Earth Vs. Equestriaby Vero MoonlightChaptersChapter 1: Planets CollideChapter 2: TransmissionsChapter 3: Humans From Space!Chapter 1: Planets CollideOne day in Equestria... It was the day of the Summer Sun Celebration. Just as Princess Celestia appeared on the stage and prepared to raise the sun, something unexplainable happened. The stars went dark and the sun didn't rise with the Princess. Then, the ground started to shake. As all the ponies began to scream, the sky filled with clouds all on its own. Suddenly, everything went quiet and no pony said a word in fear the shaking would return. When Rainbow Dash flew up into the sky, she pulled back a single cloud. Showing through the hole was sunlight from high in the sky, yet the Princess had done nothing. "What's going on?" Twilight Sparkle asked her teacher. "I don't know, Twilight. I don't know." *** Meanwhile, in a parallel universe... The phone's been ringing off the hook, and every time Devon Linux answers with the same annoyed "We'll tell you when we know" To some new reporter. Finally, he turns to Lyra Paker, the girl sitting next to him at the desk, and says, "You think they'd wait a few minutes." The sun had only been eclipsed for 15 minutes, but that's longer than a regular solar eclipse. Of course, this isn't the moon blocking out the sun because that's on the other side of the planet, and the shadow is too big. Lyra sighs, "Someone should figure something out then." With that said, Linux rises from his seat. "Let's see what they're saying at the International Space Station, then!" "But somebody has to keep an eye on the phones," Lyra replies, a look of fear hidden deep in her eyes. "And I didn't go to college for six years to answer phones on a day like this. I mean, this could be the scientific break-through of the century! If nothing else, we can go get something to feed to those vultures who call themselves journalists." Without waiting for an answer, Linux races off. Lyra stays for a moment, deciding whether she should go with him or not. The phone starts to ring again and again and again. The caller ID says it's another reporter, but Lyra just starts eying the door Linux disappeared behind. She gets up and leaves. Stretched across the screen is the snapshot of an alien planet. "My God, Lyra. Can you believe this?" Linux asks, unable to move more than a few feet from the door, clearly in a state of shock. "Maybe. I don't know yet," She responds. "What are we going to tell the reporters?" "Reporters?" Linux asks. "They'll report what they see when it comes out of the glare. I'm more concerned about what we'll tell the president." "This image was just taken by one of our satellites as it passed by." NASA's director announces. "As you can see, it is another planet and..." He hesitates for a moment. "And it appears to be inhabited." A low murmur erupts from the people in the computer-laced room. "Where did it come from?" Someone yells. "Do you know? 'Cause nobody else seems to," The director replies sounding angry and afraid. After the room calms down a bit, he continues. "It appeared twice the distance of the moon approximately 15 minutes ago. When the ISS gets into view of the new planet, we'll be able to know more." Suddenly, LinuX leaves Lyra's side and walks up to the director. "Maybe we should try to make contact," He suggests. "We're not even sure if there's sentient life there," The director begins to dismiss Linux. But Linux presists, "And we're not sure if there isn't either. There are only a few ways to be sure; satellites, contact, or touchdown, so unless you'd like to skip to the last, maybe we should send a message." "And what do you suppose we do if it turns out there is sentient life there, and it's hostile?" Someone else yells. An experienced astronaut speaks out from the crowd and replies, "And how will we find that out? Ask them or wait to be invaded?" January Li has been up in the ISS twice, and even ran a recent mission to the moon. Everyone listens to her, and the room goes dead quiet for an moment. Slowly, people start to argue about what to do. No one wants to send a message out of fear, and some want to send it so they can know whether or not they should be afraid. January, out of contempt, grabs Lyra's hand on their way out. Before anyone realizes, the astronaut and the trainee are racing out the doors towards the observatory. The air feels cool and dewy like twilight as the pounding of their boots becomes of fast-paced song. Only one guy stands guard in the building they come to. He's old and been on the verge of lunacy for half a decade. He kept coming every day after he'd been fired, but every time someone reminded him, he'd start repeating a nursery rhyme until it became a chorus of mumbles. People generally just try to ignore him now, except January who's become quite found of the old-timer's company. "Hey, Chester! We need to use a computer," January tells him. "Shouldn't you be home sleeping?" He replies, succeeding ground anyways. "Maybe later," She answers simply, sits down and turns on the web cam. "What are you doing?" Lyra asks. "Doing," January tells her. "And you're helping me contact the aliens if there are any." "Shouldn't we..." "I don't think there's any protocol with what's going on, and if we wait for them to resolve their own conflicts, we'll be invaded by the time we're ready to say 'hi.'" The camera starts to record. "My name is January Li and I am contacting you on the behalf of Planet Earth. Your planet is now visible in the skies to every creature with eyes on our planet. We wish to know who you are and how you got here, and continue on in peace." Lyra standing next to the woman who was about to go down in history as the first to contact an alien civilization felt like she had to say something. "And my name is Lyra Parker, I am also, clearly, a human, and I... personally, if possible, know how your planet appeared in our sky and why. Thank you. And again, peace." The camera clicked off. "You sounded a bit nervous, Lyra," The astronaut noted. "Well, I've never talked to aliens before!" Lyra retorted. "Relax, neither have I. Now, let's send this." Chapter 2: Transmissions“There's a planet in the sky!” Twilight hollers as she gallops through the long hall. “I know, Twilight.” The student slows her pace as she nears Celestia by the window. Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Apple Jack, and Spike circle around the window behind their friend. “H-how can it be?” Fluttershy inquires cautiously as she stops next to her friend. “I've never seen magic like this before! Except...” Rarity trails off. “There's no way it can be Discord!” Dash swoops down and shouts. “Well how do yoouuu know?” Pinkie starts off on one of her usual tangents. “I mean, Discord does do weird stuff like this. Remember the dancing bison! I remember the dancing bison. Weren't they wearing tutus? Or did it have something to do with maracas?” “Dash's right, Pinkie. Discord's still stone in the garden. Right, Princess?” Twilight turns to her mentor. “I do believe so.” “Well, maybe we should check. Ya'know, just to be sure,” AJ adds. Everypony nods in agreement. *** “Yep, still stone!” Pinkie shouts after knocking her hoof on Discord's leg. “If it's not Discord, then what's causing this?” Spike asks. Nopony replies because nopony knows the answer. “I see I'm not the only pony wondering if maybe this is the doing of Sir Discord!” Luna flies in and announces in the royal Canterlot voice. “No, my sister. You are not,” Celestia responds. Luna walks up to the statue and looks it directly in his eyes. “Who else could be responsible for this.” “He's stone, Luna. There's no way it can be him!” Rarity states. “Well, how would we know if we don't ask him?” Luna says. “What?” Everypony says in unison. Before anypony could stop her, Luna released a magical burst of energy that caused to stone to crack. And crack. And crack. And light began to shine through each crack until the stone burst away leaving a very living Discord. “Oh... what's this? I'm not stone anymore!” The draconequus states with joy. “What have you done?!” Rarity shrieks to the darker princess. Ignoring the white pony, Luna trots up to Discord and continues in the royal Canterlot voice, “Gaze into the sky and tell me thou seeth!” With an air of nonchalance, he looks up, gives the planet a strange looks, and looks back to the small crowd. “I see, I see. Is there a new princess or something?” “No, Discord!” Celestia pushes past her sister, clearly suppressing anger. “Is this your doing?” “I was stone, in case you forgot. It wasn't exactly possible for me to do much,” The draconequus slithered off his pedestal and towards the princess. Before the scene, quickly approaching creepy, could get any worse, Twilight's horn began to grow and she shouts, “Everypony! There's... there's something... I can't quite explain! It's... it's... some sort of message!” “What is it?” Celestia asks eagerly. “I... can't quite tell,” The violet tinted pony says under the strain of trying. “Is there anyway to enhance it?” “Yes!” Luna answers first. “Celestia, do you remember that old crystal?” “My sister! You're right! Everypony, hurry! Follow me!” They ran back into the palace. Every last one of them followed the beautiful pony into the basement. Through closed doors hides a glimmering crystal as stunning as the sun. It stands tall and huge in the center of a massive room. “Oh, my. It's beautiful.” Fluttershy says. Rainbow Dash just stares with an awe-inspired “Woah.” Rarity's eyes grow as wide as her smile. “It's so bright!” Pinkie shouts. “What is it?” Spike says his eyes almost as wide as Rarity's. “I've never seen anything like this in any of my books.” Twilight states. “This,” Princess Celestia says with a relief-filled voice, “Is a magical crystal that was made on the same day as all of Equestria. It is the origin of magic and is a hundred times more powerful than any unicorn horn. I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner. Thank you so much, Luna.” “Psh, it's not that cool,” Discord says with a jealous sigh that goes ignored. “Come Twilight,” Celestia guides her student closer to the ancient crystal. The young pony's horn begins to glow and pulse with the crystal. Her eyes light up and suddenly the ceiling is ablaze with the image of two strange creatures. Everypony looks up at them as they begin to speak. “My name is January Li and I am contacting you on the behalf of Planet Earth. Your planet is now visible in the skies to every creature with eyes on our planet. We wish to know who you are and how you got here, and continue on in peace.” Then the second strange creature continues, “And my name is Lyra Parker, I am also, clearly, a human, and I... personally, if possible, would like to know how your planet appeared in our sky and why. Thank you. And again, peace.” The room grows dim as the message disappears. “Are those hideous things from that planet?” Rarity asks. “Oh, com'on now. They're not that ugly... if you close your eyes.” Apple Jack says. “Ooo! Maybe they'll be our friends!! We should send a message too!” Pinkie starts jumping up and down. “Yes, we must! If we don't respond, it could give them the wrong impression!” Luna declares. “I agree,” Celestia adds before using her magic to make the crystal glow and pulse again. “My name is Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria. We too can see your planet, but do not yet know how this happened.” AJ steps forward, “We don't want war either, so if ya'll stay peaceful, so will we.” “And we can be friends! Best friends! Oh my! Oh my! I've never had friends that weren't from Equestria before! This is gonna be so supertasticly spectacular!!” Pinkie bounces around. The response then rocketed through space towards the unaware humans. *** Back on Earth... “We're not alone in the universe!” A man shouts as he runs into NASA command. “What?” The director asks confused. “They've made contact!” The messenger replies. “Well, play it then!” The director commands. The messenger plugs a flash drive into a computer and plays the message on the screen. It starts to play, and they can hear perfectly, but only snow is visible on the screen. “Why aren't their aliens on my monitor?” The director sighs. “We didn't receive any visuals. It could have gotten lost in space.” The messenger clarifies. When the transmission ends, the director asks one more thing. “Did somebody send them a message?” Linux stands up and points out, “Well, there are 7 billion people on this planet, and any space agency or backyard astronomer could have sent a message. Or even possibly, a television show or radio station! Who knows.” Suddenly, the doors burst open and marines pour in, guns cocked. At their tail is a well-decorated solider. Every scientist in the room puts their hands up except the director who yells, “What in Sam's heck is going on!?” “My name is General Washburn.” The solider speaks up. “I've been dispatched by the president to take control of this situation. A radio silence has been issued across the nation, and the only news every man, woman, and child in America is gonna see on their TV screen is news about that rock! Now, we need some astronauts.” Chapter 3: Humans From Space!Planet Equestria looms in the window as the shuttle draws near. The four astronauts inside are dead quiet. The tensions been raising steadily for the past week, and now it's almost unbearable. January Li was selected as the lead astronaut. Upon her selection, she asked to be accompanied by Lyra Parker. Due to her past military experience, General Washburn approved her application. Along with them, another experienced astronaut and ex- air-force pilot, Andy McAllister, and experienced marine, Kip Martinez were assigned to the historical expedition. Nobody was very fond of McAllister's often crude behavior, but Kip kept him in check. However, Kip didn't always take orders from January well since she had no real military experience. At the half-way point, January had pretty much blown a cap when Kip didn't listen to her about the use of one of the computers and accidentally broke it. She yelled that she was really the only person who knew what the hell was going on, and unless he wanted to get off before they landed, he had to accept her leadership. He spent the next 14 hours fixing the computer according to January's very precise instruction. Meanwhile, McAllister and Lyra got along pretty well since they were both air-force pilots. No, Lyra's social dysfunction was also with Kip. General Washburn should have put more thought into the social dynamics. Lyra hangs on to the edges of the window, the shadows fleeting as the do a subtle barrel roll. “How long until entry?” “Less than hour. We're beginning the sequence.” January announces. *** The flora was identical to that of Earth. A moon identical to Earth's shown in the early dawn sky. Even the animals, scuttling along the ground were the same. “Okay, I'm officially freaked out now,” Lyra states as they march. Lyra and Kip hold sub-machine guns in case the inhabitants turn out to be hostile, while McAllister and January walk empty-handed and in charge of communication. “So, does this mean they're gonna look human?” McAllister asks with a slight laugh. Before anybody else can laugh, Lyra puts her finger to her lips and shushes them. They all stop. “What?” January asks, now out of her forte. “I heard something... something like hooves,” Lyra states. McAllister begins to laugh again, “Probably just a deer or something!” “Shut up!” Kip whispers harshly, and McAllister swallows his short-lived joke. Peering through the plants, Lyra sees a pink-maned pony with butterflies on her side approaching a tree with a white bunny in tow. The tree has a large door in its side, and as the pony stops before the door, she lifts her hoof and taps the door! “What is it?” January asks, and Lyra realizes she gasped out loud. “I don't know yet,” She replies. January's jaw drops when she looks through the bushes herself, and both the guys quickly follow her example out of curiosity. A zebra embraced by gold jewelry answers the door with a warm smile. “My dear Fluttershy. How nice of you to stop by!” Both ponies disappear inside the tree-home, and every human is left speechless. “They're fucking... ponies,” Kip breaks the silence without shedding his shocked expression. “This will make the most interesting report of my life,” McAllister adds. “Well, who wants to say 'hi?'” January asks, changing the mood. “Guess we gotta,” McAllister sighs. Andy McAllister and January Li walk up to the door of a not-so-alien alien's home and knock. The zebra answers the door and from her mouth comes real English words, “Who are you? Something new? Just look at those strange features! What are you strange creatures?” “Uh...” It takes January a moment to remember that English is her language too. “I am a human from Earth, the planet in the sky.” Still her words seemed uncertain. “Earth you say? Well, come inside you may,” Uncertain about the Zebra's invitation, the humans hesitate. In that moment, Fluttershy appears in the background and trots up to them. “Are you the humans we are expecting.” Resisting the overwhelming urge to use sarcasm, McAllister nods. “Yes, and is important that we meet your leader,” January adds. “Take us too your leader,” McAllister says needlessly. When January gives him a weird look, he defends himself, “I've always wanted to say that!” “Come with me. I'll take you to Princess Celestia.” *** The four humans stand before a beautiful winged-unicorn. Her mane and tail flow like wavering rainbows. Her expression is perpetually kind, and a sun decorates her sides. Her name is Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria. Each human introduce themselves in turn to the massive audience that filled the palace halls. Every single one, a pony. The humans have yet to get over their shock. “So, have you found Equestria to your liking thus far?” A darker pony by the name of Princess Luna asks the humans. “So far, it has being quite nice,” January announces. “We've actually found this planet to be very, very similar to our own.” The second 'very' was more for herself than anybody or anypony else. “Really? How so?” The sun-flanked pony asks. “The plants and animals are all the same. So is the moon,” Lyra points out. “Hum... I suppose that is strange isn't it,” Celestia says, but her sister steps out in front of her before anything more can be said. “I think there is a more important question at hand!” The dark princess shouts. “Are we at peace? Tell us of your kind's wars! Should we be weary or welcoming?” Celestia lets out a visible sigh at her sister's strait-forwardness and social awkwardness. “Umm...” January thinks. “I do believe we are at peace unless you plan on starting a war. Our kind can be violent, but only when provoked. I think we can be welcoming.” “Oooohh!!!” Not a second after January had finished her last sentence, a vibrant pink pony hops out of the crowd and starts to bounce around the humans. “Yay! I'm so glad we can all be friends! Do you guys like to smile? I can make sure you all smile!” The humans let out a little laugh, especially McAllister who took to the fun-loving pony instantly. However, few notice the chaotic creature lurking like a shadow behind a pillar. On his face a sinister smile forms.
Chapter 1: Planets CollideOne day in Equestria... It was the day of the Summer Sun Celebration. Just as Princess Celestia appeared on the stage and prepared to raise the sun, something unexplainable happened. The stars went dark and the sun didn't rise with the Princess. Then, the ground started to shake. As all the ponies began to scream, the sky filled with clouds all on its own. Suddenly, everything went quiet and no pony said a word in fear the shaking would return. When Rainbow Dash flew up into the sky, she pulled back a single cloud. Showing through the hole was sunlight from high in the sky, yet the Princess had done nothing. "What's going on?" Twilight Sparkle asked her teacher. "I don't know, Twilight. I don't know." *** Meanwhile, in a parallel universe... The phone's been ringing off the hook, and every time Devon Linux answers with the same annoyed "We'll tell you when we know" To some new reporter. Finally, he turns to Lyra Paker, the girl sitting next to him at the desk, and says, "You think they'd wait a few minutes." The sun had only been eclipsed for 15 minutes, but that's longer than a regular solar eclipse. Of course, this isn't the moon blocking out the sun because that's on the other side of the planet, and the shadow is too big. Lyra sighs, "Someone should figure something out then." With that said, Linux rises from his seat. "Let's see what they're saying at the International Space Station, then!" "But somebody has to keep an eye on the phones," Lyra replies, a look of fear hidden deep in her eyes. "And I didn't go to college for six years to answer phones on a day like this. I mean, this could be the scientific break-through of the century! If nothing else, we can go get something to feed to those vultures who call themselves journalists." Without waiting for an answer, Linux races off. Lyra stays for a moment, deciding whether she should go with him or not. The phone starts to ring again and again and again. The caller ID says it's another reporter, but Lyra just starts eying the door Linux disappeared behind. She gets up and leaves. Stretched across the screen is the snapshot of an alien planet. "My God, Lyra. Can you believe this?" Linux asks, unable to move more than a few feet from the door, clearly in a state of shock. "Maybe. I don't know yet," She responds. "What are we going to tell the reporters?" "Reporters?" Linux asks. "They'll report what they see when it comes out of the glare. I'm more concerned about what we'll tell the president." "This image was just taken by one of our satellites as it passed by." NASA's director announces. "As you can see, it is another planet and..." He hesitates for a moment. "And it appears to be inhabited." A low murmur erupts from the people in the computer-laced room. "Where did it come from?" Someone yells. "Do you know? 'Cause nobody else seems to," The director replies sounding angry and afraid. After the room calms down a bit, he continues. "It appeared twice the distance of the moon approximately 15 minutes ago. When the ISS gets into view of the new planet, we'll be able to know more." Suddenly, LinuX leaves Lyra's side and walks up to the director. "Maybe we should try to make contact," He suggests. "We're not even sure if there's sentient life there," The director begins to dismiss Linux. But Linux presists, "And we're not sure if there isn't either. There are only a few ways to be sure; satellites, contact, or touchdown, so unless you'd like to skip to the last, maybe we should send a message." "And what do you suppose we do if it turns out there is sentient life there, and it's hostile?" Someone else yells. An experienced astronaut speaks out from the crowd and replies, "And how will we find that out? Ask them or wait to be invaded?" January Li has been up in the ISS twice, and even ran a recent mission to the moon. Everyone listens to her, and the room goes dead quiet for an moment. Slowly, people start to argue about what to do. No one wants to send a message out of fear, and some want to send it so they can know whether or not they should be afraid. January, out of contempt, grabs Lyra's hand on their way out. Before anyone realizes, the astronaut and the trainee are racing out the doors towards the observatory. The air feels cool and dewy like twilight as the pounding of their boots becomes of fast-paced song. Only one guy stands guard in the building they come to. He's old and been on the verge of lunacy for half a decade. He kept coming every day after he'd been fired, but every time someone reminded him, he'd start repeating a nursery rhyme until it became a chorus of mumbles. People generally just try to ignore him now, except January who's become quite found of the old-timer's company. "Hey, Chester! We need to use a computer," January tells him. "Shouldn't you be home sleeping?" He replies, succeeding ground anyways. "Maybe later," She answers simply, sits down and turns on the web cam. "What are you doing?" Lyra asks. "Doing," January tells her. "And you're helping me contact the aliens if there are any." "Shouldn't we..." "I don't think there's any protocol with what's going on, and if we wait for them to resolve their own conflicts, we'll be invaded by the time we're ready to say 'hi.'" The camera starts to record. "My name is January Li and I am contacting you on the behalf of Planet Earth. Your planet is now visible in the skies to every creature with eyes on our planet. We wish to know who you are and how you got here, and continue on in peace." Lyra standing next to the woman who was about to go down in history as the first to contact an alien civilization felt like she had to say something. "And my name is Lyra Parker, I am also, clearly, a human, and I... personally, if possible, know how your planet appeared in our sky and why. Thank you. And again, peace." The camera clicked off. "You sounded a bit nervous, Lyra," The astronaut noted. "Well, I've never talked to aliens before!" Lyra retorted. "Relax, neither have I. Now, let's send this."
Chapter 2: Transmissions“There's a planet in the sky!” Twilight hollers as she gallops through the long hall. “I know, Twilight.” The student slows her pace as she nears Celestia by the window. Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Apple Jack, and Spike circle around the window behind their friend. “H-how can it be?” Fluttershy inquires cautiously as she stops next to her friend. “I've never seen magic like this before! Except...” Rarity trails off. “There's no way it can be Discord!” Dash swoops down and shouts. “Well how do yoouuu know?” Pinkie starts off on one of her usual tangents. “I mean, Discord does do weird stuff like this. Remember the dancing bison! I remember the dancing bison. Weren't they wearing tutus? Or did it have something to do with maracas?” “Dash's right, Pinkie. Discord's still stone in the garden. Right, Princess?” Twilight turns to her mentor. “I do believe so.” “Well, maybe we should check. Ya'know, just to be sure,” AJ adds. Everypony nods in agreement. *** “Yep, still stone!” Pinkie shouts after knocking her hoof on Discord's leg. “If it's not Discord, then what's causing this?” Spike asks. Nopony replies because nopony knows the answer. “I see I'm not the only pony wondering if maybe this is the doing of Sir Discord!” Luna flies in and announces in the royal Canterlot voice. “No, my sister. You are not,” Celestia responds. Luna walks up to the statue and looks it directly in his eyes. “Who else could be responsible for this.” “He's stone, Luna. There's no way it can be him!” Rarity states. “Well, how would we know if we don't ask him?” Luna says. “What?” Everypony says in unison. Before anypony could stop her, Luna released a magical burst of energy that caused to stone to crack. And crack. And crack. And light began to shine through each crack until the stone burst away leaving a very living Discord. “Oh... what's this? I'm not stone anymore!” The draconequus states with joy. “What have you done?!” Rarity shrieks to the darker princess. Ignoring the white pony, Luna trots up to Discord and continues in the royal Canterlot voice, “Gaze into the sky and tell me thou seeth!” With an air of nonchalance, he looks up, gives the planet a strange looks, and looks back to the small crowd. “I see, I see. Is there a new princess or something?” “No, Discord!” Celestia pushes past her sister, clearly suppressing anger. “Is this your doing?” “I was stone, in case you forgot. It wasn't exactly possible for me to do much,” The draconequus slithered off his pedestal and towards the princess. Before the scene, quickly approaching creepy, could get any worse, Twilight's horn began to grow and she shouts, “Everypony! There's... there's something... I can't quite explain! It's... it's... some sort of message!” “What is it?” Celestia asks eagerly. “I... can't quite tell,” The violet tinted pony says under the strain of trying. “Is there anyway to enhance it?” “Yes!” Luna answers first. “Celestia, do you remember that old crystal?” “My sister! You're right! Everypony, hurry! Follow me!” They ran back into the palace. Every last one of them followed the beautiful pony into the basement. Through closed doors hides a glimmering crystal as stunning as the sun. It stands tall and huge in the center of a massive room. “Oh, my. It's beautiful.” Fluttershy says. Rainbow Dash just stares with an awe-inspired “Woah.” Rarity's eyes grow as wide as her smile. “It's so bright!” Pinkie shouts. “What is it?” Spike says his eyes almost as wide as Rarity's. “I've never seen anything like this in any of my books.” Twilight states. “This,” Princess Celestia says with a relief-filled voice, “Is a magical crystal that was made on the same day as all of Equestria. It is the origin of magic and is a hundred times more powerful than any unicorn horn. I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner. Thank you so much, Luna.” “Psh, it's not that cool,” Discord says with a jealous sigh that goes ignored. “Come Twilight,” Celestia guides her student closer to the ancient crystal. The young pony's horn begins to glow and pulse with the crystal. Her eyes light up and suddenly the ceiling is ablaze with the image of two strange creatures. Everypony looks up at them as they begin to speak. “My name is January Li and I am contacting you on the behalf of Planet Earth. Your planet is now visible in the skies to every creature with eyes on our planet. We wish to know who you are and how you got here, and continue on in peace.” Then the second strange creature continues, “And my name is Lyra Parker, I am also, clearly, a human, and I... personally, if possible, would like to know how your planet appeared in our sky and why. Thank you. And again, peace.” The room grows dim as the message disappears. “Are those hideous things from that planet?” Rarity asks. “Oh, com'on now. They're not that ugly... if you close your eyes.” Apple Jack says. “Ooo! Maybe they'll be our friends!! We should send a message too!” Pinkie starts jumping up and down. “Yes, we must! If we don't respond, it could give them the wrong impression!” Luna declares. “I agree,” Celestia adds before using her magic to make the crystal glow and pulse again. “My name is Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria. We too can see your planet, but do not yet know how this happened.” AJ steps forward, “We don't want war either, so if ya'll stay peaceful, so will we.” “And we can be friends! Best friends! Oh my! Oh my! I've never had friends that weren't from Equestria before! This is gonna be so supertasticly spectacular!!” Pinkie bounces around. The response then rocketed through space towards the unaware humans. *** Back on Earth... “We're not alone in the universe!” A man shouts as he runs into NASA command. “What?” The director asks confused. “They've made contact!” The messenger replies. “Well, play it then!” The director commands. The messenger plugs a flash drive into a computer and plays the message on the screen. It starts to play, and they can hear perfectly, but only snow is visible on the screen. “Why aren't their aliens on my monitor?” The director sighs. “We didn't receive any visuals. It could have gotten lost in space.” The messenger clarifies. When the transmission ends, the director asks one more thing. “Did somebody send them a message?” Linux stands up and points out, “Well, there are 7 billion people on this planet, and any space agency or backyard astronomer could have sent a message. Or even possibly, a television show or radio station! Who knows.” Suddenly, the doors burst open and marines pour in, guns cocked. At their tail is a well-decorated solider. Every scientist in the room puts their hands up except the director who yells, “What in Sam's heck is going on!?” “My name is General Washburn.” The solider speaks up. “I've been dispatched by the president to take control of this situation. A radio silence has been issued across the nation, and the only news every man, woman, and child in America is gonna see on their TV screen is news about that rock! Now, we need some astronauts.”
Chapter 3: Humans From Space!Planet Equestria looms in the window as the shuttle draws near. The four astronauts inside are dead quiet. The tensions been raising steadily for the past week, and now it's almost unbearable. January Li was selected as the lead astronaut. Upon her selection, she asked to be accompanied by Lyra Parker. Due to her past military experience, General Washburn approved her application. Along with them, another experienced astronaut and ex- air-force pilot, Andy McAllister, and experienced marine, Kip Martinez were assigned to the historical expedition. Nobody was very fond of McAllister's often crude behavior, but Kip kept him in check. However, Kip didn't always take orders from January well since she had no real military experience. At the half-way point, January had pretty much blown a cap when Kip didn't listen to her about the use of one of the computers and accidentally broke it. She yelled that she was really the only person who knew what the hell was going on, and unless he wanted to get off before they landed, he had to accept her leadership. He spent the next 14 hours fixing the computer according to January's very precise instruction. Meanwhile, McAllister and Lyra got along pretty well since they were both air-force pilots. No, Lyra's social dysfunction was also with Kip. General Washburn should have put more thought into the social dynamics. Lyra hangs on to the edges of the window, the shadows fleeting as the do a subtle barrel roll. “How long until entry?” “Less than hour. We're beginning the sequence.” January announces. *** The flora was identical to that of Earth. A moon identical to Earth's shown in the early dawn sky. Even the animals, scuttling along the ground were the same. “Okay, I'm officially freaked out now,” Lyra states as they march. Lyra and Kip hold sub-machine guns in case the inhabitants turn out to be hostile, while McAllister and January walk empty-handed and in charge of communication. “So, does this mean they're gonna look human?” McAllister asks with a slight laugh. Before anybody else can laugh, Lyra puts her finger to her lips and shushes them. They all stop. “What?” January asks, now out of her forte. “I heard something... something like hooves,” Lyra states. McAllister begins to laugh again, “Probably just a deer or something!” “Shut up!” Kip whispers harshly, and McAllister swallows his short-lived joke. Peering through the plants, Lyra sees a pink-maned pony with butterflies on her side approaching a tree with a white bunny in tow. The tree has a large door in its side, and as the pony stops before the door, she lifts her hoof and taps the door! “What is it?” January asks, and Lyra realizes she gasped out loud. “I don't know yet,” She replies. January's jaw drops when she looks through the bushes herself, and both the guys quickly follow her example out of curiosity. A zebra embraced by gold jewelry answers the door with a warm smile. “My dear Fluttershy. How nice of you to stop by!” Both ponies disappear inside the tree-home, and every human is left speechless. “They're fucking... ponies,” Kip breaks the silence without shedding his shocked expression. “This will make the most interesting report of my life,” McAllister adds. “Well, who wants to say 'hi?'” January asks, changing the mood. “Guess we gotta,” McAllister sighs. Andy McAllister and January Li walk up to the door of a not-so-alien alien's home and knock. The zebra answers the door and from her mouth comes real English words, “Who are you? Something new? Just look at those strange features! What are you strange creatures?” “Uh...” It takes January a moment to remember that English is her language too. “I am a human from Earth, the planet in the sky.” Still her words seemed uncertain. “Earth you say? Well, come inside you may,” Uncertain about the Zebra's invitation, the humans hesitate. In that moment, Fluttershy appears in the background and trots up to them. “Are you the humans we are expecting.” Resisting the overwhelming urge to use sarcasm, McAllister nods. “Yes, and is important that we meet your leader,” January adds. “Take us too your leader,” McAllister says needlessly. When January gives him a weird look, he defends himself, “I've always wanted to say that!” “Come with me. I'll take you to Princess Celestia.” *** The four humans stand before a beautiful winged-unicorn. Her mane and tail flow like wavering rainbows. Her expression is perpetually kind, and a sun decorates her sides. Her name is Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria. Each human introduce themselves in turn to the massive audience that filled the palace halls. Every single one, a pony. The humans have yet to get over their shock. “So, have you found Equestria to your liking thus far?” A darker pony by the name of Princess Luna asks the humans. “So far, it has being quite nice,” January announces. “We've actually found this planet to be very, very similar to our own.” The second 'very' was more for herself than anybody or anypony else. “Really? How so?” The sun-flanked pony asks. “The plants and animals are all the same. So is the moon,” Lyra points out. “Hum... I suppose that is strange isn't it,” Celestia says, but her sister steps out in front of her before anything more can be said. “I think there is a more important question at hand!” The dark princess shouts. “Are we at peace? Tell us of your kind's wars! Should we be weary or welcoming?” Celestia lets out a visible sigh at her sister's strait-forwardness and social awkwardness. “Umm...” January thinks. “I do believe we are at peace unless you plan on starting a war. Our kind can be violent, but only when provoked. I think we can be welcoming.” “Oooohh!!!” Not a second after January had finished her last sentence, a vibrant pink pony hops out of the crowd and starts to bounce around the humans. “Yay! I'm so glad we can all be friends! Do you guys like to smile? I can make sure you all smile!” The humans let out a little laugh, especially McAllister who took to the fun-loving pony instantly. However, few notice the chaotic creature lurking like a shadow behind a pillar. On his face a sinister smile forms.
