Flight of The Avali: Season One

“You… don’t know what we eat?” Rainbow Dash questioned.

“Of course. I can tell from your digestive tracts and oral structure that you’re all omnivorous… but, I’m asking what you individually eat.” Einuli said. “Tis why I brought us here. Fresh produce that you all can pick and choose.” He motioned for them to follow, the group doing so as he lead them to the edge of the farm. They noticed mushrooms growing along the fence and just on the other side, near the gate was a giant grouping of fungus.

“What’s that? And why is it growing near th- AH IT JUST MOVED!” Sweetie screeched, hiding behind Applejack.

“Ah, right. It’s a living fungal organism.” Einuli explained. “And it SHOULD be keeping it’s growth to the OTHER side of the fence.” He reached down and picked one of the mushrooms, throwing it at the fungal colony. It twitched and the mushrooms began to retreat. “If you’re hungry, I’ll grow more things on the other side. These plants are for our consumption, not yours.” He scolded.

“I remember you telling me about that the first time we met!” Twilight said, “Does it have a name?”

“Oh! It’s actually a modified colony Shehal,” He said. “It tends to keep weeds down, helps some of the plants grow a lot better, allowing for several harvests a solar month. That in combination with the enhanced soils I use… well, you can imagine it ups efficency, and lowers the time spent harvesting and tending to crops.”

“S… several harvests?” Applejack muttered, staring wide-eyed at his farm.

“Yes!”

“Otherwise they’d just be eating nutrient paste.”

“And that stuff tastes horrible… and I’ve had to eat old UECM rations when I got stuck on a prison colony during a solar storm… those tasted like a five star meal compared to the paste…” He nearly gagged. “I’m glad we were able to get this started up.”

“I… Uuh…”

“Sorry… It takes a lot to produce the specific nutriets required… and most of them come from the fungal colonies that are grown on board the ship. The soil is required to be refereshed every 30 solar cycles.” Einuli shook his head. “Like I told Starlight about the generator… it’d just impractical to make a second one, and… it’s already hard enough to power it, it’s likewise hard to create the soil.”

“I thought you were a doctor.” Dash said. “Not a uuh… plant science thingy.”

“Biologist, Dash.” Twilight corrected.

“Thanks Twi, you’re right… Nerd.” Dash laughed.

“Hmph.”

“Well, I’m… one of the only two who has a care for science… Oloxoc. Is the other. So, we’re technically the scientists on board. I focus on more naturalistic sciences… Medicine, Biology, Xeno Cryptology, Marine Biology… Botany, Herbology…” Einuli began to list of his various knowledge bases.

“Wh…”

“Um, during my free time I connect to the Illuminate AI systems… it allows me to access knowledge and information the Avali have gathered. I don’t claim to be masterful in anything other than Medicine. As that’s what I tend to practice. But, when I don’t have patients… or am not researching other species… I do other things.” Einuli explained. “It keeps me entertained and allows me to relieve stress.”

“Well… Um…” Twilight began.

“Would yah… mind…”

“Later, right now, I’m guessing all of us… except for those three, might need some sleep.” Einuli sighed. “And some food.”

The eight mares nodded, while the other three (the CMC) were exploring the farm.

“Hm… since it appeares they’ll be exploring a bit…” He walked over to a console and typed some things in. “Alright! They can’t access any of the vital systems… or anything dangerous.”

“Like what?”

“Medical bay, armory, forge, engine rooms, electrical rooms, and the cockpit.” He said. “I’ve also asked Femanti to keep an eye on them. Make sure they don’t hurt themselves… or somehow break the dome… or fuck with the weather. I don’t want anyone or anything dying in here.”

The aforementioned Femanti teleported up. The ‘female’ floran was armored up, though she had no weapons. “Sssup!” She waved.

“That is Femanti. One of the two people in the crew with military training of any regard. Though, we can all fight effectively thanks to them training us.” He introduce her.

“Ssso who am I watching? And why?” Femanti asked.

“Those three.” He motioned to the three mares poking and prodding the sentient fungal colony.

“Will… that thing eat them?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“No. It doesn’t eat any forms of meat… sticking completely to plant life. Except Florans. Anything on this farm…”

“Has been made with me in mind.” Femanti said, walking over to the three mares, hauling two of them off in moments. The two being plopped on their asses. “Alright, lisssten up. I’m here to make ssssure you three…” She hauled Scootaloo off the fungus too, setting her down beside her friends. “Don’t get into any trouble. You will lisssten to me. Do you underssstand?”

“Yes ma’am!” The three mares saluted.

“Well, Femanti should have them under control!” Einuli teleported the other with him to his tree house.

“Doubt she’ll be able to handle them…” Rarity muttered quietly.

“She managed to shunt an overrun prison down. Getting the prisoners to surrender with little fight.” Einuli said. “I’m sure she’ll be able to handle those three.”

“Well… if you’re so sure…” Dash said.

“So, this is your home?” Fluttershy asked, finally speaking up.

“Yes! This is where I’ve been living when I’m not down on planets.” He nodded. “Um… Here just give me a minute and I can get some extra beds set up.”

“Oh, you don’t need to go through that much effor Darl-” Rarity cut herself off as Einuli whipped out his Matter Manipulator, and quickly began to tear down the furniture in the room.

None of them had seen it in action before, and it was… well to say the least magical. No magic could compare to what they were watching, things were vanishing quickly and he was even faster to replace it with comfortable looking beds.

“Wow… I… wow…” Twilight muttered.

“What… other things do you have?” Dash asked.

“W… where are those things going?” Derpy asked.

“Does… that affect living things too?” Starlight asked.

“Yes, to storage, it’s wirelessly connected to the storage system in the ship, and no it would only just feel like a light tickling.” Einuli turned and pointed it at Starlight, who received the very feeling he said it would cause. “No threat to anyone. It needs a solid foundation to place anything down, and it works in cubic meters for placing walling and floors.” He said. “Just… if any of you were wondering.”

“Do… you have a second one of those things?”

“No. And… to be honest. I don’t know how it really works… I got it from a human I met…” Einuli trailed off for a moment. “That’s a story for a different time though.” He looked to everyone and smiled. “All of these beds could… well be considered luxurious, so feel free to take any of them.” He chirped. Each of the girls ran to a bed and plopped down on them, the durasteel frames not even budging. Well, all of them except for Twilight.

“Before I sleep… could, I actually talk to you… Privately?” She asked.

“Oh! Sure. Um… all of you are free to go look in the kitchen. I’ve set the console in it to use Engli- Equish…” He had to correct himself. “So you can call in anything you need, so long as I have it. Um, the counter, stove, and the nano-oven. Work just like any of your appliances would. At least I’d hope. But, the chance of burning is relatively low, unless your forcefully put something back it.”

By now, only really Derpy, Starlight, and Rarity were still awake. Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash having simply passed out.

“Alright, though I believe all of us are just going to get a bit of rest… We need it after everything that’s happened.” Rarity smiled.

Einuli nodded and smiled back, leading Twilight off to his room so they could speak.

Now, unlike the beds that were out there, Einuli’s was suspended from the ceiling in what could be called a basket. Though, it was surprisingly even bigger than the ones out there.

“Huh…” Twilight muttered.

“What?” Einuli asked, jumping onto his bed and rolling around in the already messed up covers. The sight of him flailing and rolling about was enough to make her flop down on it too.

“Just wondering why you have such a big bed.” Twilight sighed, relaxing into the actually comfortable mattress.

“Oh, it was a gift… I didn’t want to just waste it, and I honestly liked having something that…” He put his hand against the wall and shoved off, the bed swinging a little with the force, causing Twilight to both squeal and laugh.

“Don’t do that!” She said half-heartedly, as she was already grinning. “And besides… that wasn’t near enough force…” She magically forced it to swing from side to side, tossing them both into the center, Twilight right on top of Einuli. “Are you okay?” She asked quickly, thinking she may of hurt him in the impact.

“I’m fine! Don’t worry about me, you way nothing compared to some things I’ve been hit with… namely Pinkie. And a steel wall.” Einuli assured, hugging her. “So, what did you want to talk about?”

“Luna.” Twilight sighed. Einuli’s face immediately fell.

“Why.”

“Because, I want you to talk to her.” Twilight stated.

“About what? Accusing me of wanting to kill? Or, invading my home? If I had done that to any of you, wouldn’t I have ended up in a cell for the rest of my life? Who would have cared? I’m not from your planet…” Einuli muttered.

“I don’t want you to forgive her. That’s not my decision. But I do want her to apologize. You may not want to but… I’d li-”

“Stop. I won’t speak to her. I outright refuse to. I have nothing to say to her. I’d feel the same if any of you had done it too.” Einuli said, pushing Twilight away.

“I’m not going to pretend to know how this feels. Having your private sanctum invaded by somepony you thought you could trust… having your life snooped into in the name of ‘safety’ when you stated outright, you’d die to protect us… for nothing more than being friendly to you.” Twilight began. “It’s just… I know Luna… or at least thought I did. And if some of what I still know is true… then, the worst thing you can do right now, wouldn’t be ignoring her. It’d be to confront her. Make her feel more shameful for not trusting you.”

“Don’t lie to me.” Einuli said quietly.

“Please… go down, and at least let her apologize. What you do beyond that… it’s your choice.” Twilight said. “She’s suffering too. And… I doubt, she’d ever do this again.”

Einuli muttered quietly before sighing, “Fine. I’ll give her one chance to prove she’s sorry. Though… don’t expect I’ll let her or Celestia back up here.” He stated. “I… don’t trust them.”

“Thank you.” Twilight hugged him, only to have him sit up. “What are you doing?”

“Getting it over with. Where is she?” Einuli glanced back to Twilight.

“The last I heard Derpy had taken her in… I stopped really caring in my own… fit of anger.” Twilight mumbled.

The two were instantly teleported down to the surface, just outside of Twilight’s castle.

“Let’s go find her then.” Einuli stood up, helping Twilight to her feet as well.