Tronanon 8

"So this is the Everfree forest, huh?"
>In front of you and a group of six ponies is the entrance to a very dark and damp looking wood. All of them have small saddlebags on their backs.
>You've never seen nature before. Well... you have, but only in pictures and residual data files left behind when CLU was destroyed.
>What you're doing is a simple search setup.
>Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy take to the air, so they can cover all the larger clearings and paths faster, something you're grateful for.
>Those that are searching on the ground split into two groups.
>You notice that Twilight makes it a point that she's with you.
>The other three: Applejack, Pinkie, and Rarity, are their own group.
>You briefly wonder if Twilight did this on purpose or not.
>Before you can ask the group is already split. You and Twilight head into the forest.
>It isn't long before Twilight starts asking questions.
>"So who's Trell?"
"Apparently he's the new guy in charge of South Sector."
>"Sector?"
"The city is split up into two sectors, south and north. Used to be there weren't just two, but when CLU was destroyed... he took a lot of data with him."
>"I see."
>As the two of you start getting a bit deeper into the forest, you can't help but notice your surroundings growing darker. When you look up you see small rays of sunlight barely poking through the trees.
"I don't know much about what happened with CLU, just the basic stuff that everyone knows."
>"You weren't born yet?"
"Created."
>"Hm?"
"I wasn't created yet."
>Twilight falls silent, a frown on her face.
"Oh don't give me that look. I already showed you my ID."
>She huffs, "That doesn't mean a thing."
"Oh really?"
>"Yes, really. Look Anon..." She steps in front of you, stopping you in your tracks. "I have a question. Why are you helping me?"
"Because it coincides with my survival."
>She rolls her eyes at this, "For someone who's supposed to be a stoic program, you are a very bad liar. It was obvious you were going to kill yourself so I could get out of the arena."
>You fall silent at this. Hell, just a cycle ago you never would have put your skin on the line for someone like that.
>"You need to stop thinking like this, especially considering what we're gonna have to do in the Grid. You have to learn to work with other ponies, otherwise you're going up against everything alone. Speaking from experience, that isn't a good idea."
>You sigh. You hate to admit it, but the purple talking pony is right. You've been on you're own ever since you were made, but maybe there's another way.
>An... easier way.
"Okay, let's say I give you the benefit of the doubt, what happens then?"
>She gives you the biggest grin she's shown you yet, then extends out a hoof, "Friends?"
>You reach out hesitantly, and grasp her hoof with your hand before shaking.
"Friends... I guess."
>"Good, now let's find Sam."
-----
>Three hours later and still no sign of Sam or Quorra. You're getting tired, not just physically, but mentally as well. For all you know, you could have been knocked out for a day, and they're miles away by now.
>You and Twilight are deep in the forest. Every once in a while you can hear Rainbow fly overhead and call out that she hasn't had any luck on her end, either.
>You begin to get frustrated, then something happens.
>Your stomach vibrates and growls, and you look down at it as if it has grown a head. Suddenly, you realize there is a vague pain in the area as well.
>This must be hunger.
>Twilight's ears twitch, and she looks up at you with a smile, "Wanna take a break?"
>She uses her magic to pull open one of her bags, and out floats some bread. You both find one of the clearer spots around to take a seat.
>You're surrounded by trees and foliage. It makes you a bit nervous.
>With a sigh you take a bite from the bread.
>it's unique. Nothing at all like the glowing drinks a program can consume in the car areas. Not to mention it's actually required. Apparently being outside of the Grid makes you completely human.
>Maybe Twilight has a point, after all.
"Hey, when we find Sam..."
>Twilight pauses as she's about to take a bite, and smiles at you, "Hm?"
"He'll want to hold onto the Grid, and I don't know if he'll be staying here."
>"Do YOU want to stay here?"
"That depends on what happens, but I guess I could stay off the Grid if it came to that."
>"Heh, I think I'd like that."
>The rest of your meager meal is eaten in silence.
>After another few hours of searching you end up somewhere near the edge of the forest.
>Twilight sighs and shakes her head, "That's it."
"What?"
>"That's our search route, the others should be wrapping up. We'll have covered the entire forest. We're lucky we didn't run into anything."
"So..."
>"I'm sorry Anon. I don't think they're here, at least not anymore."
"What's on the other side of the forest?"
>"The badlands, but if they had enough time to make it through the forest without you waking up I'm not sure they're alive. I'll send a letter to Celestia, maybe we can get a search squad from the royal guard to fly over."
"Maybe we're looking in the wrong places."
>"What do you mean."
>You point to her saddlebag.
>"Anon, how could that possibly..."
"Something, I don't know what, sent Sam and Quorra here. What if that something also pulled them back into the Grid?"
>The trees above you rustle, and you're greeted with with the sight of Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy landing not but a few feet from you both.
>"You're not going in there without me," says Dash, "I want to see this place too, it's no fair that you guys get to have all the fun. How about you Fluttershy?"
>"I think... I think I'll just stay here, thank you."
>"What?! But..."
>Twilight steps forward and smiles, "That would probably be best for now, Rainbow.  We should go in one at a time, I don't want to trouble Gray, and it'll be easier to move about if we all get a feel for the Grid seperately."
>Dash raises an eyebrow, "Who's Gray?"
"He'll be making your light suit, for when you're in the Grid."
>"Is that the thing you're wearing? It looks uncomfortable."
>"You'll be fine," says Twilight, "I'm sure he'll accomodate for your wings."
>"Man, we couldn't find nothin'!"
>You'd recognize that southern drawl anywhere. These ponies all made quite the impression on you for first meetings.
>"I had toooooooooons of fun AJ! I don't know what you're so grumpy about."
>The pink monster that attacked you, as well.
>Twilight turns to them and smiles, "Girls, thank you for all your hard work. We think we know where they are now."
>Pinkie looks so excited she might pop.
>Honestly, you wouldn't be surprised if she did.
>"Anon, Rainbow, and I are going onto the Grid to look for them."
>Applejack tilts her head, "That the weird place ya'll were talking about?"
"The very same."
>"Yes. When we're inside I want you to take the card back to the shop, and I want one of you to stay and watch it. It could be that we end up coming back before you even make it to the shop, but I want to be careful just in case."
>Pinkie grins, "You can count on us!"
>Twilight takes a deep breath and turns back to you. The SD card floats from her pack and gently to the ground, "Are you two ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be."
>"You bet!"
>Twilight's horn starts to glow.
----------
>Next thing you know, you're back in the Grid. This time you ended up on some random street corner. Programs passing you eye Dash and Twilight wearily. It's easy to tell that those two don't belong here.
>Twilight is back in her light suit, ID and all.
>Dash looks... shaken.
>"What the heck is this place?"
>You smirk.
"Welcome to the Grid Rainbow Dash. Let's go get you a light suit."
>You're pretty sure you ended up in the North sector, which is good. You don't want a repeat of yesterday's incident.
>That, and if Tron is anywhere, you'll find him here. Maybe he can help you find Sam and Quorra.
>The streets are busy, but you make your way to Gray's place without anything bad happening.
>You count that as a win.
>As you enter the place you can't help but notice that the blinding light is absent.
"Forgoing the theatrics, Gray?"
>You hear a deep rumbling laugh, and see him behind the counter, "Hardly my little virus. I see you've brought me another pony." He gestures to Dash, who glares at him. Gray grins, "Ah, this one has SPIRIT, I like it already. I notice it has the wings as well."
"Yeah, a bit different."
>"Then allow me a moment to work, eh? Come here pony."
>"My name is Rainbow Dash."
>"Ach! Very well. Come here Rainbow Dash."
>The cyan mare huffs and makes her way to the counter, hopping up on it. When Gray brings his hands forward for a scan she almost flinches away, but she stands there in the end, letting him do what needs to be done.
>An ID begins to materialize on the counter, then on the opposite side of her, a light suit.
>This one is pretty much the same as Twilight's. The cutie mark is different, of course. You can also see two hols in the back for her wings to slip through.
>It takes her a moment to get into it.
>When she's finally done Gray reaches under the counter and comes back up with the plates, clicking them into place on her chest, hooves, and back.
>He pats her on the head. She can only glare at him, "There Rainbow Dash, not so bad, eh?"
>She grumbles a few choice words under her breath as Gray retrieves her Identity Disk.
>He shows it to her, "This is your ID. It is everything you say or do within and without the Grid. It is also your weapon. Guard it like you would guard your life." He leans over and snaps it onto her back.
>It clicks into place and Dash flinches when streams of data are sent through her mind.
>"It felt kind of weird," says Twilight softly.
"Yeah, well, it's the only way to get a disk aside from being on the payroll or going to the games. Gray is good at what he does, and I trust him with my life."
>After what seems like forever, Rainbow Dash's light suit turns on, blue lines and all.
"Gray, before we get going I have a question."
>"Oh?"
"Have you heard rumors of a User running around?"
>"No no my friend. I hear you are looking for Sam Flynn, yes? If he was in the northern sector I think Kril would have found him by now."
"Good point."
>"Great," says Dash, "Now we're flying blind. Maybe with the mind probing done we can hit the ground running and get some work done!"
>Gray let's out a great big laugh and grins at Dash, "I like you Rainbow Dash! Make sure these two stay out of trouble, eh?"
"We need to find Tron. He'll be here in the north."
>Gray nods, "Check with Kril. He probably went there to take shelter."
"Will do."
---------
>Kril's tower seems unnaturally quiet. He probably has all the programs being cautious with all the activity in the South sector at the moment.
>However, he's there to greet you in the lobby, just like last time, with wide arms and a big smile, "Anonymous, how fares your search?"
"We think he's not on the outside."
>"Then it is as I feared, and we'll have to search in the south."
"Yeah, Gray mentioned that you would have found them already if they were up here."
>"I combed the entire sector. They probably ran when they saw orange."
"You should REALLY fix that."
>"I'm afraid it's easier said than done. Without a User, or a program written for data alteration, rectification has proven... difficult. Who's you're new friend?"
>"I'm Rainbow Dash!"
>"A lively one, hm?"
>"She's here to help, just like me," says Twilight. "We need to find Tron. Do you have any idea where we could start looking?"
>Kril smiles, "Why yes. He came straight here actually. Follow me."
>Kril leads you down several hallways, all an uncomfortable bright white. You're used to seeing everything black, with a sheen and pulsating colors, not this clinical look.
>The building is huge, but after taking several turns you finally reach a room. Kril opens the door and there's Tron, seated at a small table and tapping his fingers impatiently. "I assured him that you got away," says Kril, "But he has been... less than thrilled."
>The minute he sees you he's up from the table, "Anonymous, Twilight. I was afraid you hadn't made it."
"We're fine. I told you we would come back to find you."
>"How did you escape?"
"We left the Grid."
>"But... it's been less than a millicycle. You couldn't have possibly made it back that fast."
>Twilight seems to beam as she steps forward, "I decelerated time in the Grid so it matches up with the outside whenever we're not in it. Yesterday to you is yesterday to us, too."
>Tron smiles, "That's... impressive."
>Dash steps forward and frowns, "This is the guy we were looking for? He looks like he hasn't eaten in days."
>"I've been in... better conditions. My name is Tron."
>"Rainbow Dash."
"Listen, Tron. We were hoping you could help us."
>"How so?"
"We need to go back to the South Sector."
>"A risky proposition."
"We think that's where Sam and Quorra are. We couldn't find them on the outside."
>Tron sighs and nods, "Well, no use standing around here then. Let's start working on a plan. Trell has blocked all traffic in and out of the south. If we want to get in, then we need to be creative."
>"I think I can help there," says Twilight, a wide smile on her face.