The Chapter That Establishes Things
Everypony crowded around the stage as five beautiful mares trotted onto stage along with Mayor Mare who positioned herself behind a podium. She cleared her throat.
"Fillies and gentlecolts! Thank you all for coming out tonight!" She announced. "Before we announce the winner of tonight's "Miss Equestria Pageant" let's get another round of applause for our lovely contestants!"
From all around ponies stomped and cheered for the mares on stage. Each of the contestants basked in the admiration they were receiving. The Mayor signaled the ponies to quiet down.
"Now to announce the winner. In this envelope is name of our winner. Can we get a drumroll, HiHat?" A blue stallion in a black trilby nodded and began to thump on the snare in quick succession.
"The winner of tonight's pageant is..." Mayor Mare began as she opened the envelope. "Rarity!" The rest of HiHat's ensemble chimed in with their respective instruments and began to play celebratory fanfare of the queen. The four other mares applauded disappointedly while a squad of Pegasi showered confetti from over head as an excited white Unicorn approached the podium to accept her prize. As she approached two Pegasus fillies came in and equipped Rarity with a lovely red velvet cape and magnificent silver crown. One final filly, Rarity's sister, approached and presented her sister with a golden scepter. The Mayor moved aside so Rarity may take the mic.
"Oh my goodness!" The excited white mare began "I don't know where to begin! Thank you all so much for your support! I'd first like to thank our benevolent princesses for keeping us safe so we may hold contests such as this! Thank you to mommy and daddy for being so supportive of me. Thank you to all the runners up. Thank you to my Opal wolpal. Thank yo-
"Get on with it, Rarity!" Teased a familiar southern drawl from the crowd.
"Oh, yes I suppose I should wrap it up. There is one pony I would like the thank above all else, and that pony is-"
The stage lights and all the magic lampposts around the square darkened. Ponies in the crowd began to chatter loudly. The Mare regained her place at the podium and announced loudly.
"Everypony settle down! Just a technical difficulty, no need for alarm!" The said. It was no use however. The crowd began to fuss about nervously. The winds picked up and a mare shrieked as a vortex began to form in the sky. Ponies were frozen in fear or bewilderment. A mass began to illuminate from the center then take take shape. Two legs sprouted from the bottom, two arms from the side and a tail from the back. The last extremity to take from was the head, which bore a bulbous round top with two pointy black horns on either side.
The vortex dissipated and in it's wake levitated a sleek black alien that spoke, but never moved it's mouth.
"Inhabitants of Universe 3145, Planet 6. I am Audin, but you may call me the bringer of your demise!" At this ponies began to erupt in nervous chatter. He continued in his booming voice.
"I have scoured the galaxies looking for creatures worthy enough to continue to breathe life. I take a solitary member and run them through a trial. If they pass, then you are spared. However, if they fail then I devour your planet."
Twilight Sparkle had enough of these threats. She flew up toward the invader.
"That's not how it's going to go!" She said. "Either you leave, or I make you leave!" Audin chuckled.
"I enjoy your ferocity, young one, but I require someone with a little more authority and experience to endure my tasks." He said as he scanned the crowd. Twilight flew in front of him.
"I have you know that I am a princess and am more than capable to take any test you throw at me!" She shouted, frustrated and embarrassed. Audin paid her no heed and silently pushed her aside as he continued to scan. His eyes fell upon the stage and the Pony adorning a crown and scepter.
"Ah, you there. Queen. You will do just fine." Rarity froze.
"Pardon, me" She stuttered. "But, I'm no Que-"
"Modesty won't save you your highness. You've been chosen." At that he cast out his hand and engulfed Rarity in a dark purple vortex. In a matter of seconds she was gone. Everypony was in a downright panic now.
"SILENCE." Audin commanded. "I am not finished with you lot! Now watch as your queen fights for your survival!" Audin extended his arm and from it emerged a large magic screen. Audin smiled. "Let the games begin." He vanished much in the way that he'd arrived. In a dark purple vortex.
Twilight stood slack-jawed. The rest of her friends ran up beside her.
"So let me git this straight. Rarity is supposed to save our entire race from destruction!?" AppleJack asked as she watched as the vortex disappeared.
"Yep." Twilight said.
"So we're bucked, right?" Aj said.
Twilight sighed. "Yep."
Everypony looked up to the screen as it began to produce a picture.
Rarity.
Nothing. She felt herself floating in an endless pool of nothing. As she looked around she saw nothing, heard nothing, smell nothing. it was simply nothing. Audin appeared in front of her and spoke.
"Your highness, you have been chosen to partake in a test that will determine the fate of your entire planet. I will explain the rules only once so listen to the well." Rarity tried to object but she could not speak. She worked her mouth and tried to form words, but they never came. "In a matter of moments you will be taken to a place not known by anyone else from your universe. There you will find various objects scattered about that will help you on your mission. Your objective is simple: Survive. I will provide you with adequate supplies." Audin snapped his fingers and Rarity's Queen outfit disappeared and in its place popped a pair of saddle bags.
"I bid you good luck, and may the odds forever be in your favor." and in another flash Rarity was gone.
The Test.
Rarity emerged a moment later. She landed swiftly on her hooves and screamed.
"YOU RUFFIAN YOU BRING ME BACK HOME THIS INSTANT! I AM NO QUEEN, although I admire your assumption, BUT THAT IS BESIDES THE POINT! I am a FASHION DESIGNER! Not some over muscled farm mare!"
_________________
Across the space time continuum a crowd of ponies watched Rarity throw a fit on the large screen in town square.
"If we make it out of this, I'll make her pay for that 'farm mare' comment" AppleJack said.
_________________
Realizing that she wasn't going to get her way. Rarity huffed and began to take in he surroundings. Lush green jungle made a wall around the large clearing where she stood. Tall palm trees made a row in front of a quaint pond that lay in front of a large building complex. She slid off her saddlebags and peered inside to see what she had. She eyed a canteen, rope, a first aid kit and a few granola bars. She spotted a note in on the bottom and she pulled it out to read aloud.
"Survive the horrors of this jungle for three days and make it to the docks at the northern most point of this island." At the 'horror' part of the letter she looked up nervously at the jungles around her. She could her the sounds of birds singing and the sounds of jungle bugs as they hummed in the afternoon heat. The spooky feel finally got the better of Rarity, so she trotted briskly to the entrance of the lodge. She climbed the stairs and quickly came to the door. She saw a sign to her right.
Welcome to Jurassic Park.
