Author's note: Hello everypony! Just like I promised, here is chapter three much sooner than the last one. :D Though I can't make the same promise about the next chapter. It's taking me a bit longer. Still trying to figure out how I want to reveal the next plot twist. :D But this chapter does a little injury description but it's not graphic. Still debating about also posting on FIM but I'm leaning towards posting in both areas. I'll have a decision by the next chapter though. Anyway, enjoy!

And like always; Disclaimer: I do not own My Little Pony Friendship is Magic or any characters contained in the show. They belong to Hasbro and respective owners.

Cheerilee was going to end class a little early so she could get to the Canterlot train though she had gotten an urgent message from her bottle that she had to keep the foals indoors. The Reception 'ception had apparently escaped and was last seen heading towards Ponyville. So, she promptly gave her students a surprise lesson about art and then challenged the group to a cooperative art project. She hoped that it would keep their attention on the paper rather than the clock in the back of the room. She trotted over to the door and made sure it was locked for the fourth time. The handle jiggled and clanked signifying the locking mechanism was tightly in place. She took in a deep breath and looked out the window wondering what had happened in Ponyville this time.

There are many paths we walk; yet it's not paths that define us. It's the paths we choose to walk on that governs our definitions.

"How did you guys find us again? It would be really helpful right now!" Pinkie asked. After which Rarity looked to Fluttershy.

She coughed getting the last of the gas out and nodded, "I'm not sure how but I've got a, internal compass of sorts that points to that wagon."

"Well? Which way did they go?" Pinkie asked in a hurry but Fluttershy knew she didn't mean any harm. They were all worried about their friends.

"Um," She stated getting a feel for the direction the compass was pointing, "To the right." She started over to that direction but Twilight spoke up.

"We may have a problem."

"What's wrong Twilight?"

"This area of the forest contains deadly thorn bushes and it's a maze to get through it safely." Twilight walked closer to the plants near the entrance. Lifting up the plant's limb with magic, it revealed nasty spikes covering its surface. "One prick from this and we'll be down for days. If we get stuck in this stuff it's lethal."

"Oh dear," Rarity replied lifted another plant with her own magic. "So, what's the plan?"

Twilight paused staring intently at the ground, "Well, I'm not sure. We need a pinpoint location to navigate that maze. There are many paths with many exits. The Reception 'ception seems to know it by the back of their hoof!" She clapped two hooves together for emphasis.

"The Reception 'ception?" Pinkie asked curiously.

"It's the name of those two. They attacked the school earlier and broke my eye." Fluttershy replied.

"Oh, so bad ponies."

"That's not all. I believe they sell ponies or creatures,"

"Really bad ponies…" She whispered staring into the brush as if she could see them.

Twilight suddenly perked up, "We could use the elements! We are all connected to the elements so we should be able to pinpoint where the others are."

Rarity frowned, "Wouldn't they have to power up too? They seem to be restrained quite well. You saw how Rainbow was when she got restrained. Very little struggle, which is very uncharacteristic of her."

Twilight nodded, "Yes, but we may be able to get a better location than Fluttershy's compass because we have more points. Even if they are vague directions, using pythagorean's theorem and multiple directions pointing to the same target we can better transverse this maze."

"That's assuming you've been in this maze before." Pinkie perked up.

Twilight gave her an inquisitive look but didn't press the matter, "Me and Fluttershy have wings. We can view the maze from above. Or at least get bits and parts of it to guess where the path would be at."

"Hmmm." Pinkie said, examining the plants again.

"It's easy! We need at least one more point with Fluttershy's compass to get a pinpoint location. Then using that info, feeling, we can use the foliage cover to guess where the paths would be. The plants won't be able to get very high up to block the sun very well. Wait,"

"What?" Rarity asked.

"If I'm above guiding you guys around, I won't be able to help with the fight. I'd have to get through the thorns, land, and avoid that unicorn's magic. Not to mention the last time we took flight next to that wagon it started to do something. Last time it did that it snatched Rainbow out of the air…" Twilight trailed off, again staring at the dirt in concentration.

"So," Fluttershy started, "We need another line of tracking and an aerial view to guess where the paths would be?"

Twilight nodded, "I suppose you could be alone in the air Fluttershy. Well, no. Because I'd be doing the math and I don't want you to get yoinked out of the sky with the thorns and everything."

Quite suddenly something clicked in Fluttershy's head. It felt she had hit eureka but didn't know why. Her right foreleg swung up, straightened without her command, and began to click at Fluttershy's horror.

Then it opened. Her front leg just opened up like a hatch on a window cover. From it came a black device that reminded Fluttershy of very dull scissors. It was as if some filly had opened the scissors too far and made a horizontal line. At where the scissors would pivot there was a large ball that had been flattened just a little. The device suddenly started to move, mimicking the motion of using scissors but it only stopped half-way making a plus sign. The device then fell to its side with a clank of metal held up only by some rods extending from Fluttershy's leg.

Bits at each end of the plus sign started to spin. Thousands of bees seemed to flap their wings as the device shot upwards. It left behind an outline of the middle section that reminded Fluttershy of a ladle. It merely went further down her leg and rotated 90 degrees back into her leg. With a click the leg closed leaving the group in shock and awe.

The silence held as Fluttershy's remaining friends waited to see a response. Though Fluttershy wasn't focused on her friends at the moment. Her left eye had been in darkness for some time, yet it was suddenly filled with color. In the top right of her orb's vision she saw the words, Drone view, in bright blue. From her left eye she could see the tops of the plants that were blocking their path.

The view was interrupted by a prompt in bright blue lettering. Generating map… Then every outline of the image glowed for a secound in a lateral fashion. It did this a couple of times then the view faded, and she saw a map. Lines of blue twirled together to show the paths of the maze that the Reception 'ception were in.

Furthermore, she saw a pink butterfly on the map. When she focused on the butterfly, she saw her name float up in small font. She curiously took a couple steps to the left, more curious now than afraid.

The butterfly moved with her movements! She felt a small sensation of pride in figuring that out. She also noticed that a white butterfly was hovering around her. She focused on it and saw it was labeled drone. She looked up and saw whatever came from her leg was the, "drone."

She shivered but paused as a line was drawn between her label and the drone's, this time in neon green. The slowly inched forward across the map till they met at a central point to form a triangle. At the top of this triangle appeared two more triangles. One was facing upwards, the other was facing down, and both were layered on top of eachother. She focused on this new mark and found it was labeled as Reception 'ception. Another white line branched from the blue butterfly and traced along the blue pathways of the map. Words at the bottom stated, Routing…

Fluttershy narrowed her eye. Whatever she was now was not important. Right not her friends were in danger. Her new identity could be figured out later, but it was now that she needed to use it.

The white line finished it's path to the triangles and Fluttershy noticed as the red marks moved the line still stayed connected. It would change its path a bit, edging right or left, but it stayed on the triangles like Harry on honey.

Offering no explanation to her friends she exclaimed, "Follow me!" Her friends gave her looks but offered no hesitation in following as Fluttershy charged the right path.

As she followed the white line on the map, a floating line appeared in her right eye. She frowned slightly but followed the line anyway. A triangle suddenly blossomed in the line and pulsated, indicating to the right. She took a sharp right.

She suddenly heard a snap of magic and looked behind her. Twilight met her gaze and shouted, "When you are about to take a right, lift your right wing. When a left is coming raise your left. That last turn almost sent Pinkie into the thorns." Twilight's face nor words were accusing, only informative.

"Sorry Pinkie!" Fluttershy exclaimed behind her.

Pinkie laughed, "No worries! Just make sure you lead us to those vermin! " Pinkie replied adding a bit of Applejack's accent. She also noticed her mane morph into a sort of cowboy hat.

Fluttershy smiled and raised her left wing, a secound later she took a left. This time she didn't hear any magic. She did this for a while until they rounded a turn in time to see the wagon take a left turn.

"Alright! Take two!" Rarity shouted pulling a relatively straight stick from the path. It looked like an old dead branch with deadly thorns reaching outward. Though their defenses had no effect on Rarity's magic.

Twilight nodded and lit her horn. Blue meshed with purple as Twilight added her own magic to the stick, "There! It should be as strong as stone!" She shouted.

"Reception 'ception here we come!" Pinkie shouted dawning a pirate hat.

The group took the left-hand turn and saw the wagon hadn't been traveling at full speed as it had been before. At their thundering arrival the unicorn looked back and shouted, "Aww—" but a beeping noise come out of her mouth at the mare's utter confusion.

"Arhggg! There be no swearing in this here story!" Pinkie said getting into character of the pirate's hat. "Sink their ship Rare and Twi!"

The two magic users chuckled and replied with a hearty, "Aye captain!" The randomness settled as Rarity directed the stick into the wagon's wheel.

"First try!" Rarity grinned as the stick went between the spokes. The wheel stopped cold and dragged along the dirt with a terrible grinding sound. With a snap the stick shattered, sending bits of wood and purple magic flakes disappearing into the deadly brush surrounding them.

"Or not…" Rarity said looking at Twilight.

"Whatever that wheel is, it's able to push the wagon on its own. That's probably the reason those two have been able to keep going without rest." Twilight said wearily.

Fluttershy took a look at her friends. They all looked ready to drop yet the duo in front looked ready to keep running. She frowned, they needed something that could slow the wagon down. They couldn't catch up with flying. Sure, they could track it down at any time, but time would wear her and her friends out. The stick idea was a good idea, but they needed a stronger stick.

Words in her left eye suddenly read, Deploying lance.

She felt her right-side twitch and she watched it open. Unlike the grey metal interior that her leg had sported, a light blue glow seemed to exsist inside her form. Light didn't spill out of it like a spotlight but even as she watched a small rod hovered out parallel with her barrel. This rod was a little thinner than her leg but it was sharpened to a needle like point. It clicked and with the sound of a metal sliding on metal, telescopically extended a couple of feet in front of her. The end glowed blue and started to hum. The opening on her side slid shut becoming seamless once again.

Fluttershy gulped down her fear and anxiety. She'd deal with that later with all of her best friends.

"Oooh! What's that?" Fluttershy heard Pinkie ask but Fluttershy was trying to focus on the wagon and not the weird things that was happening to her. She had to catch up but how?

In her left eye above the map she saw herself but hallow and blue. It was as if somepony had taken hundreds of lines and arranged them to look like her in a 3D scale. She couldn't read the blue ponies facial expression but she noticed it was running with her movements.

Optimizing running patterns…

She felt her legs shift and she started to run different than she'd normally do, but she was starting to go faster.

Boosting main leg motors by 20%...

This time it felt she was made of air. Her speed doubled and she was able to start running like Applejack. She noticed that she didn't need to breathe any differently though but was more fascinated by the lance on her side.

No, it was floating by her side. Hovering about an inch from her coat was the lance, lightly bobbing to Fluttershy's gallop. So, she reached over and grabbed the lance with her mouth, just before the glowing bit. She noted the metal flavor and gave it a tug. No resistance tried to keep the lance by her side and she was now holding it like Winona retrieving a stick a bit too big for her mouth. She slowly edged the weapon to the left so she could better jam the piece into the wheel. She also approached the wagon from the colt's side to avoid the unicorn's magic blows.

"Switch me!" The unicorn in front of the wagon shouted and the two ponies jumped. In the air the two flipped over eachother, pivoting on a swivel built into the harness. Now the unicorn was on the side Fluttershy was on. "Not so fast you little—" Another bleep sounded from her mouth cutting off her words. She gave a shout of frustration and fired a beam of green energy at the pegasus.

Fluttershy jumped and spun left in the air. Three fourths through her spin, she sent the lance into the wheel. She landed on all fours, still running but now she was smiling. There was a dull thunk as the lance sunk into the side of the wagon but was followed up with the terrible grinding from before.

With a snap the wheel gave as the spokes in turn broke itself on the metal obstruction. The wagon suddenly tipped to the right and began to gouge the dirt below.

"How?!" The unicorn exclaiming shrilly, desperately trying to get the wagon to balance. The effort was in vain however, as Twilight, Pinkie, and Rarity circled to the front no longer playing catch up.

"The games are up!" Twilight shouted, wrapping her magic around the wagon. Sparks of green and purple came and went as Twilight overcame the wagon's defensive spell. The alicorn closed her eyes and grunted in concentration.

"No you don't!" The brown unicorn stated coldly as she fired a projectile of her own. Though a holographic diamond appeared to block it. The unicorn merely growled, her horn still lit.

There was a mighty crack of magic and the green magic vanished with a shimmer of light. Twilight smiled as the other unicorn's scowl only darkened.

"Calabunga!" Pinkie shouted as she rushed the other brown pony with a classic tackle and tumble. At the end of the tumble the pink pony was on top to which she shouted, "Can't run now!"

"Didn't need to." The brown pony replied stiffly. Then he proceeded to knock Pinkie in the head with the bat he had on his leg.

"Woooo.." Pinkie muttered, taking a few steps back.

The brown pony merely smiled and got up, "Is that all you got?"

The earthpony shook her head then said cheerfully, "Again?"

The brown pony barely kept a hold on his bat as he stood agape.

Pinkie frown, "Okay, your turn!"

The Reception 'ception's earth pony heard his teeth clack together as the bat was whisked from his grasp and swung around on his own head.

"What constellation do you see?" Pinkie asked excitedly, "I saw the ice cream sundae, but that could be something else."

The other earth pony didn't respond but merely retreated to his unicorn friend, "Is it done?"

The unicorn frowned, "Almost." At that the two retreated from the wagon with slow gentle steps.

Fluttershy and her friends then went to the wagon, inspecting the top. "How do we get this open?

Twilight didn't look back but had her gaze locked on the Reception 'ception, "Not sure. But hurry, that unicorn is preparing some sort of spell…" Twilight lit her own horn and projected a shield around the wagon and her friends, casting a comforting purple light.

"Have at thee!" Pinkie shouted, having procured a crowbar from thin air and trying to pry the top open.

Rarity blinked, "Where was that just a little bit ago?"

Pinkie shrugged, "Picked it up from that guy when we tumbled." She said raising a hoof to the other earth pony. The pony then proceeded to scowl after a frantic search of his bags.

Rarity merely shook her head with a small smile on her face. With a breath, she began to assist Pinkie with the prying of the roof using her magic to apply leverage.

Fluttershy frowned, not sure how to help with the crowbar but instead walked to Twilight, "What kind of spell do you think she's preparing?"

Twilight gave her a sideways glance, "I'm not entirely sure. She's masking it pretty well, but it seems to be some sort of summoning spell. Though I'm not sure what she is trying to summon…"

Fluttershy frowned looking at the plants around them. Who knows what creatures could be roaming these plants? Fluttershy herself could think of quite a few, all of which she didn't want to be summoned to fight them. Then she suddenly yelped as the shield was filled with a sharp crack of breaking metal.

"Whoa!" Pinkie exclaimed as the object she was bracing against suddenly became unanchored and she flew into the shield.

"So much for that…" Rarity sighed, still holding the broken pieces of the crowbar with her magic.

"What about this?" Pinkie asked reaching for the lance.

Fluttershy suddenly was quite alert, "Wait! Pinkie don't touch that!"

Too late. Pinkie's hoof made contact with the yellow lance and was immediately electrocuted. The air was filled with a tight hum for a few secounds before Pinkie was able to snatch her limb away. A shocked expression was on her face but it seemed she wasn't in pain. Her mane puffed up even more as she began to laugh. "WoW! That was quite the jolt! It's like your own mini lightning cloud!"

Twilight frowned, "How were you able to touch it then?"

Fluttershy grimaced, "Maybe because it's a part of me?" She used the word, "part," loosely. Not wanting to dwell of the meaning of what that made her.

Twilight frowned, "Sorry. Think you could use that to help get this wagon open? Sooner we get this done the sooner we can go to that inventor."

Fluttershy nodded and walked to the lance still stuck in the wagon. She grabbed it and gave a light tug. It popped out of the wagon with ease. Then she attempted to plant the device into the top of the wagon just as Pinkie had done with the crowbar, but something stopped her. Her left eye suddenly went blue with two red blobs just below her hooves. The spot she had been aiming for was directly above one of the red blobs. She frowned and chose another spot clear of any red. This time nothing stopped her, and the lance sunk all the way through the roof and seemed to bury its full length till it hit something underneath.

"Alright, now we just push it open." Rarity said throwing the broken tool away only to frown. "I can't wrap my magic around that lance."

Twilight looked back, "What?"

Rarity frowned and seemed to be concentrating, "My magic has no effect Fluttershy's lance. I can't even touch it…"

"Here let me try." Twilight offered and focused on the object as well only to frown. "Neither can I. Though it's not a magic enchantment. Whatever that thing is made out of its magic proof. Like Chrysalis's throne."

Fluttershy frowned, "Oh dear." She was not sure that she could pry open the wagon alone.

Her left eye went black again then it read:

Changing lance settings:

-Magic firewall adjusted…

Users "Rarity," and "Twilight," have been granted permission to manipulate weapon_lance

-Electric preventative measures deactivated.

She blinked at the words not understanding what it meant, "Uh. Try now."

Pinkie gently raised a hoof to the lance and cautiously touched it. "Oooh! What did you do?"

The lance glowed blue as Rarity grabbed it, "Works fine now. Do tell Fluttershy, what happened?"

Fluttershy could only shrug in response.

Rarity smiled understandingly, "Well, no matter. Let's get our friends back." The trio nodded and with Twilight's protection, the three pushed against the lance. Which, unlike the crowbar, held its structural integrity. After a few minutes of pushing and pulling the wagon top popped open.

Two, tired, but relieved faces squinted in the sudden light. Rarity focused on the restraints and the key holes started to glow. It shifted in different directions till Rarity lit up and made the device click. It opened up and floated off of Rainbowdash's face.

"It's about time…" Rainbow smiled watching Rarity remove the restraint on Applejack. "Thanks guys. Was really worried for a secound there."

"No worries my dear." Rarity replied, throwing the restraints to the side. "Though it's been quite a journey to get to this point."

"Journey?" Applejack asked in a voice akin to someone just waking up.

Pinkie smiled and offered a hoof, "Well, for starters, that lance-y thingy belongs to Fluttershy. Literally came from her ribs."

Applejack and Rainbow merely gave looks to Fluttershy and Pinkie.

Fluttershy frowned and nodded.

Though it was Twilight who spoke up, "Girls!"

The group turned towards the purple alicorn in concern. The pony was staring at the Reception 'ception's unicorn. Her eyes were glowing bright green with a wide smile inches below.

"Now, you die!" The unicorn shouted only for it to be drowned out by sudden howling. The unicorn was now emitting a green aura than pierced the ground and the plants around it. Twisting with uncomfortable cracks, the vines morphed into recognizable shapes.

"Timber wolves…" Applejack whispered.

The wolves either walked from the vines they came from or dropped from the higher branches though each and every one had their eyes directly on the ponies protected by Twilight's shield. Yet, they weren't exact timberwolves but spiky relatives. They were made up of brighter shades of wood, just like the vines around. Hundreds of spikes protruded the creatures' bodies presumably with the same toxic poison.

"Not quite." The now glowing green unicorn said, "These aren't exact Timberwolves as their magic is from the Everfree forest. But mimicking that magic with my own makes pretty good duplicates." The unicorn's grin was mimicked on her teammates, "There hasn't been a pony that has been able to best this summoning spell. Let's test it against an alicorn's magic shall we?" She gazed at the wooden wolves around her, that started to growl and approach the purple bubble.

"Uh, Twilight?" Pinkie asked frightened.

Twilight didn't reply, instead she stomped her hoof. The shield flashed white and became a bubble made up of hexagons. Some hexagons glowed and fired at the Timberwolves with sparking purple energy.

The Timberwolves exploded at the touch leaving a pile of splinters and thorns. Twilight smiled as more hexagons fired their energies.

The unicorn only laughed.

The splinters only gathered back together reforming the wolf it had come from. More energy blasts fired from the shield only to be proven ineffective. The blasts stopped coming as the wolves got close enough to strike. Wooden claws sparked green as the wolves slashed and tackled the shield attempting to get through.

Twilight immediately slumped as if someone had dropped heavy saddle bags on her. She groaned slowly raising her stance back up. But the shield cracked, and Twilight fell to the ground. She growled and lifted her head, horn still glowing.

Fluttershy stared at Twilight wanting to get an explanation but she doubted Twilight could even respond. She glanced around the shield and saw it was completely surrounded by the wolves. They couldn't attack close range because of the spikes. Which meant Rarity, Twilight and maybe Pinkie would be the only ones who could attack. Applejack, Rainbow, and herself could only take on the creatures at close range but that would risk getting poisoned.

Enter battle mode?

She blinked as red words appeared in her left eye's vision. She swallowed, unsure if she should. What did battle mode mean? She didn't like the sound of it either.

The shield splintered, cracks crawling along the surface with startling creaks. Twilight collapsed eyes closed in concentration. Her horn slowly losing its glow.

She stared at the unicorn fueling the summoning spell. Why was she beating Twilight so effectively? She took a breath and nodded her head.

Her vision in her left eye cleared only to be replaced with a red haze. Text began to appear on the left side, scrolling so fast she barley was able to read it.

Entering battle mode… Success!

Diagnostics:

Motors check…100%

Pre-charging plasmatic generators…done

Calibrating sensors…error…

Left eye obstructed. Clearing…

Her eye patch seemingly fell off at her displeasure. Confusion on how it had happened was replaced with curiosity as the text continued.

Calibrating sensors…done.

Weapons check…

Lance deployed.

Weapons all accounted for….

Synchronizing magmatic extenders…

Fluttershy felt herself hum. Only for a few secounds as whatever a magmatic extender revved up.

Checks and calibrations done. Assessing battle…

Enemies: 125

The number counter stayed put while the rest of the text blinked out of view. Twilight's shield flashed in her vision for a secound then the reception 'ception flashed as well. Text then explained what had happened to Twilight.

Enemies capable of energy absorption. Twilight's shield energy is being siphoned off and being used for retaliation.

Fluttershy frowned. The wolves were able to take Twilight's energy from the shield and then use that energy to hit the shield harder. No wonder Twilight was tired! She was fighting herself and the other unicorn! Though what was she going to do about it.

Prepping battle strategy… done.

Generating weapon needs…

Deployed devices are sufficient.

Waiting for confirmation…

Fluttershy blinked as the plan was routed to her. She frowned but nodded. The plan wouldn't hurt her friends but how was her shield supposed to be better than Twilight's?

Her limbs moved on their own. Well, slightly. Her and the, "battle mode," were moving her limbs. She took a battle stance and she felt the slight hum again. Her face crinkled in a sort of confusion but fascinated fashion. She could feel tendrils of energy extending from her that could be controlled with her will. She felt the battle mode expertly wrap these new invisible limbs around her lance and noticed the weapon snapped to the energy like a magnet to a fridge, only to realize that's exactly what was happening.

She heard a slight crack as the lance they had used to free Rainbow and Applejack was pried from the wagon and hovered next to her side. It hummed and shot through the shield and impaled an attacking wolf.

Her enemy counter dropped by one as Twilight gasped. The shield was left with a notable hole surrounded with cracks that were slowly crawling along the magic surface. It held for a bit, then cracked more and shattered. The pieces fading before they could hit the ground. Fluttershy saw Twilight look at the lance then at her, but she payed it no mind. She merely extended her wings.

The unicorn growled and the wolfs leaped forward. Yet Fluttershy didn't flinch. Green gems emerged from her wings and they began to shimmer. There was a pop, and a green bubble sprang up surrounding Twilight and her friends, pushing the timberwolf wannabes away. After a moment of regrouping, the wolfs resumed their attack but no green sparks accompanied their claws as they struck the shield.

"What?" The unicorn growled. Though Fluttershy didn't hear her words, only read her lips and saw the quivering of her ribs.

Fluttershy smiled. Battle mode had briefly told her that the wolfs had the ability to absorb energy and redirect it. So, in the case of battle, the guise of the Timeberwolfs was to get the enemy to use their strongest shield so that the spell could have the strongest ammo. She noticed that battle mode was talking to her via words again but it had already been highlighted in the plan.

Changing lance type…

The lance jumped up but with a new addition to the end. It had become a halberd. Now supporting a glowing blue axe blade. It seemed to be made of energy that fizzled and crackled.

"Your magic has no effect on solid objects." Fluttershy mumbled. She wasn't sure what her shield was made of, but she knew that it wasn't magic. The halberd then spun careening into the wolfs turning them back into splinters. Fluttershy stared as she felt the magic supporting the creatures was sucked into her weapon, then into her own being. The energy seemed to course through her, stuck in a loop somewhere in her forehead. She walked over to Twilight, barely noticing her flinch, and placed a hoof on her shoulder.

Beginning transfer of excess…

The loop broke and ran down her neck and to her hoof. It then came in contact with Twilight's coat which greedily took away. Twilight perked up but said thanks, but Fluttershy was too focused on directing her halberd. With the help and direction of the Battle mode, half of the enemies lay in splinters.

"Hey Twilight! Open that shield a bit. I think I can nail that mare in the face." Apple jack said bouncing one of the restraints that had restrained her just a little while ago.

"It's not me!" Twilight exclaimed. "It's Fluttershy!"

Apple jack merely blinked. "Uh, well, Fluttershy!"

Fluttershy turned to the orange pony only for her to flinch in alarm. Fluttershy frowned remembering the eye patch falling off. She frowned and looked down, visibly upset.

"Fluttershy!" Pinkie's voice exclaimed void of fear. "You still there?!"

Fluttershy looked up, seeing Pinkie up close and personal with her face pressing against Pinkie's.

"Your eyes may be all red and creepy but its battering time!" Pinkie exclaimed pointing at Applejack and Rainbow. Rainbow was now bouncing the restraint with Applejack poised to launch the object at the unicorn. Buckymil-giliguty and kicksmcgee facing the target in question.

"We just need a gap in the shield. Can you do that?" Pinkie asked grinning.

Fluttershy frowned and after a moment's notice she nodded. She glanced in the direction of the enemy and flexed her wings slightly. Slowly forming a small hole in the green barriar.

Immediately the hole was filled with wolfs attempting to get through. But were grabbed and pulled out by Twilight's magic. Fluttershy's weapon quickly dispatching them.

"Batter up!" Rainbow cried and lobbed the metal piece behind Applejack. Applejack lifted her back legs and quickly curled and sprung outwards in a powerful buck. Her legs sent the restraint flying into the bubble as Applejack missed.

Fluttershy adjusted her wings again and the hole moved a bit. "Try now." She said calmly still using her halberd to eliminate the wooden creature that kept spawning from the plants around them. None of them were able to make headway against Fluttershy's shield but were kept at bay. Those that tried to enter through the small hole were pushed back by Twilight's magic and were quickly diced.

"Strike!" Pinkie shouted going to retrieve the restraint.

"Here you go. There's plenty of ammo down here." Rarity's voice wafted up from the wagon as another restraint flew up from it's depths.

"Thank you." Rainbow said, snatching the restraint. "Ready?"

Applejack nodded. And again bucked the projectile with a mighty wallop. This time the restraint cleared the hole but was knocked out its trajectory by the colt with his studded bat.

"Strike two!" Pinkie shouted bopping a Timberwolf with her hoof. Her hoof was glowing purple, spikes breaking under the magic glow.

Change in battle tactic detected. Generating new plan…

Fluttershy turned her head to the side and then said, "Hang on Applejack and Rainbow." The two listened to her and paused and looked at her. Fluttershy looked back watching a line, projecting Applejack's firing, go from Applejack to the outside of her shield. She then closed the hole in the shield and directed her halberd to the Reception 'ception who backed up in alarm. "Fire on my mark, don't aim. Just launch it."

Applejack merely nodded.

She then split the two enemy ponies up, slicing the colt's bat in two, much to his dismay. He threw it away, the trailing bits smoking as it flew through the air. After that she herded the two in different directions till the unicorn was almost in line with the line from Applejack. She attempted to blast the halberd with a green magic blast but to no effect.

"Now!" Fluttershy said following the command from the Battle mode.

Rainbow lobbed up the restraint and Applejack bucked it flying. Fluttershy then opened the shield enough for the restraint and watched it sail into the unicorn's face. It clicked together and the unicorn went down. The colt rushed forward only to back up from Fluttershy's spinning halberd.

The Timberwolf's eyes stopped glowing and exploded into bits of wood and spikes. Fluttershy dropped her shield and allowed Twilight to use her magic to move the splinters and spines to a safe area. Then the group advanced to the Reception 'ception.

The stallion was still trying to get to his partner but was quickly snatched up by Twilight's magic. Pinkie rushed over and placed a restraint on the earth ponies face. He blinked and slumped over. Twilight gently put him down and stared at the metal restraint.

"Hmm. Just like your lance, I can't touch it with my magic…" Twilight said.

Rarity walked over and nodded, "Same here. Only the internal lock mechanisms are interactable."

Fluttershy walked up and began to speak, "That's because they are crafted with Dark stone. Parts of it anyway. It's also imbued with enchantments to subdue the natural magic within ponies. Earth pony's natural strength, pegasus flight, and unicorn magic."

Twilight gave her a look, "Okay, now is a good time to ask. How do you know that?"

"I'm not sure. Something in my head does and just told me. Well, wrote to me."

"You see words in your head?"

Fluttershy nodded, "My lance seems to have bits of dark stone embedded within the electromagnetic components. Which allows me to set it to block certain frequencies of magic."

"So, you can allow some ponies magic to work on it but some not at all?" Twilight asked thoughtfully.

Fluttershy nodded.

"Maybe that's the reason she wasn't able to lift you earlier, "Twilight theorized, pointing to the restrained unicorn, "You may be able to project that same effect on yourself. But in battle you may have done subconsciously."

Fluttershy frowned, "So what does that make me?"

"Our friend!" Rarity said quickly, "I'm not sure if we have known you any other way. That doesn't bother me in the slightest."

Applejack, Rainbow, and Twilight nodded.

"Even if you have red eyes, a lance, impenetrable shield, and have crazy flying things coming out of your legs." Pinkie said with a smile.

Fluttershy smiled in return. She still hoped that she could be changed to normal later on.

Twilight nodded again and walked to a patch of sunshine. Her horn glowed again, and she shot a purple beam into the sky. "That'll get the attention of the guards." She explained a magic explosion occurring in the air, "But let's stay with these two to make sure that they don't get away.

Fluttershy sighed, glad the battle was over. Well, she thought and turned to the restrained two. Almost done anyway.

Battle mode on stand by…

"Oooh! You can change the color of your eyes!?" Pinkie exclaimed looking Fluttershy in the eye. The red had shifted to a dark orange.

Fluttershy blinked, "Uh. I guess?"

Pinkie only squealed in excitement, "Can you do pink?"

Fluttershy blinked thinking about it.

Pinkie gasped, "You can! But just your iris…"

Fluttershy only smiled, imagining her eyes a different color than she was used to. The was a swoosh of air to interrupt her thoughts as the lance returned to her side. She watched lance shrink down to its original size. Then her side opened up and the miniaturized lance sunk once again into where her ribcage would go.

"Wow. That is a little creepy." Applejack stated looking aghast. "Is this why we are going to that inventor? It's not just 'cause that eye is it?"

Fluttershy shrugged, "Originally yes. But now, I'm really not sure what I am. Everything I've know is being uncovered to be a lie. I'm a pegasus? Or some killer machine?"

"Killer machine?" Rainbow asked skeptically. "Fluttershy, you are the nicest pony we know. And for goodness sake the element of kindness. There is no, killer, in that."

Twilight nodded, "You are still our friend. And we will stick with you even if you sprout fins and gills."

"Flutter-fish?" Pinkie offered.

That got Fluttershy to smile but only for a bit.

The air again was filled with a mobile beehive as the drone came down from its skyward view. Fluttershy instinctively sat down and lifted up her leg. It opened up and the ladle device again came out. To which the drone hovered close, sending Fluttershy's mane flowing in the opposite direction. It landed in the ladle with a click as the buzzing came to a halt not much later. It became a horizontal line again and swiveled into the yellow leg from which it came. The hatch slid shut and became seamless.

Twilight slowly came close; gaze locked on Fluttershy's limb. Which she had let fall to the ground in defeat. Twilight then met her gaze and asked, "May I look at your leg?"

Fluttershy nodded and offered her limb.

Twilight gingerly lifted the appendage with apparent care, examining where the device had come from, "Wow. I can't even tell where the hatch is. The fit is extremely tight."

"Twilight," Fluttershy felt as if there was a massive weight on her heart, "You may accept me now but what if the next time I pull out that lance one of you get hurt?!" The worry felt like it was constricting her throat and compressing her lungs. She could only imagine instead of the wolfs feeling the brunt of her weapon, her friends feeling the slicing edge.

Rainbow only laughed however, "Fluttershy. How many dangerous situations have we been in? Tons. Never have you once tried to hurt us."

The restrained unicorn suddenly started to laugh, "Still got it!" An audible click echoed through the woods as the restraint on the unicorn was somehow removed. Her horn glowed and her teammate was released soon afterward. "Now. Where were we?" She asked directing the question towards the six ponies.

Twilight snorted and got into a fighting stance. Her horn started to glow as she prepped a spell.

"NO!" The other unicorn shouted and shot a blast of green energy faster than Twilight could react.

The shot never made it to its target however, as Fluttershy found herself in the path of the energy. It hit her hair and vaporized.

Two targets. Mid-range.

Error: Lance retrieved.

Deploying Plasma cannon.

Plasma!? Fluttershy barely had time to register the text flowing in front of her vision. Her left leg shot up and her hoof seperated in six triangles that pulled outward. Then each shape turned and clicked into position next to her fetlock. Her hoof was now a glowing blue barrel emitting a low whine. Her leg took it a step further and widened the barrel by creating seams from the bottom of her hoof to about her shoulder. The lines of grey slowly became blue as the device powered up. A couple of rectangular boxes coming out at the seemingly random points on the leg each sporting glowing blue lights.

Blaster charging…

Using default setting: elimination.

Fluttershy's eyes widened. Her leg had transformed in less than a second. A red targeting ring was glowing on the unicorn in front of her.

"NO!" Fluttershy screamed as she attempted to move her leg. She didn't want to kill anypony!

There was a low thoom as her arm emitted a bright, sparking ball of plasma. It rushed forward right at the unicorn. Fluttershy's last second adjustment made the ball of plasma miss the pony's face by mere inches. Instead, the ball sailed a little too far up just missing her ear. It took a large chunk of her hat and mane. Continuing on its path, the ball landed in the soil leaving behind a large flash and burnt material.

The unicorn of the reception caption could only stare. Her eyes the size of pins as she contemplated how close she had been to death. The reality seemed to crush her and she collapsed into a sitting position. Bits of burning hair falling around her.

"You little freak!" The stallion shouted and rushed forward with a small knife in his mouth. Pulling it from the cloth on his leg.

The targeting ring immediately flashed over to his face and her leg aligned to the target with sharp movements.

"NO!" Both Fluttershy and the enemy unicorn screamed. Fluttershy again wrenched her leg into motion and the colt glowed green as his comrade pulled on him with her magic. The combined efforts got him out of the way and the ball of plasma landed in the soil harmlessly. It rolled for a bit before flashing away. A black mark marking its previous existence.

The reception 'ception merely looked at each other with quiet conversation. Fluttershy was shaking like a leaf struggling to calm the aggressive targeting. All her friend's voices seemed to be a thousand miles away as she stared at her foreleg, in disbelief. She had almost killed two ponies with very little forethought. What had the text said? Default setting: Elimination? She frowned wanting that to change immediately. She didn't know how though. Wait, what about how she changed her eye color? Did the thing inside her head listen to her thoughts?

Unlike her eyes changing on thought, nothing in her head seemed to change no matter how hard she thought. Her frown only grew and she focused her thoughts on her leg. Could she at least change her leg from a death bringer to a, somewhat normal leg? This time her body listened. Her leg hissed as it released steam from two of the boxes. She noticed that her friends had jumped back at the sudden gas release. Though was more relieved as her leg clicked and slid back to normal.

She gingerly set it down and relaxed as she felt no pain. She looked at her friends but looked away fearing that targeting rings would appear over her friends. Her breath caught in her throat as her imagination went wild with that idea, causing her stomach to clench up.

"Fluttershy? You okay?" Applejack said gingerly, "You're looking a little green." Applejack's voice had concern and worry. Though it wasn't all directed at her. Fluttershy could tell that the technology in her leg had frightened her even if she wouldn't admit it.

Fluttershy then flinched as she felt a hoof touch her shoulder. She whipped her head around to see it was Applejack. Though she had pulled her hoof away with her sudden movement.

Fluttershy shook her head trying to keep her friends out of her vision, "No! Stay back! I don't want to hurt you too!" She whispered.

Her friends didn't comply however and tried to reassure her with a hug. She resisted the embrace and took off towards the path. She heard her friends call out but she drowned it out. She had to get away! Otherwise, her battle mode may lock on to her friends! Though it seemed her friends weren't so eager to let her get away.

"Hey!" She heard Applejack shout after her, "What are ya doing!?"

Fluttershy didn't respond. Yet, she heard Applejack's hooves beating the ground near her. She frowned, how did she get faster last time? She wanted to get faster? No. She expressed the need to get faster.

I need to outrun all of my friends so they don't get hurt by this battle mode. She thought hoping something was listening. She felt relief fill her as she got a response.

Optimizing running patterns…

Boosting main leg motors by 20%...

Fluttershy felt her speed increase again but realized that she was now running as fast as Applejack.

"How the—" She heard Applejack mutter but also heard her snort and the beat got faster.

Faster! Fluttershy thought desperately

Boosting main leg motors by 50%...

She felt as lighter than air. Her speed doubled and she almost looked behind her to check on Applejack, whose hooves she could no longer hear, but stopped herself.

She did hear the familiar noise of wings beating the air, carrying whomever through the sky at a faster speed than hooves could. She frowned now worried. Why was Rainbow flying? This undergrowth was deadly. She blinked as she realized the area around her was clear. The unicorn's spell had taken the branches and pulled them into her creations; leaving a large clearing. But even and Fluttershy ran, the clearing was getting smaller and smaller as she ran.

Though Fluttershy realized it wasn't Rainbow that was flying. Instead, it was Twilight who shouted, "Fluttershy! Stop!"

Fluttershy blinked. She had felt this magic before. The time at the castle of the two sisters where her and her friends were hysterical about different things. Where Twilight had snuffed out the emotional turmoil with a freezing spell. She looked down, feeling and seeing a purple glow holding her tightly in place. She heard her friends approach her, also heard Twilight fly over her and land in front of her. She couldn't see because she had squeezed her eyes shut. She felt her eyelid over broken eye limply cover the mechanical device but it felt like blinds on a window with painful scratches.

"Fluttershy? You okay?" She heard Twilight gently ask.

Fluttershy tried to shake her head but realized she couldn't, "No!" She exclaimed in a loud whisper. "I don't want to hurt you!"

"Why would you hurt us?" She heard Applejack ask. The concern for her own being was gone. Instead redirected at her friend who whimpered, trying to make sure her eyes couldn't open a millimeter.

Surrendering running pattern control to user…

Removing boost to main leg motors. Resuming normal power levels.

"It's not me!" She exclaimed. She needed to get out of this magic! She needed to get away! She needed to figure out what was going on with her! Why now? Why had such a comparatively small problem activated such abilities in her when she had faced the likes of Discord and Tirek? Where was her abilities when the Storm King attacked? Why now?

She brushed away those questions knowing they could be solved later. Now, she needed to go. That was the main priority. Though she knew that Twilight wasn't just going to let her go. She had to break free! But how was she going to face the might of an alicorn?

She frowned adjusting her thoughts. She didn't want whatever was listening to think one of her friends was an enemy. She just needed to be able to stop the magic.

"It's not you?" Twilight's voice asked obviously confused, "What do you mean?"

Text was streaming in front of her eye even as she listened to Twilight's question.

Magic firewall settings open…

Change inquiry?

Temporary rejection

Target?

All magic sources

Inquiry accepted. Changing settings…

Internalizing cutiemarkmagic_Fluttershy…

Done.

Confirming settings before initialization.

Temporary rejection of all external magic. Excluding containment protocols and other defined definitions.

That's exactly what she needed! Though she kept reading as Twilight was finishing her question.

Duration: Until user terminations change

Fluttershy frowned, wondering exactly how she was supposed to do that. But the thing seemed to hear her question and responded.

MMO: Users must open Magic firewall settings and remove Temporary_rejection rejection.

Confirm?

Fluttershy frowned and merely thought yes, "I don't know Twilight!" She said aloud. Twilight's magic hold suddenly loosened. She felt her hooves fall back into place. She spent no time and started to sprint away.

"I can't hold her!" Twilight exclaimed and gave chase with Applejack. "Pinkie! Rarity! Keep those two down!" Fluttershy heard her say but didn't give a glance.

I need to go faster! She thought, As fast as I possibly can go on the ground!

Inquiry requires additional settings to be changed. Confirm?

YES! She thought noticing her initial speed boost was gone and Applejack was right on her heels.

Confirmed.

Calibrating balance sensors for a possible differential of 50 degrees.

Preloading wing patterns for control…

Preloading wing patterns for anti-lift…

Preloading running patterns:

-Hard left…

-Hard right…

-Emergency stop…

Done.

Optimizing current running patterns…

Done.

Deploying hoof traction spikes…

Done.

Loading previously generated map from RAM…

Saving Map onto hard_memory…

Success!

-MMO/Maps/Custom_maze

Route generated.

Settings have been preloaded. Second confirmation required. Confirm?

Fluttershy saw the lines fly by her vision. Traction spikes? She felt her hooves were gripping the ground better and that was helping her keep away from Applejack but she was almost close enough to touch her tail.

Yes! She shouted in her mental domain.

Confirmed.

Boosting leg motors by 500%

Fluttershy's eyes widened. 500% percent!? Then she felt like she became the air. Her legs snapped back and forth, delivering powerful pushes into the ground that accelerated her past any sort of personal best. This time she could hear a faint whine coming from her legs. A whine that sounded like something that would come out of Flim and Flam's machines. The thought saddened her but a wall of spikes immediately brushed it away.

The route she had been given was telling her to go left but she was going way to fast to take a left. Well to her knowledge anyway.

But the system in her head seemed to know what to do. She realized her wings were open and flapping in a way that seemed counterproductive to the purpose of having them. They were pushing her down! Yet at the spike wall, they changed their movements to slow her down and push her left. Her legs also started to go left but her whole body seemed to tilt almost 45 degrees and she started to slide. She felt her legs move still but in slower more powerful motions. Fluttershy watched as the spike wall was avoided and her speed was only hindered slightly. The lost speed was forgotten as she was able to recover it in less than a second.

The path ahead of her was straight for a while. She felt her wings resume pushing her down rather than up and after two more tight turns she dared a look behind her. She didn't see any ponies giving chase. This made her sigh in both relief and misery. She needed to figure out what exactly was going on with herself. She didn't want to shoot random plasma blasts at anypony who scared her. Especially not her friends.

Twilight was bewildered. She just witnessed a pony drift. "Yes," she told herself, "A pony drift." Fluttershy had somehow been able to completely void her magic, falling through her magical grasp as if she was trying to hold smoke in her hooves. Any spell she tried further was also ineffective. She was casting the spell right, but it was as if Fluttershy wasn't there in her magical eyes. Teleportation, levitation, even a sleeping spell was cast aside. Applejack, Rainbow, and herself had tried to keep up to Fluttershy's wild speed but to no avail. She had suddenly gotten the speed to outrun the ability to fly. Well, she countered, not Rainbow's speed but the maze had stopped her from flying to her best. Her frown deepened as the trio turned another corner only to find a straight path leading to a left and right. No sign of a yellow pegasus running at the speed of a 12-pony carriage.

"Hold on girls," Twilight said coming to a stop and hovering in the air. The other two stopped if a bit resistant.

"Twilight! Why?" Rainbow asked indignant. "We have to keep going! Otherwise, she is going to get away!"

Applejack frowned, "By the looks of it, she already has."

"Not entirely," Twilight said landing and inspecting the ground. "Look." She indicated to the roughed up ground left in Fluttershy's wake. "Whatever speed boost she got seems to be ripping up the ground pretty bad." Did Fluttershy grow spikes in her hooves? She thought, closely examining the ground.

"Okay! We have a trail! Then let's go!" Rainbow shouted impatiently.

"Hold on." Applejack said to Rainbow's dismay. "Didn't Fluttershy lead us through this maze?"

Applejack's words brought a terrible realization on Twilight, "She could have already gotten out of the maze…" She said defeated.

Applejack nodded, "Yeah. Once she is out of this cursed brush she'd be able to fly away. We can't track air travel, can we?" She looked at Twilight.

Twilight shrugged, "Technically yes. But we'd have to know where the trail starts."

"Well, could you use your magic to see farther?" Rainbow asked in a thoughtful voice.

Twilight nodded, "Yes, I suppose I could but what purpose would that serve?"

"If you were high enough you could spot Fluttershy leaving the maze. She's bright pink and yellow so I don't think that it'd be that hard to spot her."

Twilight nodded, wishing she had thought of that.

Applejack frowned and pointed up, "Uh, how are ya going to get up?" There was little to no sunshine lighting up the area around them.

Twilight smiled and a large dome of magical energy blossomed into existence. Pushing upwards on the brambles she created a large hole to which that she pushed it outwards. Letting the energy fade, Twilight then flew through the new hole in the foliage roof.

She continued flying upwards till she reached the clouds. She wanted to go higher to be able to see better but the cloud would restrict her vision—

She stopped herself and magically willed the cloud to move. It was slow and it caused her to frown.

"Here, let me help," Rainbow said surprising Twilight. She then flew to the edge of the cloud and put both hooves into the fluffy material. She braced against it and the whole thing started to move.

Twilight nodded and flew through the cloud and continuing upwards. Once she was at the height she wanted, she closed her eyes. Allowing her magic to seep into her eyes, she folded and mixed it to allow her eyes to pick up and focus on scenes farther away. She also added safety to make sure she could switch between normal and zoomed vision. Also made sure she didn't burn out her eyes because of the light.

She then opened her eyes and blinked till she saw a focused image. She could see to the far edge of the spike foliage and beyond. She focused on the edge however, scanning for any trace of pink and yellow.

"Twilight?" Rainbow asked.

"Yes?" Twilight answered, not looking up. Her gaze was scanning the edge. She would see yellow only to realize it was a large flower.

"You just teleport to Fluttershy. Me and Applejack would only slow you down."

Twilight blinked and switched to her normal vision, "What? No! We all need to be there for her."

Rainbow nodded, "Yes, but you saw how fast she could run. At this point, it's going to be you and me. That's if I'm able to find her." Rainbow shook her head. "Fluttershy, I'm sure, is worried about hurting one of us with her new, er, leg?"

Twilight nodded, catching on, "I'm really the only one able to defend against something like that huh…"

Rainbow nodded, "Yeah. I'm sure if whatever was making her fire were to do so against you, you'd be able to defend just fine. Which may put our shy friend's nerves at ease. I'll go back with Applejack to those other two to make sure the guards get there."

Twilight nodded, then turned her gaze back to the edge of the foliage. Carefully scanning each and every yellow object till she saw one bolt outside of the spiky plants. She smiled as she saw a pink mane and flapping wings. She focused on that area, a plan forming in her head. She took flight in the direction and prepped her teleportation spell. When she felt she was going fast enough she let her teleportation spell pull her into time-space. To which she exited with the same speed she entered, right next to Fluttershy.

Twilight tackled her friend to the ground. Her careful calculations hitting their mark as the two ponies tumbled along the ground, Fluttershy's previous momentum carrying them along. Twilight anchored a magical shield to herself and wrapped it around both of them since she couldn't anchor it to Fluttershy herself.

After a few tense moments, the two came to a stop, to which Fluttershy started to struggle dearly. Though Twilight wanted to hold her down, she let her go backing up with the words, "Wait! Please?!" Her shield passing right through Fluttershy before she let it fade.

Fluttershy took two steps away, only to pause.

Twilight smiled, "Look. I know you are worried, that's why I'm here. Alone. Anything you throw at me I should be able to defend against."

"Even the energy blasts that nearly killed those two earlier?" Twilight heard Fluttershy whisper. Though Twilight had had enough experience to hear her friend's almost non-existent voice.

"Yes. That energy was composed of plasma. Not a very hard thing to block with magic. Just a solid wall with heat-absorbing weave. You've seen my shields in action."

Fluttershy sighed, "Yes. I have."

"So, what's wrong?"

Fluttershy slowly sat down, apparently looking at her leg, "I'm not who I thought I was." She said quietly, "I thought I was part of nature. Helping its power to grow and blossom. Only to find out I'm pretty far from organic in almost every way…" Twilight saw her lift her leg to her face, examining it with some emotion Twilight couldn't sense.

Twilight frowned, "Well. Does it really matter?"

Fluttershy didn't look at her, instead kept facing the other direction, "What do you mean?" Twilight wasn't able to see her face, but the confusion and curiosity was apparent in her voice.

"Well, think about it. No pony, not even you knew, about your gift. So," She paused finding her voice was taking her along a path she was unsure of.

"So?" Fluttershy pressed. Twilight say her head turns towards her, but not enough for her to see her eyes.

Twilight frowned, "So, we don't know how, um, long you have had this gift." Fluttershy's head turned away so she quickly added, "So that could mean that you've been this way long enough to become friends with us. Become the bearer of the Element of Kindness. Think about it! Does this change our friendship? No. No, it doesn't." Twilight ended triumphantly.

Fluttershy didn't answer or move at all.

Twilight still couldn't see her face so she started to walk to the side of her friend, "I don't care if you suddenly sprout dual mounted," she paused looking for words to finish her thought, "alien, blaster thingys."

"Gatling guns?" Fluttershy offered.

Twilight lit up, "Yes! Those things! From Spike's comic book! Honestly, I think Spike would go crazy over that."

That makes her friend chuckle. Just a little.

"And all of our friends think the same way. Let's just go back!" She pleaded, "Don't run away, let us help you!"

Fluttershy seemed to sink, her head drooping more.

Twilight was now next to her friend and when she had noticed, Fluttershy panicked.

"Don't let me see you!" Fluttershy exclaimed turning so once again Fluttershy's back was to her purple friend.

"Why?!"

"Because you'll get targeted," Fluttershy said sternly, the sternest Twilight had ever heard her say.

"Targeted?" Twilight asked curiously but letting her friend have her wish.

"Like how I almost took out those two? The Reception 'ception? Targeting rings appeared on their faces and my leg just started to, move!"

Twilight sighed, "Okay. Well, I can block whatever you throw at me." She said igniting her horn to summon a shield. Once her defenses were up she said, "Look at me." She made sure her voice was firm but not too firm.

Fluttershy whimpered but turned around. Her eyes were squeezed shut which made Twilight frown.

"Fluttershy…" She said gently, "I can take on the likes of Tirek. I'm pretty sure I can handle a little plasma." She knew that she had all of the alicorn magic in Equestria in her veins at that time but she hoped that it would reassure her friend to open her eyes. She also mentally braced herself for her friend to sprout gatling guns with Quadro-rocket launchers from her sides. She then took a mental note to stop reading Spike's comic books.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Fluttershy's deep breathing. Deep and rapid. Then she saw Fluttershy's eyes snap open. There was a pattern that she hadn't noticed before. That or it had appeared on her eyes. Her broken eye didn't sport such a pattern but her other eye was full of triangles. Two main ones that were at the center were layered over each other, one facing up and the other facing down. Other smaller triangles sprinkled the rest of the eye. Each triangle was as red as emergency lights, but without the piercing reach, those lights had.

Fluttershy seemed to pause, still breathing heavily. Then she flinched and covered her eyes with her legs and her wings, "No, no, no, no…."

Twilight braced her shield, but nothing happened, "Huh, Fluttershy? Is something supposed to be happening?"

Fluttershy nervously moved her limbs and looked at her friend. "Ally?"

"Of course I'm your ally." Twilight smiled and dropped her shield.

Fluttershy nodded, "Yes, but whatever is in my head is also marking you as an ally."

Twilight beamed, "Great! So, if I'm marked as an ally, then all of our friends will be too!"

Fluttershy smiled weakly, "I guess so."

A large explosion sounded off in the distance. Jerking both pony's heads in that direction.

Fluttershy was relieved but felt the emotion fade as she heard an explosion; a magical one. She turned and looked at the brilliant blue ball of sparkles that illuminated the bright sky. Three blue diamonds stood out perfectly even as the mirage began to fade.

"Rarity's emergency signal!" Twilight said with urgency. She then turned to Fluttershy, "Can you allow me to use magic on you again?"

Fluttershy nodded, "I'll try."

"Hurry!"

Fluttershy could only nod as she closed her eyes in concentration. How had she activated it before? She expressed the need to. She even…

A memory ran through her and she thought, Open Magic Firewall settings.

The machine inside her responded, Opening settings…

Done. Inquiry?

Remove: Temporary_rejection rejection, she thought.

Processing…

Rejection found!

Removing…

Done.

Inquiry?

Fluttershy wasn't sure if she did so she opened her eyes and said aloud, "Try lifting me."

Twilight did so with haste in her magical spell. Fluttershy started to float and she smiled.

Twilight also grinned and her horn flashed brighter.

Inquiry?

Fluttershy realized it was still asking. How did she get it to stop? Her mind whirled for a second. She had opened settings so could she close it?"

Close settings?

Closing Magic Firewall settings…

Done.

Her vision when white as Twilight teleported them back to her friends. Upon arriving she saw Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Applejack all together around a blue pony. Applejack's hat was off which alarmed her.

"What's wrong?!" Twilight inquired rather hastily.

"It's Rainbow." Applejack stated mildly, "She seems to have gotten some spike in her feathers. When she took flight, they got stuck in her wings…" She trailed off.

Fluttershy and Twilight rushed over only to stare quietly in horror.

Rainbow's eyes were half-open. Glassy and staring at nothing in particular. Black and purple rimmed, the bloodshot eyes that moved in different directions. It was the only indication that she was actually alive. Her mouth seemed to be half full of saliva which glowed blue as Rarity pulled it away, allowing her to breathe. Her lips were more blue and her entire coat looked pale and tacky. Her wing looked even worse. Dark purple lines bulged along her wing and down her back, creating a spiderweb that continued along to the base of her neck. Each unnatural bump parted feathers like water allowing everypony to see. She didn't even move at the appearance of the missing friends.

"How long!?" Twilight demanded.

Her friends were still dumbstruck and didn't answer immediately.

"About 2 minutes ago she started to show symptoms." The unicorn of the Reception 'ception offered gently. There was only sadness on her and her partner's face. They both hadn't moved from the spot Fluttershy had seen them last but didn't comment.

Twilight blinked at the source of information but took it at the nods of her friends, "There's still time! The toxin attacks the lungs, heart, and stomach before it gets to the brain!" She mumbled furiously.

There was a flash of purple and a table with glass bottles filled with various liquids appeared nearby. On the table in simple etched letters was, Emergency chemicals. She began to furiously mix the different colored vials together with a web of purple glow. An arm of magic reached Rainbow's wing and the spike was pulled out. Rainbow didn't respond.

"No!" Twilight said desperately.

Fluttershy looked at her friends, both the moving and unmoving. She knew that it was unlikely that Twilight was going to be able to synthesize an antidote in such little time. Rainbow had maybe two minutes. Though the entire time she watched Twilight whirl around; she was watching through text in her vision. It read:

Critical patient detected!

Activate MMO?

Fluttershy couldn't nod. Nor think. She had little idea what MMO meant. She did know that last time she had let a request go through, she had almost killed two ponies. Well, she had also saved her friends. So, what did MMO stand for? Something worse? Something better?

She frowned watched some chemicals in Twilight's bottles turn a different color. Shouting in frustration she threw them away, disappearing a flash of magic.

She looked back at Rainbow. What other choice did she have? If the MMO could save Rainbow then should she? What if she turned all murder machine?

No, Twilight wouldn't let her hurt her friends. If she started to act up Twilight would be able to help protect her friends. She took a breath and decided to make the choice. She wasn't going to lose a friend with her just sitting there.

Yes.

Activating MMO…

Error. Request denied by P_Void.

Critical patient detected. Overriding with administrative function…

Unable to shut down because of a core program error.

Shutting down Battle_mode_Void_ for compromise.

Shutdown complete.

Attempting to boot MMO…

Success!

MMO booted and running

MMO requesting Medical Leg.

Request is given to P_Void.

Deploying Medical leg: Left…

Fluttershy grimaced as she lost feeling in her left foreleg. It then straightened out and sank into her shoulder. All the way through to her hoof the leg went. To which she found herself unable to breathe as her leg was reduced to a glowing blue hole. Whether or not it was a program inside her head or sheer shock she was unsure.

There was a clunk and a new leg came out. It was a simple leg that was navy blue in color and covered with rectangular boxes. Once it had come out of her shoulder she once again felt feeling but felt that those boxes. She felt them move as they shifted a bit, spinning around her leg and shifting themselves up and down. Two boxes in particular glowed green in her vision. One was clear and was the furthest down her leg. The other box was next in line, just above the other. This box glowed and text floated nearby it.

MMO: Place toxin in chamber.

It opened revealing an interior draped in shadow. Fluttershy swallowed and looked to Twilight. The spike was on her table. She started to get up but stopped as she felt her hair move. She froze at the sensory input.

Yes, her hair was moving towards Twilight's table. It was only one strand but it seemingly stretched farther than her skull would allow. It gingerly wrapped around the spike and brought to her. Twilight seemed to freeze at the notion in confusion and curiosity. Vials and bottle freezing in mid pour.

The strand then placed the spike in the designated chamber and returned to normal on her skull. The chamber closed and Fluttershy saw in her vision a bunch of balls connected together by lines. Each was labeled by an element, that much she knew, but everything else she didn't.

MMO: Analyzing and attempting for antidote…

Hundreds of lines of text, too small for her to see, flashed by the representation. Another representation appeared next to it and the two seemed to clash. Some parts would fall off but would only be added back on as the MMO rejected the antidote. Finally, she saw the first representation fall apart.

MMO: Antidote found.

Synthesizing…

Fluttershy frowned looking towards Twilight's table. Synthesizing from what? Herself?!

Her question seemed to be answered as the clear chamber filled with an orange liquid.

Inject antidote into subject's neck. The MMO instructed, putting a glowing green target on Rainbow's neck. Then a two-inch long needle popped out of Fluttershy's hoof with a metallic twang.

Fluttershy froze. Somehow, she had been able to make the antidote, but should she be the one to administer it? She had never done something like this before. Nor did she want to mess up with her friend's life on the line. Not to mention a needle had just come out of her hoof.

MMO: Hesitation detected.

MMO is offering to administer the antidote. Allow MMO control?

Fluttershy didn't hesitate with the needle protruding from her hoof and nodded.

MMO: Accepted.

Fluttershy felt herself move towards Rainbow with quick steps. Then she sat down and moved the needle to Rainbow's neck, slowly pushing the needle into her flesh. Then the limb froze and the orange container slowly emptied. The needle was pulled out and Fluttershy found herself examining the needle.

MMO has relinquished control of the Medical leg.

MMO: Antidote administered. Sterilizing needle…

The needle erupted in bright blue as some blue fire or plasma engulfed it. Which it was she couldn't tell. It only lasted for a second though. After which the needle was pulled back into the hoof, still glowing red. Fluttershy frowned feeling for any sign of heat but found none and returned to attention to Rainbow.

Her breathing was starting to clear and the large purple lines on her friend's skin were starting to flatten. Slowing looking as if some filly had drawn on her with a large purple marker rather than her nearly succumbing to a deadly toxin. Some feathers attempting to cover nasty horror from before.

The MMO instructed her to place the Medical leg on her neck, she did so and when she pulled away she noticed a small, pink butterfly on her neck. It was blinking green and Fluttershy also noticed her vision was filled with information.

A small grid housed a line that was bumping up and down. This was labeled as heart rate. Other text labeled numbers as, blood pressure, blood sugar, temperature, and so on. Though there was a beep and the line stopped jumping up and down becoming a straight line.

Rainbow simultaneously jumped up and her legs made an effort to go to her chest, but was unable to pull them up.

Her heart stopped.

The toxin had apparently just enough time to stop her heart before being neutralized. She slumped in defeat but realized the MMO had some other tricks.

MMO: Requesting Medical leg_right.

Request accepted.

Her right leg stiffened and was recalled into her shoulder and a similar leg to her left came out. She didn't react too much to this only with a little curiosity and hope. Her vision marked two more markers on Rainbow and the MMO indicated her to place her hooves on those two points.

She looked at her hooves and saw two circle pads were extending from them. Only about a centimeter though.

MMO: Charging to 50 joules…

Her legs started to emit a high pitched whine.

MMO: Place pads on indicated locations.

Fluttershy hesitantly did as she was told.

MMO: Clear the others from victim's body. Make sure contact is not present. State clear to continue.

"Girls. Please put Rainbow down and don't touch her." She said, unsure in her own voice. Here she was with two new legs on Rainbow's chest. Who had no heartbeat.

Her friends nodded and placed Rainbow down. Moving limbs and hair away from the blue pegasus.

Fluttershy took a second to make sure her friends were clear of Rainbow, "Clear." She stated quietly. Then Rainbow's body shook as an electrical current ran through her. Fluttershy immediately pulled away, pulling her hooves to her face in horror. Then away as she feared she may be shocked.

The heart rate monitor jumped but had large red text that read, Unresponsive.

MMO: Charging to 100 joules…

Fluttershy held out her legs as they again began to whine as if in anticipation to hurt her friend. She shook her head, "No! I'm not going to shock my friend again!"

MMO: Electrical shocks are currently being used to restart victim's heart. Please place pads on designated areas for a stronger charge.

"Restart her heart?" She said quietly.

MMO: Yes.

"She's dead?"

MMO: No, but close. Please place pads on designated areas.

Fluttershy listened this time. Once again the system had her state the words to give the shock, "Sorry Rainbow! Clear!"

Rainbow shook again as the charge was released. This time Fluttershy saw the heart rate monitor come to life.

Heart returning to normal levels. Warning! Oxygen deficiency detected. Recommend facial mask for an oxygen boost

"Huh?"

A plate on her neck slide open revealing a large panel. Four small, black rings occupied the top half of the panel. Each was sharpened to a spike that was divided into 4 sections. Below the rings were four slots filled with wrinkled plastic. Each cubby of plastic had a tube connecting it to a small hole just above each cubby. At the bottom housed six pink rectangles. There was a small crack as plastic gained its shape into an oxygen mask Fluttershy had seen used in hospitals. It popped out of the middle compartment with a hiss. Her hair glided down and picked it up from her neck and placed it on her friend's muzzle.

"So, that's how you did it," Rainbow said weakly after a few seconds.

Her friends took in a collective gasp of air. "Did what?" Fluttershy said just as quietly.

"Buckball. You caught the ball." Rainbow paused, breathing in the air that was coming through the mask. "With your tail."

Fluttershy smiled and realized that what she had said was true. She had previously dismissed it as a pony magic ability. Though this did make sense. She also took a deep breath and noticed that she was breathing more often and quite deeper than normal. Was she sharing her air with Rainbow?

MMO: Almost. Air intake is being increased but also purified to required oxygen levels.

Fluttershy merely took the information without words. She was getting weirder and weirder by the second. First, she finds weapons and drones hidden in her legs which turned her into a deadly machine. Only for that motion to be flipped on its head after the MMO was booted up.

What was she? A healing machine? Or a killer robot? Was she the pony she had grown accustomed to? Or somepony's creation? And if so, for what purpose? To kill? To heal? To what?

Fluttershy merely watched Rainbow slowly recover. Her eyes slowly cleared, and her lips turned to their normal colors. The dark purple webbing was now a weak purple line that was inconspicuous. She smiled as she saw these changes in her friend and looked at the mask on her muzzle. Following the tube up to her neck made her pause again. She then lifted one of her, "medical legs," and examined it. So far, the MMO had only requested to control her limbs and for that occasion, she was glad to let it. Though the battle mode had no such manners.

It had yanked her leg into motion, converting it into a deadly blaster. Then proceeded to try and murder two ponies. Two bad ponies sure, but she didn't want anything to take that hard decision from her. She paused on that thought. Would the unicorn given her the same chance? Would she had taken her life if it were so easy?

Fluttershy frowned feeling the answer was yes. Though, she countered, she was not that kind of pony. She was willing to give every creature a second chance. Though that meant she had to control her own limbs, even if they had the ability to morph into a plasma caster. So she warned her friends not to freak out and attempted to talk to her inner machine.

Uhh, activate blaster, thingy?

This time the MMO answered her request. MMO: unknown device. Did you mean DPM?

Uh, DPM?

MMO: Defensive plasma manipulator.

Yes?

MMO: No current threats are detected. Would you still like to proceed?

Fluttershy nodded and saw a few lines of code flash by her vision. Requests between systems and a few preparatory functions did their thing before her foreleg once again sunk into her shoulder to come out as the leg she was used to. It clicked and once again formed into the blaster she had used earlier.

MMO: DPM deployed. Opening alignment reticule.

A small target appeared in the center of her vision but it was different than the one she had used in battle mode. Same color but it didn't track onto different objects and ponies. It merely held it's position, quivering as if it was excited.

Then she realized that it was her leg slowly quivering. Knowing that she gently moved her leg to the right and left, seeing the targeting reticule following the movements.

"One second darling," She heard Rarity said and turned to look at her. The reticule became a small arrow to the side of her vision marking where her leg was still pointing at. She then saw Rarity's horn light up and organic debris of varying sizes started to float up in a blue glow. It gathered together in a mass in front of Fluttershy and became a target dummy. "There you go, a proper target. One that doesn't strike back and doesn't care if it's blown to bits."

Fluttershy smiled and nodded her appreciation not feeling in the mood to speak. She then turned to the dummy and slowly moved her leg to match the reticule with the dummy.

"Where did you learn to do that?" She heard Twilight ask behind her.

"Starlight my dear. I saw her use this spell for her own target practice and thought it would be a lovely way to pattern my designs if I have a strike of inspiration with full manikins."

"Fair enough."

Fluttershy let the words go in one ear and out the other. She was still trying how to fire her leg. She twisted it, flicked it, and even used the other hoof to try to push on the box extending from her leg. Though nothing seemed to happen. Maybe it was like unicorn magic? Thinking the spell rather than speaking it?

Fire?

Firing…

There was a slight zap accompanied with the sound of a vacuum being released and a small bolt of plasma left her hoof. It connected with the dummy with incredible speed, leaving a small smoking hole.

"Whoo!" Pinkie shouted and rushed over and examined the hole in the dummy.

MMO: Warning! Friendly detected in reticle. Engage automatic ally avoidance?

Huh?

MMO: Automatic Ally avoidance will move the blaster from any marked allies. It will read the subconscious to predict if the user is meaning to aim in their direction or if the ally moved/ was moved in firing line and move the blaster accordingly. It will also deactivate blaster if ally is in firing reticle.

That would be very helpful, Yes.

Activating.

Immediately she saw the reticle go green with an x in the middle. The blue glow in her leg dimmed but didn't disappear. She then lowered her leg and started to walk over the dummy to see for herself what damage had occurred. Then she stopped and lifted her leg, hoping that the device would be damaged and malfunction. She then noticed that the joint closest to her hoof locked when she lifted her leg and unlocked when she put it down. She also noticed the hole in her hoof close when she brought it down as well. She lifted her hoof and placed it down a couple of times not seeing or feeling any indication of pain and continued over to the dummy. There was a slight pull on her neck but that didn't bother her and she was used to having creatures crawl all over her hair.

"That's odd." Pinkie said when she had reached the dummy, "Why isn't it's head still here?"

"Excuse me?" Fluttershy said with concern.

Pinkie looked at her apologetically, "Sorry, it's just the last time you shot glowy energy it was a sparkly blue ball."

Fluttershy frowned and nodded. Indeed, last time she had seen her leg charge for a sec and launch a plasma ball rather than a blast. How did she do that?

Uh, how do I launch the balls of plasma?

MMO: Change the DPM to lobber mode.

How do I do that?

MMO: Command=DPM mode switch: lobber.

Okay? Fluttershy didn't truly understand what that meant but merely repeated the phrase in her mind. DPM mode switch, lobber?

Switching, done.

Fluttershy saw her leg expand a little and assumed that it was done. "Uh, Pinkie can you stand behind me?"

"Okie donkie lokie!" Pinkie replied and bounded behind her.

Fluttershy went to align the reticle with the dummy again but noticed that it had changed a bit. It was now glued to the ground and moved along the ground rather than her vision. A faint blue aura flowed from her leg skywards but curved downwards till it landed on the reticle resting on the ground. She also noticed that the word, strength, was sitting at the bottom right of her vision with 25% sitting next to it. Her expression morphed to concentration as she aligned the reticle with the dummy and then fired with her thoughts.

Her leg hissed then ejected the ball of plasma she had seen earlier. It flung itself at the dummy and went through it rolling awkwardly along the ground for a bit before dissipating. She smiled. She was learning! Though the emotion was short-lived. In her mind, she saw the dummy shift and change color to that of her friends. Purple, blue, pink, white, and orange all took turns on the organic dummy. Her breath caught in her throat as she stood their watching with horror as each color took turns in her head. She covered her eyes with her hooves and the unbroken eye closed with her movements. She tried to take large breaths to calm her self but noted that it wasn't working.

"Nice shot!" She heard Pinkie next to her exclaim, only for it to be replaced with worry, "What's wrong? You okay?"

Fluttershy nodded, "I'm just unsure? Confused?" She uncovered her eyes and looked at her friend's blue eyes. "What else can I do? Who else can I hurt? I don't want to—hurt—" She couldn't finish. Her thoughts were plagued with the idea of her friends being in the crossfire of her weapon. Or some other magical ability. She closed her eye tightly feeling hot tears coming out the side. Was her predicament even magic?

There was an empty silence as Fluttershy choked back tears. Then she felt and saw Rarity wrap her in a hug. She reopened her eye as she spoke in gentle words, "Every powerful pony has to worry about those thoughts. It okay to have them. It's not okay to suppress yourself to tears, my dear. All you need is to practice with your abilities, in private if you must, and with time those fears will be replaced with confidence." Rarity stroked the hair out of Fluttershy's eyes with a motherly touch that calmed her insides, "I'm sure Twilight has had her moments. She is a powerful pony that has to be wary. She may have been the element of magic when she became an alicorn, but that came with powerful abilities and responsibilities. Something that she still may struggle from time to time, but like her, you have friends to help you learn and adapt."

Fluttershy watched as her friends nodded in unison. She smiled feeling her worries mellow but not entirely disappear. She just sat there enjoying the hug Rarity was giving her. She also noticed with a light heart that her other friends joined the group hug and that brought Fluttershy to smile.

She was terribly worried about what she could do. She had already displayed an array of abilities that seemed to help her and her friends to accomplish goals. Her mind wandered to what words battle mode had spawned when activated. Plasma generators? Other weapons than her lance? The DPM? Exactly what had this inventor put in her? The magmatic extenders? What were those? And how was she able to take and transfer magic even though she wasn't a unicorn? She sighed, only feeling the hug tighten in response.

She looked at each of her friends seeing a returning smile in return. Pinkie even gave her a cupcake from her mane. She took it without worry and started to nibble on the frosting. Whatever may come out from her form she was certain of one thing. She wasn't going to let it kill her friends. She was going to try her absolute best to make sure that her friends weren't hurt by these abilities but there wasn't any doubt in her mind that she was not going to let it kill her friends.

Initializing…

Opening program creator…done.

Generating program…

Name: Safety protocol_F

Function: Protect friends from all installed devices and programs. Priority: death protection

Parameters: All functions and devices.

Writing…

Program complete.

Program saved…

-F:/MMO/core/custom

Booting MMO for program installation…

MMO active.

Beginning install…

Done.

Closing program creator…

Done.

Fluttershy stared into the air, pausing mid-bite on her cupcake. What just happened?