Charon

Erebus

”What’s happening!?”

“Wind pressure is spiking! What’s causing this!?”

“Are we getting a response from Erebus!?”

“They’re not answering!”

“Retract the sails and raise the tachyon field; we’re jumping now!”

“MHD Generators are failing! We’ll be fried!”

“Three second burst on the port PLTs!”

“Spooling the drive command now.”

“Warp field is ready on your mark!”

“Mark!”

The stars outside the main viewport seemed to briefly move further away, reality seeming to stretch until both the Sun and Equus were visible on the fringes of the viewport. Then they receded once again and the stars ahead began to rapidly close in on them.

“MHD field down! We’re getting radiation!”

“Warp ring’s destabilizing!”

“Bring us out!”

The release of the warp ring’s particles caused a detonation of light and heat, shaking the ship off course and into a perpetual drift. It also had an unwanted side-effect of atomizing a nearby satellite.

For all intents and purposes, it appeared as though they had somehow returned to their destination. Before them was a planet, covered in greens and blues, slowly moving towards the starboard side of the viewport as they drifted.

Suddenly, a beam of light cut through the dust that was formerly a satellite, the light intensifying as the source got closer. Something moved in front of the ship, but the light was too bright to see what it was. The world got brighter and brighter until everything was white, and then

“Yo.”

“Whaa!” Strahlen dove from his seat and onto the floor of the bus, covering his head and earning no small number of strange looks.

“Uh... I was just gonna ask if this seat was taken.”

“So... Bad dream?”

“Yeah.” Strahlen avoided looking at the tuscan red pegasus stallion seated beside him.

“You can, um... go back to sleep if you’re still tired. I heard what happened this morning.”

Strahlen’s ears perked up in interest, then laid flat in distaste. “Who told you about that? You making friends with the guards?”

The pegasus waved his front hooves in panic. “No no no,” he sputtered, “the guy was just wandering around bragging about it earlier!” Embarrassed beyond belief, Strahlen mashed his face into the back of the seat in front of him. “Well hey, at least you won’t have to worry about seeing him again.”

“I hate optimists.”

“Sorry?”

“I said that out loud, didn’t I? No, I’m the one who’s sorry. I haven’t exactly been having a great time lately. I am on this bus, in case you hadn’t noticed.”

“I’m here too, aren’t I?”

Strahlen gave the pegasus a slight smile before turning away to look at the passing ‘scenery’. “That you are.” Ponies on the sidewalk looked up in curiosity at the grey prison bus as it passed, such a sight uncommon in downtown Canterlot. A lot more common was the dirt and garbage littering the streets, and the numerous equally dirty ponies begging on them. Small, run down businesses were few and far between amidst the massive corporate skyscrapers. Such was the modern world, and only one of the princesses was even bothering to try and fix it.

“Thank Sparkle I’m not out there,” the red pegasus mumbled, noticing what his companion was looking at, “literally, I guess.”

Not taking his eyes off the window, Strahlen responded, “That’s one bit of optimism I can actually get behind. We might die soon, but at least we’ll be fed until then. That’s more than can be said of them. Better fast and comfortable than slow and starving.” The rest of the trip was made in silence, the two ponies perhaps wondering what might have been. The tall buildings became steadily smaller as they entered the industrial district, leveling out into sprawling complexes and the occasional smokestack. Not long after, their destination was in sight. “The nuclear power facility?”

“It makes sense.” Strahlen jumped slightly, having forgotten that the other pony was there. “With all the stuff they’re supposedly testing, there’s nowhere better than right beside the largest power source in the entire county.” It was only a few more minutes before they arrived. Though their new home was within the same walled off section as the power plant, there was a separate secondary facility nearby. As the bus pulled up before it, a commotion could be spotted at the doors. The problem became clearer as the prisoners-slash-recruits were shepherded out of the transport. “I'm surprised that the scientists and librarians aren’t getting along better.” This drew a chuckle from a number of the convicts, and some glares from their guards. Even Strahlen smiled a little.

The captain from before — having flown directly to the site, and therefore arrived first — was facing off against an aging unicorn stallion in a labcoat, locked in an intense battle of... wooords. What initially seemed exciting quickly began to drag as the group was forced to wait in place. Things were looking very dark indeed when one of them suggested that they be allowed to return to their seats on the bus, an idea that was quickly shot down. Just when all hope seemed lost, a black car pulled up alongside the bus. While the environmentally friendly buzz of an electric engine gave hints at the occupant, the purple highlights left little doubt. Who ever said that a princess couldn’t travel in style?

Sure enough, the princess herself stepped out of the vehicle and raised an eyebrow at the scene before her. Neither of the two conflicting parties noticed her arrival, with one having his back turned, and the other unable to see around the first. “I was given complete command of this facility by a general of the Equestrian Military!” the scientist was arguing, “You have no authority here, Captain.”

“And what about a princess?” Twilight asked asked she neared them.

The captain immediately faced her and fell into a bow with an embarrassed mumble of, “Your Majesty...”

The scientist also bowed before rising again, earning a harsh glare from the captain. “Princess. I was promised full autonomy as long as I provide weekly reports on my progress. This incursion is in direct violation of—”

Twilight raised a wing, instantly silencing the stallion. “Former General Starfall is on his way now on a separate transport. Unfortunately, we had to keep him separated from the other recruits due to safety issues.” The scientist’s eyes grew steadily wider. “I may be convinced to restore your partial autonomy under the condition that the recruits are treated with respect befitting their position, and are provided any necessities they may require.”

"Uh." Not quite the intelligent response once might expect from a scientist.

Twilight cocked her head to one side in a manner that could only be described as 'adorkable'. Not that any of the ponies present would openly say as much. "Did I stutter?" The normally antagonizing line was presented with a tone indicative of genuine innocent curiosity, as though she actually wondered if she had stuttered.

"N— No, Your Majesty," the stallion stuttered, "I understand completely."

"Wonderful." She turned to leave, looking back only to add, "Give the recruits a tour while my guards are getting settled, will you?" She paused as she was stepping back into her car. "And Captain Stormrunner, I'm leaving you in charge for the foreseeable future. I have a Sun Goddess to deal with, and it may take some time."

Stormrunner looked worried. "Are you expecting a fight?"

"No." Twilight stepped fully into the car. "I intend to start one." The door closed and the vehicle departed with its signature buzz.

"Then may the stars lend you strength."