The Rapture

Bright fluorescent bulbs did nothing to pierce the gloom of a particular buttermilk pegasus as she trudged down the steel hallway. Her hooves clanged against the metal grating below her, adding noise to the hissing and whirring of various pipes and machinery.

"Miss Fluttershy, over here!" a voice called from her right, where an orange earth pony with brown, wild, and extremely greasy hair grinned widely at her.

"Hello, Bronze Gear," Fluttershy said quietly. "The Princesses wish to know why the engines on our port wings are malfunctioning, again."

Bronze Gear chuckled nervously, his smile becoming more forced.

"Just, uh, runnin' some tests, as to make the engines run more efficient!"

Fluttershy sighed, "Gear, why wasn't this done back at Solaris Station?"

Bronze began sweating, shifting back and forth on his hooves.

"Well, see, the idea came to me in a dream, and I-"

"" the intercom chirped, cutting 'shy and Gear's conversation short.

Fluttershy muttered darkly, then, trotting away, called back to Gear," Just get those engines running!"

"Yes'm!" Gear called after her, before turning his attention to a jumble of cords and cables.

"Now, is this wire rose or magenta?"

________________________________________________________

The door hissed open as Fluttershy trotted onto the bridge.

"Status report," the pegasus ordered, a note of cold authority in her warm voice.

"The Blitz has docked, and Brigadier General Dash is making her way to the bridge," responded a panicked unicorn from her station, hooves flying across the interface as an aglow horn manipulated various other panels.

"Of course she is," Fluttershy muttered sourly, before waving a hoof at the unicorn who had spoken," Glow Grass, kindly arrange for our guest to be directed to the meeting room. And tell General Sparkle that her pet pilot should learn better manners."

Fluttershy left the bridge, cursing under her breath before the hiss of pneumatics closed the door behind her.

The dozen or so attendants stared at Grass, waiting for the officer to give further orders.

She sighed.

"Close off strategic blast doors according to protocol 'You One Gee dash Dee'. I'm heading after Lieutenant General Fluttershy," she barked as she got out of her chair, climbing the necessary steps up to the General's Platform. She paused to stare at the General's chair, before shaking her head and continuing through the open door.