"What, really!? You found the armour!?" Sabre exclaimed.
"Not just the armour, I located all the steves, but not just the steves, many ponies too, as well as other entities, in the exact pinpoint location of the armour," Assistant Steve responded.
"Which ponies exactly?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Apple Bloom, if I think I know what you mean by your question, I have indeed manage to pinpoint the location of Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rarity. Is this what you mean?" Assistant Steve asked. Apple Bloom nodded.
"Wait... so the armour, it didn't destroy them!? Okay, let's go ahead and save them!" Sabre said with a demanding tone, his spirit being lifted massively at hearing the mane 6 actually aren't dead.
"So... they're okay!? Thank goodness!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed.
"Not exactly. While I can detect them, as well as other ponies, and all the steves along with other entities, they're in the exact pinpoint location of the armour, and the armour is moving, quickly," Assistant Steve responded to Sweetie Belle.
"So... we just need to go to wherever the armour is and save them, right?" Sabre responded.
"No, not at this current moment. I can also detect Madness Steve is in close proximity to the armour. Both are moving, quickly-"
"Error, location of the armour has been lost. Error, location of the armour has been lost," Assistant Steve kept saying on repeat.
"No! We just had tracked the armour! You've got to be kidding me!" Sabre exclaimed. The redstone antenna then went back into Assistant Steve's head.
"At least they're okay... I guess- Well, now what?" Sabre sighed.
"Using the towers to locate the armour have fried them. My systems were almost fried, but they didn't as I lost track of the armour before that happened. We got very very lucky. But, we're still in perilous danger," Assistant Steve replied.
"How are we in danger may I ask?" Dark Steve questioned the robot.
"The towers are connected to something, that's running this entire kingdom. The only way this kingdom is being held together by something. We must go to it, and restart it. We must go to the core," Assistant Steve replied.
(Fasting forward the chapter)
Sabre, Dark Steve and the CMC was confused what Assistant Steve meant by the core. Assistant Steve explained briefly about it, saying that if it's off for too long, he just says 'the kingdom won't last'. But he didn't go further in detail, saying they wouldn't understand, ending his sentence with 'morons'. No one questioned him on what would exactly happen if it's off for too long, which Assistant Steve keeps quiet, as if he did say exactly, everyone would panic. Anyway, Assistant Steve started leading everyone over to the hills to the far left side of the kingdom, past the farms (if you're walking from M's house to the main Red Kingdom). There were tall, but slim oak trees with their leaves branching out in a triangle formation, dotted near the hills. Assistant Steve stopped as he and everyone else reached the part of the hill that's 3 dirt blocks deep.
The robot pressed a button to the left of him that blended in with the dirt, and a 3 by 3 door is revealed out of the dirt as it opened downwards, and revealed an elevator, which has a 5 (x) by 4 (y) by 5 (z) interior. There was redstone lamps on to ceiling, 3 by 3 in the middle, giving light inside. Around the lights were smooth stone slabs, coming down half a block from the ceiling. The terracotta walls was a light shade of grey, the bottom part of the wall being made of acacia logs. As you go in, to the left were 3 blackstone buttons, 2 of which was roughly in the middle of the left hand wall, the other one being right beside the door of the elevator to open and close the doors, while to the right, there were 3 redstone lamps in a horizontal line, 3 blocks up, a single block from the ceiling, relative in the middle of the part of the wall, and the floor was made of polished blackstone. Everyone was hesitant to get in, but Assistant Steve quote on quote said 'everything will be okay'. Grudgingly, they got in, and Assistant Steve pressed the button to go down, the 3 by 3 quartz pillar door closing as he did. A minute passes, and they all reached the bottom floor.
The door opened, and they all walked out of the elevator, leading to a 7 by 5 tunnel, the walls being made of grey concrete, except the top half, being redstone blocks, which were connected to the core Assistant Steve mentioned. The ceiling was made of polished blackstone, with redstone lamps in the middle of the ceiling keeping the tunnel lit. Outside was a 5 block wide path, the 3 inner blocks of the path being made of smooth quartz blocks, the 2 outer quartz not being chiseled quartz blocks, the very outer blocks being made of polished blackstone. Ahead was a sturdy 3 by 3 door made of smooth stone blocks. The. Assistant Steve said to Sabre, Dark Steve and the CMC there are security measures that stops others reaching the coreand that only he as well as Professor Red could access it. On the right side wall was a scanner and a blackstone button, the scanner is made of an observer block and a redstone lamp, which was further to the right on the wall, nearer to the elevator. Further to the left, being nearer to the door was a blackstone button. Both the scanner and the button were just a block above the bottom of the wall. Assistant Steve walked back into the scanner, and the lamp turned turn, then walked back, to go and press the button. Then the 2 block thick 3 by 3 smooth stone door opened, leading to the next security measure.
Ahead was a 8 by 7 rectangular shaped pit that had lava in it, 7 blocks below. There was an advanced 3 by 3 grey drawbridge raised up, stopping anyone coming in. To the right was a button, again, a blackstone button. Assistant Steve pressed it, and the drawbridge slowly and smoothly came down, making slight clunking noises as it did. The CMC were impressed by it. The various different drawbridges they seen back in Equestria had to be controlled by somepony on the other side, and relied on rope to pull the bridge up and down. This drawbridge was different though. It was controlled by technology, and it didn't use ropes to be brought up and down, it used incredibly powerful gears in the floor to be brought up and down. The CMC were just impressed at how advanced the Red Kingdom was overall, especially when Assistant Steve stated to them it was all made without magic. Everyone then walked over the bridge, over the pit of lava to the last security measure.
There was a massive 5 by 5 netherite door, which could only be opened by the lock on the right, which was a hopper lock system, where you had to put in a specific item to unlock it, which dispenses the item once it unlocked. Assistant Steve stated being down by the core was bad for health, which he then just stated was a reactor, however, no one was put off, as Sabre still had some of Madness Steve's abilities in the Shadow Sword, Dark Steve technically was darkness and Assistant Steve was a robot and wasn't an actual steve, so he can't be affected. The main concerns were for the CMC, as they had different biology to steves. Ponies could either handle being near the core very well, or could become very ill very quickly. However, the CMC were okay to take the risk, as they were willing to do anything to help get back everypony, whether or not it would mean their health get put at risk. Even if things went wrong, Sweetie Belle still had her magic. Assistant Steve put a salmon into the hopper, and then it came out of the dispenser, the netherite door slowly went down, revealing a giant glowing red ball in a spherical room made almost entirely by iron blocks, with some redstone wiring. On Each side were three massive grey gears, 2 beside either side of the core, the other ones being slightly smaller, and on a massive piece of redstone blocks near the bottom of the machine. The area around the core was where it was most bright, as it did create heat and light, as well as energy for the Red Kingdom of course. The main concern was the lighting, but Assistant Steve stated the area was just about light enough so Madness Steve couldn't just come out of nowhere.
(End of fasting forward the chapter)
"I present to you, the core," Assistant Steve said as he leads everyone out onto a grey platform and walks over to the left. The edges have glass acting as a fence, on top of polished blackstone, redstone blocks being between the grey platform and the polished blackstone edge, apart from the middle part. The CMC are amazed by the core, their mouths dropping at the sight of the core.
"Woah...this place is crazy..." Sabre said slowly as he gazes at the giant ball of energy.
"It feels... warm down here," Said Scootaloo.
"Ah yes, this core produces heat. If you were to go near it, you'd instantly vaporize," Assistant Steve stated.
"This core looks well built," Said Dark Steve.
"Oh my goodness, it's giant! This thing is running the kingdom!? Why!?" Sabre exclaimed.
"I cannot explain that now. We do not have the time," Assistant Steve replied.
"What a far drop that is," Said Sweetie Belle, peaking her head over the edge.
"Yeah, it really really is," Sabre responded to Sweetie Belle. He then looks over to Assistant Steve.
"How long can we be in here until it affects our- Well, their health mainly, Apple Bloom's, Sweetie Belle's and Scootaloo's health?" Sabre asked Assistant Steve, looking at the CMC.
"You don't have to say all our names. You can just call us the Cutie Mark Crusaders," Apple Bloom pointed out.
"That just makes that much easier," Sabre responded to Apple Bloom.
"No need to worry. This place will self destruct before it can actually effect the health of Ap- Well... 'Cutie Mark Crusaders'. Thank you, for giving me a name to use so I don't have to waist my energy pronouncing your weird names," Said Assistant Steve, replying to Sabre, but looking at the CMC.
"SELF DESTRUCT!?" The CMC screamed.
"You took us all down here... to a reactor... that's about to destroy... ALL OF US!?" Dark Steve yelled.
"Yes, that is correct. Not just that, Madness Steve's essence being in the vicinity of the core will make the explosion powerful enough to destroy something way bigger than a universe. Even if we all go to Equestria, the explosion will still make the whole world a nuclear wasteland. As a matter of fact, we have an ETA of five minutes, before it self destructs," Assistant Steve casually replied, the info dumping in his reply not making anyone feel any better whatsoever in the slightest.
"Well you took us down here Assistant, so we need to fix the core, right? So, what do we have to do to fix it?" Sabre asked.
"I cannot answer that, as the Professor made it so I can't give direct knowledge. However, I can give you some knowledge," Assistant Steve replied.
"You know this place more than any of us do! You have to just... tell us!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, starring at the giant glowing red ball of energy, the thing that's about to destroy everything, and them with it.
"It's not that simple. For me to be able to, I would have to activate my safety parameters. But, nothing is making me want to trigger them, Sweetie Belle," Assistant Steve responded.
"I see two buttons, what one do we press?" Dark Steve asked. To the left of everyone, but to the right of Assistant Steve, and behind the robot is a control panel, with 2 blackstone buttons, both do something that involves the core.
"No. We're not pressing anything yet! Hang on," Sabre responded, not meaning to snap, then looks to Assistant Steve.
"Assistant, why can't you tell us?" Sabre is in for a long response from Assistant Steve, and a concerning one too.
"Professor Red designed this himself. He did not trust anyone, including me, to be able to access it. Should my programming go a wire, and I can control anything I want and do anything I want, he was worried that I would go crazy, and be able to do these things myself, and maybe self destruct the entire Red Kingdom in a fiery rage... which would kinda be fun," Assistant Steve replied, his voice being deeper with the last bit in bold. That last bit deeply concerned everyone.
"Okay- Well yeah, that's why he set up those parameters right there," Sabre said to himself, then looks to everyone else, who is just as concerned and troubled as he is.
"You all hear what he said? You hear that last sentence, a little addon he did?"
"Yeah... now I can't trust that robot..." Apple Bloom slowly replied.
"Look, enough! Assistant Steve, can you at least vaguely explain what the buttons do?" Dark Steve sharply questioned the robot, walking up to it, and standing closely to it.
"Why yes, there are two buttons. I am unsure of which, meaning that I cannot press either. As a matter of fact my programming protects it, and prevents me from even approaching the buttons. One button restarts the core, the other button self destruct the core," Assistant Steve explained.
"Woah woah woah, we are about to die, and the only way to possibly avoid our impending doom is that we have to GUESS!?" Scootaloo exclaimed, panicking as she switches the focus of her eyes from Assistant Steve and the core, shaking whenever she looks at the core, the thing that's about to blow up and kill everyone. However, if they do all end up dying, the options are dying a fiery painless death with at least to spend her last moments with her closest friends, or dying at the hands of Madness Steve, who would drag out her pain and misery, and most likely be all alone. She doesn't like either, but prefers the first option way more than the second.
"Yes, that is correct," Assistant Steve casually replied. Meanwhile, Sabre sighs as he walks over to the left, with Dark Steve and the CMC.
"Okay team meeting, team meeting team meeting- Uh, ETA? ETA Assistant Steve?"
"ETA, before we're all destroyed in a fiery blaze of destruction. Two minutes," Assistant Steve replied to Sabre.
"What button do we press?" Dark Steve asked.
"I say we all vote, so we have no regrets no matter what. What do you all think? Left or right?" Sabre responded. Everyone agreed, nodding in response.
"Right... because it's always right... ah ha... ha..." Scootaloo first selected.
"Left," Sweetie Belle selected.
"Left," Apple Bloom selected.
"If you two are going with left, I will too," Dark Steve responded, going with the left button.
"Okay, left wins," Sabre responded. He began to walk back to the control panel, gets on top on some blocks that looks half smooth stone slab, and the other half looking like a much darker grey. Sabre prepares to hit the left button.
"This better work," Sabre said to himself.
"Sabre, go and press the right side button," Shadow Sabre suggested, who has just been casually and comfortably been watching what's going on.
"Shadow, left won the vote- I mean, if we all get destroyed, you become one with nothing. You have nothing to be concerned about," Sabre muttered to his shadow.
"Who are you talking to Sabre?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Don't worry about it," Sabre replied, turning around to look at Apple Bloom as he did.
"Either way, before I press this button, and if it goes all wrong, I'm glad to have met you all-"
"If we do die, we face it together. We not known you for long, but I can call you a friend," Scootaloo responded, hopping up next to Sabre. Then Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle hop up with Sabre and Scootaloo.
"You two, I'm happy to have had you as my best friends. I'm also happy to have met you too, Sabre, and Dark Steve," Said Apple Bloom, breathing in and out heavily, time feeling like slowing down more and more they are about to press the button.
"Thanks," Sabre responded. Dark Steve then hops up.
"I hope this is the right one..." Dark Steve murmured quietly.
"Dark, if we don't make it, I just want you to know, that you're not just darkness. You're a steve, like the others, doing what's right. I'm glad to have you become my friend," Sabre responded before turning to the CMC, who are to his left.
"I'm glad to have met you three too, Cutie Mark Crusaders."
"We'll press the button together, and if this is the wrong one, I guess this is a goodbye-"
"I prefer see you another time," Sweetie Belle interrupted Sabre. Sabre nodded. Everyone began counting, before they hit the left button.