Author's Note
I just wanted to get a start on this. :)
A New World
A field of green painted the horizons. Tall grass waved in the slightest breeze, animating the land so that all was not still. Strange, exotic plants and flowers did the same, bringing color and variety to an otherwise constant state. Strange trees decorated the area, standing tall in the land, declaring themselves greater than the flowers. Creatures, both big and small, moved about the place, feeding on grass and plant. A hunter nearby - a giant insect, catches pray and stings it, dragging it back to it's hive. Other animals are wary, but the loss is shrugged off and forgotten by all.
Nature; undisturbed, unordered, unmarred.
Then, something in the sky. Something small. Almost insignificant. But it grew - it grew some more, before finally becoming large, and landing upon the earth. A maw began to screech and hiss open, before slamming onto the ground.
And then, a four-legged, lavender creature stepped from it; adorned in a dark blue coat with arcane markings on the tails, wearing a necklace that had a six-pointed star hanging from it, a blue mane with stripes of purple and magenta, purple eyes, and a horn, as well as a pair of purple wings at her sides.
"Wow.... this is.... this is just so beautiful..." she said with a tear in her eye.
"Yup! I reckon' it's ripe fer a little colonization!" said another voice; an orange creature, much like the other but lacking the horn and sporting a blonde mane in a ponytail stepped out. She wore a stetson hat with a red bandana around her neck, a green dress-shirt with a black vest, and no pants to speak of; upon her flank was three apple. "We just gotta be careful about any bigguns that might pop up! Of course, that's where you an' Fluttershy come in ain't it Twilight?"
"Oh, please don't hurt any critters..." a yellow creature, lacking the horn but sporting a pair of feathered wings, approached. She wore a coat much like Twilight, save that it was white with a pink butterfly motif on the shoulders, and sported a strange pair of square devices on her back. Her face was hidden by a long, curled pink mane. "They're just doing all they know how to..."
"Well, we might have to, Fluttershy..." said Twilight with a grimace. "There are giant wasps here with carnivorous diets that eat things bigger than us. Unless you can talk them down, it'll be kind of out of our hooves."
Fluttershy sighed. "Oh, I know that sometimes we have to do what we have to do, but please don't hurt anything unless we absolutely have no choice?"
"No can do, Flutters!" A blur of color past the others, stopping mid-air, flapping a pair of wings, sporting a multi-colored mane and wearing a beige beige explorer's type suit with a pair of goggles over her eyes. "I'm here to find some treasure, and treasure is almost always guarded by something scary!"
"Rainbow Dash!" Twilight shifted to face her airborn friend, staring daggers at her. "You know that monsters don't always guard temples. So don't let Fluttershy ever hear of you ever doing any harm to any animals, no matter how important it might be to some sort of mission!" Twilight winked at Rainbow Dash a few times; her eyes luckily out of Fluttershy's view.
"Huh. Might wanna get your eye checked Twilight. Anyway, I'm off! I'll see you girls later when I come back with super awesome treasure!" Rainbow Dash bolted away before anypony could get another word in. Twilight sighed and put a hoof upon her forehead. "This is going to be so frustrating." She turned her attention to her friends. "Anyway, where are the others? Once we get them out here we can begin the work."
"Hold on" said Applejack, who turned about. "EVERYPONY! GIT OUT HERE!" Within seconds, a few more ponies stepped out; a pink pony sporting a baby blue mech suit with a balloon motif on it, a white horned creature with a long purple mane wearing a dress with blue diamonds lining the edges, a small purple dragon wearing a pair of goggles and a dress shirt, and a large, red stallion sporting a yoke, a dress shirt, a waistcoat and a tool belt filled with various odds and ends tools.
"Sorry, I just had to make sure I was wearing my best sun-dress for this occa-" the white pony stopped herself, quirking a brow. "... I... I thought we were going to land in a city?"
"Nnnooo..." Twilight quirked a brow. "When you asked me earlier, Rarity, I made a point of telling you we weren't going to be in a city. We're building a settlement, not building onto one that already exists..."
Rarity huffed. "What!? You mean I got all prettied up for nothing!?"
"No for nothing!" shouted the pink pony. "We all think you're adorale, and I bet Big Mac and Spike do too!"
"She sure does..." said the purple dragon with a dreamy expression. The large red stallion's eyes darted back and forth as several expectant eyes stared at him. So, he began to whistle and grab several bits of wood and a bucket of nails and pretend he hadn't heard a word of what any of them had said.
"Well..." said Applejack with a sigh. "I guess me n' Big Mac'll get started on buildin' the housin'. Y'all follow Rainbow Dash's cue and go on about yer various duties."
Pinkie jumped up and down. "Oh! Oh! I'm going to throw up some vending machines filled with tasty sodas and treats, and adventurers will see them and say 'Hey! I'm thirsty and/or hungry! I could use some of that!' and they'll drink it and be all 'WOOSH' and then run faster and probably get killed by horrible monsters but at least they'll have had a tasty snack first!"
Applejack stared at Pinkie. "Uhh... Pinks, jus' help us out here, alright?"
"Okie dokie lokie!"
Rarity sniffed. "Well, while you all do that I guess I'll head to the nearest town and see if anypony can make use of my services... somepony certainly needs a good tailor with a strong sense of taste." She grinned, looking to Twilight. "I dare say I hope you're enjoying your new robes, Twilight?"
Twilight smiled and nodded. "Oh yes! They're quite practical!" Rarity's smile seemed to fade a bit for a second before shrugging it off. "Of course... practical. Anyway, I shall be going now! Don't anypony go getting eaten while I'm away!" Rarity turned about and began to trot away, following a digital map to her destination. The remaining ponies sighed and exchanged glances.
"Well" said Twilight with a sigh, "Fluttershy and I should probably head out and get to doing research. Will you four be alright staying here?"
"What!?" said Spike, startling Big Mac and making him slam the hammer into his own hoof. The stallion reeled back, tears in his eyes, biting his lip. "I thought I was going to go with you to do research!?"
"Sorry Spike" said Twilight with an apologetic smile. "This could be dangerous, and I don't think I could live with myself if I let something happen to you. I think you should stay here with Applejack and Pinkie where it's safest." The small dragon hanged his head and closed his eyes, urging Twilight forward, putting a hoof on his chin and pushing up so he was looking up at her. "Tell you what... why don't you go follow Rarity? If you hurry you should catch up to her, and I bet she could use an assistant in town!" Spike smiled big, and jumped forward, wrapping Twilight into a big hug. The mare giggled and patted his back. "Alright then, you be good Spike, and listen to Rarity and behave for me, alright?"
"Of course!" said Spike, saluting. With that, the little dragon took off in the direction Rarity had headed. "Hey! Rarity! Wait up for me!"
Twilight smiled and shook her head, turning back around to see her friends smiling at her, and shifting her attention to Fluttershy. "Well, Fluttershy, we ready to go do some research?"
"Oh yes" said Fluttershy with a nod. "I'm ready whenever you are!"
"Good!" Twilight nodded and turned to the remaining three ponies. "We should be back in no time. Remember to contact us if anything happens. We'll drop everything and make our way straight for you."
"Oh don't worry yourself none" said Applejack with a grin. "I think Big Mac, Pinkie n' me can take care of ourselves!"
"And I" said Twilight. "You meant 'Pinkie and I', not-"
"Twi, git yer flank outta here" said Applejack with a bemused look on her face. Twilight bit her lip and nodded, turning about.
"Well, let's go Fluttershy!" With that, she began to trot the other direction from where Rarity had headed, and the butter yellow pegasus was quick to follow her.
Exploring with Rainbow Dash
Rainbow Dash feared nothing.
For so long she had dreamed of a life of adventure and exploration. For so long she had imagined herself as somepony who went into dangerous places, did dangerous things, met dangerous creatures. She was not somepony who would be content to live a peaceful, safe existence; she wanted to be a pony they sung of in legends. She would pursue that dream, and she would achieve it, or die trying.
Hopefully with not so much dying.
As she soared about with nary a care in the world, she let her eyes take it all in; the forest was perhaps easiest to see, trees that resembled massive flowers more than actual trees beneath her, mountains in the distance before her. Looking back, she could see her group's ship, and a distance away, faintly make out a small town. She turned forward and smiled; she was an explorer. She saw the world in ways others did not. She enjoyed it for it's vastness and potential.
She was at one with the universe.
For all of ten minutes before getting hit by a hover-taxi.
"Hey! Watch where yer goin' ya crazy bird!" shouted a voice that seemed to fade quickly as it moved away and as Dash plummeted to the ground. Then, everything went black.
******
Consciousness slowly returned to Rainbow Dash. The world began to come to her in small sensations; wind against her fur, the sounds of animals. Slowly, she opened her eyes and groaned, feeling a sharp pain in her side. She rolled in favor of that side and stretched her wing out to find it busted. She let out another, louder groan and shook her head. "Dangit... grounded..." She flopped her head into the dirt below her and stared into the distance. She hated being unable to fly; it was like torture. All that freedom she had mere moments ago? Gone with but the blink of an eye... and a taxi driver who clearly did not keep his eyes on the skies. Still, she couldn't lay an mope forever; eventually she'd need to move.
Slowly, Rainbow Dash peeled herself from the ground and looked to her wing. She moved it about a little; it stung, but it didn't feel broken; maybe a bruised bone? Either way, it wouldn't carry her. Rainbow Dash let out a dejected sigh and pulled from her saddlebag a small syringe. Closing her eyes, she jammed it into the wing and pressed. The injury began to fade, ever so slightly. Throwing the spent needle aside, she stretched the wing out and moved it a bit; it was still tender, but now at least she could stand on two legs if she needed to fight. "Well" she said with a sigh, "Guess I better make my way back to the ship and get some first aid... now to head.... uh..."
Dash looked around a second. "Was it... that way...? No... I think it was... this...? No, that's not...." The pegasus stared into nothing for the longest time before stomping a hoof. "Pinfeathers! I'm lost!" Once more, she flopped uselessly onto the dirty ground to mope about the situation.
"Today is totally not cool."
A beeping sound caught Rainbow's attention. She brought up her hoof, which had a communicator attached to it (as well as another wrist device just below it), and pushed a button. "Yeah? What is it?"
"Hey Rainbow. You been quiet a few minutes, an' we figured by now you'd be gettin' chased around by a bear or somethin'! Everythin' alright?"
"Yeah" said the pegasus mare with a groan. "I just hurt my wing is all. Gonna have to hoof it back."
"I see" said Applejack, with a short pause. "Well, Twilight n' Fluttershy already took off to do sciency stuff, an' Rarity went into town, so we're kinda short on healers at the moment. You gonna be okay out there by yourself?"
"Yeah!" Rainbow grinned, rubbing a hoof to her chest. "I'm Rainbow Freaking Dash, and don't you cupcakes forget it!" Applejack laughed on her end of the com.
"Right then. Take it easy Rainbow and give us a shout if you need anything! We'll be there quicker n' Big Mac can down scrumpy!" There was a short pause. "What? It ain't a secret! We see you take swigs everytime you're about to talk to a mare! Applejack out." The connection cut, Rainbow sighed, and looked up to the sky. Well, if she was going to have to trek back, she might as well keep her eyes open for something to do.
And so, she walked. Yes, walking; the lazy Pegasus' flying. Or non pegasai - poor bastards. Yes, this walking was amazing it was! It was thrilling and invigorating in it's own way! Why, she might take up walking in place of flying for a change of pace - that was what Rainbow did, right? Changed pace? After a few minutes, she realized she was kidding herself and in dire need of something to remind her she was not temporarily grounded. She decided now was as good a time as any to make a map, and so, she pulled out her map making equipment and... draw a line. Okay, this seriously wasn't helping! Rainbow Dash was losing her patience, and she was losing it fast!
And that is when she noticed a particularly juicy looking hilltop.
On any other day, she'd fly to the top and land to get a good view, but in her current condition, climbing was the only option. Maybe she could stake claim? Oh yes, she was on this! Rainbow Dash immediately began to make her way towards the hill, until reaching it's base. She set upon looking it over, for anything that stuck out, and she found it in the form of a bunch of rocks that stuck from the walls. "Jackpot" she said with a grin, and jumped onto the first rock.
She moved from stone to stone; at one point using a branch that inexplicably stuck from the stoney surface to ascend, and nearly falling a few times, until she reached a point that seemed to form an actual path. From here, she walked in an ascending spiral; a wide one. It took her more time than she'd really like to considered before she finally reached the top.
It was odd; in the center there was a massive, perfectly round metallic structure covered in vines and plantlife that had taken it in, with two giant eye-like holes, and a tree growing out of it's head. "Huh" she said with a smirk. "Twilight'd flip her lid if she saw this." Rainbow Dash was quick to call on assistance, and within seconds, a pod slammed into the dirt before her, and from it rose a satellite dish.
"This one is ours now!" She said with a grin and a flap of her wings, wincing as her injured wing reminded her she was not at 100%. She turned around and trotted towards the dome, placing a hoof on top of it and pulling herself up to the tree. Deciding she earned herself a nap, Rainbow Dash leaned against the tree and yawned, shutting her eyes.
And then a loud humming noise was heard, and the holes began to glow.
The ground exploded into a mass of dirt and grass, and a horde of mechanical spiders poured from the hole, spilling down the hillside and circling the dome. Some stopped and looked to Rainbow Dash, and soon they began to rush her.
"Oh shoot!"
The Pegasus jumped from her perch and held out her wings; careful not to strain them, she let herself glide down, getting a good distance from the hill, before gracefully slamming into the ground and tumbling a few feet. She lifted herself up and shook her head, trying to regain her senses, and turned to see several of the little mechanical monstrosities making their way towards her. Rainbow Dash then put one hoof before the other and ran as quick as she could.
"Rainbow! Twilight! Come in, we got some trouble!"
"I'll say!" shouted Rainbow Dash. "I'm being attacked by a hundred little robot things!"
"What!?" shouted Twilight on another line. "Uh... er... girls, I think... oh shoot! It's going to blow! If I don't make it out, tell my brother-" suddenly, her link cut. In the distance, Rainbow heard a loud explosion and saw a cloud of dust and smoke rise into the sky.
"Twilight!?" she shouted, but got no response.
"Twilight!?"
"Sorry!" There was static, but it was Twilight's voice. "I managed to avoid that one! Everypony, meet back at the camp!"
TO BE CONTINUED...
