Twinkless Spot of Black

by Toodle Flip

Rating: everyone
Tags: Sad, Other, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 4939

Our mission was simple, our technology... the best. But that didn't stop a change in fate when going out into the void of space. I used to think the sky was filled with stars and light. It's actually unedning darkness.

Everything was going so well...

The shuttle had launched without a hitch, and the experimental teleport drive didn't blow us to kingdom come. No, it was something else that did us in. Now, I am alone in the void of space, locked on a course with destiny, and a star that doesn't shine.

All in the name of science and for the glory of Equestria.

This is Commander Airheart, signing out for the last time.

There was a song when I was a little filly. It was different, just like me...

Twinkless Twinkless spot of black
in the starry zodiac...

Log transmission ends due to magical interference or anomaly.

Published 2013-05-01 22:40:02 UTC
Last updated 2013-06-26 11:41:25 UTC

Log One

Log 1 Date Summer 56, Year 1045 of Celestia’s reign:

The screen turns on, showing the Commander, flicking several switches. She has a determined face, and is focusing on her job intensely.

“This is commander Airheart, reporting into Com center. All of the systems are online.” Airheart looks at a screen, her face scowling, "C'mon, hold on. Just one more mission, and you will retire." A slight pause occurs, as the other two crew members overhear her talk to the ship, and give her strange looks. She smiles at them, and continues her work.

A voice interrupts Airheart in her pre-flight check, “Commander, I’ve checked everything and this bird is ready to fly.”

Airheart frowns at the camera, and turns her attention to the former Wonderbolt and co-pilot, “Do you remember last time you said that everything was ready Fleetfoot? The microwave exploded, and got food all over my mane!” At that point, Airheart was yelling at Fleetfoot. "I know you aren't good with tech, and I don't know what got you kicked out of the Wonderbolts, but this is serious business! Are you sure you checked?"

Fleetfoot looks away for a moment, looking at a screen, "I'm sorry if I'm not taking this serious... It's just that this is my first time up there... I wanted today to be special. After the Wonderbolts, I didn't have anything... I saw this as my second chance. Not for the fame, but to fly. I may have traded my wings for yours, but I still want my first time in the sky to be special. I wanted this day to go perfectly."

Airheart sighs, "I know, but I want this done right. After all, just passing the pre-flight check doesn't get us into space. We need to actually get there. If our systems don't check out, who knows what will happen? Don't worry though, I will make your first time in space amazing. I'll show you things that will blow the Wonderbolts out of the water. Why do you think I never went to their shows?"

A different, somewhat indifferent voice can be heard over the speaker system, “This is Command Center, do you read us?”

North Pole rushes for the microphone and begins talking to Com using a posh accent gained from Canterlot, “This is North Pole, Horseton. We read you. Can we get this started though? I’ve got a really bad tingling feeling… I may become sick soon if we don’t launch. It may be from dietary issues. The food here was never as good as it was in Canterlot. Besides, couldn't we get a bigger shuttle or something. I mean I know you said we can't bring much up with us, but I don't have all my luggage! Besides, the other two won't mind if I use up their space, I'm certain!”

Both Airheart and Fleetfoot groan at and grab the mic, “Com, this is Commander Airheart and Co-pilot Fleetfoot. We have finished pre-flight checks, and are ready to launch.”

The two turn their attention to the unicorn and Airheart holds back the fuming Fleetfoot before speaking to North Pole, "Look, I know you want to bring your 'essentials' but... we didn't bring much either. Besides, it leaves more room for souvenirs!"

Fleetfoot's frown flips into a smile, "Souvenirs? Wow... now I'll really have a story to tell when we get back!" She begins to smile like a madman as she thinks about what North Pole had said.

Fleetfoot takes the microphone and adds one last note, “Are you sure about today? After all, I think some of you down there know what happens when North eats too many burritos. We may have to cancel and call in a chemical leak!” Fleetfoot begins laughing and rolling around in her chair.

North Pole gives Fleetfoot a dirty look. Airheart watches and smiles at the two, “You know Fleetfoot… this is just your first time up right? If the mission cancels, we may not have enough finding for a co-pilot anymore… and they need me to pilot this old mare…” Airheart thinks for a moment, I can't believe I missed that! You win again this round Fleetfoot...

Fleetfoot’s expression dies almost instantly as she quickly turns on the microphone, “Hey, on that note of cancelling the mission… I retract that. Everything is all good up here! No need to evacuate Nose Plug over here!” North Pole gives Fleetfoot another dirty look before resuming checking the scientific equipment.

The crew waits silently for a response, “This is Com. The mission is still a go. However,” The crew’s expression grows worrisome, “in case of mission failure pre-launch, we do have a chemical crew nearby for containment of all of North Pole’s chemical leaks.” The sound of laughter continues over the speakers. Airheart begins to chuckle, while Fleetfoot is practically roaring out of laughter. North Pole ignores the comment, attempting to salvage what dignity he had left. He couldn't contain it, and begins scowling at Fleetfoot, wanting to give her a piece of his mind.

Fleetfoot calms down enough “Oh, I almost busted a rib there!” She calms down further, and looks at the scowl that North Pole is giving her.

North begins his lecture, “I say! I was making a comment about not feeling well. You should be ashamed of yourself. I could be in serious danger!”

Com responds, “North Pole; we completed a physiology test, and you came out with extremely good health. It would be impossible for you have gotten sick. Also, strap yourselves in, and prepare for launch. The mission is a go.” A humming noise turns off in the background and Com speaks again, "Alright we aren't live for now due to 'technical difficulties'. Project Black Sun is a go. Once you have completed primary objectives, resume with the regular mission. Luna is counting on you. Equestria is counting on you. Don't fail. North Pole, this will be your time to shine, make sure that equipment stays active. If we lose that, you might not be able to finish the mission." The humming turns back on shortly after Com finished their final breifing, and the crew members calm themselves for the show.

Airheart says, “Roger Com, mission is a go. This isn’t a hot air balloon ride fillies! Strap yourselves in!” The crew members put on their helmets and strap themselves into their chairs. They touch a small button on a part of the helmet near their left ears to turn on in-suit communication.

“Commander Airheart, checking coms.”

“Lieutenant Fleetfoot, checking coms.”

“North Pole, checking communications. Wait, why don’t I get a title?”

“This is Com. Prepare for liftoff.”

The shuttle begins to shake, and a large humming noise begins to permeate the cockpit as the engines flare to life. A large booming voice begins countdown

Fleetfoot turns her head towards Airheart, “Hey Commander… I have to pee.”

Airheart groans over communications at the same time as North Pole. Airheart turns her head towards Fleetfoot for a moment as if to address her, when the engines begin burning fuel, and the shuttle rockets upwards and she quickly locks her head in forward position. The shuttle shakes, and the pilot and co-pilot can vaguely hear the screams of North Pole.

The noise continues for what seems like forever, as the sky darkens. Eventually, the noise of the engines fade, and communications between Com resume, “This is Com. How do you read?”

Fleetfoot takes the moment to interject, “Whooooo! That was amazing! Was it like this your first time Airheart? The Wonderbolts never did anything like this!”

Before Airheart could respond, North cuts in, “Well, I don’t think I ever want to do that again. Ugh, I’m surprised I’m not bleeding out the ears. That was almost worse than that newfangled music. Honestly, I don't remember why I signed up for this.”

Airheart, with a frown on her face responds to Fleetfoot’s question, “No. My first ‘flight’ if you could call it that was an explosion. It took out my crew. I was late, because I slept in, and they decided to start without me.” She smiles, and a tear falls down her face, “My first time up here however, was amazing. But you haven’t seen anything yet.” Airheart turns off the connection to Com, “We can stay out of stasis for the first teleport, and you will see something most ponies only see at night.”

Fleetfoot looks at Airheart, sadness on every feature of her face, "So you lost all your friends? All of them? I'm guessing we are the replacements... After all, they told me that there was a chance I could get it, but I wasn't anywhere near the top of the list. I guess this is why they let me in... I'm so sorry for you..."

North Pole looks warily at the walls around him, "So, when you said that the shuttle exploded... We could still explode? As in... right now?"

Airheart looks solemnly for a moment at the screen, "Yes." She begins to smile, thinking, I may have lost them, but I may have just gained a couple new friends. I will do everything in my power to keep them alive!. "Well, with my piloting skills, and with Fleetfoot's help, we'll make it out safely."

North Pole smiles, "Well, it seems somepony has more confidence than the average Canterlotite."

The communication system switches back on and Com begins to speak, “Hey up there! We lost you for a second, must have been some unexpected interference. Nothing happened right? Well, you are reading this so you didn't blow up. That's good news. Well, the first teleport is coming up, and well, good luck out there. From this point on, it will be mostly one way communication, since you will be traveling faster than we can send the signal!”

Airheart speaks up and says, “Any last words everypony? It will be dark from here on out.”

Fleetfoot quickly turns on her microphone, “Hey Com! Can you tell Soarin and everypony else that I’m flyin’ higher and faster than that newbie they replaced me with? Her and that rainbow can’t fly up here now can they?”

A few seconds pass before Com responds, “Roger Lieutenant Fleetfoot, we will inform the Wonderbolts. Prepare for the first teleport. We are now going dark.”

North Star turns on his microphone, “Wait? What about me? How could you imbeciles start without asking what I want to say?”

Airheart says, “You’ll get your chance to say what you need by the time we get back.”

North Star frowns, “No I won’t. I needed to say it before we left… I’ll never be forgiven.”

Airheart replies, “Well, it’s too late now. You can tell me later, and they may get it in one of the early logs if we are lucky. They might even pass it on!”

A strange shimmering begins to form over the viewports. Once it covers the shuttle, it disappears in a flash of light.

Automatic log end due to large magical or anomalous interference.

Author's Note

Sorry, but the sads don't come in for a little while. You need to have characters otherwise you have a bunch of faceless characters. It won't be long though so enjoy! I mean, sure I miss Stormtrooper #37, but who else does? Why did you have to die so young!?!

Log Two

Log 2 Date Summer 56, Year 1045 of Celestia’s reign

The screen turns back on automatically, showing several ponies whose eyes are wide.

Fleetfoot speaks up, “So this is what teleporting is like? Why doesn’t every unicorn do this? This is amazing! This is better than flying! Is… is this what a rainboom is like?”

North Star replies, “Well, this is what a unicorn teleport is like. However, not many choose to teleport for this reason. Some actually become addicted to this sight of it… It’s the reason why not many are actually taught, and those few who figure it out either learn about the dangers… or simply vanish.”

Fleetfoot ignores the warning and continues staring out the window, “So… how longs’ this gonna take? I mean, it’s certainly pretty and all, but I wanna see some real action!

Airheart is looking apprehensively at the field around them, “North, what exactly am I looking at? It’s kind of freaking me out…”

North looks in surprise at Airheart, “Well, nopony really knows where this is. Some speculate another dimension. Some say it is absolute nothingness, but the fewest say it is infinity. I close my eyes when I teleport, so I don’t usually get the chance to look.”

The three continue staring, and a silence forms. The field continues to make a small tinkling sound, as if a row of small bells were being struck, but it was oddly deeper than what the sound of a unicorn’s magic would be. Fleetfoot breaks the silence with another question, “Do you think I could go out there and touch it? You know, ride the wave and all that?”

North scoffs and corrects Fleetfoot, “No, you can’t simply ‘ride the wave’ like some hooligan on the beach or like an air current. To come into contact with this side is well… unheard of. Ponies who stay in teleport this long have either gone insane, go missing, or refuse to speak of the experience. That is an interesting question! I might write a paper on it when we get back. Think, North Pole, discoverer of the secrets of teleportation! I would be bigger than that purple mare. She thinks she is special just because she learned the magic of friendship. She doesn’t understand everything about magical theory! Honestly, she puts some good mages to shame! But, enough about me, my ego doesn’t need more stroking. What about you commander, why are you here? I know Miss, former Wonderbolt. But what about you? Not many ponies seem to know you. Even in Command, they say you just were put in, no questions.” Fleetfoot looks at him angrily since he put emphasis on former.

Airheart joins the conversation, “Well, I used to fly hot air balloons back in Ponyville. Didn’t make much money, but it was a living. Of course, it wouldn’t stay that way. I lost my living shortly after the local vet and her pink friend decide they want to join the business, and well, I looked for a new set of wings. They wouldn’t let somepony like me drive a zeppelin, so I went into flying planes. Most of them couldn’t believe it. A pegasus flying planes. I barely got my license, since most of my knowledge is up here,” Airheart taps her helmet, “instead of on my paper. I did become a pilot, and after a while, I got a letter, can’t remember from who, but they were looking for somepony to join the ‘Space Program’. I thought this was my big chance, and well, I was there since the beginning. Of course, I never got big publicity. After all, who counts the second mare on the Moon?”

Both Fleetfoot and North pole turn with shocked expressions and say, “You’ve been to the moon?”

Airheart smiles and replies, “Well, now that we’ve started this mission, I guess you can know. I went to the moon once. I left a little flag and a present for some astronomers. I don’t think they ever found out what it was!” Airheart begins laughing, small tears falling out of her eyes as the other two look at her with face of realization.

Fleetfoot stops Airheart for a moment and says, “So you were the one who made the whole smiley face on the moon? I know Princess Celestia couldn’t get over that for days!” Fleetfoot looks at Airheart’s continued smile, “So it was you! We had to look for days, in secret no less! I didn’t know you had it in you.”

North Pole decides to add to the conversation, “Well, I must admit, I did find it funny as Princess Celestia frantically tried to hide the smiley face, hoping Luna wouldn’t be upset. Although, how did you hide it, surely Celestia would have noticed a shuttle launch…”

Airheart dons a serious face and says, “I’m afraid that is both a story for another time, and classified. I can’t tell you what happened. Strictly speaking, I was flying a new plane for a couple of military officials. They hired me because the earth ponies and the unicorns couldn’t handle it.”

The twinkling cuts off and the screen begins to shudder. A couple of pencils briefly block the view of the screen and float off towards the center of the shuttle.

Airheart says, “Well, looks like we are at our first stop… the Moon. Welcome to space friends.” Airheart waves a foreleg in front of the viewport, showing the moon, and a vast expanse of space.

Fleetfoot stares out the window, while North Pole stares at the pencils floating towards the center of the shuttle.

North Pole unlocks his seatbelt, and pushes himself towards the center, hoping to stop the pencils from damaging anything.

“We will be heading out soon, and when we come back, maybe we can take a short stop on the moon, and smile for some cameras.”

Fleetfoot and North Pole look at the commander in surprise. North Pole says, “I am always one for fame, but are you sure about that? I mean, this ship can barely fly. How would you manage to get us on the moon?”

Airheart replies coolly, “Well, considering I’ve driven this old girl before, I think I can handle it. Besides, the machine isn’t too hard to figure out, you just need to know its limits.”

Fleetfoot says, “I for one, agree with this. After all, this was a public launch… why not add to the fun. Besides North Pole, who knows what fanmares you might pick up from it? Some of the first ponies on the moon… imagine that.”

North Pole thinks, this could be my chance… After all, working as a scientist hasn’t gotten me much. Maybe with these two, I could go further. Besides, at least I can tolerate these two. The other scientists were so stuck up. Who knows, with these two it might turn into something more than just work. He replies curtly, “I’ll do it.”

A few hours pass as the teleporter charges for the next jump, and the three continue about their work, with the occasional conversation, or request by Fleetfoot to land on the moon.

Eventually, a signal comes up, causing a loud bleeping noise signaling the teleporter is ready to fire again.

Airheart says, “Alright, this teleport according to they boys back home should be a doozy! We need to get into our stasis pods so we aren’t hit by the blast.”

Fleetfoot mumbles and climbs into her pod, and just before North goes into his, he says, “What about you Commander?”

Airheart continues to looks at the screens and replies, “I have to make sure that your pods are working, and make sure the teleporter gets us in the right direction, or at least the right coordinates.”

North states, “If you can, could you please put in the logs that I would like to say goodbye to South Pole, my brother.”

Airheart waves at North dismissively, “Yeah, I’ll get it in once I have the chance.”

North Pole smiles, enters the stasis pod, and it closes. Airheart looks at the screen, and begins typing in numbers into the keyboard. Once she finishes, she presses enter, and the screen begins to flicker.

Sighing, Airheart moves towards the final stasis pod, and enters. She wonders, Is this going to hurt or…. The door closes, and she begins to feel sleepy, as soon as I wake up... it'll be back to work... great.

A klaxon blares from the cockpit, and her stasis pod bursts open. She rushes to the cockpit, and notices on the screen a message, “Critical failure within stasis pods, ejecting if possible. No… no… no!” Airheart zooms towards the other two pods, which have frozen completely, and she stares at the now opaque screen. “Why? Why now? They’re dead aren’t they? They always die with me… It wasn’t just the first crew… but now isn’t the time. The jump is about to occur and...”

Log termination due to large magical or anomalous interference.

Author's Note

Leave a comment below if you spot any errors, or if you feel it could be better somehow. Anything you say helps later with writing. After all, I don't mind the dislike because it has taught me something. One, I can't please everypony, but also... I forgot this part. Whatever, I knew what I was doing then, and next chapter as you can tell is sads inbound!

Log Three

Log Three Date Unknown

Extrapolation: Large temporal interference detected within teleport. Live units detected within shuttle.

The camera displays static before slowly fading to show a mare, lying against the far wall covered in her own blood at the back of the shuttle.

Airheart groans as she begins to move, but fails and slips off from the wall and onto the floor. Her eyes flutter open, and she groans again. She is in a complete mess, her flight-suit soaked in sweat and blood, and her mane completely disheveled. She tries to move, this time with more success. “What… what happened?” Airheart tries to look around, but cannot see anything because of the hair covering her face. Her voice was cracked, “I need to… to get to the med-kit.”

After waiting a couple minutes to regain her strength, she begins to move again. This time, she rises from the floor, unstable on her hooves. She changes from trotting to limping in a sort of trance only focused on the medicine kit located near the bridge. Limping along the corridor, she focuses solely on her task, ignoring her friends in crisis nor does she pay attention to the strange lights on the outside of the ship shining in chaotic hues of the rainbow.

She reaches the med kit, and takes a small potion out of the box. She drinks it, staring blankly at the wall while doing so, until her eyes begin to focus again. She quickly slumps over after finishing, causing the plastic bottle to hit the floor. Her face meets the floor, unable to keep herself standing as the potion repairs her body.

A few minutes pass, and she picks herself up again. She looks around the cabin, staring at the outside for a few short moments, before turning back towards her crew. “What happened? The crew!” She rushes towards the stasis pods, her previous injuries gone from the emergency potion. Upon reaching the stasis pods, she notices they are still frozen over. “I wouldn’t dare eject them… not like this. It may melt them, but who knows happens then, if they come out too early… after all, this was experimental…”

She looks at the controls for a moment, “Maybe I could… no… I won’t. I’m not going to sacrifice another crew-member. I am going to be alone for the entire mission…” She looks at the stasis pod containing the sky blue pegasus with the whitish silver mane and tail, a large, melancholic grin plastered on her face, “At least you were having fun. You just wanted to get back at that mare you always talk about. You didn’t want this. At least you won’t know what happened. You won't have to feel this Fleetfoot…”

Moving her head towards the other capsule, she sees the look of horror on North Pole’s face. “Maybe you were right. Huh? A simple joke turned out to be right. Maybe we should have waited. Should have asked if it was safe.” Her expression begins to deteriorate, and what was a melancholic smile turns into a deep frown, and tears begin to flow. “I didn’t ask enough questions and I lost my crew again!” Airheart bangs her head against the capsule, leaving her with a screeching headache.

She backs away, and continues to stare at the two malfunctioning stasis pods. She throws both of her hooves against the glass and screams, “Why does this always happen? Why!? Always, my dreams are wrecked by this! Always I think, ‘things will get better, no need to worry’ but they don’t! It isn’t fair! First with that wretched mare and her balloon, then with sleeping in, then with him, and now this!”

After finishing her rant, she looks at the pod, which is still in pristine conditions. “I didn’t even make a scratch. I doubt anything would. But how will I get them out? I… I don’t think I can… Even if I bring them back to Canterlot I still don't think they could be able to save them” A tear forms on the side of her eye, “They’re gone… aren’t they?”

She begins to hug Fleetfoot’s pod, “We had such a good chance to become friends… I know you didn’t have the best past but we shared similar ideas. Heck, you may have wanted to stay after I showed you the stars… I wouldn’t be alone out here.” Her tears trail down and freeze on the surface of the pod.

She looks toward North Pole, “North, I know we have our differences, but I know you would have grown to love us, at least as friends. But… I failed you… I didn’t say goodbye to your brother. You didn’t get the chance either did you? So… so much was lost.”

As Airheart moves towards the small cabin, her tears touch the windows and disappear. The light shimmers for a moment, but Airheart wasn’t paying attention. She sits in the chair and swivels, the lights dimming. She begins to close her eyes, and accept her fate, the lights slowly faded to black, the darkness trying to embrace her and calm her with its silence.

The rainbow hue begins to shift, creating ripples all along the ship, and inside the lights brighten near the stasis pods. The voices of her crew-members begin to whisper to her as she falls asleep, “Why did you do this to us? Why weren’t you there? You should have gone first.”

Airheart turns to find the voice, but nothing was there. She grabs a flashlight, and moves towards the pod section where the lights were still on. The gravity system was still in fluctuation due to the teleport, and so she would start floating occasionally. Airheart searches and finding nothing to her interest, and turns the lights off in the pod area. She moves, and the lights along the entire ship begin to flicker. In the shadows, she can see faces, ponies, all of them with twisted smiles or deep frowns.

Airheart releases a blood-curdling scream. Her eyes flash about the room as she scrambles for what, in her panicking mind is safety, the broken stasis pod. She rushes down the corridor; her mind trying to process what is going on, trying to avoid the voices of her dead former crew-members. Cutting herself a little on the pod, she ignores the pain and blood as she curls into a tight ball, hoping for the voices to stop. She lights continue to flicker, eventually shutting off entirely, save the core systems. She opens her eyes, and looks outside the pod, and sees darkness again. She lies there in the pod and tries to sleep. She sits there in the darkness, trying to sleep. A light on the other end of the ship would flicker on occasion but Airheart was trying her best not to look.

Finally, Airheart fell asleep, but the system continued to watch. It could see the distressed Airheart. It could see the rainbow surrounding the ship. The system continues to watch. However, for a moment, something flickered in its vision. Outside the window, it detected movement for a second. Seeing nothing, the system focused on Airheart again, being the only active member of the crew.

Automatic log end due to inactivity…

Author's Note

Thanks to Scintillance for editing the chapter! Otherwise, I hope you like it.

Prologue: A New Frontier

With many new threats in Equestria, technology was forced to advance at an exponential level in order to keep new the new threats at bay. Within 45 years of Luna’s return, technology had advanced to the point where ponies wished to visit the stars. One such mission, lead by Commander Airheart, was planned to visit the stars and record what truly is out there. There was a total crew of three ponies, being the Commander, followed by copilot and former Wonderbolt Fleetfoot, and finally the scientist on-board, North Pole. The three crew members were going to shoot past the moon, and using experimental arcane technology, shoot into space through a series of teleports. The crew would be put in stasis throughout this time. However, something occurred, and after a certain point, mission logs failed to come in. Two-way communication was impossible over the distance, and now Command Center, sometimes referred to as Horseton or Com, is reviewing the mission longs to determine what went wrong.

The true mission was simple: Princess Luna asked the astronauts to investigate a strange star. Her magic could not view it, and it seemed to be completely black, even from a distance. A team was to go out, find out any information they can about the star, and fly back.

The mission was simple, but when did anything ever go completely right?