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.