Chaotix

Inspired and Ponitearious made good time, which was great news to Inspired...you can only take so many conversations about moustache maintenance and care. She leaves Ponitearious behind, to his dismay, and goes to the palace. She presents herself to the first royal of rank, A guard she had seen around a few times, "Twister ive returned from my mission, i wish to see the princess, i have something to show her."

"I guess ill see you all at Canterlot" Inspired looked at Coppermane, "Thank you for opening my eyes" then she was whisked away by the exuberant Ponitearious

Inspired knew how that ppor pony felt, she was on edge near that griffon. She walked up to the table where Coppermane struggled with his assistant. "Hey Ponitearious would you care to escort a lady down to Canterlot? You could tell me how you grew that gorgous moustache along the way" she held out her hoof, offering to pick him up off the floor.

"Well i will too, i have little to lose as is" Inspired said with a hard edge. "So where to from here? How do you plan to get the prisoners out safely?" Inspired hesitated befoe she asked "Do you have to kill my comrades? Theyre ponies just like me, we do our duty, we dont know about all of this" She pointed at where the image had appeared before.

Heart in her throat, Inspired took the goggles, "I will do it, if it helps everypony, i might take a while, i dont think im ready to fly yet but ill be in contact as soon as i find a way in." Inspired paused "You do realise how dangerous this is, dont you, if anything goes wrong you wont be able to get out of there, well be surrounded."

"She ordered me to kill you, or she will have me executed as a coward" she murmered, ashamed of the order.

A single tear rolled down Inspired's face, she knew the pain the ponies being displayed felt. She spent so long trying to forget that time, she convinced herself it doesnt happen. But here was evidence that it was happening. If she could ever do anything about it, itd be here with the rebels. "Ill help you, ill help you bring down the princess."

If she couldve, Inspired would have flared her wings in shock. "I appreciate everything youve done, and i have to admit youve proven to me, that not all ive been taught is right, but why would i rebel against the princess?" Inspired took a deep breath, and in a monotone as if it had been hammered into her head, "Skullcrown took power from the tyrant Celestia, to save the ponies that laboured under her, she gave us all safety, protection and freedom. All she asks is that we all do our dues and work for the better of Equestria." A thought took her by surprise, where is our freedom? They didnt have any, she couldnt decieve herself of that. She had a confused look on her face as she suffered an inner conflict, ignoring her company as she thought hard and deeply.

Inspired jumped at Coppermane's shout, then bowed her head and listened intently, she hardly wanted to anger a host who was the only thing stopping her from being ripped to shreds by a cybergriffon.

"She has full mechanical support, all those things will do is scratch their bodywork, please trust me you dont want to do anything rash" Inspired insisted. Onne griffon vs the Skullcrown fortress, thats madness. She looked at Coppermane, "my loyalty is to the crown, if i betray her i betray those who need me, besides im not exactly her favourite subject." Thinking back on what she had been ordered to do by the princess, Inspired realised she couldnt do it, she couldnt harm somebody who had helped her.

Inspired was shocked to see the griffon again, but she held back a panicked response, she felt that Coppermane wouldnt let her come to harm, at least for the time being. "You cant storm Canterlot, thats a suicide mission, it is covered in defenses and the princess has equipped her troops well" Inspired continued to blurt out "Trust me i know, ive had to keep half of it maintained by myself, but one tiny slip up and im assigned to convoy duty..." The least she could do is dissuade them from throwing their lives away, Coppermane and his assistant had done a lot for her.

She could hardly say no to a good meal, especially after having nothing but ration bars for the last 2 days. Chewing on her food she wondered what Coppermane could show her? With an uplifting hope she hoped he would show her those wings he used before, they were a beautiful piece of craft.

"I dont understand why your showing so much kindness to me, theres a famine and your sharing food with me?" Inside Inspired was reeling, she had been taught for years that rebels were the lowlife thugs of society, who left others to do the work for them, and were most of the reason for the food shortages. But here was a self confessed rebel who was such a gentleman. What else had she been mistaught?

Inspired slowly stirred from her deep slumber, The sounds of the waking forest sung throughout the air. She slowly tried to move, and her back didnt complain as much as the other day, those herbs must be doing their job. Reassured by her test, she trys to open her wings, but a sudden jolt of pain told her itd just open her wounds. Groggily she tries to stand and manges to without to much wobble, she even managed a few steps before losing her balance and crashing into the furniture. She fitfully looks around to see if she has awoken anypony.

Inspired decided that she would cooperate with Coppermane, he was just trying to help her...and it is rare for her to have this sort of kindness bestowed on her. She cant remember the last time someone made tea for her, she savoured the beverage and felt woozy after, must have been a good cup of tea. Her eyes flickered and she slowly went to sleep, the worrys of the day lifting from her face.

Through grinding teeth Inspired managed to say "That is my name, im surprised that he found it, im hardly a pony of importance, im just a mechanical support private." Whats your name, why are you helping me?"

That look in the orange ponys eye hit Inspired hard, it had been a gentle caring look just before. She was scared, these people had killed people she worked with. But they were helping her whereas the princess had sent her off on this mad mission alone on the threat of death. Dropping the scissors Inspired hoarsly said "im sorry, im just a bit jumpy, this is the first time ive been near rebels who havent tried to kill me."

Everything was looking pretty bad, she was in a house with a pair of rebels, one of whom had recently attacked a convoy she was in. He seemed to mean no harm though...maybe everything would be alright? She knew her injurys were pretty severe and he was giving her the help she needed. There were some surgical scissors in the first aid kit, what if she grabbed it and stabbed him when he wasnt looking? The princess would be pleased. No! Shes better than that, and this pony is trying to help her. Maybe the tales of the rebels were exagerated? Inspired was starting to calm down a bit, when a zebra stormed into the house, boasting of his latest kill and if they needed help finishing off Inspired. She jumped to action, grabbing the scissors and holding them threateningly. It was obvious the action had done more damage to her injuries.

This time she trys to open her eyes, somethings shaking her. She starts to get her senses and remembers what happened before she passed out. I must have gotten picked up by a royal patrol, they brought me here to treat my wounds, im safe! Looking up to thank whoever was watching over her "thank you so much, i thought i wa..." she sees Coppermane and panics. She trys to scramble from the bed, but her injurys are too great and all she succeeds in doing is falling from her bed.

"eeurgh" Inspireds head throbbed, her whole body did in fact. Groggily she tried to look around but that just made her head explode with agony. Giving up, she realised she wasnt alone, whoever it was was doing something to her back, it felt so soothing...and she was so tired. Her grasp on consciousness faltered again and she passed out.

Inspired shook the darkness from her head. How long has it been? The clouds had moved and Old Cloudsdale was nowhere in sight. Her head was swimming, and the fiery pain along her back was no better. She slowly wriggled out from her suit and examined it. "well nothing too badly damaged, one of the boilers is dead and the lower piping snapped from the stress, if i just break this and..." taking comfort in telling herself the details of her work, Inspired stripped down the suit, and used the frame to support her faltering legs. "There ill hardly be able to fly, but a little walk never hurt anypony, now...where am i?" Realising she had no idea of this land, she chose a path that seemed well beaten, most likely the path everypony used, and trudged down it, wincing with every step.

Blinking through the pain Inspired tryed to remember what was going on, she was fighting a griffon, she remembered that. There was fire then pain, remembering that caused her back to spasm and she realised she was badly hurt. Looking up she could see the griffon standing over her. Panicking Inspired tryed to lift herself, but the suit was too heavy and only made little puffs of steam, the boilers werent giving enough pressure. She tried to struggle up but her back spasmed and she dropped down again, she was helpless.

The firing of the spike had sent Inspired into a spin, she pushed her vents hard to correct herself but she was sideon when the griffin unleashed those flames on her. Her flank was unprotected by the suit (note to self find lighter metal so full suit could work) and she could feel the heat as the griffin charged her. Thinking quickly Inspired emptied the full contents of the boiler on her side, the steam istantly cooling as it was released. As the fire hit Inspired the steam took the brunt of the heat but flames still wormed along her exposed back. Furthermore without the boilers pressure the suit lost power and Inspired fell screaming from the flames grasp. Trying to think through the pain she pushed the suit to lift but there was too little steam and her mind was clouded with pain.

"No, that cant be right, you rebels constanly spread propaganda, thats how it was before Princess Skullcrown fought off the tyrant Celestia!" Shouted Inspired, She could feel herself heat up with rage as she heard the lies. But there was a seed of doubt, the mare always did her duty, didnt allow doubt...but these images were too real and she had seen things. Conflicted she made another half hearted lunge at the griffin, but missed completely and went spinning. Correcting herself, she pulled a rope that ran along the frame of the suit, it opened a panel from which sprung a nozzle fed by several pipes.Inspired braced herself and pulled the rope again opening the pipes and sent the spike within the nozzle at huge velocity towards the griffin.

"Its how she taught us how to treat traitors to the crown! Your the ones causing the misery and pain!" Inspired heaved against a switch and a blade extended from the racks, blasting steam forwards she rocketed at the griffin and slashed along his metal body, the metal shrieking as it parted against the heavy blade. She spun in midair, getting control after her mad rush. A sudden whistle of steam gets her attention, the griffon had cut though one of the pipes, twisting her head around, Inspired switches off the vallve. "Im not some helpless convoy in the woods, i wont let you win!"