Forever Strong

Applejack thought hard about Minevera's words. She was still hiding something, but still sincere. There was neither malice nor ill-intent.

The Captain was telling the truth.

Still, something did not sit right with Applejack about those four. It felt like they really did not belong here. Not just Ponyville and Equestria, but the whole world. Like their existence was a lie unto itself. She made a mental note to tell Twilight to keep an eye on them.

“Well here we are,” she stated to the group.

Minevera, Danny, Violeta, and Tthass stood in awe of the large structure. They didn't have long though as their guide went inside.

“Twi? Twi, you home? Spike?” Applejack hollered down the main hall. The sound of falling books and an unceremonious “oof” from a room told her “yes”. “Figures,” she rolled her eyes before entering. “You alright in there?”

A small purple and green reptile crawled its way out from a mess of books. “I'll live. Not like it'll be the last time I'll have a shelf-full of books fall on me,” he said while brushing himself off. “Twilight's out at the moment. What brings you here this late, Applejack?”

“Ah was hoping to ask her if these four could stay here for the night,” she gestured to the three ponies and dragon right behind her. “Found them passin' through the farm earlier this evenin' and they say they're from out of town.”

Spike studied the group before his eyes took notice of the only dragon among them. “Wow, it's not often you see another dragon among ponies.”

Tthass asked, “Why? Is there a problem with that?”

“Not really. Both tend to keep to themselves,” Spike shrugged. “Plus there's the occasional rampage a dragon can cause, be it from migration to somepony stealing from their hoard. I take it you grew-up around ponies like I did?”

Before Tthass could answer that question someone called-out from the main hallway, “Spike, I'm back.”

Spike perked, “Twilight, in here!”

The purple alicorn entered the room. Glancing around she spotted her friend, "Oh hey, Applejack. I wasn't expecting you to be here. What's up?"

"Oh not much, sugarcube. These kind folk here were looking for a place to spend the night," she gestured to the three ponies and dragon.

Minevera stepped forward, "My name is MacDougal, and they are Doctor Fonder, Violeta, and Tthass. It's a pleasure to meet you Miss...?" she trailed-off, unsure how to properly address Twilight.

"Twilight Sparkle: Princess of Friendship, but just 'Twilight' is fine."

"I know it isn't much, but it should be comfortable for the four of you," Spike showed the team to a vacant guest room.

To say it was comfortable would be an understatement. There was a bed against the far end of the room large enough for them to rest on. A little ways beside it sat a window with a couch beneath, decorated with four throw pillows. Each of them were embroidered with the Equestrian Flag. By the entrance was a small table with various flora.

"The bathroom is just down the hall here in case nature calls. Are you alright with this, MacDougal?" Twilight asked.

Minevera nodded, "This will do fine. Thank you very much for your hospitality, Princess Twilight."

“You don't have to say 'Princess', just 'Twilight' is fine,” she waved a hoof.

“Alright then, Twilight. It would be best if we retired for the evening.”

“I'll leave you to it then. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day for both of us.”

Minevera had briefly mentioned that she and her crew were in the middle of an investigation to Twilight. Was she doing the same thing? “Pardon?”

“Oh, err... It's nothing you need to worry about. Well goodnight,” Twilight politely said as she and Spike left the away team in the guest room.

Further down the hall she met back up with Applejack and asked, “So, what do you need to tell me?”

Applejack went into detail about meeting them back at her family's farm, including the dinner conversation they had, and what Minevera had said to her on the way to Twilight's home. “Ah just don't like it, sugarcube. Mah gut is just yellin' at me sayin' they ain't from 'round here. And Ah mean the whole world,” she explained.

Twilight sighed, “You know you're suggesting that they might be aliens, right?” She got a nod from her friend before continuing. “I know if you said this to just about anypony else they'd call you crazy without giving it a second thought. I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt here and keep an eye on them alright?”

Captain Minevera MacDougal was seated on the bridge of the Acca Larentia. Her hand tapping away idly on a control panel built into the Captain's Chair. Pausing for a moment she focused more closely on her surroundings. Not a single console, wall panel, or chair was out of place. There was one thing that was missing from her surroundings though.

The bridge did not have any crew.

She got up from her chair, “Computer, locate Commander Christopherse.”

The computer did not respond, nor did it acknowledge her command.

Minevera stepped to the helm control and tried inputting commands into the interface. She could not get a response from it either, not even the harsh error beep.

“Okay, relax,” she said to herself. “Think carefully: I was in the middle of patrolling the B'Tran Cluster... This is a dream.”

“Very astute for somepony, or rather someone, to figure it out so quickly,” a regal voice spoke from behind Minevera.

Her blood running cold, the Captain turned around to face a dark blue alicorn before her with a flowing ethereal, starry mane.

“Do not worry yourself as your secret is safe with me, Captain Minevera MacDougal,” the mare spoke.

Hesitating, Minevera asked, “Who are you?”

“I am Princess Luna: Diarch of the Night of Equestira, but you may call me Luna if you so desire. We have much to discuss.”