Tempest

Skelnir, the Northwind, Kell of House Tempest, watched from the Throne room of his Ketch. As Space flew by, he watched the Servitors handout the House's Ether rations to the hungry Eliksni. Skelnir looked to himself in the glass. A Kell looked back, A powerful Scorch Cannon strapped to his back. His plume fell down his back, and he sighed and sat back down.

"Ah, confound it all!" he said to himself. The Pilot Servitor had located a new world, past the reef, Past the Rings of Saturn, Past the Taken. He shuddered slightly at the beings who had once been Fallen but were now corrupted by the King's power. He shrugged the feeling off, and turned his eyes to the dispatch from what remained of House Wolves. Skolas had been captured and killed in the Prison of Elders, and their new Prime Servitor destroyed, leaving the Wolf pack with no Kell or god. Skelnir smiled to himself.

"Skolas thought he could be Kell of Kells. Now he is Kell of nothing!" he chuckled to himself.

"My Kell!"

Skelnir turned and looked at his Archon, Valrik, who saluted and bowed.

"The Pilot Servitor says that we should arrive momentarily. An ideal landing zone has already been marked. We do not know if this Planet is Inhabited."

"Good, Valrik. Prepare for our arrival..."

Suddenly, there was a loud explosion, and the whole ship rocked like a boat in a storm.

"What happened!?" Skelnir barked.

"The battle damage from the escape from Titan was too much! It detonated under pressure!" a Dreg said. "At this velocity, My Kell, we will have 400 seconds to impact!"

"Brace all decks. Get ready!" Skelnir cried. As he turned to the window, flames covered the Ketch as it entered the planet's atmosphere. Then, a large forest came closer and closer. Then, a sickening crash erupted as the Ketch smashed into the ground with tremendous force. As it skidded to a stop, throwing trees askew, Skelnir stood up and surveyed his throne room. He scowled with anger.

"Damage report, Skreviks." he ordered the Servitor.

"Heavy damage to all decks. Skiff bay half-destroyed. 50% of Skiffs inoperable. Engine 100% destroyed. Casualties reported at 67 and counting." The Servitor reported.

"Set up a base camp around the Ketch. Deploy the West Winds to secure the area and survey the surrounding terrain. Tend to the wounded." Skelnir ordered. As Captains dispersed to deliver the Kell's orders, Skelnir turned to the window.

"We shall rise again."

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Twilight and her friends watched in shock and horror as the thing crashed into the Everfree, throwing up a huge dust cloud. Twilight lowered her leg from her eyes and got a good look at it. It was shaped like an arrowhead, with a large tube on the left side pocked with flames. The strange thing was the insignia on the top, similar to a cyclone being cut by an invisible sword. She turned to her friends, who were talking all at once.  She took a breath and yelled at the top of her voice.

"EVERYPONY CALM DOWN!"

And they did. She sighed in annoyance.

"Okay, here's what we're going to do. We'll send a letter to Celestia, and then we'll go to the crash site. Hopefully we'll find out what's going on." Twilight said, and Rainbow Dash began to sputter angrily.

"But...TWILIGHT! THEY'RE GONNA INVADE AND..."

"You've been reading Spike's comics, have you?" Twilight asked.

"So what if I have?" she replied.

"Just because they're aliens DOES NOT mean they're always hostile. I mean, Applebuck Rogers is NOT a guide to extraterrestrial diplomacy, you know." Twilight said.

"It's a good read, though." Pinkie interjected.

"Anyways, we'll send a letter, and then we'll head in." Twilight said, and Rainbow scowled and nodded. As they walked to town, through the screaming townsponies, they arrived at the castle. Twilight took out a pen and paper and began to write.

Dear Celestia,

A large object has crashed in the Everfree. We're going to investigate. Please come as soon as you can.

Twilight.

As she sent it via Spike, who was biting his claws like a maniac, Twilight grabbed her saddlebags and opened the door. As she and her friends walked out, Ponyville was deserted.

"Hiding." Rarity said. "Don't they remember Zecora?"

"She's a zebra. These COULD be aliens. There is a difference." Twilight said. As, ignoring Rainbow's protests. As they neared the path into the Everfree, Twiight stepped in boldly, followed by her friends. Walking down the path, they saw evidence of the crash all around them. Uprooted trees, torn branches, and even large boulders were strewed along the path. As the ship grew larger and larger, so did the sense of foreboding. Then, Twilight held up her hoof.

"I get the feeling we're being watched..." she said, and the group circled up. Then, Pinkie spoke up.

"What's with the crackling noises?"

True to Pinkie's word, faint crackling noises could be heard all around them. Then, there was a step. Then another, followed by many more. Then, Twilight saw a transparent being walk towards her, holding something in its hooves. Then, colors began to form into a strange biped, clad in blue and black. A medium-length cape hung from its shoulders. Its head was like a thick arrowhead, with two pairs of two sharp eyes. Then, more of them began to step out, holding their objects, which Twilight presumed were weapons. Then, a large black and purple orb floated out behind the one near Twilight, and it groaned and whirred like it had a sore throat. Twilight swiftly counted seven of the bipeds. Then, the one near Twilight spoke in fluent Equish, only with a raspy voice, and the words seemed to be forced.

"You...follow...us. We...not...harm...if you do." it said, motioning towards the ship.

"How can you speak out language?" Twilight asked, and the being let out what was obviously laughter, then it pointed to the orb.

"Servitor...speak all languages. Know every voice." it said. "No more questions. Take you to Kell. Follow close." the being said, and the beings began to shepherd the ponies towards the ship. After a 15 minute walk, they arrived at was obviously a base camp outside. Twilight saw more of the so-called "Servitors" sending out white, wispy rays towards a few smaller beings. She noticed the creatures escorting them had four arms, the ones near the Servitor had two. She realized that they were not two species, but one with amputees in their forces. She made a mental note to ask "Kell" about that. Pinkie drew the most attention. She was bouncing around, yammering about parties and cupcakes, much to the amusement and surprise to the beings, many of whom were laughing. As they entered the ship, the beings led them up a ramp and through several corridors. Then, they entered a giant room. Many more of the creatures were tapping strange screens or talking in a guttural language. Then, a massive chair in back near a smashed window turned, and the ponies gasped. A colossal creature, nearly three meters tall, stood up. It was clad in blue and black armor with a black shoulder cape. A small plume rested n his head. it walked over and cackled. Then it spoke in Equish again, this time it seemed more casual and more fluent.

"So, what are you, little ones?"

Rainbow Dash fainted.