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>"What do you mean 'trapped'?"
"My suit will not open. It cannot be taken off if that mechanism is damaged."
>"Well that's silly, wouldn't they be damaged all the time in battle?"
"Correct, and they are easily repaired via my suit's self-repair suite. The suite, however, is also damaged."
>Silence creeps through the boutique.
>"Well, can we fix it?"
"I have my doubts. You do not have the necessary tools and equipment required for such repairs."
>Twilight and Rarity flash their horns with magic.
>"We might surprise you."
>You thought on it. The magic that you had seen so far was almost on par with various technologies that you were familiar with. It might be possible to substitute their innate abilities...
"I will accept this offer. However, we will need specific materials."
>"Right. Rarity, I think it’s best if Anon and I go back to the library for this. Is that okay?"
>"That's fine, dear. I'd like to think on these marvelous uniforms!"
>With that, Rarity goes to her workstation and scribbles furiously, designing something new. Twilight and you leave Carousel Boutique and step into the rain.


>The p0nies in town are mostly spending the day indoors, so your stroll through town is mostly uneventful.
>You catch a few wary glances through windows and the occasional p0ny with an umbrella, but they don't run away scared.
>It was slightly more comfortable than before.
>THUMPH, THUMPH.
>You suddenly felt caged.
>Your suit was an extension of your body, and never before had you felt trapped by it.
>A crushing weight pushes down on you.
>You grimace.
>The material rubs against your skin.
>Your gauntlets were huge compared to your actual hands.
>You were large and unwieldy.
>The suit was designed to crowd starships' corridors, not trudge through fields and towns.
>You peer down at Twilight.
>She is completely oblivious to your troubles, hidden behind your suit's cold exterior.
>These p0nies relied on very expressive faces, voices, and body language.
>Your suit offered none of that.
>You weren't supposed to engage with aliens, but, you had to.
>You stomp onward in silence.


>Twilight shrinks you through the library door, dries you off, and then you set to work.
>Pearl uploads an image of the faulty mechanism onto your portable holo-projecter, which you then place on Twilight's table.
>The latch mechanism appears in the projection and you immediately see the problem.
>The latch had three parts, two of which anchored the suit and the last to separate them. The middle separator was cracked and broken.
>Pearl helpfully highlights the area in an angry red.
>You blink your optics.
"That is the damaged area. The fix will require Durasteel."
>"Dura...steel? What's that?"
"It is a blend of various metals, combining into a material my people make armor from."
>You slam your gauntlet against your breastplate for emphasis.
>Pearl's dot blinks insistently in her corner.
"Twilight Sparkle, I must be the one to create it, I cannot allow the method of creation to be made known."
>"I think I understand," she says, appearing dejected at being unable to help.
"However, I will require your assistance in gathering various materials."
>Twilight brightens up with a smile.
>Various elements replace the broken latch: Iron, Lead, Zinc, Carbon, Gold, and Titanium. You recognized exactly which elements would be unnecessary; Pearl intended to throw off Twilight by giving more materials than required.
>Twilight checked her own notes to cross-reference the names her own people had given them.
>Luckily, despite differing names, she recognized each element based on atomic data.
>"We should be able to get all of these... but..." she trails off. "The last one will be a problem."
"Is it rare on this planet?"
>"Well, no, but it really only occurs in deep caves... and..." she trails off.
>You tilt your helmet to the side.
>"...well... that's where the Changelings live."
>You blink your optics.
"And they are protective of this metal."
>Twilight nods slowly.
>It was never easy.


>As you eat with Twilight, she sends a letter to Princess Celestia outlining her plan to help you repair your suit. She tells about the materials she'll need, as well as the problem with the Changelings.
>The Princess is quick to answer, saying she'll provide everything needed, though the Titanium is indeed a problem.
>It was unfortunate, because you really needed that metal. Only Durasteel could withstand the pressures that would be inflicted.
>Celestia is also worried about the Changelings, as they have gone completely quiet with no communication to the outside world.
>You knew what that meant.
>They were planning something... recalling and consolidating their numbers.
>The Princess also warned about provoking the Changelings. She did not want to start a war, despite the attack on Canterlot; she hoped to salvage the situation.
>"That's all there is," Twilight explains as she cleans up dinner.
"Celestia is foolish."
>"Um, excuse me?"
"Her land was attacked. Had she lost the battle, your entire land would be dead, enslaved, or worse."
>"That doesn't mean we have to--"
"The only response to a deadly threat is elimination. Celestia leaves the nation vulnerable through non-action. You cannot 'salvage' those who seek your demise."
>"We don't have to stoop to their level... we'd be no better than they are if we attacked them."
"And your moral standing means nothing if you are a corpse."
>Twilight's brow furrows. "Well, we won't complete the latch tonight... we should turn in early. You're welcome to stay here tonight, if you want."
"That would be best. I will catch up with Applejack in the early morning."
>"All right, then. I'm gonna go to sleep so... sleep well!"
>Twilight snuffs the lights and moves to the upper level to sleep.


>You go over the battle in Canterlot with your suit's recording system in the inky darkness. Your optics are turned off to avoid disturbing Twilight.
>The attack seemed disorganized. There were no clear leaders leading individual solders, every one of them seemed to act as a swarm or angry mob.
>Their numbers allowed such a tactic to overwhelm the organization of the guardsmen, which caused the defence to crumble due to every position being attacked simultaneously.
>A clever tactic, since no group could seek to assist another, every guard was forced to fight without his brothers.
>*They seem like hive insects.
>Indeed they did. Pearl brought up similar battles involving bees, ants, and an alien insect named a talik.
>The talik seemed to be the closest, as each individual would disguise itself as vegetation, be brought into an insect hive, and then attack from the inside.
>Similar.
>You watch your actions from the battle, trying to figure out which tactics would be suitable should an engagement arise.
>Click.
>Your boots wade through the sea of gore: you are an unstoppable killing machine.
>Tap-tap.
>Your arm-blades are slick with the gray blood of Changelings.
>Flitter.
>You stop the recording and listen.
>You hear wing beats, they sound like an insect.
>Your front life sign detector senses four signatures: Twilight, Spike, and two unknowns.
>You turn your optics on.


>Blue light floods library.
>"Anon is that--MMRRFFMM!"
>A pair of Changelings have come in through an open window.
>Your eyes dart through your weapon menus reflexively.
>You react in less than two seconds.
>One Changeling is over Twilight, the other hovers near the window.
>THUUUNK.
>Your Linebreaker fires off hollowly, impaling the second Changeling.
>SMASH!
>Its body is propelled out the half-open window, shattering glass everywhere.
>The first Changeling has Twilight in its claws.
>"AMMNYYYMM!"
>You rush to the steps and drop to a crouch, pushing your legs as hard as you can.
>Your suit's actuators propel your mountainous form past the steps and you land hard on the upstairs floor.
>THUUUUUMPH.
>A scuffle had broken out as Spike launched himself at the Changeling to free Twilight.
>In the confusion, there's a puff of smoke.
>Twilight is joined by a twin.
>"Uh... Twilight?"
>The two p0nies look at one another. They are perfect copies.
>Your computer couldn't identify which one was the Changeling.
>Your Linebreaker's chain recoils back through the window, trailing gray blood onto the floor as it clicks into place back on your suit.
>You raise your right gauntlet, aiming your weapon at the pair of purple p0nies.
>"Anon, it’s me!"
>"I'm the real one!"
>"She's lying!"
>"Please don't shoot!"
>You hesitate.


>It’s a standoff.
>Every second feels like an eternity.
>The two p0nies are indistinguishable from one another.
>Your eyes dart to each one, looking for something that would tip you off.
>There's nothing.
>No way to tell.
>You think. What would only Twilight know?
"Twenty two."
>"What?"
"Twenty. Two."
>You hoped Twilight had been paying attention earlier.
>Both of the mares in front of you sweat.
>Teeth clinch.
"Twenty. Two."
>You hoped hard that she would recognize the number.
>"I've got it! It’s what we're looking for in the caves!"
>You immediately blast the other Twilight, impaling her against the wall with the Linebreaker.
>Gray goo seeps from the wound as the illusion fades.
>The Changeling twitches but remains alive.
>"A-Anon...?"
>You yank on the chain, gutting the insectoid creature. It wheezes in pain.
>Your boot pulverizes its dark skull with a resounding SQUI-THUD.


>The atomic number for Titanium.
>Twilight had remembered.
>She was still in shock.
>Gray blood still decorated the floor.
>"A-Anon... what... what..."
"Changelings."
>"Why...?"
"You are close to the Princess. It was an assassination, or kidnapping."
>Twilight trembles as Spike moves to try to comfort her.
>"I-If you hadn't been here..."
"But I was."
>"They would have..."
"They did not."
>She nods slowly. "What should we do?"
>You move to the window and stick your gauntlet outside, engaging the cleaning system.
>Gray muck is purged from the Linebreaker, raining down to the ground below.
"That is up to Princess Celestia. Peace cannot survive such a trial."
>Twilight quickly gets Spike to send a letter to Celestia detailing the attack.
>Her response again comes almost immediately.
>Spike opens the letter and looks at it quizzically.
>"What is it?"
>"It says... 'Send Anon'... that's it."
>You clench your fists into a grip that could crush solid steel.
>You were born for this.