Eggman Empire of Equestria Ch.7

“Was the castle really abandoned?” Orbot asked Cubot. They were waiting by a bridge that the Egg Pawns recently constructed right next to the elevator tube they had built. Their bridge was there to replace the flimsy, planked one that was used earlier before Cubot and a squad of Egg Pawns accidentally broke it, due to their heavy construct. The new version is designed as a hallway with a metallic exterior for protection, strong interior for stability, and has a glass view to look from the sides. It also has a built-in self-destruct sequence in case there are hostile forces approaching the soon-to-be Eggman’s castle. So far, no enemies have approached the Eggman Empire as of yet. Now the labor workers of the Empire have to deal with trap doors and false walls that dislocated their positions and falling debris that most likely damaged their functional programming.

“We didn’t meet up with anyone over there, but man oh man,” said Cubot sounding like a generic henchman who had lost in a fight against a superhero in a story. Granted, while the robotic duos were expendable, they have yet to experience combat. “That castle sure did a number on us.”

“I know,” Orbot said agreeingly in the conversation. “It’s like someone set up those traps as defense for something of value, like a tomb of someone important; or that someone’s trying to prank us.”

“Well whatever it is,” Cubot complained. “They got nothing! Nothing but falling rocks and some boring, old stuff.”

“Indeed, nothing worth of value for the Doctor, unless if he likes old books and fragile decorations,” said Orbot. “But the falling rocks have left the Egg Pawns incapacitated and the traps have disoriented them.”

“Huh,” Cubot, now lacking in his attention circuits from the conversation with Orbot, began scanning at their surroundings in broad daylight. “Did we really need that elevator tube?” apparently moving away the topic of the abandoned castle’s traps.

“Oh whatever do you mean?” Orbot asked.

“Cuz there’s right bunch of stairs right next to us and our bridge.”

“Did the Egg Pawns sculpt them?” Orbot seeing that the stairs are made from stone and leads to the bottom of the canyon where the Egg Carrier is stationed. “They couldn’t have. They were given materials and equipment to construct both the elevator tube and the bridge.”

“Maybe it was already there?”

“Maybe, but if that was the case, wouldn’t the Egg Pawns have warn us that they spotted the stairs?”

“Well it was kinda foggy when they were building, and we didn’t see any staircases back when we were parking the Egg Carrier in this canyon.”

“Hmm, perhaps you are right. After all, had we spotted the stairs while descending, we would have the Egg Pawns to confirm it.”

"Yeah, wonder what kind of help we're getting."

"I did ask for assistance. Do you think the doctor's going to help or Mod will?" As if on cue, the scientist in white had popped out from the elevator tube next to the bridge. The Egg Pawns had built the tube from the bottom of the canyon where the Egg Carrier resides. The former, GUN Scientist was apparently sick from an earlier transport when leaving the Egg Carrier.

"Oh my. You didn't took the cable car.” said the somewhat embarrassed Orbot. Cubot is snickering behind on how the new recruit had to use the spinning platform and go through Eggman’s ridiculously insulting PAs.

"You stated," Mod grumbled. "That the elevator was also used to get out of the vessel." He began to raise his voice in anger, "So why in the hell did he leave it operational when he already has that damned cable car?!"

"Idk." Cubot stated in a different tone, probably one from an internet meme. "He built the Egg Carrier long before he built us." The man in white began walking closer towards him. "Hey! At least we didn’t make this tube to spin round and round."

"Then tell me this, why did the doctor built you in the first place?"

"IDK, why you ask that?"

"To be an expendable, worthless piece of junk!" Mod grabs Cubot, lifts him up overhead, and walks to the edge of the cliff with him.

"Hey, lemme go!" Cubot cried out while he struggled.

"Get off of him, you brute!" Orbot tried to fight the GUN turnout but to no avail.

"That’s what you machines are good for." continued Mod while ignoring the robotic duos' pleas. "Expendable tools. And when you're all used up, we'll have another take your place with better efficiency."

"Then about what Mephiles." Orbot said out of random. While it is out of random, Cubot and Orbot weren’t informed of Mephile’s origin. They didn’t really got to know whether if he’s naturally a hedgehog or synthetically created.

"What about him?" Mod groundly retorted. Orbot points to the upcoming scouting party composed of Mephiles, E-102 Gamma, and Egg Pawns with taser staves. They've held under captivity a large lion-like beast with a spiked tail and wings. If one were to recall from mythologies, the being fits the description of a manticore. But it also seems that the scouting party is accompanied by beings that don't require being tased. From what Cubot, Orbot, and Mod see, they brought along six additional equines. Two of them are winged like pegasus, two have horns like a unicorn, and two are plain horses. Judging by the size of the equines, who are smaller than Mod (about 5’9) but somewhere as tall as Cubot and Orbot, the horses are ponies. Maybe they're as tall of the adversaries of the Eggman Empire as they're shown to reach the height of Mephiles (at height 3’3). "Ah, you've arrived." Mod said with unnatural calmness, dropping Cubot away from the cliff and onto nearby ground. Mephiles bowed in the presence of his guardian and sponsor.

~

“Derpy said there were five.” Twilight said in thought while examining the beings. The ponies see the two metallic beings described beforehand: one yellow and cubed; the other red and orbed. They both display blue eyes and teeth, arms, but don’t seem to have any legs. They seemed to have the ability to float but without wings. “Is it because of magic? No, it can’t be.” According to Gamma, magic is nonexistent where they’re from. Derpy also had mentioned that they were three additional ones in red, black, and white; with Gamma in red, Mephiles in black, and the bipedal being in white. Gamma stated that he just met Mephiles, so he couldn’t be the one seen by Derpy. From what she’s sees in the one in white, it’s hard to describe. There are plenty of bipedal beings in the creatures glossary, and none of them fits his being. Though one can assume, judging by his attire in lab clothing and glasses, he must be a scientist. What’s strange is that his glasses are always reflecting light, thereby making it hard to see what his eyes look like. Twilight was eager to talk to the being with glasses, as a potential fellow intellect, but Mephiles had stepped in first.

"What are you doing out here?" Mephiles said curiously, seeing his developer with two sentimental automatons.

"Oh, I'm just doing a little field research on the castle." The being in white said casually while the robotic duos reflect in their memory bank of his hostile behavior towards them. "What have you to report?" He continued without facing toward the resentful machines.

"Natives?" looking at the horses. "That must be them then?" remembering how he and the pilot crew saw a pack of pegasi back when the Egg Carrier teleported in this unknown world. 

"They call this land Equestria."

"I see, and I guess that makes them Equestrians." Makes sense since Equus is Latin for horses, which in turn formed the modern term of ‘equine.’

"What shall we do with them, Mod?

"That would up to the Doctor, not m-"

"Isn't it unhealthy for horses to eat sweets?" he mentally questioned. "Probably not so much in this alien planet.” He then responded to her outspoken question. "Is her name spelled M-O-D."

"Well, no but-"

"Then no." Strange and somehow convenient that this alien world follows the English alphabets from Earth. "I do not remotely share the same name with your sibling." He finishes by pushing his horn-rimmed glasses with his middle finger. Orbot saw Mod making a rude gesture to the guests. He tried to intervene but the scientist had already turned around and began walking across the bridge.

"Hey wait up." said the yellow, cubed being. Orbot had no choice but to follow. He then asked the new recruit when they got enough distances from the scouting party and the indigenous horses.

"I must say," Orbot declared. "Wasn't that a bit rude?"

"How so?"

"The way you push your glasses." remarking on how he gives the 'finger' right in front of the guests.

"Well, do horses have these appendages?" Mod raised his hands as an example.

"...umm, no..."

"Then this shouldn't be a problem." The former GUN scientist harshly said with an attitude upon reaching the vicinity of the castle.

~

"Affirmative, but he is only a recent recruit."

"A recruit?"

"Ultimately my orders are followed by my creator."

"He is my creator though," Mephiles said bluntly with cross-arms.

"Then you must be new too...wait, created...then what are you?!" Pinkie played around like this is some guessing game. Mephiles was silent in crossing his arms, yet at the same time a little bit scary from the eyes he displays; making things erringly quiet.

"But why do you follow him if he's only a recruit?" Twilight focusing the inquiry to Gamma. It doesn't really make much sense to follow orders from a newcomer of...whatever organization Gamma, Mephiles, and the orange automatons dubbed Egg Pawns belong to.

"He is a sentient organic."

"Could you be specific on what kind of species is he?" Twilight politely asked.

"A human being." The ponies fell silent on the uncommon word. "Do they not exist in Equestria?"

"Eh," Rainbow remarked. "There was this unicorn in Ponyville named Lyra talking about them. She always keep pratting on how they exist and," the rainbow-maned mare had to jogged something in memory of Lyra stating her crazed theories. "Something about having hands?"

"Affirmative," confirmed the large, red automaton with the E-102 label. "But so do we," pointing on how he, Mephiles, and the Egg Pawns also have them. This then confused Dash.

"So wait, humans and robots and...whatever Mephiles is," who then gave her a stare. "Are they one and the same species?"

"Ugh," finally giving up on talking to something or someone that talks bluntly and monotonously. She turns towards Fluttershy, for it is always comfortable to get in a conversation with a familiar someone than an unexpressional stranger like Gamma. "So Fluttershy, you know much of these humans?"

"Not that I know of," said Fluttershy in honesty. "I don't believe I have ever met one before." That is before the meeting the human called Mod. Everypony then looks up to Twilight for guidance, seeing that she's the Princess's protégé.

"Humans are not in the creatures glossary, but they are a mystery," the lavender unicorn stated. "There were rumors that they are intellect beings capable of building marvels beyond pony capabilities in improving technology and society as a whole." They also must be the ones who can build things like a metallic airship or functional machines.

"Do they have some form of magic like we do to do these things?" Applejack asked knowing how earth ponies use their magic to grow from the ground and the pegasus has theirs to manage the weather.

"Do they have horns to do magic?" Rarity asked as a unicorn.

"None," Twilight reminded from Gamma's statement on magic. "And that is what makes them unique. They're able to build anything through sheer intellect, physical capabilities with their hands, and manual labor when in numbers. In fact, they may the ones who can build automatons like Gamma."

"All these are generally correct." Gamma confirms with astuteness when listening to their theories. If he has any facial expression, now it would be something like a nod in agreement.

"Somewhat." Fluttershy said, "But unlike claws, the hands aren't necessarily sharpened." Remembering as she once met the minotaur, Iron Will, whose fingers aren’t like Spike's. While they were all talking about their thoughts of humanity, a floating vehicle flies up from the canyon. Gamma and the Egg Pawns saluted to being on the flying mobile, earning the glimpse from the ponies as they stopped their conversation. From the ponies' point of view, they see a flying machine carrying what appears to be another human. This one was large, dressed in red, has a big mahogany mustache, black goggles on the forehead, and black glasses.

"Gee, humans really are eggheads." Rainbow humored in thought as there's another four-eyes. The large human in red leaned forward towards the scouting party.

"So, what have you to report, Mephiles?" the large red asked. The dark one went on saying the same discovery that was said to Mod. He also included some facts from the ponies such as the ability to use magic and their presumption of humans, bringing much surprise to the ponies. He was quiet majority of the time whenever they talk, though a quiet mind is needed in order to remember what was said out loud. The human in red then gave out his order. "I see," the red one said. "Then bring the manticore to the Egg Carrier for experimentation. Further instructions will be given when the castle is finished with its construction." The Egg Pawns then had the manticore tased towards the elevator tube leading to the Egg Carrier, but not without hearing from a pegasus's complaint.

"Experiment!" cried the shocked Fluttershy. The egg-shaped human was then reminded how the scouting party had come across the natives of this world of Equestria.

"Oh, did I say experiment? I really mean study because uh," Eggman had remember on how international law and animal rights activists back on earth had ethical reasons against experimenting live subjects. Something the doctor tends to ignore when using small animals as fuel for his Badniks. The yellow pegasus reminded him a lot with Cream the Rabbit though, shown through her concerns with animals. He continuously explains, "The manticore is something of myth in where we're from and we would like to examine its capabilities."

"Indeed, we have witnessed your airship over the land of Equestria and we would like to know your intentions and where you're from," said the lavender unicorn who then introduces herself as Twilight Sparkle as the others follow along with Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie.

"Eggman?! Your name is may as well be Egghead," she uncontrollably said with laughter. Her peers began to stare at her for insulting a guest to their diplomatic mission. The latter of which is seething in anger.

"This is something that blasted hedgehog would say!" Eggman mentally screamed. "If she is just like Sonic in this world, ugh." The thought of that really irritates him, though she could maybe be an asset when it comes to his schemes. Thankfully, in his reaction to her outburst, he kept a cool face knowing that he's in a different world without Mobians. "Yes, I am called Eggman. My full name and title is Dr. Ivo Robotnik; Eggman is nickname I call myself," even though it actually started out as an insult from his enemies. He's gone quite used to the name and strangely grew fond of it. "And Eggman Enterprises is a private research facility from the planet Earth." He sees that the lavender unicorn Twilight Sparkle, whose name probably came from those fancrazed vampire novels, writing down the notes with her pen and magic. "Earth is generally not something capable of traveling worlds, but we as a private research company have recently found a way to do so." He lied; he's traveled to plenty of worlds in his career. "In the meantime, we would like to discover life beyond worlds and hopefully be given an opportunity to study them in the future."

"Ah, and in this world of Equestria," Twilight announced after finishing her notes. "We will gladly help you in your studies." She went on to discuss the political atmosphere of the realm. "We are governed by two princesses of Day and Night, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna."

"Day and night?" Eggman questioned in thought on how this world worships monarchs as deities of their weather patterns. "That's very primitive of them."

"And it is our diplomatic mission to offer our gifts as signs of peace." Twilight said with Applejack being the first.

"I have apples." said the oranged-coated pony. 

"Oh how kind of you. I love apples really." Eggman sarcastically said when being given a bushel of them. I prefer egg whites myself. Besides, these apples might reek of horse dung.

"And here's a rare and delicate work of mine, made from the rare silver silk." Rarity in her turn offers her professionally designed clothing.

"Why that's very generous of you," Eggman complimented. How are these ponies able to sew clothing without any hands to do so manually? Maybe magically as Mephiles stated of their abilities. "There is a slight awkwardness though," Eggman let out. "It has four sleeves, something fitted for quadruple beings, of which I am clearly not."

"Oh my."

"But your talent is not in vain. I can always have my (robotic) stylist to convert and resize it into appropriateness." I'll probably use this is as my cape by the time I establish my empire. "All of these nice and all, and I can assure you that I mean you no harm as well." For the time being that is.

"I'm sorry I don't really have anything to offer," said Fluttershy.

"That's okay."

“Oh? For what?”

“You broke my house right through the sky. It took me the whole night to rebuild it, so you better apologize!”

“A house in the sky?” Eggman was confused by the thought, but then he remembered crashing through a well-decorated cloud with rainbows when entering the unknown world of Equestria with Chaos Control and the Egg Carrier.

“In this land of Equestria, the pegasi have the ability to manipulate the weather.” Gamma stated to his creator, “including the ability to construct houses with clouds."

“Ah I see now. I do apologize sincerely," not really. "But you must understand where we're from. In our world, the weather cannot be controlled, nor can clouds be built into houses.”

“Wait, I thought humans were to smart enough to do anything?”

“The human thought can do much, but controlling the weather is beyond our reach.” Of course, I have built several of these weather-oriented devices to counter weather patterns whenever my vehicles are in unfavorable air. Apparently no one in the science community can reach my level of expertise. Clouds that can be constructed into houses are not really a surprise to him, though he acts like he does in front of the ponies. He has battled against his arch-nemesis among clouds a few times.

“So not one single pegasus exists in your world?” Rainbow asked in complaint.

“What is your world like?” Twilight asked.

“What about Equestria. I, I mean 'we' as Eggman Enterprises, left Earth to discover new life in new worlds and seek to learn more about them. If you want to learn more about us, I'll first have to learn more from you. First thing I have do to is build a base for research (and my scheming) and this castle should do fine.” Eggman said.

“Wait a minute,” Rainbow said with an attitude.” You’re using the princesses’ castle as your base?!”

“There weren’t really any inhabitants in the castle, so I assumed it was abandoned.”

“It is abandoned.” Twilight corrected. “The princesses left this castle a thousand years ago. Their capitol is now in Canterot.”

“Really? All the more reason for me, I mean us, to learn more of Equestria.” The princesses can live a thousand years? Now that is a interesting thought. They really are deities of this world. Something best utilized in my efforts in destroying the hedgehog and establishing my Eggman Empire.

“I can offer help. I have books in the library that can provide information."

“Wonderful,” and convenient at the same time. “I'll have my Egg Pawns pick them up. As for apologies, you can have one of my robots for compensation. Gamma, you're relieved from duty.”

“Doctor?” inquired Gamma.

“You now follow their orders.” Eggman reminded.

“Very well,” Gamma reprogrammed in his primary directive of serving the Doctor into serving the equines at present. “What are your commands?” he inquired the ponies Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie.