The Quest Through Time

(A/N: For the beginning part, the song I’m using here is “Forever Fugitives” from Final Fantasy XIII.)

Chapter 5

*It did not take long before the Imperial cruisers were on their tails. “They’re within firing range,” Jazz said tensely.

“I thought you said this ship was fast?” Applejack said.

“Not against an Imperial assault ship!” Marcus almost snapped. Soon the assault ships started firing but thanks to the ship’s size and speed, it was able to dodge most of the attacks.

“We can’t afford to take many hits,” Jazz said. “This ship wasn’t made to withstand a large attack.”

“So what do we do now?” Twilight asked.

“Take the fight to them,” Marcus said smiling. “She may be small but we can certainly give them a bloody nose! Get ready Jazz and hold on tight everypony!” Marcus made a sharp turn to the right, turning the ship around right back towards the ships. He could certainly imagine the fleet commanders would be watching in shock and awe at this daring feat.

Locking on, Jazz pulled the trigger and the cannons on the sides of the ship rang out with a large BOOM as the enemy guns were suddenly taken down, as well part of the one’s bridge and the other’s starboard side. “Now that’s what I’m talking about!” Marcus said.

“One little problem,” Jazz replied. “They’re launching ships now.”

“Damn it,” Marcus groaned. “Okay, now’s the time to get out of here.” Going one-on-one with ships this size would be much more difficult. However, Marcus then got an idea. “Jazz, we still have some of that worthless cargo in the back?”

“Yeah, why?” Jazz asked.

“Let them lock on to us,” Marcus said. “And when I say the word, jettison the cargo.”

Jazz caught on quick. “Aye,” she said. It didn’t take long before one of the enemy ships locked on. “They’re locking on to us with rockets.”

“Perfect,” Marcus said. He waited a few seconds and said, “NOW!” The rocket was fired as soon as the cargo in the back was jettisoned, which was the first thing the rocket hit causing a small explosion and a cloud of smoke. To the enemy, it looked convincing enough as there was debris falling to the ground and soon they broke off, returning to their damaged motherships.

When the debris had been blown up, Marcus quickly landed inside the middle of a forest, finding a clearing big enough. “And that,” Marcus said. “Is how you outsmart the Empire.”

“Will they find us here?” Rarity asked.

“No,” Jazz said, sitting back in her seat. “The ship has a built-in jamming device that jams enemy radar. But, because of where we are, they’ll automatically assume it’s because of the forest being so dense.

“I don’t understand why they came after us in the first place,” Fluttershy said.

“It’s possible you were being followed,” Marcus stated. “Either that, or you’re more of a threat to them than you think you are.”

“But that’s impossible,” Twilight said. “We-” she then stopped, realizing what she was about to explain would most likely sound ludicrous. She then sighed. “We’re not fro around here, this time period I mean.”

Both pilots looked at her strangely. “You’re saying you’re from… another time?” Jazz asked. Twilight nodded.

Marcus laughed. “Man, Basil just knows how to pick ‘em doesn’t he?” He then turned serious. “But if what you say is true, then that means they already knew you’d be here.”

“Well, that’s why we gotta go find Princess Celestia!” Pinkie Pie said.

“If she’s still alive, then perhaps she can explain what’s been going on,” Rainbow said.

“I don’t know…” Marcus looked unsure of himself.

“Hey, I never met the princess personally,” Jazz said. “But she’s one tough mother if you ask me.”

“And yet she’s been missing for how long…” Marcus muttered. “Doesn’t help either when her sister and niece are missing too.”

“You mean… Cadence is missing too?” Twilight asked. She almost completely forgot about her former foalsitter. And now that she thought about it, fifty years later, who else could still be alive now? She would have to wait and find out later.

“It’s very strange,” Jazz said. “They said that Celestia just, ‘disappeared.’ Of course, that would mean that Princess Luna would have succeeded her duties as ruler. But she disappeared too as well as Princess Cadence.”

“In other words, it’s most likely when Ghidious took over the throne he did something with them,” Marcus said.

“Then we should give this Ghidious guy a visit,” Rainbow said, cracking her hooves.

“Pfft. Fat chance,” Marcus said. “You wouldn’t last long storming that castle. Maybe you could somehow avoid the guards, but the Death Squad… well, it’s just suicide.”

“Death Squad…?” Fluttershy asked nervously.

“The creepiest sons of bitches you’ll ever meet,” Jazz said. “I don’t think they’re even of this world to be quite honest. Anyway, they’re Ghidious’ personal guard. They are very skilled at… well you can guess.”

“Killing the Empire’s enemies?” Twilight asked.

“You got it,” Marcus said. “And in Vector, they’re almost everywhere, except you may not notice them. They hide in the shadows very well. In other words, you do not want to meet up with these guys, because you won’t live long enough to do anything else.”

Twilight looked to the others. If what they said was true, Ghidious was no pushover. “So when do we leave?” she asked.

“We should wait til nightfall,” Marcus said. “We won’t be nearly as easy to spot then. For now, you all should get some rest. Jazz and I are going to see how bad the ship’s damaged.”

(A/N: For this next part, the song I’m using here is “The Gestahl Empire” from Final Fantasy VI.)

Once night fell, they started off towards Vector. *“Can you see it up ahead?” Marcus said. “That’s Vector, capital of the Empire.” They could see lights in the distance as well as what seemed to be searchlights. No doubt security was tight here.

“There’s no way we’re getting in there by ship,” Jazz said. “I can have us land just outside the city.”

“Won’t they see the ship though?” Applejack asked.

“We’ll hide it close to the Everfree Forest,” Marcus replied. “None of the soldiers ever go by there anyway. It’s much more dangerous than what it used to be.”

“Everfree Forest…?” Twilight asked. “Wait a minute… that means Ponyville is around here!”

Marcus’ look of confusion was evident. “Maybe they’re not making this all up…” “There… no longer is a Ponyville. What you see now used to be Ponyville.”

“Here?” Rarity asked. All of them almost looked appalled. “What about Canterlot?”

“Canterlot has been a ghost town for years now,” Jazz replied. “Perhaps Ghidious left it as a reminder that the old regime is gone for good.”

“So what are you planning to do once you get there?” Marcus asked.

“There’s apparently a research facility inside and it could be where Princess Celestia may be,” Twilight said.

“The Magitek Research Facility…” Marcus shook his head. “That place creeps me out just as much as the Death Squad. But if you’re certain she’s there then maybe there’s hope after all. Of course, it’s heavily guarded and it’s also where they make their mechs so-”

“We can certainly do some damage then,” Rainbow said, smirking.

Marcus laughed again. “I tell you Jazz, she reminds me of you when you were younger.” Jazz quickly turned red. “Alright, here we are.” The ship landed just outside of the forest. “We’ll be here waiting in case something comes up.”

“Wait,” Jazz said. “I’ll go with them.”

“You sure?” Marcus asked.

“Sure,” Jazz said, smiling. “After all, I was born here you know.”