The City That Lives (IC, Steampunk/Pony/Anthro/Human)

[Fascist Russian Empire]

Mac followed and sat down before nodding to Moneybags. "I'm Mac, good ta meet ye." He said cheerfully and looked to Concerto with a soft expression, "I'll let Concerto do the talkin' I'll prob'ly muck it up." He said with a chuckle.

Concerto

Moneybags gave a quick laugh and smiled, while Concerto just retained a blank and emotionless expression. "Nice to meet you, Mister Mac. So, Mister Concerto, what can I do for you?" The unicorn asked, leaning back in his chair. "Well, Mister Moneybags, my dear friend Mac and I were looking to procure some property to start a musical business of our own. As much of an honor as it's been working for you the past fourteen years, some recent events have come up which require me to pursue certain ambitions. So, us having a hefty work past together, I was hoping that you could sell us a proper establishment in which to set up a business of our own." Concerto said in a purely business oriented voice. Moneybags frowned noticeably, and started pulling out some various papers. "Well, as sorry as I am to see you leave, I can think of nobody more qualified than you to run a music oriented business. I've been running a little short on funds anyway, so I'll be happy to sell you a good opera house; at a discounted price, too. You've been faithfully working for me for a decade and a half, so it's only fair that I should give my favorite composer and most talented cellist a reward for all the hard work he's done for me. So, how does forty thousand bits sound?" Moneybags said, a somewhat disappointed tone of voice as he talked.

"That's a more than reasonable price, Mister Moneybags. I accept. It's been a pleasure working for you all these years, and I wish good tidings upon you." Concerto said, hiding the sadness behind his voice. Concerto loved his job working for Moneybags, and was sorry to leave, even if he would be working with Mac from here on out. Concerto kept a blank expression as he wrote out a bank check for forty thousand bits, and handed it to the unicorn. "Alright, Mister Concerto, here's the deed to the place. Just, please, take care of yourself. I know that you have a tendency to overwork yourself, and I honestly don't think that more responsibility will be good for your health. Mister Mac, please make sure that Concerto doesn't overexert himself with his new job, and Concerto, I wish you nothing but good luck in your future ventures." Moneybags said, melancholia in his voice as he handed a long and complicated paper to Concerto.

[Pinki3 Pon-3]

Mac smiled with a hint of sadness as well. He really hated to break up what must have been a wonderful partnership. "I definitely will, don't worry sir." He said and then had a thought. "Please, feel free to drop by any time. The Opera house has boxes right? We could save one fer ye, as a thank ye in a way." He said with a smile.

[Fascist Russian Empire]

Mac smiled with a hint of sadness as well. He really hated to break up what must have been a wonderful partnership. "I definitely will, don't worry sir." He said and then had a thought. "Please, feel free to drop by any time. The Opera house has boxes right? We could save one fer ye, as a thank ye in a way." He said with a smile.

Concerto

Moneybags gave a sad smile and nodded. "That would be pleasant, thank you, Mister Mac. Now, I don't wish to be rude or anything, but I've got a lot of work to do finalizing the official business aspects of our little transaction and must leave to get my work done. You two have a wonderful day, and I wish you good luck in your business ventures." Moneybags said with a forced cheerfulness as he threw some papers on his back and trotted out to take care of things. Concerto dropped his high-class demeanor now that his old boss was gone, and gently hugged Mac. "Well, as much as it pains me to quit my old job, at least now I get to work with my favorite stallion. Now, we best start looking for a house, right?" Concerto said, trying to be cheerful.

[Pinki3 Pon-3]

Concerto

Moneybags gave a sad smile and nodded. "That would be pleasant, thank you, Mister Mac. Now, I don't wish to be rude or anything, but I've got a lot of work to do finalizing the official business aspects of our little transaction and must leave to get my work done. You two have a wonderful day, and I wish you good luck in your business ventures." Moneybags said with a forced cheerfulness as he threw some papers on his back and trotted out to take care of things. Concerto dropped his high-class demeanor now that his old boss was gone, and gently hugged Mac. "Well, as much as it pains me to quit my old job, at least now I get to work with my favorite stallion. Now, we best start looking for a house, right?" Concerto said, trying to be cheerful.

Mac grinned and kissed Concerto briefly, "Yes, a nice lil hidey hole fer the two of us, yer choice of course my love." He said with a broad smile and released Concerto from the hug. He started walking to the door then paused and looked to Concerto, "Oy sexy-flank, yer on point." He said with a chuckle and tenderly kissed Concerto's snout. For some reason he felt exceptionally effervescent around Concerto now.

[Fascist Russian Empire]

Mac grinned and kissed Concerto briefly, "Yes, a nice lil hidey hole fer the two of us, yer choice of course my love." He said with a broad smile and released Concerto from the hug. He started walking to the door then paused and looked to Concerto, "Oy sexy-flank, yer on point." He said with a chuckle and tenderly kissed Concerto's snout. For some reason he felt exceptionally effervescent around Concerto now.

Concerto

Concerto smiled brightly, blushing slightly. "So, Mac, where do you want the two of us to live? The slums? A penthouse in the business district? A house in the suburbs? A big mansion in the richest parts of the city? Or, of course, we could just buy some land and pay to have a house built to our architectural liking." Concerto asked, genuinely unsure of where the two could live. "I mean, a big and luxurious house would be nice, but that might attract a little attention. Although, we certainly don't want to live in a sub-par living establishment..." Concerto thought aloud as he merrily walked out of the building.

[Pinki3 Pon-3]

Concerto

Concerto smiled brightly, blushing slightly. "So, Mac, where do you want the two of us to live? The slums? A penthouse in the business district? A house in the suburbs? A big mansion in the richest parts of the city? Or, of course, we could just buy some land and pay to have a house built to our architectural liking." Concerto asked, genuinely unsure of where the two could live. "I mean, a big and luxurious house would be nice, but that might attract a little attention. Although, we certainly don't want to live in a sub-par living establishment..." Concerto thought aloud as he merrily walked out of the building.

Mac galloped for a moment to come up next to Concerto. He wrapped his hooves loosely around Concerto's neck and nuzzled his cheek, "I said yer choice handsome, I'm fine with livin' in a cupboard, so long as yer in the same cupboard." He said with a smile and push up close to Concerto, kissing him in the process. "Now, let's go find a house that does yer handsome rump justice hmm?" He asked with his hoof over Concerto's shoulder.

[Fascist Russian Empire]

Mac galloped for a moment to come up next to Concerto. He wrapped his hooves loosely around Concerto's neck and nuzzled his cheek, "I said yer choice handsome, I'm fine with livin' in a cupboard, so long as yer in the same cupboard." He said with a smile and push up close to Concerto, kissing him in the process. "Now, let's go find a house that does yer handsome rump justice hmm?" He asked with his hoof over Concerto's shoulder.

Concerto

Concerto's blush deepened a little as Mac kissed him. Ugh, I hate having big decisions left to me...Um...Hmm... Concerto thought, unsure of how to proceed. "Well, I think we'll just buy a bunch of cheap land in the slums, demolish the houses on top of it, and build ourselves a big and nice home. In the meantime, we can stay with my beloved sister Shining Diamond." Concerto thought, settling upon a decision in his head. After all, land in the slums is cheap as Tartarus in comparison to regular land, meaning that it would be super cheap to procure...Then building materials aren't that expensive...I'd say that we'd save a decent amount of money by building a house rather than buying one...Besides, it'll be nice to spend some time with sis' and everything. Concerto thought, justifying his decisions in his head.

[Pinki3 Pon-3]

Concerto

Concerto's blush deepened a little as Mac kissed him. Ugh, I hate having big decisions left to me...Um...Hmm... Concerto thought, unsure of how to proceed. "Well, I think we'll just buy a bunch of cheap land in the slums, demolish the houses on top of it, and build ourselves a big and nice home. In the meantime, we can stay with my beloved sister Shining Diamond." Concerto thought, settling upon a decision in his head. After all, land in the slums is cheap as Tartarus in comparison to regular land, meaning that it would be super cheap to procure...Then building materials aren't that expensive...I'd say that we'd save a decent amount of money by building a house rather than buying one...Besides, it'll be nice to spend some time with sis' and everything. Concerto thought, justifying his decisions in his head.

(Time for 7 hour drive for holiday, ^-^ lots of RPing!)
Mac smiled and nodded, "Sounds fun. I'll try ta behave while we're at yer big sis's." Mac said cheekily and rubbed up against Concerto's neck. "I'm not bein' too toughy feely am I?" He asked and turned red. "Ehehe s-sorry, I guess I'm just . . . I dunno." He said and shrugged. "Anyhooves, we should get ta my house and let 'em know where ta find the hideout." He said and sighed.

[Fascist Russian Empire]

(Time for 7 hour drive for holiday, ^-^ lots of RPing!)
Mac smiled and nodded, "Sounds fun. I'll try ta behave while we're at yer big sis's." Mac said cheekily and rubbed up against Concerto's neck. "I'm not bein' too toughy feely am I?" He asked and turned red. "Ehehe s-sorry, I guess I'm just . . . I dunno." He said and shrugged. "Anyhooves, we should get ta my house and let 'em know where ta find the hideout." He said and sighed.

Concerto

Concerto smiled and nodded. "That's a good idea. It's always good to have everypony know where to go and what to do, after all." Concerto said, trotting in the direction he knew Mac's house was. "Then, after we finish telling everypony where the new base is, we can go to my sister's place and you two can get acquainted. I think that you two'll get along nicely; I'd hope so, at least." Concerto said, cheerfully, as he trotted at a leisurely pace, a smile on his face as he trotted. Of course, Shining doesn't exactly approve of me congregating with lower-class ponies, and keeps telling me to find a good and rich stallion...But, I'm sure she'll warm up to him. After all, I'm hate to have Mac be on bad terms with sis'... Concerto thought, wondering how the two would get along.

[Pinki3 Pon-3]

Concerto

Concerto smiled and nodded. "That's a good idea. It's always good to have everypony know where to go and what to do, after all." Concerto said, trotting in the direction he knew Mac's house was. "Then, after we finish telling everypony where the new base is, we can go to my sister's place and you two can get acquainted. I think that you two'll get along nicely; I'd hope so, at least." Concerto said, cheerfully, as he trotted at a leisurely pace, a smile on his face as he trotted. Of course, Shining doesn't exactly approve of me congregating with lower-class ponies, and keeps telling me to find a good and rich stallion...But, I'm sure she'll warm up to him. After all, I'm hate to have Mac be on bad terms with sis'... Concerto thought, wondering how the two would get along.

Mac smiled and nodded, "I'm sure we'll get along if she's anythin' like ye." Mac said and chuckled. "We could chat over a mug o' that coffee stuff ye made fer me. That stuff's really good." He said cheerfully and trotted along next to Concerto, suppressing his cuddling urges. He thought it might be nice to know his coltfriend's sister. Of course she would probably think he was a reckless idiot when she saw all his injuries. Ah well, live and learn

[Fascist Russian Empire]

Mac smiled and nodded, "I'm sure we'll get along if she's anythin' like ye." Mac said and chuckled. "We could chat over a mug o' that coffee stuff ye made fer me. That stuff's really good." He said cheerfully and trotted along next to Concerto, suppressing his cuddling urges. He thought it might be nice to know his coltfriend's sister. Of course she would probably think he was a reckless idiot when she saw all his injuries. Ah well, live and learn

Concerto

Concerto laughed and shook his head. "Actually, she and I are quite different. I'm a musician, she's a businesspony. I spend all my time working, she spends all her time out having fun and doing frivolous things. I settle at nothing less than perfection when I do a job, she'll be content to have a few mistakes in her projects." Concerto explained as they walked. "Of course, even though we're quite the opposites, she's still my dearest friend. She was the only person in my family who supported me when I was young and first started getting into the music career, she was supportive of me when I realized that I was a coltcuddler; she and I have quite the history together, and I'm happy to call her a friend despite our differences." Concerto said, happily thinking back to his early memories with Shining Diamond by his side to help and comfort him.

[The Flutterlands]

Pitch looked at Roo, with surprise, and smiled broadly. "If you wish, my lovely vixen." he said with glee. Upon reaching the city gate, Pitch made sure that there were no bruisers around, and decided that it would be best if they teleport back to the former base. Pitch's horn lit up green, and he and Roo vanished from existence. They reappeared in front of Mac's house, where Shade, and Clover, were still waiting. Pitch greeted the bat-pony, but, he almost took the alicorn, for a unicorn. "You did a nice make over, Shamrock." chuckled Pitch, "For a minute there I thought you were just a normal unicorn." Shade stepped forward, with a small laugh. "His name is Clover, now." he said, "Shamrock is 'dead', now." Clover smiled weakly at Roo, Pitch and Shade, before nodding his head. Pitch grinned. "Clover, eh?" he asked, "I like it. Anyway, we found a burial place, and grave for Silver. We shall bury him in front of a tree, which will be his grave."

Rouge smiled and nodded, "Nice, a pleasure to meet you Clover. Indeed, its wonderful and scenic, shall we go bury him?" She asked the group with a smile.

Shade nodded. "I'll go inside, and see if Mac, has a shovel." he said, before turning and entering the building. Pitch looked at Roo. "Shouldn't we wait for the others, first? What about Snow? Ain't she coming?"

[Pinki3 Pon-3]

Concerto

Concerto laughed and shook his head. "Actually, she and I are quite different. I'm a musician, she's a businesspony. I spend all my time working, she spends all her time out having fun and doing frivolous things. I settle at nothing less than perfection when I do a job, she'll be content to have a few mistakes in her projects." Concerto explained as they walked. "Of course, even though we're quite the opposites, she's still my dearest friend. She was the only person in my family who supported me when I was young and first started getting into the music career, she was supportive of me when I realized that I was a coltcuddler; she and I have quite the history together, and I'm happy to call her a friend despite our differences." Concerto said, happily thinking back to his early memories with Shining Diamond by his side to help and comfort him.

Mac smiled and nodded, "Well any friend of yers is a friend of mine." He said cheerfully. The walk was mostly uneventful as they headed back to Mac's ruined house, except for the moment when Mac, unable to resist the urge, found his hoof wondering to Concerto's rump and looked at him with a foolish grin and chuckled. "I . . . Erm . . . Sorry, I should probably learn a little self-control shouldn't I. Hehe yeah." He said and placed his hooves firmly on the ground in front of him, soon they would arrive back at the house.

Rouge
Rouge sighed and nodded, "Yes you're right. Oh wow, I can't believe I forgot about my sister." She said with a forlorn sigh and went inside, through the broken down door, to sit on one of Mac's couches. "I guess I'll just have to get used to this then." She said with a sigh and smiled a little.

[Sungai Pusat]

Concerto

Concerto laughed and shook his head. "Actually, she and I are quite different. I'm a musician, she's a businesspony. I spend all my time working, she spends all her time out having fun and doing frivolous things. I settle at nothing less than perfection when I do a job, she'll be content to have a few mistakes in her projects." Concerto explained as they walked. "Of course, even though we're quite the opposites, she's still my dearest friend. She was the only person in my family who supported me when I was young and first started getting into the music career, she was supportive of me when I realized that I was a coltcuddler; she and I have quite the history together, and I'm happy to call her a friend despite our differences." Concerto said, happily thinking back to his early memories with Shining Diamond by his side to help and comfort him.

Mac smiled and nodded, "Well any friend of yers is a friend of mine." He said cheerfully. The walk was mostly uneventful as they headed back to Mac's ruined house, except for the moment when Mac, unable to resist the urge, found his hoof wondering to Concerto's rump and looked at him with a foolish grin and chuckled. "I . . . Erm . . . Sorry, I should probably learn a little self-control shouldn't I. Hehe yeah." He said and placed his hooves firmly on the ground in front of him, soon they would arrive back at the house.

Rouge
Rouge sighed and nodded, "Yes you're right. Oh wow, I can't believe I forgot about my sister." She said with a forlorn sigh and went inside, through the broken down door, to sit on one of Mac's couches. "I guess I'll just have to get used to this then." She said with a sigh and smiled a little.

"What the fuck happened?!"

A shrill, rough voice came from through the broken door, of which the dust cleared as the familiar skidding of rollerblades might be heard. As the smoke settled onto the pavement, the figure of a spiky-maned pony showing slowly as a mess of light green and bright pink formed, eventually collapsing down into the picture of an orchid pony, her yellow eyes both searing the first pony or person she saw with both confusion and anger as she huffed, raising her hoof accusingly at Rouge. "YOU! WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!" She bellowed the words out, breathing heavily as she laid her right forehoof onto the floor, the skates below her legs lazily rolling forward towards Rouge before Grace gave the push they needed to bring her forward, causing Grace's eyes to meet Rouge's at an abnormally close distance, their noses now mere inches away.

[Pinki3 Pon-3]

"What the fuck happened?!"

A shrill, rough voice came from through the broken door, of which the dust cleared as the familiar skidding of rollerblades might be heard. As the smoke settled onto the pavement, the figure of a spiky-maned pony showing slowly as a mess of light green and bright pink formed, eventually collapsing down into the picture of an orchid pony, her yellow eyes both searing the first pony or person she saw with both confusion and anger as she huffed, raising her hoof accusingly at Rouge. "YOU! WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!" She bellowed the words out, breathing heavily as she laid her right forehoof onto the floor, the skates below her legs lazily rolling forward towards Rouge before Grace gave the push they needed to bring her forward, causing Grace's eyes to meet Rouge's at an abnormally close distance, their noses now mere inches away.

Rouge looked at Grace with fresh tears in her eyes. "The bruiser came, they attacked. Turns out there were two traitors in the team, Patchwork, and myself. Mac's the new team leader because Silver, my brother, is dead. He's forgiven me and so has Pitch but I'm not sure about everyone else. Shimmer left with Oddity to fix his eye before I confessed. Where's Blink?" She asked with a downtrodden expression.

[Sungai Pusat]

Rouge looked at Grace with fresh tears in her eyes. "The bruiser came, they attacked. Turns out there were two traitors in the team, Patchwork, and myself. Mac's the new team leader because Silver, my brother, is dead. He's forgiven me and so has Pitch but I'm not sure about everyone else. Shimmer left with Oddity to fix his eye before I confessed. Where's Blink?" She asked with a downtrodden expression.

Grace gasped and glared at her briefly. "YOU?!" She jabbed her hoof at Rouge's chest and growled softly, her nose scrunched up as she stared at her briefly, her yellow eyes flaring up with anger. "Well... fuck, fucking hell! Because of you ponies, Blink ALMOST DIED!!!" Her expression took a 180 degree turn from outbursts of anger into agony as her legs finally collapsed from the fatigue she had experienced, both from her sleep deprivation and from the stretch she had to skate towards their now ruined headquarters. "...t-this is the life of a rebel..." She sniffled and gazed up into the sky in a daze, setting herself up with her hind legs folded and her forehooves cusped together, her eyes tearfully facing the sky. "WHY IN THE NAME OF CELESTIA DOES THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN?!?!" She began tilting her cusped forehooves back and forth and screamed into the heavens before burying her face into her hooves, sobbing heavily on the floor that had been left untouched by the explosion, the rest of it now covered with debris.

[Pinki3 Pon-3]

Grace gasped and glared at her briefly. "YOU?!" She jabbed her hoof at Rouge's chest and growled softly, her nose scrunched up as she stared at her briefly, her yellow eyes flaring up with anger. "Well... fuck, fucking hell! Because of you ponies, Blink ALMOST DIED!!!" Her expression took a 180 degree turn from outbursts of anger into agony as her legs finally collapsed from the fatigue she had experienced, both from her sleep deprivation and from the stretch she had to skate towards their now ruined headquarters. "...t-this is the life of a rebel..." She sniffled and gazed up into the sky in a daze, setting herself up with her hind legs folded and her forehooves cusped together, her eyes tearfully facing the sky. "WHY IN THE NAME OF CELESTIA DOES THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN?!?!" She began tilting her cusped forehooves back and forth and screamed into the heavens before burying her face into her hooves, sobbing heavily on the floor that had been left untouched by the explosion, the rest of it now covered with debris.

Rouge looked at Grace with an open mouth. She closed her mouth and looked down before she picked Grace up in her paws and pulled her into a tight hug as tears flowed from her own eyes. "G-Grace . . . I-I-I'm so sorry. I didn't want any of this too happen, its just . . . I was . . ." She started saying and then stopped. She simply shook her head and pulled Grace close, burying her head in Grace's mane and holding Grace's head in the space between her chin and breasts as she hugged her tight. "I'm so sorry." She whispered and sobbed into Grace's mane.

[Morlodania]

Sunbreaker
Sunbreaker smiled and nodded, "Yes, do it! I want to see that thing alive! I have a flint and steel if you need." She said excitedly and pulled a jagged rock out of a pouch next to her dagger which she pulled out next. She smiled and turned to Pell, "Well, I definitely think you handled that situation rather well, I can't imagine how terrifying it must be to have to talk to me." She said with a chuckle and winked at him.

"No need. Fire's my SPECIALTY." Trit grinned hugely and turned to the machine, sparking it's steam-powered engine with magic, and the machine slowly whirred to life.

Jorgen stood and watched in anticipation, one hand on a pistol concealed in his trenchcoat pocket, just in case.

Pell reddened a little when Sunfire winked to him. "Yeah..." He was starting to go mute again, and this annoyed him.

[The Flutterlands]

Pitch, Shade, and Clover, followed Rouge inside, and sat down, in the sitting room, before Grace burst inside. She was definitely furious about Blink's close encounter with death after the bruiser attack, and she pointed her anger at Roo. Pitch was the first to stand up. "Grace! Leave my fiance, the fuck alone!" he snarled, "Don't you know that her brother, Silver, died because of the traitorous exploits of that bastard Patchwork? If you should be pissed at anyone, it should be him! Patch is the one to blame for all this!" Pitch purposely didn't bring up Rouge being a mole, in order to not rouse Grace's anger, any further.

[Sungai Pusat]

Rouge looked at Grace with an open mouth. She closed her mouth and looked down before she picked Grace up in her paws and pulled her into a tight hug as tears flowed from her own eyes. "G-Grace . . . I-I-I'm so sorry. I didn't want any of this too happen, its just . . . I was . . ." She started saying and then stopped. She simply shook her head and pulled Grace close, burying her head in Grace's mane and holding Grace's head in the space between her chin and breasts as she hugged her tight. "I'm so sorry." She whispered and sobbed into Grace's mane.

Pitch, Shade, and Clover, followed Rouge inside, and sat down, in the sitting room, before Grace burst inside. She was definitely furious about Blink's close encounter with death after the bruiser attack, and she pointed her anger at Roo. Pitch was the first to stand up. "Grace! Leave my fiance, the fuck alone!" he snarled, "Don't you know that her brother, Silver, died because of the traitorous exploits of that bastard Patchwork? If you should be pissed at anyone, it should be him! Patch is the one to blame for all this!" Pitch purposely didn't bring up Rouge being a mole, in order to not rouse Grace's anger, any further.

Grace hugged her back just as tightly and buried her muzzle in the same space as well, her tears freely flowing from her eyes as she tightened the grip of her hooves around the vixen's body, her eyes now stinging a little from her own tears as well as Rouge's. She sighed and rubbed her eyes weakly, pulling away fully from the hug to stare briefly at her. "...i-it's not entirely your fault..." She growled and her stare turned almost violent. "...y-you didn't know, you bitch..." She whispered and cried once again before silently setting off on her rollerblades, turning to glare at Pitch briefly before turning her head fully on Rouge, now skating furiously with renewed anger towards Efficacy Road, her eyes in blinding rage as she narrowly avoided the pedestrians on the road.

Soon, she found herself crashing through the doors of the stallion's house, who gasped at this before sighing. "PATIENT BLINK IS CURRENTLY RESTING UP, DON'T- aw, fuck it." He sighed as he looked at Grace swooshing by like a blob of pink, racing back up angrily before skating about in circles, calming herself down from her brief moment of anger. Finally, after her fatigue took over once again, she jumped weakly from her blades, falling down from the lack of energy put into her jump, before managing to pull herself to the bedroom's door. She knocked it gently and sighed. "B-b-linkey?" She whispered. "A-are you there?"

(And now, for you to imagine whatever cool/god awful additions he has added in for Blink!)

[Pinki3 Pon-3]

Rouge
Rouge Sat for a moment with Grace in her paws wishing she could undo everything she had done. When Grace stormed off she simply sat on her knees and leaned against the couch with a heavy, ragged sigh. She allowed herself to slide sideways so she lay on the floor and curled up into a ball with her tail covering her face as she sobbed uncontrollably.

Sunbreaker
Sunbreaker watched in anticipation and prodded Pell's shoulder playfully, "Aw come on, don't clam up on me now." She whispered. Suddenly a loud creak filled the air as if a massive spring had been coiled and tightened. Sunbreaker watched in awe as the steampony hopped off of the table and looked at the group with cold empty eyes. Immediately she dashed up and hugged it. "EEEEEEEE! Oh my cog! This is SO FRIGGIN' COOL! Can you talk? Say something? One tap for yes two for no." She said, flooding the machine with information. It stood for a moment and then tapped its hoof twice. "Aww, that sucks." She said and released the machine from the hug.

Blink
Blink groaned and looked to the door, "G-Gracey? Are you okay? The bruisers didn't hurt my Gracey did they?" She asked in her soft, fillyish voice. She rose from the table with a creaking groan and a pneumatic hiss. As she walked into the light where Grace could see her, her additions where clear. Her spine was dotted with small brass plates which were surrounded by grotesque red crevasses where they plunged into her coat. Her hooves were made of smooth brass plates which seemed to match her old hooves exactly apart from the gears which stuck out at her ankles and behind her knees. The metal joined into the stumps of her old legs where large red and purple veins could be seen and the final shreds of coat were cleared in a straight line. She looked up at Grace as parts of her hissed and clicked. "W-what d-did the doctor do t-to me Gracey? Why am I like the b-bruisers?" She asked fearfully.

[Sungai Pusat]

Blink
Blink groaned and looked to the door, "G-Gracey? Are you okay? The bruisers didn't hurt my Gracey did they?" She asked in her soft, fillyish voice. She rose from the table with a creaking groan and a pneumatic hiss. As she walked into the light where Grace could see her, her additions where clear. Her spine was dotted with small brass plates which were surrounded by grotesque red crevasses where they plunged into her coat. Her hooves were made of smooth brass plates which seemed to match her old hooves exactly apart from the gears which stuck out at her ankles and behind her knees. The metal joined into the stumps of her old legs where large red and purple veins could be seen and the final shreds of coat were cleared in a straight line. She looked up at Grace as parts of her hissed and clicked. "W-what d-did the doctor do t-to me Gracey? Why am I like the b-bruisers?" She asked fearfully.

Grace gasped as she saw these new additions and her hooves shakily fell onto the floor as she silently hugged her tightly, wrapping her hooves tightly around her back as she began to cry into Blink's mane, uttering no sound as she quietly drowned herself in hair and tears. The stallion plainly walked up to Blink with a weary expression. "Y-you're not like the bruisers, Blink..." He whispered sadly as he showed a mirror in front of Blink's face to show her her new form. "...you're a very, very special mix..." He suppressed the urge to cry as he whispered those words out.

[Pinki3 Pon-3]

Grace gasped as she saw these new additions and her hooves shakily fell onto the floor as she silently hugged her tightly, wrapping her hooves tightly around her back as she began to cry into Blink's mane, uttering no sound as she quietly drowned herself in hair and tears. The stallion plainly walked up to Blink with a weary expression. "Y-you're not like the bruisers, Blink..." He whispered sadly as he showed a mirror in front of Blink's face to show her her new form. "...you're a very, very special mix..." He suppressed the urge to cry as he whispered those words out.

Blink raised her hooves hesitantly and tried to hug Grace. She slowly tried to wrap her hooves around Grace but then stopped when her hooves touched Grace's coat. "I-I-I can't . . . Why can't I feel the hug?" She asked in confusion and let go of Grace. She looked around in a panic and ran over to the doctor with an odd *clank-clop-clank-clop*. She wrapped her metal hooves around him and squeezed tight with panic on her face, unintentionally applying massive force to the doctor in an attempt to feel the hug. "WHY DOESN'T IT WORK?!" She wailed while tears filled her eyes. She looked at the doctor while still crushing him, "Why didn't you fix me?! Why can't I feel it?" She asked in confusion. She released him and trotted to Grace and hid under Grace, between her forehooves. "You're a doctor, you fix ponies! WHY DIDN'T YOU FIX ME?!" She wailed in a panic. "Grace, you said he was going to fix me didn't you? You said!" She said and tried to hold back the tears as her voice, lip and entire frame quivered. "I j-j-just want to be n-normal." She said softly and collapsed to the floor, trying to hide under her clunky, heavy hooves.

[Sungai Pusat]

Blink raised her hooves hesitantly and tried to hug Grace. She slowly tried to wrap her hooves around Grace but then stopped when her hooves touched Grace's coat. "I-I-I can't . . . Why can't I feel the hug?" She asked in confusion and let go of Grace. She looked around in a panic and ran over to the doctor with an odd *clank-clop-clank-clop*. She wrapped her metal hooves around him and squeezed tight with panic on her face, unintentionally applying massive force to the doctor in an attempt to feel the hug. "WHY DOESN'T IT WORK?!" She wailed while tears filled her eyes. She looked at the doctor while still crushing him, "Why didn't you fix me?! Why can't I feel it?" She asked in confusion. She released him and trotted to Grace and hid under Grace, between her forehooves. "You're a doctor, you fix ponies! WHY DIDN'T YOU FIX ME?!" She wailed in a panic. "Grace, you said he was going to fix me didn't you? You said!" She said and tried to hold back the tears as her voice, lip and entire frame quivered. "I j-j-just want to be n-normal." She said softly and collapsed to the floor, trying to hide under her clunky, heavy hooves.

The stallion weepingly nodded as he bit his lower lip, looking at the filly sadly as she fell onto the floor. He sniffled softly and sighed. "...t-t-this is a temporary measure... t-t-to help you stay alive... your entire spine crushed under the weight of the throw and no amount of bandages would help keep your body up... it had been ruptured beyond repair." He sighed and looked down in shame, fully wondering to himself if he should've just allowed for Blink to grow up with a slightly weakened spine instead... instead of this... "...I'm sorry..." He said sadly, collapsing into the floor in front of her as he pulled Blink into a tight hug. Grace followed and sobbed into his shoulder.

[Morlodania]

Sunbreaker
Sunbreaker watched in anticipation and prodded Pell's shoulder playfully, "Aw come on, don't clam up on me now." She whispered. Suddenly a loud creak filled the air as if a massive spring had been coiled and tightened. Sunbreaker watched in awe as the steampony hopped off of the table and looked at the group with cold empty eyes. Immediately she dashed up and hugged it. "EEEEEEEE! Oh my cog! This is SO FRIGGIN' COOL! Can you talk? Say something? One tap for yes two for no." She said, flooding the machine with information. It stood for a moment and then tapped its hoof twice. "Aww, that sucks." She said and released the machine from the hug.

"Incredible... It's autonomous... Seems to almost be alive." Jorgen marveled at the steampony.

"Eeh... I could have built better. Steam Anthros are cooler." Trit smiled a little, herself marveling at it.

Pell just kinda stood there, unable to fully process what the fuck just happened.