Stargate SG1: Equestrian Arc

Stargate SG1: Equestrian Arc

Chapter 6

Flightmare

Rainbow Dash hovered over the tiny cloudbank trying to catch her breath. “I must be slacking off,” she said between heavy gulps of air, “Too many hay and daisy sandwiches.” Gingerly she flapped to the edge of the cloud, peered over and looked around. “The cloud makers must be slacking off, as well. They were supposed to be working on some thunderheads today, but the sky was almost clear with only a few stray clouds left over from yesterday.

And what’s with Thunderlane and the others today? They’re all acting weird this morning, barging in on some pony’s home without so much as knocking first. I wasn’t that late for drills. And then, trying to shove me around and order me to the ground. Like, that’s ever going to happen. Good thing I can fly circles around him and all the others.”

Dash flittered closer to the cloud, “Next time I see Spitfire…” she paused in surprise as she attempted to land upon it, only to find herself falling right though, the cloud dissipating as if it had never been there. She hadn’t even given it a ‘gentle’ buck, let alone anything that would normally scatter a cloud. “Definitely too many hay and daisy sandwiches.”

A flash of light caught her attention below. “Speaking of Spitfire…” There in the distance, flying at about one hundred foot or so off the ground, roughly tree top level and cursing fast were the three leaders of the Wonderbolts, Soarin, Fleetfoot, and Spitfire.

She watched them as they split off in three different directions then circling around in a crisscross pattern over the trees then recognized it as the standardized academy search pattern, but; what were they looking for? “Maybe they’ll know what the hay is going on,” she said as she folded over into a dive.

With just a few flaps, she gained some speed then when she got closer; she spread her wings curling and cupping the air currents underneath and bringing her body level with the treetops. She estimated that she was still about a quarter of a mile behind them, but that was nothing for her, she ate quarter miles in her sleep. She loved going fast, the feel of the wind in her mane, the rush of air under her wings, the feeling always exhilarated her, sometimes to the point where fast, was never fast enough.

She looked forward for them; she had closed the distance, but not close enough to talk to them. In the meantime, they had formed back up and continued south towards equestrian mountain ranges “Just where are they going?” she pondered aloud to no one. “Guess I’m just going to have to pour on the speed and find out.”

Arching her wings, she gave a few hard flaps but her speed didn’t increase, and it surprised her as she looked back at her wings. The air was still the same as it had always been, and she was still flying, but it was as if there was nothing to push against to gain any speed. Her attention drawn; she hadn’t realized she had fallen slightly and struck a branch of an extended tree top limb with her forehoof.

A sound caught her attention, and Fleetfoot looked back and saw the light blue and rainbow colored Pegasus following them. Fleetfoot winged over and tapped Spitfire on the shoulder then nodding back in Rainbow Dash’s direction. Spitfire, eyes hidden behind dark wire rimmed glasses, nodded in agreement then split left with Soarin and continued forward allowing Fleetfoot to handle the situation. Fleetfoot then banked hard right, circled around gaining speed, and headed straight for Rainbow Dash.

Dash saw her approach and brought herself to hover just a couple of feet above the treetops. She couldn’t believe just how out of breath she was. In her whole life, she had never been in bad enough shape where even simple flying took effort. Something was wrong. Whatever it was, it didn’t seem to be effecting Fleetfoot any, she was coming fast… too fast. “What the…?” Thankfully, Dashes reflexes hadn’t slowed, and she folded her wings in letting gravity pull her down into the tree branches only inches from Fleetfoot crash coursing into her at full speed.

Dash shouted, spitting out a leaf and pulling herself up from the branch, “Hey, what gives?”

Fleetfoot didn’t even acknowledge her as she circled around again.

“What in Equestria are you doing?” Dash shouted again taking flight once more climbing up to about five hundred feet. It was just like Thunderlane this morning, only; Fleetfoot wasn’t going to tell her to ground. No, she could tell by the training classes she got in the academy that this was an attack maneuver. While the Wonderbolts were mainly an aerial show, they also trained in Pegasi air combat. “But why would she attack ME?” Was Spitfire and Soarin in on this? None of this was making sense. Ever since those humans from earth showed up, ponies have been going crazy… “That’s it! It had to be something about why they were here, and I’m willing to bet that Spitfire knows.” That meant that she had to follow Spitfire before she got away, but she had one other problem to deal with first.

If Fleetfoot wasn’t going to hold back, then neither would she, and she flipped over backwards avoiding another strike, then dove back towards the ground gaining much needed momentum, nosed up then climbed once again to a higher altitude. Normally she would have just out flown Fleetfoot but things were not normal and without any clouds in the sky, hiding was going to be impossible. “Now I know how Fluttershy must feel sometimes trying to keep up with me.” Dash looked back and saw that Fleetfoot was closing in on her. She then took a deep breath, angled downward and headed for the closest mountain pass.

Rainbow Dash angled sideways through the narrow corridor, jagged rocks within striking reach of her belly as she quickly calculated the distances between herself and Fleetfoot. Dash knew that Fleetfoot was the most maneuverable of the Wonderbolts but with shadows that danced along the walls and unpredictable winds that sheared through canyons and valleys this would be difficult for even expert flyers. Dash’s eyes darted left and right scanning the area while dodging in and out of passageways looking for an opportunity. She passed through another corridor only to find the formidable vertical cliff in front of her and let out a loud teeth-grinding grunt as the jolt knocked the wind out of her when she tried to bank hard left and struck the cliff side. Undaunted, her hooves knocked away loose gravel to find traction enough to run horizontal along the bluff before flying once again.

Pain flew through her body, and she tried to ignore it when she felt the strike of hooves on her backside that sent even more pain into her, Fleetfoot was on top of her. Dash barrow rolled over as Fleetfoot came in for another blow then locked herself in with Fleetfoot, hoof to hoof, at full speed down the canyon wall “Fleetfoot, What’s wrong with you?”

Fleetfoot thrashed about trying to struggle free from her grip, but Dash only pulled her in closer wrapping her hind hooves around her waist holding her in place. Dash then looked into her eyes; cold blank eyes stared back at her. “You will bow before the gods or be destroyed,” and with that Fleetfoot angled in to scrape Rainbow Dash off her belly on the canyon floor.

Dash let go of her at the last second, rolled over and skidded to a halt. She was completely out of breath. Emotions churned; her ribs, wings, and body ached the confusion of what Fleetfoot had said riddled her mind, “Gods? Destroyed?” Dash’s eyes went wide, tears streaking her face; this wasn’t like fighting Discord, Nightmare Moon or even Chrysalis and her changeling hordes. She had always considered Fleetfoot her friend; she grew up pining her and all the Wonderbolts. And now one of them wants to destroy her. What about Twilight and the others? Did they want to destroy everyone, the ponies of Ponyville, of Canterlot, of all of Equestria?

Fleetfoot tapped the ground then up onto another wall then rebounded back towards Rainbow Dash. Dash pushed aside her thoughts and steadied herself, anger replacing sorrow, “Not gunna happen!” Dash turned, galloped a few steps, and then took flight once more, a new determination invigorating her mind and spirit. “I don’t know what’s happened to you but I intend to find out.”

Rainbow Dash climbed higher out of the canyons when she spotted something then veered off in its direction heading back towards the ground. In her condition, she knew it was only a matter of time before Fleetfoot caught her again. Pushing herself as hard as she could fly, she kept an eye out for Fleetfoot behind her.

Fleetfoot increased speed; her enemy was almost within her reach when Rainbow Dash suddenly cupped her wings forward almost stopping in mid-flight while bringing her lower body up underneath and Fleetfoot, missing Rainbow Dash my inches, flew right underneath her body and into the mouth of the cavern directly in front of her crashing headlong into the darkness within.

Rainbow Dash then landed on a boulder above the entryway to the cave and with a couple of bounces, it gave way-sealing Fleetfoot within. “I’m sorry Fleetfoot,” she said with a heavy, winded breath. “I hope you’re okay in there, But I will come back for you when this is all over, I promise.”

She wanted to rest right then and there, but finding Spitfire and Soarin was more important.

….

Jack followed the bright yellow Pegasus through the dense jungle, the dead weight of the unconscious blue unicorn draped across his shoulders only reminded him on how much his ribs hurt. It was noon or there about, as Jack estimated looking up at the Equestrian sun at it peaked across the cloudless sky. The Jaffa and turncoat ponies had given up pursuit at the edge of what they called the Everfree forest where thick underbrush and trees made tracking nearly impossible. Jack recalled his dream and the cottage home far away. “Why can’t I ever get a nice place to get stuck at, instead of these hot steamy jungles all the time?”

Carter and Twilight, followed by Daniel, who had the baby dragon Spike nestled in his arms, had made their way to the rendezvous point where they had met up with Jack and Fluttershy, then continued on making their way along through the trees.

The ponies had led them to a place where the forest opened into a large area. Jack was somewhat relieved, and yet the canopy still provided cover from any aerial probing although a turncoat Pegasus could just fly through, and no-one would be the wiser… if they knew where to look. In the center of the grove was a large hollowed tree and judging by the door, window, and… oddities that surrounded it, he surmised that this was Zecora’s home. “Strange, a hermit pony?” Jack thought to himself.

Twilight went and knocked on the door but did not get an answer then peaked in the window confirming that no one was home. “I don’t know where she is, but we should be safe around here,” Twilight said halfheartedly, “Although, with what were up against, I am not sure for how long. I know you said that these… Goa’uld’s were fearsome, but I would never have thought even they would have done this. And how is it that they can turn those ponies against us?”

“We don’t know just yet, but it is a possibility…” Carter paused, “That they may already have been implanted with a symbiote Goa’uld, who would then take over their bodies and force them to their will.”

“One way to find out, Jack said as he gently set Trixie’s body next to a tree, then got back up and walked over the crowd of ponies that had started to gather around. “Okay everyone, take five,” he said waving them off trying to give the girls some privacy. Besides, some things were on a need to know basis and these ponies didn’t need to know.

Daniel sat nearby listening to Sam and the ponies that gathered around her with the unconscious Spike next to him under an elm tree. The bump on his noggin was starting to fade, and Spike stirred a little so Daniel was confident he would come about any time now.

Twilight walked up next to Trixie and brushed a lock of mane from her eyes. She looked over at Fluttershy, who also sat next to her holding Trixie’s hoof in hers.

Twilight turned to Sam, “How can you tell if she does have one of those symbiotes inside her?”

Sam looked back at Twilight; she had already concluded that Twilight could handle the reality of the situation but then looked over to Fluttershy, “Are you sure you want to know?”

Fluttershy looked back at Sam, her calm demeanor failing to hide her the fact that she was trembling in her feathers. But she closed her eyes, gulped, and stood her ground.

“It’s okay Fluttershy; you don’t have to stay,” Twilight said walking over and giving her a much-needed hug.

“No, I will be okay, she stuttered. “If I am to help other ponies, I need to know.”

Sam turned her attention back to Trixie. “The Goa’uld’s are large, parasitic worm like creatures. One of the places they will enter the hosts body, is located at the base of the neck, and then they will migrate their way into the base of the brain and attach themselves to the brain stem, controlling mind and body. And although they do have excellent healing abilities they cannot cover up the initial point of entry, and it leaves a scar.” Sam moved her mane around examining her but not finding an entry wound. “Could you help turn her over?”

Sam ran a hand over Trixie’s belly “The other place is within the stomach lining but this is more reserved for Goa’uld larva who will create a pouch and will incubate inside the hosts. These are the Jaffa soldiers of the Goa’uld. Here they do not have control of the hosts but the functionality is still the same.

Twilight tried not to think of it as her queasiness welled in her stomach but watched closely as the examination continued with scholarly interest. She felt the same way as Fluttershy. These were her friends, her family and their lives were in danger. What if this had been Applejack, or Rarity, of any of her closest friends. To know that any one of them could have one of these creatures inside of them, not even Trixie deserved this. Like Fluttershy, she needed to know and understand everything she could. “And if she has one, can we get it out of her?”

“That’s the bad news, we don’t know of any way to remove a Goa’uld symbiote… that doesn’t kill the host body.”

Twilight cringed at that information, and Fluttershy was almost in full tears. This was beyond anything they had ever faced before, Nightmare Moon, Discord, Sombra, not even Queen Chrysalis and her Changeling horde; they all bided for control of Equestria, but this… Twilight tried to steady herself, she wasn’t sure of anything. And what of Applejack and Rarity, surely they should have shown up by now. She had sent them to go find Pinky Pie. She hadn’t seen Rainbow Dash either. Had they, too been captured because of her decision? Because of her, they may all end up like Trixie. “Princess Celestia is counting on us…but without my magic…” A cold sweat ran down Twilights back, and she started to topple over, overwhelmed by everything, but only found herself being held up by Fluttershy’s embrace. Fluttershy was in full tears now, but each took solace in each other hooves.

Sam turned away letting the ponies have their moment, but “Well, the strange, but possibly good news is that I cannot find any wounds on her at all.”

Daniel looked up, “But clearly she was attacking like all the others?”

“Yes, and that’s the strange part, there are no signs or marks on her anywhere and although I cannot sense them from afar, up close I should be able to tell if she had a symbiote inside of her, but I get nothing. I don’t think she has one.”

“But if she doesn’t have one, how are the Goa’uld controlling them?”

“Twilight wiped a tear from her eye, “Could it be, whatever it is that has stopped our magic?”

“It is possible,” Sam said, “But I don’t think so, because if it were, then it would have taken control of you as well, although, they may have more than one device at work. One device to interrupt the flows of energy and the second one for mind control, only the second one, isn’t as powerful and can only control a few minds.”

“Sounds logical,” Daniel said, “but where would they have gotten such devices?”

“I don’t know,” Sam concluded, “but the Goa’uld have always had scavenged technologies; they could even be Asgard or even Ancient in origin. There’s no way to find out until we find them.”

“Then we had best find them.” Jack said.

“Ee… excuse me sir,” a male’s voice spoke up from behind.

Jack turned; he was looking at a tall lanky stallion with an off yellow coat and orange mane and tail and three small cakes on his flanks, he hadn’t met the baker pony but had seen him around the village and had been told about him and the bakery in the town square. Then he looked up and saw two of the three children ponies running up to him and the others, they were missing the bright yellow on with the big ribbon in her mane.

“Eh… you’re friend… the, ah… big one. Had helped up get away but he was supposed to have followed us…”

“…Then Apple Bloom jumped off the wagon and went to go find him,” the little orange Pegasus huffed out as she and Sweetie Bell come up alongside them. You’ve got to go find them.”

Jack said as he grabbed his radio. “Teal’c, got a copy?”

Only silence filled the airwaves.

“Teal’c?”

Moments later his radio crackled with Teal’c’s voice, “Do I have a copy of what O-Neill?”

“Never mind, are you on your way?”

“Indeed.”

“Is… Apple, Bloom with you?”

“Indeed.”

“Good, we need you here as soon as you can.”

They all breathed a sigh of relief.

….

Less than half hour later, Teal’c and Apple Bloom had rejoined them and despite the tail chewing that Apple Bloom received for her stunt, they were all glad that she was able to help.

At first, Twilight was relieved to see that they had Pinky Pie with them and then realized that Rarity and Applejack was not. And Pinky Pie looked horribly sickened by a strange ailment. She was groggy as if in a continual state of half consciousness. Her mane and tail were straight; her smile deflated. She tried to move, but it was if she had no energy at all, leaving only a shell of the pony she once was. All they could do was to leave her resting in the wagon as they all gathered and tried to figure out what to do next.

“Could this be a part of whatever these devices are doing this, draining or blocking our magic?” Twilight asked.

“It could be,” Samantha said, “But I didn’t think earth ponies had any connections to the flows of energy like Unicorns. What’s the connection?”

Twilight thought for a moment, “They don’t, as you can see by the other earth ponies, and they do not seem to be effected. But Pinky Pie is different; she connected to us through the Elements of Harmony, and that has to be it. Pinky Pie doesn’t control magic, but rather the magic expresses its self through her.

The Elements of Harmony are our greatest source of power but without Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Applejack, we could not use them. And even if they were, the device that’s draining us would probably drain them, as well.

“Well then it looks like we’re going to have to find these devices,” Jack spoke up. “Twilight, gather up all of your Pegasus friends that you can find. We need then to do an aerial recon for us. I need them to see if they can scout out any Jaffa activities ‘without’ getting caught and report any findings back here. Find others and post watches, all they have to do is keep an eye out and make sure none of them are sneaking up on us. Fluttershy, do you think you can guide Teal’c and I to these Diamond Dog caves?”

“Yes, but why?”

Well, while we still cannot get to the gate, that’s where it originated, and I suspect that Ra would still be close by, probably searching for it his self. This way, we take the fight to him.”

Twilight stood up without so much as a pause, “I’m going with you. I’ve been in the caves before and can help find a way through. If we get started now, we might make it there before dark. Fluttershy, stay here and wait for Zecora, fill her in on our situation. And find some Pegasi for those details that the Colonel requested. We will need every pony’s cooperation for this.”

“Carter, we'll keep in touch every half hour.”

….

Rarity, opened her eyes.

The memory of the day slowly returned to her like a fog, lifting from a pond. They had been a part of a group of other ponies, captured by these soldiers who had attacked Ponyville this morning and made to walk many miles down the hot, dusty trails to an unknown destination. She and Applejack had been attached at the necks by a length of rope that also led to the next pony in line, a rather long line. Each of their hooves were also tied together with just enough slack for walking, but a run would be impossible. Those who were not in binds walked alongside the group, unwilling or unable to comprehend that the predicament their fellow ponies were in.

When she was first placed in the line, she had launched a protest on the treatment of her and her fellow ponies but it was quickly quelled by the demonstration of the firepower of their staff weapons. With that lesson, she had learned very fast not to talk. But then as continued punishment, they were marched without break or water until it was nearly dark. When they reached the mountain caverns, she and Applejack were placed into small cage cells next to one another while the other ponies were herded off to some place else. Applejack had started to say something to her, but she was so exhausted that even the disgusting smell of old moldy hay couldn’t keep her from passing out.

She looked around; Applejack was not in the cage next to her. The cave was lit by torch light; their flames danced creating moving shadows along the walls. She looked down where a bowl of what she guessed was water sat next to the door and a small bag securely hung from a bar. She looked across at Applejacks cell and saw the same things. She opened hers up; it was filled with raw oats.

“Humph, the nerve, treating us like common animals.” Her stomach growled, and she could feel her dry, parched throat. Without her magic, she would have to make due the old fashion way “At least there are no witnesses to undignify myself around.” She steadied herself and dug in to get a mouth full of oats.

Her mind raced with thoughts of her friends, of Applejack, trying desperately to keep them positive. The thoughts of what they could be doing to her scared her and the thought that she was going to be next. “Oh, Princess Celestia, help us.”