Star Wars: Galaxy of Disharmony

Ponyville Observatory; 8:10 am

How long she had sat in the same spot against the door, Lyra could not tell. With nothing happening since she had run from the alien beings, her adrenaline had faded and she had calmed down. With the outside world having gone quiet, Lyra carefully turned and raised herself up to peek out the small window in the door. To her fortune, the aliens were not standing outside waiting for her.

Outside, she only found the same damaged land directly in front of the observatory and the front end, or what she assumed was the front end, of the other object off to the side. The aliens were still nowhere in sight. She slumped down and set her back to the door again, still unable to muster the courage to move from her spot.

“Okay Lyra,” she said, desperate to hear words of comfort and break the uneasy silence that had fallen. “You’re fine and safe. Those things aren’t out there so this is your chance.”

She tried to move but only ducked her head between her legs and placed her hands on her head. “My chance? Chance to do what? What if those things are just hiding and waiting for me to come out?”

She sat up and slapped herself across the face as hard as she could. “Get a hold of yourself! What if they aren’t? What if they’re just as scared or hurt? They fell out of the sky so who knows?”

She sat up again and peered out the window, seeing the same scene as before. Whether out of fear or curiosity, or a mix of both, she did want to know what was going on now with what had happened. She sat down, sitting upright, and took several deep breaths. “Alright then.”

She carefully turned and opened the door, peering out to see if the aliens were waiting right outside for her. With none in sight, she opened the door further and slowly moved out. As she began to crawl out, she moved slower than she had ever moved before. Her heart began to pound, shaking her whole chest with the beating ringing in her ears. She wished the pounding would quiet down, fearing that even the slightest noise would cause the aliens to leap out from hidden spaces.

Slowly and cautiously, she crawled towards the edge of the gash that the first wreck had torn in the ground. She managed to get about a meter away from the door when she looked over at the other object. Something prodded her from within to investigate. She sat in place for a few seconds, weighing the chances of what she may find were she to give in to such curiosity.

Fear, or perhaps better judgement, held her in place while curiosity pushed her to look. Finally, curiosity won out and she shifted towards the object. She moved from a crawl to a crouch as her mind soared at what she could find within. As she moved towards the back, she braced for whatever she would find.

The object was larger than she had originally estimated, now that she had an opportunity to examine it closer. Its rounded body was about as tall as pony and a half and as long as three. Lyra peeked around to find a small opening and peered inside. To her relief, it was empty and dark within. The only light was from what shined in from the sun, but it was enough to leave her gasping at what she found.

The space was smaller than the object’s overall size and the sight of a door at the far end indicated a second space. There were seats along the sides for approximately six to eight with a few cabinets built in above the seats. Though the rest of the space was sparse, Lyra was still in awe.

She looked around at the back end of the object to see a few cone shaped pieces positioned at almost corner spots, each pointed back and at a slight angle outward. She walked around the object until she reached the front to see a large window with a metal frame of sorts embedded into it. A look inside revealed two more seats and some sort of panel with numerous buttons and switches. Numerous questions abounded in Lyra’s mind.

What was this thing? Who and what were the aliens? Where did they come from? Why were they here? Where were they now?

Lyra grabbed her head and tried to sooth the headache that was rising from so much stimuli all at once and the numerous questions that each new thing brought. But one question recalled her fear. Where were the aliens now?

She looked out to Ponyville. Smoke still rose from the town, though in smaller plumes than before. A tinge of fear spiked through her mind that felt like a sharp snap of pain had just shot through her head. She took a few steps towards town and quickly sped up to a full run.

“Please be okay. Please be okay,” she repeated as she inwardly pleaded that whatever reaction she had was simply an overreaction due to high adrenaline. In truth, she had no proof that the aliens were dangerous. But she really had been more to react in flight rather than fight. Uncontrolled fear always made things scarier than they really were. Though it was occasionally right.

But even as Lyra closed in on Ponyville, curiosity continued to practically dominate her mind. Guarding one of east roads into town was a small group of six members of the Royal Guard. Each was fully outfitted with full armor and spears in hand and had erected a roadblock along the road. Was it really so dangerous that the Royal Guard was needed to keep watch over the town?

Worry arose as the guards moved to stop her. “I’m sorry ma’am, but this area is currently under lockdown for a training exercise.”

“Training exercise?” Lyra nearly screamed in disbelief at the cover-up story. “You mean the bucking aliens who fell out of the sky?”

The guards stared in shock, likely not having expected others to know about the incident yet. They were about to reply when Lyra continued. “My name is Lyra Heartstrings and I’m a resident of Ponyville.” She took a short breath to calm herself. “Look, I saw some of those…things crash up near the observatory. I saw the aliens so I know all about this. I just want to see if my friends and home are okay. Please?”

The guards looked at each other and then to one guard who Lyra assumed was the ranking guard of the group. He sighed. “Alright fine. Hurry straight home. Do not divert and do not speak a word of this to any pony until the matter is resolved. Like we said. The town is currently under lockdown.”

They stepped aside to allow her in, their body language telling her to hurry before they change their minds. “Thank you,” she said as she entered.

Lyra hurried past the roadblock and started wandering through the streets of town. Everything was eerily quiet with no pony out, likely moved indoors per the lockdown and away from the aliens. The presence of more guards patrolling caused Lyra to begin moving as stealthily as she could to avoid any more issues regarding the lockdown. She needed to know what was going on and wanted to know more about the aliens. She would not let even the Royal Guard stop her.

As she wandered through the town, the eerie silence weighed upon her. The streets were sparse and all but empty, save for the guards who kept watch or made patrols. Even the lack of any kind of damage or other wreckage, which she assumed was around somewhere, was unsettling. Where was the wreckage? Where were the aliens? Was the cover-up really so extensive that it was all whisked away so quickly?

Finally, she arrived at Bon Bon’s home, or what was left of it. The roof of the two story home had been damaged somehow, leaving the top level inaccessible. The rest of the home was in at least living condition. But the damage was odd as it appeared to have been struck by a wrecking ball or something. Lyra followed the line of damage and felt her jaw drop at what lay along the street ahead.

Her eyes followed a path of destruction which passed through the ruins of a building and beyond. She was barely able to make out the features of some object in the distance past the rubble of the destroyed building which only kept her jaw to the ground and had her eyes practically bulging out of their sockets. What she saw was a piece that looked very similar to the wreckage lying in the gash in front of the observatory, though this one was in some kind of better state.

The sound of a door opening to her right caused her to jump and squeal. She turned to see Bon Bon in the doorway, her body displaying shock and relief at the sight of her friend. “Lyra?” The earth pony grabbed her in a short hug and dragged her inside. “Quickly, inside.”

Bon Bon slammed the door behind them and locked it, still shaken and scared from whatever had happened here. She sat pressed against the door for a second before finally pulling away as if she had been waiting for something to happen and was sure that it had not. The home was is relatively good condition, though the upper level still had pieces of debris scattered about with a beam blocking one room upstairs.

Lyra looked back at Bon Bon who was now almost enraged. “What were you doing outside and where were you?” Bon Bon said, taking a step forward and causing Lyra to step back. “You had me worried.”

“I’m sorry Bon Bon,” Lyra said apologetically, putting her hands up, palms out. “I was at the observatory last night doing a bit of stargazing when I finally saw something in the early morning.” She relaxed from her defensive stance, becoming more excitable. “It was the aliens, I know it.”

“And you didn’t tell anyone about it? You didn’t warn us before they started falling out of the sky?” Bon Bon nearly yelled, throwing her arms to her side with her hands balled into fists.

Lyra retracted her excited state and returned to defending herself. “What would I have said? Would any pony have taken me seriously if I did say anything?” She put her hands on Bon Bon’s shoulders to calm her. “All of this would still have happened.”

“I…” Bon Bon gave a sigh, slumped her shoulders and looked down. “You’re right. And now I feel bad about everything I’ve said to you about all this alien stuff. Just look at things now.”

“Hey,” Lyra said, holding her friend tighter. “It’s okay. We’re all okay now, right?”

Bon Bon looked up, giving a small hint of a smile. “Yeah. I guess we are.” She looked down again, smile fading. “For now.”

“Hey, it’s alright. Look, I’ll tell you what happened to me and you tell me what happened here, okay? We’ll start there.”

“Sure.”

For the next few minutes, the two mares discussed all of the happenings up to the calm. Bon Bon had been in her house when something struck the roof and had been fortunate enough to avoid harm, having already taken cover after an initial sound just before. She had watched out the window as something surrounded in flames had torn a path through the town, sparking fire. She had watched ponies scramble and the Royal Guard arrive out of nowhere. After that, she had simply hidden away even after the Guard began ensuring all ponies were inside.

After Lyra told her side, up until she had arrived at Bon Bon’s house, she walked over to the window and looked out again at the path of destruction out front. “Where are the aliens now?”

“What?” Bon Bon exclaimed, shock in her voice as she was already guessing what Lyra was thinking. “No Lyra! We need to just stay inside until this is over and everything is safe.”

Lyra spun around to face her friend. “But Bon Bon, think about it. Everything I hoped for and watched for is finally here. Real aliens.”

Bon Bon’s disproval was almost screamed in her body language. “You just said you were nearly pissing yourself when you first saw them, and now you going to go find them? What is wrong with you?”

“Look, I was scared. Things falling out of the sky and strange beings walking out of them. But still-”

“Still nothing,” Bon Bon cut her off and began flailing her arms slightly. “We don’t know anything about them. What if they decide to start…I don’t know…attacking us or something?

“We don’t know that for sure.” Lyra grabbed Bon Bon by the shoulders again. “This is why I want to go find them. Find out who they are and why they’re here. Come on now.”

Bon Bon sighed, finally giving in to her friend’s insanity. “Look, I don’t really know. I’ve been inside the whole time. But think I saw some of the guards heading towards the south side of town. Maybe the hospital. Those things did fall from the sky so they could be hurt.” She looked down and gave a scoffing giggle. “Listen to me. I sound as crazy as you.”

“No, it’s okay.” Lyra hugged Bon Bon. “Thanks for this.” She pulled back, still holding Bon Bon’s shoulders. “Look, I’ll make sure to stay safe, okay?”

“You better stay safe.”

Lyra released her friend and went to the door, cracking it open and peering around for any aliens or guards. With the coast clear she looked back and smiled at Bon Bon before stepping out and closing the door behind her. She looked towards the south and started towards the hospital, making sure to keep hidden from guards. She needed to see the aliens and could not afford to get caught out during a lockdown.

She took two steps forward when her curiosity grabbed her again. She looked back over towards the path of destruction and past the destroyed building. She ran towards the rubble and ducked behind pieces of stone and wood as she worked around to see what had caused the damage. Her head practically spun as she kept a close watch out for any guards or even aliens. Finally, she had a clearer view of the object.

Just passed a destroyed fountain was a strange white and red box shaped object with what appeared to be a wing on one side, with the other side showing damage. She instantly recognized the look and color of some of the parts as similar to whatever had blown itself apart back at the observatory. Standing guard around it were four of the aliens in full stark white armor. Curious as to why the aliens were guarding the object rather than Royal Guard but not wanting to incite trouble by approaching, Lyra reluctantly moved on towards the hospital.

As she made her way to the hospital, Lyra continued to duck behind and weave through cover to avoid the guard patrols. Finally, the hospital was in sight. And so was a small group of aliens gathered to one side in front of the building. They appeared less on guard than the ones at the strange object, gathered in a group and appearing to mingle with each other. A few even had their helmets removed, revealing odd hairless faces with short or shaved manes. Shocking was that each face appeared to be very similar, if not the same.

Lyra was about to approach the aliens but stopped after taking a look near the hospital entrance. Standing guard were four more Royal Guard members, each an earth pony and nearly twice her size. No way to investigate the aliens with them nearby. She glanced about the windows. She needed a more private setting. But how to get inside?

Her mind worked out multiple ideas from sneaking in a back or side entrance to trying to slip in a window. She thought of crazy ideas like trying to convince them she was a doctor, given that she still had her lab coat on, or trying to convince them she was injured and needed to be admitted. But instead of a daring or spy-like idea, she went with an idea that must have been crazier.

She ran forward.

The guards instantly took notice and stood to stop her. “Hold it! What are you doing out?” one called.

Lyra was hardly thinking, simply running on instinct by now. “Bon Bon? Have you seen my friend? I can’t find her anywhere!”

The guard who had called to her grabbed her and held her as she struggled in vain to get inside. “Now, now. Hold on there. What’s wrong? Who’s Bon Bon?”

Lyra stopped her struggling and looked at the guard, trying to look as worried as she could. Easy considering she had been worried and scared since all of this had started. “My friend. I can’t find her anywhere. I…I just want to know she’s okay. Please!”

The guard pushed her away gently and tried to console her, yet still keeping himself between her and the hospital. “We can try to see if your friend is inside but you need to go home. It’s not safe outside right now.”

Lyra made herself look as innocent as possible, holding her hands close to her chest and looking down. “Can I…go inside? Just for a minute. If she’s here, I want to know she’s okay. Let her know I’m okay. Please?”

The guard put a hand to his face and sighed, clearly annoyed and wanting this over. “Fine. But you stay with me at all times. Then go straight home when we find your friend.”

“Thank you,” Lyra said, perking up and feeling relieved.

The other three guards were told to remain at their post while Lyra followed the other guard inside. A glance to the aliens showed them staring in the direction of the ponies, interested but remaining still. As Lyra and the guard entered, she found herself asking herself what the next step of her insane idea was.

Lyra and the guard wandered through a few rooms where some pony patients were being held. She indicated that none were Bon Bon but kept to her story of wanting to find her. Another room and the guard was now fully annoyed. He led her towards a reception desk, likely to inquire about her friend. Panic rose in Lyra.

Not wanting to be found out, she slipped into a hall the first chance she got. She heard a shout a second or two later at her disappearance and she hid in the first room she found. She ducked down and to the side of the door as she heard hoofsteps pass by. The door opened, fortunately keeping her behind it, and a doctor looked in. With her not in sight, he left.

Lyra waited a little longer as the sound of hooves moved down the hall before standing. She looked around the room to find a single bed and the patient lying asleep on top. One of the aliens.

Shock and excitement, along with fear of being caught, froze her in place. She looked over the strange being who was bare skinned and whose mane had been all but shaved from the top of the head. Muscular features and the general build of the body had her assume the alien was male. Strange though was that he featured the same face as those she had seen outside.

Several bandages and other medical wrappings covered his body, some already soaked with red blood, and some bruises marked some areas not covered. Lyra wondered about the armor the aliens wore and found his set to the side of the bed in a small pile with the helmet on top. The T-shaped slit of the helmet stared straight at her.

She took a step forward to investigate the strange armor when an odd beeping sound came from the pile of protective gear. She froze and looked at the alien who remained motionless. The beeping continued and Lyra stepped forward, curious. On a piece that appeared to be for the arm, she found a small green light blinking. Still curious, she reached out and tapped the blinking piece.

Fear shot through her and she stumbled backward as a voice came from the armor piece. It was clearly alien as the voice and language was anything but recognizable. Lyra wondered how an object was capable of speaking like that. What kind of magic did these aliens possess to make objects talk?

“Hello?” she said, nearly slapping herself at the stupidity of talking to an object.

The object responded, sounding slightly angry, but still Lyra could not understand. She tried speaking again.

“My name is Lyra. Who are you?” Idiot. she thought. You’re talking to-

“Hello?” the object said, this time in the pony language and in a voice she actually recognized.

“Twilight? Princess Twilight Sparkle?”

This was absurdity. First an inanimate object makes noise and speaks and now it sounds like Princess Twilight? Although, she should not be surprised by all that had happened so far. But how was all of this possible? Could they…

Lyra picked up the armor piece, hardly realizing she was now shouting. “What have you done to the princess? Let her go!”

“Lyra, it’s okay,” the object said, still in Twilight’s voice. “I’m fine. But I need you to do something for me. Please find one of the Royal Guards and give him the device. I need to speak with them right away. Can you do that for me?”

Lyra hesitated. “Why me?”

“There’s no time to explain. Please, just find a guard.”

As if called by the object, a guard opened the door. “There you are.”

Lyra backed up, tripping on the corner of the bed and falling into the pile of armor. She waved her hands about in a reactive manner to stop the guard. “Wait, wait, wait!” She picked up the armor piece. “You need to listen to this! It’s Princess Twilight!”

“Sure,” the guard said. “Now put that down. You are going-”

The guard was cut off as the object spoke again. “Do not harm her!”

The guard hit the wall as he jumped back. “Princess?”

Lyra slowly stood and handed the guard the armor piece. He looked it over in awed fear and curiosity as Twilight began to speak about meeting the aliens and some agreement they had come to regarding the injured. As she spoke, Lyra noticed the alien on the bed groan and begin to toss, likely disturbed by the momentary commotion.

“I can explain further but I must go for now,” the object in Twilight’s voice finally said and then went silent.

The guard looked over the object again and handed it back to Lyra who returned it to the pile of armor. “Well,” he said, mostly to himself, “it sounded like the Princess.” He looked to Lyra. “Look. Whatever is going on right now, I need you to keep quiet about this. I’ll let the Princess sort things out later. For now, you need to go home. I’ll be taking you there.”

Lyra looked at the alien on the bed then back at the guard. She hung her head and sighed in defeat. “Fine.”

The guard escorted her out of the hospital and she allowed him to escort her back to Bon Bon’s house. If she was going to be stuck inside for a while, she much rather be stuck with her friend. Yet even on the way back, Lyra continued to think about the aliens. She hoped and pleaded that she could get a chance to find out more about them.