to act big, and soon," I switched on my PAD. "Luckily I have a few contacts that could help me".

"Lucas! Do not do it. Luna needs you by her side. So does Alex!"

"If you love something, you need to let it go. I learnt that ages ago on Earth". Suddenly a pod landed on the ground. I waved goodbye. "Until next time Twilight Sparkle. Tell Luna and Alex I'm going on vacation for a few days"

"Lucas if you do not come down here I will-" Luna shouted, but was quickly cut off by the sound of pods noisy engines blasting off. Leaving a cloud of dust. Twilight put her hoof on Luna's shoulders.

"If Lucas truly loves you and Alex. He will come back". Luna looked at me and smiled.

"Thank you Twilight Sparkle. I am sorry to drag you into this," Luna said. "If you could leave me be to my own thoughts I would appreciate it".

"Of course," Twilight walked out of the garden and back into the town.

"Lucas, this better be another one of your plans," Luna muttered.

"Trust me Luna. I have to do this," I whispered to myself. My head began to resonate with pain.

"So weak, so fun to play with," A voice said in my head. It's voice was dark and malicious.

"Who the hell are you?"

"The reason you fight. I am the Master Mind, thing is, you are correct. A war looms on the horizon!"

"Why are you telling me this?" The Master Mind's laugh filled my head.

"I like a challenge. All these years I have gained strength. Now it's my turn to win!"

"Over my dead body!"

"Oh we will see that I am sure of that!" The beast laughed. "It was good having this small chat, I must leave now. Things to plan and all that stuff". My headache soon faded. I began to feel sick. This is bad, catastrophic even. I need to call a few friends.

I flew to Canterlot mountains and landed on a small platform. I got out of the pod and met the cold winds that roamed the mountains.  I peered through the clouds, trying to orientate myself. Soon I found a beaten path and followed it. I was lead down the mountains and soon approached it. The Old Canterlot Mine, or in my eyes. The Foundry. I walked up to an old brick wall and pressed a loose brick in. Soon a keypad projected near the door. I pressed in the key code and was met by red lights. I tired again, same result. Once more, there we go. The keypad went green and retracted. The door burst to life and began to slide up. The sound of old, barely oiled gears creaked throughout the mountains. Soon the door stopped. Leaving the empty caverns ahead. I flicked an old rusted switch, the caves were suddenly brilliant with light. I walked further until I met another door on my right. I waved my hand over another projector, another keypad. I typed in the code and the door sparked. The door jolted up but soon stopped halfway. I walked inside. Here it is, where it all started. The workshop.

I pulled down a heavy switch. It resisted, trying to retain its position. Finally it gave, causing an array of sparks. A low pitch whirring sound was heard through the room. Small hatches opened throughout the floor where mechanical arms of all sizes groaned awake. A set of screens soon blinked. I adjusted them slightly, wobbling cables back into their ports, blowing dust out of them. Soon the screens returned to their former glory. Now for the final thing on my list. I looked at one of the screens and saw the reactor status. Few reactors had flooded, causing the facility to be drained of it's life force. I stretched out my fingers and typed in the manual clean up code. Soon dusty robots burst through containment pods, rushing quickly to work. I saw the bots contain the water and taking old parts and repairing the ancient reactors. Soon the entire facility was restored, I rolled back to my desk on my chair. I took out a key from my necklace and put it inside it's respective hole. I turned it and a voice quickly met it.

"Power Levels: 46%. Core Integrity: Stable. Main Core: On-line.  Auxiliary Core: Overheated. Connection Servers: On-line. Overriding control from unknown device named: 'Police Command'. All devices connected. Booting the Digital Engineering Life-form. Boot Successful. Powering Up". Soon another voice spoke.

"Booted Digital Engineering Life-form. Activating Personality Core. Last Command: Sentinel AI Update V5.342223. Initialised." That voice was the sound my faithful AI. DEL.

"So DEL, you awake yet?" I asked. A yawn was soon heard.

"Sir! You are back! According to my scout-bot report it has been 7 years. How are you?"

"You know, the usual. Moved in a small house, lived my life, got a kid".

"That's nice. Wait a child!" DEL exclaimed.

"Yup, name's Alex Dawn," I stretched out on my chair. "Anyway that isn't the worse thing we got on our hooves so far. The infected forces are returning and well...we need to get the Sentinels back up".

"Sir if I recommend Project Sol's deployment?"

"Of course. Project Sol!" I stood up and looked around. "Where is it?"

"Launch pad sir, fuel is at 67% and should be deployed ETA 2 days."

"Good, fuel the rocket and tell me when it is done".

"Yes sir".

I walked around the workshop and saw the launch pad light up. A large rocket stood up, pointing towards the top of the mountain. Inside was my greatest invention yet. Project Sol. It was neatly packed inside the nose cone of the rocket and all that was required was it be charged. I think we have a chance of fighting the infection off once and for all. This time the good guys will win and there will be no stalemate. I then walked outside and went into the Mycology labs. Here I followed the philosophy of know your enemy. I learnt a recipe for a repellent of the fungus and I saw vials of the chemical loaded for mass production. I pulled down another switch, causing the producer to spark to life. Soon vials were coming out by the second. I set it to be produced in vats and would load up decontamination chambers with them, as well as sprinkler systems if the fungus was detected. I already worked on the system and needed the vats of chemicals to make it work. Now I have that, this place is truly safe. After attaching the vats to the system I began to repair the old rusted machines. Restoring them, updating the AI systems and most importantly, oiling the bloody gates!

After a few hours of a good ol' spit shine. The place was decent, not as it was before but decent.

"OK DEL, fuel up the rocket!" I ordered. I can't wait. Victory is in my grasp.

"Yes sir, we have enough fuel for the rocket and is being loaded now".

"I am going to put on my work armour".

"Sir, one question. How does that anti-fungus work?"

"OK, I guess I haven't updated that in your files," I mumbled to myself. "The anti-fungus works by causing the mycelium to retract by overfeeding it. The fungus then bursts prematurely which means no spores are released. I can't just deploy this all over Equestria though because it also harms other plant life." I walked into the equipment chamber and my hand began to ache.

Red fungus began to burst from my hand. I felt something crawling up my arm and reaching my head. Cysts began to form on my face. Hands turned to claws. I took the form of a primal beast. I took the form of the Master Mind. I stretched out my arms and yawned.

"Honey I'm home!" I laughed. I flexed out my claws. "Oh how I have missed the mortal plane". I walked out soon an alarm blared. A liquid began to burst from sprinklers overhead. My head began to burn. "What the? Oh Lucas you smart cookie," I looked at my hand which began to revert back to human form. "Overfeeding so I don't explode and encrypting your memories using spells so I can't remember. No matter I can just, wait." I stopped in realisation. "He will know I am him! This is bad!" I ran towards the door but I was too late as my legs gave way and I began to revert back to human form. "Fine you want play dirty! I will oblige!" I stabbed myself with the single claw I had left in my head, injecting the fungus in myself. It began to collect on my head and soon sunk in.

I woke up and rubbed my head, I felt like I had been hit with a truck! Wait is this what I think it is? I rubbed my fingers and raised it to the light. It was a green liquid. The anti-fungus. Wait. Why did the anti-fungus deploy? Does that mean...

"Yes, you want to play dirty. So I played my card!" A voice said in my head, it was similar to mine but much deeper and crackly. It was the Master Mind.

"What did you do!" I shouted into the air.

"I have just made me a part of you. I propose a deal. If you can find another host for me I will leave your body forever. Otherwise I will just stay here," The Master Mind laughed.

"You can only talk jackass!" Suddenly my hand slapped me.

"Encryptions can only get you so far".

"Fine, I will take your deal. I think I have a host in my head but I need to investigate him a bit. For now though," I took a syringe and filled it with the anti-fungus and stabbed myself in the arm. "That should see to your needs for a day".

"You seem content".

"I am happy but fucking furious at the same time. Happy because I have the choice to see who my enemy is. Furious, I'll give you three guesses!"

"So I'd like to see this host, best get comfy with my presence because you are going to be with me for a while". I smacked the side of my head he infected. "Ow. Arsehole!"

Quartz Chisel. Father of Marble Collage and Husband to Violet Brush. Now this is one pony that I probably fear the most. This pony has everything one could ask for. A good house, rich, family and a good job. Everypony likes this guy, he is always smiling and always tries to get on every-pony's good side. This guy is perfect, which is why I don't like him. Don't get me wrong his house parties are awesome but my gut tells me, don't go in the basement. Everypony has a flaw. His wife is so shy I'm surprised they got together and his son is a spoilt little shit. He is hosting a house party tonight to celebrate some business shit I don't care about. Might have to tell them don't eat the meat with the fava beans and the chianti.

"Don't blame you for not trusting this guy. Seems too nice and I hate nice," The Master Mind agreed. "This guy is perfect, so many contacts and influence." I took a blood sample from myself.

"This should give you the connection to possess him once it's in". I loaded it into a dart and picked up a dart gun. "Let's prepare for this then".

Quartz Chisel's Manor. 20:54

I lay prone down on the small hills that surrounding the manor. Inside the manor I saw several rich ponies talking with glasses of several types of drinks. Quartz was inside his bedroom with Violet Brush. I noticed some bruising on her head. Flaw number one detected. Abusive husband. I soon saw them bickering and Quartz soon lashed out with a slap. Sick fuck. He stormed out and closed the door and looked like he locked it. I have to get her out of there.

"Why? You will only get caught!" The Master Mind asked.

"Well if you knew tactics, you would of knew that you could easily interrogate her!"

"Oh. Good idea. Go ahead I'll be here watching". Lazy fuck. "I heard that". I got up and slid down the hill. I saw the manor was completely clean. No vines, well time for plan two. I got out a harpoon and fired it at the roof. I pulled on it a few times and no movement. I began to slide up getting in view of the bedroom. I saw Violet on her bed, crying. I knocked on the window and Violet looked up and saw me. She was shocked at first but opened the window.

"W...what do you want?" Violet sobbed.

"I saw it, may I come in?" I asked quietly. She nodded and I jumped in. "I have a few questions about Quartz". Violet sat back on her bed and looked up at me in despair.

"Go ahead, ask away".

"Why is he beating you?"

"He says it is to keep me in line". Violet soon walked up to me and looked at me with eyes full of hope. "Are you going to free me?"

"Yes, now that you said that. I need dirt on him".

"Oh, in that case. He worships this god that he said caused the Battle of Canterlot."

"Well well, a fan!" The Master Mind said. Shut up. "Make me".

"Let's go before he comes back" I whispered. I put her over my shoulder and abseiled down the rope. "Go. You are free now!"

"Thank you. Thank you! I will not forget this." Violet soon ran off towards the town.

"Violet?" A voice asked. There's my cue. I climbed up the rope once more. To find Quartz looking everywhere.

"Hello Quartz," I said, jumping through the window.

"Prince Lucas?" He said in shock, bowing to me.

"Get up you sick bastard!" I whispered in disgust. I closed the door and locked it. I pulled out my dart gun. "You abused Violet and you worship an enemy of the state. Do you know the punishment for treason?"

"How did you know about that?" He stammered.

"A little bird told me. Anyway I am feeling generous".

"Generous?"

"Yes. In this dart is my blood sample. Sadly I have been infected with the Master Mind's possession and, well I don't want it. So here you go," I fired the dart at him, causing him to go unconscious. "Enjoy, now get the fuck out of my body!"

"Will do, thanks for the host. Meet you on the battlefield". My head felt clear, now time to get out of here before I get charged with murder. This is for the best, one monster gets turned into another. At least I can now focus on battling the fungus instead of fighting myself. Wait a minute. If I was present when the commander talked to me. Who was the commander? Fuck a protégé! Oh well, I have DEL and enough anti-fungus to choke the whole of Equus.

Now then, to face something more scary than an army of Master Minds. Luna when she is angry.

Act 2: Chapter 3

I began to think what will happen next. Obviously The Master Mind will attack Canterlot again, so some extra defences is needed. Also will Alex be safe? Ponyville is a small town and wouldn't stand a snowball's chance in hell to survive. Guess I have to move back into Canterlot once again and total isolate Ponyville when the need arises. Anyway back to more recent issues. I landed in the back garden and saw Luna standing there. Her mane was frazzled and her eyes closed but still having a look of anger on them. I touched down on the ground and opened the door. I walked out and the pod soon flew back to the foundry. I took a deep breath and walked towards Luna.

"Hi Luna," I nervously said. She stood firmly and maintained her gaze at me.

"You did it didn't you?" She asked.

"I did," Suddenly a hoof struck me across the face.

"You foal! Now look what is going to happen. You are going to spend all your days in that forsaken place and going to end up dead!" Luna screamed. "I guess you didn't realise that me and Alex love you! Your sleeping on the couch tonight!" Luna stormed back in and I could hear the bedroom door slam.

"Of course I realise you both love me," I muttered to myself. I went inside and threw myself on the coach.

I woke up the next morning, or afternoon. I'm not sure. I woke up to Alex prodding me.

"Dad?" He nervously asked. I dragged myself of the couch and rubbed my eyes. I looked at the clock. 11am.

"Yes son?" I groaned.

"Is it true?" Alex asked.

"Is what true?"

"You re-opening the foundry?" I leaned in towards him.

"How do you know about the foundry?" I asked with caution. Alex just chuckled.

"You and Mom was arguing about it. I read a couple of books that you decided to write about the foundry. Interesting stuff but what I want to know. Why?"

"You are too young to know yet". Alex stomped his foot down on the floor.

"Oh come on! You know I am more mature than every kid at school!"

"Fine. You want to know. The foundry was a building I set up in my first weeks in Canterlot. It was first to produce new technology for Equestria. It kind of went to researching war machines in the Fungus war".

"So you are the producer of the Sentinels?" Alex asked in awe.

"You know too much. I see you are a bookworm and also like to go through my stuff. Yes the Sentinels were my idea."

"That's awesome! I always wanted to see a Sentinel. I only saw pictures." Suddenly Alex went close to me. "Do you think you can take me to the foundry?"

"You know too much, too much to be good for you. I am not taking you to the foundry because your mother would kill me!" I exclaimed.

"Oh come on! If Mom knows I've been in the foundry she will change her mind. Maybe even she will allow it after". Alex huffed. I thought for a moment.

"Well you have finished your studies and you could use come practical work. Also I guess you have a point, Luna would like the idea of opening the foundry if me and you worked together. OK then, I am going in a few minutes, so get ready". Alex flew at me and hugged me tight.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you! I will get my stuff!" Alex shouted in glee and ran up the stairs. I sorted out my hair and put on a change of clothes. I called the pod down and landed on it's usual place on the garden. Alex soon ran down the stairs and joined me outside. Alex and I ran into the pod as quickly as possible, Alex jumped in first, looking around in awe. I soon walked in slowly and sat down in my usual seat. I typed in the destination and pressed a button. Soon we was airborne, flying towards Canterlot in speeds unheard of in Equestria. I looked down at the clouds and pegasus weather teams as we tore through the skies. The pod was only restricted to a certain height at transport speeds so we won't smash into pegasi. We soon hovered over the hangar in the mountain range and landed on a lightly snow covered landing pad. I pulled the door open and walked out of the pod. Alex soon followed.

I walked to the door and did the same routine, punch in the code. The door opened much more swiftly, only making the noise it should, the gears turning. I walked into the empty shaft and flicked the lights on. Alex and I kept a brisk pace. We turned into the workshop and I turned towards Alex. He was looking around room in awe.

"Welcome to the house of fun Alex. This is where it all begins, the main workshop".

"Don't you just use your PAD to make everything?" Alex asked in confusion.

"This is only capable of so much. These massive mechanical arms build much more". I gave a small smile. "Time for you to meet someone. DEL!" I shouted.

"Yes sir? Oh! Who is this?" DEL asked in surprise. "Judging by the anatomy. He is your son".

"Well spotted. Alex meet the Digital Engineering Life-form or just DEL. I created him to help me with several projects".

"Pleased to make your acquaintance".

"Yeah, likewise," Alex said in complete awe.

"Sir. Project Sol is ready, we only need a launch date".

"Today, we need that thing in orbit as soon as possible!"

"Yes sir."

I walked to the launch pad overlook. A giant fuel metal arm pulled out of the rocket and rested on the ground. I began to look up at several screens which was calculating the flight path for the rocket. I began to grin like a maniac as numbers began to count down.

"Dad? What is this?" Alex asked in confusion.

"This is Project Sol. A satellite. Basically it's a machine that goes around the planet like the moon." I explained. "This machine is a weapon to fight our enemies." Alex blinked a couple of times.

"So, is this like a massive gun?"

"To put it simply. It's a massive space gun". I grinned. "To be more precise. It is a fusion cannon. The six chambers are fuel canisters that inject into the reactor. The reactor then fires a barrage of plasma at the target. The plasma is then contained in the area with EM beams and then reacts, causing one very toasty mess!" I lectured.

"Oh. Awesome!" Alex walked beside me and looked at the rocket. I looked at the countdown. T minus two minutes!

"Today marks two achievements. The first satellite for Equestria and the massive turning point in this bitter war!" I began to laugh. "Yes, we can change the world!" I could barely contain my laughter!

The clock counted down. One minute. Thirty seconds. Ten seconds! I saw the rocket engines beginning to ignite the fuel. Small flames spewed out of the exhaust. Five seconds. The inferno grew. Covering a few meters of ground in flames. Four. Three. Two. One.

"Lift off!" I shouted. Soon the engine exploded into life. Fire began to engulf the entire launchpad. Soon the metal cylinder began to rise up and travel along the large metal tube above. I had several camera drones recording the action. After a few seconds, the rocket flew up into the sky and left behind Canterlot. After a few minutes, the rocket hit supersonic. Causing a satisfying boom to thunder across all of Equestria. I saw camera drones picking up several ponies looking or running in fear as the rocket reached into the higher points of the atmosphere. I soon lost visual on the rocket and had to use radar. The rocket seemed in good condition. It had already been twelve minutes and it already reached the exosphere. About average for a rocket. Soon a bit of debris was detected off the rocket. I checked the log and saw it ejected the main thrusters. Everything is going to plan! More time passed. The calculations had shown the rocket had reached orbital velocity. Most of the time I was just waiting eagerly for the next stage to commence. Several camera drones had been released when the rocket's engines stopped. Soon the fairings flew off, revealing Project Sol in all it's glory. I saw the large cannon extend and the behemoth satellite aim towards the planet. Large panels extended out. The weapon is ready! After all these years of preparation. It is done!

Soon a bleeping noise came from my main office computer. I wonder when they would drop in for a call. I walked towards the office and pressed a button, a video feed of a displeased Princess Celestia came up on my screen.

"Hello Celestia, what brings to call me?" I asked, holding back a slight giggle.

"I think you know what," Celestia narrowed her eyes at me. "What was that just 15 minutes ago!"

"Project Sol". Celestia lowered her head.

"Oh Lucas, not this again!"

"All I can say is, we might have a better chance at winning this war once and for all!"

"Lucas, there is no war," Celestia sighed.

"There is! You may not see it, but I can feel it. A war cannot end just like that," I clicked my fingers for emphasis. "Until I see the Master Mind's head brought to me on a silver platter. I will not give up!"

"Lucas, please. You need to rest, Luna has told me about your nightmares".

"Rest? Rest! This is the worst time to rest! We need to act now Celestia! I will act with or without your help!"

"Lucas, I am shutting you down. It is the best thing for you. Make your preparations to leave!"

"You think it will be that easy? I began to giggle.

"Lucas, please do not do anything hasty".

"You either let me fight, or I will fight without your permission!"

"Lucas. I am doing this for Alex's sake!"

"Oh, Alex's sake? That reminds me," I grabbed Alex and brought him in view of the camera. "Like father like son". I grinned.

"Alex?" Celestia gasped.

"Hi auntie!" Alex waved.

"What are you doing there! That place is dangerous!"

"Well, we do have like hundreds of Sentinels protecting us!" Alex waved his hand in dismissal. "Don't worry auntie. I can look after myself".

"Fine. Go ahead, but I am telling Luna about this". Celestia sighed in exasperation. "But hear this Lucas. If you harm any of my subjects intentionally. I will not hesitate to use the elements of harmony!" Soon the video feed cut off. I hugged Alex.

"Now that we have my major concern out of the way. Want to see the cannon work?" I asked.

"Yes please! That would be epic!" Alex shouted in glee.

I clicked a button on the computer and came into view of a large empty desert. I recently purchased some weapons testing areas to have fun. Now for the moment of truth. I took out a key that I had around my neck on a necklace. I put the key in and twisted it.

"Weapon arming password. Ten, nine, six, alpha, tango, x-ray, one, five".

"Pass code received and correct," DEL authenticated. "Connecting to Project Sol main computers". I typed in the coordinates of the field and began to see the gigantic satellite turn.

"Cannon ready to fire, awaiting command". I beamed like a maniac at this. I then did what I always wanted to do. Press the red button! I smacked my hand on it, resulting in the cannon to barrage the field with several plasma strikes. I watched in wonder and happiness as nuclear fireballs rained from the sky and plummeted into the ground. Soon after a few seconds I saw the plasma beginning to collect and a single point, then, kaboom. The entire field exploded in a nuclear fireball. Once again, I laughed like a mad man.

"It works! It works!" I laughed manically. This celebration was soon interrupted by a knock on the metal door behind me. I turned around and saw a stallion with a brilliant white coat and a sky blue mane.

"Well well my friend, I congratulate you on your success. Looks like you have been busy". The stallion said with his German accent.

"Mystic?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yes my friend, I have returned to work once more!" Mystic assured, smiling.

Act 2: Chapter 4

Mystic walked into the foundry and looked around the large room.

"My my. This place has seen better days," Mystic said.

"Where did you run off to?" I asked. "I thought I told you to maintain DEL just in case he attempts to kill everypony!"

"Yes. I had to do that as I intercepted a message that Equestrian spies are trying to steal your work. I guess your wife and her sister wasn't exactly truthful to you".

"Indeed. I shall talk to them in a moment," I looked at my office. "In fact why not now?" I went to my office desk and called Celestia.

"Hello Lucas. How can I help you?" Celestia said with her usual smile.

"Hi. Mystic here tells me that you sent a couple of spies trying to steal my work when I retried," I narrowed my eyes. "Your lucky they didn't set off the defence systems".

"I'm sorry for doing that," Celestia hung her head. "I was hoping in your retirement that we could use some of the foundry to help with some issues we had".

"So why didn't you ask me? I would of easily said yes into doing that and put DEL on it right away!"

"We was afraid you would decline?"

"So you decided to steal from me! Is that a way to treat a member of your family!" I asked in disgust. "I am disappointed in you Celestia, I thought you were better than this!

"Lucas, I am sorry for what I did. Please accept my apology but you have to understand, some very serious issues have rose when you retired!"

"Like what?" I asked in interest.

"For some years now, Griffon bandits have been terrorizing the main trade routes with the Griffon kingdom," Celestia's voice was much more monotonous now. "We have tried everything we can, even putting a large bounty on the clans but they are in very large numbers".

"I see, why didn't you just dispatch the police robots to clean them out?"

"We don't have enough to do that. That's why we needed the foundry".

"I see," I rubbed my chin in thought. "I will dispatch some police robots to dispatch the situation. From now on though, ask me when you want things". I switched off the feed and turned towards Mystic and smiled, "Looks like we are back in business".

I dispatched a few squads of police to the area and began to teach Alex the basics of the foundry. Who knew that it was possible to screw up the patterns on a laser cutter, even when they are programmed into the computer. Apparently it is. After a few attempts Alex finally constructed his first robot. We threw it into the air and it began to hover. The mark one scouting drone. Even if the thing is old as dirt I am still proud of the schematic. I put my hand on Alex's shoulder.

"You know, I can give it some more advanced software to turn it into a buddy. Just like me and DEL," I said, pointing at the small sphere slowly moving across the room. Alex looked up at me in glee.

"Yes please! That would be awesome!" Alex jumped up and hugged me tightly. I looked at my watch.

"I bet your mother is worrying about you. Best get you home," I gulped. Luna is going to tan my hide for this.

After a short ride back into Ponyville and a collection of some well needed gear. I walked out of my pod door and Luna walked slowly out of the door. She narrowed her eyes and began to approach me. I picked up the riot shield that I took with me and readied it in a defence position. I said I took essential gear with me! We stared at each other for a few minutes while Alex quickly dashed into the house.

"Lucas," Luna growled. I continued to stare at her. I was soon thrown to the ground as all I saw was a blurry blue object strike me down and a rage filled expression on Luna's face staring at me through my shield. "What in the wide wide world of Equus do you think you are doing!" The royal canterlot voice boomed throughout the countryside and disturbed the quiet atmosphere.

"Alex wanted some higher education. So I gave it him!" I shouted back.

"Oh, this isn't about that! I will tear one out of your flank for that another time mister!"

"Then what is this about?"

"Scouts reported an entire field being burnt to a crisp within seconds. Not only that but fire apparently rained from the skies too," Luna narrowed her eyes once more. "Sound familiar?"

"Then how come Celestia didn't say that to me?"

"I haven't told her that's why! I had to tell those guards to hold back that report so that me telling them it's a solar flare won't be dis-proven!"

"Well sorry for protecting us all!" I shouted back.

"Protecting? You think that is protecting? You really are a ridiculous foal!" I lay still for a few seconds but soon stood up and put my shield to one side. I began to walk to the pod. "Lucas? Where are you going?"

"To my foundry, clearly I'm not welcome here," I sobbed. I sat down at the pilot's seat and closed the door. I began my lonely drift back to the foundry once more before she could say anything else.

A few days have passed now. I have tried each day to beg Luna to forgive me of being so stupid, but I just get pushed back with words of hate. I just gave up and practically moved in to my foundry. Saying that, I don't think I have left my bedroom since. I always kept a spare here for those frequent nights I stay over. I looked at my calls on my PAD. Nothing, they don't even care about me. I fell back onto my bed and pulled the covers over myself. One word that Luna said regularly when I saw her was pathetic. Am I really just like the dirt underneath someone's hoof?

"Sir, a report from the police bots," DEL informed.

"Go ahead," I groaned, rubbing my eyes.

"Operation has failed. All 35 units have been destroyed. Scouting drones report heavy activity among the main trading lines. Roadblock possibility ninety-seven percent". I sighed and sat up.

"Fine, they want to play the hard way," I began to smile. "Send in a Sentinel platoon to take prisoners and set up a prisoner camp nearby. Try to keep deaths to a minimum." I began to fall into a doze and then fell into a warm slumber once more.

I woke up in darkness, nothing seemed to be around me. Just total darkness.

"Where am I?" I asked myself. My voice echoed into the endless void. Suddenly Luna appeared and began to walk towards me. I ran to her but she kept walking rigidly. "Luna?" She began to frown.

"You are useless!" She screamed, striking me with her hoof. "You are pathetic. You are nothing but a burden on us!"

"Luna, you don't mean what you are saying!" I shouted, tears began to well up in my eyes as I shook her by the shoulders. She pushed me back and threw me into the floor. I crawled away, trying to get away from the nightmare. I ended up at Alex's feet. "Alex there you are! We have to-" Alex looked down at me and frowned.

"You are not my father! I hate you," He spat, turning is back on me and walking off into the void and disappearing. I tried to reach out for him.

"Alex," I whispered. Suddenly Celestia appeared behind me.

"You aren't worthy of life in Equestria," She narrowed her eyes and suddenly I was in a guillotine with random ponies grinning and cheering. Luna and Alex came into full view and began to laugh. Luna leant towards me.

"Thanks for doing the world a favour, at least you did one thing correctly," she whispered. Suddenly I heard a clunk and the large blade came falling down on my neck. I suddenly teleported to Ponyville with my head attached to my neck. I saw Twilight in her library. I ran inside but was hindered by a force field. Spike suddenly popped out of the window.

"Go away you piece of trash," he shouted, throwing a bottle at me and slamming the window. I ran away but was then stopped by 3 stallions.

"Hey it's him, lets put him in his place," The largest stallion said, knocking me over with a pipe and they began to assault me with a flurry of attacks. Suddenly the 3 stallions were incinerated and stood behind them was a Sentinel.

"This is the only way sir," It's monotonous voice informed. "They all think you are useless, just dead weight".

"No they don't!" I shouted. "I stopped them from being extinct".

"Perhaps you need convincing, come with me". The metal behemoth stomped on the ground as we teleported to the throne room, listening to the occupants conversations.

"I shouldn't expected more, I know that Lucas hasn't been the most active recently," Celestia said, looking at a scroll.

"Your highness, I suggest that we should disband the foundry. Instead we should reactivate the mine," A guard captain suggested.

"My sister informs me that Lucas has reactivated the foundry, she wants it disabled so that they can be a family once more," Celestia sighed. "Go ahead captain, if any issues arise come to me". I stood, well hovered in shock. The gigantic head of the Sentinel went in front of my eyes.

"You see, they do not want you any-more. You must show that you are not one to be pushed around!" The Sentinel said.

"No! This is only a nightmare!" I screamed, trying to wake myself up. Suddenly a metal arm struck me.

"You are a human! Not some weak, puny equine being. You must show that they need you!" The Sentinel shook me vigorously. "If they still want you gone, make them burn!" The robotic entity let go. I sat down and thought hard. I shook my head from side to side.

"If I lash out, I will just be like the Mastermind!" I shouted. The world began to shake as pieces fell into the void below.

"Very well, I have myself clear. You will face the consequences for your lack of actions," The metal giant walked off into the distance and the world soon broke like glass. I fell into an eternal pit and saw my bedroom below, I saw myself sleeping and fell directly on myself.

I shot up from my bed and rubbed my eyes, I crawled out of my bed and walked to a mirror. Staring back at me was a mess. Black rings were formed under my eyes, my hair stood in every possible direction and my eyes were a deep red.

"I need a break," I muttered to myself. "I haven't visited New Canterlot yet". Old habits die hard. Shit, shower, shave. I picked up a comb and styled my hair to an acceptable level. I walked to my wardrobe and began to search through my clothes. Hoodie and jogging bottoms, too casual. Suit, too formal. Operative armour, how did that get in? I took some jeans, a black shirt and a black coat. Perfect. I dressed myself so I didn't look like a bag of shit tied up and I checked myself out in the mirror.

"Still got it," I said after winking to the mirror. I  picked up some sunglasses and walked to the hangar where the pod awaited for me to pilot it. I pulled the door open and began to take off. The pod hovered above the metropolis below but I was unable to find a landing zone. Guess I never thought I would visit the place. I pulled the door open and attached a device to my wrist and jumped out. I slowed down to a safe speed and re-did my hair.

The city of New Canterlot was beautiful, large buildings towered over the clean streets below. Tram systems hauled ponies to other parts of the city but most of them just walked. Soon as I walked out of an alleyway to the populated main streets everypony froze.

"It's Prince Lucas!" One citzen said.

"Is that really him?" Another asked. I felt nervous as a crowd mustered around me. Many ponies beckoned me for autographs, visits to establishments and a few other things that were just plain weird. I raised my hand to silence everypony but it didn't work. My headache grew to unbearable potency.

"Silence!" I shouted, the entire city fell quiet. "I thank you for paying attention to me but if it is no trouble I would like to be left to my own devices". I walked away from the crowd which police robots soon dispersed. After a wander around the main city centre and sending out a few scout drones to find a good establishment, I am going to a place I would never think I would go to in my life. A spa.

Act 2: Chapter 5

'Midas Touch' the place was called. Rarity, Celestia even Luna talked about this place highly. Apparently it was supposed to be the best spa in Equestria or something like that. I walked across a couple of streets and saw the place from afar. The massive complex stood several stories high with golden décor on the outside. I walked into the expansive lobby and stood at the currently empty desk and hit the small bell.

"Yes I am coming," A female voice called. "Now what would..." The mare bowed as she first lay eyes on me. "Your highness".

"Please just call me Lucas," I chuckled.

"Yes...Lucas," The mare said, still lay down.

"Is it possible for me to have a treatment here?" I asked.

"It is, our staff are trained to service a wide variety of species".

"Brilliant! May I see the selection of treatments you have?"

"Here," The mare handed me a leaflet of a massive list of treatments. Some looked too simple but others looked like they should be banned by the UN back home. What's this?

The surprise package: An array of treatments which is selected at random. A perfect choice for those looking to try something new.

"I will have the surprise package," I said.

"Excellent choice, follow me please". I followed the mare upstairs to the highest level and encountered a golden door with the words 'Royal Suite' engraved. The door swung open to reveal a quiet, isolated place with several pieces of equipment enough for one person...or pony. "Members of staff will be here shortly, please get undressed while you wait".

"Members?" I asked. The door soon shut before the mare could respond. I undressed myself and looked around. Well this is not what I was expecting. The golden door opened once more and three mares walked in. I gave a tiny gulp as the door was locked and there stood three mares in front of me, while I am naked.

After some awkward silence and the formalities I lay down on a massage table. The hooves soon got to work as they began to rub my back, shoulders and legs, while I just lay there on the brink of falling sleep from the pleasure of my tense muscles finally being relaxed. Suddenly I heard a hissing noise and a rock was placed on my back. Don't. Move. A. Muscle. Several objects were placed on my back which felt warm, not burning my skin off. My legs began to feel like jelly as the rocks were taken off and I was helped up to the bath. After submerging my body in hot water, several oils were dumped in the water. One of the mares got in and began to massage my shoulders once more. I closed my eyes and gave a sigh of bliss as the hooves began to soothe the sensitive muscles on my back.

"If only I knew that people as talented as you in this sort of work existed, I would of done this years ago," I said.

"This your first time your highness?" The mare asked.

"Yeah, my homeland does have places like this. Not as good as this though". A small bell rang from outside, the golden door opened.

"It is my lunch break sir, my replacement is here though," The mare said apologetically. Another mare walked up behind me, she had a short lavender mane and a pure white coat.

"Well. It has been some time, Violet Brush," I said. The mare was unresponsive as stood collectively and looked out of the window. "How have you been?"

"F...fine," Violet muttered.

"What's wrong?" I asked, standing up and removing myself from the bath. Violet squirmed as I got closer to her, I lifted the large fringe concealing the left side of her face to reveal a large scar. "Who did this!"

"Q...Quartz," She sobbed.

"What did he do?"

"He turned into something, a beast. He managed to find me and promised not to kill me if I sent you a message".

"Which is?"

"How's Luna?" I stood in shock for a moment to process the message, then it clicked.

I picked up my clothes and dressed myself quicker than I have ever done before. I ran out of the room and sprinted down the stairs, I threw a bag of bits on the office desk and barged through the door. Several ponies were crowded by the front door as I barged through and began to advanced towards me. The flashes of cameras and questions began to fly towards me as my head began to ache once more.

"If you all don't move now, I will set the police bots to kill!" I shouted, the crowd went silent as I barged past them. A large stallion challenged me with a knife as I attempted to go through the crowd.

"You know how this goes, money or your life," The stallion grinned. I fished out my wallet and handed it to him. As he went to grab it I took the knife out of his hoof and stabbed it in his throat. I called for the transport pod and it it almost instantly landed, I dashed inside and put on my combat armour as the pod flew towards Ponyville.

After a hard landing I picked up my Lee Enfield and threw open the door and was met by my cottage, still the same as before. I kicked open the door and began to search the place. I entered the main room and saw a startled Luna.

"Lucas! What on Equus are you doing!" She shouted.

"He is coming here, get Alex and put him into the Pod," I ordered.

"Lucas, not this again," Luna sighed, putting a hoof to her head.

"I am being serious, go to the pod. Now!"

"Alex is at school right now".

"Fuck, get in the pod!" I shouted.

"No! Lucas I am sick of your stupid predictions! How do you know this even if they were coming!" Suddenly gunshots were heard and glass began to shatter.

"Get down!" I shouted, pouncing on Luna. A volley of bullets were towards Luna's previous position, filling the room with debris. After the shots ceased, I picked up Luna and ran to the pod. Bullets began to fly again as I dashed to the front door, I unholestered my pistol and began to fire at the rough position of the enemy. I was at the pod and placed Luna inside, I began to close the door before I was knocked to the floor. A gigantic beast was facing Luna. He was approximately seven feet tall and had large talons, his massive teeth protruded from his mouth and he stood arched, ready to devour whatever being stood in his way. A large horn protruded from his head where aura began to glow around it. Luna attempted to cast a spell but was prevented by the beast knocking her out with one swipe of his large hands. He grabbed her and looked at me.

"Long time no see, Lucas," The beast's deep voice mocked. I attempted to raise a pistol to him but it was met by a large foot stamping on my arm. I screamed in pain as his large foot squashed my arm underneath. "I win". The beast picked me up with his large hands and threw me at the cottage. Several pieces of wood pierced through my body and the armour as I flew at great speed. Several infected crowded me and began to beat me down, they left me as I began to fade in and out of reality.

Unknown Time Later

I woke up in a hospital bed with a large variety of equipment attached to me, I turned around where I saw Twilight lying asleep on a chair nearby. I attempted to scratch my head but my worst fears were met as no hand, nor arm was there. I screamed in panic as two nubs where my arms were meant to be, Twilight's head shot up and she fell off the chair.

"My, my arms! I panicked.

"Lucas, please calm down!" Twilight attempted to reassure me.

"Calm down! My fucking arms are gone, my wife has been missing and I have no idea what else has gone on!" I spat.

"Please! If you calm down you can make sense of the situation!"

"Where's Alex!" I demanded.

"He is staying with me, when I saw your cottage being attacked I flew to the school and picked Alex up".

"Twilight your a life saver," I gave a sigh of relief. A mare with a doctor's coat on walked through the door with a clipboard held in a telekinetic hold.

"Ah, you are awake!" The doctor said.

"Sadly," I sighed in exasperation.

"Well, do you want to know the diagnostic now or would you rather wait?"

"Now".

"Well Princess Twilight gave us a record of your anatomy and we have managed to have our robotic surgeons to operate on you using the instructions. The doctors have concluded that both arms are totally destroyed, as well as your legs. The main organs have suffered light damage but can be healed with time, however at least 6 ribs have been broken. Your skull however has taken severe fractures but your brain had been protected with metal plates. I recommend that you are dismissed from duty to the country permanently," The doctor reported in detail off her clipboard. "The full x-ray scans are attached to this clipboard". The doctor placed it on a table nearby and walked out.

"I remember Luna telling me about you using a fungus to heal yourself when you suffered damage in the Manehatten operations," Twilight recalled.

"Wouldn't work, I only suffered burns, cuts and minor fractures that time. This is too much for the fungus to handle".

"Well, we can heal you with magic. There must be a spell somewhere!"

"Even that won't work, the spell is for beings from Equus. Not for humans as we are alien to this world".

"Well, we could alter the spell formula to human anatomy," Twilight shouted in glee.

"Now that's a feasible option, I have several books in the foundry on human anatomy". Twilight soon looked to the ground and rubbed the back of her neck.

"About that..." She trailed off. "When you was unconscious, Princess Celestia ordered the closure of it".

"Well, she has a lot of robots, defence turrets and steel doors to get through," I chuckled.

"That's the thing, the base is locked so we can't retrieve the books".

"No need to worry, I'll just use my PAD," I looked to the left of my head. "Mother fucker!" I shouted in anger.

"I thought you knew!"

"Well, it wasn't exactly the largest object in the world!" I banged my head on the pillows. "Where is it?"

"Apparently it was crushed when the paramedics got to you".

"Well, I can say one thing now. We are fucked!"

"You can make more though!" Twilight said optimistically.

"Not exactly, the schematics were locked by the manufacturer, guess mine was a unlocked industrial grade one for other companies".

"So in other words?"

"We need the foundry up and running, it's the only place that has all the schematics for the technology that we need!"

"But how can we convince Princess Celestia?"

"Has she seen me!"

"I am not sure if the message got to her yet," Twilight rubbed her chin with her hoof.

"I have an idea, lets have a nice long chat with her."

After a fight with a very irate doctor, we managed to get a wheelchair and rolled out towards Twilight's library. After entering Twilight immediately wrote down a letter on a scroll.

"Spike!" Twilight called, the library stayed silent. "Spike!"

"I'm coming!" Spike sighed, he walked into the main room and saw me and froze.

"Hey Spike" I said, smiling.

"What happened?" He asked in concern.

"Rather not talk about it".

"That's cool, you needed me Twilight?"

"Yes, I need you to send this to Princess Celestia," she hovered a sealed scroll towards him and he grabbed it and blew a small gout of green flame on it, turning it into a small trail of fire which soon flew out of the window.

"When do you think she will be here," I asked impatiently.

"Well, knowing the Princess, in ten to twenty minutes."

"Glad she spares time for her family," I said sarcastically.

We waited a few moments that seemed like an eternity and soon a carriage could be heard landing outside. A few seconds later, entered Celestia. She had black rings around her eyes which were bloodshot. Her mane was frazzled and she walked slowly. She looked at me.

"You are alive," She sighed in relief, she walked towards me and wrapped her wings around me.

"Just about, I can assure you that I will get Luna back," I whispered in her ear.

"I know you will".

"If you need to stay in the castle, do not hesitate to ask."

"Of course I need to, you locked down the foundry!"

"What?" She exclaimed in surprise.

"You ordered the closure of the foundry!"

"I would do no such thing, I know that the foundry is imperative for the survival of my subjects in this hard time!"

"Then who in Equestria would close down the foundry!"

"Perhaps a coup d'etat?" Twilight interrupted.

"Then in that case, I recommend we find the ponies responsible for tampering with decrees!"

"We need you better Lucas, I think you know that the entire fate of Equestria rests on you!"

"I highly doubt that, even without my absence DEL can take over things. Until the foundry locked down!"

"Is it possible to formulate a healing spell for Lucas?" Twilight asked.

"Possibly, but it would require very advanced knowledge to heal alien lifeforms," Celestia said regretfully.

"I guess there is another option, but that would be very had to do with the equipment I have now. I really need new equipment if we are to win this!"

Suddenly a gout of green flame flew through the window which then revealed a scroll with fell into my lap. Twilight took it with her telekinetic grip and began to read it out.

Dear Lucas

Perhaps you forgot about me, it has been seven years since we last met after all. You appear to be in a state that you will be useless to me. I will not replace you as you are a valuable asset to my organisation but instead I will re-purpose some technology for you. At midnight tonight a meteor will strike the outskirts of Ponyville, like seven years ago. This contains something I think you will like. A present for your hard work and this is something my organisation does not do very often.

Remember, I will be watching with great interest.

Your Friend

"Him, he took a his time to act didn't he!" I grumbled.

"So, he can predict when meteors can strike?" Twilight asked in confusion.

"Don't be foalish, I think his organisation can send packages using artificial meteors. In this case I think it's best to keep a lookout, do you remember that spell I taught you seven years ago?" I asked.

"I do," Twilight replied.

"What exactly does that spell do may I ask?" Celestia asked.

"It's a spell that unlocks the meteor's outer hull locks".

"So does that mean we could unlock other containers from the other meteorites!" Twilight asked eagerly.

"Not exactly, your spell was for my asteroid but I could create a skeleton spell. However I would exercise caution as it could be anything. From a hefty amount of munitions for a war or a stockpile of assault drones. Who knows?" A young stallion knocked on the door and entered the room with a messenger bag draped around his shoulders. He fished out a newspaper and a letter, he gave them to Celestia and walked out of the room in total silence. Twilight opened the letter for me and gasped in shock.

"What does it say?" I asked in concern.

"I don't want to show you Lucas, it will make you worse".

"Show it me. Now," I ordered, giving her a sharp look. She slowly hovered a picture in front of my face. It was a picture of Luna tied to a chair with several cuts, bruises and blood dripping from her face. "Luna," I whispered to myself as tears began to fall from my face.

"Let me see Twilight," Celestia ordered. She picked it up and dropped it almost instantly.

"Lucas..." Twilight said, putting a hoof on the remains of my shoulder.

"Mark my words Twilight, I will find this freak. When I do, he will not even wish it was born!" I screamed.

"Even the worst of enemies can become best of friends! It is confused and if you try to reason it could even help us!"

"Give me a break with this friendship crap! . Your race sent my wife to the fucking moon for crying out loud, which I assure you is a barren wasteland! Your race want's to control all of the world by trying to use magic, and when it fights back you call it dark magic! Oh and let's not forget my most favourite, you sealed Discord in stone who would more than likely of been conscious then, imagine standing there for one thousand years not moving at all with nopony to talk to!" I spat. Twilight and Celestia stood silent for a while.

"I will gladly help you find this monster, but I will not permit you to kill it," Twilight said sternly.

"Same here, nopony deserves to die. No matter how bad their crimes," Celestia lectured.

"Fine, but I want this thing brought to justice!"

"OK then. Can we stop talking about this and just enjoy each-other's company?" Twilight asked. I looked at her funny at her a moment, that's something couples say. Oh well.

"Sure," I put on a fake smile. Twilight threw the picture and newspaper in the bin before I tried to look at it. Twilight took out a book from the bookcase and we sat down on a couch and read the brilliant piece of work that was Daring Do.

Act 2: Chapter 6

Twilight, Celestia and I were absorbed in the book, we sat comfortably in the couch while reading the book out loud. Celestia yawned, her eyes began to feel heavy as she sunk into the soft cushions. Twilight got up, lifted me out of the sofa and went towards the fire, she grabbed a blanket and draped over Celestia as she slept soundly. Twilight and I went near the fire as we waited for midnight to strike. Twilight hovered over a marshmallow that she had been roasting in the fire to my mouth and I engulfed it, attempting to prevent any of the melted marshmallow from escaping my mouth. I failed however as the liquid began to drip from my mouth. Twilight and I giggled as she wiped it off with a tissue. I looked at the clock on the wall.

"Eleven O Clock," I huffed in impatience.

"How about we play a game?" Twilight suggested as she smiled at me.

"Sure, how about truth or dare?" I began to grin to myself.

"I don't know," Twilight rubbed the back of her neck.

"Come on, it will be fun!"

"Fine, I'll start".

"Truth," I began to smirk. "Can you play an instrument". Let's be easy on her, for now.

"I can! I play a small bit of piano," Twilight wiped off a bit of sweat off her forehead. "You next, have you and Alex pranked Celestia?"

"Easy one. April Foals is Celestia's most favourite day as she loves to prank. However me and Alex always collaborate to prank her, last year we decided to set up a giant cake for her and when she cut into it, bright green dye would explode all over the place," I giggled quietly. "Your turn, dare. I dare you to to take every book off the shelf".

"What!" She exclaimed, Celestia stirred in her sleep as Twilight shouted. "Fine," She grunted. Every book on the shelf made a soft impact to the ground. "OK, my turn! Truth, what's the most random thing you have done?" I shook my head and chuckled as memories from Earth popped in my head.

"Once I was in an exam and I fell asleep, however the examiner woke me up but I panicked and ended up attacking the examiner. Pretending to be a ninja". I shook my head even more. "My turn, truth". A expression of thought appeared on my face until I finally decided to bring in the big guns. "Do you think about anypony while sleeping?" Twilight inhaled a marshmallow whole and almost chocked on it.

"What do you mean," she asked in confusion.

"Do you fantasize about anypony in your dreams?"

"Like what?"

"It's not rocket science!" I stared at her for a few seconds until she finally clicked.

"Wait, you mean..." Twilight chuckled awkwardly and blushed slightly.

"Annnnnd the last horse crosses the finish line".

"I don't want to answer that," she stammered.

"You forced Rarity to stand outside in the rain when playing truth or dare to follow the rules," I smirked.

"How did you know about that?"

"I see everything," I said in a spooky tone while pretending to be a ghost. "I can already guess any-ways".

"I don't dream of anypony," She muttered while looking away.

"So you don't fantasize about a certain, Flash Sentry?" Twilight sharply turned towards me and blushed bright red.

"I...how did you," Twilight stammered.

"So you have a crush on Flash Sentry," I chuckled.

"I don't he is just a friend!"

"With benefits". Twilight groaned in annoyance.

"Fine, you win!" She huffed. "My turn, truth. Do you fantasize anypony," Twilight grinned but I gave her a deadpan look.

"Really? You're asking me that to say I'm married, the answer's obvious..." I said monotonously.

"Oh, right I forgot about that".

"Yeah, I'll leave you to guess that. My turn, truth," I smirked as a brilliant question popped in my head. "Have you ever fornicated with anypony?" Twilight chocked on a marshmallow as I bluntly asked.

"Excuse me!"

"You heard".

"I'm not going to answer that!"

"You have to, it's the rules," I did a bad impersonation of Twilight which she then frowned at me for.

"I..."

"You have to".

"I never asked you these type of questions!"

"Only because you didn't want to".

"Fine, I haven't," Twilight said bluntly.

"You're very forthcoming with that".

"Because I'm not ashamed of it, I prefer a good book rather than fornicating I can assure you," she lectured. A small blush of embarrassment still shown on her face. "My turn, truth. Except Luna, who else would you fornicate with and why?"

"Touché, Twilight," I complimented. "If I wasn't with Luna I would have a one night stand with," I leant closer to Twilight. "Celestia," I whispered. Twilight looked at me in shock.

"What! Really?" She asked.

"No, I said it for the hell of it. Of course!"

"Why?"

"Why not more like". Twilight still stared at me. "Oh come on, you never thought that Celestia is even a little attractive?"

"No!"

"Why not?"

"Don't have to answer that," She smirked.

"OK then, Truth. Why don't you find Celestia attractive?"

"Celestia damn you!" She growled. "I just respect her that all, more like what ponies call the friend zone".

"I see," I arched an eyebrow. "What thinks that Celestia doesn't like you?"

"I..." Twilight looked down at the floor. "...don't know".

"Well, just saying. I believe its your turn?" The game continued, Twilight returned with more personal questions but I still managed to fight back with very embarrassing questions, who knew that Twilight and Flash had a game of tonsil tennis while the part after Sunset Shimmer's assault went on.

The town clock struck midnight and the bell began to ring throughout the town.

"It is midnight," Celestia yawned, stretching her large wings out and looking towards a clock on the wall

"Well, our package is here," I chuckled nervously. Twilight took the wheelchair from the corner of the room and placed me on it. "Lets go," I said impatiently.

A small explosion could be heard and felt in Ponyville, everypony began to wake up and we sped across the town with Twilight being my main method of propulsion. Dust lingered around the crash site and trees were perfectly singed. The meteor pulsed with a purple aura and a quiet humming sound could be heard. Twilight and I was on the edge of the crater while we saw lights and heard chatter of ponies behind us. This meteor was much larger than any other, towering above the trees.

"Twilight," I said. Ordering the asteroid to be opened. She cast a spell and the purple aura began to encase the entire metallic rock. A small section opened up revealing a surgery table. "OK this is different," I muttered to myself.

"What is it?" Celestia asked in intrigue.

"One way to find out, put me on that table," I ordered.

"What if something happens to you?" Twilight began to panic.

"Nothing will, if this is from my friend. I doubt this will harm me, this contact helped us in the Canterlot war and now he is doing it again. She thought for a moment but soon quickly pushed me towards the rock and lifted me onto the table.

"Patient received, performing surgery," A voice said. The door quickly slammed and several thin metal arms came out of the walls.

"Lucas!" Twilight screamed as she began to bang her hooves on the metal door but was dragged back Celestia.

The entire town crowded around the meteor as Lucas' screams filled the quiet night atmosphere. The royal guards were dispatched and stood on guard with rifles pointing towards the monstrous rock standing tall in the forest. Suddenly the entire metal tower opened up, releasing a extremely large amount of steam on the ponies below. When the steam settled from the pegasi wings flapping furiously, Lucas' face was revealed.

"Lucas!" Twilight shouted, running towards him.

"Twilight no!" Celestia attempted to call her back. Lucas opened his eyes and began to grin madly.

"Now this, is what I call a present!" He complimented. Replacing parts of his torso were metal plates, it was indistinguishable where the metal started and the flesh began. He walked out, revealing his new thick metal arms and legs. They were heavily plated and coloured black, several hatches were scattered on both of his arm. He picked up a device the size of his hand and jammed it into the left side of his face. Tiny metal tendrils burrowed into his face and a screen covered his eye.

A metal behemoth was behind him, similar to Lucas' physique, two gigantic arms and two gigantic legs, it crouched with a empty hole awaiting for a pilot to take the controls of the colossus. On the edge of the arms were two unidentifiable devices, from the two metal plates surrounding a orange glowing canister the size of the arm, ponies deduced that is was a weapon of some sort. Lucas backed away and implanted himself into the device, the giant stood straight up and a small piece of armour rose from the back and closed tightly on the cockpit, forming a head shape. It stood the twice the size as an average Sentinel bot and towered over the crowd. The giant's fingers began to flex and contract, then it began to look at the crowd who were standing in total shock.

"Monster!" A villager cried.

"What are you waiting for? Fire!" A guard shouted, a flurry of bullets flew towards Lucas' robot and barely scratched the paint. One weapon attached on it's arm glowed with a bright yellow and pointed towards the crowd, the crowd began to disperse back into the forest as it suddenly jerked its arm up and fired into the night sky. It then faced Twilight and Celestia who were looking in shock.

"What happened," Celestia asked loudly.

"I had an upgrade, I must say this is much better than I expected," I complimented while looking at the two large cannons attached to the arms.

"What did you expect," Twilight asked me.

"Some weapon of some sort or a way to make me useful once more. Now I got these babies I can finally have a chance to end this battle once and for all!"

"Lucas, don't do anything harsh!" Celestia shouted. "Think of the message you are trying to put across!" The metal giant raised his hand to the cockpit as if it was thinking.

"Now that you say that," The pod hissed and Lucas' robot crouched for him to walk on the soil once more. "I don't want to be equal to that monster, we all have to draw our lines somewhere I suppose". Lucas walked up to Twilight and knelt beside her.

"Twilight, I want you to do something for me."

"Anything for a friend," Twilight smiled.

"If I go mad with power, or becoming a threat to Equestria. Imprison me".

"Lucas, I don't think you will go mad".

"I will eventually, I need you to build a chamber that can house me. However I need to be in range if you need me once more, I couldn't stand the fact that I was unable to help you in dark times".

"Lucas, we will do what you say," Celestia interjected.

"Princess, I don't think anypony should have to imprison their friends".

"I know, but Lucas knows best for anypony. That is why I listen to him, if it wasn't for Lucas' advice seven years ago I wouldn't be here".

"So you want me to make a prison for you? Is that what you really want Lucas?" Twilight asked hesitantly.

"Yes, I'm afraid that is what will happen. When Alex turns eighteen and I am in prison, give him this note," A small recorder appeared from nowhere which he then gave to Twilight.

"One question, how can I reason with you?"

"I knew you would ask that, here," He handed a tiny microchip. "Attach this to a powerful unicorn's head, this allows a one time use of a spell that deactivates my augments for a while".

"You have this all planned out I see," Celestia complimented.

"Indeed I do, I have to plan everything".

"Reminds me of some pony," Celestia looked at Twilight and smirked.

"My second in command tells me that scouts have picked up some sort of infected commander, not the Mastermind but something still commanding a small force," Lucas informed, pressing a metal finger inside of his ear.

"So, what do you propose we do?" Twilight asked.

"We capture it and interrogate it, best to get some information out of it than kill it". Lucas raised his head and looked towards the forest. He pulled out a pistol and fired blindly, which was then followed by a scream. An infected dropped out of the concealment and exploded. "I think it's safe to say we have to move, I have to plan the assault on the infected patrol and you two have a country to run," Lucas stepped back into the cockpit and walked towards Canterlot. Twilight observed the microchip she was given closely.

"What exactly is this princess?"

"A project which Starswirl the Bearded was working on. He was looking for a way to make disposable spell casters," Celestia lectured.

"This doesn't look like something Starswirl would do," she observed the intricate circuitry which was then taken by Celestia's telekinetic grip.

"Indeed, it was only a theory however it seems like Lucas put it into practice," she looked at Twilight who was fascinated with the tiny device. "Twilight, I need to ask you something important".

"Yes, Princess?"

"Lucas has changed the face of Canterlot has he not?"

"I should say Equestria. We haven't had this much growth in years!"

"The royal family plays important parts in Equestria, even I can say that. I raise the sun, Luna raises the moon, Cadence protects the Crystal Empire and you protect Equestria from dangerous beings and wield the Elements of Harmony".

"What are you proposing?"

"Even though he has had unstable times in his life, Lucas has done Equestria a great service".

"You mean..."

"Yes. We have decided that Lucas should be appointed the Prince of Technology".

Act 2: Chapter 7

"I thought he was already Prince of the Night?" Twilight asked in confusion.

"Only through marriage, he has a duty of researching new technology for Equestria and leading a mechanical army," Celestia looked at the mountains where Canterlot was sitting snugly in the mountainside. "Do you agree with this?"

"Lucas has helped us ponies from extinction, not forgetting what he has done for us". She muttered in thought. "I think that he should be crowned Prince of Technology".

"We also believe that he is ready". A wolf howled in the distance and a cold breeze blew towards the two royals. "I think it's time for us to rest Twilight, good night".

"Good night, Princess". Before Celestia was able to charge up her teleportation spell Twilight called for her attention once more.

"Yes Twilight?" She said in her standard motherly tone.

"Could we talk later? I need to tell you something soon," Twilight asked quietly.

"Of course my little pony, you only need to simply ask," she smiled before teleporting.

"You know, if you have feelings for her. You might as well tell her," A human figure leant on a tree. Twilight turned sharply towards him and lit up the dark forest with a spell.

"How long have you been there," she asked.

"Long enough".

"You heard everything?"

"All of it," Lucas smiled. He walked towards Twilight but stopped suddenly as a twig broke in the distance.

"What's wrong?"

"Something is here," he looked around the nearby forest and hummed in thought. "Let's go, something might want us for dinner".

The fire dwindled as the fuel ran out, but Lucas soon replenished it and the room became brilliant with light and heat once more. Lucas began to browse the vast variety of books in Twilight's library while Twilight entered the room with a supply of marshmallows.

"So Lucas, what are you looking for?" She asked while resting a bowl on the table.

"Sigils, for research into a new field of magic," Lucas replied as he scanned the shelves.

"Sigils? I think one book might be around here, most Unicorns just use horns for magic so magic symbols aren't exactly needed". Twilight picked up a book with her telekinetic grip and blew the dust off. "Here you go".

"Thanks," Lucas climbed down from the ladder and picked up the book with his new metal arms. He scanned through the book which contained several detailed instructions of runes, circles and rituals. "Interesting, it appears that non magical beings have the ability to utilise magic without a horn using magical runes and rituals".

"How?"

"It says here that a specific set of runes must be drawn in a circle, then items must be sacrificed for the ritual to work".

"Sacrificed? As in kill?"

"Of course not, items as in minerals or plants". Lucas stopped at a specific diagram of a tiny circle that appeared on a hoof. "Intriguing, you can make mobile circles that can protect the caster of give the caster powers".

"This is pretty detailed to say it is only one book," Twilight sceptically commented.

"Indeed, most ponies just assume rituals as dark magic but they can be quite handy". Lucas pointed at a diagram. "This one for instance, can create a shield around the caster".

"Like how Unicorns create shield around themselves?"

"Yup, it appears that this Unicorn who wrote this wanted to share magic for all non-magic beings," Lucas looked at the last page and raised his eyebrow. "Creating new rituals?"

"Huh?" Twilight peered over the book to see a yet again, detailed instructions on the topic. Lucas slammed the book shut and put it on the table nearby.

"Some interesting experiments with Sentinel circuits to be made soon then," he clapped his hands together. "So, how about them marshmallows?

After a few marshmallows and come friendly banter, Lucas began to read the book once more.

"Well, this is odd," Lucas scratched his chin has he observed a ritual that was simply stuck in as a side note.

"What is it? Perhaps some additional notes on a specific ritual?" Twilight theorised.

"Nope, this is very odd indeed".

"Well what is it?"

"This ritual is very different, it is unfinished but the circle and runes are done. The creator had trouble with the items needed," Lucas ripped out the note and placed it on the table.

"What is supposed to do?" Twilight asked in confusion.

"The purpose is not odd at all, not even described. What's odd is the item required". He studied the back of the piece of paper to find nothing was on the back. "Apparently it requires the blood of a Human".

"What!"

"You heard me correct, the creator's familiar said that the ritual needed human blood. Only human blood however".

"Blood rituals are usually bad. You either summon a demon or worse," Twilight panicked.

"I doubt it, I'm trying it". Lucas walked down to the basement and began to draw the ritual circle. "That was easier than I thought it would be".

"Now for the proper precautions," Twilight cast a spell that enveloped the circle. "Just a spell purge field if it goes awry".

"Fine, now for the sacrifice". Lucas cut a small part of his chest to let some blood drip, the runes began to glow purple and aura beams began to circle my head. The ritual suddenly stopped working and the aura beams sucked back into the runes. "Well, that was anti-climatic".

"At least it didn't do anything bad," Twilight evaluated.

"You're right. Guess I just have to work on the thing and see what the hell it does". Lucas yawned and stretched out his arms. "Well, I'm shattered. Better get to the castle double time before I fall asleep".

"You know, you can just stay here for the night".

"Really?"

"Yeah, I have some blankets".

As Lucas fell asleep on the couch, he felt himself travelling at unreachable speeds in a vortex made up of star constellations. He stopped suddenly to encounter a humanoid being putting its hands over a ball of blue energy. It was wearing grey robes that concealed its body while its respectable hood concealed it's face.

"Ah, the chose one appears finally," its voice was male but soothing. "We have been watching with great interest and you have exceeded our expectations". It looked up to only reveal the blue eyes glowing in the darkness that the hood was creating.

"Who are you?" Lucas asked hesitantly.

"Oh, excuse me for not introducing me," the being placed its hand on where the chest should be on a human. "I am Indagatius, god of all technology and knowledge. Forbidden and public."

"What do you want with me?" Lucas demanded. Indagatius chuckled.

"The chosen one demands knowledge, and I shall provide," it waved its hand up to reveal several screens of Lucas' past. "Years have I watched and waited. For a being of so much potential to arrive to the planet I am bound to, and here the chosen one arrives to a planet where they can change the entire world with their mind alone".

"Yeah, I could change the planet if I didn't have the Mastermind on my ass twenty-four seven!"

"Ah yes, you had some trouble with Pestilence I see. Even I had to intervene in that affair seven Equus years ago".

"Wait, are you..."

"Your assumptions are correct. I operate under the alias a friend".

"Why don't you just come down and smite the Mastermind and allow me change the world?"

"Even If I had the ability to, I am forbidden to".

"Why did you bring me here?"

"I brought you here for a quest. You can decline if you want but hear the details first". Indagatius waved a hand over the ball of energy which revealed a ritual circle. "The only link that Ethereal beings and the mortal plane have is the rituals that mortals construct".

"So you want me to make a summoning ritual?" Lucas asked.

"Correct, I want you to make a link for me to the mortal plane. In return I shall reward you handsomely".

"How do I know that you will make it worth the trouble of making this ritual, it is my own blood after all".

"Oh this reward is something you will enjoy, it will also help you in the current affair".

"I don't know, why do you want to be in Equus?" Lucas asked cautiously.

"All that there is in the Ethereal plane is emptiness, I just want to feel the mortal plane once more".

"Looks like even being a god has it's faults".

"Indeed, that is all, I shall return you to your world. I shall leave you to consider the quest, but know this chosen one. I will be watching," Indagatius put two hands on the blue energy ball and I began to fly backwards into the vortex.

I awoke as the rays of light pierced through the gaps of the curtain, I opened one eye and saw Twilight studying the old tome on the table. I crawled off the couch and stretched out my metal arms.

"Morning Twi," I greeted.

"Hi Lucas, I am just studying that circle we did last night," Twilight smiled.

"I know what it does, it is a summoning circle for the god of technology".

"That was very specific to say we did not know what it did a few hours ago," Twilight raised an eyebrow.

"I had itself meet me in my dream, it told me that it will reward me if it was put on Equus once more," I explained.

"I see, why does it want to be in Equus if it is a god?"

"The Ethereal plane is all but a void, I guess it wants is freedom more than anything". Suddenly a loud bang filled the quiet atmosphere of Ponyville. "Get down!" I dived at Twilight and managed to save her from an array of bullets. I looked outside to see several infected armed with rifles pointing at the library.

"Prince Lucas, if you could step outside and we can have a conversation," A unknown voice called.

"Yeah, I'll do that when Tartarus freezes over!" I shouted back. A humanoid figure soon walked between the firing squad. An abomination of body parts that was made to look as human as possible ordered the firing squad to lower their weapons. Two legs that had hooves at the bottom were attached to a Minotaur torso with an equine head on top. The two arms were the most human part as they had the five fingers of a human hand.

"I don't think you know what position you are in Lucas, if you surrender now I will spare Ponyville".

"I'm going to have to go outside," I whispered to Twilight. "Before I do though activate the ritual downstairs!"

"What? No that will just cause more trouble!"

"Twilight listen to me, Equestria depends on this. Now activate that ritual now!" I extracted some blood and put it into a small vial nearby. "Goodbye Twilight". I stood up and walked outside. The infected firing squad readied their weapons but was soon halted by the abomination in front of me.

"Well, Lucas in the flesh and blood. Oh and metal," the abomination chuckled.

"What the fuck do you want!" I screamed.

"I want that device on your head, give me that and Ponyville we be spared," The abomination suddenly pulled out a pistol and pointed it at me. "You have one minute to choose".

"You think I will give in that easy," I laughed.

"No, in that case if you do not hand it over. I will kill Alex".

"What!" Suddenly Alex was pulled from behind the crowd to the front by his mane. "Let him go!"

"I will, if you hand me the device!" The abomination pointed the pistol at Alex's head. "Forty-five seconds!" Time suddenly stopped as Indagatius popped into my head.

"Act as if you do not care, trust me," Indagatius said.

"Thirty seconds!" Alex looked at me in fear as tears welled up in his eyes.

"You think I am that foolish!" I laughed.

"What?" The abomination asked in surprise.

"I will not hand over the only means of victory to you for my child!"

"Your only child and you sacrifice him without a care in the world. Just a mere equine to me anyway," A finger went into the trigger and readied to fire. "Last chance".

"Do it then," I narrowed me eyes at it. As the abomination was about to squeeze the trigger, it fell unconscious. The infected squad attempted to fire at me but the guns ceased to work. A being of pure blue energy leapt out of the library and picked up Alex and threw him into the library.

"Run mortals! Indagatius is here!" Indagatius taunted as the infected squad retreated. I ran to Alex and ripped off the tape around his mouth.

"Alex," I whispered as I hugged him tightly.

"Daddy," Alex replied quietly. Twilight trotted out to find me and Alex.

"Thank you Twilight. If it wasn't for that, we both would be dead," I thanked.

"Let's get Alex to a hospital immediately," Twilight ordered.

"No! I will not abandon him any-more!" I shouted. "I have been gone for too long and this happens".

"Daddy, it hurts," Alex informed as he pointed to a cut on his arm. The cut began to go infected as red crystals formed around the cut.

"You sick fucks!" I slammed the ground with my fist. "First you take my wife, then you do this to my son! Why you monsters! Why!"

"Lucas, we need to take him to a hospital!" Twilight shouted.

"We need to take him to the foundry, I have an antidote for it there and if we hurry I can save him!"

"I believe this is where I come in," Indagatius said. A blue hand touched Alex's head as a blue energy began to transfer through Alex.

"What are you doing!"

"Your reward, the safety of your son. As a mortal god of technology, fitting title for the chosen one's son. For he is my heir to my throne," Indagatius soon absorbed into Alex who began to float in the air. "Goodbye, chosen one. It has been fun". Suddenly a blue pulse blinded everypony in the vicinity. As the dust settled Alex could be found floating in the sky.

"I," Alex uttered as he raised his hand which burned with blue flames which soon set the nearby ground alight. "Am," he raised both of his hands and threw them down to the floor. Several rocks formed a golem. "Powerful!" Alex shouted as he dropped down to the ground once more and picked up the abomination. "This is what you get for harming my family!" Alex grabbed the head of the abomination and began to rip it off, blood ejected all over the place as Alex lifted it up as a trophy.

"This is new, this is good. I finally have power!" Alex chanted to himself.

"Alex! What are you doing?" I screamed.

"Father!" Alex ran to me and hugged me tight. "It's over, we can finally live in peace".

"I don't think it is son," I regretfully informed. "We still got to look for Luna".

"Perhaps our late friend can tell us," Alex smiled as he forcefully jammed the head onto the corpse of the abomination. The corpse twitched but suddenly reanimated. "Now, where is my mommy!"

"I don't know, but the overlord does know!" The abomination said as it collapsed to the floor once more.

"The overlord, I found that on my radar a few days ago," I traced back.

"Well, lets go hunting daddy!" Alex grinned. God that smile does not fit my Alex one bit.

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