[Robots and Magic] New Memories, Old Enemies ✓

17. 𝘞𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘨

Overhead, the stars slowly began to pierce through the sky, unfortunately, none of the girls had time to admire the view. A palpable tension settled between them as they were gathered in a tight circle at the amphitheater.

The element of magic stood at the center, her laptop balanced atop her crossed legs. With a few keystrokes, the screen flickered to life. A map appeared on the screen, its digital lines shifting as Twilight adjusted the settings. The others instinctively leaned in, their eyes locked onto the display as if the location itself might offer answers.

"Using the coordinates I managed to retrieve and with some major assistance from Fixit," she added quickly, "I was able to pinpoint their location." a blinking red dot pulsed on the screen, "Their base is out here, on the outskirts of the city." she continued, zooming in with a few deft clicks. The map shifted, revealing a more detailed aerial view of a sprawling, industrial district lined with abandoned buildings and cracked roads. Her finger hovered over the marker before tapping it, highlighting a single, run-down structure, "Right... here."

The image on the screen sharpened, showing a dilapidated warehouse standing alone amidst rusted storage containers. The place looked lifeless, forgotten, exactly the kind of spot where someone wouldn't expect to find stolen magic hidden away.

Removing his snoot from the screen, Spike let out a delighted bark as he looked at his owner, wagging his tail, "Neat! Nice job, Twi!"

"Ugh, out of all places they could pick, they chose this?" Rarity made a disgusted grimace, "Those brutes really have dreadful taste, don't they?" her nose wrinkled as she imagined the dust, grime and filth that no doubt coated every inch of the area. The thought alone made her shudder.

"Worry about their dirty lair later. Our geodes are in there!" Rainbow interjected, directing to the screen.

Twilight adjusted her glasses, nodding, "It's more than a bad location, it's strategic. It's in an isolated industrial district which means minimal interference from civilians and authorities. The perfect place for them to hide, especially with all their tech."

Sunset leaned in closer, "We can't just charge in blindly. If there is an ambush, we need to know before we walk straight into it."

"Actually, that's what I'm doing right now." her friend began typing rapidly on her laptop, brows furrowed in concentration, "If I can only tap into any nearby surveillance systems, I might be able to see if there's movement inside."

Rainbow tapped her foot impatiently, "How long is this gonna take?" she asked, shifting her weight from one leg to the other.

"Hacking into security feeds isn't as easy as flipping a switch." answered Twilight, "If they have any sort of firewall, I need to be careful. If I trip an alert, they'll know we're watching them."

Pinkie suddenly shot up with excitement, "Ooooh! Maybe we can sneak in like ninjas! Silent... and dangerous!" she struck a dramatic pose, crouching low with her arms extended like she was ready to pounce.

Rainbow rolled her eyes, "Yeah, because nothing says silent like you, Pinks."

The energetic girl gasped, "I can totally be quiet if I wanna be!"

Fluttershy came in between them, "Now, now, you two." she gently placed a hand on Pinkie's shoulder, "There's no need to make a fuss over such a thing. I'm sure we'll find a way to make this work."

"Uh, duh! Let's not forget you ladies have one pretty powerful mini-con dog here." Spike reminded with a smug, "I can be your designated spy with a cool code name. Like... 'Shadow Fang'! Or 'Agent Bark'!"

Rainbow chuckled, ruffling his fur, "How about 'Fluffy Tail'?"

The little dog groaned, "You're the worst."