Van Hoover… It seems like it’s taken an eternity to reach here. Trixie, Red Heart, and myself… We finally reached this place. We’ve fought our way here through changelings, collectors, and everything else Chrysalis has thrown at us. I can’t believe I’m now standing here, with the only ponies that matter anymore at my side, staring out at the grand city by the bay.

“Rainbow?” Trixie called out suddenly, breaking me away from my thoughts.

I shook my head and turned to her, smiling. “What’s up?”

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah, of course, why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well you’ve just been rather quiet since we got here. Do you have something on your mind?”

“Not really. I’m just glad that we’re finally here.” I continued to smile, kicking a pebble into the water of the bay. I stood watching the ripples, recalling something AppleJack once told me. “No matter what Rainbow, every road will lead you to what you want in life, but the road may not be easy.”

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Yeah.” I turned to Trixie, smiling as I stared at her. “So, any word from Red Heart?” Red Heart had left Trixie and I here some time ago, as she had set out into the city, scouting for potential threats. She had also mentioned making contact with The Mechanic.

“I haven’t heard anything yet, but we shouldn’t let our guard down. We may be in Van Hoover, far from the chaos of Las Pegasus, but we’re still not safe. Chrysalis has agents everywhere.”

“Yeah, I know. This place just seems so peaceful, so far removed from the chaos Equestria has become.”

“Yes, it is a nice change of pace.” Trixie replied, stepping past me and looking out at the water. “However, this is still a city controlled by Chrysalis. She only allows this peace as a way of keeping the ponies here in check. She could cast this city into turmoil, and scorch it with flame, If that is what she wished.”

“Careful Trix, you’re sounding like a servant of Chrysalis,” I teased, inciting a fit of blush from my azure companion.

“W-what? Don’t be absurd. I don’t speak out of admiration. I speak as one who has seen her strength, and simply speak out of respect for that strength.”

“How can you respect anything about her?”

“I told you, I became her student so I could study, and become stronger. One of the ways I did that was by studying books from the royal library. I came across many books of war, surprisingly. One of them stuck with me. It spoke of honor and duty, of trial and tribulation.”

I sat listening to Trixie intently, smiling as she went into a Twi-rant.

“One thing that stood out most though, was a passage that said one must acknowledge and respect the strength of your enemy. If you allow yourself to only focus on your strength, and disregard the strength of your foe, then you are a fool. Know your enemies strength, and aim to surpass it.”

I thought about Trixie’s words, watching her as she stood there, herself deep in thought. “I guess I can see where you’re coming from. If we just ignore Chrysalis’ strength, it doesn’t make her any weaker. If anything , it makes us weaker, because we’re seeing our strength as being superior.”

“Exactly.” Trixie smiled. “It’s not about respecting who Chrysalis is, but respecting the strength she has.”

I was about to speak, when I heard the sound of hooves drawing closer. I turned and saw Red Heart smiling as she drew closer to us. “Hello girls.” She called out.

“Glad to see you’re alright. Find out anything interesting?”

“From the looks of things this city has a small number of Changeling forces. Being as this city willingly surrendered, Chrysalis didn’t bother sending an invasion force. In all I would say the number of Changelings here is around two hundred soldiers, along with a handful of elites.”

“That’s far less than I had anticipated.” Trixie mumbled. “Even without sending an invasion force, Chrysalis would have sent plenty of guards to quell any kind of uprising.” She paused, thinking for a moment. “There has to be more.”

“What are you saying, Trixie?” Red Heart asked.

“Chrysalis knows she’s powerful, and knows that any city that would willingly surrender could potentially become a threat. She most likely thought out a scenario in which the city surrendered to save it’s strength. If that were the case then she knows it was an attempt to conserve strength so a force could be gathered to rebel… More than likely the number of guards is somewhere near five hundred strong, with close to a hundred elites.”

“I had no idea you were such a keen strategist, Trixie.” I said, almost dumdfounded.

“Know your enemy, Rainbow. The Changelings main strength is the ability to change form, their most deadly art subterfuge. Chrysalis sent so few guards as a sign of good will, and in doing so was able to plant even more soldiers in disguise throughout the city.”

“If that’s the case, then anypony we encounter could very well be an enemy in hiding.” Redheart replied, setting back on her haunch. “Though there is no way of knowing… not unless you can force a Changeling to reveal their true nature.”

“Well we can’t very well go about fighting everypony we come across. We’ll just have to move carefully and keep our heads down.”

Trixie and Red Heart stared at me after I spoke. Both giving me a look of intrigue, before smiling and looking to the other.

“I must say, Rainbow, those are rather wise words, for the situation we find ourselves in.” Redheart said with a smile.

“They are indeed, and we should do just as Rainbow said. We move with caution, but we can’t draw attention to ourselves. So Red Heart, any word on the Mechanic?”

My attention focused on Red Heart, waiting for her to answer the question Trixie had asked her. It was the very question I had wanted to ask her, but I didn’t want to appear excited. I was trying to push away the feeling, trying not to work my hopes up… but if I could really fly again…

“Indeed.” She replied, with a smile. “We should probably make our way to meet with her.”

“Her?” I asked. “Does this mean you actually talked to her?”

“Well, yes and no. I spoke with her representative. It would seem that the Mechanic is a Celestian Loyalist, and operates in shadow, so as to avoid providing assistance to Changeling forces within the city.”

“Well, what are we standing around here for?” I beamed, no longer caring about hiding my excitement.

Red Heart and Trixie stood there. They chuckled as they saw my face light up and heard the excitement in my voice.

“Very well,” Redheat replied. “Follow me, and try not to draw attention to yourself. Rainbow, you may want to pull the hood of your cloak up.”

“Why?”

“Well, how many other rainbow maned ponies do you know of that are trying to usurp Chrysalis and save Equestria?” She smiled.

I could feel my cheeks flare up with blush, and chuckled as I pulled my hood up. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Now lets go.” I looked to Trixie, and she nodded in reply, as we followed Redheart towards the center of the city.

Van Hoover. Such a beautiful city, a jewel that reflects the ebb and flow of the water’s edge. Even though this city had surrendered to Chrysalis, it was a place I found comfort and wonder in. I craned my neck up, looking at the buildings tall enough that they dared to touch the sky, while the glass sides shown brightly in the sunlight.

“Trixie, can I ask you something?”

“What is it Rainbow?” She replied, looking to me.

“Well… is Celestia dead?” I asked bluntly.

She looked taken back, and I could tell she was searching for what to say, before she finally sighed. She stopped, staring at me with the most defeated look I’d ever seen. “Yes, Rainbow. Celestia, our princess, is dead. She died at the hooves of Chrysalis, not many days after the siege of Canterlot. Chrysalis had her imprisoned, and tried to force her to surrender, but she would not falter in her devotion to us all. Finally Chrysalis, tired of her refusal, put her to death.”

I couldn’t believe what Trixie had just said, and I cursed myself for asking such a question. I had hoped, had wished that Celestia was still alive, but now I knew she was gone. I looked to Red Heart, who was on the verge of tears and quickly turned from her.

We continued on in silence, before Trixie cleared her throat. “There’s still hope for Equestria, though.” She said suddenly. “Even though Luna is imprisoned in stone, she is still very much alive.”

“I guess that’s the silver lining, isn’t it? One princess is dead, but we still have one that lives.” I sighed.

“Indeed. Freeing her isn’t difficult, she’s bound by the same spell that she, and Celestia cast on Discord. Which as you may remember was broken… twice. The problem will be getting to Luna.”

“Where is Chrysalis keeping her?” Red Heart asked, suddenly chiming in.

“Chrysalis has her on display in the royal garden, upon the same pedestal that Discord himself once rested upon. Basically, if we wanted to free Luna, we would have to go into the heart of Canterlot, and of Chyrsalis’s forces.”

“We’re gonna need some help,” I mumbled.

“Which is why we’re here,” Trixie replied. “We get help with your wing, then focus on finding help. Despite Chrysalis’s best efforts, there are many resistances scattered about Equestria. We simply need to bring them together.”

“And that’s where I come into play, right?”

“Right you are Dashie,” Trixie smiled at me.

“Okay, well, sounds easy enough. I have another question though? If Celestia is dead, and Luna is still imprisoned, then how does the sun and moon continue to rise and set?”

“Chrysalis.”

“What!? She doesn’t have that kind of power… does she?”

“No, she doesn’t. Well, she didn’t. She needed a catalyst to increase her magical abilities enough to control the sun and moon. Which she found by taking the crown of Celestia.”

“You mean she’s wearing Celestia’s crown?”

“Indeed.” Trixie replied.

“We’re here.” Red Heart suddenly said.

I turned my attention from Trixie and put our conversation in the back of my mind as we stood in front of a large building. It was a simple brick building. There were a few windows that had been covered from the inside, and I could hear a loud thud echoing from inside.

“What the hell is this place?” I asked.

“Just follow me.” Red Heart smiled.

Red Heart opened the door of the building, and we were met with thunderous music and flashing lights. We stepped inside, and I was quickly thrown off guard by the hundreds of ponies gathered in this place. They all danced about, laughing and drinking.

“Red Heart?” Trixie, and I both looked to Red Heart, who only smiled and hummed along with the beat.

“It’s rather catchy, one you get past the ear splitting bass.”

“You’re damn right it’s catchy!” Suddenly a white unicorn mare dropped down between us, causing us to fan out and ready ourselves for a fight. “Whoa there! Maybe you guys aren’t ready for some wubbing.” She laughed.

“Wait a minute… you’re-”

“That’s right!” She shouted. “I’m the most badass pony to ever put a hoof on a record.”

“Redheart, you mean she’s-” Trixie started, looking to Red Heart.

“Vinyl Scratch at your service!” She beamed.

She stood there staring at us, or at least I think she was staring… couldn’t really tell with those glasses.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Rainbow Dash.” She said, turning to me as her cobalt and cyan striped mane, and tail swayed. “I bet you’re here to see the Mechanic, aren’t ya?”

I was taken back, and remained silent for a few moments, before finally shaking my head and speaking. “Nice to meet you, too, and yeah that’s why I’m here.”

“Well, come on then, you three. Let’s go.”

We all nodded and followed after her, weaving our way through the dancing ponies. We came to a door, at the very back of the building, and Vinyl’s horn lit up. The light cobalt hue of her magic enveloped the door, and the sounds of heavy locks opening followed soon after. The large, metal, door swung open and she ushered us in, quickly closing it behind us.

I simply looked around, glancing at Trixie, and Red Heart, before following Vinyl down the corridor we’d been lead to. Right, left, left, right. How many turns are there? I wondered as I followed after her, finally reaching a staircase leading into a lower part of the building.

“The mechanic must like to stay well hidden.” Red Heart smiled, as she walked at Vinyl’s side.

“She does these days. Before the fall she was one of those ponies that loved to go and do things. After the fall ,however, she devoted all her time and energy into learning.”

“What was she learning?” Trixie asked.

“Well, calling herself ‘The Mechanic’ should give it away.” Vinyl laughed. “But she devoted her time to learning about mechanics, for the purpose of building weapons, as well as aesthetic limbs for ponies.”

“Why would she do that?” Trixie continued her questioning.

Vinyl stopped and turned to us, offering us a smile, before her horn began to glow. The fur that covered her right foreleg seemed to rip away, as her magic shrouded it, revealing her leg was actually made of metal. “I was hurt pretty bad during the assault on Trottingham. I actually lost all but my back right leg… she didn’t want to loose me, and she didn’t want me to give up on life. So she devoted everything to learning how to build new legs for me.” She paused and sighed. “She told me that without me around, life wasn’t worth living, so she originally did it for me. Ever since, she’s kept on helping others and developing ways of stopping Chrysalis.”

“Sounds like she really loves you,” Trixie replied, casting me a quick glance.

“She does, and I love her just as much.” She paused as we stood before another large door. “Here we are, ladies.” She smiled, opening the door in the same fashion as the one before.

We stepped through the door, and I was immediately met with the scent of burning metal and sweat. I scanned the room. Mechanical limbs lined the wall to my right, and to the other side weapons. I glanced over the weapons, noting a skilled craftsmanship to each one.

“I take it you approve of the little toys I’ve made.” Called a voice, with a Trottingham accent.

“Tavi! Rainbow Dash and her group are here.” Vinyl said happily.

“I can see that, Vinyl,” she laughed, stepping out from behind a large vehicle. She wore a thick, padded, vest, and gloves that covered the majority of her forelegs. “It’s nice to finally meet you all.” She spoke softly. “I am Octavia Philharmonica, better known these days as the Mechanic.” She smiled, pushing back a few strands of her charcoal mane.

“You’re the Mechanic?” Trixie asked, her jaw agape.

“Well, if it isn’t dear Trixie. How has life at Chrysalis’s side been treating you?”

Trixie huffed and flipped her mane before casting Octavia a cold stare. “It wasn’t something I enjoyed.”

“I bet. When was the last time I saw you? Oh yes! It was shortly after the first of Chrysalis’s forces invaded Trottingham. It really has been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Not long enough.” Trixie replied.

“Well, enough nostalgia for one day.” Octavia smiled. “Now Rainbow, I believe you are in need of my help?” She asked, turning her gaze to me.

I stared at her for a moment, wondering what that little exchange with Trixie was about, before finally nodding. “I lost my left wing in a fight against Bane Tooth. He was Chrysalis’s top General.”

“Was? My dear, he still is. Obviously ,you didn’t fight who you thought you did,” She replied.

“What!? Bane Tooth is alive!?” Trixie and I both shouted.

“Yes, he is very much alive. Last word that came in put him in Appleloosa, cleaning up the mess you made. You can worry about that later though, for now… follow me.”

“Go on, Rainbow.” Red Heart smiled, before moving to Trixie’s side. “Trixie and I will wait here with Vinyl.”

“Tavi will fix you up, no problem.” Vinyl added, offering me a smile.

I offered them all a nod, before Trixie called out to me. “Rainbow… I’ll be right here, waiting for you.”

“I know you will.” I smiled back to her, before turning and following after Octavia.