Prologue
The wind blows softly on a cold afternoon as Princess Celestia strolls calmly through an old cemetery just outside of Canterlot.She walked through a winding stone road under leafless trees,passed many tomb stones and graves of many ponies she once knew.
She held somewhat of sadden smile on her face as she passed graves of old guards and workers that served in the castle through out her life "Its lovely to see you all again my dear old friends."
As she progressed through she came towards the center of the cemetery which was the resting home for the Heroes of Equestria.Many ponies who did heroic deeds or other things that shaped Equestria to the country it is today were buried here.Included in these ponies is Star Swirl the Bearded,a powerful conjurer responsible for inventing over 200 spells many that are being taught still today in the School for Gifted Unicorns.
Celestia stopped in her tracks as she reached her destination.She stood in front of large statue resembling a unicorn casting a spell,on the top of its head was a rather unique tiara that resembled one of the elements of harmony,magic.The cutie mark on the unicorn were pink and purple bright stars.
"Its wonderful to see you again my most faithful student"Celestia let out a quivering smile as she looked up at the head of the statue.
"I realize its been some time Twilight,many things have changed,I'm afraid the ways of the old days are officially gone."She started pacing in front of the statue.
"Everything available today is really well unbelievable hover carts,hover boards,even hover wings so pretty much anyone can be a pegasus now.You'd be so overwhelmed with today's technology,Ponies today practically don't even read actual books anymore their all pretty much available on these things called Hoof Tops.In fact there's this company right in Canterlot that produces a lot of them they use a pear as their logo which is weird i would've gone with a apple or something rather a pear,I mean who even likes pears?"She let out a short chuckle as she looked back up at the statue again.
Celestia stood in silence for a few moments just staring,her smile slowly turning into a frown,but she pulled herself together,let out a short sigh,and continued talking "ahhh but your family is doing well though especially your great grandson Halley Sparkle.Hes become quite the smart young unicorn,hes one of Prof. MilkyManes top students and was hand picked by Milkymane to accompany him and his team on their mission to the moon.That's a great honor Prof.Milky isn't easily impressed.Oh but Twilight you would have loved to meet the professor hes a brilliant astronomer you and him would have talked about stars forever."
The princess decided to lay down in front of the statue onto the soft grass "I'm very pleased Hallie's doing well for him self especially after he declined the chance to be my pupil and accept my teachings in magic like I taught you,your daughter,and his mother and father before him.But hes a pony of science and I wish him best of luck on the mission,I worry for his safety just as much as his parents the Sparkle's have been like family to me ever since I first discovered that talent of yours hatching spike and fast forwarding his growth.Its been many years since spike last wandered through the outskirts of Canterlot or ponyville,I hope hes doing well the long life of a dragon can get pretty lonely for someone like him especially for a dragon that fights so hard to suppress his greedy nature."
"But getting back to Haley this mission,or rather excavation,hes going on seems rather well confusing even for me.Prof.Milky wants to study just the basics of the moon like its craters and other ponies that are accompanying him are miners that are there to get better understanding of what lies inside the moon.Some expect find moonstones which is most likely an old mares tail,doubt that they even exists.But their bringing this giant mining laser along with them so who knows what they'll find.The ship their leaving on is rather impressive,in fact I can see the top of the ship from this very spot.They call it the Mare in the Moon,which is rather suiting if you ask me.Luna hates it though."She lets out a soft chuckle.
"I've noticed lately my sister Luna has had mix feelings about this mission.There has been no sign of nightmare moon ever since you and your five friends stopped her and brought my sister back,but Luna still today fears pieces of her may still exist on the moon.But Milky reassures us that the moon is with no doubt uninhabitable.I hope hes right I wish no harm to come to them and if Nightmare moon still lives up there, I'm afraid I wont be able to provide assistance."
Celestia stood up once more,her body facing away from the statue,gazing at the sunset from afar."I think Ill be coming by more often i forgot how peaceful it feels here in these breezy afternoons."She looked back at the head of the statue letting out one last bittersweet smile " I must go Twilight many at the castle are probably wondering were I am.I guess that's something that will never change,everypony still relies on their princess"She let out a short chuckle before slowly starting to walk away.
"Good bye my most faithful and favorite student."Celestia eyes started to water but she refrained from crying being the strong mare she is."Ill always miss you Twilight"The princess began walking in the opposite direction of the statue much faster soon running,spanning her wings,and flapping them to take flight.She breached clear over the leafless trees into the cool afternoon air soaring high above Canterlot and the large,glimmering,silver ship that lies just outside the city called "The Mare in the Moon"
Chapter 1: Opportunity of a lifetime
Chapter 1
Opportunity of a lifetime
"Bzz bzz"a buzzing alarm came from the unicorns hooftop that laid on his night stand next him.This was the first noise young Halley Sparkle heard before his eyes widen and felt like led had just hit his stomach.For thats when he realized that today is in fact the day.
"Aw Celestia today's the day?Why is it today? I'm not ready.... urrahhh!" Halley screamed, tossed and turned in his bed refusing to get up."Ill just stay here in bed...ya I'm sure the professor will understand my cowardice."
The computer looking bracelet called an "HoofTop" started buzzing once more on the nightstand. " Meh Shut Up!" Halley grabbed one of his pillows with his mouth and proceeded to throw it at the hooftop knocking it to the ground.
It turned out it was no longer the alarm that was buzzing though,it was an incoming message that started to play when the hooftop hit the ground."Gooooooooddd morning Halley!Its the professor,I presume you've had a lovely night sleep?."
Halley's eyes widen in attention hearing the message.
"Well I sure hope so I expect you to be at launch center at o'nine hundred for briefing and no second thoughts kid I know you want this,its the opportunity of a lifetime afterall"
"Ya not like I haven't heard that before"Halley rolled his eyes turning over to stand up off the bed.
Halley had indeed knew those words more than anypony.Like being a Sparkle he was offered the chance to be Celestia's star pupil.Ponies told him then it was the opportunity of a lifetime,but he turned it down.He never thought much of magic but the stars and space were his passion.Halley spent many of nights sneaking out of Canterlot to get a better look at the stars because they were always hard to see within the bright lights of the city.In fact he earned his cutie mark on one of the nights he sneaked out.It was the night of a meteor shower that only happens around every 100 hundred years.Halley became so amazed by the glimmering lights in the sky that night that three meteors falling appeared on his flank as his cutie mark.
"So get a good hearty breakfast,because you'll be living off mostly canned apple preserves for the next six months hehe,grab your things I hope you packed light like i said, aaaaannndd get your rear flank to launch center asap I cant do this with out ya kid......" The message ends.
Halley slithered out of bed groaning and moaning as he bent down to pick up the hooftop and replace it back on the nightstand."Welp no backing out now I guess."
The young unicorn slowly trudged across his bedroom floor dragging his back hind legs as he forced himself through the threshold of his bathroom.He flicked on the lights of the bathroom with his hoof,then walking up to the mirror to take a look at his morning appearance.
"Bleh gag" Halley jokingly stuck his tongue out at the mirror pretending to be disgusted by his frizzled dark blue mane."Mop fix this up will ya" A tile piece in the ceiling above Halley slid open and a futuristic contraption that had a round inner body with three arms that extend came down from the ceiling.
"Good morning sir the usual? "The robot named M.O.P.(Mane organizing Product) said extending his arms over Halley's head.At the end of his metal arms were clamps that held scissors,a comb, and some kind of hair product.
"Indeed Mop and make it snappy I got a ride to catch"
"Yes sir"Mop went to work shortening Halleys hair and brushing his powder blue coat. With a couple snips and sprays Mop had made Halleys mane pristine.
Haley sighed in relief "ahh much better Im gonna miss you up there Mop"
"Likewise sir" The robot took its leave back into the ceiling"
His mane may have been untangled but Halleys stomach was still in knots. He looked back into the mirror starring into his dark blue eyes and gave himself a look of confidence."Right today's the day!"
Halley went back into his room grabbing his satchel he'd pack the night before his hooftop which he slid over his hoof and up his leg,his keyport card which gave him access to launch center, and proceeded downstairs into his home.As Halley reached downstairs though he felt slightly sadden as none of his family were there to see him off.
His family had actually said their goodbyes the previous night before each of them had to return to their own duties.His mother,Care Sparkle who had to leave immediately on a mission across sea to play ambassador for celestia,his father,Stronghold,who like his four fathers was captain of the guard and spent most of time at the castle anyways,and his two younger twin sisters,Twinkle and Star Sparkle,had to return to their dorms at the school for gifted unicorns.
Haley munched on an apple he had grabbed from the kitchen before unlocking the front door to the city of canterlot.He walked out clinching his eyes as the bright morning sun beamed down.The sounds of the busy streets cluttered his brain as always.Trotting down the stoop of his home he saw a long black hover carriage parked in front of his house.
"Good morning sir" a voice said from the other side of the carriage.
Halley raised an eyebrow "uhh...hello?"
A tall grey earth pony dressed in a suite who had a fancy accent came around opening up a door to the carriage for Halley "Hello sir my name is Barnabe Ill be your escort to the launch center this morning."
"I didn't arrange for an escort who sent you?"
"Why Princess Celestia of course. She wants to send you off in style."
Halley chuckled and rolled his eyes as he hoped into the carriage "I guess I cant pass a free ride"He could never all the way understood why Celestia would do so many things for him like sending occasional gifts or putting in good word at every school he went to.Halley just thought it was her way of trying to slowly win him over he was the first sparkle in a long time to say no to her after all.
"Jolly good sir just sit back and we'll be there in no time" Barnabe hoped into the front seat of the carriage placing his two front hooves on a touch pad that would let him take control of the carriage.
"oh no rush Barnabe they don't really launch until tonight anyways when the moons out."
Barnabe started up the carriage and soon they were off the ground on their way. "oh yes but I heard prepping is an all day procedure."
Halley let out a soft sigh looking out the window."yeah those suits do take five hours to put on at least it feels like it."
"Hmm sounds like someones coming down with a bad case of the second thoughts."
The carriage came around a corner of a large building and on the other side was the tall glimmering ship the Mare in the Moon.Halley looked up from his window taking a gulp
"You read me like a book Barnabe.....You read me like a book."
Coming soon chapter two:Welcome to the Family
