New Beginnings

Emerald led the group to the Gate while talking with Miles.

"So, last you were home was Amy still stalking Sonic?" She inquired.

"By the Walkers, yes." Miles replied with a facepalm. "All the evidence in the world pointing to the fact that he just wasn't interested, and she just ignored it."

"Honestly, I think that whole wishing on the ring and getting aged up thing did WAY more harm than good."

Miles grunted in agreement. "About the only upside of not finding Mobius is not having her trashing my fucking lab again." He groused.

"Amen to that. I wound up using a few wards that launched her into a wall and sticking her to it for her to get the point across that I was beyond tired of when I was eventually able to get home." Emerald said as they reached the DHD.

"Care to do the honors?" Jack asked.

"Are you certain this is wise, Ms Gear?" Celestia asked.

Emerald glanced at the DHD before turning a flat look towards Celestia as she dialed the gate by memory, not even looking at the chevrons as she did so. She was about to push the activation button, when she paused and looked at her marefriend.

"Actually, Twilight, why don't you do the honors?" Emerald asked.

"Me? But why?" Twilight asked as she slowly approached the now glowing pedestal.

"Because, you only get to see the Gate open for the first time once. You also only get to activate the Gate for the first time once. I figured you would enjoy the experience." Emerald replied with a shrug.

"Well, whoever is doing it, any time would be nice. The MALP is ready." Jack said loudly from where he stood next to the tracked probe.

Emerald nodded to Twilight who took a deep breath and pressed the large, glowing button on the center of the DHD.

She jumped slightly as the Gate let out a large mechanical sound as the wormhole established with its usual 'Whoosh!' before settling into the rippling puddle.

"Woowie! That is cool!" Came a sudden shout that surprised everyone as they turned to see Pinkie skipping towards the event horizon.

"Pinkie! No!" Emerald shouted as she tackled her before she could reach it.

"Awww, I wanted to go say hi!" Pinkie pouted.

"Maybe later. But right now there is a layer of titanium less than a thirty-secondth of an inch from the event horizon on the other side of that wormhole. You go through right now, you're a bug on a windshield." Emerald explained.

Pinkie gulped. "Ummm, that would be bad, right?" She asked with a nervous laugh.

"Yes. It would mean that you would be very, very dead." Emerald replied. "Certainly a curiosity for the techs that would be examining what I am sure would be residue filled with glitter and sprinkles, but a tragedy all the same." She finished as she helped the other mare to her feet.

"Okie doki loki. So who are your new slash old friends?" She asked.

Emerald shook her head and introduced SG-1 to their resident trickster.

"I see what you meant." Sam said quietly to Twilight after Pinkie pulled a tray of cupcakes out of her mane.

"Your sanity isn't worth it Major Carter." Twilight replied as she bit into her cupcake.

Sam nodded sagely as she bit into hers and found that it was her favorite flavor. She shook her head to abandon the rabbit hole she was about to go down with that realization.

Emerald joined Jack at the MALP, standing just out of frame as he talked with the SGC.

"Colonel O'Neill, you weren't due to check in until tomorrow." Came the voice of General Hammond, making Emerald get misty eyed hearing the man's voice again.

"Well Sir, we met the locals, and it turns out that we stumbled onto the fourth race from the council we learned about on Ernest Littlefield's planet." Jack said.

"That sounds like good news Colonel. Will they be able to help us against the Goa'uld?" Hammond asked, causing Celestia to scoff quietly.

Jack and Emerald both glared at her.

"In some ways they can, Sir. Their situation is complicated due to the measures that they had to take to hide from the Goa'uld when Ra was still in charge." Jack said. "One of them, well, she has been way more helpful than anyone else we have ever met when it comes to giving us an edge."

"And who would that be?" Hammond asked.

Jack nodded at Emerald who walked into the frame and knelt down to look into the camera.

"Just someone who has done this song and dance before General." She replied.

"How so?" Hammond asked.

Emerald leaned over to Jack. "Has he met Bra'tac?" She whispered, to which Jack nodded, a confused look on his face.

She smiled widely. "It would take some time to tell the tale, Hammond of Texas." She answered with a chuckle.

"Colonel…" Hammond started.

"Sir, she only just asked if you had met Bra'tac. I had no idea she was going to pull that one out." Jack said hastily, glaring at Emerald, who merely smirked.

"General, if myself and a couple of others could come over once I have gotten the Gate secured, we can hammer out any details regarding an alliance." Emerald said.

"How long would you need?" Hammond asked, curiosity in his voice.

"A couple of days. Need time to fabricate mounts for the Gate and get an iris started. I would rather not have a bunch of uninvited guests coming into my basement. We would need to pack and gather whatever records we can find to share. I can also look at what we will need to get you folks a bolt hole if things go south." Emerald said.

"I appreciate that. Forty-eight hours then?" Hammond asked.

"Sounds good Sir. We'll see you then." Emerald replied.

She stepped away as Jack got further orders, walking over to the Princesses.

"Luna, would you mind coming along as the governmental representative? You probably have the freshest memory of what your empire used to be, and I think, probably the coolest head." Emerald asked.

"All they want is cannon fodder against the Goa'uld!" Celestia said hotly. "They could care less about our well-being."

Emerald had reached her limit with the Solar Diarch and backhanded her across the cheek while letting loose the tight hold she held on her magic.

"Listen to me and listen to me well Celestia. The Tau'ri are probably the best chance this galaxy has when it comes to finally being free of the Goa'uld. Yes, aligning ourselves with them is going to put us at risk. But so does having our Gate reconnected to the network thanks to your stunt yesterday forcing me to kill the twisted bastard who was keeping us safe!" Emerald said, her voice having a slight reverb from the power she was giving off. "We stand a better chance at being able to help them. Yes, we are at more of a disadvantage than they are right now, but with their help, we can start to actually rebuild what was lost. Right now, there are people that are suffering under the yoke of a bunch of snakes that have bought into their own propaganda of being gods. We can help them. Earth ponies can help get their farms going again and rebuild cities. Unicorns can help to get their education and governmental systems going. Pegasi can help to stabilize the weather where it has run amok, even for worlds that have never had the level of control that we enjoy here. We can help be the teachers of the galaxy, and in the future, we will be friends with so many people." She finished, before reigning in her power.

Celestia looked at Emerald in shock, but was quiet.

"I think that would be a better use of my time Emerald Gear. No one bothers to show up to my Night Court outside of one or two ponies. While I do enjoy their company, something like this holds a great appeal to me." Luna said.

Emerald chuckled. "You say that now. Wait until you have to deal with the civilian oversight folks. Some are of a good sort, but most are very much going to be angling for more than we can give." She said.

"Understandable. They are coming from a position of strength, while we are not." Luna said.

"Was that really necessary Ms Gear?" Celestia asked quietly.

Emerald leveled a glare that could melt starship battleplate. "Yes it was. You have this animosity towards the Tau'ri that is unwarranted. When your people had to sacrifice their worlds, they were still nomadic hunter-gatherers. You are visiting the sins of the Ancients upon them. I understand the issues that you have with the Ancients, I have my own as well, there were a lot of problems their arrogance caused. But the Tau'ri only look like them. They are not them." She replied.

"Emerald Gear is indeed correct." Teal'c said as he approached the trio. "The Tau'ri, specifically Colonel O'Neill, gave me hope that we could defeat the false gods and free my people, even if it means that I am now shol'va to my people."

Luna and Celestia were confused by the term, so Emerald explained.

"It means 'betrayer'. Until all of the Jaffa are shown that the Goa'uld are false gods, it is his cross to bear." She said. "But, he wears it as a badge of honor, rather than a mark of shame." She finished, placing her hand on Teal'c shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze and a small smile, getting a nod of agreement from the stoic man.

"Who else would be going with you?" Celestia asked.

"If she wants to come, Twilight. She could use some time away." Emerald said as she looked to where Sam, Daniel and Twilight were all talking as Miles looked on.

"She probably will, her curiosity wouldn't let her stay behind." Celestia said with a sigh. "Keep her safe. Please."

Emerald looked at the Princess of the Sun. She could see that, for all of her manipulations and scheming, she really did care for Twilight.

"You have my word." Emerald said. "She will come home safe from this trip."