Chapter Text
"Hmm...there are four slots here. I guess I'll have to insert these power things instead of pulling them out this time."
Opal looked around the room for the batteries and found one, which she promptly inserted into one of the sockets. The corresponding screen immediately turned on and showed a series of numbers.
"Oh, it works! Okay, let's move on."
*Time skip to the last battery inserted*
After the last battery was inserted, a bookshelf slid to the side, revealing a secret room. Opal giggled at that.
"That sounds very familiar to me. It's almost as magical as in Equestria."
She walked into the room and saw some kind of capsule. Another slumped robot sat next to it.
"What's up there on the shelf?"
Opal asked herself when she saw a large box. She jumped onto the robot and the strange capsule and ran to the box on the shelf. She pushed it down onto the floor, whereupon a small drone fell out of the box. She took the drone and placed it on the desk in the other room.
Electricity flowed through the cables, powering the drone. Opal watched with curiosity and amazement as the drone came to life and stared at her. She reached out with her paw to examine it, but hit a little too hard, sending the drone crashing to the ground. The kitten touched the drone again, more carefully this time, and it rose into the air again. After a short spin the drone finally spoke:
"It worked. I'm free. Thank you!"
This startled Opal.
"Wow, you can talk!?"
The drone was also amazed.
"A-A talking cat?"
"Well, actually I'm not an ordinary cat."
"This is...amazing! I just couldn't believe the cameras. A cat in the Dead City."
"D-Dead City? Now I understand why this is like a ghost town. Who are you?"
"I'm...I can't remember my name. It seems like my memory is corrupted. I've been trapped in the electronic network for so long. I know that I worked for a scientist who lived here . For now you can call me B-12. That's what it says on my case."
"And I'm Opalescence. But feel free to call me Opal, sweetheart."
"Nice to meet you, Opal. And...hehe...thanks for the nickname. It's dangerous in the Dead City, but you seem to have yourself under control."
"Well, more or less." , she giggled, slightly embarrassed.
"Let's get out of here. Follow me.", B-12 flew over to a wall with hooks, Opal followed him.
"This key unlocks the door. I remember that much. Let me do it for you."
The key looked like it would disappear into thin air.
"Hey, how did you do that? Can you do magic?"
"No, I "digitized" the key. The battery is almost empty. Come here." B-12 led the cat lady to another table.
"You still have to put it on."
"What is that? Some kind of...vest?"
The vest is put on her, which Opal didn't like so much.
"This backpack was designed for little quadrupeds like you. Is it uncomfortable for you?"
"A little bit."
"Don't worry, you'll get used to it."
Opal grumbled under her breath. 'Hopefully I don't have to carry this the whole trip. It itches and scratches a little too...'
"If an object makes you curious, feel free to show it to me. Or others if we come across any."
"It would be great if we met other people. This city still scares me a little."
"I can understand it, Opal. Let's get out of this apartment now."
"Good idea. So let's go."
*Short time skip to outside the apartment*
"Wow, look at this place. That elevator over there. I think it seems important. I know we have to go up."
"Looks like it. But how do we get there, B-12?"
"Look, there's a bucket-zip line. It'll take us to the other platform further ahead."
Opal stepped to the edge of the platform. She then felt a little sick at the sight of the deep abyss and the flesh-like mass.
"Do we really have to do this? What if I fall into an abyss again?"
"Don't worry, as long as you're in the bucket and don't look down, nothing can happen to you. And the rope looks sturdy enough too."
"If you say that...let's go."
Then Opal jumped into the bucket and rode down the zip line to the other side, partially enjoying the view. When they got to the other platform, the cat jumped out of the bucket and looked at a mural.
"Oh B-12, look at the mural. It's beautiful."
"Indeed it is. Wait, I remember. The Outside. It feels like I've been there before. Is that where you come from?"
"Well, yes and no. Actually, I come from a completely different world. From a land called 'Equestria'."
"Hmm...an interesting name. I promised someone I would go to the Outside. Just who?"
"Good question. I'm sure you'll think of it sooner or later. Wait, is that a postcard?"
"Oh yeah, actually. That postcard...the mural was painted after it. Let's take it with us."
The postcard was digitized and safely stored in Opal's backpack.
"Why do I have these memories? Where do they come from? Let's move on."
But Opal wasn't fully listening to B-12, she was still staring at the mural, which also brought back memories for her. Memories of her home Equestria. Memories of her animal and pony friends. But most of all, it brought back memories of her beloved owner, Rarity, who misses Opal dearly. What are Rarity and the others doing right now? Are they already looking for the kitten? She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice tears streaming down her cheeks...
B-12 noticed that Opal wasn't moving and flew over to comfort her.
"Opal? Hey, what's wrong, kid?"
"Oh B-12, I was just thinking about my home and my friends and family. I wonder if they're looking for me right now..."
"I'm sure they're doing that right now. Chances are they miss you as much as you miss them. Don't worry too much about it, okay?"
"You're probably right. I can't just sit around and mope while they're probably worried sick by now."
"I feel the same way. Let's go."
"Okay, okay, then let's go."
Opal eventually continued down the alley to a barred door, but it was locked. So the Persian cat lady had to jump onto railings and canopies again, then she came to a signpost.
"Well, what kind of language is that on the sign? Can you read it, B-12?"
"You're in luck, I can actually do it. It says 'safety zone' on it."
"Sounds promising. But hopefully it IS promising too. Look, another bucket-zip line. And...I know that sound. Those are those mutant parasprites that were chasing me before!”
"Parasprites? No, these little one-eyed creatures are called 'Zurks', Opal. You have to avoid them at all costs."
"Zurks? Still, these things look ugly...even if they make sweet noises..."
"Don't worry about it. As long as you avoid them cleverly, nothing too bad will happen to you."
"Thank you for encouraging me. Then let's go to the safety zone."
And so Opal slid down another zip line, ran and jumped as fast as she could over the dumpster onto a pipe into the safety zone, where she jumped down the other side.