Manics: Thunderball

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Announcement (AKA Hey Guys Guess What?)

Prologue

-Prologue-

What is a Manic?

Many people would see a crowd of them mingled with humans and never be able to pick them out. They are naturally similar to humans physically, but are different at the same time. Of course, the only way to pick out one at a distance is to see if they have oddly colored hair, like blue or green. Then again, that's only half of the population, the rest have brown, blonde, and even red hair. They won't let you take their sleeves off; It's like asking someone to take off their pants. But, if you were to see their lower arms, you would see patterned scars. These are not forcefully burned onto them, but come naturally during puberty, and are expected to come.

Those scars, called acaligram, come accompanied by a sort of magic ability, but don't be fooled: It's more like science. When they reach the age the receive the acaligram, the young Manic gains the ability to manipulate one natural phenomenon at his discretion. Moving earth, pushing air, summoning fire and water from the air... even controlling vibrations. Take this young man for instance; his name is Jordan. He can tap a foot on the ground and have the vibrations fling a stick in his direction from an eighth of a mile away. He can't do that at the moment though, because he is currently upside-down, hanging from a snare trap.

Well, here I am. He looked down (or up?) at the tree above, seeing the round, red fruit it bore. What did I do to get here?

He never looked back on the smoldering crater behind him, or the giant metal ship imbedded in it. He knew it was there, and he wanted to do something. Simple, he wanted the PRE-C Data: the Pre-Contact Data. The information he could have gotten would have helped his companions out. He did manage to get the basic information, but it wasn't enough to help them. It did, however, make him ponder as to how the inhabitants of this planet- this... Equestria...- could have tied a knot in a snare trap, since they had a clear lack of fingers.

Maybe he should ask the three fillies that were watching him swing with some fascination in their eyes.

Wait, what?

Chapter 1

-Chapter 1-

...Seven hours prior to Jordan in the snare...

He was at the helm, bored out of his mind. Finally, a voice came from the speaker by the door.

"Jast to Jordan," it said. Jordan walked to the panel and pushed a button. "Yes, Captain?" He asked.

"If everything is in order down there, then your shift is over. I'm sending Kit down to replace you for the evening."

Jordan breathed a sigh of relief, then pushed the button to speak again. "Thank you, sir. I'll be on my way."

"Goodnight, kid," the Captain said. The speaker fell silent, the idle cackle that emitted from it if someone was on dissipated. Jordan left it as it was and went out the automatic metal door. As if on cue, his replacement and best friend, Kit, came in. She was wearing her brown hair in a pony tail draped over her shoulder, as usual. She was had a purple tape over her upper left sleeve with a black X printed on it, also as usual, but the X was the symbol given to the ship; everyone had a X of some sort on them. It was rumored the Captain had one tattooed to his chest. That is, it WAS a rumor, until he proved it true to everyone by ripping it off when he spilled hot coffee on it one time.

"Hey, Jordy," she said with a smile. That cured him of his boredom.

"What's happening, Kit?" he asked her as she went to her post.

"Not much," she said as she looked over a scanner monitor. "I heard Malotov was waiting for you."

"Oh, right!" Jordan exclaimed after a pause. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a CD case. "He wanted this; It's MaQuasi's new album that he played at the last gig."

She looked back with a quizzical look. "If he likes the music, why doesn't he show up?" This brought a lot of rapid questions to mind. Firstly, MaQuasi just suddenly appeared one day, and no one knew who he was. He was dubbed "The Ghost of Thunderball", Thunderball being the name of the ship. His latest album was actually titled that. Secondly, why DOESN'T Malotov show up? Well, he IS kinda a hermit when it comes to the social scene… that WOULD explain it.

Before he could share his thoughts, the scanner started to make a beeping noise. They both went to look.

They couldn't believe what they were seeing.

---M~~A~~N~~I~~C~~S---

"So... what is it?"

"I have no idea! It just... Rainbow, it just appeared!"

"YOU don't KNOW?! Seriously, Twilight?! Your egghead...ed...ness... fails you?!"

The two friends backed away from the telescope in the window. Twilight Sparkle didn't even want to argue with Rainbow Dash's interesting choice of wording. She just kept a grim look on her face as she watched the sky; a specific part of the sky, where a bright, shining dot had appeared just minutes ago. They weren't alone in the shock, for a pink blur was darting around, planning a birthday party for a brand new star.

"...and there'll be a cake with its name on it in gold- no, wait- PINK and gold letters made in icing! ThentherewillbestreamersandfireworksandMUSICfromDJ-P0n3!" At the mention of Twilight’s new neighbor, Pinkie Pie finally stopped between her two friends, wrapping them in a tight squeeze with one arm each; the scholar to her right, and the athlete to her left as they faced the window. "So what's his name? Hubert? Peter? Zachary?" She kept belting out names as Twilight wrenched out of her death-like grip and peeked through the telescope lens again. Something had changed...

She gasped. "It's not a star! It's moving!"

"To where? Manehatten?" The party pony was oblivious to the look she got from RD.

"No, Pinkie," Twilight sighed. "It's just... moving."

Dash, having gotten out of Pinkie's vice, moved next to Twilight. "So... if it's moving... then it's not a star?"

"It's probably a meteor!" Pinkie said.

"No," Twilight said. "It's too bright to be a meteor, maybe it's a comet?"

Pinkie suddenly jumped. “Uh oh! Twitchy tail! Twitcha twitch!”

The point started to get brighter and duller, almost like how a star twinkles, except this had a pattern. The three friends were all thinking the same thing (or, at least Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle were, Pinkie being Pinkie and all): Something was definitely going on with it whatever it was up there. Suddenly, a streak of yellow light bolted across the night sky, heading in a direction that caused RD to start worrying: towards the Weather Factory.

"Uh oh..." Rainbow and Twilight said in unison.

A metallic pop burst through the night air, and clouds began to form, obscuring the telescope's view of the object. What the hay just happened?

“That didn’t look good… wonder if it hit anything,” Pinkie shrugged.

---M~A~N~I~C~S---

"A planet? No way!"

"Yes way, and it looks like it might be unstable, Captain."

The bearded Captain Jast had come down to the helm- in his wheelchair, no less- to verify what Jordan and Kit had reported. They had found a system that, after using the computer to predict how the bodies in the system moved, was actually GEOcentric; the planet was the central point of the system!

"Jordan, I wouldn't say it's unstable," the Captain stated. "The scanner is picking up a diverse set of habitats. Deserts, mountains, forests, massive plains, stuff like that." It was somewhat awkward hearing the Captain say something so casual.

Kit chimed in: "But, sir, how do we explain the whole... sun and moon, yin-yang, thing?" Jordan liked how she could think like that.

"Good question," he pondered for a moment, a finger scratching his beard. He took it away. "Try calibrating the field scanner to pick up anomalies coming from the planet."

She did so, and the scanner lit up with a massive purple field around the planet. "Woah..."

Jordan looked at what the monitor said about it. "It's definitely coming from the planet, but... hold on." He lifted his head to the ceiling. "Kat, am I reading this right?"

A voice cackled from above, a female voice with Earth British accent. "I'm coming down there at the moment..."

After a few seconds, the door opened. A floating robot with medical devices attached to it on both sides glided in. Kat, or MUNI-1 was the embodiment of Thunderball's computer, but she was also the ship's medic. "How are you today, Captain?" a voice rang from the bot.

"I'm fine, but please, answer Jordan's question," the Captain motioned towards the private.

"Jordan, can you specify?"

"This bit about the type of field, am I reading it correctly? You have NO idea what it is?"

"Correct. I can give you my theory, if you'd like." Usually a robot wouldn't use a contraction, but Kat was programmed with emotions and such.

"Yes, we would," Kit said. Ah, Kit and Kat, Jordan thought with an inward chuckle.

"Assuming if the inhabitants were Manic, which they are definitely not, then this would be a very powerful acaligram." This made all three Manics in the room turn to look at her with quizzical expressions.

"Like... freaking MAGIC?" Jordan said.

"Yes, I suppose so."

Jast put a hand on his forehead and lean back in his wheelchair with a groan. "It's agreed then that this is something worth looking at?"

A new, monotone voice came from the door. "Yes."

Jordan saw who it was and strode towards the door, the CD he had in hand. "Hey, Malotov. Here you go, The Ghost of Thunderball." The Manic with the sunglasses and blank expression took it, saying his one word of thanks.

Jordan turned towards the others. "Well, this reminds me that I have to go and pass out in my room. Unless my shift has just restarted?" He directed the question towards the Captain, who nodded and waved his free hand for him to go. He did.

As he went to his room, he passed Gunny, Joni, and Walker. Gunny was, like her nickname denounced, the weapons maintenance chief. She was cute with her psyche-jewelry (which was a kind of jewelry that floated while being controlled by subconscious brain-waves), three stems with a tiny ball on the end floating near the back of her head. Her sister, Joni, had the same kind of psyche-jewelry, but hers had a bar under the ball part of it. Walker was Joni's "husband", though it never was declared official. He had psyche-jewelry, too, but it was more related to his acaligram of summoning fire. The jewelry was a set of three dark blue spikes that rotated in a very slow circle around his neck. Jordan waved to them, and they waved back. Walker, however, had something to say.

"Hey, man, how's your pod?" Jordan sighed in response. Walker knew how the pods creeped him out.

A while ago, they encountered a ghost ship drifting in an empty area of space. On board, they discovered these pods that had a Manic growing inside them. Since their discovery, they had grown from baby to child to teenager in a matter of weeks. They were now seemingly stuck at Jordan's age, roughly 18 or 19 (except for 0009, who grew to be a young child and stopped growing).

There were eleven pods, all numbered 0001-0011. Only four could fit in storage, so each of the crew had to keep one in their quarters (except for Cop, his room was too small). Jordan's was 0001, a boy with white hair like MaQuasi. Not that you could tell it was white, the liquid surrounding him was a slimy green color. That's not what creeped him out, though. It was the fact that they were kept alive by being plugged into the computer, and no one knew how it happened.

"I think he's fine," Jordan said with his eyes closed.

"You gonna name him?"

"Did you? What's 0007's name?"

Walker chuckled: a miracle, since he was usually doom and gloom. "Get going, you look like you're gonna pass out."

"Wait a second," that was Gunny. "What's going on? I heard Kat say something about something being 'impossible'." Damn, she was using that cute voice of hers again. Jordan had to oblige.

"New system, but it's geocentric. Can you believe that?"

"Bullshit," Joni stated bluntly. Jordan just shrugged and walked off.

He entered his quarters and collapsed on his bed, looking up at the pod before him. 0001 was smiling this time.

He must be liking whatever the computer was showi- wait... he was frowning again, but it looked serious this time. Jordan swore if this could have been a look of shock and fear. A nightmare?

A beeping sound came from the wall near the door. Before he could investigate it, the sound suddenly got louder and longer, like a dog whistle. Then... it happened.

BOOM! BOOM! Jordan was lurched off of his bed as the entire ship shook, landing hard on his shoulder. The lights turned blood red and a siren was heard, making him ignore the pain his shoulder was emitting. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!?

"JORDAN! This is Jast! Report!"

He got up and pushed a button of his table. "Sir, what just happened?"

A ruffling sound. "This is Kit. Jordan, there was an explosion outside your ro-"

Rrrrrumble… The ship was rocked again. Another explosion.

"-OH CRAP! That came from engineering! I have to get down there!"

"Kit," Kat's voice said. "I'm detecting a large amount of radiation. Engineering has been contained to prevent ship-wide contamination." Somehow, the way Kat managed to stay… well, Kat… in a situation like this was both uplifting and terrifying.

More ruffling from the com, the Captain's voice again: "Jordan, can you get up here?!"

Jordan moved to the door, but it didn't open. He tried to force it, and a message came up of the monitor near it. "THERE IS AN OBJECT JAMMING THIS DOOR. REMAIN CALM, AND AN ENGINEER WILL BE HERE SHORTLY."

Crapcrapcrap! "Sir, my door's jammed!"

"Figures." Malotov's voice. "First blast was outside your room." Malotov had the same effect on Jordan’s spirits that Kat had, but at least he sounded more focused.

"Jordan, we're gonna have to crash the ship!” Oh, shit… “You're the only one who may be able to get out afterwards! We need you to get the PRE-C Data if we're gonna be able to make first conta-" The Captain's voice was cut out by another explosion.

BaBURMM!!!

Jordan was lurched backwards, his head making contact with the wall. The throbbing pain grew more intense as the siren and screeching sound outside the ship got louder, and the lights seemed to flash brighter. He glimpsed at 0001, who seemed to have a look of panic on his face, gas bubbles pouring out his mouth in a silent, liquidy scream…

Not even sleeping can help this guy… sleep… ah, crap, I’m losing it...

He could feel himself slipping out of reality as he looked out the window. A piece of debris was rocketing toward the planet (which was much closer now). Then everything went black.

---M~A~N~I~C~S---

A knock came from the library door, fast and panicky. Not a surprise, since it was suddenly stormy outside. Rainbow Dash flew over and opened it, and there was a certain grey pegasus with a blonde mane and wall eyes, accompanied by a filly unicorn resembling her.

"Ditzy..." Rainbow said.

"Hi, Rainbow Dash! Can we come in? It's raining and stuff and we're wet and..."

Rainbow Dash moved aside. "Get in..." she said with sigh. She probably did something to the weather factory...

The pair walked in, and the filly was tackled by Pinkie almost immediately upon entering. They both laughed in a puddle that had come off of the little one. Twilight looked over from the telescope. "Pinkie! You got the floor wet!"

In response to this, Pinkie grabbed Ditzy and brought her over to Twilight. She then went and whispered something to Rainbow Dash, who smirked and flew outside, bringing back a tuft of storm cloud. After shaking herself off, she flew the cloud over to Ditzy and Twilight, who were now deep in what seemed to be a serious conversation (on Twilight's part, since Ditzy just kept a smile on her face the entire time). She then jumped on the cloud, causing a lightning bolt to shoot out. The explosion scared the water off of Ditzy... and onto Twilight.

"PFFT!!!!" Pinkie and Dash burst into a laugh that could be heard by the neighbors. Dinky's was a little weaker, due to her being young. Even Ditzy chuckled. Only Twilight was not amused.

"Good one, Rainbow Dash!" Ditzy yelled up to the hysterical, cyan pegasus.

"Yeah, good one, Dash," Twilight mumbled, half to herself. "Anyway, Ditzy was just telling me that the weather factory has been damaged-"

"Guess who?" Rainbow Dash said sarcastically.

"-... by some kind of debris..."

"...oh," Rainbow said glumly. "Sorry, Ditz, I thought you crashed into it. Again."

Ditzy kept smiling. "That was funny though, when I crashed into it and I caused a blizzard?"

Everyone just looked at her. Her daughter, on the other hand, started laughing again. "It was!" This killed everyone; all of them giggled furiously. Another knock interrupted the mirth. This time, Twilight trotted over and opened it. Her newer neighbors stood in the opening: a white mare with a messy blue mane wearing purple sunglasses (at night…?) and a grey mare with properly groomed hair and a pink bowtie. The two seemed like complete opposites that wouldn’t get along, but there they were, living next door to the library. Twilight invited them in with no hesitation.

“Sorry if we’re intru-“ the grey one started, only to be interrupted by her companion.

“WOAH! There’s a party and DJ-P0n3 wasn’t invited!?” Sure enough, she was also glomped by a pink blur when she walked inside.

Twilight didn’t bother staring; Rainbow did. Pinkie just TACKLED a CELEBRITY. One I’m a FAN of! Needless to say, she became involved, getting the Dubtrot artist away from ponification of ADHD and striking up a conversation.

“Like I was saying…” the DJ’s housemate started again. “Sorry to intrude, but our house seems to be… flood prone.” She facehoofed at the memory of seeing Vinyl splashing in the water, like it was all fun and games. I’m living with a mare with the mind of a filly. Someone kill me.

“It’s alright, Octavia,” Twilight said with a smile, but with some visible concern. “What about… your cello?”

Boom. On the floor. Out cold. The sound her friend collapsing got Vinyl over there quickly. “Wha-what happened?”

“I reminded her of her cello,” Twilight put simply. “What about your stuff?”

Vinyl shrugged. “Meh, I’ll dry it off and work from there.”

“And your records?”

“All my records are copied twice and stored upstairs in a waterproof safe ‘n stuff.”

She’s either organized or really, really careful, Twilight thought with an amazed look. “So… you two will be staying here for the night? You’re not alone if you are, Ditzy and Dinky are here.”

Vinyl lifted her fallen comrade with her magic and slowly, and carefully, lowered her onto the nearby couch. Afterwards, she replied: “Yeah, looks like it. But, if Ditz and her little kid are here, where’s Sparkler?”

Ditzy, who was apparently above them the entire time, suddenly dove down… face first onto the wooden floor. Everyone looked over and cringed (except Pinkie, who just giggled saying “That looks super-duper- or super-derper, no offense, Ditzy- FUN!”), but the mailmare sprung up with no visible injury or look that indicated any pain on her part, amazingly.

“Sparkler is with Lyra and Bon-bon tonight! Something about it being important to Lyra’s future…” even with her wall eyes, she managed to get a wondering look on her face.

“Probably about…” Rainbow Dash began to chuckle. “Humans?”

No one laughed. Not even Pinkie, amazingly. “What? Did I say something wrong?”

“She hasn’t mentioned humans in two months, Rainbow,” Twilight stated. “Someone even asked her why… and…” she started to look desperate, her eyes darting around and usually landing on Pinkie Pie.

“She pulled a Pinkie and said ‘Humans? Why would I mention something so silly?’”

Everyone gasped, once again excluding Pinkie who said “I don’t say stuff like that!”

“You said that there are creatures called ‘brownies’ watching us, and that you saw them through the ‘fourth wall’.” Twilight said.

“I never said anything about bronies, Twilight! And I most certainly did not mention ‘Allegrezza’, Scratch!” Vinyl just looked confused. The buck is “Allegrezza”?

“I also didn’t mention that story where Rainbow Dash kills Scootaloo and-“

“PINKIE!” Dash yelled. “STOP CREEPING ME OUT!”

“I agree with Rainbow,” Twilight said.

“Yeah, I agree,” Vinyl said.

“Muuuuffins,” Ditzy sing-songed.

“I’m a filly, what is this?” Dinky asked.

“I wasn’t creeping you out! What was I saying?” Pinkie raised a hoof to her face and stuck her tongue out the side of her mouth in deep thought. After five seconds of this…

RrrRrrrRRRRrrrRRR… A rumbling came from outside and the tree began to shake. Lightning flashed outside and thunder crashed shortly after. Ditzy went to her daughter’s side, comforting the now scared filly.

“T-t-twilight, w-w-what is…” Rainbow stuttered, no longer maintaining her tough girl attitude.

Pinkie was standing straight, bouncing with the shaking. “T-T-T-TH-H-H-I-I-I-S I-I-I-I-S-S-S-S F-F-F-F-U-U-U-U-N-N-N!”

Octavia woke with a start as she was unwillingly rolled out of bed, landing on Vinyl, who had gotten down on the floor. “S-s-since wh-e-en d-d-oes P-o-o-ony-v-v-ille have er-er-er-earth-q-q-quakes?”

“Never! T-th-is is n-n-ew! C-c-ould it b-be t-the we-eather fac-ctory?” Twilight got down like Vinyl, and aimed the question at Rainbow.

“W-what? W-w-we don’t do er-earthquakes! W-we’re pe-egasi, for Ce-ce-lestia’s s-s-sake!”

The rumbling stopped, an explosion punctuating the end of this event. Booooooooom!

Everyone stood staring at each other, the floor, the ceiling, and nothing in particular. Rainbow broke the silence: “Um… Ditzy?” She made motions with her hooves that Ditzy squinted at.

What about Dinky? Oh… OH! The mailmare put her hooves over her daughter’s ears, allowing Rainbow to safely say what she was dying to say next.

“What the buck was that?!”

---M~A~N~I~C~S---

“Do you sense that, my sister?”

“Yes, I do, Luna.”

“It is somewhere near Ponyville.”

“The Weather Factory there was damaged not half an hour ago. The pegasi are repairing it, but we cannot investigate this presence tonight.”

“I am unable to leave in the morning.”

“I will go.”

“But sister-“

“If you cannot go, then you cannot go. After all, I understand you favor the night.”

“…yes, I do.”

“I will rest tonight and leave after I have risen the sun in the morning.”

“I will leave the night after, then?”

“I’m counting on that, Luna. Some of them may favor the night.”

“They? This presence is…”

“Yes.”

“…”

“Something troubling you?”

“No… nothing at all. You should rest, Celestia.”

“Yes, good night, little sister.”

“It will be, big sister.”

“Heh, I wonder when you thought of that?”

“’It will be?’ Why, I just thought of it now.”

“Not what your personal guard said.”

“Scoundrel… Um… fine, a month ago.”

“Hm.”

“…he didn’t say anything, did he?”

“Nope!”

“…good night, Celestia.”

“Good night, Luna.”

“…why does she do that? No idea!”

“Uh… Princess Luna, did you say something?”

“No, we did not!”

Chapter 2

-Chapter 2-

…2 hours prior to Jordan in the snare…

Ugh… who put my head in a vice?

Jordan rubbed the back of his head when he woke, keeping his eyes closed. He could smell rain, smoke, O-zone, and apples at the same time. Wait a minute… apples? He opened his eyes, it was dark, but a tear in the wall (which he assumed was made on impact) revealed that the sun was rising. He was still in his room, but he wasn’t in the ship; there was a system that ejected occupied rooms just before a crash.

As his eyes adjusted, he noted that, to his right, 0001’s pod was safe and a set of blast doors had descended around the glass. He also saw that, by some miracle, the computer was still operational.

Guess I’ll call in if the com is on, he thought. He stood and heard a squishing as he stepped forward. Looking around, he noticed a shallow puddle of rainwater had collected inches away from wear he was laying just moments ago. Rain… smelling O-zone… so that’s why there’s a hole in my wall. He remembered something Kit had told him: that the Thunderball had a tendency to cause atmospheric anomalies when landing- or in this case, crashing- that it wasn’t a good idea to land during a storm. The lightning bolts would become burning plasma bolts that could potentially rip a gash in the hull, they were so powerful.

After moving to the computer on the wall, he pushed several buttons. Let’s see, show me everyone? Yeah, that’ll work.

“Computer, what is the status of the rest of the crew?” Beep beep. The monitor began to bring up a series of profiles and locations that tracked everyone’s Lightning Rod, which was a personal tool or weapon, like a futuristic multi-tool. The profiles and maps started to cycle.

“Jastike, Capt. Mayurpo

Status: Minor Injury since last medical update.”

The computer was using their complicated Manic names. Jordan didn’t have one, because his father was human and his mother agreed to the name. He was half-Human, half-Manic, simple as that. It cycled to Malotov’s profile.

“Parilk, Quartermaster Malotov Cai

Status: Confidential.”

“Creepy. It won’t give me his medical file?” Jordan was left to wonder why his superior, who always acted like an impenetrable safe mentally and emotionally, would have his medical files confidential. He had little time to wonder: the cycle continued.

“Q’fel, Communications Officer Jolupni-“ Joni.

“Status: Broken right index and ring fingers.”

Ouch…

“Muldol, Security Officer Winduryp-“ Walker.

“Status: Minor head trauma.”

He’ll live, hard-headed guy like that can take a few.

“Q’fel, Weapons Engineer Gearna-“ Gunny.

“Status: Fractured right ulna.”

“Oh, Gunny.” She had a broken arm, but it’s not the first time. She actually vaporized a rib by accidentally shooting herself with an experimental laser once. Fortunately, Kat was able to grow it back.

“Kiton, Engineer Alnea-“ Kit never liked her first name. It’s a pretty sounding name, though…

“Status: Minor injury.”

“Godru, Science Officer Kopique-“ Cop! I didn’t trade small-talk with him before the-

“Status: Deceased. Cause: Attacked by infesting Slime Gouches. Acid burns over %70 of body and face. Time of Death: Estimated 5:36 AM in current region.”

Cop was killed by pests, what a way to go. Jordan wished he could really feel some sorrow for this guy; wished he could mourn. He only knew the guy on an impersonal level, and he knew that Cop went down fighting. Jordan regretted thinking about how he would honor the guy after burying “whatever the gouches left of him”.

As much as he hated to admit it, he DID mourn. It wasn’t fair. How the hell could simply watching a stupid little planet like this turn into a nightmare? He started to panic inwardly, but caught himself.

Take it easy, Jordan, he said to himself. It’s not THAT bad yet.

“Yet?” He couldn’t believe he added that word into the mix. Washing himself of his apprehension and… “angst,” he continued reading the monitor…

“Course of action taken: MUNI-1 “Kat” has been deployed to treat injuries based on seriousness. Weapons Engineer Q’fel’s injuries are currently being treated.”

Enough of this shit, he thought as he tried to push Cop’s face out of his mind. “Computer, set up a communications link to the others.” The computer issued a series of negative beeps. “Unable to make connection.”

“Well, it was worth a try,” Jordan backed away from the computer and walked to the tear. The sun was just starting to come up. Alright, time to get that PRE-C Data! He looked back at 0001. Ah, he’ll be fine. I wonder what it’s like outside? Probably looks nice, aside from some crash-site thing going on with it.

Thinking enthusiastically or sarcastically didn’t help the fact that he was walking out of his room and into a crater. He took in the sights: smoke billowing off areas debris hit, trees fallen around and into the area, the ship towering over the entire scene… The ship looked like a cone sticking out of the ground, easily jetting 100 feet into the air. This amazed him, because the ship was 200 feet long and diamond shaped. The diamond shape probably saved the area by imbedding itself into the ground, since a bell or cone would have a greater impact range and sit hazardously on top of the ground.

A fallen tree had landed near the ejected quarters, still adorned with red fruit.

Apples. So that’s why I smelled them. He dismissed them, even though he was hungry, and started to carry on to-

CRRRRZ! “Jordan? Get back in here.” Jordan turned back into the detached room. The computer had a familiar symbol displayed on its monitor…

The symbol that’s on all the pods? And this voice is… 0001?

“Jordan, can you hear me? This is 1,” the voice said.

Jordan didn’t have time to speak before the voice came again. “Don’t say a word, because I‘ve only got a short time to explain. One: I’m only able to speak because I’m out of the coma, but, as I said, it’s only temporary. On top of that, realize that this means the rest of us Proto Manics are also out of the coma.” Pro-What Manic?

“Two: Some of us didn’t take too kindly to being transferred, so one of them somehow snuck out of their pod and sabotaged Thunderball. I don’t know who or how long they planned it; I only realized they had done it when the bombs were activated.” A pod had woken up? Bombs? On the ship? What about the security screenings?

“Three: Once the PRE-C Data is uploaded into the computer, I’ll deliberately hijack the line so it goes through the pods first. Upon downloading it, the program keeping us asleep will end and we’ll be out. Even though this means the bad ones are gonna get out too, the good ones will back you up faster than they can fight.” Jordan had mixed feelings about this. Now that he knew a… “Proto Manic” had done this. “Your gonna have to trust me on this one.” I can trust him. I don’t know why, but I will.

“Four-“ CRRZ!! “Sorry, starting to lose control, I’ll make this short. Four: Don’t worry about the inhabitants finding us. We crashed late at night and there was a storm, so they don’t know what happened themselves. There is a settlement somewhere in a southern direction from this valley, I wish I could be specific. I don’t have to mention the big ‘don’t’, right?” Don’t get caught. If caught, well, try to think your way out and get them on your side. Got it.

“Five, this concerns the gouches that killed Godru. They’re practically eating the hull, and the structure will probably collapse in a week. Some of them have mutated from the radiation in the engineering section (which, I hope you know, should be kept OUT of the atmosphere on this world).” The crash had caused some problems to the environment, and Jordan knew that, but if the radiation got out, the crater was the least of the planet’s worries.

“I have to shut down the link,” 0001 said finally. “Good luck, and the pot is just outside.” CRRRZ!!! The monitor went dark again.

The what? Oh! Mom’s strainer! Jordan went out side and scanned the ground. A shiny metal object caught his eye, and he picked it up, dirt trailing out of it.

It was a spaghetti strainer- the only thing he could remember from his family. He never knew why, but he had most of the memories from them removed long ago. This kitchen utensil was the only thing he remembered. He remembered how much his mother loved it when he put it on his head as a kid.

Well, Mom, this is for you. He placed it on his head like a helmet, tapping it a few times to feel the vibrations it could make over his head. Feels nice, could use this as a weapon… nah… don’t wanna lose it. Wait, what’s that? Another glint got his attention: a small section of pipe sticking out of the ground. He reached down, touching it gently with the back of his fingers to judge if it was hot or not. It wasn’t, so he grabbed it with his left hand and tugged hard, but it wouldn’t budge. He gripped it with both hands and pulled harder. The strain gave him a headache, but the effort was worth it; his reward was a simply pipe, about half a meter or two and a half feet in length. He put it down and went back into his room, coming out with a backpack he originally used when he brought his stuff on board (apparently, since that memory also left when he forgot his family) and sliding the pipe into it. It stuck out a little, but he thought he could use that to his advantage: as easy access to a weapon should something go wrong.

Taking a look around again, he nodded to himself and made his way south, using the morning position of the sun as a compass. Jordan knew basic survival skills when it came to survival, but he left the fire to Walker. All Jordan could do was manipulate vibrations, which at best could be used to get fruit. He looked around at the trees as he walked. Apples hung from every branch in sight… but something was off.

This isn’t a forest… the trees lined up. Only then did he realize he was on land owned by one of the planet’s inhabitants. He had stepped into an orchard.

His train of thought, regarding the orchard, was interrupted by his stomach. They won’t miss a COUPLE of apples; it’s just ONE tree. He pulled the pipe out of his pack and took it off, opening it wide and laying it down. He moved next to the tree and rapped on it a couple times with his foot. A low hum sounded in his brain, telling him that he got the right amount of force. He focused on two of the apples and, by complicated means, made the hum in his head louder. The stems of the apples snapped, causing the fruits to fall into his hands. He slid one into his pocket and threw another into the bag. He kept doing this, ending up with five apples in the bag and one being munched on.

I love apples. Not as good as the pie, though… He ate the apple, but wondered what to do with the core. If he buried it, it might grow later on; not what he wanted. If he just left it, he would leave a trail; REALLY not what he wanted. He decided to just hold onto it. He packed his things and kept walking.

---M~A~N~I~C~S---

Here it is. Finally! It feels like I was walking for freakin’ DAYS! Jordan let out an exhausted sigh as he finally left the orchard field, welcoming the site of the town by getting on his knees. The day had gotten hot, and his face was dotted with drops of sweat. He raised his hands in respect of whatever was keeping an eye on him.

But there wasn’t time for any spiritual enlightenment, he had to get the PRE-C Data. This is where it gets tough, he realized. I’m gonna have to pretty much be among them without getting caught. Hiding and stuff… damn. He started with a bush near his location and proceeded from that point.

Getting around was easier than he had expected, he actually made it far enough to see the inhabitants… and almost let his cover blow when he saw them.

Horses? The hell? Indeed, he spotted three of them talking about flowers (he assumed by what he had seen as a tattoo of a flower on each of them). He stayed low until he was sure they were out of sight of his next cover point. He continued, keeping an eye on every inhabitant near him. Wait, was that a unicorn? And a pegasus? Well, this is certainly… familiar.

Jordan kept rolling and ducking under and behind anything he could (Joni, if you were here, I would thank you for teaching me how to do this stuff) and eventually, he smelled… pie! Glad I ate before I came here, or I would be growling. He located the source and took a peak into a nearby window, spying a pink horse with three balloons as a tattoo humming happily as she mixed something in a bowl. She suddenly stopped and raised a hoof to her eye. “Ack!”

An orange one with a large lower jaw leaned in. “You ok, Pinkie?” The pink one nodded.

“Mmhm! I just got a new Pinkie-sense, Mr. Cake!” Pinkie what?

“Uh… how bad is it?” The one called Mr. Cake asked with a nervous look.

“Well, last night I sensed a DOOZIE! I also got twitchy tail, and you know what that means!” She laughed. “This time, it’s something else. My eye felt like it was on FIRE! Like… WHOOSH!” She punctuated the “whoosh” by throwing her hooves into the air.

Mr.Cake smiled, but Jordan could tell he was still nervous. “Well, what do you think that means?”

“It means Jordan should go to the library!” THE HELL?! DOES SHE KNOW I’M HERE?! Jordan panicked a little, but he listened into what was said next.

“Who’s Jordan?” Mr. Cake asked.

“Jordan? That’s a silly name, Mr. Cake. Is it the name of somepony new to town?” Pinkie seemed very enthusiastic about the thought of some… pony… new to town. Somepony… I want to laugh… thank you again, whatever is watching me. Thank you for preventing me from cracking up here and now.

“No, it’s-“ Mr. Cake started.

“OH! I think he should know that the library is the giant tree that looks like a house in town!” She bounced a little bit, but saw the unfinished business she had in the bowl and continued working. Mr. Cake shrugged and leaned back out the door.

A library… has books. Books have information. Information is data. Thanks… Pinkie?

“Yep! That’s my name!” Uh… okay then… to the tree it is…

Jordan sneaked around again, looking for the library. He finally found it, and it WAS a giant tree. It had windows, a door, even a balcony. It was interesting to say the least because Jordan described it as “epic” in his mind. The door in the front opened and a purple unicorn came out with… a dragon on her back?

Dragons… this place has my approval. Dragons make everything better.

Jordan watched the pair as they went towards the bakery Jordan saw that pink pony in. He decided to stick with calling them ponies; it sounded better than horses. Confident that no one was watching, he quickly made his way to the door and opened it. This door doesn’t have a lock, so what’s the crime rate around here? No crime whatsoever? That’s crap. He went inside.

The first thing Jordan saw was books. The second thing he saw were the massive shelves of them. He instantly looked for a book regarding anatomy, and then another book on how this world works. It was basic information, and a start for getting the PRE-C Data. He dropped his stuff and sat on the floor against one shelf. As he opened the anatomy book, he heard a noise from outside, but he didn’t worry about it. The noise sounded like someone next door had invited MaQuasi to host a party. So… they have Dubstep here?

“Who?” He jumped a little and looked around frantically for the source of that sound, resting his eyes on an owl perched on the central table. “Who?”

“Ah,” Jordan sighed. “You scared me there.”

“Who?”

“You scared me.”

“Who?”

“You did.”

“Who?”

What am I doing? Jordan shook his head and went back to reading the book, confident that the owl wasn’t going to report his presence.

Fifteen minutes and two skimmed books later, he finally got the basic- although weird- information about the world. As he put the books away, he summed the information up in his head.

So in a nutshell, there are these two deity princesses that control the sun and the moon. Not too long ago, one came back after being banished to the moon for a thousand years- which is tough love, but kinda funny since I know Walker did the same, sorta. She was banished in the first place because everypony- wait… did I just think that? Anyway, everypony feared her nights, so she refused to lower the moon one day, resulting in her banishment by use of the “Elements of Harmony”. A thousand years later- or about two and a half years ago, she came back for revenge, but six ponies in this very town wielded said elements and defeated her… kinda. She apologized for pissed and all. Also, there was an incident with something called “Discord”… too long; didn’t read. In short, Discord was defeated by the same six ponies with the Elements of Harmony. These elements- and the ponies with them- are Honesty- Applejack, Kindness- Fluttershy, ngggh these names… Laughter- Pinkie Pie… wait, the same Pinkie from before? Well, it would make sense, she IS a bit “woohoo”… Generosity- Rarity, Loyalty- Rainbow Dash. Those were five… apparently when those five were together, a “spark” revealed the sixth: Magic- Twilight Sparkle.

In other news, there are three main types of ponies: Earth ponies- who have a connection with nature. Unicorns- who can use magic. And Pegasi- who can fly, walk on clouds, and control the weather. As confusing as the weather bit is, I can deal with it.

He heard something behind him. Expecting the owl, he turned with a smile… and there was that purple unicorn and her dragon from earlier.

Chapter 3

-Chapter 3-

The thing was staring at Twilight from across the table, frozen in position. She didn’t know what to think of it, but she knew it was better to be safe than sorry. She readied her magic.

Jordan realized how screwed he was when her horn started glowing, since that’s what he remembered about unicorn magic. He pulled out his Lightning Rod and aimed it at her, pushing a few buttons to make it glow in a similar manner. The two of them stood off and started circling the table slowly.

Don’t blink, Jordan.

Don’t blink, Twilight.

Don’t look, Spike! Spike covered his eyes and slid off of Twilight. He ran upstairs and opened his eyes again, just to see the show unfold. Oh man, Twilight’s ready to pummel this thing! Wish I had some popcorn...

They circled each other, staying on opposite ends of the room. This continued until Jordan stopped in front of the door, where he raised his hand and waved. “Thanks for letting me get to the door. Oh, and this?” He lifted the Lightning Rod. “Can’t hurt you, it’s on lantern mode. Good bye!” He opened the door and shut it quickly, pressing his forehead against it for a while. He released his held breath and turned around.

There was another one, but this one meant worse news for Jordan. It was taller than the others, wore a crown, and had wings AND a horn. This was, undoubtedly, one of the princesses he read about. Why was she HERE? He also saw another pony: one with glasses and a gray mane (which somehow looked like it was dyed). They both just stared at him, but the one with the glasses had trouble keeping her mouth closed.

Jordan closed his eyes and turned away from them. Malotov is good in situations like this. What would he do? Hey, I know! “Well,” he started. “I have three choices. One is to fight, and I hate that idea. Two is to surrender, but I got stuff to do. I’ll go with three, you wanna know what that is, you highness?” Aw, idiot! He resisted the urge to facepalm at his corniness.

The door of the house next door opened and a unicorn with an electric blue mane leaned out, followed shortly by an earth pony wearing a bow tie. Wow, what is that? They thought at the same time.

The princess was silent for a while, but spoke. “What is your third choice?”

“I’m glad you asked,” Jordan deadpanned as he lifted the Lightning Rod and aimed it at the ground. This is gonna hurt... “It’s simple… RUN AWAY!” With the last words, he pushed a button on the rod. A bolt of some kind shot out and impacted the ground, sending him flying to the north. He narrowly missed a gray pegasus with a blonde mane on his impromptu flight.

Ditzy hovered a bit while watching the thing continue its flight. This’ll be a great story to tell my little muffin about! A flying monkey!

The Mayor was shocked by the whole display, but kept her composure. She looked up at the princess, who was still looking at the flying speck in the distance, watching it come down somewhere near Sweet Apple Acres. She turned to the door as it opened to reveal a slightly panicked Twilight Sparkle.

“Princess Celestia! I wasn't expecting you here! But... did you see it?”

The Mayor answered. “We both saw it, and it… well… ran away. It looks like it went towards Sweet Apple Acres.” She turned to the princess. “Your highness, should I…?”

“Gather the residents up in town hall,” Princess Celestia answered calmly. “The Elements of Harmony and myself with retrieve the guest.”

“Princess, is that really such a good idea?”

“He seemed to make it clear that he has no intention of attacking us,” the Princess explained. “In fact, if he were given the choice to either fight or surrender, I can imagine him surrendering. What do you think, Twilight Sparkle?”

“Well,” Twilight said. “We sort of had a stand-off inside, but when he left, he said that the rod he was holding wasn’t a weapon. I don’t think he CAN fight, but he had this pipe in a bag he was carrying… maybe that’s a weapon?”

“Perhaps,” the Princess said. “Spike!” The baby dragon appeared in the doorway. “Gather the other Elements and send them to Sweet Apple Acres.”

“Will do, your highness!” He ran off to do what he was asked of, being the Number 1 assistant to Celestia’s protégé meant he had to somehow work double time when the Princess gives him an order herself.

"Mayor Mare..." At the mere mention of her name, the Mayor left, encountering a group of pegasi and speaking to them. The pegasi flew off, presumably to spread the message for the townsponies to gather.

“Come, Twilight,” the Princess said. “We’re going to Sweet Apple Acres.”

---M~A~N~I~C~S---

“Fluttershy! What’re you doin’ up here?”

Applejack was getting ready to buck another apple tree when she noticed her yellow friend looking around among the trees.

“Hello, Applejack. I know you’re busy, but do you have time to talk? Um… that is, if you want to.”

“Ah always ‘ave time fer friends, 'Shy,” Applejack said with a smile. “Whatcha wanna talk about, sugarcube?”

“Well,” Fluttershy began slowly. “I heard from Applebloom that you have been having problems with Timber wolves coming in the orchard.”

“Yeah, they’ve been throwin’ Granny Smith off with their howlin’. She keeps thinkin’ it’s the first sign o’ the Zap Apple harvest when they do that, but it ain’t.”

“I was wondering if I could help with this,” Fluttershy said. “I could tell them to stay out of the orchard. I mean, unless you already had something in mind to keep them away, then I won’t mind if you say no…”

“Actually, Fluttershy,” Applejack began. “That WAS mah plan. ‘cept we would ‘ave to catch ‘em first! So ah went an’ did a li’l somethin’.”

“Oh? What would that be?”

---M~A~N~I~C~S---

“Ah, crap.” Jordan hissed as he ran back to Thunderball. “How am I gonna get that Data now?!”

The fact that he was seen after getting mere BASIC information was bad. Now, the ponies in the town- which he now knew was called Ponyville (Clever name)- were alerted to his presence in the area. This would make it nearly impossible to get PRE-C Data. That wasn’t the worst part, though.

What really bugged him was the fact that their LEADER was there. Why would she be there? Didn’t matter now, he already made an idiot of himself and his entire crew in front of her. Run away… what was I thinking? Was I thinking at all?

He looked up from the ground and stopped his run, and he could see the ship through the trees. He started walking to it when he stepped on something...

---M~A~N~I~C~S---

“Ah went around yesterday settin’ traps for those varmints.”

“Traps! Applejack, that’s-“ Fluttershy started.

“Nothin’ to worry about, sugarcube,” Applejack interrupted. “All the traps ah put are harmless. Jus’ some snares and cages with bait.”

---M~A~N~I~C~S---

PTWAAAANG! Jordan suddenly found himself suspended upside down from a rope. The strainer on his head fell off and rolled under the closest tree, while all the stuff he had in his bag landed directly below him. He let out a yell as his head started to spin and feel like it was going to burst.

---M~A~N~I~C~S---

“Did y’all hear that?” Applebloom stared at her friends with wide eyes.

“Yeah, I heard it,” Scootaloo looked around for the source of the shout.

“I heard it! It sounded pretty scary,” Sweetie Belle answered.

“I got it! Wha don’t we see if we can git our Cutie Marks from findin’ whatever made that sound an’ securin’ it?” Applebloom walked ahead of the other two.

“Yeah! That sounds like a good idea!” Scootaloo said, catching up to where Applebloom was walking.

“What if it’s dangerous?” Sweetie Belle wondered as she stayed close behind them.

“I think that’s the point of containment, Sweetie Belle,” Scootaloo answered.

“Yeah! Like Cutie Mark Crusader… um…” Applebloom stuck her tongue out the side of her mouth in deep though.

“Cutie Mark Crusaders SCP Researchers!” Scootaloo exclaimed.

“SCP?”

“I have no idea… securing and containing ponies?”

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS SCP RESEARCHERS!” All three of them ran off to find the source of the yell. It wasn’t long before they found it.

---M~A~N~I~C~S---

“Uh…” Jordan was being stared at by three little ponies.

“Well, we found it…” the one with the bow in her hair said with a southern accent. “Now… what the hay is it?”

“I’m a Manic,” Jordan stated.

“Woah!” The three of them hopped back.

“Yeah, I can talk. It’s not that hard.”

The orange one stepped forward and Jordan noticed the wings on her back. “Hey, you’re a pegasus, right?”

“Well, duh,” she said.

“Great. Can you fly up and get me down from here?”

“Why would I want to get you down? You could try to hurt us if I did!” She gave him a suspicious look. “Besides, I… I can’t fly yet.”

“Well,” Jordan sighed. “No harm in asking.”

“Uh, Scoots?” The yellow one spoke again. “We’re gonna go git Applejack, since that’s one o’ her traps.”

“What?! I-“

“Speaking of traps,” Jordan interrupted. “How do you even tie knots with your hooves?”

They all just stared blankly at him. The white unicorn looked at “Scoots” again. “Well, be right back.” The earth pony and the unicorn ran off, leaving their friend with Jordan.

The silence could be cut with a knife. The pegasus kept glancing at Jordan or eyeing the ship behind him with curiosity. Jordan decided to cut the tension.

“So… Scoots, is it?”

“My name is Scootaloo,” she said, suddenly seeming annoyed.

“Okay, okay!” He lifted his (upside down) hands in defense. ”I just heard ‘Scoots’ and I assumed it was your name.”

“Only my friends call me that. You’re not my friend.”

Ouch. She sounds like Kit when I say something stupid. “Uh, anyway… you’re looking at the thing back there?”

“…yeah, so?” There was a pause, then she asked. "What is it?"

“That’s my ship,” he said with some dignity, which was lost the instant it realized that he was still hanging upside-down.

“Ship? What kind of ship?” Scootaloo was getting really interested in it.

“The space kind.”

“What? A SPACE ship?!” Scootaloo leaned back with a shocked expression similar to that of the pony that was with the Princess.

“Yeah, I was expecting that reaction,” Jordan chuckled.

“What are you doing HERE?”

“That’s a weird question,” Jordan started. “Well, we were in the area and saw something interesting about this world and the sun and the moon. It was different than what we’ve seen before. We’re used to seeing the planet go around the sun and the moon go around the planet, but here it’s the sun and the moon going around the planet.” Lesson learned: never explain this stuff when upside down, unless I like the feeling of having my brain flattened...

“Well, that’s because-“

“Of your princesses, right?”

“How did you…”

“I took a trip to the library, but I got caught by… uh... Princess Celestia?”

“She’s HERE?”

“Yeah, that got me confused, too,” Jordan rubbed the back of his head, which ached like it was full of bricks. “Anyway, I went to my room on the ship when I heard a beeping sound. Then BOOM! Everything started blowing up!” "Boom" indeed. In my head...

“How’d you get here then?”

“Captain crashed the ship. Some parts fell off before we came down. So if you saw a shooting star last night... well, I hate to disappoint you, but...”

“Wait… when was this?”

“Seven… maybe eight hours ago. Why?”

“Something smashed into the Weather Factory last night. Oh, and yeah, pegasi control the weather, in case you didn’t know.”

“I knew that. What hit the Factory?”

“A giant hunk of metal, some of that debris you mentioned.”

“Did anyone get hurt?” He was panicking a little.

“No, but a lot of ponies were rained on,” this time she laughed. Did I just... make a friend here? A rustle nearby cut her off, and out came an orange pony in a cowboy hat wearing a necklace that looked familiar…

“You’re… Applejack, right?” Jordan asked.

She was, to say the least, mad. “Wha, ah reckon so. An’ what’s this? Somepony has gone destroyed part o’ the orchard, an’ ah see ‘im swingin’ in a tree!” Scootaloo had opted out at this time, backing away from the two of them.

“That wasn’t m-“

“An’ he’s gone stealin’ mah apples!” She looked down at the apples that had fallen out of his bag with a scowl.

“I can explain that, just-“

“OH, ya BETTER,” her face was an inch or two away from Jordan’s, still scrunched up with fury. Oh shit… oh shit… she’s ready to look like one of Walker's fiery "accidents"...

“That’s enough, Applejack,” the Element of Honesty was suddenly being pulled back by a cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane. Undoubtedly, this was Rainbow Dash, the Element of Loyalty. “Leave him to me…” What?

“SO,” Rainbow Dash started, getting up close like Applejack had done. “What’re you doing, huh? Sneaking around and running away after breaking into a building, I hear? What are you? Are you a SPY!?”

She’s even worse!!!

“Rainbow, that’s not very nice…” a soft voice came from behind the interrogator.

“But look at him, Fluttershy!” She turned around to face another pegasus. Element of Kindness. Safe to assume they’re all here. Sure enough, he saw four others, excluding Scootaloo. The unicorn from the library, Pinkie Pie, and another unicorn that just breathed an aura of style… or was it snootiness? The fourth was none other than the sun princess.

“Well, let me talk to him,” Fluttershy suggested.

“Fluttershy…” Rainbow Dash groaned. She looked into her friends eyes for a moment. “Fine.”

The pink-maned pegasus trotted up Jordan, fortunately not getting into his personal space, unlike the other two.

“Hello, how are you doing?” Did she just… Just like that, Jordan's sarcasm mode was activated.

“I’m fine. Besides the fact I’m hanging upside-down, today has just been dandy.”

She broke through his sarcasm. “Um… do you want to get down?”

This time he just stared at her. He regretted it. Those eyes… They’re adorable… I’m getting a heart attack… “Yeah.”

The purple unicorn approached now. “Allow me.” Her horn began to glow.

“Wait,” Jordan said. She stopped whatever she was doing. “I don't wanna land on that," he gestured to the pipe under him. "Just push me towards the tree.”

He was met with quizzical looks. “Will explain later.” He found himself shrouded in a purple glow and being swung towards the tree. Closer… closer… and… He swung his free leg and made contact with the tree. The ponies couldn’t hear anything, except for Princess Celestia, who knew exactly what was going on. The low hum came to an end when the rope suddenly not only snapped, but shredded. Jordan directed the vibration to his foot, flipping himself over and landing on his feet.

The seven average ponies there were speechless at first. It was Princess Celestia who spoke. “Impressive. You’re using vibrations?”

Now it was Jordan’s turn to be shocked. “H-how did… nevermind.” She IS a deity, after all.

“Wow, that looked FUN!” Pinkie Pie stated.

“Pinkie?” Jordan asked.

“Yep! That’s my name! What’s yours?”

“You should know, since your eye felt all-“ he threw his arms in the air. “WHOOSH, and that somehow told you that I needed to go to the library.”

Jordan became confused when she suddenly spazzed in midair and gasped in a manner that he could only described as “violently”. She then darted around to all her friends.

“Guys! This is Jordan! His name is Jordan! Let’s throw a party!”

Twilight trotted over to Jordan. “Uh, could you explain that?” He explained how he snuck into town and “visited” the bakery (which he now learned was called Sugar Cube Corner) where he overheard the Pinkie Sense in action.

“What is a Pinkie Sense, anyway?” he asked.

“She has these premonitions that ALWAYS come true.”

“So I gathered,” he said, looking back at the ship. “Oh, and sorry.”

“About?”

“Our little stand-off in your library,” he facepalmed. “It was stupid.”

“Speaking of which, what were you doing in my house?”

“Wait… you LIVE there?” THAT is dedication.

An awkward silence a born from this question. Once again, the Princess broke it. “We should all be going, they're waiting.”

“Uh… where? And who?” None of them- not even Rainbow Dash or Applejack- could blame Jordan for being suspicious.

“Town Hall,” Twilight explained. “The Mayor gathered everypony-“

“I’m sorry if I start laughing if you say that again,” he put hand over his eyes and smirked.

“Say what?”

“Everypony or anypony.” He began to chuckle.

“Well… what should I say?”

“Doesn’t matter what I think.” He managed to compose himself before saying that.

Twilight stared blankly for a moment before continuing. “Anyway, she gathered every… well, the citizens of Ponyville at Town Hall. They just want to ask some questions.” Get out of one interrogation, get escorted to another. Will I EVER get a break? Jordan thought.

“And they’re not the only ones,” Rainbow Dash grumbled. She wasn’t alone on the suspicion; Applejack also looked ready to condemn him. He shrugged it off on the outside, burying how he felt about their accusations on the inside. He went to wear his strainer had rolled and put it back in its place on his head.

“Why would you where a strainer?” That was Rarity. “That just looks ridiculous!”

He shrugged, not bothered by the opinion. “I don’t know, it’s sentimental. This was my mom’s strainer, and it’s the only thing I can remember from my family at all; I had the memories removed for some reason.”

Rarity was bothered by this. Not that she was alone, but she was the only one to make a big deal of it. “Why would you even THINK of doing that?!”

“If I knew why, then forgetting would have been pointless, I think,” Jordan put simply. “Don’t worry about it! After all, I don’t!” That was probably the best lie I’ve ever told.

“Now that’s a lie,” said Applejack. Damn, she’s good.

“Fine, it does,” he said. “Let’s just… go.”

They started heading back south. Rainbow Dash flew ahead of everyone else, probably to announce their eminent arrival.

“So, Jordan,” Twilight started. “Why were you in my house?”

“Reading.”

“That’s it?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Well, my fridge was empty after you left.”

“That wasn’t me; I brought apples.”

Pinkie chirped up. “It was probably Ditzy! You know how she gets, sometimes…”

Twilight chuckled. “Sounds like Derpy!”

“TWILIGHT!”

“Relax, Pinkie, I’m not making fun of her,” Twilight defended.

“Uh… who’s Ditzy?” Jordan asked.

“You’ll know her when you see her… oh, wait, you DID see her,” Twilight said.

“Did I?”

“That pegasus you almost hit when you launched yourself with that lantern thing, you couldn’t tell?”

“How could I tell?”

“Oh, you’ll see.”

He never liked it when anyone was obscure like that. With Twilight, his pet peeve became a major psychotic hatred.

Chapter 4

-Chapter 4-

Nothing could prepare Jordan for the hailstorm of questions he was about to be bombarded with. He knew it was coming, but it never occurred to him to prepare any answers. Sure, Scootaloo, most of the Elements of Harmony, and Princess Celestia didn’t see him as a threat, but Applejack and Rainbow Dash’s reactions were something he expected he expected from the other ponies inside. As he anxiously waited at the entrance of the Town Hall, only one sentence kept repeating itself in his mind…

I’m on trial. I’m on trial. I’m on trial. I’m screwed. Where did Scootaloo go?

…make that three sentences.

---M~A~N~I~C~S---

Inside, the citizens of Ponyville were in heated conversations. All of them concerned a recent rumor: That something had come into town and spied on them. Daisy, Lily, and Rose were melodramatic about this to the point everypony else thought one of them was going to faint.

Lyra wasn’t doing so well either; she had been on the verge of a freak-out ever since someone had added the word “human” to the rumor. She had gotten over the human thing (besides the fact she still sat upright), but now she was thrown back into it. Bon Bon stood by her, hoping she wouldn’t do something absolutely embarrassing.

Meanwhile, Ditzy was calling out the rumor of some weird visitor and replacing it with a new rumor: a giant flying monkey was in town. Sparkler and Carrot Top appeared to have practiced facehoofing together when they did so... and it was synchronized.

Vinyl and Octavia were going back and forth between backing-up the rumor (since they HAD seen the visitor), and debating what kind of music said visitor preferred. Vinyl said they liked Dubtrot and Stable, since they had witnessed the use of some advanced technology. Octavia, like always, supported the idea that they preferred something more Classical, claiming it was a sign of intelligence that would result in advanced technology.

Berry Punch just wondered what booze they drank, which a question that Colgate was counting on her bringing up. In short, Doctor Whooves lost a lot of bits that day because of what Berry said.

Applejack and Big Macintosh were discussing the fact that the ship had crashed in the middle of the orchard. However, it seemed to be that Applejack was the only one who cared.

“But, Big Mac, it DESTROYED a good part o’ the fields!”

“Ah know that,” Big Mac replied. ”And ah’m not sayin’ ah’m not unhappy ‘bout it. Ah’m jus’ sayin’ you shouldn’t go blamin’ ‘im fer it.”

“How could ya say that?”

“From what ah’m hearin’, they weren’t aimin’ fer the field. So… eeyup, ah can fergive,” Big Mac leaned closer to his sister. “But ah sure don’t think ah can account fer how you, the Element o' Honesty, made this mole hill inta a mountain.”

Applejack lowered her head and sighed, not saying a word before starting slowly. “Well… ya got a point, there.”

“Eeyup,” Big Mac replied in the usual manner.

Rainbow Dash was different from Applejack at that point. She remained suspicious to the point where the accusations in her head were completely and utterly ridiculous to a rational pony. Obviously, she had no plans for thinking realistically in the near future. Not even Fluttershy could change this, amazingly.

The tumult died down when a series of rapid knocks came from above. The ponies looked to the balcony, where the Mayor stood at a podium alongside Princess Celestia. The ponies below bowed down in her presence until they were bidden to rise.

“There is no doubt,” the Mayor began. “That you have heard rumors of a creature that has arrived in Ponyville without any clear sign to its nature; that it’s not clear whether or not it is an enemy.” She paused, letting the message sink in. “I am telling you firsthand that these rumors… are true.”

The clamor began again, and like before was met by the Mayor’s stomp.

“I understand that you are all concerned by this, but I assure you that everything is safe.” She paused again. “The Elements of Harmony, as well as the Princess herself, have confronted him and have reason to believe that he is safe.”

Well, I don’t… Rainbow Dash thought.

“At this moment, he is outside that door-“ the Mayor emphasized by pointing a hoof to the main doors. “-and will be coming in shortly to answer your questions.” Murmurs came from the audience, but the noise never became as loud as the previous racket.

“I expect you all to act like civilized ponies. No extreme accusations…“

“They’re true, though,” Rainbow whispered. Nopony heard her, though.

“…no throwing things, no insults. Remember, the Princess is here.” She turned and bowed slightly to Equestria’s ruler.

After a long pause, she continued. “Is everypony ready?” Isolated shouts of agreement sounded from the audience. She turned to a yellow pegasus with a blue mane near the balcony. “Bring him in.”

---M~A~N~I~C~S---

Ok, just calm down and everything will be… Ugh… that doesn’t change the fact that I’m still on TRIAL. What do I do? What do I say? What if they ask about my past? Or worse?! What am I-

“Hello?”

Jordan was jolted out of his thoughts by a voice, which turned out to be a nervous looking pegasus. “Yeah?”

The pegasus backed up a little. “Uh… they’re ready for you in there.” With that, she turned and flew back inside. Behind where she was, an open door awaited. The muffled sound of concerned whispers started to quiet from inside as the ponies entered a state of suspense. I’d hate to be them.

He stood up from his spot on the floor, but didn’t move yet. Come on, you don’t have time for this! You got a mission, and this has just become part of it!

His little friend had a point, but he still hesitated, only putting his bag down. The pipe made a light clang against the outer wall of the building. These ponies seem nice enough. Well, besides Rainbow Dash and Applejack, but never mind them. You might find a way to get the PRE-C Data! Another solid point, and that pushed him to step into the building.

---M~A~N~I~C~S---

Obviously, the first reactions from any of them when he stepped into view were gasps and whispers. One of them, a mint green unicorn, seemed to hiss “Yes” to herself, as if it were a victory. After the initial reaction had died down, he took a few steps forward and looked up. The Mayor (he assumed, it was the same shocked pony that was with the Princess at the library from earlier) and the Princess were watching from a balcony. He stopped and nodded respectfully at the two of them, and the Mayor gestured to a podium of the stage below them. Looking around once, he climbed up on stage and positioned himself behind the podium.

The podium was a bit short for him, so he had to hunch over to speak into the microphone even after he adjusted it.

“Um… Hello,” he said.

Silence. Tough crowd…

“My name is Jordan and I’m new here.”

“Clearly,” a voice came from the audience. He found the source to be an orange-maned Earth pony mare.

“Great! Glad we’re on the same page.” This actually elicited some chuckles, which quickly ceased.

“Anyway,” Jordan continued. “I was told you have questions for me, so if you kindly raise your haaaaa- hooves, I’ll point you out and you can ask it. Okay?”

The hooves started going up, only two at first. Jordan pointed out the nearest one: a gray pegasus with wall eyes (This must be Ditzy). “Yes? Oh, but before you ask, what is your name?”

“My name’s Ditzy! I was going to ask what kind of muffins you li-“

A number of groans cut her off, but Jordan decided to answer her… interesting question.

“Uh… blueberry! Blueberry’s always good! Next question? Something other than what I like?”

This time he pointed out a gray Earth Pony wearing a bow tie. “Your name?”

“Octavia,” she answered.

“Wait, let me guess what you do,” he put his index fingers on his temples and shut his eyes tight. “Something with music?”

“I play the cello, so you are correct!”

He leaned over the podium, knocking over the microphone in the process (this made him realize that he could have avoided hunching over the whole time). After picking up the device, he spoke. “I’m sorry, what is it you play again?”

“The cello… but what about my question?”

Jordan stopped himself from going overboard. First they tie knots, then they play string instruments. Actually, they play instruments PERIOD. What else? “Alright. Ask away.”

“Well, it’s a simple question: What are you?”

Before he could say anything, an irritated voice rose from somewhere in the crowd. “What? Isn’t it obvious?! He’s a HUMAN, Octavia!”

Wait, someone knows humans exist? Jordan saw that the outburst came from that mint green unicorn from earlier, who was now being restrained by a cream Earth pony with a pink and blue mane. Try as she might, she couldn’t stop the ticked-off unicorn from shouting off the facts that made him human.

“He stands on two legs, has fingers, is awkwardly bald on most of his body that he covers with clothing most of the time! He’s undoubtedly human!” Something about the way she was acting bothered him. Maybe she was yet another pony that reminded him of one of his crew.

“Actually,” he cut in. “Your only half right.”

The unicorn stopped struggling against her friend and wore a blank stare for a moment, which was all the time she needed to wrench away from her friend and actually jump onto the stage. She reared up, stabilizing herself on the other side of the podium, and started boring holes into his head with her eyes. What did I unleash now?!

“HALF right?!” She leaned in closer. “How am I only HALF right?!”

He flashed an apologetic look at the balcony, causing the Princess to wonder what he was going to do next. This was answered when he raised his hand and flicked the unicorn's horn. She fell backwards in a slight daze, cuing her cream friend from earlier to shout her name. “Lyra!”

Jordan raised his hands, keeping the microphone leaned towards his mouth. “I’m awfully sorry about that. Sometimes I act before I think, and this is one of those times.” He looked back up at the balcony, only to see that the Princess’s demeanor had not changed, if not a little bit. The Mayor also kept her composure, but it was clear she wasn’t pleased.

He started talking again as he turned back towards the audience, but focused on the pony sitting in front of him with a hoof on her head. “Anyway, you’re only half right because I’m only half human. I call myself a Manic, even though I technically am a Human-Manic hybrid. Oh, and yes, humans exist.”

That got her out of her daze. She was calmer now, and again Jordan could sense something familiar about her. “Well, then I’m still right with the whole ‘humans exist’ thing?”

“Wait, that was a THING?” he looked to her friend and pointed her out. “This has been going on for a while?”

The pony shrugged. “She stopped for a while. Then you showed up, and…”

Jordan just stood in place for a moment. “O…kay, then,” he said. “Well, thanks for the question, Octavia…“ he nodded the musician“…thanks for your input, Lyra…” he nodded to the unicorn who was trotting back to her spot in a victorious manner. “…and thanks for… what’s your name?” He pointed at the cream pony.

“Bon Bon.”

“Thanks for trying to hold her down, Bon Bon.” Wait, that sounded wrong. “I mean back! Thanks for holding her back!”

Of course, if he had left it alone in the first place it would have gone unnoticed. The number of facehoofing ponies, as well as the somewhat flustered Bon Bon and Lyra, revealed that fact to him. The facehoofing prompted him to facepalm.

“Jordan, you’ve done it again,” he whispered into the mic. A chuckle or two came from the crowd. So all is not lost! YES!

“Um… that actually brings me to my question,” Bon Bon said.

He removed his hand from his face and put it in his pocket. “Go on…”

“Uh… we were wonderi-“ Lyra cut her off, whispering something into Bon Bon’s ear. “But, Lyra, we-“ More whispering, with a hint of irritation about what was being said. Wait, are these two…?

“Well… anytime you wanna say something is fine by me,” he muttered, feigning disinterest.

“FINE, Bon Bon, tell EVERYPONY about it,” Lyra suddenly shouted.

Bon Bon retaliated. “Do you think it’s easy to suddenly come out of the closet with my special somepony in front of an alien, Princess Celestia herself, and the entire town?” Both mares’ eyes suddenly widened as they realized the last sentence was practically yelled. “Um… I…”

I totally called that, Jordan thought, hiding his grin.

“I knew you two could do it!” a purplish unicorn standing next to Ditzy cheered. In fact, Ditzy was also cheering, as well as many of the other ponies. Pinkie Pie was especially excited by the news, judging by the bouncing around and rapid-fire talk about planning a party. Lyra and Bon Bon looked around at the cheering ponies, surprised by how their recent revelation was viewed by their neighbors. Soon, they were smiling and wrapped in each others forelegs. Internalized happy tears are flowing. I think I used that word right...

“So,” Jordan’s voice silenced the cheering. “Your question was going to be about how Manics react to this sort of thing?”

“Well, yes,” Bon Bon answered.

“Here’s my reaction,” he paused. “I was thinking ‘Wait, are they a couple? They are! I called it! And might I add that these two are adorable together!” Again, something familiar was going on… he still couldn’t remember who it was he was thinking of. Probably Gunny, since she DOES roll that way.

“So… monics are ok with this?” Lyra asked.

“It’s MAN-ics, and yes, we’re fine with it. At least some of us a-“

“COME ON, that’s crap! Are you ponies crazy? This is just wrong in so many ways!” A unicorn stallion with a yellow mane challenged the couple’s decisions. Ah, the first critic! Love how there's ALWAYS one of these. This is gonna be good. I could use a snack for th- why do I smell… He looked back to the podium in time to see a muffin on it and Ditzy hurrying off the stage. He nodded his thanks, though secretly wondered where she found the time to get muffins.

I should ask her where she keeps them. Wait, do I want to know? Ah, whatever, it’s free food. Muffin in hand (and mouth), he stood idly on stage and watched the show unfold in the audience. He wondered why the Mayor, or the Princess, for that matter, weren’t stopping this. Maybe they want to see how I handle this? He looked up at the two of them. The Princess was whispering something to the Mayor, who was nodding in understanding and whispering back. Huh, I guess so. He looked back to the action on the ground floor. It was Bon Bon’s turn to give this guy a piece of her mind.

“We don’t even KNOW you! Who are you to tell us how we should love?”

“I love in the way we’re naturally meant to!”

“Naturally, huh?” Lyra questioned. She pointed a hoof towards the balcony the Princess occupied. “Princess Celestia and Princess Luna made Equestria what it is today! Tell them what’s natural!”

“Just like a lesbian whore! Using the Princesses’ names like that!” At the mention of the words “lesbian whore”, everyone who cheered backed up in shock and disgust of what the yet-to-be named stallion had used to describe Lyra and Bon Bon. Jordan found what he said disturbing as well. He knew where to draw the line between joking around and blunt disrespect. He cut into the clamor at this point.

“Hey, just calm down and shut up. Don’t we have something to be doi-“

The stallion turned to him. “YOU are no better then THOSE, since you’re so fond of them.” Those? Rude little prick.

“These fillyfoolers-“ Now that’s a cute word...

“Should be given a lesson on how things REALLY should be!”

Jordan was frozen in position biting the muffin. He finished the bite and swallowed before putting it down, taking a deep breath before pointing something about the stallion out.

“You smiled when you said that, you know?” His tone was darker than before. After a pause, he continued. “That was a threat; you just threatened to rape them.”

Jordan’s sudden change of attitude had caused uneasiness, but his analysis had turned that into shock and elicited gasps of disgust, especially from the couple in question and another pair- a blue unicorn (who's mane reminded him of toothpaste, oddly) and a slightly intoxicated-looking Earth pony.

“I digress, though,” he said. “We all tend to exaggerate how we feel about something we hate. Ever say you’re gonna kill someone... and never do it?” Several ponies nodded in understanding, still retaining the revolted looks.

He continued. “Ponyville’s a small town, right?”

“Heh, what’s your point?” The stallion said, still smirking despite everypony’s reactions.

“I’m implying,” Jordan began, taking a few steps forward, but remaining on stage. “That you’re frustrated by the fact that, in such a small town, your chance of finding someb- wait, somepony to spend a night with has dwindled by two.”

“Why, you…”

“Careful!” Jordan backed up, picking the muffin up again and taking a bite. “You haven’t SEEN anything like me, so I don’t think it would smart of you to pull anything.”

The stallion still challenged his words. “And what can YOU do?!”

Jordan turned around and shook his head. Jeez, what a rude little prick. He looked at the balcony, who’s occupants were still whispering, then towards the open air in the building, which was where many pegasi- save Ditzy and Fluttershy- were hovering. He noticed Rainbow Dash glaring at him, waiting for him to make a move. Well, she gets her wish.

“This.” He picked up his foot and slammed it down. A clang came from outside the door. He stomped again, raising his hand behind him, and caught the pipe he had left outside. He spun around and pointed it at the stallion, stepping of stage and approaching him as he did so. The opposite end just inches from his face, which betrayed his fear.

“Let me tell you something,” he spoke in a low tone. “One of my crewmates, who is also a close friend of mine, is one of ‘them’, as you say. I respect that. If anyone messed with her, or any other member of the crew, then the rest of us would be on them. So far, I’m the only one out here, and you just crossed that line. Unintentionally, but you still did.” He stepped forward, the tip literally touching the opposition’s muzzle, who’s eyes shut tight, then slowly opened when he realized nothing was happening to him.

“On top of that, I get a little crazy when I hear some bastard like you think he can fix something with his prick. Not sure why, but it does, and saying ‘a little’ doesn’t begin to describe how much it pisses me off.” He pushed the rod forward, nudging the stallion with it. He stumbled back onto his haunches, sliding himself away from Jordan.

“So…” Jordan seemed to return to his original state. “Yeah… you… better watch yourself.” He turned back to the stage, looking towards the floor as he stepped onto it. He noticed a shadow on the stage, and raised his head to see exactly who he expected to be there.

“Now that you’ve shown everypony how you REALLY act,” Rainbow Dash said. “It’s time you start giving us ANSWERS!”

Jordan ignored her for a second and turned back around. The bigot was gone. “Did he leave?” He pointed at Lyra, who nodded. “What’s his name?”

“Fiery Ray, he’s-“

“NOT IMPORTANT!” the shout literally blew on the hair on the back of his head. He turned around and faced his interrogator.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “You were saying?”

“When is the invasion?!”

Apprehensive whispers began behind him. All he could do to react was to utter a single word while maintaining a blank expression.

“What.”

---M~A~N~I~C~S---

“RUUUUN!” The four of them panicked and fled from the terror.

The spotted one shouted, his accent somehow adding emphasis, “What IS that?!”

Nopony answered. The only sound was the noise the monstrosity made.

“Grglegrggr… ssssss…”

Chapter 5

-Chapter 5-

“What,” Jordan said, blankly.

“When is the invasion!?” a furious Rainbow Dash yelled.

Jordan stared at her for a moment. “What invasion?”

Rainbow Dash got closer to his face. “The one where the other ships come down and destroy every weather factory, creating chaos all over Equestria, take over Canterlot, and finally, the rest of the world!”

Everypony was silently waiting for what Jordan had to say to that. He started making a sound, which eventually got louder. It was laughter; he was laughing to the point he was tearing up.

So he IS evil! Rainbow thought.

Jordan took a second to wipe a tear from his eye before speaking. “I’ve seen crazy and stupid, but, Rainbow Dash, you take the title of ‘completely fucking nuts’!”

A hiss from behind him to his right. “Jordan!” He turned and saw the rest of the Elements of Harmony on stage. The hiss had come from Twilight. “Language!”

He smiled sheepishly. “I have a point, though! Look it’s simple…”

“Oh really?!” Rainbow interrupted. “Explain why you were in Twilight’s house!”

“I don’t understand how being in a library is an act of war,” he stated. “Fine, but it’s a long explanation…”

---M~A~N~I~C~S---

Rainbow Dash won’t let him explain, Princess Celestia thought. Her interruptions will slow things down.

“Princess?” The Mayor was looking up at her. “What is it?”

“Rainbow Dash is going to slow his explanation down. It must be sped along with interruptions if we are to finally learn why his kind are here.”

The Princess took a deep breath. “I’ll see if I can learn by going into his mind,” she decided.

The Mayor was apprehensive. “But, Princess,” she said. “Is it a good idea to do a thing so drastic to a… well, to him?”

“Don’t worry,” Celestia reassured the Mayor. “I don’t predict any issues. Other than the absence of memories involving his family and attention difficulties, he seems safe to read.”

The Mayor simply nodded in understanding. The explanation down below had been interrupted several times so far.

“So we saw a strange planet…” Jordan started.

“How long ago!?” Rainbow interrupted aggressively.

“Ngh, I JUST told you! Ten or something hours ago!”

Here it goes… The Sun Princess’s horn began to glow as Rainbow Dash yelled something else at Jordan.

---M~A~N~I~C~S---

“THAT DOESN’T MATTER! All you have to understand is that I needed to learn from pretty much all the books in the library, attach this ring to my finger, and have the stuff I just learned copied into the computer, which then alters a Manic’s brain so they learn the material in less than a day!”

“And what happens AFTER that?!”

“After that, we-“ Jordan stopped and put a hand on the back of his head. I got a headache from all of this…

But this didn’t feel like a normal tension headache. It felt like someone was drilling a hole in the back of his head and dripping lemon juice into it. I feel weird… like… someone’s in my head…

He looked around, ignoring Rainbow’s calls to continue. She was eventually silenced by Fluttershy, who stepped closer to Jordan.

“Are you alright?” she asked. Her voice felt like a hammer on his brain, but non-existent cotton balls in his ears muffled the actual sound. He began looking anywhere but at the speaker. His eyes landed on the balcony, where he saw the Princess focusing on him, her horn glowing.

“Princess…” he groaned. The words, broken and slurred, were assaulting his brain, so he raised his open hand to it. “Are you doing this?”

The Princess looked surprised for the first time since his exit from the library earlier. That was the last thing he saw before all hell broke loose.

He dropped the microphone and raised his hands to his ears and a terrible screech was heard. It sounded something along the lines of someone scraping their nails against a board and the dog-whistling-bomb sound. He tried to scream, but no sound could come out, or it did and he couldn’t hear it over the rattling. He saw the ponies around him back away several steps and stare in some kind of horror. The kind of horror where you don’t understand what’s going on but know it’s bad news. He fell onto his knees, looking up at the Princess with the hope to get the message across. STOP! MY HEAD IS ABOUT TO BLOW THE HELL UP! He saw a mint mane and yelled something he didn’t know he was yelling until after the fact. Whatever it was, he kept yelling it.

Now his vision was suffering; dark purple spots were forming, creating a tunnel-like view. Then he saw red tendrils grow from the corner of his vision, pulsing with his rapid heartbeat. The Princess looked like she was being attacked by some giant, red, tentacled alien. Though his vision was impaired, he saw her horn stop glowing, and heard the screeching ending. F-finally…

Suddenly he was seeing red, and as soon as it came, it left, leaving darkness in its place

---M~A~N~I~C~S---

The visitor was on the floor, screaming a single word. “Em”.

Then, the visitor was on the floor, not screaming anymore, but bleeding from his eyes and nose.

“Everypony, out of the way!” Nurse Redheart suddenly emerged from the crowd and was on stage in a heartbeat. She was carrying a first aid kit in a saddlebag, which she laid next to the fallen speaker.

Rainbow Dash hovered backwards with a look of disbelief and worry. Given that the same look was shared by everypony, it didn’t seem out of place. But it was; hers was more distraught than the others.

“W-w-what did I do?” she stammered, dropping the mask of an interrogator.

“Calm down, Rainbow,” Twilight said. “I don’t think anything you did could do this.”

“Correct, this was my fault.” The ponies, except the nurse, looked up to see the Princess had come down onto the stage.

“Princess Celestia… you… what?” Twilight looked at her mentor with a confused face.

“Rainbow Dash’s accusations, which go against what the Mayor explicitly instructed everypony to do, were slowing things down. He was making progress, but not enough to get this over with today.”

Rainbow Dash sat on her haunches. “…I wasn’t thinking. I got… what’s the word?”

“Paranoid?” Twilight suggested.

“I got paranoid and my mouth started running and-“

At that moment, Jordan suddenly sat upright, surprising Nurse Redheart and causing her to jump away a little. He turned towards Rainbow Dash, and she saw his bloody face more clearly.

“Running?” he mumbled loud enough to be heard. “More like went off at Warp 10.” He started to get up, but Nurse Redheart stopped him, keeping him in the sitting position.

“Stay down,” she instructed. “Your eyes and nose are bleeding.”

He wiped a finger on his face and examined it. It was covered in blood. “Ow, that’s a first.”

“How do you feel?” The Princess asked.

“I’m fine, your majesty,” Jordan replied. “Just a headache.” He turned to the nurse. “You have an Aspirin or something?”

The Princess spoke as Redheart looked through her kit for a painkiller. “But you know what happened.”

“Yeah,” Jordan said. “Not your fault. This is the first time you’ve done that on something like me, right?”

“Correct…”

“Then you didn’t know what would happen or assumed it was safe,” he shrugged. “Could have been worse.”

“How, exactly, could it have become worse?”

“Um… I’ll have to think about that, Princess.”

Nurse Redheart finally offered a couple of white pills to him. “Take these, they’ll stop the headache.”

“Thank you,” he took them and put them in his mouth. After a swallow and a pause, he clapped his hands together and rubbed them. “So! Where were we, Rainbow Dash?”

“Um… you were explaining why you were in the library?” She said that as a question, though it wasn’t.

“Oh, right. No interruptions, this time?” He smirked at the mare, who facehoofed. “Alright, alright! Don’t beat yourself up on me!”

“Anyway,” he began. “I was in the library reading these two books: one about recent history and one about basic biology. The biology book is how I knew to flick Lyra’s horn earlier.” Actually, I would’ve done it anyway…

“The recent history book told me about some of your-“ he gestured to the Mane Six- “adventures, and about the Princesses. There was also something about a ‘Discord’ and changelings. Too long; didn’t read.

“If I had the time, I would have read those books and the rest of the library while I was at it. Buuuuut… Twilight walked in on me. Embarrassing, right?” He chuckled.

“Why would you read the entire library?” Rainbow asked, before adding more bluntly: “Are you an egghead?”

“That’s step one of getting PRE-C Da-“ a muffin fell on his lap. Of course, Ditzy was hovering above the stage. “Where do you keep getting the muffins? Actually, I don’t wanna know…”

“Maybe she does what I do!” Pinkie said. She reached into her mane and pulled a cupcake out of it.

Jordan looked at Pinkie, then at Ditzy, then the muffin, and back to Pinkie, then the muffin again. He shrugged and took a bite out of it. What followed was something he was hoping to avoid saying…

“Thanks Derpy- I mean Ditzy-" Crap, I said it. "-NGGGH! TWILIGHT! Why did you have to mention that around me!?”

Ditzy lowered onto the stage and gave Jordan a concerned look. “Derpy’s my nickname. You can use it, but don’t be mean about it…”

So that’s why. He facepalmed. “Sorry for the freakout…”

“But… why did Twilight mention it?” Ditzy asked.

“Something about a fridge being raided, I think…”

“Oh, right!” she turned to Twilight. “I DID raid your fridge last night!”

“I had a feeling,” Twilight sighed with a slight smile.

“We’re getting off track here,” Jordan started again with a serious tone. “Though, I technically caused that to happen… ANYWAY!” He took a deep breath. “Learning almost everything about a world is how Manics get PRE-C Data- or Pre-Contact Data. After that, a device is used to copy the data needed from their brain and transmits it to the ship’s computer system- in this case, I think it’ll send the info to Kat, tell you about her later.

“The downside is that I have an issue with reading. I kinda have some attention problems. Sometimes, I’m kinda like Pinkie Pie.”

Though Pinkie is more like Gunny. Actually, if Pinkie and Rainbow’s personality came together, another Gunny would be born… I wonder if she’ll be straight? NO! Wait! Off track again!

“Anyway, I have a time limit, and with my issues I probably won’t make the time limit.” He took a breath. “Now I have to figure out how to get the PRE-C Data AND have time to-“

A clamor began in the crowd. Everyone on stage looked and saw three fillies and a colt closing the door.

“Lockitlockitlockit!” a familiar yellow one said.

“There IS no lock!” Wait, Scootaloo?!

“Applebloom! What the hay are ya doin’?!” Applejack shouted, supposedly to the yellow one. Same accent. Well ah’ll be.

“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity said loudly. “What have you three done…” She looked at the colt. “…and dragged Pipsqueak into this time?” Ha… Pipsqueak. He’s gonna be the tallest in town eventually. Oh the irony.

“Actually, Miss Rarity,” Pipsqueak said. “It was my idea…” he squirmed in place when he noticed not only everypony’s eyes were on him, but also the Princess’s and Jordan’s.

“Pipsqueak…” Twilight said. “What happened?”

The colt took a deep breath and calmed down a little. “We were talking about-“ he pointed a hoof at Jordan- “him, and Scootaloo mentioned a…”

“A ship?” Jordan asked.

“Yes, so I thought it would be a great idea to check it out. Y’know…”

“So you went. What happened?” Twilight asked.

“We didn’t even see the ship when we saw a Timber Wolf…”

“During the day? Wha would a lone Timber Wolf be around in the daylight?” Applejack asked.

“I don’t know! B-but then we saw that it was staring at something…” he took a deep breath, but it didn’t help this time. “It looked like a very big bug… and before we knew it, it jumped onto the Timber Wolf!”

Bug…

“It ran off with the bug on it, but then we saw it again… it was covered in a black… thing! It made these really horrible noises and… we ran as fast as we could, but it followed us here!”

As if on cue, a noise came from outside. It was a sound Jordan was all too familiar with.

“Gurrrglegrgrgrrrll…”

Everypony had quieted down, in fear of alerting whatever it was to their presence. But it already knows!!! Everyone just get away from the walls!!!

Suddenly, the fillies, who were pressed against the door, were blown back by a bang on it. colliding with the colt. Jordan stood up and stamped a foot, sending the podium to block the door.

“That’ll keep it out for now. Everyone, get away from the door!” he shouted. Many of the ponies went straight to the back of the room, some going up onto the balcony, to which the Princess had returned. The only ones that stayed were the Mane Six (I just realized that I’m calling them Mane Six… huh… Don’t know what to think about that), a large, red stallion whose Cutie Mark suggested he was related to Applejack, a blue unicorn mare and brown Earth pony stallion- both with hourglass Cutie Marks, the drunk-looking mare from earlier (now seemingly sobered up), and the white pony with the purple glasses he noticed earlier that day.

Before he started walking off stage, he felt something on his leg. Looking down, he saw Scootaloo, putting a hoof in front of his leg.

“What happened to your face?” she asked.

Jordan put and hand on his face and knew what she meant; there was still blood on it. “Doesn’t matter, I’m all right,” he reassured her as he wiped it off with his sleeve. “Just get to the back.”

She didn’t go, and it wasn’t until Rainbow Dash picked her up and literally carried her to the back that she complied. He heard a ‘squee’ when that happened, but wasn’t sure why. He turned to the center of the room and stepped off stage as the rainbow-maned pegasus returned.

“Why are you all still here?” he asked the remaining ponies.

“I, personally, hate running every time something goes down,” the purple one said. “Makes me depressed.” Yeah… alcohol won’t help you there.

“Same here,” the brown pony said.

“Me too,” the blue unicorn agreed.

“Eeyup,” the red one added.

“I just want some action to im- rub in Octy’s face with!” the one with the eyewear responded. Huh, interesting. Wonder what she does for a living, make dubstep… or dubtrot?

Another series of bashes against the doors. Jordan raised his pipe in front of him, gripping it with both hands. Everypony was watching the door intently, expecting the creature to burst in with each bash. That didn’t happen, though, and the bashing stopped again.

Fluttershy hovered towards the door. “Um… I think I can handle this.” What? No! Jordan, tell her she can’t! He didn’t. She landed near the door are started whispering to the thing on the other side, hoping to change its mind about attacking them. He would have said something if he weren’t being asked a question.

“Psst!” It was the white unicorn. “Quick question, even if it’s a bad time?”

“Shoot,” he muttered.

“Dubtrot or Classical?” I guess I was right about Dubstep's name here...

“Both. First one when I’m partying, the other when I’m feeling cheery or depressed… or to recover from the headaches I get from headbanging…”

“Miss Scratch,” the brown pony approached. “This isn’t a good time to be asking something like that.”

“Names?” Jordan asked gesturing to the two ponies.

“Vinyl Scratch,” the white pony said. “But on stage I’m DJ-P0n3.” A DJ! MaQuasi would adore her… I think… He doesn’t really talk much…

“Doctor Whooves,” the brown one said. “I sell time pieces. Clocks and all that cool stuff. My sister is in the business of fixing and making them.” He must be talking about the unicorn with the same Cutie Mark. He looked up and saw the unicorn he was thinking of moving next to Fluttershy. “Oh, her name is Min-“

SSPOOOOSSS!

A green blur came through the door, missing Fluttershy and grazing Doctor Whooves’s sister. She collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain.

“MINUETTE!” Doctor Whooves yelled, running to his sister.

“COLGATE!” the purple pony also ran to her.

No no no no no no no! I could have stopped this from happening!!!

He ran over, followed shortly by Nurse Redheart, who started examining her. Jordan was in between staring at the hole in the door, the one in the floor, and Minuette/Colgate’s injury. A line ran down her side from shoulder to flank, oozing blood. Her face was scrunched up in pain, and tears were in her tightly-shut eyes. I’ve seen this before.

Kit.

“Get her out of here,” he whispered to the nurse. “She’s in a bad place to be treated.”

“What am I treating?” Nurse Redheart asked.

“Acid burns.” She looked at him quizzically.

“Long story, just go.” As she left, dragging her patient along, Jordan turned to Doctor Whooves.

“She’s going to be all right. The best result is that she’ll be fine in a couple days. At worst, she’ll have a scar to remember this by. Hopefully not, but I’ve seen it before.”

“What is this... thing?!” The Doctor was angry, and he wasn’t alone; the purple mare was also furious.

“It’s-“ CRASH! “Coming in!”

Everyone ran from the door and turned quickly and defensively. A few more hard bashes hit the door, then…

CRACK-K-K-K! The door came down. In the entrance stood what was reminiscent of some kind of wolf, but it was covered in a black shell with some sort of abscess on the back of the wolf’s neck. Several green bulges lined its back, dripping with a liquid of the same color, but glowing slightly. The same liquid dripped from its mouth, burning tiny holes in the floor where it landed. A disgusting sound came from it as it stepped slowly into the building.

“Grrrrgrgrglegrle…sssgrgle…sss…”

Jordan raised his rod in front of him, though he wasn’t counting on his stance helping him. He noticed that many of the others were down low, ready to charge the creature. Fluttershy tried diplomacy again, but this time… she was scary.

“Why would you do that!?” she was actually yelling; this wasn’t the typical Fluttershy everypony knew, not the one that Jordan got to know. “What would your mother think of you? Attacking a pony like that! You could have killed her!”

“Fluttershy…” Jordan whispered to himself. “Its mother probably did the same thing… get away from it…”

The creature seemed to look at Fluttershy, who was closer to it than everypony else.

“Stop this! Right now!” Fluttershy kept scolding the thing, though it obviously wasn’t working. It started to make a different sound.

“GrgrgrgrgGRGLEGURGLRGUR!”

SHIT!

“No!” Jordan shouted as he made a mad dash to the two, pushing Fluttershy out of the way and striking the head of the creature. The creature spat out a green slime, which had the same effect on the floor that the smaller drops had: burning a hole into it. The creature also let out a cry of pain and stumbled, catching itself and turning on Jordan aggressively. He was faster, though, and landed another hit on the top of its head, bring the creature down. It was still alive, so he kept swinging down on its head. Again… and again… and again… each time, a purplish slime splattered out of its head. He finally stopped and began to stare at it past his slime-covered rod. It’s dead… I know it’s dead…

One of its legs twitched, causing him to bring the rod down two more times.

CRISH! CROSH! At that point, the head was unrecognizable. It oozed a mix of purple and green slime. Now it is.

Jordan focused his attention to the abscess, putting down his rod, kneeling down next to the body, and removing it with his Lightning Rod. After putting the tool away, he picked up the removed abscess and tore it open. The ponies didn’t see what came out, but heard it make a disgusting cry. This ended when he twisted it. He stood back up and removed the thing from the shell it was in, discarding it next to the body. He then carried it outside and slumped next to the door, examining it.

Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Big Macintosh, Doctor Whooves, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack approached the body. Vinyl stayed back, trying to figure out what she had just seen, but she couldn't think straight, not after seeing what happened to Colgate. Fluttershy was visibly shaken, even with Rainbow Dash’s hoof on her shoulder.

“W-w-why did he do that?!” she stammered.

“Well, from what I saw,” The Doctor said. “When Jordan pushed you away and hit it, it spat out another… blob of acid, if you will. Like what happened to Minuette.”

“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash agreed. “It did that when it hit Colgate… it was after you, Fluttershy.” Jordan saved her. He may have freaked out while doing it, but he still saved her, she thought.

“After… me?” Fluttershy looked away from the body at straight at Rainbow Dash, her face showing her surprise.

“She’s right, sugarcube,” Applejack said as she put her own hoof on Fluttershy’s other shoulder. “He saved ya.”

"Eeyup," said Big Mac.

“Yes,” Rarity agreed. “This disgusting creature could have killed you if he hadn’t intervened!”

"So turn that frownie upside-downie!" Pinkie added.

Fluttershy still looked sullen after this. No one could blame her, since she hated the thought of any living creature being killed, even though she knew it happened daily in the Everfree Forest.

Twilight walked past the body, slowing down for a passing glance, and went outside. Jordan was turning whatever the thing he pulled out of the abscess over and over in his hands. He looked up at her, but said nothing.

“Jordan… what is that?” Twilight asked.

“When I said I had a time limit to get the PRE-C Data,” Jordan began, his tone low. “This is what I meant.” He tossed the thing to at Twilight’s hoofs. She backed away a little as it landed with a “splat” a slid towards her. After it stopped, she got closer and examined it.

It looked like a spider with four legs and wings. Other than that, it was reminiscent of a changeling; green blue eyes and black, leathery “skin”. A green slime oozed from its mouth. When she tried to examine the slime, Jordan stopped her.

“Don’t touch it. It’s acid,” he stated.

“What is this thing?” Twilight asked in a concerned voice.

“It’s called a Slime Gouch,” Jordan said. “I’ve only heard of them doing something like what it did to the wolf- controlling its body and stuff. “The reason why these things are giving me a time limit is because the radiation in the engineering section of my ship mutated some of them and is causing them to multiply rapidly. Other than that, they’re pests. We have to repair the ship every month because they practically eat metal. Now that they’re multiplying… they could dismantle the ship in a week.” He stopped and leaned up against the wall again.

There was silence for a few moments. Several ponies, the Princess included, had come down and overheard what he had told Twilight. All of them were voicing their concerning to each other in whispers. Suddenly, Jordan stood up with a gasp.

“There could be more of them! My ship!”

He suddenly bolted off towards Sweet Apple Acres. Twilight galloped after him, and a cyan blur rocketed past her and in front of Jordan, carrying something in her mouth.

“Takesh it!” Rainbow Dash said, muffled by the rod in her mouth- the same one Jordan used to kill the parasitic gouch. He took it, and was about go when Twilight’s voice stopped him.

“Hold on, Jordan. I can get us there faster…” He turned and noticed that her horn began to glow. There was a flash of white, then it disappeared. The town was replaced by the area Jordan was “tied up” in. He wasn’t alone, though. Twilight and Rainbow Dash were with him.

“Teleportation?” he asked rhetorically. “Sweet!” He seemed back to his usual self again.

“Come on, guys!” Dash urged. “We gotta check your ship out! Not comment on Twilight’s eggheadedness!”

“That seems like a long word for you, Rainbow Dash,” Jordan replied. “But, yeah, we gotta go!”

They ran (or flew, in Dash’s case) into the crash site.

Chapter 6

-Chapter 6-

“I don’t see anything nasty from up here,” Dash shouted from above. “Am I missing something?”

“I don’t think so, Rainbow,” Twilight replied. “Are we missing something, Jordan?”

“Doesn’t look like it,” Jordan confirmed. “The Gouch might’ve come from one of the more isolated areas of the ship, away from the others. So we can breath for now.”

Jordan took a seat on the ground and looked up at the towering ship before him. After only ten minutes of searching- since Rainbow Dash’s help was fast and got the job done, it only took that long- they had found no reason to worry about any more Gouches coming out of the ship… for now.

Twilight and Dash joined him, and Twilight immediately started a conversation.

“So… have you figured out a faster way to get the PRE-C Data?”

“Been thinking about it,” Jordan answered. “But I still don’t have an answer.”

“Well, why not go over the steps again, and see if there’s a way around them?”

He thought about it for a while, and then agreed. “First, get the information. In this case, the entire library selection.”

“Isn’t that the problem?” Rainbow asked.

“Yes, because there isn’t enough time,” Twilight answered. “What then?”

“Then, make a copy and send it to the computer,” Jordan said.

“How does that work?” Twilight wondered.

“I don’t really know,” Jordan admitted. “Somehow, this device copies the needed information and transmits it to the computer, in this case Kat.” He turned to the ponies, who gave him a questioning look. “Kat’s a medical robot, she-“

“A ROBOT?!” Both mares exclaimed.

“Hello! We came in on a ship and you’re head-over-heels for her?” Jordan pointed out.

“Didn’t you just say it’s a robot? Why are you calling it a she?” asked Twilight.

“You’ll find out what I mean eventually,” he said quickly. “Anyway, she’ll actually load the information into our brains. I would already have, but she would still do it to me.”

“Why?” Twilight asked.

“I was getting to that,” Jordan said. “A Manic’s brain has an extra section near the memory portion of the brain that is useful for one thing and one thing only: Body-wide DNA Recoding. What Kat does will stimulate that area. I’m quoting a book I read on it, so stop staring at me like that.” Indeed, the ponies were staring at him in shock that he said something so complicated.

“What does that mean?” Rainbow blurted out.

“Simply put,” Jordan started. “We’ll be able to change our form; turn into ponies.”

Another shocked silence, but this time he couldn’t blame them- it was amazing. Manics changing their form had been credited for successful diplomacy and first contact in the past. This was all because Manics figured out how to use what seemed to be the most pointless section of their brain to their advantage. Then again, humans finally learned to use reason correctly after thousands of years of their history. Didn’t help them much, but it was surprising to some passer-bys, from what he had heard.

“What else can you transform into, then?” Twilight asked eagerly.

“Um…” Jordan scratched his head. “Can’t say I’ve done this before! Looking forward to it… I think.”

“Whaddya mean ‘you think’?” Dash inquired.

“A-a-aren’t we supposed to be talking about how to get the info we need for that!?”

The two question-happy ponies remembered what they were doing and focused. “So… what next?”

Jordan thought for a second, and then realized he had covered everything. “Yeah, that’s it.”

“So… did we learn anything?” Twilight looked thoughtful.

“Ah… no,” Jordan chuckled. He was met with a painful hoof-to-the-shoulder from Dash.

“Why are you laughing?! You made it obvious that this isn’t a joke!”

“I’m sorry, Dash,” Jordan said as he rubbed his throbbing shoulder. “But I’m being honest when I say we’ve figured nothing out!”

“In that case…” Twilight said. She stopped and made a strange face; as if she was questioning what she was about to say.

“What?” Jordan blurted, wanting her to continue.

“Well… I actually have a few questions about your kind in general,” she smiled sheepishly.

“Why do you seem so nervous about it?”

“I… I’m afraid I might ask the… wrong question,” she ran a hoof through her mane nervously as she said that.

“Wrong? What, like bedroom stuff?” Jordan asked. Somehow, he managed to seem nonchalant as he said that- as if it were a normal question.

“U-uh…” Twilight stammered as she began to turn red.

“Aw! Twilight, you’re so cute when you blush!” Rainbow teased.

Jordan, on the other hoof, was being completely serious. He ceased being so when he saw an opportunity to mess with Rainbow Dash for a similar reaction. After pulling his Lightning Rod out of his pocket and aiming it at her, he pushed a few buttons and watched the show… unfold.

POMPF! Dash’s eyes widened when her wings suddenly spread and stood rigid. Knowing perfectly well what it was, her face also reddened.

“Y’know…” Jordan said smugly. “I did read something about what pegasi do when they’re… well… yeah.” He started losing it and wrapped his arms around his stomach as he started laughing. Twilight also joined in on the fun, shortly followed by Jordan’s victim. Dash wouldn’t admit it, but she thought it was a well-timed and hilarious prank. Good! He enjoys pranks! Gonna have to get him back for that one, sometime...

Jordan caught his breath. “Anyway, let’s get one fact about… that… out of the way first.” He grabbed his left forearm, then his right. “Manics get these scars when they get their acaligram- that’s what we call our sort of ‘magic’- when they become teenagers. Besides that, we keep this area covered for pretty much our entire life.”

“Why’s that?” Rainbow asked.

“Remember? This is… that… kind stuff I’m getting out of the way?” Jordan reminded her. “Anyway, that’s all I have to say about that. Do not ask me anything about sex again.” He emphasized the word ‘sex’ by dragging out the ‘x’ sound. Needless to say, this resulted in an awkward silence.

“O…kay then…” Twilight stared at him out of the corner of her eye. “What about your magic, how do you get it to work?”

“First of all,” Jordan sighed. “Let me make it clear that this isn’t really ‘magic’. It’s closer to science. As for how it works, Manics have the mental ability to manipulate certain things found in nature…”

“Like clouds?” Rainbow asked.

“Well, I haven’t seen clouds, but I’ve seen some messing with air and water. My friend, Walker, can summon fire. His wife, Joni, controls ice. Joni’s sister… huh…” Jordan stopped with his hand on his forehead. He was thinking.

He continued after a pause. “Not sure what Gunny does… but I know Kit controls air and the Captain controls earth- dirt and rocks, all that good stuff. Cop controls-“ he stopped, frozen for a moment. The unicorn and pegasus gave him a look, telling him to go on.

“…Controlled water. I don’t know what Malotov’s acaligram is, but he’s… weird… anyway, and you already know what I manipulate.”

“What do you mean, controlled?” Twilight pressed.

Jordan realized that the look on his face told her everything when she withdrew the question, asking another instead. “Ah… um… OH! What do Manics eat?”

Jordan smiled; it was an easy question to answer. “Whatever’s good. We eat what humans eat when we’re on Earth or the newly created Martian colonies…”

“And what do humans eat, then?” Twilight pressed.

“Uh… I don’t feel comfortable answering that question,” Jordan stammered.

“What, do they eat meat or something?” Rainbow joked.

“Honestly,” Jordan sighed. “Yeah.”

The two ponies stared into space after his confirmation. Rainbow’s jaw was hanging loose while Twilight simply stared. Either his answer was still registering or it had registered and this was the resulting reaction. Okay, time to save this.

“Manics don’t depend on meat as much as humans; we’re mostly vegetarian by nature,” he said quickly. It was the truth, Manics only ate meat on certain occasions. Like being on a ship where you ate chicken flavored ramen noodles once a week.

Twilight and Rainbow breathed a sigh of relief. During this, Jordan pushed his hand against his mouth, trying to hold in a laugh. However, his attempts at hiding it were in vain.

“What’s so funny?” Rainbow asked in a low tone.

“It’s weird… how I can kill some mutated creature in front of the entire town, and you two freak out over meat…” he chuckled maniacally.

“Jordan,” Twilight said. “You’re being veeeeery creepy, right now.”

“According to Kit, I have that affect on people. Or… ponies,” he mentioned, before returning to the main subject. “Anyway, I would bet money on me eating any random food you have blindfolded and liking it.”

During this time, he failed to notice a certain pink party pony sneaking up to him. He even failed to notice when she pulled the blindfold out when he mentioned it. His failures at detecting Pinkie were realized when he found himself blindfolded and held in place. What have I done? Nggggh…

He heard Twilight urging Pinkie to stop something. “PINKIE! Don’t give him tha-“ Before he could hear the rest of what she had to say, his mouth was forced open by a pair of hooves and something was shoved in. WHAT DID SHE PUT IN MY MOUTH, AN ENTIRE CUPCAKE? Indeed, after chewing it (painfully) for a bit, he realized it was a cupcake. Except this cupcake was different… it was chocolate, but something was on it… That’s when he felt the burning.

HOT SAUCE!? He thought with some disgust. Eventually, that disgust went away went he realized that, somehow, the hot sauce covered cupcake was tasty. Wow, this is good… He swallowed and gasped for air. The blindfold was removed to reveal the rest of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony were there. Pinkie was giving him a hopeful grin while the others were eyeing her with a mix of shock and disgust.

“Pinkie,” Jordan said. “Would it be so hard to WARN ME next time?! Sure, the cupcake in the hot sauce was interesting, but would stopping to consider what you were doing kill ya?”

“Oh, Jordy, you’re so silly! Of course I thought about it for, like, five seconds!” Pinkie replied cheerfully.

Well, I suppose that would be a record, Jordan thought.

“So,” Applejack started slowly. “Ya… actually liked that?”

“Like I was saying, I would have bet money on me eating any random food you have and liking it,” Jordan shrugged. “No one can explain why that’s a fact, it just is!”

Five ponies stared at him with blank expressions; the sixth was smiling with pride. “Told you guys that it was good!” Pinkie said smugly.

“Let’s just… get back on track,” Twilight said.

“Ah, no,” Jordan responded quickly. “It would be pointless, since we have a habit of getting off track and I’m not equipped with the-“ he grabbed his head dramatically, “-mental ability to keep getting us back on track every time!”

“Yeah, I agree,” Rainbow Dash said. “This egghead stuff is… eggheadish.” That word... for the umpteenth time.

“Yet you understood it all,” Twilight deadpanned, and then turned back to Jordan. “One last question?”

Jordan sighed. “Fine, but please don’t interrupt the answer.”

“What are all doing in space?”

The circle is made

‘round the ever lonely star.

Those friended by Manic

are summoned from afar.

“This is going to be a loooong story,” Jordan warned. He took a deep breath, and began.

“Many years ago, the Manics created what we call The Lonely Circle, or skyl ono. The humans refer to something like it as a Dyson Ring, but it isn’t actually a ring. It’s actually a bunch of artificial planets set in the same orbit. If that confuses you, I’m not surprised, since your world doesn’t orbit the sun. Ours does, though. Earth and Mars in the Sol system- where the human’s live- do, too. We were confused by how your system works when we came into the system, so the feeling is mutual.

“When the Manics started building the ring, the planet they were on was… dying. This caused them to rush, but they were successful. Only… they went too fast and didn’t bother counting; there were too many 'planets'. However, when we encountered the humans about ten years ago, we found out how to deal with this problem: find some friends.

“Ships started going out looking for other races that could become allies. Some agreed, others remained neutral, and a few became hostile. Some ships came back, but others never returned. Eventually, our government stopped directly funding the ships that went out and explored. They thought this would be the end of Manic space exploration, but something happened that brought it back: the portal was created.

“Some crazy scientists managed to find a way to stabilize and created portal units. After tests between Earth and the Martian colonies, they started testing to see if it would work between the human’s system and our own. It worked, and the government became involved after that. Soon, a bunch of freelance captains started gathering crews to explore space for other races again. One of them was my captain, Jast.

“So that’s why we’re here,” Jordan summed up. “We wanted to find a planet with a race that would want to be our friends and join The Lonely Circle because, well, we're lonely, and we want to learn.”

He closed his eyes, cracked his neck, and took a breather. He was surprised by what he saw when he opened them again: several of the ponies from Town Hall were there, and from the amazed look on their faces, he could tell they had been there for most of the story if not the whole thing. Among them was Princess Celestia, who stepped towards Jordan and the original six listeners. Jordan stood up as she began to speak.

“Your kind’s intentions are noble,” she said. “And I speak for my sister when I say we would gladly discuss this matter with your captain. However, there is the matter of the danger your ship is imposing to my little ponies.”

“If they stay out of the way, they won’t be in danger,” Jordan stated.

“Yes, but Twilight and her friends and this group-“ the regal alicorn gestured to the new group of ponies with a hoof-“as well as several of the Royal Guard will most likely be adamant about their involvement.”

“Wait, some of your Guards? The military is involved?” There’s a military?

“Correct. I have also sent word to my sister regarding whether or not her Night Guard will become involved.”

Jordan was speechless. They were helping him? When he had scared the hell out of most of them threatened one of them? Genuinely nice ponies: they don’t care if you look like shit, they’ll help you anyway. And be ponies while they do it.

“Uh… wow,” he said finally. “That’s… really nice of you guys.”

“Now,” the princess said. “Shouldn’t we be getting that data you mentioned?”

“Well, yes, but there’s no way I can work this out in time,” Jordan answered.

“Hmm…” The princess looked thoughtful for a moment. “You said something about a ring, didn’t you?”

“Right,” Jordan reached into his pocket and pulled out a metal ring. The outside of the had seven blue orbs, as well as a single red one. “I would slip this on my finger and after getting the data myself and then-“ he looked at the ring, but then focused on what was through the center.

The ring seemed to be circling Twilight, but was centered on her horn. Wha- no way, that’s stupid. But… still.

“Twilight… you’re the librarian,” he said quietly. “How many of the books have you read?”

“Well, I won’t brag, but almost all,” Twilight giggled. “What does this have to do with your data?”

“I’m asking because Princess Celestia has given me an absolutely insane idea, which I think she’s had figured out since Town Hall.” He looked at the princess.

“Well…” she said. “It was a passing thought… I wouldn’t have given it a second thought if the situation wasn’t, to say the least, dire.”

Dire. To say the least? That doesn’t make sense… “You do realize that neither of us have any idea what will happen?”

“What are you planning?” Twilight asked.

“We’re getting the information… from you,” Jordan said, pointing at Twilight’s horn.

Twilight’s eyes widened with realization. “Oh! Why didn’t I think of that?”

“Probably because I have no idea what would happen,” Jordan said. “Look, Twilight: This idea could work… or it could fail miserably with rather… terrible side-effects.”

Rarity came forward. “Oh, just GIVE ME THAT.” Jordan found the ring was out of his hand and floating in a blue aura of magic.

“I don’t think it’s going to-“ the ring slipped neatly onto Twilight’s horn, “-fit…”

“Um… I think you should listen to… him…” Fluttershy quietly stated. “That is… if you feel like it… I won’t change your mind…”

“Aw, relax Fluttershy,” Dash reassured her. “Twilight knows what she’s doing, nothing’s gonna happen!”

“Right, having your head blown off is nothing,” Jordan muttered.

“What was that, Jordy?” Pinkie asked.

“Nothing, let’s just get this over with,” he sighed. “I’ll turn it on…”

He stepped in front of twilight and crouched down to her eye level, making eye contact. She made it clear that she was ready without words. He lifted his hand to the ring and placed his thumb on the red orb.

“If your head feels like it’s going to explode,” he whispered. “Well, try to warn us.”

“I’m glad you’re so confident in this, Jordan,” Twilight said sarcastically. “Just do it.”

Kinda pushy there, Twilight. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and pushed the button.

The blue orbs began flashing, cueing him to back off a bit. He watched as they began to slowly light up on at a time, clockwise from the red orb. On the second lit orb, Twilight’s horn began to glow.

“Jordan,” Twilight asked apprehensively. “Is this normal?”

“How should I know?” Jordan shrugged, also speaking in a worried tone as the ponies closer to Twilight began backing further away.

The third orb lit, and her horn kept glowing. On the forth orb, she shut her eyes tight as the purple glow suddenly became white, encasing her entire body. A crackling and somewhat trance-like sound seemed to come from it, like a louder version of the sound her horn usually made when she used magic.

Time to panic? Time to panic.

She started to lift up into the air, and the field of white got larger. Jordan could still see the orbs light up. The sixth orb lit up, and then the seventh. On the final blue orb, her eyes and mouth shot open, both emitting pure white. Jordan was forced to retreat quickly as the field rapidly increased in size. He came to a stop next to Applejack.

“Does she do this often?” he seemed to shout over the now deafening noise.

“She only does this when we’re usin’ the Elements!” Applejack answered.

Great. Same thing that she does when using a weapon of mass destruction.

All seven blue orbs began to blink. At first they blinked slowly, then it became faster and faster until they stopped blinking altogether and the red orb lit. At this point, the field around Twilight dissipated and she fell back to the ground in a heap. Jordan and the other bearers quickly approached.

“Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, oh my goodness…” Fluttershy began saying those same words over and over again in her quiet-yet-panicked tone.

“Y’ alright, sugarcube?” Applejack asked as she prodded her friend with a hoof.

“That looked like fun! Was it fun, Twilight?” Pinkie asked eagerly.

“Pinkie Pie, what just happened could have been much worse! The fact you found that to be fun is unsettling!” Rarity attempted to reason, only to be confronted with the one single truth about Pinkie: there is no reasoning with her.

“C’mon! Get up, Twilight!” Rainbow seemed to coach her librarian friend.

Jordan knelt next to the fallen unicorn and lifted her head to look at her face. She dazedly opened her eyes to look at him.

“You’re name is Twilight Sparkle, do you remember that?” he asked seriously.

“Yes, I do,” Twilight answered as she got up. “And I remember everything. How did it look? I’m kind of hungry after that…”

“That’s normal, but that doesn’t matter!” Jordan said with a newly found level of joy. He snatched the ring off of Twilight’s horn. “The PRE-C Data’s been sent and you’re head hasn’t been blown off! Today is lookin’ UP!”

A series of unidentifiable sounds came from the ship, and the detached portion that was Jordan’s room. There was an audible clanging sound, then what sounded like muffle gunfire towards the closest section of the ship. He approached the airlock that was closest to the sound with caution.

“Jordan, hat’s that noi-“ Rainbow Dash started. She was interrupted when the door opened. A girl in a plumber-esque cap, a white tee under a green vest-like article, wrapping covering her forearms, and tan highwaters was standing there with a large gun hanging from her right hand.

Jordan took a step forward. “Gunny.” Something’s wrong…

She began to fall forward, on a collision course with the ground… ten feet under the doorway.

Chapter 7

-Chapter 7----GUNNY---

She was tired of it already. Ten hours after crashing- six hours asleep and four hours conscious- and Gunny’s brain already screamed in objection to the mere thought of staying in the helm. She couldn’t sit still and look at people- not now, not ever.

Gunny glanced at the other occupants in the room. Walker was sleeping (as ordered by Kat) against one wall with his arms wrapped around Joni’s shoulders. Her sister also seemed to be sleeping, with a look of content on her face. Malotov was sitting in the helmsman’s chair turning a CD over and over in his hands. Kit was sleeping against the helm itself, and the Captain was focused on a screen in attempts to eliminate the radiation build-up in engineering. Kat was floating idly next to the Captain.

Gunny yawned. Her arm was fixed up, thanks to Kat, so she could use it normally now, but it also reinvigorated her need for any sort of activity.

You know what, she thought. I’m outta here! Can’t take another minute of absolutely nothing going on! On top of that, someone forgot to bring the coffee; might as well get it myself.

She picked up her glow-light with one hand and put her signature hat on with the other before heading to the door.

“Gunny,” Joni’s voice called to her. “Where are you going?”

“Out,” she responded. The fact that her sister was awake surprised her. Then again, maybe she was, but she’s a light sleeper.

“Out, huh?”

“Yes. Out.”

There was a pause. “Gunny,” Joni said, slightly louder this time. “It’s dangerous to be out in the halls. The Gouches-“

“Same level,” Malotov interrupted, still twirling the disk in his hands. “The danger. It’s the same level in here and out there.”

“He’s right,” the Captain called over. “It just as dangerous in here as it is out there.”

“Yeah, but we’re in a group,” Joni argued, waking Walker and Kit up in the process. “We’ll never know if and when they’ll decide to swarm someone if they’re alone!”

There was a pause as everyone thought that out. It was a solid reason for not going out by yourself, but…

“Then I’ll go with her,” Kit said as she stood up. “I’m tired of this room. Malotov? What about you?”

“Captain?” Malotov spoke to Jast instead.

The Captain was stroking his beard in thought (which was ironic, since he was known for speaking out against that stereotypical action). After a while, he whispered something to Kat, who lowered her volume and “whispered” back. Suddenly, Kat jerked away, and one of her lights started blinking yellow. Everyone stared at her for a second.

“The PRE-C Data is being loaded,” she announced. “G-E-A-R. G-E-A-R.” Grab Everything And Run.

“Everyone,” the Captain shouted. “We’ll be out soon! Go and get your things. No time to worry about Gouches, just GOSAL! I’m staying here to work on the radiation and airlocks and shit, just… GOSAL!”

Malotov strode to the door, stopping when he noticed everyone was confused at what the captain had last said. He was the only member of the original crew left, so it was up to him to translate Captain Jast’s acronyms.

“GOSAL- Get Our Shit And Leave.” With that, everybody left the helm in a hurry.

Gunny was with Kit for a while, but found that she was by herself after the latter went down a different corridor. She found herself breaking into a run- her feet making a distinctive metallic sound against the floor as she did. It didn’t take long before she found her room and entered.

“Everyone,” Captain Jast’s voice rang out over a ship-wide com. “Something’s happening to the PRE-C Data. All of it has been loaded, but for some reason Kat doesn’t have it ye-“

Clang.

What was that? Gunny thought, instinctively going to her closet, opening it, and pulling out a machine gun. The gun was one of the first she modified, and her own personal weapon. She checked the ammo cartridge (full) and grabbed a second from the box she pulled the gun from.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

The clanging was varied in volume. It’s coming from different places on the ship…

Three more clangs rang out- from the same area, by the sound of it.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

That’s from storage… the pods? She lifted her weapon and turned towards the pod in her room: 0004- a guy with short, slate gray hair.

Another voice on the com interrupted her thoughts. “Captain! The pods are opening an- GAH!” That was Walker’s voice before he was cut of by a pinging sound. There were sounds of a struggle, then a door opening and rushed footsteps.

Walker’s panting got louder as he apparently approached the com. “That was 0007. I think I scared him, I think; he seemed to be afraid. The pods are really tough, and 0007 was strong, so be careful with them. He did something with the metal, it-“

CLANG! She heard a rush of pouring liquid and soon felt said liquid on her feet.

0004!!! Gunny turned to the door and rushed out of the room. I don’t want to fight him here. Not here. Somewhere with more dista-

Her sprint down the corridor was interrupted by someone shoving her, causing her to fall on her face. She was dazed, but managed to get up, start running again, and turn to take a look at whoever it was. Please don’t be him. Please don’t be him.

It was. He was gaining on her quickly. She fired her gun, but he dodged, amazingly. Gunny found herself wondering two things: How did he get clothing? What is he carrying? She turned back forward just in time to see the airlock to her right.

0004 grabbed her and slammed her against the wall. He repeated the action, only changing the fact that he grabbed the back of her head this time, bashing her face against the steel walls. He held on for a bit, apparently considering doing it again, but chose to let her go and stand by.

The world started to slide out of focus for Gunny, but she managed to stumble away from her attacker and support herself against the airlock’s inner door, which suddenly opened.

She heard the captain’s voice over the com, but it was muffled. “I got the airlocks open… what… what the hell, number two is the only one open!”

Irony. She stepped into the chamber, forgetting 0004 for a moment. She turned and saw him standing there, grinning like a madman. She turned back around to the outer door.

She was blinded by light and felt a rush of air wrap around her as the second door opened. At last, they were out of the woods… were they?

Free… Her world became darker, and her head felt like it was rammed against the wall, mostly because that was fact- 0004 had indeed grabbed her head and bashed it against the wall.

She heard a familiar voice call her name, felt the sensation of falling, and blacked out.

---JORDAN---

“GUNNY!”

Jordan rushed forward as his friend fell out of the ship, heading headfirst to the ground. He reached his arms out and caught her- one arm sliding behind her knees, and the other caught her back. Her head fell back, causing her to lose her hat. Fortunately, her psyche jewelry was still floating, indicating that she was conscious, just knocked out.

Damn, she’s heavier than she looks. He looked at her face, noticing a large bruise on her temple. What did this to her?! WHO did this to her? It looks like summon grabbed her and slugged her a couple times with a brick! The answer came from the metallic sound of footsteps from the airlock. He looked up, and whom he saw made his eyes widen.

“0004,” he whispered in shock. He had only seen him once- when they were checking to see if all the pods were connected to the computer. He personally checked him, and he had an uneasy feeling while he did it. This was more of a “paranoid unease” then the “creepy unease” he felt around 0001.

0004 wasn’t looking at him, but rather at the crowd of ponies, many of which had gasped in shock. He ran his free hand through his slate colored hair nonchalantly, as if he hadn’t just beaten the hell out of someone. He looked down and grinned at Jordan.

“Well, hello there,” he said sincerely. Somehow, this made him more menacing. “You’re… Walker, right?”

“Jordan,” growled Jordan. He walked closer to the ship and laid Gunny against it, positioning her gun across her lap.

“Oh,” 0004 shrugged. “Well, you’re all the same. Say, how is Gunny? It’s amazing she managed to walk after I slammed her skull against a steel wall.”

Jordan looked up at him with fury and pulled out his pipe.

“Oh, don’t get like that with ME!” 0004 shouted. “You don’t know what else I can do to your other friends…”

“How dare you…”

“Oh! There goes my limit!” 0004 thrust a palm onto the wall next to him. Bolts started coming out of it and a series of clangs could be heard. Not only clangs, but also he could hear a screeching noise- like metal grinding against metal- that prompted him to cover his ears.

After a few seconds, it ended, and 0004 withdrew his hand from the wall.

Applejack ran forward. “Now, what the hay was that?! Just who are ya?!”

“’What the hay was that,’” 0004 mimicked Applejack’s accent. “That, my southern belle, was me giving all of you a surprise. Not the good kind, either. Something that Oroon would like…”

“And who is Oroon?” Jordan challenged.

“Oh, you call him 0010, my boss- NEW boss,” 0004 answered smugly. “But enough chat, time to take care of something I didn’t finish off.” He jumped down from the airlock and turned to Jordan and Gunny.

Jordan lifted his pipe in front of him, getting ready to block an attack. 0004 just stood there with his weapon (some kind of sword that was serrated all around) on his shoulder and a hand in his pocket. He looked bored, but kept eye contact with Jordan, who stared back with angry eyes. The air seemed to thicken until…

CLANG! 0004 rushed forward with his weapon over his head, bringing it down as he approached. Jordan blocked the strike with his pipe, but the force of 0004’s attack was incredible- it brought him down to one knee. His leg started to shift under the pressure, sliding up against Gunny’s. His crewmate was still out cold behind him, and Jordan was the only thing between the two of them.

Ok, we’re evenly matched, he thought as the two weapons started to just shake in place, both wielders counteracting the each other’s strength. That when he saw 0004 press a button on the hilt of his own weapon. What the-

CRZEEEEEEEEEEE! The edges of 0004’s weapons seemed to blur as they began to whirl around the shape of the sword. It’s like a chainsaw! Jordan saw it getting closer to his face and realized it was doing exactly what a chainsaw is meant to do; it was cutting through his pipe!

If that gets through, I’m gone. If I back up, I’m in range for another attack, and my pipe will be useless that time. If I jump away, he could get Gunny. Wait…

There was no time to wait, he jumped back just as the chain-sword cut the pipe in half. He tossed the halves and quickly scooped up Gunny. She’s still heavy.

Duh, what were you expecting, he questioned himself.

He leapt to 0004’s right, just as the Proto Manic lunged. His weapon imbedded into the hull, showing just how sharp the chain was. He looked around for his victim until he saw him laying Gunny down behind a pile of rubble. This time, you won’t get awa-

POOM! Something heavy hit his back and threw him away from his weapon, which grinded to a halt and remained in the hull. Jordan looked when he heard the impact to see that Applejack had just bucked the attacker. Nice hit! He’ll remember that one!

0004 stood and glared at the interloper. She glared right back at him, but backed away as he slowly approached. When he reached his chain-sword, he tugged it out of the hull and started it again.

He ain’t gonna attack me, Applejack thought in disbelief. He should be rollin’ on th’ ground right now.

She couldn’t have made a worse mistake. 0004 threw the weapon into the air and dashed towards her. She felt his hand around her neck and tried to break away, but he only squeezed tighter, giving her barely enough room to breath. She tried hitting him with her front hooves, but he was too far. She could only look at his face, seeing that he wasn’t looking at her, but at his hand.

He clicked his tongue. “Nope, you’re not compatible,” he stated. “You’re useless to me.”

What’s he talkin’ about? Compatible?

The weapon came back down from the air and he caught it with his right hand, starting the chain blades again. He brought it up over his head, poising to cut her open.

No… don’t! Applejack started to panic. He was going to kill her in front of her friends and family! Her friends…

Not in front of them!

---???---

“What’s in here?” Sparkler wondered out loud.

She had no idea what was going on outside, but was rather preoccupied with a room she had found. It looked like part of the massive ship outside, but it wasn’t attached. After she had heard a ‘clang’ from this room, she decided to investigate; locating a hole in the wall for her to enter.

Wow, this looks like somepony’s room! Maybe it’s Jordas’s… or whatever his name was. Jordan? Right! Jordan’s room- this is what this place is!

Her attention turned to a large object on the far wall of the room. It looked like something that would resemble and egg if it were closed, but it wasn’t. There were four long, rounded, metal plates facing different directions in the center of the container, all of them dripping some sort of liquid she couldn’t see so clearly.

I wonder what was in it…

Squish.

What was that? Startled by the sudden noise, her horn began to glow and light up the room. She could see the liquid dripping from the pod- a greenish, slimy fluid, like some kind of watered-down jelly that Pinkie Pie would make. She saw a puddle of it around the object… and a trail away from it going to a dark corner that her light couldn’t penetrate.

Squish.

She was frozen in place. The sound had come from that corner. That’s when she saw it- something barely moving in the shadows.

“Hey,” a voice from the corner spoke.

“U-uh…” she stammered. A bead of sweat came down from the side of her head, falling from her with a quiet pat on the metal floor. Her heart was beating harder and faster every second.

Run. Turn around and run. Get mom or Lyra or someone to come back with me. Just… run!

She didn’t. She kept her eyes trained on what was moving in the darkness.

“Don’t be afraid,” the voice said. “Come closer.”

Don’t do it. Her heart was in her throat, but she stepped forward anyway, illuminating the corner and its occupant.

He was like Jordan, but was wearing a soaked white shirt with matching long pants. Over his shirt he wore a dry, gray jacket- most likely one of Jordan’s that he borrowed. White hair covered his face from view, but he didn’t seem sinister. Sparkler calmed down a bit, but was still wary.

“Sorry I’m scary, it’s been a hell of a day,” he chuckled. This lightened the mood up a bit, making Sparkler dare another step closer.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“Hm…” the figure lifted a hand to its still-hidden face in thought. “I need a name, but that can wait. Call me 0001 for now, I’m used to it.”

“Ok… 0001…” Sparkler repeated slowly. “What are you… doing?”

“Waiting,” 0001 said simply.

“For…?”

“Someone.”

He’s being creepy, thought Sparkler.

“Can you come closer?” he asked.

He IS being creepy… but I think I can trust him… she took a few cautious steps closer. Now she was within arms length of 0001.

“Do you trust me?” he asked.

“What do you… what are you going to do?” Sparkler asked, worryingly.

“The answer is… complicated,” he answered. “It’s better if I show you, so… do you trust me?”

I doubt he’ll try anything, no doubt he knows about everypony outside. Still, he’s TOO creepy. She tried to look at his face, but it was still obscured by his hair. Yet, he had noticed what she was trying to do, and brushed it away. His expression was unreadable beyond indicating that he needed something.

“Well,” Sparkler said quietly. “I… think so.”

That’s when he reached his hand out and placed it on her chest. Suddenly, she seemed to realize that there was no going back on what he started. His hand went from warm to terribly cold on her coat, and she fond that she couldn’t move at all. It started growing some veins; glowing blue veins that were growing into his hand from her. They crept down to his wrist and his arm, hidden by his sleeve.

Sparkler began to feel numb all over. What… is he doing... to me? Then, she found herself an embrace from him.

“Sorry if I scared you,” he whispered. “Thanks.”

“For… what?” she asked.

He said nothing, but backed away from her, releasing his hand and curling back in the corner. A flash lit up the room, blinding Sparkler for a moment and causing her to get low on the floor. The combination of her lasting numbness and the flash made her dizzy. She opened her eyes after a moment; only to be met by darkness- she had lost focus on her spell. She lit the corner up again…

…and 0001 wasn’t what he used to be.

---JORDAN---

Something distracted 0004 the instant before he brought his chain-sword down on Applejack. He looked to his left and mouthed two words: “uh oh”. He lurched back as a pair of cyan hooves collided with the hull of the ship- on a path his head used to be on.

“Leave her alone!” Rainbow shouted as she made contact with the ship. In that same moment, 0004’s chain-sword fell, but did not carve Applejack. 0004 jumped back a little and just looked at the two ponies facing him with a scowl, which lightened up when his gaze went to Applejack. He started chuckling.

“What’s so funny?!” Rainbow challenged.

He pointed at Applejack. “Too late,” he said with a grin.

Rainbow Dash turned to look at Applejack, fearing the worst. A gash in her chest was gushing blood. Applejack looked up at Rainbow with a blank expression, then fell over unconscious.

“NO!” Rainbow yelled, landing next to the fallen apple farmer and holding her head up. “Wake up, Applejack!”

“She’s busy at the moment,” 0004 giggled, quickly stepping towards the two. Dash looked up just in time to see his hand reach down and grab her cheeks. He pinned her against the ship and stared at her, intently.

“Just… let Applejack go,” Rainbow uttered, though it was muffled by the attacker’s hand.

“Fine,” 0004 sighed in disappointment. Suddenly, he seemed to brighten up. “Well, look at that, you’re compatible!”

Rainbow felt cold, and then numb. She saw a glowing come from 0004’s hand, then it ended and he let go of her, letting her fall next to her fallen comrade. “What did you just do?” she shouted in a daze.

“Something important,” he said. “Well, time to end this game. Nice knowing you.” He lifted the chain-sword over his end, ready to bring it down again.

“Stop it!” Twilight’s voice shouted.

“Let them go!” Rarity’s voice did the same.

“Let Dashie and AJ go, you meanie!” Pinkie yelled.

“STOP!” Fluttershy was undoubtedly the loudest at this point. Hurricane loud.

“Heh, why?” he said.

“You promised you’d let Applejack go!” Rainbow reminded him, angrily. “It’s one thing if you… killed me… but why Applejack? You promised!”

He leaned in close, keeping the weapon in the same position above him. “But I didn't Pinkie Promise, did I? So I lied,” he cooed into Dash’s ear. “I’m supposed to; nothing personal.”

Dash’s eyes became as wide as dinner plates. How did he know about Pinkie Promises? That didn't matter now. The tough girl attitude was dropped; she was going to die! The only thing she could do was pull her wounded friend close and cover her defensively.

She shut her eyes. This can’t be happening. AJ… wake up! I’m supposed to be tougher than this, but he’s even tougher! She opened her eyes sullenly. Well… I hope this is quick… for the both of us. I’m sorry, everyone… Looks like I won't be joining the Wonderbolts...

0004 jerked forward, as if he were bringing it down on the two ponies before him. Rainbow Dash saw this in her peripheral vision and shut her eyes in expectation. When nothing happened, she opened them and looked up. 0004 was facing away from her, looking at his chain-sword rather than his victims. It was enveloped in a magical glow.

That’s not Twilight’s glow… whose is it?

A snarling unicorn stallion with a blue coat and a white mane was in a defensive position in front of 0004, who started laughing.

“Oh, it’s you!”

“Yes, it is,” the stallion growled before he charged.

0004 jumped to the side, causing the stallion to almost tumble over Rainbow Dash and Applejack. He had forgotten something, however: his chain-sword- still floating in midair.

Jordan left Gunny and ran for the sword, taking it as the new pony’s magical grip released it. Upgrade.

He located 0004- right where he landed from the dodge- and attacked. He lunged forward, but 0004 stepped aside and gabbed his arm.

“Thank you,” he said as he twisted his arm. Jordan felt the pain and instinctively lost his hold on the weapon, which 0004 caught. Jordan didn’t have combat training in this degree; he only really knew how to kill Gouches and sandbags. Obviously, those were different then something like this maniac.

“Story time,” 0004 said. “Do you know the one about the fact that Proto Manics don’t need a computer to do the DNA integration?”

What.

“It’s true,” he continued. “We just need to lay our hands on some compatible DNA to do what you can only do after getting a boatload or more of useless information about this place.”

“You said,” Rainbow said. “That I was compatible…”

“Yes, I did,” 0004 responded. “So you do the math. I have to take care of this, I'll be with you shortly.” He turned towards Jordan, raising the chain-sword again...

“Hey, jerk-off, over here,” a voice called. 0004 traced the voice to the last person he expected to be standing.

Gunny raised her weapon and fired. RATATATAT! The shots collided with 004’s swift-moving block. How he managed to block some of the bullets was beyond her, but one had managed to graze him- better than nothing, judging by the grunts he made afterwards.

“GRK! Bitch! Fine, I’ll go!” 0004 dropped the sword, which fell tip-first into the ground, imbedding into it.

There was a flash, and 0004 was gone and a blue-green pegasus with a glowing sword as a Cutie Mark stood in his place.

He transformed, Jordan realized.

“My name is Claymore!” Those were 0004’s final words before he took off into the air. He stopped as he reached the top of the ship, where he hovered for a moment, staring at something. That something stepped forward, into view.

0010. Oroon.

The boss stood on top of the ship, looking down at everyone below. His blue hair fluttered in the wind, only adding to the aura of superiority.

Jordan found himself shaking in fear suddenly. His eyes traveled to the chain-sword’s hilt, and he reached a hand for it.

Oroon looked up at the previously escaping pegasus and reached toward him. Claymore obliged to the gesture and approached his leader, who laid a hand on his hoof. A glow coming from his hand told everyone that his DNA was pegasus compatible.

Another flash, and Oroon transformed into a dark blue pegasus, whose Cutie Mark was a white and black circle- a Yin-Yang, but the Yin seemed dominant by taking up most of the circle. The two pegasi came back down, but stayed in midair. Gunny kept her gun trained on them the entire time, even though she realized it was empty- she finished her original clip, but had dropped the other one somewhere.

Oroon looked around at the group below him: the bearers, the stallion, and the two Manics. He kept a blank expression as he raised his forehooves and clapped a single time.

A cloud of dust picked up directly below him and quickly dissipated, revealing a curled up bi-pedal body. It was completely white, and as it got up, there was no evidence of genitalia, navel, or a face for that matter. Oroon clapped again, and a second one appeared in exactly the same way.

“That’s all,” he spoke.

“Are you kidding,” Claymore said. “There’s no way those will kill ‘em.”

“That’s all,” Oroon repeated. “Let’s go. The others will follow eventually.”

The two pegasi took off rapidly, leaving the two white bodies with the group below. The creatures proved hostile as soon as a ‘boom’ rang out from the sky and a wave of blue and red ran over the sky. The two began to spasm occasionally as they approached to attack the closest pony or person.

Jordan lifted the chain-sword out of the ground and slashed the one approaching him from one shoulder to the opposite hip. The two parts of the creature’s body separated before exploding in a flurry of white.

He saw a flash in his peripheral vision, and saw someone actually grab the other creature’s head and twist it. It, too, exploded, but the killer was a surprise for Jordan.

“Hello, Jordan,” 0001 said. “Sorry I couldn’t say that earlier. I was a bit wrapped up in keeping Claymore from killing those two.” He gestured to Rainbow Dash and Applejack, who were being approached by Nurse Redheart, the other bearers, and Gunny.

“But where is…” Jordan started.

“That was me,” 0001 stated as Sparkler approached.

“You’re… something else,” she said.

“No shit,” he sighed, inciting a raised eyebrow from both parties that heard the comment.

Chapter 8

-Chapter 8-

An hour had gone by since Claymore and Oroon attacked. This hour was possibly the most stressful hour for Jordan - even more stressful than the attack itself.

During this hour, a cart had come by to take Applejack and Nurse Redheart to the clinic, dropping off Nurse Tenderheart in the process. The new nurse tended to Gunny’s injuries, even though she was unfamiliar with the anatomical difference between her average patients and her current one. Gunny wasn’t too cooperative, either; she constantly informed the nurse that she was fine and didn’t need anything for the gash on her head. She ended up sporting a bandage around her forehead. She didn’t like it, but admitted that it made her look like a badass.

0001, on the otherhoof, had changed back into a stallion and was answering questions of different sorts from Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, and Sparkler. Jordan was standing by, listening to what he had to say. None of the answers were news: how he can transform, copying DNA through touch… basically everything Claymore/0004 had answered. A couple of good questions showed up eventually.

“So,” Twilight said. “If those two had names, what’s yours?”

He raised a hoof to his chin in thought. “Hm… Never thought of that... I need one.”

“Well, maybe it can involve your special talent,” Sparkler suggested.

“Something involved with the same field I'm in - fashion, no doubt!” Rarity inputted.

“What makes you think that, Rarity?” Twilight asked her friend.

“His Cutie Mark, of course,” Rarity answered. “Take a look.”

0001 looked back at his flank to see a bobby pin on it. “Ah, that,” he chuckled. “It… doesn’t have anything to do with fashion, miss…?”

“Rarity, dear,” the fashionista finished. “So what is your special talent?”

“Uh,” 0001 bit his lip. “What if I told you... a bobby pin can be used to do more than one thing?”

“And that other thing is…?” Sparkler prompted.

“Let me show you,” he said quickly before changing back into a Manic with a flash.

“See this?” He drew his fingers along the zipper teeth of the sweatshirt, obviously gesturing to the sweatshirt itself, which Jordan recognized.

“Isn’t that one of my sweatshirts?”

“Yeah,” 0001 answered. “I found it in your closet.”

“But I-“ Jordan stopped as if he reached an epiphany. “-lock… my… closet- you didn’t…”

“And there you have it,” 0001 said to the mares.

“You broke into his closet?” Sparkler deadpanned.

“With a bobby pin, yeah,” he responded nonchalantly, turning back into a stallion. “Hey, that’s good…”

“What do you mean?” Rarity asked. “Burglary is not what I would label ‘good’. ‘Barbaric’ is a better word.”

“What you call ‘barbaric’ I call ‘I was cold and wet’,” he reasoned. “Besides, I would think something like that is a useful skill, wouldn’t you?”

“Given a reasonable circum-“

“Exactly, Miss Rarity,” 0001 interrupted, continuing quickly when he noted the mare’s annoyed expression. “I wasn’t referring to my actions when I said ‘that’s good’ though, I was talking about my name.”

“You’ve chosen a name!” Twilight said with a smile. “What is it?”

“Call me Bobby Pin.”

Jordan wandered off after listening to the end of the conversation, turning his attention to his new weapon. The chain-sword Claymore left behind was still able to operate, but he couldn’t figure out how it could, since there was no indication of a fuel source of any kind. He kept turning it over, examining the blade, the chain, and the hilt, all of which were the same color.

I should paint this or something, he thought as he continued examining it. He wasn’t think about the sword, but about everyone still on board Thunderball, Oroon and Claymore, Applejack and Colgate, the Gouches…

“Is that the thing he used t’ cut mah sister?” A low voice behind him said. He turned and saw the red stallion from Town Hall; the one he assumed was Applejack’s brother, and was now confirming his suspicion. The last time he saw him was when he left with his sister to the clinic. He was pulling the cart himself after relieving the other stallion that brought it. That wasn’t too long ago - about thirty minutes - so Applejack must have been alright.

“Yeah, it is,” Jordan answered, gripping it by the hilt and raising the blade up to block the sun. The edges looked like a halo was cast around them.

“Yer keepin’ it, then?” Big Mac asked.

Jordan stuck the sword tip-first into the ground. “Why not? My pipe’s gone, so I might as well.”

There was silence between the two of them for a minute. Jordan didn’t look at Big Macintosh, but focused on the hilt of the sword.

“Well,” Big Mac said, breaking the silence. “Yer gonna need somethin’ t’ carry it in. No sense in carryin’ in yer… hands all day.”

Jordan looked back at the farmer. “What are you saying?”

“He cut mah sister with it,” Big Mac said, punctuating the fact by spitting. “Ah want you t’ do me a favor, an’ use it t’ give ‘im his…” He stopped, looking for the right word. “…comippance.”

“Comeuppance,” Jordan corrected, though he honestly didn't even know what the word meant.

“Eeyup,” Big Mac shrugged. “Ah’ll be gettin’ t’ work on somethin’ you can carry it in.”

He’s gonna make me a sheath… how? You know what, I won’t question it… “Er… thanks, Mr…?”

“Big Macintosh. Call me Big Mac.”

“Well, thanks, Big Mac,” Jordan said with a smile, which faded when he realized he had something important to ask. “Um… how is she?”

“She’s gonna make it,” Big Mac said. “Mah sister’s strong like that. Ah’m worried about Apple Bloom, though. She’s takin’ it badly.”

“Apple Bloom…” Jordan repeated. “Yellow with a pink bow in her hair?”

“Eeyup.”

“I don’t know much about her friends- hell, I’ve been here for, what, eleven hours so far?” He asked rhetorically.

“Anyway,” he continued. “I would bet that her friends, like Scootaloo, can help her through it. I’ve been through absolute shit before, and my friends-“ he pointed a thumb at Gunny. “-Had my back.”

“S’pose yer right…” Big Mac agreed.

“Heh, Eeyup,” Jordan mimicked. “Anyway, don’t we have something to d-“

As if on cue, a small group of pegasi in golden armor landed close by. They panted a bit, leaving Jordan with enough time to note their ragged appearance.

Are these the Royal Guard? It looks like they’ve been through hell… wait- here come some more.

The pegasi were accompanied by a pair of unicorns in a similar armor, which looked no better than their companions. Jordan spotted several injuries on them.

“Hold this, will ya?” He shoved the sword into the ground next to Big Mac and stood up, hearing an acknowledging “eeyup” from his rather talkative partner. He took a few steps over to the group.

“You guys need help?” He asked. One of the unicorns looked up at him. As soon as they (the armor made it difficult to tell which gender this guard was) saw him, they charged their magic.

That’s not good, Jordan realized. Is he gunning for me? The answer came in the form of a glowing projectile shooting from the guard’s horn, impacting the ground behind him to his left with an explosion.

“There’s another one!” One of the pegasi shouted. “Get him! Get him!”

What?!

Two of the pegasi dove at him, one bowling into his legs and tripping him. Jordan turned over and started crawling back to Big Mac, who was watching the scene before him with a confused look. The other pegasi got on top of Jordan wrapped a foreleg around his neck, holding him in what was, essentially, a headlock.

“Big Macintosh,” Jordan choked out. “Little help?”

“Eeyup!” Big Mac stood and approached the guards. “Er… why are y’all stranglin’ him?”

Thanks for the help, Mac! WILL SOMEONE GET THEM OFF ME?!

“Stay back! This creature is dangerous!” The one on his back ordered.

“I am?” Jordan asked. It was a serious question, since Jordan knew that, if not somewhat harmless, he was barely dangerous.

“Shut up!” The one on his legs said.

“Jordan!” Gunny called out.

“Another one!” The third pegasus yelled.

“HEY!” Jordan managed to yell. “Don’t touch her!”

“What is going on here!?” A rather ticked off sounding Twilight Sparkle asked.

“This is none of your bus-“ The one on his back started.

“It IS my business- I am Twilight Sparkle!” The grip on his neck and lower body slackened. What’s important about that?

“The Bearer of the Element of Magic?” The one on his back asked. “Princess Celestia’s protégé?”

At this moment, the Princess herself approached the pile. The guards that pinned him down got off of him and bowed. Jordan kept his face in the dirt, as to avoid anymore-unwanted breaches of personal space from the guards. A peculiar sound got his attention and he looked up at the Princess, propping himself on his elbows to avoid straining his neck.

A scroll was floating before her as she read it. Jordan didn’t see how it got there, but believed that it had something to do with magic, since any other explanation was (at this moment) void.

“Your majesty?” The guard to his left said.

“This letter concerns the… incident,” the Princess stated. “It also explains why Luna will be arriving late. Jordan, I believe you should read this.” Jordan stood when his name was mentioned and the Princess floated the letter over to him. He grabbed it and began to read its contents:

Tia,

I will not be able to arrive as soon as I wished due to an incident that has occurred very recently- not half and hour ago.

A detachment of Royal Guard that I had dispatched to your location came across two of the creatures you had described in your letter- the ones called “Manics”. Unlike the impression you received from this Jordan character, these two were completely hostile. The details are extremely vague. In short, I have a lot of letters to write. The report also says that they repeatedly changed their form between the one described and the guise of a pony; their similarities to the Changelings are uncanny and some of them may be aligned with them already.

I’ll come as soon as I am finished sending the condolences.

Celestia, please be careful.

-Luna

“How many?” Jordan muttered.

“You,” the Princess directed to the guard that was previously on Jordan’s back. “What is your name?”

“Corporal Frozen Lance, your highness,” he answered dutifully.

“Corporal, where is your captain?”

“…Dead, your highness.”

No… Jordan thought. No… no… no… He sullenly raised a hand to his face.

“Is there are Sergeant or a Lieutenant among you?” She directed the question to all of the guards. The pegasus that had directed the other’s attention to Gunny stepped before her.

“I am Sergeant Clearview, your highness. I am the commanding officer since the deaths of Lieutenant Hightide and Captain Stone Curtain.”

“Are you positive that they have fallen?”

“With my own eyes,” the Sergeant was actually shaking. “I… wasn’t even sure how it happened until one of them tried to do the same to Private Artane.” At the mention of the Private, he gestured the unicorn that had not fired at Jordan. This one was, by comparison to the others, in worse shape. His helmet was damaged to the point it was falling apart, and his armor was unsalvageable.

“One of them… the two creatures like Jordan, here?” The Princess asked.

“Yes, your highness, which is why we reacted to him like a hostile,” the Sergeant nodded an apology to Jordan briefly.

“Trust me,” Jordan glowered. “They were nothing like us.” He gestured a hand between Gunny and himself.

“But, they are your kin-“

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” a new voice interrupted the Sergeant; it was Bobby’s. “But they weren’t his kind. They were my kind.”

“And what the fuck. Is your kind?” Jordan spat.

“You already know, and why so hostile?” Bobby took a step back.

“Because your little buddies just killed the majority of a Royal Guard detachment.”

“It’s the first time I’m hearing about it; I thought they had only atta-“

“Shut your mouth,” Jordan said.

“I had no-“

“SHUT UP!”

“Damn it, Jordan!” Gunny shouted. “You’re pissing everyone off!”

She’s right, you know. “Like I give a shit.”

Did I just respond to Gunny in that tone of voice? Uh oh…

Jordan realized his mistake too late. Gunny’s hand grabbed his shoulder and spun him around, making him look at her clearly pissed-off expression. Her other hand made an appearance by slamming right into his gut, winding him and making him curl up on the ground panting.

“You…” She kicked him in the back while he was down. “DUMBASS!”

“Gunny, was that necessary?” Bobby asked, his voice laden with surprise.

“I’ve had a rough day…” Gunny grumbled as she sulked off somewhere.

The Guards, Big Macintosh, Twilight Sparkle, and the Princess simply stared as Jordan began to recover. He slowly stood up, still panting from the blow to the gut. She’s got a nasty sucker punch…

“Are you alright, Jordan?” Twilight asked.

“I’m FINE!” He shouted. “Just… fine.”

“As I was saying,” Bobby started again. “Do you want them to pay for this?”

“Yes,” Jordan growled.

“Then I will help you, they’re not my buddies anymore.” Bobby left the small gathering.

The Guards were visited by Nurse Tenderheart, and they answered Celestia’s questions as they were treated. Twilight Sparkle followed Jordan back to where he was sitting with Big Macintosh.

“So… one week?” She said, referring to when Thunderball would fall apart.

“One week,” Jordan repeated.

Silence. None of them spoke a word for what seemed like an eternity. Jordan was mulling over everything in his head. If the Thunderball was going to collapse in a week, how could he get everyone on the ship out alive and prevent an environmental disaster from a radiation leak and Gouches preying on the local wildlife? Something seemed familiar about this… but he couldn’t put a finger on it. A nagging thought on his brain kept telling him that he had heard of something like this happening before, but where?

How can I figure this out? He wondered. Then, Twilight jerked him out of his thoughts.

“I’m going to need to change today’s checklist,” she said with an embarrassed chuckle. "Won't be getting to counting my stock of quills today, I suppose."

“Checklist…?” Jordan repeated.

Big Mac leaned in. “Ah heard from mah sister that she keeps a checklist fer everythin',” he whispered.

Well, she does live in a library, he reminded himself. Makes sense that she’s got a planning OCD.

The answer hit him immediately after he finished the acronym. Planning!

“Twilight, you’re a genius,” he blurted out and jolted back up.

“What- um… thank you?” Twilight blushed.

“No, seriously, you just gave me the solution in the form of your OC-“

“Finish that acronym, and I will end you,” she stated as she suddenly developed an aura of darkness.

Jordan backed up a bit. “Um… still,” he said. “You gave me a great step to start with.”

“Oh? I did?”

“Yes!” He grabbed her by the shoulders and looked her right in the eyes with a joyous smile. “Planning.” He started tapping her cheek with a light slap repeatedly. “Plllllaaaaaaannnnnniiiiiiiing.” On the “ing” he tapped slightly harder then broke away.

Gunny approached the group. “I heard that, Jordan. Planning? You?” She smirked in a condescending way.

“You don’t know me!” He defended. “We need a meeting place!”

“Town Hall again?” Twilight asked.

“Too far…” he stroked his imaginary beard, expecting another suggestion, only to be met with silence.

Big Mac coughed. “Well…”

“You have a suggestion, Big Macintosh?” Twilight asked.

“We could try th’ barn,” he offered. “Y’ve used it fer parties, why not meetin’s?”

“Barn…?” Gunny asked.

“In case you haven’t noticed,” Jordan informed her. “We crashed in the middle of an apple orchard-slash-general farm.”

Gunny nodded in clearance. “We’re gonna need a table, right?” She asked.

“We got a long wooden table,” said Big Mac. “We’ve used it fer Apple family reunions; no reason it cain’t be used fer a meetin’.”

“You’ll set it up?” Jordan asked.

“Eeyup, I’ll get t’ it right now,” Big Mac said before he went off to his farm to prepare.

“So, what next?” Twilight asked.

“Who should be there,” Gunny stated, rather than asked.

“Everyone who wants to,” Jordan shrugged. “As long as they’re in for the rescue itself, then they should come.”

Twilight stood with a pondering look for a moment before calling out. “Rainbow!”

Rainbow Dash glided down and landed next to Gunny, who promptly had a mini spaz attack, induced by the rainbow-maned pegasus she hadn’t really noticed, somehow.

“Yeah, Twi…light?” She paused and became nonplussed when she felt Gunny’s hand start prodding her mane in a fangirl way.

“Ignore her. She gets like that sometimes, according to her sister,” Jordan said. Gunny pretended not to hear and continued to be fascinated with the uniquely colored mane, and Rainbow Dash pretended not to be at least a little bothered by the action.

“Well, okay then,” Twilight shrugged. “Rainbow, I need you to tell as many ponies as you can that there’s a meeting in the barn at Sweet Apple Acres. Tell them to pass the message on and that they should only come if the are interested in the rescue operation.”

“Rescue… what?” Rainbow said, confused. “Who are we rescuing?”

“The rest of the crew, remember?” Jordan deadpanned. “That was important. Remember? One week? Ship falling apart? Crew in danger?”

“Oh… now I remember!”

The sound of a Manic and a unicorn facepalming – or facehoofing in the case of the latter – could be heard as far as Canterlot. Gunny was momentarily baffled by the density of the mind of the subject of her affection that she stopped her prodding, only to shrug it off and continue.

“Alright, guys,” Rainbow said. “I’m telling them that the meeting is at the barn and that they should only come if they want to help, right?”

“Right,” Jordan and Twilight said in unison.

“What time?”

Jordan turned to Twilight. “What time is it now?”

“It’s about… one in the afternoon,” Twilight answered.

“At three then, tell every…pony, even Applejack and that other one – Colgate, I think her name was,” Jordan told Rainbow Dash, who nodded and took off. Gunny stood up and watched her go.

“And remember to tell Pinkie that it isn’t a party!” Twilight called after her.

“She’s adorable,” Gunny sighed with a goofy smile.

“Don’t say it to her face, though,” Twilight warned her.

“So what are you going to do Twilight?” Jordan asked.

“I’ll go ask the Princess and the guards to come,” she answered before trotting off towards her mentor.

Note to self: Remember to leave the weapons at the door, Jordan thought. A movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention: Bobby was approaching.

“Hey Jordan, I-“ he started before Jordan interrupted.

“I’m sorry about what-“ Jordan but, but was in turn interrupted.

“Not important,” Bobby said.

Gunny laid an arm over both their shoulders. She was still holding her gun, so it was dangling next to Bobby. “Am I interrupting a bromance?” She smiled in a way that could only be described as “trollish”.

“Um…” Bobby was slightly fazed by her input, but continued without missing a beat. “I heard about the meeting just now from our rainbow friend.”

“Yeah, we’re gonna plan a course of action then,” Jordan confirmed before changing the subject. “Where did you go?”

“I was taking a look inside the ship, via Airlock 2 – the one you stumbled out of, Gunny,” he said, nodding his head towards Gunny.

“Anyway,” he continued. “I found something… that wasn’t very good… but I’ll save that for the meeting.”

Jordan was, obviously, suspicious of whatever it was that Bobby felt necessary to keep to himself. What could possibly be wrong with the inside of the ship anyway? However, he was eased by the promise of revealing whatever it was later.

Pinkie popped up from behind Gunny, essentially glomping her from behind and leaning over her head to stare at Bobby. “You have to Pinkie Pie promise now!” She said.

“Um… what?” Bobby was confused, cueing Pinkie to jump off of her perch and sit on her haunches in front of him. He, in turn, turned into his pony self and also sat down.

“Ok, repeat after me! Cross my heart…” She made a motion over her heart with her hooves.

“Cross my heart…” Bobby didn’t repeat the motion; a mistake he wouldn’t make again.

“YOU HAVE TO DO THE MOVES!” Pinkie shouted.

He was momentarily shocked by the sudden change in volume and attitude, and decided not to push it. He repeated the words and remembered the motion of crossing his heart, as well as repeated the next few motions.

“…and hope to fly…” she said.

“And hope to fly…” he repeated.

“Stick a cupcake in my eye!” She punctuated that sentence by sticking a hoof into her eye. Bobby was hesitant about that part, but repeated it anyway.

“Stick a cupcake in my- OW! Damn it!”

Announcement (AKA Hey Guys Guess What?)

HEY GUYS!

Ok, I won't use blue for the rest of the note, and I also won't be all cheerful on you.

Yes, note. This is an Author's Note. Actually, you should've known that before hand - I NUMBER the chapters, after all.

So, anyway, the next few parts to Thunderball are going to take longer than I thought to get to you for a number of reasons...

First and foremost: I've encountered a certain little block from Writer Hell. The Writer's Block is unforgiving as it is with everypony. The following other reasons are probably causes to this block...

Second: I'm all over the place. Not only with Thunderball, but with other installments in the series.

Yes, Manics is going to be a series of sorts which includes five "core" parts (like Thunderball) and a short story or two. All of that, in the end, is followed by a sixth "core" that ends it all while the fifth has the most resolve.

Back to the reasons. Third: I'm all over the place with characters. The sheer amount of characters I'm using isn't doing what I thought it would do (epic cast = great story has been a philosophy of mine for a long time, though I never really used it), and look what it did. If I'm confused, there's no reason you shouldn't be.

Forth: I've been... disloyal, you can say, to the story. I've actually started working on a first person story that isn't pony related, and it's easy going so far. Except for one problem: the execution. The way the book reads is like... The Hunger Games. You know, present tense like "I'm doing this right now" as opposed to past tense "I did this". Don't like it so much, even though it gives me a lot to say and is realistic.

Now, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with Thunderball right now. I can say that it has issues and be right. Biggest issues are the lack of descriptive paragraphs as opposed to dialogue and the characters... lack of character. Sure, 0004/Claymore was awesome in a "I love to hate him" kind of way, but he's the only one. Sort of.

I'm afraid I'm stretching it out longer than it should be. It takes place over a week and I'm adding every single conversation, basically.

What now? I might have a solution, but those of you who like the story so far aren't going to like this: Hiatus. Unfortunately, I'm gonna have to put Thunderball aside for now and work on something smaller until I can clear my head and organize this shit.

What should you expect from me until then is a different story, but not a pony related one. You should know by now that I have a DeviantArt account under the name "Mackilla". I'm not asking you to go there, in fact, I'm considering moving to a new account named "MaQuasi". Expect this in the near future.

What will you get on my DeviantArt? Some ponies. Some normal stuff. Maybe I'll go into rant mode in the journal, those are apparently entertaining to some. That won't mean I'll stop posting here, no! I'll keep posting here! Just not Thunderball... for now.

Welp, that's all I had to say. You'll see more from me, if you like my writing, and you'll also hopefully see BETTER writing in the form of first-person fics - or first-pony, whatever floats yer boat. So... see ya guise. lool

Ian (MaQuasi)

I was supposed to have a part coming up, Ian. Damn it, why did you do this to me?!

Minder, gtfo, you'll give them spoilers.