Celestial Lance

  Several weeks had passed, and they bore no signs of Invader activity. An uneasy peace settled on the ponies of Under-Canterlot.

 The techponies, however, busied themselves with launch preparations. Rarity’s carrier CLOP had been finished, and sent through the underground tunnels. It now resided in the massive hangar, and techponies buzzed around it, ensuring that the Forge had built it properly.

 Pinkie and Dash had watched from a distance, marveling at the gigantic carrier.

 “The only thing bigger than that is my ego,” Dash boasted. “I mean seriously. That thing could fit all the Lances in this hangar and still have room for more. Rarity really outdid herself this time.”

 “She did! I can’t wait to throw a ‘Grand Launch’ party! Or something like that.” Pinkie sighed. “Actually, I haven’t really been feeling the whole party thing. Ever since we left Ponyville…”

 “I know whatcha mean. It’s been weird, living in this place. No open air, all you got for a sky is a dirty metal ceiling…” Dash thumped Pinkie on the back. “But it still could be worse. Remember, always think on the bright side. If you don’t, who will?” She looked back at the carrier. “Still, I am looking forward to getting on that thing and going through the Rift. To see the sky again, feel the air between my wings. Bask in the sun and moonlight… It’ll be great fun.”

 Pinkie nodded, staring at the massive CLOP that dominated the hangar. A sinking feeling ate at her chest every time she came down to look at it.  It was like a warning from her Pinkie Sense times a thousand. Maybe it was wrong, maybe they’d succeed in their mission.

 Then again, maybe it was a fool’s errand. She hoped it wasn’t so, with all of her soul.

***

 Twilight’s gaze swept across the 3D rendition of the Rift. It was an uneven thing, angular and like a puzzle piece. In its centre was a cylindrical opening that seemed to be their best option for entry. She frowned, and zoomed in on the Rift. Lightning crackled between the “walls” of the central cylinder.

 Jotting this down, Twilight wondered briefly if the lightning would affect the hull of the Harmony any. She doubted it, since CLOP metal plating was more than lightning proof. Whatever the Rift dealt out, she had no worries about damage being dealt to the Harmony.

 “Oh, Twili-i-i-ght, I was wondering something…”

 Twilight looked up to see Rarity leaning on the other side of the holotable with a smirk on her face.

“I caught you when you were… how do the foals put it these days? ‘Zoned out’.”

 “What do you want, Rarity? I’m very busy here. We have to launch the Harmony tomorrow. I have to do calculations on the Rift speeds and structural integrity. Can it wait?”

 “No, it cannot. I just got word that you’re not taking me, the designer. What kind of silly things are going through your head?”

 Twilight blinked. “That’s wrong. I never said that. In fact I specifically told them to tell you to pack your bags.”

 “They had recordings of you saying that I was not fit to be aboard and even worse, that I was a diva of the worst extremes.” Rarity’s voice was ice cold, and the look she was giving Twilight was just as frigid.

 She sighed. “Look, Rarity, I’ve been under a lot of stress lately. Ever since Celestia and Luna gave to reins to us technocrats, I’ve been the leader here, and a good one. Sometimes I say things I don’t mean. I want you aboard the Harmony, heck, I need you aboard it. You’re… eh, you’re a surprisingly good engineer. I’m extending my hoof here – come on and join the crew.”

 “Very well, I accept.” Rarity spun to leave, but Twilight’s voice cut the silence again.

 “Do you forgive me for the things I said in that recording?”

 Rarity turned to look back at Twilight. “No… not yet.”

 She sauntered out of the CIC, leaving Twilight behind. Twilight blinked a few times, feeling the hot sting of tears in her eyes. She sighed, and turned away, facing the wall of monitors. It wouldn’t do to let emotion get the better of her. Launch was in twelve hours.

***

 “Spinning, spinning, spinning, spinniiiiiiiiiiiing!”

 Rainbow Dash felt sick just looking at Pinkie spinning down the hallway in an appropriated office chair. It bounced from wall to wall, sending the chair spinning even faster with every bounce. Dash flew ahead of it, ensuring that it wouldn’t bounce into a pony and cause harm.

 “Would you just get off that thing and follow me?” Dash asked. “The launch is in half-an-hour! We’re already late, the other pilots have already boarded.”

 The chair crashed to the floor, and Pinkie rolled out of it, landing neatly on her hooves. “Don’t you mean CLOPerators? I thought we decided to call them that from now on.”

 “Yeah, exactly. CLOPerators.” Dash tried to stop it, but she couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Let’s hurry, Pinkie!”

 She flew down the hallway at breakneck speed, barely more than a blur. Pinkie bounced after her, leaving the chair behind. She couldn’t hope to match the sheer speed of Rainbow Dash, but she made up for it with aplomb. Her bounds ate up ground quickly, letting her almost catch up to the quick pegasus.

 Within only a few minutes, they had navigated the maze of Under-Canterlot’s corridors and entered the long line to get into the massive carrier, dubbed the Harmony by the government. Neither pony particularly liked that name, and they had lobbied numerous times to change it. Their pleas had fallen on silent ears, however, and the name stayed.

 “Oh, geez,” Dash muttered.

 There was a long line of ponies waiting to embark on the Harmony, extending from one end of the hangar to their side.

 “Screw this!” Dash looked down at Pinkie. “Grab on, we’re not waiting. We’re gonna bust through this crowd. Pilots like us don’t need to wait around!”

 Pinkie hopped up and Dash grabbed hold of her hooves. Flapping her wings at a quick beat, Dash slowly started flying over the crowd. The extra weight of Pinkie was making her sink, so she was constantly adjusting her height to compensate.

 Ponies below them began to notice the pair. Grumbles and jeers were heard, and a few ponies threw some random items at them.

 “Where do they keep this stuff?” Dash asked, dodging an egg. “Half of them don’t even have luggage.” An apple core found its way home, striking Dash in the head. “Ow! Watch it, jerk.”

 Despite Pinkie’s weight, it didn’t take long for Dash to reach the other side of the hangar where the entry to the Harmony was. Dropping Pinkie in front of a passenger, Dash floated down, arms crossed.

 “Sorry about cutting, partner, but we’re in a hurry. Two CLOP pilots, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie are the names!”

 “Yeah, I see,” said the stallion in charge, unamused at the cut. “You do realise you were supposed to be here an hour ago, right?”

 “You can’t rush greatness, y’know.” Dash scoffed. “Look, just sign us in and let us board.”

 With an exaggerated sigh, the stallion marked something on his clipboard and waved them aboard.

 “See what a bit of passion and initiative will do?” Dash asked. “Remember that, Pinks. When you see the opportunity, take initiative! Seize it! Carpe diem, as the ponies of Roam would say!”

 Pinkie nodded. Dash had taken to random bouts of speechifying recently. It was always an interesting speech, but sometimes Pinkie found them tiresome. Dash had also tried to get Pinkie in on the speech action, but she was reticent for once. She felt it was Dash’s thing, to do a speech. It was Pinkie’s thing to throw parties and fight.

 “Let’s get to a good seat and watch this baby take off,” Dash said.

 Pinkie nodded again. Sounded like a plan to her.

***

 “Launch in T-minus five minutes,” Spike reported.

 Twilight turned to see Rarity and Time Turner huddled together, discussing something.

 “Are we about ready for launch?” Twilight asked.

 “I believe so,” Rarity said.

 “Atomic drive at maximum speed,” Time Turner added. “Within a few minutes the engines will be hot enough to fire.”

 “Good.” Twilight nodded, and faced the wall of monitors. Tapping a button on the console in front of it, she began to speak. “Attention, crew of the Harmony. We will be launching in –” Glance over at Spike; four fingers held up – “four minutes. Please make appropriate adjustments.”

 Tapping a button, she switched a monitor to the view of the Rift. It hung in the sky, a glowing testament to the Invaders’ power. The rotating cylinder in the centre would soon be their target.

 “T-minus three minutes.” Spike’s voice snapped Twilight out of her reverie.

 “I hope this works,” Rarity muttered.

 “Oh don’t worry your pretty little head,” Time Turner replied. “All the tests I’ve run have shown that not only will we survive the blast off, but there’s a good chance we won’t explode upon entry to the Rift!”

 Rarity’s eyes widened and she slowly turned her head to face the stallion.

 “I’m joking, dear,” he said with a wink. “Nothing bad will happen. At least, I don’t think it will.”

 “I hope so. If we die, my ghost will make sure your ghost is haunted for the rest of his life!”

 “How horrifying.”

 “T-minus ninety seconds.”

 Twilight gripped the rail with her front hooves and closed her eyes.

I’m not wrong, am I? This will work! We’ll blast off into the sky, through the Rift… and to another world.

 “T-minus sixty seconds.”

 She took in a deep breath, and let it out again after holding it a bit. We will persevere. We will win this war. Everything I’ve sacrificed won’t have be in vain. Everything Celestiasacrificed won’t be in vain.

 “T-minus thirty seconds.”

 Twilight gripped harder. She let out a shuddering breath. This will work.

 “T-minus ten… nine… eight…”

 Rarity sighed. “It’s time.”

 “Six…”

 “Don’t worry, honey, I’ll catch you if you fall.”

 “Four…”

 “Oh, Luna preserve me.”

 “Two…

 “One…

 “Ignition.”

 With very little sound, the engines kicked in. The Harmony began to drift upwards, slowly at first. As the engines revved and gained more power, its ascent hastened. Within under a minute, it cleared the hangar and entered the open air of Equestria.

 It blazed towards the gaping Rift, ready to pierce the heavens. As the bow began to pass through the Rift, arcs of lightning began to travel down the hull. The shielding managed to deflect them, sending them crackling harmlessly away.

 More and more lightning struck the ship as it entered the Rift. The shielding around the Harmony was now visible with the naked eye, a green glow that clung tightly to the ship like plastic wrap. Then, with a sudden jerk, the back half of the ship was pulled into the Rift.

 The ship shuddered as the Rift devoured it. Twilight pitched forward, almost flying over the railing and into the holotable.

 Then everything stopped.

 “Status report!” she snapped.

 “We’ve made it through… Instruments are unclear,” Spike reported. “We’re in some kind of tundra and… and there are multiple hostiles!”

Twilight’s eyes widened. “It can’t be… They were waiting for us.”

***

“Multiple hostiles detected!” Spike’s voice echoed through the ship. “All pilots report to their ships.”

 Dash shot up out of her chair, almost tumbling over herself. “Let’s hit the road, Pinks! Time to show these guys what ponies are made of!”

 She went off like a bullet out of the observation room, leaving Pinkie to stumble after her.

 Luckily, signs to the hangar were clear, and the two soon made their way there.

 “Looks like you two are the first to arrive,” said the cigar-chomping mechanic. “No time to suit up! Get in those CLOPs and protect the Harmony.”

 The two pilots nodded, and scampered off to their respective machines.

 “Good luck,” he muttered. “You’ll need it.

***

 “Shields are weak from the passage,” Time Turner shouted. “It won’t take long for them to break through!”

 Twilight hung her head, eyes wide. “How could I have been so wrong?” Blinking, she snapped her head up. “Spike! How many pilots have we scrambled?”

 “So far just two. Pinkie and Rainbow Dash.”

 “That’s it?” Twilight was shrieking at the top of her lungs, a regular banshee. “We need more! Two ponies against an entire fleet?”

“No sweat, Twi. Leave the easy stuff to us, okay?” Rainbow Dash’s voice was oddly soothing, calming Twilight down a little. “There’s no way I’ll let them do so much as scratch this baby.”

 “I hope so,” she said. “We can’t build another, not without…”

***

 A pink and a blue CLOP shot out of the hangar, facing the onslaught of enemy machines.

 “There’s so many,” Pinkie said. Her heart was beating fast. She gulped, eyes flying over the massive amount of platforms that faced them.

 “Don’t worry about it! We’re Pinks and Dashie! We’ve brushed our teeth with bozos like these. It’s time to show them what ponies are made of!”

 Enemy mechs began to swarm towards them. Unlike the ones that had plagued the surface of Equestria for months, these seemed to be mass produced models – each had the same four limbed, single trunk structure as the basic CLOP. They were more angular than an Equestrian mech, like boxes stacked on top of each other.

 Dash pulled out her blaster pistol, and began to shoot wildly into the crowd of enemies. Explosions began to dot the horizon.

 “Come on, Pinkie! Don’t hold back!”

 Pinkie nodded, and pulled up her lance. “I’ll throw them a party they won’t forget!”

 The lance began to shoot out streams of energy, striking the still faraway mechas. The detonations of atomic cores began to blossom, sometimes even taking out nearby machines. These chain reactions were Pinkie’s favourite thing about using her lance. Two for the price of one.

 The enemy mechs weren’t getting any closer – those that tried to were soon blown away by either Dash or Pinkie.

 Finally, a voice cut through the confused chatter. “What the hell are you morons doing? There’s just two furbags! How hard is it to kill two grotting furbags?!”

 “Get a load of this guy,” Dash said. “What’s wrong, pallie? Upset that we broke your mans?”

 A mech, much larger than the mass produced models Dash and Pinkie had been destroying made its way to the frontlines. “I am Perplex the Indestructible, third of the Eight Champions! I came here on orders from the Four Generals to destroy you! But it seems you’re quite the clever furbags.”

 Perplex’s mech resembled a praying mantis combined with the standard enemy CLOP design – stock trunk, but mantis-like arms, bug legs, and mantis head. It shot towards them. “Fear my mandibles of death! Many like you have tried to break free, but all have failed!”

 “Good, now I know what to avoid,” Dash quipped, juking out of the way of Perplex. The mantis-mech almost crashed into the Harmony, braking at the last second. Spinning on its bug-like legs, the angry Invader let out a yell of rage and rocketed towards her again.

 Dash fired her pistol, but Perplex brought up his left arm. The bolt struck, and instead of causing damage, it simply melted into the metal, causing it to glow.

 “What? My blast did nothing!”

 “Such is the power of the Mantis’ Prayer! Energy bolts are simply absorbed into its power source, allowing me to do this!” He swiped the air with the arm, and a red whip snapped into existence, wrapping itself around Dash’s pistol arm.

*** 

 “Energy weapons are useless against the Mantis’ Prayer…” Time Turner trailed off, tapping a hoof to his chin. “The only thing that would affect it is projectile weapons, of which the Harmony lacks except for missiles.”

 “We can’t launch missiles, though,” Rarity pointed out. “He’s drawing Rainbow Dash ever closer by the moment. We risk the chance of hitting her.”

 “The only thing I can figure is some sort of high-power rifle…”

 Rarity’s eyes widened at that, mind flashing to her room. “I know just the thing! But there’s one problem – it’s too small for a CLOP to use, and there’s nopony that I know of capable of using it with their bare hooves or even in a magic field.”

 “I don’t think that’ll be a problem fer me,” came a voice from behind Rarity.

 She turned and let out a gasp. “I didn’t realise you had… You signed up for this fool’s errand too.”

 “We c’n have a reunion later, Rarity. Right now I just need that gun.”

Rarity nodded, and rushed out of the CIC.

***

 “Soon you will be in the range of my mandibles and your life force will be drained!” Perplex let out a laugh.

 Pinkie hovered nearby, frozen in indecision. If what Perplex said was true, and there was no way to damage him with energy weapons, her lance was useless. And since it was her only melee weapon aside from her fists – and against a target like that, what good would those do? – she was effectively out of the fight.

 “Don’t worry your poofy little head,” Dash gasped. “I’ll be outta this mess faster than you can say my name three times fast! Maybe not you but… Gah!”

 The whip closed tighter around Dash’s CLOP. “No talking, furbag! Once I’m done with her, you’re next, pink one!”

 Pinkie’s hand squeezed the lance tightly. There was nothing she could do. Nothing she could do at all.

 The door opened, and the earth pony stepped out into the flight deck. Duster blowing in the wind, the pony rushed to set up the giant anti-material rifle Rarity had built.

 In the skies above, Dash was struggling in vain to break free of the whip. Red energy crackled with every motion she made, scorching the blue paintjob.

 The setup complete, the pony laid down to scope in on the target. Aiming for where the energy whip coiled around Dash’s body, the pony laid a hoof on the trigger.

 “Rainbow Dash… quit movin’, will ya? Some things just need to be done, ya hear?”

 “Wh- hey, I thought you were dead–”

 “Funny thing ’bout bein’ dead. It gets awful borin’ around the third hour. Now jus’ hush up and let me finish my job.”

 The pony squeezed the trigger.

 The energy whip detonated, fizzing out of existence. Dash’s CLOP spun away from the Mantis’ Prayer like a top, finally stopping about a mile away from the other mech.

 “What? Nothing can break my whip!” Perplex examined his now-sparking arm.

 Whipping the gun to aim at the distracted mech, the pony squeezed off several more rounds, ejecting the large casings with each squeeze of the trigger. Tiny detonations blossomed on the Mantis’ Prayer, all in the same place – the joint of the left arm. As the final shot struck home, the joint collapsed, the arm falling uselessly to the ground far below.

 “Impossible! That arm was made of teranium! Nothing should be able to damage it!”

 “Look out, pal, I’m about to damage it more!”

 Rainbow Dash flew in, armblades extended. With a quick swipe, she severed the other arm. With both arms useless, sparking stubs, Perplex began to retreat, slowly drifting back towards the mass of Invaders.

 “Retreat!” he called out. “We vastly underestimated you ponies. But next time you won’t be so lucky!”

“Yeah, that’s what they all say when we whup their butts,” Dash said. The satisfaction was practically dripping from her voice.

 “Now then,” she continued. “I think I’ve got somepony down there to talk to…”

***

 Rainbow Dash slid out of the cockpit, wings flapping to keep her airborne as she sought her target: a pony clad in a duster and matching cowboy hat. Flying over, she crossed her arms.

 “So, it is you.” She landed in front of the pony, immediately following up with a punch that sent the pony sprawling.

 Hatless, Applejack stood up and spat some blood onto the grating below. “Well… I do think I deserved that.”

 “So, Perplex the Invincible wasn’t so invincible after all,” said Mundus slowly. “He failed to destroy the enemy carrier, and when defeated withdrew entirely.”

 Kyrie batted a stuffed animal as she lounged in her couch. “What a shame. We almost had them. Such a pity we’ll have to get rid of him. I always thought he was a cute little thing.”

 Fletch sighed. “Then there will only be seven Champions, one of whom has already lost to the ponies. How will we justify such a thing to the populace?”

 Terinth let out a squawk, hopping down from Fletch’s shoulders, and hopped over to Kyrie’s couch. “It’s quite simple,” he said, speaking in the royal tongue for once. “While Senric only failed us by not killing two ponies, Perplex failed entirely in his mission, running the face of danger. Such a thing is unforgivable and can only be solved in one way. A certain ritual that will rid us of him.”

 The scrape of a sword on marble alerted the generals to the Emperor’s awakening.

 “This course of action is wise to take, but remember one thing. There is no immediate danger from the ponies. It will take them months to find and reach the capital. They will pass many bases. The seven remaining Champions are hereby free to take whatever action they desire against the ponies. If they fail, it is up to you four personally to destroy them.”

 Kyrie cackled. “No worries, Emperor. If the Champions fail, we will not. Of this you have my word.”

 “And your word I will hold you to,” the Emperor said, returning his sword to his lap, signaling the end of the conversation.

 The fox smiled, though the look in her eyes revealed its falsehood. She hoped deep down it wouldn’t come to that. Certainly the ponies wouldn’t be able to defeat the other Champions as easily as they had Perplex.

 They would fail, and she would be their downfall.

 The smile came to her eyes, and she bared her fangs. Yes, her schemes alone would end the ponies.